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3  1833  02544  9825 
Gc    977.201    856s    v. 1 
Blackford    and    Grant    Countii 


Blackford  and  Grant 
Counties,  Indiana 


A  Chronicle  of  their  People  Past  and  Present  With  Family 
Lineage  and  Personal  Memoirs 


Compiled  Under  the  Editorial  Supervision  of 

BENJAMIN  G.  SHINN 


VOLUME   1 


LLUSTRATHD 


■J&&- 


LfV&S  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

<GO  AND  NEW  YORK 

1914 


riP 


PREFACE  191547 


At  the  outset  of  the  undertaking  which  is  herewith  presented  in 
published  form,  this  publication  was  planned  as  "a  collection  of  articles 

and  sketches  on  families  and  individuals  identified,  in  the  past  or 
present,  with  Blackford  and  Grant  counties."  In  line  with  this  pur- 
pose, the  editorial  staff  has  collected  much  interesting  and  valuable 
material  pertaining:  to  such  families  and  individuals  and  the  follow- 
ing pages  contain  biographical  data  that  in  this  form  will  be  preserved 
for  all  future  generations  and  safeguard  the  essential  facts  against 
all  time  and  fading  memory.  All  personal  sketches  have  been  submitted 
in  typewritten  form  for  revision  and  correction,  and  the  utmost  dili- 
gence has  been  employed  to  prevent  mistakes.  It  can  be  only  a  matter 
of  satisfaction  that  the  original  plans  have  been  so  thoroughly  carried  out. 

In  conclusion,  and  as  a  brief  introduction  to  the  contents  of  these 
volumes,  it  is  appropriate  to  quote  from  the  original  "editorial  an- 
nouncement" concerning  this  publication: 

"While  others  have  written  of  'the  times,'  the  province  id' 
this  work  is  to  be  chronicles  of  the  people  who  have  made  and  are 
making  Blackford  and  Grant  counties  what  they  are. 

"Family  stocks  and  individuals,  as  everyone  knows,  are  not  peren- 
nial. These  counties  had  worthy  and  useful  and  often  highly  honored 
and  prominent  families  in  the  first  and  second  generation  after  the 
date  of  beginning  which  are  now  practically  extinct  so  far  as  the 
residence  of  descendants  in  this  community  is  concerned.  Would  not 
some  memorial  of  them,  be  it  but  a  name  and  date,  be  worthy  of 
permanent  record?  Space  for  an  appropriate  record  of  this  kind,  in 
the  nature  of  a  brief  compendium  of  old  families  and  notable  person- 
alities, will  be  afforded  in  this  publication.  The  first  object,  clearlj 
defined,  will  therefore  be — to  present  in  concise  form  the  annals  of 
pioneers,  old  families,  and  individuals,  meriting  such  distinction. 

"In  the  second  place,  the  compilers  of  this  work  will  endeavor  to 
do  justice  to  those  names  which  are  still  represented  in  the  vigorous 
citizenship  of  the  community — whether  as  survivors  with  a  long  retro- 
spect over  the  times  in  which  modern  conditions  have  been  evolved  or 
whether  as  still  vital  factors  in  the  active  social  and  business  organiza- 
tion which  gives  character  to  the  modern  and  present-day  counties." 


NDEX 


Ackerman,  George  S 865 

Alexander,  Harry   96 

Alfrey,  James  A.  E 226 

Allen,  Eli    TOT 

Allen,  John   W T55 

Amsden,  George  W 84 

Anderson,  William  H 778 

Andre,  Constant 159 

Armitage,  Liberty  T 98 

Armstrong,    Joseph  E 810 

Baldwin.  Asa  T 800 

Baldwin,  Edgar  M 331 

Baldwin,  Stephen  G 452 

Ballard,  Jesse  11 857 

Ballinger,  Edmund  F 5T9 

Banister,  Oliver 92T 

Barley.  Charles  G 882 

Barley,  -lames  L S18 

Barnett,  John  T 683 

Barr.  Thomas  D 451 

Batehelor.  James  0 6T3 

Beaslev,  William  A 521 

Beaty,  Frank  II 162 

Bedwell,  Samuel  F S80 

Bell.  John   D 5S0 

Bell,  William  F 40S 

Benbow,  Israel  S TOG 

Beshore,  Fred  L 895 

Beshore.  Leander  C 893 

Bird.  William 114 

Blake.  Henry 118 

Blinn.  Henry  H 484 

Bloeh  Brothers 754 

Blumenthal.  David  H 808 

Bole.  William  A 552 

Boiler.  David  E S06 

Bohge,   William  W 86 

Boots,  Mrs.  Lacy 90 

Borrey,  John  ..  .' 496 

BoxelL  Charles  F 821 

Braden.  William  G 1T6 

Bradford.  Cassius  C 775 

Bradford.  Francis  A 833 

Bradford,  Jesse  T 443 

Bradford.  Moses TT2 

Brail  ford.   Oscar   P 444 

Bradford.  William  T 65T 

Brelsford.  A.  Wilmont SfiT 

Brickley,    Chester  1 1T0 

Blinker,  Kobert ST5 

Brookshire,  Thomas  J 696 

Blown.'.  John  R 344 

Bryson,  David  A 230 

Bryson,  Xellie 230 

Brvson,  Thomas 229 


Buchanan   Family  of  Grant  Countj       783 
Buller,  Harmon :;;  i 


Bunker,  Byron  L 

Burkhart,  Ralph  W 

Burns,  John  

. .    .          653 
11 T 

Burnworth,  Jacob 

Burris,  Brad  G 

Butler,  Thad 

Bntz.  (ha  E 

Caldwell,  Benjamin  F 

Caldwell.  Edwin 

Cammack,  Willis 

Carey,  John  T...  . 

L  8  5 

90 

814 

463 

2T0 

465 

642 

(any.  Leander 

Carr.  Alonzo  W 

732 

S14 

Carroll.   Elizabeth    

Carroll,  James  H 

Carroll,  William 

T62 

210 

Carter.  Henry  1) 588 

Carter,    [saac   1 622 

Caskey,  John  II 

Chandler,   Alvin   

373 

Chaney,  William  B 

Chapman,  William  H 

Charles,  James 

155 

189 

302 

Clanime.  Albert   263 

Clainme.  Charles  J 187 

Clapper)  Manfordii! .'.'..'.'.. '. 
Clippinger,  Adam  C 

T30 

249 

36 

272 

Clupper,  George  L 

Cole.   David   

424 

208 

Coleman.  Bennett  B 

Coleman.  William  II 

687 

689 

Connelly,  Harry  T 

Connelly.  Samuel  A 

le'r,  Robert 

Corey,  <  liarles  W 

1  ortright,  -lames  M 

Conch.  Orlando  H 

Conch.    Thomas  M 

Cox,  Eli  J 

690 

744 

3TS 

740 

280 

191 

599 

6T5 

342 

Cox.  Milton  T 

.  .     .         51 'J 

INDEX 


Cox,  Nathan  D 339 

Cox,  William  V 735 

Crandall,  Thomas  J 791 

Cranford,  Riley 433 

Creek,  Joseph  263 

Cretsinger,  Ross 866 

Creviston,  Henry  C 782 

Cubberley,  Lewis  P 474 

Culberson,  Frank 45 

Cunningham,  William  N 112 

Curless,  James  A 729 

Curry,  Alfred  M 747 

Daughertyj  Lawrence  W 136 

Davis,  Charles  E 527 

Davis,  L.  L 247 

Davis,  Oliver  S 777 

Davis,  Pierce  H 904 

Davis,  William  F 388 

Davi'sson.  Henry  C 75 

Dawson.  Isaiah 445 

Dean,  Calvin 829 

Dearduff,  Noah 181 

Deeren,  Alexander  M 382 

Devine,  John  C 406 

DeWitt,  Daniel  224 

DeWitt,  Mary  E 225 

Dick,  Alonzo'W 251 

Dick,  Richard 141 

Dickerson,  Alvin 567 

Dickey.  Benjamin  F 711 

Diehl,  Seth   104 

Dillon,   Richard  H 535 

Donelson,  Nelson 738 

Dougherty,  Frank  F 42 

Doyle,  Thomas  B 801 

Duling,  B.  Frank 626 

Duling,  Joel 488 

Duling,  John 429 

Duling,  Solomon 362 

Dunn,  Carrie  J 855 

Dunn,  Monte  S 612 

Durham,  John  P 810 

Eckhart,  Godlove  G 807 

Elliott,  Herbert  M 327 

Elliott.  J.  Nixon 313 

Elliott,  William  S 298 

Ely,  Franklin   132 

Embree,  William 734 

Emshwiller,  Ashley  G 223 

Rrlewine,  Henry  L 799 

Ervin,  William  L 205 

Fankboner,  Ozro  G 655 

Fear,  James  B 190 

Feighner,  Albert  L 845 

Ferguson.  Andrew  J 779 

Fergus,  Warren  548 

Fence,  Evan  H 641 

Ferree,  John  D 461 

Fillebrown.   Jarius    763 

Flanagan,  John 337 

Ford,  Orlando  S 193 

Fowler,  George  C 835 

Frank,  Lee  C , 666 

Frazier,  John  A 426 

Fritz,  Reuben 593 

Fuqua,    Mary    J 58 

Fuqua,  Theodore 57 

Furnish,  J.  William 717 


Futrell,  Jordan 635 

Futrell,  Joseph 1 

Gable,  Alexander 29 

Gadbury,  Allen  K 89 

Gadbury,  Riley  R 269 

Gaines,  Maud*  H 365 

George,  Tony 858 

Gettys,  Elizabeth   116 

Cettys,  Joseph  N 115 

Ginn,  William 523 

Goldthait,  Goldthwait,  Goldthwaite, 

House  of 769 

Goldthwait.  Edgar  L 355 

(loodvkoontz,  Emery  V 926 

Gordon,   Ollin    662 

Grant,  John 760 

Green,  John  W 194 

Guilder,  George  W 639 

Hahn,  Abraham   202 

Haines,  George 652 

Haislev.  Harlan 923 

Hallam.  John  M 103 

Hanley,  Hemy  A 545 

Hanmore.  Ceorge  W 741 

Hannah,  Joseph   Q 914 

Hardin,  Harley  F 456 

Harris,  David 890 

Harrison,  Luther  S 432 

Harrold,  John  R 273 

Harrold,  Isaac  R 183 

Hart,  Arthur  M 186 

Harter.  Solomon  E 177 

Harvey,  Ellsworth 471 

Harve'v,  Hiram 418 

Hayden,  Bleam 160 

Haynes,  Oscar  E 757 

Heal,  Elmer  E 878 

Hedstrom,  Olaf 256 

Hiatt,  Newton  W 455 

Hill  Brothers 542 

Hillsamer,  William   438 

Himelick.  George  M 884 

Himelick,  John  W 375 

Hindman,  Jay  A 212 

Hinds.  James    0 431 

Hodson,  George 264 

Holloway.  Amos   A 377 

Holloway,  Jesse  C 394 

Holloway,  Joseph   A 525 

Hoover,  Alvin  B 603 

Hoover,  India 238 

Hoover,  Joseph  L 236 

Horner,  Alva  L 420 

Horner,  Ashton 710 

Horton.  Joseph  P 109 

Houck.  William  J 352 

Hubert.  James  A 396 

Hullev.  Elkanah    436 

Hulley.  Joseph  ' 903 

Hults',  Charles  H 648 

Hults,  James  F 646 

Hummell,  Levi  E 917 

Hupp,  Christ  794 

Hutchens,  W.  E 239 

Jackson,  George  M 52 

Jackson,  Norman  W 52 

James,  Charles  S 924 

James,  David  S 873 


INDEX 


\  11 


Jay,  Jesse 713 

Jay,  Watson  D 715 

■lay.  Will   C 637 


i'tt,  Can 


700 


Jett,  John  S 887 

Johnson,  Alva 479 

Johnson.  Barclay 324 

Johnson,  Daniel  B 389 

Johnson,  K.  H 821 

Johnson.  James  X 554 

Johnson,  Jesse 077 

Johnson,  Lewis  C 204 

Johnson,  Percival  6 101 

Johnson,  Philip  H 135 

Johnson,  Richard  M S52 

Jones,  A 902 

Jones,  Burtney  R 67fi 

Jones,   Ezekiel  5G8 

Jones,  George  W 570 

Jones.  Hiram   A 349 

Jones,  John  A 847 

Jones.  John  W 516 

Jones,  S.   Frank    838 

Jones,  William  M 923 

Kearns,  John   746 

Keeghler,  Walter  C 606 

Keever,  William 517 

Keller.  Benjamin  C 196 

Kellev.    J.    Frank 147 

Kellev.  Joshua   T 123 

Kem,  Augustin 416 

Kibbey,  John  E 434 

Kili;. .re.  Man-us  M 308 

Kimball.   Abner   D 887 

Kimball.  Edwin  H 889 

Kimball.  Thomas  C 909 

Kimbrough,  Owen  C 919 

Kimbrough,  W.  B 822 

Kin-.  John  B 664 

Kirkpatrick,  Judge  Corev 200 

Kirkwood,  Frank  H " 563 

Klaus.  Joe 868 

Knight,  John  C 733 

Knote.  William  F 407 

Knox,  Daniel 55 

Land. .n.  Samuel 188 

Lawson.  John  H 767 

Lazure,  Albert  R 702 

Leach,  Charles  M 329 

Leach,  Edmund  C 357 

Leach.  Elge  W 572 

Leach.  John  S 174 

Leach.  William   (Wick)  0 381 

Leer,   Samuel   911 

Lefevre.  Alphonse  192 

Lewi-.  Merrill  L 597 

Lindsay.  George  D 697 

Lindsey.  William  H 507 

Linn.  John  F 826 

Little.  John  R 504 

Little.    Santford    509 

Love,  George  B 851 

Lucas.  Abraham  M 570 

Lucas.  Hiram  M 34 

Lucas,  Thomas  J 492 

Ludlum.   Benjamin  J 758 

Lugar,  Andrew  J 634 

Luther.  Ivy 591 

Lyle.  Arminda  M 22 


I.yle.  Arthur  s 21 

Lynn.  James    IS i;-; 

Lyon.   Howard   431 

Marion  Business  College 4114 

Marion  Public  Library 900 

Marks.  Lewis  S ' 427 

Marley,  Charles  K 489 

Marshall,  Eli   I'. 7:.':: 

Marshall,  Milton 459 

Martin.  Anna   M Mi 

Martin.  Joseph   7:> 

Mason.  William   E 876 

Massey,  Elmer  E 72* 

Met  lure.  Erastus  P 317 

McClure,  Samuel  315 

McConkey,  Eliza  E 24:: 

McConkey,  William  T 241 

McCulloch,  John  L 291 

McFeelev,  William  W 371 

McFerren.  Oren  P :.':::.• 

McGibbon,   Robert    753 

M.  Kinney.    William    C 458 

McManaman,   Benjamin   F 74:: 

McMurtrie,  Uz  ...' 320 

MeYicker.   Aaron   L 145 

Meek.  John  A 596 

Michael.  Philip 81 

Miles.   Adam   W 150 

Miles.   Alfred    lis 

Miles.  Hanford  R 601 

Miles,   John   W 428 

Miller,   Andrew  J 67 

Miller.   Frederick   G 173 

Miller.  Harry 447 

Miller.  Jennie  R 174 

Miller.   John   A.  G B3 

Miller.   William   607 

Millikan.  James  E 277 

Mills.    Clark    896 

Mills.  Samuel  A 143 

Millspaugh,  Leander  N 620 

M ittank.  Anderson  D 546 

Montgomery,  John  W 323 

Montgomery,  Martin  V 576 

Moore.  John  H 551 

Moorman.  Levi 486 

Morgan,  Lewis  D 920 

Morris.    Karl   510 

Morris.  Robert  A 341 

Morris.  Robert   L 275 

Morrish,    William    II 386 

Morrow,  Joseph  587 

Morrow,  Joseph,  Jr 587 

Mullen.    Frank    423 

Myers.  David  E 844 

Neal,  Thomas  C 166 

Needier,  George 495 

Needier,   James   05 

Needier,  Joseph  000 

Needier.   Louis  L 425 

Needier,  Mark 414 

Nelson,   Aaron   

Nelson,  Amos  L 157 

Nelson.   Mil.. 839 

Nesbitt,  Dai  ius   922 

Newbauer,  1 1 ge  II..  12 

Newbauer,   John    A 

Newby.  Eleazar 


INDEX 


Newby,  Joseph 540 

Noonan,  William 85 

Nottingham,  Ruphas  C 609 

Nottingham,  Warren  C 391 

Nussbaum,  Leo 820 

Nye,  Zena  M 817 

Oren,  Elihu  J 543 

Osborn,  George  A 812 

Osborn,  Zimri  C 514 

Overman,  Amos 788 

Overman,  Elisha G10 

Palmer,   Jonas   A 68 

Paneoast.  Barzilla  B 555 

Peacock,  Joseph  H 533 

Pearson,  David  L.  H 656 

Peck,  Rebecca  28 

Peck,  Samuel 26 

Pence,  Ernest  919 

Pence,  Lewis  C 748 

Perry.  Amos 265 

Persinger,  George  W 182 

Peterson,  John  A 913 

Philebaum,  Henry 253 

Philebaum,  John  H 218 

Phillips.  Ben  0 436 

Pierce,  Bruce  L 764 

Pierce,  Elisha 138 

Pierce,  Joseph  W 32 

Polsley,  Austin 454 

Poston,  James  H 759 

Powell.  Nettie  B 645 

Prickett.  Lora  A 708 

Pugh,   Alfred   449 

Pugh,  Amos 491 

Pursley,  Alexander  N 127 

Ratliff,  Ancil  E 925 

Ratlin',  Joseph 499 

Rawlings,  James   P 9 

Reeves,  Lewis 120 

Rennaker,  Elias  B 775 

Renner   Stock  Farm 36 

Reynolds,  Francis  M 169 

Rboades.  Joseph  H in 

Rime.  John  A 476 

Rich.  Eri   305 

Richards,  Abraham   B 836 

Richards,  David  L 621 

Richards,  J.  William 659 

Richards,  L.  G 528 

Richards,  L.  G.  W 644 

Richards,   William   J 727 

Richardson,  George      G 793 

Rigsbee,  John  L 369 

Riley,  James  E 795 

Risinger,  Omer  L 156 

Roberts,  Peter  722 

Ross.  J.  Clay 625 

Rothinghouse.  Anthony  B 321 

Roush,  William  P 824 

Rush,  Nixon  530 

Rush,  Zebedee  F 853 

Russell,  Albert  A 48 

Russell,  Margaret 279 

Russell,  William  S 278 

Rybolt,  Franklin 915 

Sanders,  John 55S 

Sanderson.  James  W 918 

Schmidt,   Adam    248 


Schmidt,   Philip   179 

Schrader,  Fred 831 

Schweier,    Emil    A 276 

Scott,  Alvin   B 330 

Scott,  John  H 575 

Scott,  Thomas  F 573 

Secrest,  Ethan  W 4 

Seegar,  Lydia  F 897 

Sciberling.  Albert  F 704 

Seiberling.  James  H 582 

Sellers,  Charles  A 243 

Sellers.  John  S 43 

Shafer.  Burtney  W 604 

Shafer,  William  D 849 

Shaffer,  Jerome   742 

Shannon,  Arthur  M 165 

Shannon.   Dennis   F 220 

Sheron,  William 412 

Shewalter,  J.  AIouzo 106 

Shick,  Jacob  K 130 

Shideler,  George  A.  H 307 

Shields,   Alpheus   H 395 

Shields.   John   660 

Shinn.  Benjamin  G 282 

Shively,  Bernard  B 869 

Shively,  Marshall  T 295 

Shively,  Zamora  B 296 

Smigart,  John  V 719 

Sidey,   Rowland    J 245 

Sieben,  Michael   670 

Silles,  Uriah  D 189 

Simons,  Adrial 502 

Simons.  John   H 500 

Slain,  Walter  W 464 

Slater.  George  F 615 

Small.  Otto 804 

Small,  Samuel   717 

Smilack,  Elbert 240 

Smiley,  Frank '.....    602 

Smith,  C.  Dee 886 

Smith,  Charles  L 199 

Smith,  George  W 318 

Smith,  Hiram 2 

Smith,  Jason  B 347 

Smith.  John   536 

Smith.  J.  E 749 

Smith.  Pascal  B 524 

Snyder,  Charles  H 560 

Solms,  Peter 669 

Spaulding,  Daniel   E 53 

Spurgeon,  Verlin  R 793 

Stanley,   Charlottie    41 

Stanley,    Jesse 577 

Stanlev.  Levi   T 40 

Steele,"  George  W 466 

Stephens.  Finley  H 738 

Stephenson.  J.  Wills 828 

Stewart,  Clark 30 

Stewart.   Forney   0 163 

Stotler,  John  H 255 

Stout,  Ellis  T 739 

Stover,  William  P 566 

Strange,  James   B 557 

Strange,  John  T 90S 

Strange,  Joshua 309 

Strange,  William  T.  S 751 

Stretch,  James  A 351 

Stricter,  S.  L 461 

Studebaker.    John    A 256 

Sutton,  Albert  E 18 

Swarts.  Christopher 862 


INDEX 


Swarts,  Eugene  N St34 

Swayzee,  Mark    L 475 

Sweigart,  George  W 153 

Teeter,  Wade  B 5S4 

Templeton,  Frank  W S60 

Terrell,  Charles  H 367 

Tewksbury,    Hiram     99 

Tharp,  William  H 170 

Thomas,  Admore  A 19S 

Thomas,   Alvin   J 6S1 

Thompson,  John  L 797 

Thompson,  Thomas  S 632 

Thornburg,  Edgar 692 

Thornburg,  H.  S 186 

Thorp,  Thomas  D 478 

Thrawl,  Samuel  E 921 

Tidd,   John   V 93 

Tippev,  Jesse  J 850 

Todd,"  Bert  S 928 

Torrance,  Jeremiah  W 871 

Townsend,   Elijah    95 

Townsend,   M.   Clifford 13 

Trant.  Maurice  23 

Trueblood,  Horace  N 422 

Tudor,  Allen  C 47  7 

Twibell,  Josiah   259 

Van  Atta,  Robert  M 899 

Van<  leve,    Joseph     16 

VanCleve,  William  L 15 

Van  Vaetor,  Benjamin  F 695 

Van   Winkle,  Benjamin  A 61 

Waggoner,  Isaac  R 649 

Waldron,  John  H 705 

Walker.  Harvey  T 46 

Walker,  John   F 260 

Walker.  William  C 616 

Wall.  Isaiah  667 

Wallace.  John  M.,  Sr 297 

Walthall,  Josiah  T 8S9 

Waltz,   Aaron    M 234 

Ward,  John  E 672 

Ware,  William  W 506 

Warfleld,  Willard  W 252 

Warren,  Gideon 262 

Weaver.  James  D 133 

Webster.  George,  Jr 301 

\>  ebster,  George  W 301 

Weiler.  Mayer  M 164 

Wentz,  Philip  E 227 

Wesehke.  J.  Christian 82 

Weser,    Henry    912 

Westfall,  James  W 90S 


Whetsel,  Aaron  s 354 

Whisler   Family  417 

White,  George   1-:, 

White.  John  I 

White,  V.  F ::7:i 

Whitson,   Eli   M 628 

Whitson,  Rufus  A 630 

Wigger,    Kenton   R 356 

Wiley,  William  H 345 

Wilhelm,  Frederick 439 

Wilhelm,  John 384 

Willcuts,  Clarkson 679 

WiUeuts,  William  E 6S6 

Williams,  John  T 803 

Williams.  John   W 472 

Williams.  Manson  191 

Williams.   Will   803 

Williams.    William    Y 38 

Williamson.  Harry 451 

Willman,  Henry   K 684 

Willman,  John  B 228 

Willinanii.  Jacob 50 

Willmann,  Martha  E 51 

Willson,  Jason 359 

Willson,  John  0 756 

Wilson,  Alvin  J 401 

Wilson,   Frank   364 

Wilson.  George  W 648 

Wilson,  Samuel   Charles .".:;s 

Wimpy,  Asa   X 752 

Wimpy,    Francis    H 707 

Winger,    Daniel    0 S42 

Winger.  Joseph  P 841 

Winslow,    Clinton    404 

Winslow,   David  W 859 

Winslow.  Josiah 512 

Winslow.  Nixon 693 

Winslow.   Thomas   724 

Winters.   Josiah    4s<> 

Wise,  Henry 618 

Wise.   Jacob   5S5 

Wise.  John  E 142 

Wise.  Joseph 60 

Wrse,  Samuel 650 

Wolfe.   Adam   910 

Wolverton,  Abner  D 126 

Woods.  Samuel    442 

Worrell,  Charles  E 446 

Wright,  Clayton  S 701 

Wright.  Jesse  D 736 

Wright,   William   T 372 

Wyckoff,  Francis  M 562 

Young.  William  R 901 

Zimmer,  Ernest  (i 883 


yu££^ 


Blackford  and  Grant  Counties 


Joseph  Futrell.  The  agricultural  interests  of  Blackford  county  are 
well  represented  by  Joseph  Futrell,  who  is  carrying  on  extensive  opera- 
tions in  section  31,  Washington  township.  Mr.  Futrell  is  descended 
from  Revolutionary  stock,  his  grandfather,  Enos  Futrell,  being  a  son  of 
a  soldier  who  fought  in  the  struggle  for  American  independence.  The 
family  is  of  English  origin,  and  its  members  for  the  greater  part  have 
been  tillers  of  the  soil,  a  vocation  which  was  followed  by  Enos  Futrell 
throughout  his  life  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  became  the  owner  of 
a  large  plantation  and  numerous  slaves.  The  name  of  his  wife  is  not 
now  known,  but  among  his  children  were  Giles ;  Michael ;  James ;  Jordan, 
and  Lucy,  who  married  Martin  Nelson  and  lived  in  Grant  county,  In- 
diana, where  she  died  at  an  advanced  age,  leaving  one  son,  who  now 
survives,  Benoni.  He  is  married  and  lives  at  Marion.  Giles,  James  and 
Jordan  Futrell  lived  and  died  in  the  southern  states,  were  married  and 
had  families,  and  for  the  greater  part  followed  farming. 

Michael  Futrell,  the  father  of  Joseph  Futrell.  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1810.  He  was  given  excellent  educational  advantages,  and 
when  a  young  man  made  his  way  on  foot  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where 
lie  met  and  married  Mary  Ricks,  the  daughter  of  Jordan  and  Sarah 
Ricks,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  and  farming  people  of  Clinton  county. 
In  the  fall  of  1839,  Michael  Futrell,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  small 
children,  of  whom  Joseph,  aged  nine  months,  was  one,  came  overland 
to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Center  township. 
There  the  father  settled  down  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  and  the  de- 
velopment of  a  home,  and  continued  to  work  faithfully  and  industriously 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1888.  He  was  a  well  known  man  and 
highly  respected  in  his  community,  and  was  successful  in  the  accumula- 
tion of  a  valuable  property.  He  was  a  democrat  in  his  political  views, 
although  no  office  seeker,  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  New  Light 
Christian  church,  as  was  his  devoted  wife  who  died  in  that  faith  in  1903. 
when  past  ninety  years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Enos".  who  was  for  years  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Grant  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  leaving 
several  children:  Jordan,  who  died  as  a  retired  farmer  in  advanced 
years,  in  1913,  in  Grant  county.  Leaving  a  widow  and  family;  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  William  Ballenger  of  Grant  county,  moved  to  South- 
western Iowa,  where  they  still  reside  on  their  farm,  and  have  two  mar- 
ried daughters;  Joseph,  of  this  review:  James,  born  in  Indiana,  and  died 
on  a  farm  in  Iowa,  leaving  several  children ;  John,  who  died  in  the  prime 
1 


2  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  life  on  his  farm  in  Washington  township,  his. widow  and  son,  William, 
ex-treasurer  of  Blackford  county,  now  being  residents  of  Hartford  City ; 
Martin,  who  is  now  a  farmer  in  the  state  of  iMinnesota,  is  married  and 
has  a  family ;  Nancy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Nelson,  of  Grant  county, 
a  successful  agriculturist,  and  has  a  family;  and  Michael,  who  was  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Grant  county,  his  land  being  rich  in  oil,  which  left 
him  wealthy,  was  asphyxiated  by  coal  fumes  with  his  wife  some  years 
ago,  and  left  one  daughter ;  and  Isaiah  and  Mary,  who  both  died  young. 

Joseph  Futrell  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  January  31,  1839, 
and  was  nine  months  old  when  brought  in  his  mother's  arms  to  Black- 
ford county,  which  has  since  continued  to  be  his  place  of  residence.  Dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life  Mr.  Futrell  has  devoted  his  activities  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  at  different  times  has  owned  farms  in  various 
parts  of  the  county,  some  700  acres  in  all.  He  now  has  a  well-improved 
property  in  section  31,  Washington  township,  on  which  he  is  raising 
large  crops  of  grain,  and  also  has  a  herd  of  good  live  stock,  in  dealing 
in  which  he  has  met  with  well  merited  success.  Mr.  Futrell  is  not  only 
known  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  his  community,  but  has  also 
been  prominent  in  public  life,  and  at  various  times  has  been  elected  to 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust  by  his  appreciative  fellow-citizens. 
He  first  held  the  office  of  township  trustee  for  two  terms,  and  from  1874 
until  1878  he  served  in  the  capacity  of  county  treasurer  of  Blackford 
county,  having  held  this  office  during  the  regime  of  the  old  Green  Back 
party.  Subsequently  he  became  a  Democrat.  He  has  also  held  various 
other  offices,  and  his  entire  official  services  have  been  characterized  by 
strict  attention  to  duty  and  a  conscientious  devotion  to  the  best  interests 
of  his  community  and  its  people. 

Mr.  Futrell  was  married  to  Miss  Christina  Ann  Stafford,  of 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  who  died  after  being  the  mother  of  three  children : 
Mary  and  Amanda  died  in  childhood,  and  Nancy  Elizabeth.  Mr,  Futrell 
was  married  in  Center  township,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  in  1866,  to 
Miss  Matilda  Nelson,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Rebecca  (Oliver) 
Nelson,  natives  of  Northampton  county,  North  Carolina,  but  for  many 
years  residents  of  Grant  county,  Indiana,  where  both  died.  Mrs.  Futrell 
was  born  in  Grant  county,  January  12,  1845,  and  died  at  Hartford 
City,  Indiana,  May  7,  1913.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother  and 
assisted  her  husband  materially  in  the  achievement  of  his  success.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows :  Joseph  W.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Washington  township,  is  married  and  has  nine 
children:  Alice  R.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Miles,  living  on  an  excel- 
lent farm  with  modern  improvements  in  Washington  township,  and  has 
two  daughters,  Zadia  and  Hazel,  and  one,  Gladys,  deceased;  Charles, 
the  father  of  five  children,  is  now  making  his  home  at  some  point  in  the 
West;  George,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Grant  county,  is 
married  and  has  six  children;  Cora,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  McCombs, 
a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  is  the  mother  of  two  children ;  Dolly, 
a  widow  and  the  mother  of  three  children,  living  on  a  farm  in  Washing- 
ton township;  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Futrell  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  at  Hartford  City,  of  which  his 
wife  was  for  years  a  devout  member. 

Hiram  Smith.  Of  the  older  families  of  Grant  and  Blackford  coun- 
ties, none  have  lived  lives  of  greater  usefulness  to  themselves  and  the 
community,  and  none  have  done  more  of  the  heavy  work  of  pioneering, 
in  the  extension  and  improvement  of  the  landed  resources,  and  have 
been  more  active  in  the  affairs  of  home,  church,  community  and  busi- 
ness, than  that  represented  by  this  sterling  citizen  of  Hartford  City, 
Hiram  Smith. 


X 


MRS.  JOSEPH   FUTRE 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  3 

IJiram  Smith  was  born  in  Monroe  township  of  Grant  county,  Decem- 
ber 11,  1855,  and  is  a  brother  of  John  Smith,  a  prominent  farmer  and 
banker  of  Upland,  of  Grant  county.  Both  were  sons  of  Thomas  Smith, 
who  was  the  founder  of  the  family  name  and  fortunes  in  Grant  county. 
Thomas  Smith  was. born  near  Alliance,  Ohio,  in  1814.  After  Ins  mar- 
riage and  the  birth  of  two  of  his  children,  he  migrated  from  Ohm,  and 
about  1836-37,  made  the  journey  through  Hartford  City,  which  was  I  lien 
a  hamlet  with  only  a  few  houses,  and  thence  blazed  a  trail  through  the 
woods  and  across  the  swamps  to  Monroe  township  in  Grant  county.  His 
location  was  on  government  land,  and  following  this  period  the  farming 
and  breaking  was  done  by  oxen,  and  in  fact  the  sou  Hiram  remembers 
when  the  work  as  well  as  hauling,  was  doue  by  oxen.  On  the  homestead 
which  he  improved  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  years  in  pros- 
perity and  in  the  esteem  of  all  their  neighbors.  Besides  his  farming 
possessions,  which  became  exteusive  in  the  course  of  time,  Thomas  Smith 
also  maintained  a  small  store  and  served  as  postmaster  for  some  years 
at  the  office  known  as  Walnut  Creek.  During  the  early  days  mail  was 
for  several  years  carried  on  horseback  from  a  place  in  Ohio  to  Walnut 
Creek.  Thomas  Smith  passed  away  in  1876,  survived  by  his  widow,  who 
died  in  December,  1901.  The  birth  dates  of  herself  aud  husband  were 
only  eight  days  apart.  Her  maiden  name  was  .Mary  Leonard.  Both 
were  faithful  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  frequently 
walked  the  entire  distance  of  four  miles  in  order  to  attend  church,  in 
which  Thomas  Smith  was  long  an  active  official.  His  politics  was  re- 
publican. They  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  One 
of  them  died  in  early  childhood.  Wesley  lives  in  Huntington,  Indiana. 
John  Smith  is  the  farmer  and  banker  previously  mentioned  as  living  at 
Upland.  Emily  died  after  her  marriage  to  Wilson  Moorman,  and  her 
three  children  are  all  married.  Lavina  died  after  her  marriage  to  John 
Kizer,  leaving  a  family  of  children.  Jane  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 
The  next  in  order  of  birth  is  Hiram.  Maria,  is  the  wife  of  Patrick  Smith, 
a  large  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Union  county,  Ohio. 

Hiram  Smith  grew  up  in  the  country,  received  such  education  as 
was  supplied  by  the  local  schools,  and  as  he  was  trained  in  the  life  of 
the  farm  he  followed  it  with  success  and  gave  active  supervision  to  his 
farming  interests  for  a  number  of  years.  While  he  remained  for  five 
years  as  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  in  Monroe  township  of  Grant 
county,  he  in  the  meantime  bought  a  place  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres  in  Washington  township  of  Blackford  county,  and  then  took  pos- 
session, where  he  made  his  home  for  fourteen  years,  from  1882  to  1896. 
His  work  was  largely  of  a  pioneer  character,  since  it  was  necessary  to 
drain  the  land,  and  his  attention  and  labors  made  it  some  of  the  most 
profitable  farm  land  in  all  Blackford  county.  One  year  following  the 
completion  of  the  drainage  his  soil  produced  five  thousand  bushels  of 
potatoes,  and  it  also  became  famous  for  its  crops  of  corn.  In  the  fall  of 
1896,  Mr.  Smith  aud  family  moved  to  Hartford  City,  and  their  home 
has  since  been  in  the  county  seat,  although  he  still  owns  the  farm  and 
looks  after  its  cultivation.    His  city  home  is  at  514  W.  Kickapoo  St. 

In  Washington  township  of  Blackford  county  in  1877,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Miss  S.  Salome  Watson.  The  Watsons  were  among  the  pioneers 
of  Blackford  countv.  She  was  born  in  Washington  township,  March  6, 
1861.  was  reared  and  educated  there,  getting  her  schooling  from  what  for 
many  years  has  been  known  as  the  Watson  schoolhouse.  Her  parents 
were  Daniel  and  Mary  (Balsley)  Watson,  originally  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  Daniel  Watson  was  born  near  Newark.  Ohio,  about  1820.  The  Wat- 
sons were  oridnallv  Irish  people,  and  in  the  old  country  followed  the 
vocation  of  silk  makers.     After  his  marriage  to  Miss  Balsley,   Daniel 


4         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Watson  moved  to  Indiana,  took  up  land  in  Washington  township,  and 
did  the  heavy  work  of  an  early  settler  in  order  to  make  a  home  out  of 
the  wilderness,  clearing  off  the  forests  and  draining  the  land  and  eventu- 
ally establishing  a  good  home.  Mrs.  Watson  died  there  in  1870  at  the 
age  of  forty-four.  Daniel  Watson  subsequently  moved  to  Smith  county, 
Kansas,  where  his  death  occurred  in  April,  1885,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five.  He  was  a  man  of  many  estimable  qualities,  a  democrat  in  politics, 
and  for  some  years  a  preacher  in  the  Baptist  church,  but  later  inclined 
to  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  denomination  and  died  in  that  belief.  His 
wife  was  always  a  Baptist.  There  were  eleven  children  in  the  Watson 
family,  two  of  whom,  the  oldest  and  the  youngest,  died  in  infancy,  and 
the  mother  passed  away  at  the  birth  of  the  last  child.  Nine  are  still 
living,  all  have  been  married,  and  most  of  them  have  families  of  their 
own. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Smith  are  briefly  mentioned 
as  follows:  Rena  and  Charles  both  died  in  infancy.  Cora,  who  was 
born  February  28,  1882,  and  was  educated  partly  in  the  country  and 
partly  in  Hartford  City,  took  a  course  in  the  Muncie  Business  College 
and  is  now  employed  as  a  bookkeeper.  Frank  E.  Smith  who  was  born 
October  21,  1883,  and  was  likewise  educated  in  the  Hartford  City  schools, 
spent  five  years  in  selling  oil  and  gas  wells  supplies  through  Indiana, 
and  later  went  with  his  company  to  manage  their  interests  at  Casey, 
Illinois,  and  subsequently  to  Bridgeport  in  the  same  state,  and  in  1907, 
moved  to  Lawrenceville,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  in  the  oil  and  gas 
well  supply  business  until  1912,  at  which  date  he  purchased  a  cigar 
store  and  billiard  parlor  in  Lawrenceville,  and  is  now  one  of  the  success- 
ful business  men  of  that  city ;  he  has  served  as  city  clerk  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  is  treasurer  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  belongs  to  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  Frank  E.  Smith  married  Pearl,  a  daughter  of  Emer- 
son Casterline,  of  Hartford  City,  and  who  graduated  from  the  Hartford 
City  high  school  with  the  class  of  1904.  Laura  Smith,  born  June  21, 
1889,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City  and  graduated  from 
the  high  school  at  Elwood,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Clyde  E.  Mahan,  of 
Elwood,  has  a  son,  Clyde  J.,  born  October  11.  1912.  Hazel  F.  Smith, 
born  April  8,  1890,  had  her  schooling  in  Hartford  City  and  Elwood,  and 
is  now  the  wife  of  Ralph  B.  Campbell,  lives  in  Elwood,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Jack  B.  and  Daniel  Watson.  Basil  Pearl,  born  November  15,  1891, 
completed  his  schooling  in  the  Elwood  high  school,  took  work  as  a  clerk 
with  the  Illinois  Oil  Supply  Company,  and  later  took  up  the  commer- 
cial part  of  the  glass  jobbing  trade  for  the  Mercer  Lumber  Company 
of  Hartford  City,  and  lives  there  and  is  unmarried.  Mr.  Hiram  Smith 
and  his  sons  are  republicans  in  politics,  and  the  senior  Mr.  Smith  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Rebekah  Order. 

Ethan  W.  Secrest.  The  present  mayor  of  Hartford  City,  the  judi- 
cial center  and  metropolis  of  Blackford  county,  is  not  only  a  representa- 
tive member  of  the  bar  of  this  section  of  the  State  but  is  also  a  scion 
of  old  and  honored  pioneer  families  of  Blackford  county.  His  present 
official  preferment  fully  indicates  his  loyalty  and  progressiveness  as  a 
citizen,  as  well  as  impregnable  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
people  of  the  attractive  little  city  of  which  he  is  chief  executive. 

Mr.  Secrest  was  born  in  Christian  county.  Illinois,  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1876,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  (Reasoner)  Secrest, 
his  mother  having  died  February  28,  1876,  only  eight  days  after  his 
birth,  and  his  father  being  now  a  resident  of  Chattanooga.  Tennessee, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         5 

where  lie  is  prominently  identified  with  the  lumber  industry.  The  first 
authentic  records  concerning  the  Secrest   family  iu  America  designate 

its  representatives  as  residents  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  the  name 
and  location  both  indicate  that  the  genealogy  is  to  lie  traced  hack  to 
German  origin,  tin-  American  line  having  been  established  prior  to  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  but  no  definite  data  being  available  concerning  the 
founders  of  the  family  in  the  New  World.  John  and  Sarah  Secrest, 
givat-grandparents  of  Ethan  YV..  were  numbered  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Guernsey  county.  Ohio,  where  they  established  their  residence 
a  few  years  before  the  admission  of  the  State  to  the  Union,  in  1812. 
They  reclaimed  a  farm  and  home  from  the  virgin  wilds  and  there  lived 
godly  and  righteous  lives,  their  names  being  altogether  worthy  of  endur- 
ing record  on  the  roll  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  their  death  and  where  they  reared 
their  children  to  lives  of  honor  and  usefulness.  Their  son  Henry  was 
born  in  Guernsey  county.  January  7.  1812.  and  as  a  young  man  he  came 
to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  where  he  instituted  tile  reclamation  of  a 
tract  of  heavily  timbered  land  that  had  been  obtained  from  the  govern- 
ment by  his  father.  Here,  at  the  age  of  twenty -six  years,  he  wedded 
Margaret  Geyer,  who  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
10th  of  March,  1813,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  (Garr)  Geyer. 
She  was  twenty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  parents'  removal  from 
Ohio  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  they  settled  near  the  new  home 
of  Henry  Secrest.  who  soon  wooed  and  won  the  fair  daughter  and 
who  with  his  bride  established  the  connubial  Lares  and  Penates  in  a 
hewed-log  house  that  he  had  erected  on  his  embryonic  farm.  Mr.  Secrest 
was  an  excellent  mechanic,  specially  well  trainee!  as  a  millwright,  and  in 
addition  to  developing  his  farm  he  assisted  in  drafting  the  plans  for  the 
first  courthouse  at  Hartford  City,  as  well  as  the  first  schoolhouse. 
About  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Secrest  removed  with 
his  family  to  Christian  county,  Illinois,  and  there  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  May  22,  1882. 

The  mother  of  the  present  mayor  of  Hartford  City  was  a  daughter 
of  Washington  and  Rachel  (Slater)  Reasoner.  who  were  pioneers  of 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  the  former  having  been  a  son  of  Peter 
Reasoner,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  section  of  the  State, 
his  original  dwelling  having  been  directly  on  the  line  between  Blackford 
and  Grant  counties.  Ethan  W.  Secrest  was  brought  back  to  Indiana 
after  the  death  of  his  mother,  and  he  was  reared  to  the  age  of  twelve 
years  in  the  home  of  his  maternal  grandparents,  in  the  meanwhile  hav- 
ing but  little  opportunity  to  attend  school.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
he  became  dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  working  for  his  board  and 
clothing  and  having  been  granted  the  privilege  of  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  during  the  winter  terms.  His  ambition  to  acquire  liberal 
education  was  not  to  be  thwarted,  and  through  his  own  exertions  he 
defrayed  his  expenses  while  attending  the  University  of  Lebanon.  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  and  the  Central  Indiana  Normal  College  at  Danville, 
Indiana.  Through  five  years  of  successful  work  as  a  teacher  in  Delaware 
county,  Indiana,  Mr.  Secrest  accumulated  sufficient  funds  to  continue 
his  educational  work  in  the  University  of  Indianapolis,  in  which  latter 
institution  he  was  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1901,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws, — a  degree  that  shows  along  what  line  his 
ambition  had  impelled  him.  After  his  graduation  Mr.  Secrest  returned 
to  Hartford  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, being  associated  for  eight  years  with  Aaron  M.  Waltz,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Waltz  &  Secrest.  This  alliance  was  interrupted  when,  in 
the  autumn  of  1908,  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  judicial 


6  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

district  comprising  Blackford  and  Wells  counties,  an  office  in  which 
he  served  two  terms  of  two  years  each  and  in  which  his  zealous  and  effec- 
tive labors  materially  enhanced  his  reputation  as  a  specially  resourceful 
trial  lawyer.  He  retired  from  office  in  January,  1913,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  m  the  general  practice  of  his  profession  in  an  individual  way, 
with  residence  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  now  controls  a  substantial 
and  representative  law  business.  In  the  autumn  of  1913  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Hartford  City,  and  in  this  municipal  office  he  has  given  an  ad- 
ministration marked  by  progressive  policies  and  by  an  earnest  desire 
to  further  the  best  interests  of  the  city  and  its  people. 

Mayor  Seerest  has  never  wavered  in  his  allegianee  to  the  democratic 
party  and  he  has  been  an  active  and  effective  worker  in  behalf  of  its 
principles  and  policies.  He  was  chairman  of  the  democratic  county  com- 
mittee of  Blackford  county  in  1910,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  county, 
state  and  congressional  conventions.  Mr.  Seerest  is  affiliated  in  a  prom- 
inent way  with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  its  auxiliary 
bodies,  and  he  has  represented  the  order  in  the  Grand  Council  of  Indiana. 
He  is  a  member  also  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  its 
adjunct  organization,  the  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  and  he  is  a  past  noble 
grand  of  the  Hartford  City  lodge  of  this  order,  having  been  the  incum- 
bent of  this  office  at  the  time  when  the  local  Odd  Fellows  building  com- 
mittee was  appointed.  The  building  was  dedicated  July  4,  1913.  Mr. 
Seerest  is  a  member  also  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  of  the  World; 
the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  of  which  he  has  served  as  chief  and  as  scribe ;  of 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  in  which  he  is  past  president  of  the  local 
aerie,  which  he  represented  at  the  national  convention  of  the  order  in 
1907,  at  Norfolk,  Virginia;  and  he  is  further  a  charter  member  of  the 
Hartford  City  lodge  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  dictator  and  for  a  time  treasurer;  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Hart- 
ford City  lodge  of  the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Mr. 
Seerest  is  an  active  member  of  ten  fraternal  orders,  and  he  was  chief 
of  Records  of  his  lodge  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  for  seven 
consecutive  years.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

The  year  1897  bore  record  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Seerest  to  Miss 
Pearl  M.  McVicker,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Delaware  county,  this 
state,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Catherine  (Allen)  Mc- 
Vicker, who  are  now  residents  of  Hartford  City,  Mrs.  Seerest  being  their 
only  child  and  the  McVicker  family  having  been  founded  in  Delaware 
county  in  the  pioneer  days.  Mrs.  Seerest  is  a  leader  in  the  social  activi- 
ties of  her  home  city  and  graciously  supplements  the  efforts  of  her  hus- 
band, its  mayor,  in  upholding  its  civic  amenities.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seerest 
have  one  son,  Robert,  who  was  born  in  1902,  and  who  is  attending  the 
public  schools. 

Samuel  S.  Carrell.  A  resident  of  Blackford  county  for  more  than 
forty  years,  Mr.  Carrell  is  now  living  retired  in  his  fine  home  in  Hart- 
ford City,  and  few  citizens  are  better  known  in  the  county  than  is  he. 
His  life  has  been  marked  by  well  ordered  industry  and  has  been  so 
guided  and  governed  by  integrity  and  honor  that  he  has  not  been  denied 
the  fullest  measure  of  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  was  long 
and  prominently  identified  with  business  interests  in  Hartford  City,  is 
the  owner  of  valuable  property  here  and  has  contributed  much  to  the 
civic  and  material  progress  of  the  city  and  county.  His  high  standing 
in  the  community  renders  him  specially  eligible  for  representation  in 
this  history. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  7 

Mr.  Carrel]  claims  the  fine  old  Buckeye  state  as  the  place  of  bis 
nativity  aud  is  a  scion  of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of  that  common 
wealth.  lie  was  horn  at  Xenia,  Greene  county.  Ohio,  on  the  27th  of 
Xovember.  1*:>(>.  and  is  a  son  of  George  Bruce  Carrel]  and  Censaline 
(Sherrey)  Carrell.  Colin  Carrell,  or  Carroll,  grandfather  of  him  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  of  staunch  Irish  lineage  and  was  a 
native  of  the  city  of  Cork.  Ireland.  His  parents  passed  their  entire 
lives  in  the  Emerald  Isle  and  there  he  himself  was  reared  and  educated. 
He  was  accorded  good  educational  advantages  and  in  his  youth  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  weaver's  trade.  Colin  Carrell  was  born  in  the 
year  1775  and  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  he 
immigrated  to  America.  He  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  finally  wedded 
an  orphan  girl  whose  foster  parents  were  wealthy  and  gave  her  excel- 
lent educational  opportunities.  Mrs.  Colin  Carrell  was  a  woman  of 
gracious  personality  and  high  ideals,  active  and  devoted  in  the  work  of 
the  Methodist  church,  in  which  her  husband  was  a  local  preacher.  Mr. 
Carrel]  had  been  zealous  in  church  work  in  his  native  land  and  family 
tradition  has  it  that  he  was  engaged  in  earnest  ministerial  work  in  Ken- 
tucky at  the  time  when  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  noble  woman 
who  became  his  wife.  Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colin 
Carrell  established  their  home  in  Berkeley  county.  West  Virginia,  which 
commonwealth  was  at  that  time  an  integral  part  of  Virginia,  the  his- 
toric Old  Dominion.  Mr.  Carrell  purchased  a  small  farm  in  the  county 
mentioned  and  in  addition  to  improving  and  cultivating  the  same  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  weaving  cloth  for  all  the  settlers  in  that  wild  and 
hilly  section  and  being  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  that  section.  Doth 
he  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives  on  their  old  homestead 
in  Berkeley  county,  Mr.  Carrell  having  passed  to  eternal  rest  in  1806, 
in  middle  life,  and  his  widow  having  been  more  than  seventy  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  This  noble  pioneer  couple  exerted  a 
benign  influence  upon  all  with  whom  they  came  in  contact  and  they 
were  greatly  loved  in  the  state  which  represented  their  home.  Certain 
data  concerning  their  children  are  available  and  are  worthy  of  perpetu- 
ation in  this  connection:  George  died  in  infancy;  Eli  II..  became  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Virginia,  where  he  conducted 
two  hotels  ami  where  he  died,  a  victim  to  the  cholera  epidemic  that 
swept  that  section  in  1848-9 — his  wife  was  drowned  in  the  river  at  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  her  body  was  never  recovered,  no  children  having  been 
born  of  the  union;  Elijah  left  West  Virginia  to  establish  a  home  in 
Ohio  or  Indiana,  and  while  traversing  the  wilds  of  southern  Indiana 
he  became  ill.  his  death  soon  resulting  and  his  remains  being  interred 
near  a  pioneer  cabin  in  that  part  of  the  state;  Margaret,  died  at  the  age 
of  64.  unwedded.  at  Spring  Valley.  Ohio,  was  a  devoted  Bible  student 
and  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist  church;  Mary  Ann.  whose 
husband  died  in  West  Virginia,  passed  the  closing  years  of  her  life 
in  Logan  county.  Ohio,  two  or  more  children  surviving  her;  Martha. 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  Griffith,  was  a  devout  adherent  of  the 
Methodist  church,  as  was  also  her  husband,  and  they  were  residents  of 
Greene  county.  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  their  death  ;  Lydia.  who  became  the 
wife  of  Beverly  Herbert,  accompanied  her  husband  to  Illinois,  where 
both  lived  to  advanced  age  and  where  they  reared  ;i  large  family  of 
children.  George  B..  father  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  the  2nd 
son  and  was  born  shortly  before  the  death  of  his  father. 

George  Bruce  Carrell  was  reared  to  maturity  in  West  Virginia, 
where  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  somewhat  primitive 
common  schools  and  where  he  learned  the  trades  of  carpenter  and  cab- 
inet-maker.    At  Charlestown.  West  Virginia,  the  ambitious  young  man 


8         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

wedded  Miss  Censaline  Shirley,  daughter  of  William  and  Charlotte 
Shirley.  Mr.  Shirley  was  of  English  birth  and  a  member  of  an  old  and 
patrician  family.  He  came  to  America  in  company  with  two  of  his 
brothers  and  they  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
large  lauded  estate  and  where  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  that  commonwealth. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Bruce  Carrell  continued 
to  reside  in  what  is  now  West  Virginia  until  their  first  child,  William 
Colin,  was  born,  in  1828.  In  the  following  year  they  removed  to  Ohio 
and  numbered  themselves  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Xenia,  Greene 
county,  where  Mr.  Carrell  became  a  successful  carpenter  and  builder, 
besides  doing  much  work  as  a  cabinet-maker.  After  the  lapse  of  many 
years  George  B.  Carrell  removed  with  his  family  to  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  a  small  farm.  He  continued  as  a  farmer  and  car- 
penter in  that  county  for  many  years  and  was  one  of  the  most  influential 
and  honored  citizens  of  his  community.  He  served  for  a  long  period 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  his  official  capacity  he  wrote  many  wills, 
acted  as  administrator  for  many  estates  and  officiated  at  numerous  mar- 
riages. Besides  attending  to  such  responsible  duties,  his  ability 
enabled  him  to  minister  to  the  ill  and  afflicted,  and  he  frecpiently  offici- 
ated at  funerals.  He  was  a  leader  in  public  thought  and  action,  a  man 
of  impregnable  integrity  of  purpose  and  one  whose  broad  information 
and  mature  judgment  made  him  a  valued  counselor.  In  politics  he  was 
originally  a  whig  and  later  a  republican,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  served  many  years  as  the  class  leader.  He  passed  to  his  reward 
after  a  life  of  signal  usefulness  and  in  the  fullness  of  years  and  well 
earned  honors,  his  death  having  occurred  in  May,  1886.  Mrs.  Carrell, 
who  was  born  in  1805,  preceded  her  husband  to  eternal  rest,  her  death 
having  occurred  in  1877.  This  sterling  couple  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living;  Ed- 
mund L.,  who  is  now  an  octogenarian,  resides  with  his  family  in  the 
state  of  Iowa;  Anna  E.,  a  maiden  woman  of  seventy -three  years  like- 
wise lives  in  Iowa;  Margaret  M.  (Mrs.  Singmaster)  is  a  resident  of  Mis- 
souri and  has  several  children. 

Samuel  S.  Carrell,  the  eldest  of  the  four  surviving  children,  was 
reared  to  the  age  of  seven  years  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  his  native  place,  when  the 
family  moved  to  Logan  county,  and  there  he  made  good  use  of  such 
advantages  as  were  offered  by  the  pioneer  schools.  As  a  youth  he  served 
a  four  years'  apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  under  the  effective 
direction  of  his  honored  father.  He  was  "given  his  time"  when  twenty 
years  of  age  and  thereafter  continued  to  work  with  his  father  for  some 
time  longer.  He  continued  his  active  labors  as  a  carpenter  and  builder 
for  a  period  of  ten  years  and  he  was  a  successful  business  mau  of  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1872  Mr.  Carrell  came  to  Indi- 
ana and  established  his  residence  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  during  the  long  intervening  years  which  he  has  made 
fruitful  in  prosperity  and  in  good  deeds.  He  here  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business,  and  with  the  passing  of  the  years  he  became  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  the  town.  He  built  up  five  different  business  enter- 
prises and  his  reputation  for  honesty  and  fair  dealing  has  never  been 
questioned,  so  that  it  may  well  be  understood  that  he  has  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  entire  community.  In  1880  Mr.  Carrell  erected  a 
brick  business  building,  in  which  he  conducted  a  successful  enterprise 
for  many  years,  and  in  the  year  1873  he  completed  his  present  substan- 
tial and  attractive  brick  residence,  at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  Kickapoo 
streets.    He  at  one  time  owned  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Blackford 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         9 

count}*,  besides  one  hundred  acres  in  Ohio.  Energy  and  good  manage- 
ment on  the  part  of  Mr.  Carrell  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  substantial 

fortune,  and  since  1912  he  has  lived  practically  retired,  though  he  finds 
ample  demand  upon  his  attention  in  giving  a  general  supervision  to  his 
various  capitalistic  interests.  He  has  shown  himself  loyal  and  progres 
sive  in  his  civic  attitude  and  has  ever  given  his  ready  co-operation  in  the 
furtherance  of  enterprises  and  projects  for  the  general  good  of  the  com 
nmnity.  His  political  support  has  been  given  in  a  generic  waj  to 
republican  party,  but  in  local  affairs  he  has  not  been  distinctively  parti- 
san, as  he  has  preferred  to  use  his  judgment  in  the  advancing  of  meas- 
ures and  the  election  of  local  officials.  His  religious  faith  is  that  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  ami  lie  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  a  period  of  sixty  years. 

Mr.  Carrell  has  been  thrice  married.  In  Logan  county,  Ohio,  as  a 
young  man.  he  wedded  .Miss  Virginia  E.  Brown,  daughter  of  Joel  and 
Mary  (Jolliffe)  Brown,  who  removed  to  Ohio  from  the  slate  of  Virginia. 
After  thirty-seven  years  of  happy  companionship  with  the  wife  of  his 
youth  Mr.  Carrell  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  death  of  his  loved  one, 
his  wife  having  been  called  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  10th  of  November, 
1889,  and  her  birth  having  occurred  March  1,  1832.  She  was  raised  a 
Quaker,  but  after  her  marriage  became  a  .Methodist  and  was  very  active 
in  its  work.  Concerning  the  children  of  this  anion  the  following  brief 
record  is  given:  Gertrude  is  the  wife  of  George  \Y.  Hutchinson,  of 
Hartford  City,  and  they  have  three  children.  Edna,  Martina  and  Ralph 
M. ;  William  H..  died  in  infancy;  Harry,  who  is  a  progressive  farmer 
and  stockgrower  of  Blackford  county,  wedded  Miss  Laura  Swearingen, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Edith,  Edna  and  Helen;  Shirley,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  automobile  business  in  Hartford  City,  married  Catherine 
Pancoast,  and  they  have  no  children.  The  maiden  name  of  .Mr.  ('anvil's 
second  wife  was  Rebecca  Van  Cleave,  who  was  of  Virginia  lineage,  and 
she  died  eight  years  after  their  marriage,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  No 
children  were  born  of  this  union.  For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Carrell  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Gregory,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Howard 
county,  Indiana,  of  old  Virginia  lineage,  and  who  was  a  woman  of  most 
gracious  presence.  She  was  prominent  in  the  best  social  activities  of 
Hartford  City  and  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  as  was  also  the  first  wife  of  Mr.  Carrell,  the  second  wife  having 
been  an  active  adherent  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Gregory)  Carrell  was  summoned  to,  eternal  rest  on  the  22d  of  Janu- 
ary, 1910,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years  and  no  children  survive  her. 

James  P.  Rawlings.  The  achievements  which  have  marked  the  busi- 
ness career  of  James  P.  Rawlings.  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  stamp  him  as  an  able  financier  and  a  man 
of  excellent  judgment  and  foresight.  In  large  degree  the  standing  of 
every  community  is  measured  by  the  character  of  its  financial  institu- 
tions, for  unless  they  are  stable,  the  credit  of  the  municipality  and  its 
people  is  impeached.  The  First  National  Hank  of  Hartford  City  is 
an  institution  which  has  grown  out  of  the  needs  of  its  community,  and 
was  organized  by  men  of  exceptional  standing,  whose  interests  have  been 
centered  in  it  and  whose  honor  and  personal  fortunes  are  bound  up  in 
its  life.  Under  such  desirable  conditions,  a  bank  is  bound  to  maintain 
a  high  standard,  and  to  make  money  for  its  stockholders,  at  the  same 
time  safeguarding  the  interests  of  its  depositors.  As  the  directing  head 
of  its  policies,  Mr.  Rawlings  has  made  the  First  National  one  of  the 
strong  banks  of  Blackford  county,  and  he  is  eminently  worthy  of  being 
named  among  his  community's  most  prominent  and  helpful  men. 


10  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mr.  Rawlings  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  family  whose  members 
for  many  years  have  been  prominent  in  various  walks  of  life  and  in 
different  sections  of  the  country.  It  was  founded  in  America  during 
Colonial  days  by  four  brothers,  one  of  whom  located  in  Vermont,  one  in 
New  York  and  two  in  Virginia,  these  being  William  and  Aaron  Rawliugs, 
the  latter  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  Aaron  Rawlings  was 
a  farmer  and  stock-breeder  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  where  he 
passed  his  life,  and  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  string  of  horses,  being,  like 
the  greater  number  of  his  neighbors  a  great  lover  of  that  animal.  He 
was  married  in  Virginia  to  an  American  girl  whose  name  is  now  forgot- 
ten, and  they  became  the  parents  of  a  large  number  of  children.  They 
were  Universalists  in  religious  belief,  and  w-ere  known  as  prominent 
people  in  the  Colony. 

William  Rawlings,  son  of  Aaron  Rawlings,  and  grandfather  of  James 
P.  Rawlings,  was  born  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  and  there  received 
a  good  education,  attending  school  during  the  period  just  after  the  War 
for  American  Independence.  There  he  met  Miss  Priscilla  Day,  a  member 
of  a  prominent  family  of  Loudoun  county,  and  when  she  removed  to 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  before  the  War  of  1812,  young  William 
Rawlings  followed  her  there  and  they  were  married.  Following  this 
event  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fleming,  ten  miles  from  the  county  seat 
of  Flemingsburg,  where  Mr.  Rawlings  became  known  as  a  successful 
farmer  and  a  raiser  of  some  of  the  best  breeds  of  horses  to  be  found  in 
a  state  noted  for  its  accomplishments  in  this  line.  Likewise,  he  was  a 
pioneer  preacher  of  the  Universalist  faith  in  the  Blue  Grass  state,  and 
an  earnest,  zealous  Christian.  A  remarkable  man  in  many  ways,  when 
he  had  passed  the  age  of  ninety  years  he  still  made  it  a  practice  to 
mount  his  horse  every  several  days  and  ride  for  many  miles  in  the  sur- 
rounding country,  often  preaching  the  Gospel  to  his  neighbors  all  over 
the  countryside.  'Even  in  the  last  year  of  his  life  he  was  frequently  to 
be  seen  astride  his  favorite  horse,  riding  with  the  enthusiasm  and  skill 
of  men  many  years  his  junior.  His  death  occurred  suddenly  in  bis 
ninety-seventh  year,  he  being  found  dead  in  the  morning  after  having 
retired  the  previous  evening  free  from  all  apparent  ills.  He  survived  his 
wife  for  many  years,  but  was  always  true  to  her  memory  and  continued 
a  widower  until  his  death.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  William,  Jr.,  Aaron,  Fanny,  Betsey,  Baby  and  Elizabeth,  all  of 
whom  married  and  all  living  until  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  upon 
the  issues  of  which  they  were  divided  in  opinion,  some  being  slaveholders 
and  Southern  sympathizers,  while  others  remained  stanch  supporters  of 
the  Union. 

William  Rawlings,  the  father  of  James  P.  Rawlings,  had  grown  to 
manhood  in  Fleming  county.  Kentucky,  and  although  he  had  adopted 
the  faith  of  the  democratic  party,  was  a  stalwart  Union  man.  He  was 
married  in  his  native  county  to  Miss  .Martha  Vallandingham,  a  member 
of  the  well-known  Southern  family  of  that  name,  who  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  in  1815  or  1816,  being  about  one  year  her  husband's 
junior.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Denton)  Vallanding- 
ham, natives  of  Virginia,  who  were  married  in  Kentucky  and  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives  in  Fleming  county,  that  state.  William  Vallanding- 
ham died  there  as  the  result  of  an  accident,  while  his  widow  survived 
some  years  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Rawlings,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-seven  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church 
to  which  her  husband  had  also  belonged.  For  some  years  after  their 
union  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Rawlings  resided  in  Fleming:  county.  Ken- 
tucky, he  being  engaged  as  a  farmer  and  horseraiser.  There  James  P. 
Rawlings  was  born  March  24,  1847,  and  he  was  ten  years  of  age  when 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         1 1 

the  family  came  to  Randolph  count}-,  Indiana.  The  first  home  was  a 
little  log  cabin,  located  in  the  midst  of  a  tract  of  timber,  all  deadened, 
from  which  a  few  acres  had  been  cleared,  and  there  Mr.  Rawlings  passed 
his  boyhood.  He  still  has  a  strong  recollection  of  the  years  of  unrelent- 
ing and  unceasing  labor  that  followed;  of  the  toil  which  subdued  the 
wilderness  and  transformed  a  useless  tract  of  land  into  a  productive 
and  valuable  farm.  From  early  spring  until  late  fall,  and  often  through 
the  winter  months,  he  helped  his  brothers  and  bis  father  eut  down  trees, 
grub  out  the  stumps,  clear  away  the  underbrush,  break  the  land  with 
the  old-fashioned  plow,  dig  ditches,  and  finally  sow  and  reap  and  gain 
the  well-won  fruits  of  labor.  Much  was  done  by  the  Rawlings  in  the 
building  of  highways  and  in  the  draining  of  useless  land,  and  to  their 
sturdy  natures  and  indomitable  energy  Randolph  county  owes  much  for 
its  rapid  development. 

William  Rawdings  and  his  wife  passed  away  within  a  week  of  each 
other  during  the  month  of  October,  1892,  honored  and  respected  by 
those  who  had  grown  to  know  and  admire  them  for  their  many  excel- 
lencies of  mind  and  heart.  Mr.  Rawdings  was  a  member  of  the  Universal- 
ist  church,  while  his  wife  was  a  Methodist  and  active  in  the  work  of 
her  religion.  In  politics  Mr.  Rawdings  was  a  democrat,  but  refused  to 
cast  his  vote  for  that  party  when  Horace  Greeley  became  candidate.  The 
old  homestead  is  now  owned  by  his  sons,  John  Day  and  Oliver  A. ; 
another  son,  Aaron,  resides  at  Independence,  Kansas,  and  is  single  ;  .Mary, 
a  daughter,  died  after  her  marriage  to  Anderson  Coulter,  of  Randolph 
county,  and  left  two  daughters;  William,  another  sou,  died  as  a  single 
man  in  Kentucky ;  and  the  eldest  son,  Jeremiah,  died  in  Randolph  county, 
and  left  two  sons,  both  of  whom  are  now7  deceased. 

James  P.  Rawlings  grew  to  sturdy  manhood  on  the  home  place,  and 
from  earliest  youth  showed  himself  to  be  possessed  of  industry,  energy 
and  ambition.  During  the  summer  months  he  did  his  full  share  of  clear- 
ing the  farm  and  building  roads,  and  when  time  could  be  spared  he 
attended  the  district  school  during  the  short  winter  terms,  thus  secur- 
ing a  good  common  school  education  and  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
mathematics.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  adopted  farming  and  stock- 
raising  as  the  field  of  labor  in  which  to  spend  his  career,  and  in  this 
line  gained  deserved  success,  also  becoming  known  as  a  breeder  and  lover 
of  horses,  the  latter  trait  having  probably  been  inherited  from  his  Ken- 
tucky and  Virginia  ancestors.  He  also  spent  two  years  in  the  dry  goods 
business  in  Randolph  county,  but  in  1886  came  to  Blackford  county. 
and  when  oil  and  gas  were  discovered  here  he  was  retained  by  the  Stand- 
ard Oil  Company  to  lease  lands  and  look  after  their  interests.  He  was 
very  successful  in  this  line  and  came  into  contract  with  some  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  state.  In  1903,  when  the  First  National 
Bank  was  organized,  he  was  elected  its  first  president,  and  this  office  he 
has  continued  to  hold  to  the  present  time.  The  institution  has  a  capital 
of  $50,000,  with  over  $200,00(1  in  deposits,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the 
leading  organizations  of  this  part  of  the  state.  Through  Mr.  Rawlings' 
abilities  and  good  management  the  confidence  of  the  public  has  been 
secured,  a  necessary  asset  for  any  financial  venture.  His  associates  place 
in  him  the  greatest  confidence,  and  look  to  him  constantly  for  leadership 
and  counsel  in  all  matters  of  importance.  Politically  a  democrat,  while 
a  resident  of  Montpelier  he  was  a  councilman  during  the  period  of  the 
city's  greatest  growth,  and  did  much  to  forward  its  interests.  In  1896 
he  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  Blackford  county,  and  in  1900  was 
reelected  with  the  largest  majority  given  any  official  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Rawlings  was  married  to  Miss  Lillie  Wiggins,  of  Randolph  county, 
born, -reared  and  educated  here,  a  member  of  a  fine  old  New  England 


12  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

family.  Her  parents  were  Lemuel  and  Mary  (Stanley)  Wiggins,  early 
settlers  of  Randolph  county,  where  Mr.  Wiggins  was  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man.  The  parents  came  of  Quaker  stock,  but  were  themselves 
Methodists.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rawlings  there  were  born  the  following 
children :  Oran  A.,  a  resident  of  Portland,  postmaster,  member  of  the 
school  board  and  a  contractor  and  builder,  married  Gertrude  Winters, 
and  has  three  children, — Margaret,  Edith  and  James  P.;  Lula  B.,  wife 
of  A.  G.  Ensh wilier;  Clarence  L.,  engaged  in  the  plumbing  business, 
married  Bessie  Gettys,  and  has  five  children, — Mary,  Roll,  Henry,  Louis 
and  Esther,  living  at  Hartford  City;  and  Lewis  W.,  like  his  brothers 
and  sister,  well  educated,  was  for  four  years  with  his  father  in  the 
county  treasurer's  office,  then  became  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Montpelier,  and  is  now  in  business  in  Indianapolis.  The 
mother  of  these  children,  who  was  widely  known  for  her  charity  and 
good  deeds,  died  March  17,  1902. 

George  II.  Newbauer.  Public  office  is  ever  a  public  trust,  and  it 
figures  also  as  the  metewand  bjr  which  may  be  judged  the  popidar  confi- 
dence and  esteem  reposed  in  the  incumbent.  The  present  efficient  treas- 
urer of  Blackford  county  has  never  manifested  any  predilection  toward 
'  seeking  public  plaudits,  but  he  has  so  ordered  his  course  as  a  man  and 
as  an  official  that  he  has  been  deemed  altogether  worthy  of  the  re- 
sponsible position  which  he  now  holds,  the  while  it  may  consistently  be 
said  that  in  Blackford  county  his  every  acquaintance  is  his  friend. 

As  the  surname  implies,  Mr.  Newbauer  is  a  scion  of  sturdy  German 
ancestry,  and  his  grandfather,  John  Newbauer  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated  and  whence  as  a  young  man  he  immi- 
grated to  America,  the  voyage  having  been  made  on  a  sailing  vessel  and 
thirty  days  having  been  consumed  in  crossing  the  Atlantic.  He  became 
a  pioneer  of  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  at  a  point  about  three  miles  dis- 
tant from  Greenville,  the  county  seat,  he  reclaimed  and  improved  a 
farm.  His  parents  lived  and  died  in  the  old  country  and,  so  far  as 
family  records  indicate,  they  must  have  attained  venerable  age.  John 
Newbauer  married  in  German}',  before  coming  to  America,  and  he  and 
his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  both  having  been  consistent  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church.  Of  their  children  Jacob,  a  retired  farmer,  now 
resides  at  Greenville,  Darke  county;  Louis  is  a  substantial  farmer  of 
the  same  county;  Elizabeth  first  wedded  Amos  Reck  and  she  now  re- 
sides in  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  as  the  widow  of  Jacob  Roby ;  John  A. 
is  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan  became  the  wife  of 
Philip  Toman  and  is  now  deceased ;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Enos  Wil- 
liams, of  Darke  county,  Ohio;  and  George  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  the 
same  county. 

John  A.  Newbauer  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1847,  and  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  mentioned  in 
the  preceding  paragraph.  In  1871,  when  about  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  he  came  to  Hartford  City.  Indiana,  and  here  he  was  for  a  period 
of  about  eight  years  associated  with  Amos  Reck  in  the  conducting  of  a 
meat  market.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Reck  he  became  sole  proprietor 
of  the  business,  which  he  successfully  conducted  for  the  ensuing  twelve 
years,  becoming  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  the  town. 
Later  he  became  a  dealer  in  building  material  and  farm  implements, 
and  finally  he  assumed  the  position  of  cashier  of  the  Blackford  County 
Bank,  of  which  he  was  elected  vice-president  six  years  later.  He  still 
retains  the  latter  office  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  capitalists  and  rep- 
resentative business  men  of  Blackford  county.     He  is  a  democrat  in 


•  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         13 

politics,  served  seven  years  as  trustee  of  Licking  township,  is  promi- 
nently affiliated  with  the  local  lodge  and  encampment  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  military  branch  of  the  organization  in 
Hartford  City  being  named  Canton  Newbauer,  in  his  honor,  and  lus 
membership  in  the  encampment  having  covered  a  period  of  thirty  years. 
At  Hartford  City  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  John  A.  Newbauer  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bolner,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Blackford  county 
from  the  time  of  her  birth,  in  1857,  her  parents  having  been  early  Bet- 
tiers  here  and  having  died  when  she  was  a  girl  of  sixteen  years.  Of 
the  five  children  the  eldest  is  Altha,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Har- 
vey, engaged  in  the  laundry  business  at  Hartford  City;  George  H., 
county  treasurer,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Robert  is  engaged  in 
the  farm-implement  ami  machinery  business  at  Hartford  City;  Eva  re- 
mains at  the  parental  home  ami  is  deputy  to  her  brother  in  the  office 
of  county  treasurer;  and  Hazel  died  in  childhood. 

George  H.  Newbauer  was  born  at  Hartford  City,  on  the  29th  of 
August.  1878,  and  he  was  here  graduated  in  the  high  school  as  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1897.  Two  years  later  he  became  associated  with  his 
brother  Robert  in  the  farm-implement  business,  with  which  he  continued 
to  be  actively  identified  for  twelve  years,  on  South  Walnut  street,  the 
enterprise  becoming  within  this  period  one  of  the  most  important  of 
its  kind  in  Blackford  county.  In  1910  Mr.  Newbauer  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  and  after  serving  three  years  of  the  four-year 
term  he  resigned  to  assume  the  duties  of  the  office  of  county  treasurer, 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  1912.  his  administration  of  the  fiscal  affairs 
of  the  county  having  been  mai-ked  by  discrimination  and  scrupulous 
attention  to  every  detail,  so  that  he  has  gained  uniform  commenda- 
tion Mr.  Newbauer  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  and  he  is  a  prominent  and  popular  member  of  various  fra- 
ternal and  social  organizations  in  his  home  city,  including  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  which  he  has  represented  as  a  delegate  to 
the  grand  lodge  of  the  State;  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, besides  holding  the  office  of  leading  knight  in  Hartford  City 
Lodge,  No.  625.  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  1903  Mr.  Newbauer  wedded  Miss  S.  Elizabeth  Hiatt.  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  and  who  was  accorded  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  Winchester,  the  county  seat.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Newbauer  have  one  daughter,  Martha  E.,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 15,  1909. 

M.  Clifford  Townsend.  There  can  be  no  measure  of  conjecture  as 
to  the  efficiency  and  value  of  the  services  that  are  being  rendered  to 
Blackford  county  by  Professor  Townsend,  who  is  the  able  and  popular 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools  and  who 
has  proved  his  administrative  powers  to  be  on  a  parity  with  his  high 
intellectual  attainments.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county  and  that  he  is 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed  needs  no  further  voucher  than  that 
offered  by  his  present  official  preferment. 

Professor  Townsend  was  born  in  Licking  township.  Blackford  county. 
on  the  11th  of  August,  1884,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Lydia  (Glancy) 
Townsend,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  this  country  on  the  8th 
of  October,  1859,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Ohio,  on  the  14th 
of  November,  1S67.  David  Townsend  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
honored  pioneer  families  of  Blackford  county  and  is  a  son  of  Gilbert 
Townsend,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1815,  a  son  of 
Gilbert  and  Mary  (Saxon)  Townsend.  Gilbert  Townsend.  Jr..  whose 
wife  was  of  Pennsylvania  German  ancestry,  came  to  Blackford  county. 


14         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  . 

Indiana,  about  seventy  years  ago,  his  parents  having  here  established 
their  home  about  the  year  1836  and  having  become  pioneer  settlers  in 
Washington  township,  where  Gilbert  Townsend,  Sr.,  took  up  a  tract 
of  government  land  and  instituted  the  reclamation  of  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  his  old  homestead  being  now  known  as  the  Scott  farm. 
The  family  home  was  a  primitive  log  house  of  the  type  common  to  the 
locality  and  period  and  the  full  tension  of  the  pioneer  life  was  endured 
by  the  early  representatives  of  the  Townsend  family  in  Blackford 
county.  Gilbert  Townsend,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  first  white  settlers  in 
Washington  township,  did  well  his  part  in  the  social  and  industrial 
development  of  the  county  and  both  he  and  his  wife  continued  to  re- 
side in  Washington  township  until  their  death,  at  advanced  ages.  Gil- 
bert Townsend,  Jr.,  likewise  became  one  of  the  substantial  pioneer 
farmers  of  the  county,  and  in  Washington  township  his  wife  died  in  1865. 
Many  years  later  he  removed  to  the  State  of  Kansas,  where  he  died  in 
1890,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Maria  Studebaker,  near  the 
city  of  Hutchinson,  his  age  at  the  time  of  his  demise  having  been  seventy- 
five  years.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  character  and  well  defined  convic- 
tions, his  political  allegiance  having  been  given  to  the  democratic  party. 

David  Townsend,  one  of  several  children,  is  the  youngest  of  the 
number  and  the  only  one  now  living  except  his  sister,  Sarah,  who  has 
reared  a  family  of  children  and  who  now  resides  in  Blackford  county. 
David  Townsend  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Blackford  county,  where  he 
was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  the  day,  and  he 
initiated  his  independent  career  as  a  farmer  in  Licking  township,  where 
he  passed  the  major  part  of  his  active  career  and  where  he  achieved 
success  worthy  of  the  name.  In  that  township  was  solemnized  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lydia  Glancy,  who  was  four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
her  parents'  removal  from  Ohio  to  Blackford  county.  Mrs.  Townsend 
is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Harriet  (Kirk)  Glancy,  who  came  to  Black- 
ford county  in  1871  and  the  latter  of  whom  died  here  in  1875,  her 
birth  having  occurred  in  the  year  1826.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were 
devoted  adherents  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  David  Glancy  was 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  after  coming  to  Indiana  but  event- 
ually he  prepared  himself  for  the  medical  profession,  to  which  he  gave 
his  attention  for  many  years.  In  1881  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  continued  in  the  active  work  of  his  profession  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  his  home  near  Denton,  Carter  county,  November  8,  1906, 
his  age  at  the  time  having  been  seventy-five  years.  Of  his  four  sons 
and  four  daughters  all  are  living,  except  two.  David  and  Lydia  (Glancy) 
Townsend,  who  now  reside  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  are 
the  parents  of  two  children,  of  whom  M.  Clifford  of  this  review  is  the 
elder ;  Myrtle  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Hoover,  who  is  engaged  in  the  furni- 
ture business  at  Hartford  City. 

Professor  M.  Clifford  Townsend  duly  availed  himself  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  then  became  a 
successful  and  popular  teacher,  his  work  in  the  pedagogic  profession 
having  been  of  such  admirable  order  that  he  was  eventually  recognized 
as  a  most  eligible  candidate  for  the  responsible  office  of  which  he  is  now 
the  incumbent.  He  taught  his  first  term  of  school  in  the  Bailey  district 
of  Licking  township,  in  1902,  and  he  has  since  continued  to  be  actively 
and  successfully  identified  with  the  work  of  his  profession,  in  the  mean- 
while having  completed  a  thorough  course  at  the  Marion  Normal  Col- 
lege, an  institution  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1907.  He  was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  April, 
1909,  and  his  administration  has  been  marked  by  scrupulous  attention 
to  the  requirements  of  all  of  the  schools  in  his  jurisdiction,  as  well  as 


has    gi 

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approval 

of 

BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         15 

by  most  progressive  policies,  so  tha 
operation  of  the  teachers  of  the  cou 
the  general  public. 

Professor  Townsend  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  principles  of 
the  democratic  party  and  he  has  been  an  active  worker  in  behalf  of 
its  cause,  definite  prestige  being  given  by  his  present  incumbency  of 
the  position  of  secretary  of  the  democratic  county  committee  of  Black- 
ford county.  He  has  served  as  delegate  to  the  democratic  conventions 
of  this  congressional  district,  and  in  his  native  county  is  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  The  Professor  is  affiliated  with  the 
Hartford  City  lodges  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1910,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Professor  Towusend  to  Miss  Nora  Harris,  who  was  born  in  Grant  county 
on  the  17th  of  December,  1890,  and  who  is  a  birthright  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  She  is  a  young  woman  of  most  gracious  prison 
ality  and  was  graduated  in  the  Marion  Normal  College.  Professor  and 
Mrs.  Townsend  have  one  child,  Maxwell  Alexander,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 10,  1913. 

William  L.  VaxCleve.  Progression  in  any  community  can  only  be 
effected  through  the  individual  efforts  of  those  men  who  have  the  public 
welfare  really  at  heart,  and  who  are  willing  to  exert  themselves  for, 
and  contribute  of  their  activities  to,  the  betterment  of  conditions,  the 
advancement  of  institutions  and  the  upbuilding  of  their  section,  who, 
while  advancing  themselves  in  a  material  manner,  help  their  locality 
through  a  sense  of  public  spirit.  Hartford  City  as  a  community  has  been 
singularly  fortunate  in  numbering  among  its  citizens  such  men  as  Wil- 
liam L.  VanCleve,  owner  of  the  VanCleve  Opera  House  and  the  Wilora 
Apartments,  and  one  of  his  city's  most  progressive  and  helpful  men. 

Mr.  VanCleve  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  family  of  Dutch  extrac- 
tion, the  first  member  to  come  to  America  being  one  Jan  VanCleve,  who 
was  born  in  Holland  in  1628.  The  date  of  his  coming  is  not  known,  but 
it  is  probable  that  all  the  VanCleves  have  descended  from  this  ancestor. 
Many  of  this  name  have  been  prominent  in  the  trades,  professions  and 
arts,  in  public,  military  and  civil  life,  and  wherever  found  represent 
the  highest  type  of  citizenship.  Some  generations  removed  from  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  was  the  grandfather  of  William  L.  Van- 
Cleve, William  VanCleve,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  October  23, 
1768,  the  family  having  located  in  the  Old  Dominion  some  years  be- 
fore, coming  from  North  Carolina.  He  married  Rebecca  Powell,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  July  6,  1773,  and  it  is  thought  that  almost 
immediately  after  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  as 
they  were  residents  of  Bedford  county,  in  that  state  for  many 
years.  Mr.  VanCleve  died  November  17,  1829,  and  his  wife  April  4, 
1821.  Mr.  VanCleve  was  a  farmer,  wood  mechanic  and  sawmill  oper- 
ator for  many  years,  was  successful  in  business,  a  man  of  broad  intelli- 
gence, and  widely  respected.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  VanCleve  were  very 
religious  people,  and  were  consistent  members  and  liberal  supporters  of 
the  Baptist  church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Paul,  Jerusha,  William,  Alexander,  Morgan  A.,  Raehael.  Joseph  P., 
John,  Asher.  Rebecca.  Mars-,  Samuel  and  Finley.  All  of  these  children 
lived  to  grow  to  maturity  and  nearly  all  were  married  and  had  issue. 
Among  the  possessions  which  formerly  belonged  to  Mr.  VanCleve,  but 
which  now  are  highly-prized  mementoes  of  Mrs.  John  C.  Leonard,  of 
Hartford  City,  are  a  fine  old  Terry,  all-wooden  clock,  which  has  been 
in  the  family  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  years,  as  well  as 


16        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mr.  VanCleve's  old  glue-pot,  molded  with  his  name  and  the  date,  Jan- 
uary, 1794. 

Joseph  P.  VanCleve,  son  of  William  VanCleve,  was  born  in  Bedford 
county.  Pennsylvania,  June  23,  1805.  When  still  a  young  and  single 
man,  in  1836,  he  traveled  on  horseback  all  the  way  from  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  blazing  his  way 
through  many  miles  of  woods  in  order  that  he  could  readily  find  his 
way  back  home.  Bringing  with  him  $600  in  gold,  he  took  up  land  from 
the  government  for  himself  and  his  brother,  Asher,  and  here  they  sub- 
sequently settled  down  as  bachelors,  living  in  a  log  cabin  and  starting 
to  clear  their  land.  After  they  had  a  part  of  their  farms  under  culti- 
vation, in  1840  Asher  married,  but  Joseph  P.  did  not  marry  until  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1857,  when  he  was  united  with  Nancy  Levering,  who  was  born 
April  25,  1818,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  died  August  11,  1859,  in 
Hartford  City,  Indiana,  on  the  original  site  of  the  birthplace  of  their  son 
William  L.  and  where  he  is  still  living.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Levering,  and  she  came  from  Ohio  to  Blackford  county  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage  and  settled  at  Hartford  City. 

Joseph  P.  VanCleve  was  a  man  of  great  prominence  and  a  quaint 
character.  He  was  a  successful  merchant,  owning  a  lot  and  store  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  Square  in  Hartford  City,  and  during  the  Civil 
War  and  prior  thereto  was  a  stalwart  Unionist.  He  was  courageous  and 
outspoken  in  his  views,  and  his  store,  being  the  headquarters  for  the 
leaders  of  the  Northern  cause  in  the  city,  became  widely  known  as  ' '  The 
Fort,"  Mr.  VanCleve  becoming  known  everywhere  as  "General.'*  He 
was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican,  was  one  of  the  first  county  com- 
missioners at  the  little  log  courthouse,  and  was  a  Baptist  by  religious 
faith,  although  he  never  belonged  to  any  church.  He  died  November 
11,  1881,  at  his  home  in  Hartford  City,  the  present  site  of  the  well- 
known  Wilora  Apartments,  now  owned  by  his  son. 

William  L.  VanCleve  was  born  on  the  lot  in  Hartford  City,  Indiana, 
on  which  he  has  since  made  his  home,  September  16,  1858.  He  was 
reared  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Jane  Hart,  a  niece  of  Joseph  P.  VanCleve,  and 
who  was  his  housekeeper  at  the  time  of  his  death.  She  was  a  splendid 
character  and  gave  Mr.  VanCleve  a  good  home,  a  Christian  training  and  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  Before  the  completion 
of  his  literary  training  he  entered  his  father's  store  as  a  clerk,  as  his 
father  was  getting  old,  and  was  unable  to  conduct  the  business.  He 
had  given  a  large  part  of  his  boyhood  to  the  business,  and  in  1882,  com- 
pleted his  own  business  establishment  and  the  VanCleve  Opera  House. 
When  the  latter  was  opened  it  was  the  largest  business  block  in  the 
county,  with  the  Opera  House  having  450  seats,  and  it  was  a  great  occa- 
sion in  Hartford  City,  the  various  railroads  conducting  excursions  to 
the  city  from  all  over  this  section,  and  visitors  being  entertained  in  a 
royal  manner.  Mr.  VanCleve  continued  in  business  until  1906,  manag- 
ing his  affairs  in  such  an  able  manner  that  he  was  able  to  retire  from 
his  active  pursuits  at  that  time.  He  was  able  to  build  up  a  large  and 
lucrative  trade,  and  by  his  fair  and  honorable  dealing  to  establish  him- 
self firmly  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  associates  and  the  public 
at  large.  In  1910,  he  became  the  builder  of  the  Wilora  Apartments,  a 
handsome  structure  which  adds  to  the  beauty  of  his  section  of  the  city, 
and  in  this  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Van- 
Cleve is  a  republican,  but  political  life  has  held  out  no  attractions  for 
him.  He  belongs  to  Blue  Lodge  No.  106  and  Chapter  No.  Ill  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  at  Hartford  City,  and  is  a  charter  member  and  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Blackford  Club  of  Hartford  City. 

Mr.  VanCleve  was  married  November  16,  1882.  in   Eden.  Hancock 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  17 

county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Leora  Barrett,  who  was  horn  April  L9,  1863, 
in  that  county.  She  has  heen  active  in  assisting  her  husband  in  his  va- 
rious business  ventures,  and  is  a  woman  of  many  attainments  and 
graces.  She  is  an  energetic  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  being 
secretary  of  the  charity  and  relict'  committees  for  twelve  years  and  a 
member  of  the  Fortnightly  Club.  She  belongs  also  to  Eastern  Star 
Lodge  Xo.  112.  of  which  she  is  past  conductress  and  a  member  of  the 
public  library  hoard.  .Mr.  VanCleve  is  also  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  has  been  a  member  of  tin-  official  board.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  VauCleve  there  have  been  born  two  children,  namely :  Joseph  P., 
born  November  16.  1883;  and  Helen  Elizabeth,  born  November  13,  1887. 

Joseph  P.  VauCleve  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Bart- 
ford  City,  the  Indiana  University  and  the  University  of  Michigan,  and 
was  private  secretary  for  J.  R.  Johnston,  the  Indiana  glass  manufacturer. 
He  died  September  10,  1907.  unmarried.  He  was  a  valued  member  of 
the  Masons,  the  Blackford  Club  and  the  Greek  letter  society  of  his  uni- 
versity, and  had  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Helen  Elizabeth  VanCleve 
was  born  at  Middletown.  Indiana,  while  her  parents  were  residing  there 
for  a  short  time,  and  was  educated  in  the  Hartford  City  high  school, 
Mary  Baldwin  school,  at  Staunton,  Virginia,  and  .Miss  Mason's  school, 
The  Castle,  at  Tarrytown.  New  York.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Fort- 
nightly and  Saturday  Clubs  and  affiliates  with  the  Presbyterian  church 
as  there  is  no  church  of  her  own  denomination,  the  Episcopal.  She  was 
married  October  23,  1912,  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  to  John  Calvin 
Leonard,  who  was  born  and  educated  at  Montpelier,  Indiana,  his  birth 
being  June  23,  1877.  He  was  educated  at  Hartford  City.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  P.  A.  Leonard,  who  was  born  in  Mense,  France,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  as  a  child.  John  C.  Leonard  has  for  years  been  en- 
gaged in  business  here,  and  at  this  time  is  a  stock  holder  and  director  of 
the  Johnston  Glass  Company  and  one  of  his  city's  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive men,  taking  a  keen  and  helpful  interest  in  all  that  affects  his 
community.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  democrat,  but  has  preferred 
to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  rather  than  to  mixing  in  the 
battles  of  the  political  arena.  Llis  fraternal  connection  is  with  the 
Masons,  in  which  he  is  a  Shriner.  holding  membership  in  Murat  Temple, 
A.  A.  ( >.  X.  M.  S.,  at  Indianapolis,  and  is  a  past  master  of  the  blue  lodge, 
council  and  chapter. 

The  following  review  will  be  of  interest  not  only  to  those  who  knew 
Joseph  P.  VanCleve,  the  father  of  William  L.  VanCleve,  but  to  those 
who  delight  in  reading  of  the  men  of  early  days.  It  is  from  the  pen 
of  Benjamin  G.  Shinn,  who  knew,  admired  and  appreciated  Mr.  Van- 
Cleve, and,  who  is  himself  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed  as  an 
honored  early  resident : 

"'Joseph  P.  VanCleve  and  his  brother,  Asher.  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Blackford  county  in  the  vicinity  of  Hartford  City.  They 
were  both  good  men  and  excellent  citizens.  Asher  VanCleve  was  a  very 
quiet,  peaceable  and  kindly-disposed  man;  but  few  men  had  less  than 
he  of  a  resentful  spirit  in  their  natures.  If  he  ever  had  an  enemy  the 
enmity  must  have  been  unprovoked  and  wholly  gratuitous.  Joseph  P. 
VanCleve  had  a  larger  endowment  of  the  pugnacious  quality.  He  was 
one  of  those  who.  knowing  his  rights,  dared  to  maintain  them.  His  pur- 
pose was  to  be  right  in  his  convictions  and  views  and  he  was  firm  in  their 
maintenance.  While  taking  a  lively  interest  in  polities,  he  was  not  an 
office  seeker,  although  he  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  office,  this  be- 
ing in  1854  when  he  was  an  independent  candidate  for  representative 
in  the  legislature.  Blackford  county  then  had  a  representative  of  hi  r 
own,  and  the  county  was  strongly  democratic.     The  great  mass  of  the 


18         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

voters  of  that  party  stood  by  the  administration  of  President  Pierce  and 
supported  the  act  of  Congress  of  that  year,  known  as  the  Kansas-Ne- 
braska bill.  Their  candidate  was  Dr.  William  T.  Shull,  of  Montpelier, 
and  the  opposition  did  not  unite  in  the  nomination  of  any  candidate. 
There  were  two  other  independent  candidates,  Josiah  Turbull  of  Mont- 
pelier, and  James  Rhine  of  Matamoras,  both  of  whom  had  been  demo- 
crats up  to  that  year,  while  Mr.  VanCleve  had  been  a  Whig.  Shull 
was  easily  successful  and  probably  would  have  been  if  the  opposition 
had  united  upon  a  single  candidate. 

"When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  came  on,  Mr.  VanCleve  was 
throughout  an  ardent  and  uncompromising  supporter  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  too  old  for  service  as  a  soldier, 
but  he  heartily  encouraged  all  measures  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of 
the  war  for  the  Union,  and  was  the  liberal  and  trusted  friend  of  the 
Union  soldiers.  His  zeal  procured  for  him  the  hostility  of  that  element 
which  sympathized  with  the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  threats  were 
made  of  doing  him  injury,  but  he  prepared  himself  for  effective  defense 
and  no  violent  measures  were  ever  resorted  to.  His  two-story  frame 
store  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Public  Square  was  Union 
headquarters  in  Hartford  City  and  was  designated  as  the  'Old  Fort.' 

"During  the  war  and  for  some  years  after  there  was  no  bank  in 
Hartford  City,  and  Mr.  VanCleve  acted  as  banker  for  a  large  number 
of  citizens.  They  had  entire  confidence  in  him  and  deposited  their 
money  with  him  for  safe  keeping,  and  no  one  ever  lost  anything  by  so 
doing.  He  read  books  and  was  a  constant  reader  of  the  newspapers,  and 
was  a  man  of  excellent  general  information.  He  was  a  steadfast  sup- 
porter of  the  right  and  an  enemy  of  all  chicanery  and  dishonorable 
conduct.  He  was  a  valuable  citizen  and  had  an  extensive  acquaintance. 
He  had  hosts  of  warm  friends  and  in  the  later  years  of  his  life  his  friends 
just  about  equalled  the  number  of  his  acquaintances.  His  career  closed 
nearly  a  third  of  a  century  ago,  but  his  memory  is  cherished  with 
pleasure  by  all  who  were  acquainted  with  him  in  his  lifetime." 

Albert  E.  Sutton.  The  deputy  county  sheriff  of  Blackford  county 
can  claim  a  genealogical  record  in  which  he  may  take  just  pride.  In 
1769  a  little  colony  of  340  earnest  English  Christians  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  faith  left  the  "tight  little  isle"  of  England  to  establish  a 
home  in  America,  as  they  were  meeting  unjust  opposition  on  the  part  of 
both  the  established  Church  of  England  and  the  Roman  Catholic  ele- 
ment. They  disposed  of  their  possessions  in  England  and  set  forth  to 
establish  themselves  in  the  New  World,  where  they  were  assured  of  free- 
dom of  religious  convictions  and  also  opportunities  for  the  winning  of 
independence  and  individual  success.  Each  of  these  colonists  was  of 
the  Sutton  family  kinship,  and  after  a  long  and  weary  voyage  on  a 
sailing  ship  they  landed  at  the  historic  old  Jamestown,  Virginia.  The 
members  of  the  company  settled  in  various  localities  in  the  Old  Dominion 
and  the  lineal  ancestors  of  Albert  E.  Sutton  of  this  review  were  found 
numbered  among  these  sturdy  and  determined  colonists.  Within  one 
or  two  generations  representatives  of  the  name  were  found  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  Ohio  and  they  became  the  founders  of  the  village 
of  Jamestown,  Greene  county  that  State, — a  place  named  in  honor  of 
the  old  family  home  in  Virginia.  A  member  of  this  Ohio  colony  was 
Hezekiah  Sutton,  great-grandfather  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
article.  Hezekiah  Sutton  was  an  influential  figure  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  Jamestown,  Ohio,  and  he  also  reclaimed  in  the  vicin- 
ity a  productive  farm,  the  locality  having  at  the  time  had  fully  as 
many  Indians  in  evidence  as  white  settlers.     Family  records  indicate 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         19 

that  Hezekiah  Sutton  was  a  man  of  exceptional  force  of  character,  and 
his  physical  and  mental  powers  gave  to  him  remarkable  longevity,  as  is 
evident  when  it  is  set  forth  that  he  was  118  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  born  on  the  20th  of  June  and  on  his  116th  birthday 
anniversary  his  pioneer  friends  assembled  to  do  honor  to  the  occasion. 
They  found  him  laboring  in  the  fields  of  his  farm,  where  he  was  cutting 
underbrush,  and  he  appreciated  to  the  full  the  kindly  tribute  that  was 
paid  him,  his  gentle  and  noble  nature  having  gained  to  him  the  friend- 
ship not  only  of  his  white  neighbors,  widely  separated,  but  also  of  the 
Indians  who  had  habitation  in  that  section  of  the  state.  His  life  was 
ordered  upon  a  high  plane,  and  well  did  he  merit  the  confidence  implic- 
itly placed  in  him  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Gardiner,  was  a  member  of  a  sterling  pioneer  family  of  Ohio,  and 
in  that  State  they  continued  to  maintain  their  home  until  the  end  of 
their  righteous  and  gentle  lives.  Of  their  several  children,  one  was 
Isaiah,  who  was  born  in  1802,  at  Jamestown,  Greene  count}',  Ohio,  and 
who  was  reared  under  the  conditions  and  influences  of  the  early  pioneer 
era,  Ohio  having  been  admitted  to  Statehood  about  a  decade  after  his 
birth.  He  became  one  of  the  early  clergymen  of  the  Methodist  church 
in  Ohio,  and  as  an  itinerant  minister  he  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of 
the  pioneer  days,  as  he  went  from  place  to  place  to  preach  in  the  little 
log  houses  of  the  day  and  labored  with  consecrated  zeal  in  the  uplifting 
of  his  fellow  men.  As  a  '"circuit  rider"  of  his  church  the  Rev.  Isaiah 
Sutton  came  to  Indiana  in  1836,  and  in  this  state  he  repeated  his 
pioneer  experiences,  in  fact  he  and  his  companions  having  been  com- 
pelled literally  to  hew  their  roads  through  from  Greeneville.  Darke 
county.  Ohio,  to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Dunkirk.  Jay  county.  Indiana. 
This  devoted  pioneer  clergyman  entered  and  perfected  claim  to  a  tract 
of  heavily  timbered  land  in  Jay  county,  and  on  a  portion  of  this  tract  is 
now  situate  the  thriving  little  city  of  Dunkirk.  There  the  earnest  and 
godly  clergyman  made  his  home  and  developed  a  farm,  the  while  he 
continued  his  services  as  a  minister,  denying  himself  and  enduring  im- 
measurable hardships  in  making  his  rounds  as  a  circuit  rider  in  the 
pioneer  community,  his  services  having  been  given  in  this  line  in  Jay, 
Blackford  and  Delaware  counties,  in  each  of  which  he  was  influential 
in  establishing  the  early  churches  of  his  denomination.  Revered  by  all 
who  knew  him,  this  noble  pioneer  rested  from  his  labors  and  entered 
into  eternal  rest  in  August,  1864,  and  well  may  it  be  said  that  "his 
works  do  follow  him."  In  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold  he  passed 
onward  in  his  devoted  work,  and  none  can  doubt  that  in  all  things  his 
was  the  faith  that  makes  faithful.  He  was  compelled  in  his  labors  to 
ford  swollen  streams,  traverse  flooded  districts,  to  defend  himself  from 
attack  by  wolves  and  to  upbear  himself  against  many  other  perils  and 
hardships.  Rev.  Isaiah  Sutton  was  twice  married.  He  first  wedded 
Catherine  Shrack,  of  Ohio,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren. His  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Sawyer,  bore 
him  six  children,  and  she  survived  him  by  fifteen  years,  having  been 
his  faithful  helpmeet,  even  as  his  first  wife  had  been. 

Daniel  Sutton,  one  of  the  children  of  the  first  marriage,  was  the 
father  of  the  present  deputy  sheriff  of  Blackford  county.  Of  the  large 
family  of  seventeen  children,  only  one  is  living,  and  he  was  the  first 
born  of  the  entire  number.  This  venerable  man  is  William  G.  Sutton  and 
he  is  nearly  ninety  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1014. 
Daniel  Sutton  was  born  in  Greene  county.  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  June, 
1834,  and  he  was  two  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to 
Jay  county.  Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  condi- 
tions and  influence  of  the  pioneer  days.     Upon  attaining  to  his  legal 


20  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

majority  he  began  independent  operations  as  a  farmer,  utilizing  a  por- 
tion of  the  tract  of  480  acres  which  his  father  had  acquired  in  Jay  and 
Blackford  counties.  Daniel  Sutton  became  one  of  the  substantial  land- 
holders and  representative  agriculturists  of  Jay  county,  besides  which 
his  character  and  ability  made  him  influential  in  community  affairs. 
He  remained  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  his  death,  June  22,  1875, 
— his  forty-first  birthday  anniversary.  He  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  zealous  and  faithful,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a  staunch  republican.  In  Blackford  county  Daniel  Sutton  wedded 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Hobson,  who  was  born  in  a  little  two-room  frame  house 
that  stood  opposite  the  court  house  on  Main  street,  Hartford  City,  the 
date  of  her  nativity  having  been  July  4,  1840.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Catherine  (Goghnauer)  Hobson,  who  were  born  in  the 
Shenandoah  valley  of  Virginia,  where  they  were  members  of  a  German 
colony  that  had  there  been  founded  in  an  early  day.  Of  the  same  ances- 
tral line  is  Lieutenant  Hobson,  who  won  distinction  in  the  United  States 
Navy  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish-American  war  and  who  is  now  member 
of  Congress  from  the  State  of  Georgia.  The  marriage  of  Joseph  Hobson 
and  Catherine  Goghnauer  was  celebrated  in  Henry  county,  Indiana, 
where  the  respective  families  settled  in  the  pioneer  days.  Soon  after 
marriage  Joseph  Hobson  and  his  father-in-law  decided  to  remove  into 
the  wilds  of  northern  Indiana,  and  in  1837  they  thus  became  residents  of 
Blackford  county.  They  established  their  home  in  the  center  of  the 
county  and  they  located  the  county  seat,  but  they  did  not  have  sufficient 
financial  reinforcement  to  exploit  their  effort,  with  the  result  that  other 
persons  established  the  county  seat  at  Hartford  City,  a  few  miles  dis- 
tant. Samuel  Goghnauer  improved  a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  re- 
claiming the  same  from  the  virgin  forest,  and  there  the  remains  of 
himself  and  his  noble  wife  rest  in  the  little  family  cemetery  on  their 
old  homestead.  Joseph  Hobson  later  removed  to  Allen  county,  and  he 
and  his  wife  died  near  the  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  each  having  passed  the 
age  of  three  score  years.  Mr.  Hobson  was  originally  a  whig  and  later 
a  republican,  and  he  was  a  staunch  abolitionist  in  the  days  prior  to 
the  Civil  war.  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Sutton,  mother  of  Albert  E.  Sutton  of 
this  review,  died  at  his  home  in  Jackson  township,  Blackford  county 
on  the  29th  of  April,  1898,  her  gentle  and  gracious  life  having  been 
consonant  with  the  faith  she  professed,  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Of  the  seven  children  the  eldest  is  Arthur  E.,  who  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Graut  county ;  Albert  E.  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth ; 
Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Walling  Worley,  of  Grant  county ;  Jesse  died  June 
29,  1893,  as  the  result  of  an  accident  in  the  wrecking  of  the  train  on 
which  he  was  conductor,  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad ;  Ada  is  the  wife 
of  Harry  Shawham,  a  merchant  of  Hartford  City ;  Eliza  C.  is  a  widow 
and  resides  in  the  city  of  Fort  Wayne ;  and  Minnie  M.  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years. 

Like  all  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  Albert  E.  Sutton  was  born  on 
the  homestead  farm  in  Richland  township,  Jay  county,  and  the  date 
of  his  nativity  was  May  25,  1862.  He  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  thereafter  he  was  reared  to  maturity 
in  Blackford  county,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home,  his  educa- 
tional advantages  having  been  those  afforded  in  the  public  schools.  In 
Jackson  township  he  owns  and  resides  upon  a  well  improved  farm  of 
115  acres,  and  the  entire  place  gives  palpable  evidence  of  thrift  and 
prosperity. — indicating  the  industry  and  progressive  policies  of  the 
owner.  The  farm  is  devoted  to  diversified  agriculture  and  the  raising 
of  high-grade  live  stock,  and  Mr.  Sutton  is  known  and  honored  as  one 
of  the  sterling  citizens  of  Blackford  county,  one  who  is  essentially  loyal 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  21 

and  public-spirited.  It  is  worthy  of  note  thai  he  and  his  wife  arc  folk 
of  fine  phy.si.iuf  and  that  their  children  have  inherited  (his  desirable 
attribute,  with  the  vitality  that  indicates  sound  minds  in  sound  bodies. 

Mr.  Sutton  gave  Ins  allegiance  to  the  republican  party  until  the 
national  campaign  of  1912,  when  he  transferred  his  support  to  the  newly 
organized  progressive  party  as  an  adherent  of  which  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  on  the  1st  of  January,  1914,  by  Samuel  A. 
Mills,  the  efficient  sheriff  of  the  county,  lie  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge 
and  encampment  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  at  Hartford 
City,  as  well  as  with  the  adjunct  organization,  the  Daughters  "I'  Rebekah, 
of  which  his  wife  is  likewise  a  member.  He  is  past  chief  patriarch  of 
the  encampment  and  has  represented  his  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of 
Indiana. 

The  year  1887  gave  record  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Sutton  to  Miss 
Leora  E.  Burnworth,  of  Licking  township.  Blackford  county.  Mrs.  Sut- 
ton was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county  but  was  born  in  Randolph 
county,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1866,  a  daughter  of  .Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Fiddler)  Burnworth,  who  were  born  in  Ohio,  where  they  were  reared 
and  where  their  marriage  was  solemnized.  They  now  reside  in  Har- 
rison township,  Blackford  county,  having  here  maintained  their  home 
for  many  years,  Mr.  Burnworth  being  now,  in  1914,  seventy-four  years 
of  age  and  his  wife  sixty-nine  years.  Of  the  children  of  Sir.  and  Mrs. 
Sutton  the  eldest  is  Miss  Josie,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home; 
Clara  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Marshall,  of  Grant  county;  Arthur  R.  wedded 
Miss  Ethel  Oren  and  they  reside  in  Hartford  City;  Fred  D.  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  home  farm,  as  is  also 
Hobart  J.,  whose  twin  sister,  Hilda,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months; 
Walter  also  was  seven  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death ;  and  the  younger 
children  who  are  still  members  of  the  home  circle  are  William  E.,  Clar- 
ence R.  and  Helen  M. 

Arthur  S.  Lyle.  For  many  years  identified  with  the  industrial  and 
business  affairs  of  Hartford  City,  the  late  Arthur  S.  Lyle  had  the  genius 
of  a  business  builder,  the  power  of  attracting  to  himself  those  elements 
which  constitute  success.  While  still  active  in  the  management  of  his 
many  important  interests,  death  removed  him  from  the  ranks  of  the 
living,  and  his  life  and  character  were  such  as  to  deserve  permanent 
memorial  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Lyle,  who  still  lives  in  Hartford  City  and 
gives  capable  attention  to  the  affairs  left  by  her  late  husband,  repre- 
sents the  Willman  family,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  in  the 
business  life  of  Hartford  City. 

Arthur  S.  Lyle  was  born  in  Ilillsboro,  Ohio,  July  3,  1859,  and  died 
when  about  middle  age  in  Hartford,  March  3,  1904.  His  father  Samuel 
Lyle  married  a  Miss  Irvin.  The  family  was  originally  Scotch  in  race 
and  residence,  many  of  the  name  still  being  represented  in  that  coun- 
try, and  the  old  home,  now  more  than  two  hundred  years  old.  is  still 
held  by  some  of  the  descendants.  A  complete  genealogy  of  the  Lyle 
family  was  prepared  some  years  ago  by  Oscar  K.  Lyle  of  Brooklyn.  New 
York*  That  record  shows  the  family  moved  from  Scotland  to  Ireland. 
and  in  1740,  Mathew,  David.  John  and  Samuel  Lyle  emigrated  across  the 
ocean  and  settled  in  Rockingham  county.  Virginia.  Thus  they  have 
been  Americans  since  colonial  days,  and  the  records  show  many  men  of 
prominence  in  the  different  generations  and  different  localities  of  their 
residence.  They  were  men  of  brains  and  enterprise,  and  active  in  the 
trades,  arts  and  professions.  In  this  particular  branch  of  the  family 
the  name  Samuel  occurred  again  and  again  in  the  various  generations. 
Samuel  Lyle,  father  of  the  late  Hartford  City  merchant,  was  probably 


22  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

born  in  Ohio,  and  was  married  there.  He  went  out  from  that  state  as 
a  private  in  an  Ohio  regiment  and  served  with  credit  through  the  Civil 
War  as  a  Union  soldier.  When  the  war  was  over  he  returned  to  Hills- 
boro,  and  for  a  number  of  years  held  the  office  of  chief  of  police  in  that 
city,  until  his  death  in  1877,  when  past  eighty  years  of  age.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  by  the  second  union  had  a  daughter  who  is  now  Mrs. 
W.  K.  Renner  of  Cincinnati. 

Arthur  S.  Lyle  was  a  small  child  when  his  mother  died  and  he  and 
a  brother  were  left,  the  latter  being  Joseph  M.  Lyle,  a  printer  and  pub- 
lisher in  Dayton,  Ohio.  Joseph  Lyle  married  Hattie  Wood,  and  has 
two  children,  Russell  and  Mary  Esther.  Mr.  Lyle  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  town,  and  about  his  first  important  experience  in 
business  affairs  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Adams  Express  Company  at 
Hillsboro.  Later  the  company  sent  him  on  the  road  as  express  messenger, 
running  between  Columbus  and  Logansport  on  the  Panhandle  Railway. 
In  1883  he  resigned  from  the  messenger  service  and  took  a  position  at 
Corning,  Ohio,  but  after  his  marriage  in  1885  came  to  Hartford  City  in 
1886  and  became  associated  with  the  Willman  Lumber  Company.  Some 
years  later,  in  1897,  Mr.  Lyle  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Hart- 
ford City  Flint  Glass  Company,  and  his  interests  were  chiefly  identi- 
fied with  the  lumber  trade  and  with  glass  manufacture  until  his  death. 
He  was  one  of  the  men  of  enterprise  and  of  public  spirit  throughout  his 
residence  in  Hartford  City,  and  also  bore  an  active  part  in  Republican 
politics,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  county  and  city  central  committees, 
and  as  a  delegate  to  various  county,  congressional  and  state  conventions. 
In  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias  he  passed  all  the  chairs  of  the  local 
lodge,  and  was  also  identified  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Active  as  a  Presbyterian,  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  secretary  of 
the  board  of  trustees.  In  every  relation  of  life  he  was  progressive, 
honorable,  and  useful. 

In  Hartford  City,  January  26,  1885,  the  late  Mr.  Lyle  married 
Arminda  M.  Willman.  She  was  born  in  Hartford  City,  grew  up  and 
was  educated  there,  and  for  seven  years  before  her  marriage  had  a  busi- 
ness experience  as  clerk  which  proved  exceedingly  valuable  to  her  since 
her  husband's  death  in  the  management  of  his  affairs.  She  still  retains 
her  interests  in  the  glass  and  lumber  business,  and  her  judgment  is 
regarded  as  not  being  inferior  to  the  men  with  whom  she  is  associated 
in  business  affairs. 

The  Willman  family  is  of  German  ancestry,  and  Mrs.  Lyle 's  grand- 
father. Louis  AA7illman  was  born  in  Germany,  married  in  that  coun- 
try a  Miss  Keller,  and  after  some  children  had  been  born  they  emi- 
grated to  America  and  finally  settled  in  Hartford  City.  Grandfather 
Willman  in  the  old  country  had  learned  the  trade  of  wagonmaker,  and 
followed  that  trade  and  was  known  as  an  industrious,  quiet  and  honest 
living  citizen  of  Hartford  City  until  his  death.  He  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four,  and  his  later  years  had  been  devoted  to  farm- 
ing, and  it  was  at  his  country  home  east  of  Hartford  City  that  he 
died.  His  first  wife  had  died  in  Hartford  City,  and  his  second  wife 
spent  her  last  years  on  the  Blackford  county  farm.  Both  the  grand- 
parents Willman  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  he  was 
a  democrat.  All  the  children  were  of  the  first  marriage.  Among  these 
children  was  the  late  John  Willman,  father  of  Mrs.  Lyle.  He  was  born 
November  22.  1832,  in  Germany,  and  died  after  a  long  and  active 
career  on  August  27,  1893.  It  was  in  childhood  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  the  United  States  and  to  Hartford  City,  and  under  his 
father  he  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  maker,  but  eventually  took  up 
the  lumber  business  and  established  the  Willman  Lumber  Company,  of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         23 

which  he  remained  as  chief  executive  until  his  death.  It  was  through 
his  close  attention  to  business  and  hard  work  that  he  succeeded  in  life, 
but  he  was  not  for  that  reason  less  public  spirited,  and  was  never  back- 
ward in  giving  to  any  worthy  cause.  Mr.  Willman  is  also  remembered 
as  having  established  the  People's  Gas  Company  in  order  to  furnish 
gas  to  all  consumers  for  heating  and  lighting  purposes  at  fifty  dollars 
a  flat  rate  per  year,  or  about  half  the  average  cost  for  light  and  fuel 
that  had  been  required  by  other  companies.  The  late  Mr.  Willman  was 
a  democrat  and  a  member  of  the  city  council  and  in  many  ways  hon- 
ored by  his  community.  He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Masonic  order  in  Hartford  City.  In  that  city  he  married  Miss  Nancy 
Kirkpatrick.  who  was  born  either  in  West  Virginia  or  Ohio  in  1832 
and  died  in  Hartford  City,  October  18,  1912.  She  was  a  devoted  mother 
and  a  real  home  maker,  and  had  the  esteem  of  all  who  came  within  her 
gracious  influence.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
her  husband  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  that  denomination. 

Mrs.  Lyle  has  only  one  son  and  child,  Raymond  Samuel,  who  was 
born  November  5,  1885.  His  education  was  furnished  in  the  grade 
and  high  schools  of  Hartford  City,  and  at  his  father's  death  he  took 
the  burdens  of  management  in  the  enterprises  conducted  by  him,  and 
continued  as  superintendent  of  the  glass  company  at  Mount  Vernon 
until  1911.  In  that  year  he  accepted  a  position  with  the  Illinois  Glass 
Company  of  Chicago  and  is  still  employed  by  that  concern. 

Raymond  S.  Lyle  married  Mabel  Told  of  LaPorte,  Indiana,  who  is 
a  graduate  from  the  Conservatory  of  Music  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Lyle  keeps  up  the  relations  with  the  Presbyterian  church  so  long  main- 
tained by  her  parents,  and  in  church  and  charity  and  all  social  uplift 
work  her  influence  has  been  felt  and  she  is  one  of  the  prominent  mem- 
bers of  Hartford  City  society. 

Maurice  Trant.  In  the  long  and  uniformly  successful  career  of 
Maurice  Trant,  of  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  there  is  found 
an  exemplification  of  the  fact  that  consistent  and  well-directed  labor 
leads  to  achievement.  Having  spent  practically  all  of  his  life  in  the 
locality  in  which  he  now  resides,  he  has  seen  it  grow  and  develop  into 
one  of  the  garden  spots  of  the  Hoosier  state,  and  may  take  credit  to 
himself  for  a  full  share  of  this  growth  and  development  in  the  line 
of  agricultural  accomplishment. 

Mr.  Trant  comes  of  sterling  Irish  stock,  his  grandparents,  James 
Trant  and  wife,  being  natives  of  County  Kerry.  Ireland,  where  they 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  farming  pursuits.  Like  all  the  members  of 
the  family  they  were  faithful  attendants  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing grew  to  maturity:  John,  the  father  of  Maurice  Trant;  Patrick, 
who  married,  had  a  family  and  died  in  Canada ;  Nicholas,  who  died  in 
advanced  years  as  a  bachelor,  at  Alexander,  Indiana;  William,  who  mar- 
ried, lived  to  advanced  years  and  died  at  Muncie,  Indiana;  Maurice,  a 
bachelor,  who  died  at  Muncie,  Indiana;  James,  Jr.,  who  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, married  and  is  now  deceased ;  Mary,  who  married  John  Cronin. 
died  in  Blackford  county,  and  left  a  family:  and  Johanna,  who  married 
Thomas  Carey,  and  at  her  death  at  Muncie  left  a  family. 

John  Trant  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  in  1820,  and  was 
married  in  his  native  county  to  Miss  Ellen  Dowd.  After  the  birth  of 
their  first  child.  Patrick,  in  the  early  'forties,  they  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, boarding  a  sailing  vessel  which  met  with  exceedingly  stormy  weather 
and  after  a  perilous  voyage  of  thirteen  weeks  made  port  at  Quebec.  Can- 
ada.    From  that  point' Mr.  Trant  worked  his  way  to  the  United  States 


24  BLACKFORD  AATD  GRANT  COUNTIES 

by  being  employed  on  railroad  construction  work,  and  finally  arrived  at 
Muncie,  Indiana,  where  he  decided  to  make  his  home.  A  few  years  later, 
however,  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  32,  Licking  town- 
ship, a  tract  of  land  which  is  still  in  the  family's  possession,  and  subse- 
quently moved  on,  after  making  some  improvements,  to  section  27,  in 
the  same  township,  here  purchasing  225  acres  of  land,  the  greater  part 
of  which  was  still  in  its  wild  state.  The  family  settled  in  a  small  frame 
house,  18x24  feet,  which  is  still  standing,  although  later  Mr.  Trant 
erected  a  comfortable  and  commodious  house  of  ten  rooms,  a  substantial 
barn,  40x60  feet,  and  good  outbuildings.  He  was  a  sturdy,  hard-work- 
ing man,  contributing  materially  to  the  development  and  welfare  of  his 
adopted  community,  and  when  he  died,  February  19,  1893,  his  county 
lost  one  of  its  substantial  and  reliable  men.  In  politics  a  democrat,  he 
was  not  an  office  seeker,  but  had  wide  influence  in  his  locality,  where  he 
was  widely  and  favorably  known.  Throughout  his  life  Mr.  Trant  was 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  as  was  also  his  wife, 
who  passed  away  in  February,  1913,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trant  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Patrick,  bom  in  Ireland,  died  at  his  home  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana, 
May  2,  1913,  leaving  one  sou  and  three  daughters;  Mary,  who  died  at 
Muncie,  being  survived  by  her  husband,  John  O'Neil  and  one  daughter; 
Nicholas,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  a  city  employee,  who  is  married  and  has 
one  son  and  one  daughter;  Maurice;  James,  ex-city  clerk  of  Hartford 
City,  and  a  civil  engineer  by  vocation,  is  married  and  has  one  son  and 
two  daughters;  Hannah,  who  is  single  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
brother  Maurice;  William,  who  is  also  single  and  lives  on  the  farm  with 
his  sister  and  brother;  and  John,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Licking 
township,  is  married  but  has  no  family. 

Maurice  Trant  was  born  in  the  city  of  Muncie,  Indiana,  in  1867,  forty- 
seven  years  ago,  and  was  a  child  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Lick- 
ing township.  His  education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools  and  he 
grew  up  as  a  farmer,  always  remaining  at  home.  At  this  time  he  is 
the  manager  of  the  undivided  homestead,  in  addition  to  which  he  culti- 
vates an  eighty-acre  tract  of  his  own  adjoining  the  old  home  place.  Mr. 
Trant 's  farm  is  widely  known  as  The  Home  of  Short  Horn  Cattle,  a  breed 
in  which  he  has  specialized  and  with  which  he  has  had  much  success. 
In  addition  he  raises  fine  horses  and  sheep  and  carries  on  general 
farming.  Mr.  Trant 's  operations  are  prosecuted  in  a  modern  manner, 
and  his  property  is  equipped  with  the  latest  machinery  and  appliances. 
As  a  business  man  he  is  shrewd,  far-seeing  and  able  to  take  advantage 
of  opportunities  that  present  themselves,  bxit  he  has  also  an  appreciation 
of  the  rights  of  others  and  is  willing  at  all  times  to  assist  those  less  for- 
tunate than  himself  to  the  success  which  he  has  won.  His  reputation 
is  therefore  that  of  a  useful  and  helpful  citizen,  while  his  popularity 
is  evidenced  by  his  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Mr.  Trant  has  never  married,  but  lives  with  his  brother  and  sister, 
all  being  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  He  has  always  sup- 
ported the  principles  of  the  democratic  party,  but  has  never  found  the 
time  nor  inclination  to  seek  honors  in  the  public  arena. 

George  W.  Amsden.  Many  years  of  activity  as  a  farmer,  business 
man  and  manufacturer  have  brought  to  George  W.  Amsden  of  Hartford 
City  the  substantial  prosperity  which  is  the  ambition  of  men,  and  lie  is 
now  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  what  his  labors  and  ability  have  created. 
Long  a  resident  of  Hartford  City,  Mr.  Amsden  has  had  the  thorough 
confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  his  success  has  been  such  as  to 
command  the  respect  of  al 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 


25 


His  birth  occurred  near  Akron,  Ohio,  October  21,  1816.  His  father 
was  Silas  Amsden,  wlio  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  in 
1808.  The  parents  of  Silas  Amsden  were  substantial  farming  people 
oi'  New  York  state,  were,  so  far  as  remembered,  without  church  rela- 
tions and  in  polities  practically  all  the  generations  had  supported  the 
democratic  doctrine  up  to  that  time.  Besides  Silas  there  was  a  brother 
George  W.,  who  died  in  Michigan  and  had  a  family,  and  also  two  daugh- 
ters who  married  and  reared  children.  Silas  Amsden  spent  Ins  early 
years  in  New  York,  and  married  Sallie  Palmer  of  Cattaraugus  county. 
She  was  born  February  11,  1813,  and  died  October  9,  1888,  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio.  After  his  marriage  and  the  birth  of  three  children,  Silas 
ami  wife  moved  to  Ohio,  and  took  up  a  career  as  a  farmer.  Some  years 
were  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Akron,  and  lie  then  moved  to  a  farm  in 
Huron  county  in  1851.  His  death  occurred  there  December  27.  I860. 
It  was  on  the  same  farm  that  his  widow  passed  away  many  years  later. 
Silas  Amsden  was  a  citizen  who  commanded  the  respect  of  his  com- 
munity, in  politics  was  a  democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  of  the 
Universalist  faith.  Their  children  were :  Luther  A.,  who  served  through 
the  Civil  War  as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-second 
Ohio  llegiment  of  Infantry,  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  and  married  Electa  J.  Walters,  lie  died  in  Greenwich, 
Ohio,  near  the  old  farm,  leaving  two  children.  Charles  P.  and  Hattie. 
Luzern,  the  second  of  the  children,  who  died  in  Fairfield,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  having  retired  from  business,  was  also  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War, 
a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  First  Ohio  Infantry.  He  married 
Alma  Smith.  Anna  E.  became  the  wife  of  Fred  Smith,  a  farmer  of 
Huron  county,  and  both  are  now  deceased,  being  survived  by  two  daugh- 
ters, Bertha  and  Loretta,  the  latter  also  deceased.  Silas  P.  Jr.,  who  died 
in  March,  1913,  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Eighty-eighth  Ohio  Eegiment  and  saw  service  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  end  of  the  war,  and  he  married  and  had  three  children. 
Earl,  Myrtle  and  Velma.  The  fifth  in  the  family  is  George  W.  Amsden. 
Asel  T.,  who  now  lives  in  Xorwalk,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  a  farmer,  mar- 
ried Emma  Furness  who  died  in  March,  1913,  and  left  two  children, 
Lulu,  who  is  married,  and  Russell  T.  The  daughter,  M.  Frances,  died  in 
1861,  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

It  was  in  the  environment  of  the  country  and  on  the  farm  in  Huron 
county  where  his  father  died  that  George  W.  Amsden  grew  up.  The  loss 
of  his  father  when  this  son  was  only  thirteen  years  of  age  necessarily 
brought  about  circumstances  which  obliged  him  to  early  enter  the  strug- 
gle for  self-support.  His  education  was  practically  that  which  hail  been 
accpiired  before  his  father's  death  and  such  as  he  was  able  to  obtain  in 
the  intervals  of  his  regular  work.  In  early  manhood  or  boyhood  he  went 
to  work  as  a  farm  hand  at  eight  dollars  a  month,  and  spent  several  years 
alternating  between  helping  at  the  home  farm  and  earning  regular 
wages  among  farmers  in  the  locality.  At  eighteen  Mr.  Amsden  found 
employment  in  a  lumber  and  woodworking  factory  near  Sandusky,  and 
subsequently  continued  that  line  of  work  along  the  bay  shore  of  Lake 
Erie.  Natural  aptitude  and  experience  produced  in  him  a  skilled  saw- 
mill operator,  and  he  commanded  the  highest  wages  paid  to  his  trade. 
In  1869  the  industry  with  which  he  was  identified  was  moved  to  Black- 
ford county,  Indiana,  being  then  engaged  largely  in  the  manufacture 
of  carriage' timber  and  parts.  The  firm  was  known  as  Hubbard  &  Wool- 
sev,  and  Mr.  Amsden  represented  that  and  other  companies  as  a  lumber 
buyer,  and  his  proficiency  enabled  him  to  win  a  successful  place  in  the 
world  of  affairs.  Later  he  was  identified  with  the  firm  of  Olds  &  Sons 
at  Ft.  Wayne  in  the  same  line  for  eight  years.    Then  returning  to  Hart- 


26         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ford  City,  he  has  since  beeu  chiefly  identified  with  farming,  and  now 
lives  retired  at  his  home,  412  West  Washington  street.  His  residence  is 
one  which  he  built  in  1882,  and  is  one  of  the  attractive  homesteads  of 
Hartford  City.  Mr.  Amsden  owns  considerable  other  real  estate  and 
improved  property  in  Hartford  City,  and  has  a  good  farm  in  Licking 
township.  His  success  as  a  business  man  has  led  to  his  selection  to  ad- 
minister estates,  and  he  has  frequently  been  employed  in  that  capacity. 
For  four  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  in  politics  is 
a  republican. 

Mr.  Amsden  was  married  at  Keystone  in  Wells  county,  Indiana, 
May  10,  1874,  to  Amelia  Barehman,  who  was  born  in  Butler  township, 
Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  26,  1845.  When  she  was  seven 
years  of  age  her  family  moved  to  Wells  county,  Indiana.  Henry  and 
Anna  (Yetter)  Barehman,  her  parents,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  of 
Dutch  stock,  in  1855  brought  their  three  children,  Mrs.  Amsden,  Isaac 
and  Mary,  to  Wells  county,  and  there  established  a  home  in  a  log  cabin 
in  the  midst  of  the  woods.  Mr.  Barehman  eventually  improved  a  good 
farm  and  acquired  the  ownership  of  other  land  until  his  estate  totalled 
about  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Finally  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barehman 
retired  to  Montpelier  in  Blackford  county,  where  both  died.  Mrs.  Ams- 
den's  father  was  born  February  2,  1819,  and  died  at  a  good  old  age 
October  25,  1896 ;  while  her  mother  was  born  September  16,  1816,  and 
died  September  2,  1888.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barehman  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Lvitheran  church,  while  in  politics  he  was  a  democrat. 
Of  the  Barehman  children  one  son  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-one,  leaving  a 
widow  but  no  children ;  while  Mary  died  in  1888,  after  her  marriage  to 
James  Marion  of  Blackford  county,  leaving  five  children  who  have  since 
grown  up  and  married. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amsden  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Edith  Delight, 
who  was  born  January  28,  1879,  graduated  when  eighteen  from  the  city 
high  school,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Lewis  W.  Piper,  who  is  a  master 
mechanic  in  the  oil  fields  at  Bridgeport,  Illinois;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piper 
have  the  following  children:  Thelma  A„  born  February  27,  1903; 
Dorothy  M.,  born  October  20,  1905;  Harold  A.,  born  April  7,  1907; 
Esther' D..  born  June  2,  1908;  Ruth  A.  and  Marion  A.,  the  youngest; 
while  George  died  as  an  infant  of  eleven  months.  Guy  Reed,  the  second 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amsden,  was  born  February  18,  1889,  finished 
his  course  in  the  Hartford  high  school  in  1906,  later  graduated  from  a 
business  college  at  Bluffton,  where  he  carried  off  the  first  honors,  and 
for  tin'  past  three  years  has  represented  the  Bowser  Tank  Company  of 
Fort  Wayne,  and  was  promoted  to  assistant  manager  with  headquarters 
at  Philadelphia,  later  transferred  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  is  now 
stationed  at  Washington,  D.  C,  being  a  young  business  man  of  fine 
capabilities  and  accomplishments. 

Mr.  Amsden  has  been  prominent  in  fraternal  affairs.  In  March, 
1870,  he  joined  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  No.  262,  and  is  next  to  the  oldest 
Odd  Fellow  of  the  Hartford  City  Lodge,  and  has  served  in  all  chairs. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Encampment  of  that  order.  His  membership 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  dated  from  1877,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  was  also  affiliated  with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hartford  City  Lodge, 
No.  125,  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Samuel  Peck.  For  one  of  its  oldest  families  and  most  interesting 
agricultural  landmarks,  Blackford  county  is  indebted  to  the  late  Sam- 
uel Peck,  who  in  1833  rode  on  horseback  from  Ohio  to  Licking  township 
and  entered  160  acres  of  land  from  the  Government  in  section  1 ,  although 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         27 

it  was  not  until  seven  years  later  that  he  Located  here  permanently. 
During  a  period  of  sixty-seven  years  Mr.  Peek  continued  to  be  identi- 
fied with  the  farming  interests  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  through 
industry,  energy  and  fidelity  to  duty,  won  not  alone  a  handsome  com- 
petency but  gained  also  the  unqualified  esteem  and  respect  of  those 
among  whom  he  lived  for  so  long. 

Mr.  Peck  was  born  near  Clarksburg,  Virginia  (now  West  Virginia), 
February  23,  1809,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elsie  (Smith)  Peck. 
The  father,  a  substantial  Virginia  farmer,  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
American  army  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  when  news  of  his  sickness 
reached  his  devoted  wife,  she  started  on  the  long  journey  to  Fort 
Wayne,  on  horseback  and  in  the  midst  of  a  severe  winter,  to  nurse  him 
back  to  health.  The  ground  was  covered  with  ice  and  the  roads  nearly 
impassable  and  the  trip  consumed  such  a  length  of  time  that  when  Mrs. 
Peck  reached  her  destination  she  found  that  her  husband  had  gone  on 
with  his  company  and  she  returned  to  her  home.  Mr.  Peck  continued 
to  serve  faithfully  throughout  the  period  of  the  war  and  at  its  close 
returned  to  his  home,  much  broken  in  health,  although  he  eventually  re- 
covered. He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  while  Mrs. 
Peck  survived  him  several  years  and  passed  away  in  Ohio.  Tiny  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows :  Marcus,  who  was  an  early  settler 
of  Niles  county,  Michigan,  became  the  owner  of  a  large  and  valuable 
farm,  and  in  his  latter  years  retired  to  Cassopolis,  Michigan,  and  there 
died  at  the  age  of  past  seventy  years;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
George  Davis,  located  in  Athens  county,  Ohio,  and  died  there  when  past 
sixty  years  of  age,  leaving  a  good  sized  family ;  Sarah,  who  married  Josiah 
Higman,  spent  her  life  on  the  old  home  in  Virginia,  where  the  father 
had  owned  over  200  acres  of  land,  and  at  her  death  left  a  large  family ; 
Burle,  who  removed  to  Ohio  in  young  manhood,  was  there  married  to 
Statia  Bales,  later  went  to  Missouri  where  he  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land,  on  which  he  died,  his  widow  subsequently  returning  to  Ohio 
with  the  children  and  there  passed  away;  Susan,  who  became  the  wife 
of  David  Carmichael,  settled  in  Niles  county.  .Michigan,  reared  a  large 
family,  and  died  there  when  in  advanced  age ;  and  Samuel. 

Samuel  Peck  was  reared  on  his  father's  homestead  and  was  given 
ordinary  educational  advantages  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  an 
ambitious  and  self-reliant  youth,  and  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
deciding  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  new  country  to  the  west,  saddled 
his  two-year-old  colt  and  rode  through  the  country  to  Athens  county, 
Ohio,  a  distance  of  190  miles.  There  when  but  nineteen  years  of  age 
he  married  Miss  Susan  Shidler,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  a  daughter 
of  Abram  and  Ruth  (Wood)  Shidler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shidler  had  come 
to  Athens  county  as  .young  people  with  their  respective  parents  at  a 
very  early  day,  and  there  met  and  married,  becoming  prominent  and 
substantial  people  of  that  locality.  Mr.  Peek  continued  to  be  engaged 
in  farming  in  Athens  county  for  several  years,  but  decided  to  see  if 
better  opportunities  did  not  await  him  still  further  to  the  west,  and  in 
1833  again  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  through  to  Licking  township, 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  where  he  entered  a  tract  of  160  acres  of 
land  in  section  1,  riding  on  to  Fort  Wayne  to  make  his  entry.  He  then 
returned  to  his  home,  where  he  worked  faithfully  to  put  ins  affairs 
in  such  shape  that  he  could  begin  life  in  the  new  locality  free  from  debt, 
and  in  1810  brought  his  wife  and  eight  children  to  the  new  land.  The 
family  home  at  first  was  a  small  log  cabin,  but  this  Mr.  Peek  soon  re- 
placed with  a  hewed  log  house  of  lar?e  proportions,  and  this  was  later, 
in  1879,  succeeded  by  a  good  frame  residence,  which  still  stands  and  is 
occupied  by  Mr.  Peek's  daughter,  Rebecca.    His  tireless  and  well  directed 


28         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

labor  was  rewarded  by  the  development  of  a  good  farm,  and  from  time 
to  time  he  added  to  his  holdings  until  he  had  225  acres,  all  of  which 
he  put  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  General  farming  and  stock 
raising  occupied  his  attention,  and  each  of  his  ventures  proved  highly 
successful,  so  that  when  he  died,  March  27,  1907,  he  was  justly  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  Licking  township.  In  every 
walk  of  life  Mr.  Peck  proved  himself  faithful  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
him  by  his  fellow  citizens.  While  not  a  politician,  he  early  attached 
himself  to  the  whig  party  and  later  transferred  his  allegiance  to  repub- 
lican principles  and  was  strong  in  his  advocacy  of  good  men  and  meas- 
ures. His  community  could  at  all  times  rely  upon  him  to  support  bene- 
ficial and  progressive  movements,  and  no  man  contributed  in  greater 
degree  to  those  things  which  made  for  better  citizenship.  Honest  and 
upright  in  his  business  dealings,  public-spirited  as  a  citizen,  loyal  in  his 
friendships,  he  was  a  man  of  whom  Licking  township  had  every  reason 
to  be  proud,  and  his  death  was  widely  and  sincerely  mourned.  Mrs. 
Peck,  who  was  known  for  her  many  womanly  qualities,  passed  away 
July  23,  1900,  in  the  faith  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church. 

Samuel  and  Susan  (Shidler)  Peck  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Marcus,  who  is  eighty-five  years  of  age,  lives  in  Licking 
township,  is  married  and  has  one  son  and  three  daughters;  Abraham, 
who  is  deceased,  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter;  Susanna,  who  mar- 
ried David  Ballinger,  and  at  her  death  left  four  children ;  Elsie,  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Lewis  Carmichael  and  had  four  children;  Mary, 
living  in  Hartford  City,  the  widow  of  Henry  Cline,  has  a  son  and  a 
daughter;  Julia,  who  married  first  Farris  Bobo,  by  whom  she  had 
seven  children,  and  second  P.  Welsh,  and  lives  at  Hartford  City; 
Cassia  Ann,  deceased,  who  married  first  Mr.  Babb,  and  for  her  second 
husband  Mr.  Minnehall,  and  had  three  sons  by  the  latter  union: 
Prudence,  who  married  Mr.  Hollingshead,  by  whom  she  had  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  and  as  her  second  husband  J.  B.  Seaman,  and  resides  at  Dun- 
kirk, Indiana ;  Peter,  who  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred Thirtieth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
Ritter,  for  service  during  the  Civil  War,  in  a  battle  before  Atlanta  was 
killed  by  a  Confederate  sharpshooter;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  William  For- 
man,  of  Dunkirk,  Indiana,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War ;  Elias  D.,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  on  the  old  homestead,  and  died  in  December, 
1883,  married  Susan  Long,  of  Eaton,  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  leaving  a  son,  Burrell  G. ;  and  Rebecca. 

Miss  Rebecca  Peek  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known  and  greatly  be- 
loved ladies  of  Licking  township.  She  was  born  on  the  farm  which 
she  now  owns  and  operates,  a  tract  of  100  acres,  and  was  carefully  reared 
and  educated.  She  devoted  her  life  to  the  care  of  her  parents  until  they 
died,  and  has  never  married.  A  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  she  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  work,  and  is  also  widely  known 
for  her  charity  and  kind  heartedness.  When  her  nephew,  Burrell  G.  Peck, 
who  was  born  in  October,  1882,  was  left  an  orphan,  she  took  him  into 
her  home  and  heart,  carefully  reared  him,  and  gave  him  good  educa- 
tional advantages  in  the  public  schools  and  the  normal  school  at  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1905.  He  has  been  a  credit  to  her  careful  and  devoted  train- 
ing, and  has  developed  into  a  successful  business  man,  being  engaged 
extensively  in  general  farming  and  breeding  cattle  and  swine.  Mr.  Peck 
married  an  Eaton,  Indiana,  girl,  Miss  Eva  Mitchel,  who  was  also  edu- 
cated at  Valparaiso  and  for  some  years  was  a  school  teacher,  and  they 
have  one  son :   Joseph  Mitchel,  born  April  23,  1913. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         29 

Captain  Alexander  Gable.  An  honored  soldier  of  the  great  civil 
conflict  between  the  states,  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain  and 
commanded  his  company  in  some  of.  the  great  campaigns  of  the  war. 
Captain  Alexander  Gable  has  for  more  than  forty-five  years  lived  in 
Hartford  City,  and  until  his  retirement,  was  one  of  the  prominent  build- 
ing contractors.  Skill  in  woodworking  trades  has  been  characteristic 
of  the  family,  and  his  father  before  him  was  a  proficient  cabinet-maker, 
learning  the  trade  in  the  German  fatherland  and  using  it  as  the  basis 
of  a  prosperous  business  career  in  America. 

Captain  Alexander  Gable  was  born  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  Octo- 
ber 7,  1836.  His  father,  Charles  Gable,  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  in  1805,  and  as  he  grew  up  served  a  thorough  apprenticeship 
of  seven  years  in  the  cabinet-making  trade.  After  that  he  followed  his 
business  as  a  journeyman  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  then  em- 
barked on  a  vessel  at  Lyons,  France,  and  finally  landed  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  From  cabinet-making  be  turned  his  skill  to  the  making  of 
chairs  and  also  pianos.  While  in  Baltimore  he  married  Margaret  Har- 
good.  a  native  of  Baltimore,  of  an  old  Maryland  family  of  Welsh  an- 
cestry. In  Baltimore  their  first  son.  Charles,  Jr..  was  born,  and  they 
then  took  passage  on  the  canal  and  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Louisville. 
Kentucky.  Charles  Gable  in  Louisville  conducted  a  chair  factory,  also 
had  an  undertaking  establishment,  and  employed  several  hands.  One  of 
his  apprentices  was  the  late  W.  W.  Curry,  formerly  secretary  of  State 
of  Indiana,  who  served  for  seven  years  in  the  Gable  shop  as  did  his 
brother.  Robert.  From  Louisville  Charles  Gable  moved  to  Charlestown, 
Indiana,  and  eonthrued  his  business  there  until  his  death  in  1859.  His 
widow  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Of  their  thirteen  children, 
Captain  Gable  was  the  third,  and  there  is  a  son,  Charles  C,  now  living 
in  Cincinnati  and  a  carpenter  contractor. 

Captain  Gable  when  eleven  years  of  age  accompanied  the  family  to 
Charlestown,  Indiana,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  carpenter's  trade.  Later  lie  moved  to  Mercer  county, 
Ohio,  and  there  in  1S61  at  Celina.  enlisted  in  Company  H  of  the  Seventy- 
first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  It  was  with  the  rank  of  second  lieuten- 
ant that  he  went  to  the  front,  and  at  Fort  Donelson  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  in  January,  1S62.  and  held  that  rank  until  1863,  when. 
at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  he  was  promoted  captain.  He  led  his  company 
in  all  its  engagements  and  campaigns  until  after  the  battle  of  Atlanta. 
and  then,  owdng  to  the  ill  health  of  his  mother,  he  resigned  his  commis- 
sion and  returned  home.  His  mother,  who  was  born  in  1811,  died  at 
Dayton.  Ohio,  in  1886.  His  military  service  was  not  yet  finished.  After 
some  months  at  home,  he  recruited  during  the  winter  of  1864  and  or- 
ganized Company  D  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-third  Ohio  Infan- 
try, a  regiment  that  was  attached  to  what  was  known  as  Hancock's 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  With  his  company  and  regiment  he  continued 
in  service  until  after  the  war  had  closed,  being  mustered  out  on  A.ugus1 
12,  1865.  Although  he  was  present  at  some  of  the  great  battles  of  the 
war  and  was  almost  continually  on  duty.  Captain  Gable  was  never 
wounded  nor  taken  prisoner,  and  made  a  splendid  record  as  a  soldier 
and  is  one  of  the  few  surviving  veterans  of  that  great  struggle.  After 
the  war  Captain  Gable  went  to  Wapakoneta.  Auglaize  county.  Ohio,  and 
took  up  the  trade  in  which  he  had  been  trained  before  the  war.  While 
at  Wapakoneta  he  married  Caroline  V.  Gregg,  who  was  born  in  Clark 
county,  Ohio,  September  13,  1S43.  and  died  at  her  home  in  Hartford 
City,  October  1,  1911.  She  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Wapakoneta, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Gregg  and  wife,  farming  people  of  that 
locality. 


30  BLACKFORD  AND  'GRANT  COUNTIES 

Captain  Gable  has  been  a  resident  of  Hartford  City  since  February, 
1868.  As  a  business  man  his  best  service  in  this  community  was  ren- 
dered as  a  carpenter  and  builder,  .and  before  he  retired  he  had  made  a 
splendid  record  of  work  along  that  line.  His  performance  includes  the 
erection  of  many  private  homes  and  business  houses,  including  the  Van 
Cleve  Theatre,  the  Smith  block,  the  William  Reed  school,  which  was  the 
first  graded  school  building  in  the  city.  His  good  work  along  the  line 
of  his  regular  vocation  has  been  supplemented  by  prominence  in  local 
affairs.  During  the  administration  of  Mr.  Harrison  as  president  he  held 
the  Hartford  City  postoffice,  and  was  also  a  trustee  of  Licking  township. 
He  is  one  of  the  popular  members  of  Jacob  Stahl  Post,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  has  been  honored  with  several  offices  in  that  post. 

Captain  Gable  is  the  father  of  four  living  children.  Nellie  is  the 
widow  of  J.  B.  Alexander,  who  was  in  the  nursery  business  at  Hartford 
City  for  a  number  of  years ;  her  son  Robert,  aged  seventeen,  now  lives  in 
Oklahoma  City,  and  her  daughter  Ruth,  aged  fifteen,  is  a  member  of 
the  Hartford  City  high  school  class  of  1916,  and  lives  with  her  grand- 
father, Captain  Gable.  Katharine,  the  second  child,  is  the  wife  of  W. 
T.  Allen,  who  is  train  dispatcher  with  the  Santa  Fe  at  Chillicothe, 
Illinois,  and  their  four  sons  are,  Grant,  William,  Thomas  and  James. 
Elizabeth,  who  is  usually  called  Betsey,  lives  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  wife  of  H.  K.  Bragden,  secretary  of  a  gas  company  operating 
in  the  West  Virginia  districts ;  their  children  are  Lois,  Frances,  Eleanor 
and  George.  Caroline,  the  youngest  child  of  Captain  Gable,  is  a  well 
educated  young  woman  and  is  now  a  stenographer  with  the  Hartford 
City  Paper  Mills  Company. 

Clark  Stewart.  The  life  record  of  an  honorable,  dutiful  and  up- 
right citizen,  a  thorough  and  industrious  agriculturist,  and  an  intelli- 
gent, patriotic  and  useful  man,  is  illustrated  in  the  career  of  Clark 
Stewart,  now  a  resident  of  Hartford  City.  Although  Mr.  Stewart  has 
reached  advanced  years  and  is  now  living  practically  retired  from  busi- 
ness activities,  he  still  takes  a  keen  interest  in  the  surging  and  stirring 
life  about  him,  and  by  reason  of  a  long  and  consistently  active  career,  in 
which  he  won  success  through  his  own  efforts,  is  accounted  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  Blackford  county. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  belongs  to  a  family  that  early 
settled  in  Virginia.  His  grandfather,  James  Stewart,  was  born  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  there  married 
a  Miss  Depaw,  and  after  the  birth  of  several  of  their  children,  started 
overland  with  teams,  crossed  the  Ohio  river  at  Cincinnati,  and  settled 
as  a  pioneer  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1812.  There  Mr. 
Stewart  took  up  new  land  from  the  Government  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  and  the  developing  of  a  home, 
dying  many  years  before  the  Civil  War,  when  but  a  little  past  middle 
life.  Mrs.  Stewart  survived  him  for  some  years,  and  died  in  the  faith 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  had'  also  been  a  member.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  William,  who  lived  in  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  died  there  when  fifty-five  years  of  age,  leaving  children  some  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Mary  A.,  who  married  and  passed  away  in  one 
of  the  southern  states;  Eli,  the  father  of  Clark  Stewart;  Martha,  who 
married  William  Keiser,  a  farmer  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  died 
there  leaving  issue;  Rachel,  who  was  married,  but  whose  history  has 
been  lost;  and  Nancy,  who  married  in  Ohio  and  died  there,  leaving 
children. 

Eli  Stewart  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1800,  and  was  about  twelve  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  the  overland  trip  to  Greene 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         31 

county,  Ohio.  There  his  boyhood  was  passed  amid  pioneer  surroundings, 
his  education  being  limited  to  the  primitive  schools,  and  on  attaining 
manhood  lie  embarked  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  continuing  to  be 
engaged  therein  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  death  occurred 
between  the  years  1850  and  1855.  Mr.  Stewart  was  married  in  Greene 
county  to  Miss  Sarah  D.  DeBois,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  Scotch 
ancestry  but  Virginian  parentage,  and  was  a  girl  when  she  came  to  Ohio. 
Following  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Stewart  moved  to  Clinton 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  1852,  with  her  children,  Jacob  K.,  Mrs.  Pereilla 
Ann  Lyon,  Clark,  Martha  J.  and  Sarah  Melissa,  came  overland  with 
teams  to  Indiana  and  purchased  a  home  in  Jackson  township,  Blackford 
county,  and  in  the  development  of  that  wild  tract  continued  to  be 
engaged  until  her  death,  in  1857,  when  she  was  fifty-seven  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  woman 
of  large  heart  and  fine  mind.  Mrs.  Stewart  was  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  James  and  Calvin,  who  died  young  and  weir  buried 
in  Ohio;  Pereilla  Ann,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  Lyon;  Sarah,  who 
is  the  widow  of  William  M.  Stahl,  and  the  mother  of  two  children, — 
Eugene,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Florida,  and  Cora,  the  wife  of 
Hugh  Beelman  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  Jacob  R.,  who  married  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  Indiana,  a  Miss  Silvers  and  died  without  issue:  .Martha 
J.,  who  died  after  her  marriage  to  Ebenezer  Chaffee,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War.  who  survives  and  resides  in  the  National  Soldiers'  Home,  and 
has  five  children ;  and  Clark. 

Clark  Stewart  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
his  mother,  brother  and  sisters  on  the  overland  journey  from  Ohio,  and 
in  Jackson  township  he  completed  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  grew  to  manhood.  After  becoming  of  age  he  purchased  the  eighty- 
acre  tract  of  land  belonging  to  the  heirs,  in  section  17,  but  in  Ls7o  dis- 
posed of  this  land  and  three  years  later  bought  122  acres  of  the  property 
which  he  now  owns.  To  this  he  added  from  time  to  time,  until  he  now 
owns  280  acres,  all  in  one  body,  and  the  majority  under  cultivation, 
with  excellent  improvements,  including  a  comfortable  modern  residence, 
and  three  large  and  substantial  barns,  in  addition  to  well-built  out- 
buildings. The  land  is  well  drained  and  fenced,  and  is  equipped  witli 
machinery  and  appliances  of  the  latest  manufacture,  so  that  all  in  all 
it  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and  a  monument 
to  the  industry,  thrift  and  good  management  of  its  owner.  In  addition 
to  general  farming,  Mr.  Stewart  has  been  extensively  engaged  in  the 
raising  of  stock,  devoting  his  attentions  largely  in  this  line  to  Short  Horn 
cattle  and  mixed  swine.  A  part  of  his  land  is  devoted  to  the  raising 
of  alfalfa  and  he  also  has  extensive  grass  meadows  for  his  large,  well- 
fed  and  contented  herds.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Stewart  has 
resided  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
by  all  with  whom  he  has  come  into  contact,  but  has  continued  to  super- 
intend the  operations  on  his  land. 

Mr.  Stewart  has  an  excellent  record  as  a  soldier,  and  bears  honorable 
wounds  received  while  defending  his  country's  integrity.  At  the  first 
call  for  three-year  men,  in  1861,  Mr.  Stewart  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany 1.  Thirty-fourth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  re- 
ceived his  first  real  baptism  of  fire  at  the  fierce  engagement  at  New 
Madrid.  Subsequently  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  New  Haven  and 
Champion  Hills,  and  at  the  latter  battle  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  right  shoulder  and  lay  on  the  battlefield  for  several  days  before 
being  taken  to  the  field  hospital.  Later  he  was  sent  to  Memphis,  but 
the  journey  was  so  long  and  trying  that  fever  set  in.  followed  by  gan- 
grene,  and  the  limb  became  practically  useless.     Mr.   Stewart    carries 


32  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

with  credit  this  mark  of  his  service  as  a  soldier  of  his  country,  and  also 
keeps  the  bullet  that  so  nearly  ended  his  life.  At  the  end  of  his  three 
years,  Mr.  Stewart  received  his  honorable  discharge,  and  returned  to 
his  home  to  resume  the  activities  of  peace. 

In  1865  Mr.  Stewart  was  married  at  Muncie,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Alice 
Andrews,  who  was  born  in  1840,  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  and 
educated  there,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Rachel  (Mansfield)  Andrews, 
early  settlers  of  that  county,  Mr.  Andrews  being  a  farmer  and  merchant 
at  Muncie.  Mrs.  Stewart  died  at  her  home  in  Hartford  City,  October 
19,  1899,  in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  church,  with  which  she  had 
been  connected  for  years  as  one  of  its  most  active  workers.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stewart  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Nettie  A.,  who 
died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  while  still  a  student ;  Frank, 
who  is  connected  with  the  paper  mills  of  Hartford  City,  married  Carrie 
Klinger  and  has  five  children, — Charles,  Nettie,  Eppie,  Eulita  and  Jesse 
Arthur;  and  Charles  and  Clarence,  twins,  the  former  of  whom  died  at 
the  age  of  four,  while  the  latter,  a  stock  buyer  and  shipper  and  wool 
buyer  of  Hartford  City,  married  Lizzie  Fox,  and  has  two  daughters, 
Ruth  and  Hazle,  and  a  son,  Clark  Stewart,  Jr. ;  Ruth  married  Guy 
Gerher,  a  teacher  of  Hartford  City,  and  has  one  son,  Richard  Johnson, 
the  great-grandson  of  Clark  Stewart.  Mr.  Stewart  married  for  his  second 
wife,  in  Hartford  City,  Miss  Eppie  McMillan,  who  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ohio,  was  well  educated,  and  there  became  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools,  subsequently  going  to  South  Dakota,  where  she  taught  for  thir- 
teen years.  She  then  came  to  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  and  two  years 
later  married  Mr.  Stewart.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Henry)  McMillan,  the  former  born  in  Virginia  and  the  latter  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  both  of  whom  came  as  young  people  to  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  were  married  and  spent  their  entire  lives.  Mr.  Mc- 
Millan was  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker  church,  while  his  widow,  who 
survived  him  sixteen  years,  was  seventy-two  years  old  at  the  time  of  her 
demise  and  passed  away  in  the  Lutheran  faith. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  a  republican  in  political  affairs  and  has  taken  a  prom- 
inent part  in  movements  making  for  the  welfare  of  the  community  in 
which  he  has  resided  for  so  many  years.  He  can  be  depended  upon 
absolutely  to  support  those  activities  which  make  for  advancement  in 
morality,"  civic  pride,  religion  and  good  citizenship,  and  his  influence 
is  helpful  and  far-reaching.  He  has  shown  some  interest  in  fraternal 
matters,  belonging  to  the  Chapter  and  Council  of  the  Masonic  order,  and 
being  treasurer  of  both  of  these  bodies,  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Stewart 
are  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  belongs  to  Jacob 
Stahl  Post  No.  227,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  Mrs.  Stewart 
has  been  prominent  in  the  Relief  Corps,  of  which  she  has  been  a  mem- 
ber and  earnest  worker  since  1885.  She  is  past  state  department  presi- 
dent of  the  Relief  Corps  of  South  Dakota,  and  is  ex-president  of  the 
local  order,  of  which  she  is  at  present  secretary.  Both  she  and  Mr.  Stew- 
art are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Hartford  City,  and  their  friends 
are  as  numerous  as  their  acquaintances. 

Joseph  W.  Pierce.  In  Joseph  W.  Pierce.  Licking  township  has  a 
farmer  who  conforms  his  labor  to  high  standards,  and  who  has  advanced 
to  prosperity  on  the  homely  qualities  of  industry,  good  judgment  and 
perseverance.  Following  the  trend  of  modern  ideas,  he  has  also  done 
considerable  specializing,  and  a  part  of  his  handsome  sixty-acre  prop- 
erty is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  a  variety  of  kinds  of  strawberries.  He 
has  owned  his  present  farm  since  1907  and  lived  thereon  since  1908, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         33 

but  already  it  is  indicative  of  his  individuality,  and  in  every  respect  is 
an  ideal  country  home. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  born  in  Monroe  township.  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
January  6.  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Drew  Binum  Pierce.  His  grand  lather. 
James  Pierce,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  of  an  honored  family  of  the 
Old  North  state,  and  there  married  a  Miss  Sheffield,  and  about  the  year 
l!S42  came  to  Indiana,  purchasing  a  home  in  Monroe  township,  Grant 
county.  There  he  passed  the  balance  of  his  life  engaged  in  clearing  and 
cultivating  his  forty  acres,  and  died  when  about  sixty  years  of  age.  while 
his  widow  survived  him  about  twelve  years  and  was  past  seventy  years 
old  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  They  were  honorable  and  honored  people 
and  faithful  church  members,  and  reared  their  children  to  lives  of 
usefulness,  industry  and  integrity.  Six  children  were  born  to  them: 
Little  Berry.  Henry,  Drew  Binum,  Elizabeth  and  two  others,  and  all 
grew  to  maturity  and  were  married.  All  are  now  deceased  with  the 
exception  of  Drew  B.  Pierce,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Septem- 
ber 1,  1832.  He  was  about  ten  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  the  long  overland  trip  from  the  southern  home  to  the  wilds 
of  Indiana,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  amid  pioneer  sur- 
roundings. He  early  adopted  the  vocation  of  agriculturist  as  his  life 
work,  and  has  continued  being  engaged  in  farming  throughout  his  life, 
now  residing  on  the  farm  which  formerly  belonged  to  his  father-in-law, 
but  which  he  now  owns.  He  has  in  all  about  180  acres  of  land,  nearly 
all  of  which  is  under  cultivation,  and  in  addition  to  general  farming 
operations  carries  on  extensive  stock  growing.  Mr.  Pierce  was  married 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  homestead  in  Monroe  township  to  .Miss  Sarah 
0.  Maddox.  who  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  February  2:!.  1838, 
and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  she  came  to  this  state  with  her  par- 
ents, Thomas  and  Asenath  (Yeoman)  Maddox.  The  journey,  made  with 
teams,  was  a  slow  and  tedious  one,  but  the  family  and  their  belongings 
were  kept  together  until  reaching  the  new  home  in  Monroe  township. 
Here  Mr.  Maddox  purchased  900  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  and  his  wife 
labored  hard  to  develop  a  home,  and  reared  a  family  of  ten  children. 
There  Mr.  Maddox  died  about  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
while  the  widow  survived  him  for  a  long  period,  living  to  be  past  ninety 
years  of  age  and  passing  away  at  the  home  of  a  daughter  at  Marion. 
1  She  and  her  husband  were  the  founders  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
in  Monroe  township,  and  Mr.  Maddox  filled  the  pulpit  on  numerous 
occasions  as  a  lay  or  local  preacher.  The  old  stock  of  the  Maddox  fam- 
ily were  whigs  and  republicans,  while  the  old  Pierces  were  democrats, 
although  Drew  B.  Pierce  has  been  a  republican  all  of  his  life.  He  and 
his  wife  are  consistent  members  and  steady  attendants  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  still  being  active  and  alert  in  spite  of  their  advanced 
years.  They  have  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  as  follows :  Levi  0., 
who  died  in  infancy ;  Dottie,  who  died  when  thirteen  years  of  age ;  Jane, 
who  is  the  widow  of  L.  B.  Oliver,  resides  at  Marion  and  has  two  children, 
— Warren  and  Theodosia ;  J.  Thomas,  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  fine 
land  in  Grant  county,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children, — Olga  Drew 
and  B.  Lenor ;  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hoskin.  has  three 
children, — Glenn,  Maybell  and  Fred:  Asenath,  widow  of  James  Rinard, 
who  has  two  boys. — Roy  and  Paul ;  Joseph  W.,  of  this  review :  George 
W.,  a  resident  of  Jefferson  township.  Grant  county,  who  is  married  to 
Maggie  Turner,  of  Blackford  county,  and  has  a  son. — Orval;  Dustin, 
the  owner  of  a  large  farm  in  Monroe  township,  married  Ruth  Dollar 
and  has  two  children, — Gale  and  Dahl ;  Roy,  living  on  his  father's  home- 
stead, married  Bessie  Robb,  and  has  seven  children,— Vera,  Mildred, 
Georgia,  Harold,  Mary,  Wilber  and  an  infant;  and  Charles,  a  resident 
of  the  city  of  Marion,  who  married  Dora  Johnson,  and  has  no  issue. 


34         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Joseph  W.  Pierce  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead  place  and  was 
granted  ordinary  educational  advantages  in  the  schools  of  his  locality, 
but  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  and  qualified  as  a  teacher,  fol- 
lowing that  vocation  for  some  eight  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  home 
farm,  upon  which  he  lived  until  he  was  past  thirty  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  he  was  married  and  came  to  his  present  property.  Here  he  has 
sixty  acres  of  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  devoted  to  corn, 
oats  and  rye,  although  a  part  of  the  farm,  as  before  stated,  is  reserved 
for  the  growing  of  several  varieties  of  strawberries,  in  the  marketing  of 
which  Mr.  Pierce  has  met  with  gratifying  success.  On  his  broad  pastures 
may  also  be  found  a  fine  grade  of  live  stock,  Mr.  Pierce  being  an  excel- 
lent judge  of  cattle.  His  property  presents  a  handsome  and  attractive 
appearance  with  its  large  yellow  house  and  commodious  red  barn  and 
outbuildings,  and  everything  about  the  farm  is  in  the  best  of  order,  testi- 
fying eloquently  to  the  thrift  and  good  management  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  married  May  26,  1897,  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
to  Miss  Ella  Rinard,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Harrison 
township,  that  county,  and  prior  to  her  marriage  was  also  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Emma  (Shockley) 
Rinard,  old  and  well-known  farming  people  of  Harrison  township,  and"  a 
granddaughter  of  Doctor  Shockley,  an  old  physician  of  Henry  county, 
where  Mrs.  Rinard  was  born  and  reared.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce  have  one 
daughter,  Edna,  born  March  1,  1900,  and  now  a  member  of  the  fresh- 
man class  of  the  Hartford  City  High  school.  Mr.  Pierce  is  independent 
in  his  political  views,  preferring  to  make  his  own  choice  of  the  candidate 
he  believes  best  fitted  for  public  service.  He  has  never  desired  pre- 
ferment on  his  own  account,  but  has  contented  himself  with  being  a  good 
and  public-spirited  citizen,  ready  at  all  times  to  contribute  to  the  gen- 
eral welfare  and  advancement  of  his  community. 

Hiram  M.  Lucas.  The  life  record  of  Hiram  M.  Lucas  of  Licking 
township,  is  an  exemplification  of  well  directed  and  intelligent  industry, 
of  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  and  of  promotion 
of  the  best  tenets  of  agriculture.  Born  in  this  township,  he  has  passed 
his  entire  career  within  its  borders,  practically  all  of  his  life  being  spent 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  his  long  term  of  industrious 
and  well-directed  labor  has  been  rewarded  by  the  accumulation  of  a 
handsome  property  of  160  acres  and  the  attainment  of  the  esteem  and 
regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  into  contact.  Mr.  Lucas 
was  born  on  a  farm  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
December  6,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Noah  and  Elizabeth  (McCausland) 
Lucas. 

Adam  Lucas  was  born  in  Germany,  about  1770,  and  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  family 
settling  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  and  his  wife  lived  to  advanced 
ages  and  became  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of  children.  Jacob 
Lucas,  son  of  Adam,  and  grandfather  of  Hiram  M.  Lucas,  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  his  youth  adopted  the  vocation  of 
his  father,  thoroughly  training  himself  as  an  agriculturist.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  York  county  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Emig,  who  was  born  in  that  county 
in  1804  of  German  parentage  and  had  there  been  reared  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  were  married  in  1823,  and 
immediately  after  their  union  started  on  a  trip  overland  in  teams  to 
what  was  then  Richland  (now  Morrow)  county,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Lucas 
entered  land.  At  first  they  were  compelled  to  live  in  their  wagon  for 
want  of  better  shelter,   but   Mr.  Lucas  soon  erected  a  log  cabin,   and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         35 

into  this  the  young  couple  moved  their  modest  household  effects.  Set- 
tling down  to  agricultural  operations,  they  continued  to  be  so  engaged 
during  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  becoming  substantial  and  highly  re- 
spected people  of  the  community.  Both  attained  advanced  years,  Airs. 
Lucas  passing  away  May  27,  1S85,  when  in  her  eighty-first  year,  while 
Mr.  Lucas  died  January  16,  1880,  when  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Emig)  Lucas  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as 
follows:  Noah;  Eli,  who  is  residing  in  Nebraska;  Epsiba,  Catherine, 
Sarah  and  Julia,  who  all  grew  up,  were  married,  had  children,  and  are 
now  deceased;  and  one  daughter  who  died  single  in  infancy. 

Noah  Lucas,  father  of  Hiram  M.,  was  born  iu  the  little  log  cabin 
home  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  February  29,  1824,  and  grew  up  on  the 
old  home  place,  his  education  being  secured  in  the  public  schools.  Mr. 
Lucas  continued  to  reside  on  the  old  farm  as  a  bachelor  until  January 
19,  1869,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  MeCausland,  who  was 
born  April  12,  1846,  and  died  April  19,  1884,  at  the  home  in  Licking 
township.  She  was  a  woman  of  many  estimable  qualities  and  was  much 
interested  in  church  and  Sunday  school  work,  rearing  her  children  to 
lives  of  industry.  Noah  Lucas  is  still  living,  and  although  more  than 
ninety  years  of  age  retains  his  faculties  in  a  remarkable  degree  and 
still  takes  a  keen  interest  in  all  activities  that  go  on  about  him.  He  was 
for  years  a  democrat,  but  recently  has  become  a  supporter  of  progressive 
principles.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas,  namely : 
Hiram  M.,  of  this  review;  Ada,  born  November  11,  1871,  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  married  Harry  Vanderbur,  and  had  two  children, — 
Ethel  and  Herbert,  the  former  married  and  the  mother  of  one  child; 
and  for  her  second  husband  Ada  married  Lewis  Eberling,  of  Dunkirk, 
Indiana ;  and  Harrison  N.,  born  February  16,  1873,  engaged  in  farming 
in  Licking  township,  married  Eva  Cook,  and  has  three  children, —  Clif- 
ford, Esther  and  Lester. 

Hiram  M.  Lucas  was  only  four  months  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  section  21,  Licking  township,  and  settled  on  a  part  of  his  present  farm, 
they  becoming  the  owners  of  eighty  acres  of  land.  On  this  farm  he  grew 
to  manhood,  in  the  meanwhile  securing  his  education  in  the  district 
schools,  and  when  his  father  was  ready  to  retire  from  active  life  he 
assumed  the  management  of  the  homestead,  to  which  he  has  since  added 
an  additional  eighty  acres.  He  has  the  entire  property  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  and  raises  oats,  wheat  and  rye,  with  fine  clover  and 
grass  land  for  the  feeding  of  all  kinds  of  stock.  The  land  is  well  drained, 
and  boasts  of  the  latest  improvements,  including  two  sets  of  substantial 
buildings.  A  man  of  scrupulous  honor,  during  his  entire  life  he  has 
observed  fairness  and  consideration  toward  his  fellow  men,  and  his 
standing  in  his  community  is  that  of  a  well  balanced,  progressive  and 
energetic  citizen,  intensely  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  general 
welfare.  \  Q  -f   ' 

On  April  28,  1900,  Mr.  Lucas  was  married  t%-*Mi*s~Nt»llre  Wagner, 
who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Indiana,  January  11,  1871,  and  edu- 
cated there  until  she  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  she  came 
to  Blackford  county  with  her  parents,  George  W.  and  Mary  J.  (Leon- 
ard) Wagner,  natives  of  Union  county.  Mr.  Wagner  was  born  Janu- 
ary 29,  1845,  a  son  of  George  C.  and  Elizabeth  (McAfee)  Wagner,  the 
former  born  in  Maryland.  June  4.  1798.  and  died  in  Union  county. 
Indiana,  January  28,  1878,  and  the  latter  born  in  Ohio,  in  1803, 
died  June  10,  1849.  Mrs.  Mary  J.  (Leonard)  Wagner  died  October  4. 
1910,  having  been  the  mother  of  eight  children:  Mrs.  Lucas:  Mattie, 
born  October  2,  1872,  now  the  wife  of  Mason  Weaver,  of  Dunkirk,  In- 
diana;  Daniel,   a   farmer  of  Adams  county.    Indiana,    married   Minnie 


36  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Burns,  and  has  one  son, — Virgil;  Lissie,  the  wife  of  Carey  Reynolds, 
living  on  a  farm  in  Blackford  county,  has  one  daughter — Helen;  Orval, 
a  farmer  of  Jay  county,  Indiana,  married  Nellie  Barnes,  and  has  two 
children, — Maybelle  and  Don;  Arlie,  a  farmer  of  Licking  township, 
Blackford  county,  operating  eighty  acres  of  Mr.  Lucas'  farm,  married 
Ethel  Wingate  of  Delaware  county,  and  has  three  children, — Cleo,  Gail 
and  Ruth  Ileen;  Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Jesse  Stoker,  of  Dunkirk,  has  one 
child, — Mildred;  and  Herbert,  single,  who  is  engaged  in  railroad  work. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  have  one  child, — Audrey,  born  August  17,  1907, 
who  is  attending  the  graded  schools.  They  are  connected  religiously 
with  the  United  Brethren  church.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Lucas  is  a 
progressive. 

Renner  Stock  Farm.  One  of  the  finest  properties  in  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  is  a  tract  of  530  acres  lying  in  section  6,  and  known 
as  the  Renner  Stock  Farm,  which  has  a  state-wide  reputation  for  breed- 
ing fine  cattle,  hogs  and  horses.  Much  of  the  success  of  this  enterprise 
is  due  to  the  excellent  management  and  ability  of  its  superintendent, 
Adam  C.  Clippinger,  who  during  the  seven  years  that  he  has  been  in 
charge  has  so  capably  handled  its  affairs  as  to  win  a  place  for  himself 
among  the  men  whose  activities  have  made  this  one  of  the  leading 
agricultural  sections  of  the  state.  Mr.  Clippinger  was  born  near  Hamil- 
ton, Butler  county,  Ohio,  September  20,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Sarah  (Everson)  Clippinger. 

Adam  Clippinger,  the  grandfather  of  Adam  of  this  review',  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Ohio,  going  thence  from  his  home  in  Green- 
castle,  Pennsylvania,  in  1832.  He  was  a  farmer  by  vocation  and  for 
many  years  carried  on  successful  operations  in  Butler  county,  where  he 
died  when  about  sixty  years  of  age.  His  widow  survived  him  for  a 
long  period  and  was  past  ninety  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death. 
Adam  Clippinger,  their  son  and  the  father  of  Adam  of  this  review,  was 
born  at  Greeneastle,  Pennsylvania,  May  20,  1824,  and  was  eight  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Butler  county,  Ohio.  He 
grew  up  amid  rural  surroundings  and  was  given  ordinary  educational 
advantages  in  the  district  schools  of  his  day  and  community,  and  when 
he  embarked  upon  his  own  career  adopted  agricultural  pursuits  for  his 
field  of  endeavor.  Through  a  life  of  industry  and  earnest  effort  he 
accumulated  a  good  property,  and  died  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his 
community,  in  March,  1903,  being  within  a  few  days  of  eighty  years  of 
age.  He  was  married  in  1843  to  Miss  Elizabeth  White,  who  died 
in  middle  life,  July  19,  1857,  leaving  seven  children,  all  of  whom  were 
married  and  had  children  and  five  of  whom  are  still  living.  On  January 
29,  1858,  Mr.  Clippinger  married  Sarah  Everson,  who  died  in 
January,  1904,  in  the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Clip- 
pinger was  a  whig  at  first  and  later  a  republican,  and  his  religious  affilia- 
tion was  with  the  Lutheran  church.  Four  children  were  born  to  Adam 
and  Sarah  J.  Clippinger;  Jennie,  who  married  (for  her  second  husband) 
Joseph  Hughes  and  lives  at  Van  Wert,  Ohio,  the  mother  of  two  daugh- 
ters; Adam  C,  of  this  review;  Emma,  a  widow  living  in  California  and 
the  mother  of  two  sons ;  and  Jacob,  living  on  a  farm  at  Middletown,  Ohio, 
is  married,  but  has  no  children. 

Adam  Clippinger  was  given  good  educational  advantages  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  while  being  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
for  twenty  years  was  engaged  in  carrying  on  farming  on  his  own 
account.  In  1907,  however,  he  accepted  the  superintendeucy  of  the 
Renner  Stock  Farm,  in  section  6,  Licking  township,  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  although  he  is  still  the  owner  of  an  eighty-acre  property  on 
Dry  Fox  Creek,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        37 

The  Renner  Stock  Farm,  as  before  stated,  is  a  tract  of  530  acres,  the 
greater  part  being  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Here  are  grown 
all  the  cereals  under  the  most  approved  modern  methods,  and  about 
half  the  land  is  reserved  for  pasture  for  the  famous  stock  which  conns 
from  this  property.  The  land  has  four  barns,  two  being  particularly 
commodious,  one  80x100  feet  and  the  other  60x80  feet,  and  live  homes 
are. also  here,  in  which  live  the  employes,  from  four  to  six  in  number, 
in  addition  to  the  superintendent.  The  farm  supports  100  head  of  the  fin- 
est cattle,  large  droves  of  Hampshire  hogs  and  many  line  saddle  horses. 
These  latter  are  now  known  as  among  the  finest  in  the  country,  includ- 
ing the  great  grand  champion,  "'Poetry  of  Motion,"  the  undefeated  show 
horse  for  several  years,  which  was  born  and  bred  on  this  farm.  Other 
prize-winning  road  and  saddle  horses  have  been  bred  on  Renner.  The  in- 
dividual at  the  head  of  the  tine  herd  of  cattle  is  •"Bullion  IV,"  a  double 
standard  Poland-Hereford  bull,  that  was  bred  and  made  an  unparalleled 
record  in  Canada,  a  famous  champion  weighing  over  1700  pounds  ami 
as  a  two-year  old  valued  at  more  than  .$2,000.  Another  bull.  "Dominion," 
which  weighed  over  2200  pounds  when  three  years  old,  was  bred  on  tins 
farm.  Every  animal  on  this  property  is  registered  and  high  bred,  the 
herd  comparing  with  the  finest  in  the  United  States,  while  the  demand 
for  this  farm's  stock  is  usually  far  in  advance  of  the  supply,  orders 
frequently  coming  from  outside  countries.  A  Pennsylvania  railroad  sta- 
tion, known  as  Renner.  is  maintained  here,  four  trains  arrive  and  leave 
daily,  and  all  the  stock  is  shipped  over  this  line.  The  property  is  now- 
owned  by  B.  Johnson,  of  Richmond,  Indiana,  and  has  been  known  as  the 
Renner  Stock  Farm  for  twenty-two  years.  During  the  past  seven  years 
Mr.  Clippinger  has  been  in  complete  control  of  the  operations  on  this  land, 
handling  it  as  though  it  were  his  own  and  being  given  full  authority 
to  use  his  own  judgment  in  hiring  its  employes,  in  buying  and  selling 
its  stock  and  in  planning  and  erecting  its  buildings.  He  has  shown 
himself  a  thorough  and  competent  business  man.  with  excellent  execu- 
tive ability  and  a  masterful  knowledge  of  farming  and  stock  raising 
conditions  and  methods. 

Mr.  Clippinger  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Wear,  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  who  died  there  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years, 
leaving  two  children :  Earl,  a  railroad  engineer,  who  is  single  and  past 
twenty -five  years  of  age;  and  Wilbur,  who  lives  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Ohio,  married  Elsie  Taylor,  and  has  a  son,  Marion,  born  February 
29,  1912.  Mr.  Clippinger  was  married  at  Harrison.  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1890,  to  Miss  Josephine  Yeager,  who  was  born  at  Harrison, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  December  10,  1859,  and  educated  in  the  graded 
and  high  schools,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Brown)  Yeager.  Mr. 
Yeager  was  born  in  1810,  in  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Ohio  in  young 
manhood  and  was  there  engaged  in  farming  throughout  his  life,  dying 
in  1882.  Mrs.  Yeager  was  born  in  1814.  in  Hamilton  county.  Ohio,  of 
Welsh  ancestry,  and  died  in  1875,  at  Harrison. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clippinger  are  the  parents  of  two  children :  Rose,  aged 
twenty-two  years,  graduated  from  the  Hartford  City  High  school  and 
the  normal  department  of  Miami  University,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in 
the  schools  of  Troy,  Ohio,  where  she  is  popular  with  those  who  know  her; 
and  Harry,  born  November  2.  1896.  a  sophomore  in  the  Hartford  City 
High  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clippinger  are  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  has  not  taken  an  active  part 
in  political  affairs,  although  the  welfare  of  his  community  lias  ever 
held  his' interest.  His  career  has  been  one  of  activity  and  usefulness 
and  has  been  crowned  with  well-merited  success  and  the  esteem  of  those 
who  have  met  him  in  either  a  business  or  social  way. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 


William  Y.  Williams.  The  most  gratifying  compensations  of  agri- 
cultural experience  have  rewarded  the  good  judgment  and  untiring 
industry  of  William  Y.  Williams,  the  owner  of  a  finely  cultivated  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  located  in  Licking  township,  and  a  man  whose  progress 
and  enterprise  have  been  demonstrated  in  numerous  ways.  Like  a 
number  of  the  successful  men  of  Blackford  county,  he  has  spent  his 
entire  life  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  and  although  still  a  young 
man  has  had  broad  experience  which  enables  him  to  accomplish  the  best 
results  from  his  operations. 

Mr.  Williams  was  born  on  his  present  farm,  in  section  20,  Licking 
township,  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  January  8,  1885,  and  is  a  son  of 
Alonzo  and  Emma  (Gettys)  Williams,  natives  of  Blackford  county, 
where  the  former  was  born  in  1864  and  the  latter  in  1866.  Both  par- 
ents were  reared  and  educated  in  this  county  and  after  their  marriage 
settled  on  a  small  farm,  to  which  they  added  as  the  years  passed  until 
they  finally  possessed  300  acres.  Industrious  and  thrifty,  hard-working 
and  persevering,  they  accumulated  a  handsome  competence,  so  that  in 
November,  1913,  they  were  able  to  retire  to  Hartford  City,  dividing  their 
property  up  amongst  their  married  sons.  They  now  have  a  comfort- 
able  residence,  located  on  a  large  lot  on  South  Jefferson  street,  and  are 
known  as  among  the  most  substantial  people  of  the  city.  Politically  Mr. 
Williams  is  a  republican,  but  he  has  not  cared  for  public  life.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams,  namely :  John,  born  in 
1888,  reared  and  educated  in  Licking  township,  where  he  resides  on  his 
father's  farm,  married  Nellie  Armitage,  daughter  of  Liberty  T.  Armit- 
age,  a  sketch  of  whose  career  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  has 
three  children :  William  Y. ;  Charles  E.,  aged  twenty-eight  years,  resid- 
ing on  a  farm  in  Licking  township,  married  Terpola  Townsend  and  has 
one  daughter,— Ruth  H. ;  Lydia,  who  is  the  wife. of  Ira  Gross,  a  farmer 
of  Licking  township,  and  has  no  children ;  Deborah,  residing  at  home,  a 
high  school  student  of  the  class  of  1915 ;  and  Helen  J.,  who  is  a  student 
in  the  graded  schools. 

William  Y.  Williams  received  good  educational  advantages  in  his 
youth,  and  for  a  few  years  was  engaged  in  teaching,  but  eventually 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  continued 
to  be  engaged  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Williams  is  now  the  owner  of 
one  of  the  good  farms  of  the  township,  with  eighty  acres  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  the  land  fitted  with  the  most  modern  improvements, 
and  a  fine  set  of  buildings,  including  a  large  five-room  white  house  and 
a  commodious  and  substantial  barn.  He  has  devoted  the  greater  part 
of  his  attention  to  raising  grain  and  hay,  in  which  he  has  met  with  suc- 
cess because  of  intelligent  methods  and  good  management,  and  has  also 
been  an  extensive  stock  raiser,  having  good  cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  which 
find  a  ready  market  and  command  top-notch  prices.  Like  his  father, 
Mr.  Williams  has  not  cared  for  public  life,  although  a  stanch  supporter 
of. all  good  movements  in  his  community.  His  political  adherence  is 
given  to  the  republican  party. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  March  4.  1908,  to  Miss  Florence  E.  Stover, 
and  they  have  two  children:  Samuel  M.,  born  April  15,  1909;  and 
Robert  P.,  born  April  11,  1912.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  .attend  the 
Methodist  church,  in  the  work  of  which  she  has  been  particularly  active. 
Both  are  popular  among  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  than  whom  their 
friends  are  no  less. 

John  A.  Newbauer.  The  combination  of  talents  that  makes  for  suc- 
cess in  several  lines  of  human  endeavor  is  not  a  common  one,  for  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         39 

these  days  of  keen  competition  to  successfully  pursue  even  one  given 
vocation  calls  for  abilities  of  more  than  an  ordinary  character.  It  is 
not  often  that  the  professional  man  becomes  a  successful  financier;  the 
mechanic  seldom  gaius  a  full  measure  of  prosperity  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits; nor  do  those  versed  in  the  higher  arts  and  sciences  always  suc- 
ceed in  the  marts  of  trade  aud  commerce.  In  the  career  of  John  A. 
Newbauer,  however,  there  is  to  be  found  an  illustration  of  the  posses- 
sion of  versatile  talents,  combining  to  make  him  at  once  a  successful 
farmer,  merchant  and  financier,  with  a  keen  and  analytical  mind,  a  taste 
for  literature  and  a  uature  that  makes  him  a  welcome  addition  to  auy 
social  circle.  Although  now  living  somewhat  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness life,  Mr.  Newbauer  still  takes  a  keen  and  active  interest  in  affairs 
of  his  community,  and  is  known  as  one  of  Hartford  City's  most  repre- 
sentative men. 

The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Newbauer  were  uatives  of  Alsace-Lorraine, 
and  were  married  in  the  state  of  Alsace,  when  it  was  under  French  con- 
trol, continuing  to  reside  there  during  their  lives  and  become  well-to-do 
and  respected  people.  They  were  the  parents  of  several  sous,  including 
Jacob  Newbauer,  the  father  of  Johu  A.  He  was  born  in  Alsace  in  1824 
and  grew  up  there,  being  married  to  Elizabeth  Lorenz,  who  was  born 
there  about  1826,  and,  like  her  husband,  was  of  French-German  parent- 
age. Owing  to  lack  of  harmony  iu  the  home,  Jacob  Newbauer  decided 
to  leave  and  seek  a  new  country  in  which  to  live.  He  had  heard  wonder- 
ful tales  of  the  opportunities  awaiting  the  ambitious  and  determined 
in  the  land  across  the  ocean,  and  accordingly  took  passage  on  a  vessel 
bound  for  America.  A  journey  of  forty  days  and  forty  nights  followed, 
in  which  the  emigrants  suffered  many  hardships,  but  eventually  they 
landed  at  New  York  City,  from  whence  they  made  their  way  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  their  first  child  was  born.  Later  they  went,  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  later,  about  1846  moved  to  Darke  county,  Ohio,  where 
they  improved  a  farm  near  Greenville,  there  in  the  woods  clearing  a 
farm  and  building  a  log  cabin,  and,  in  time,  becoming  successful  people. 
At  this  time  the  country  in  Darke  county  was  practically  in  its  primi- 
tive state.  Wild  turkeys  were  to  be  found  iu  abundance,  small  game 
was  plentiful  in  the  dense  timber,  squirrels  and  wild  hogs  still  destroyed 
crops  continually  unless  carefully  watched.  Neighbors  were  few  and 
far  between,  and  educational  advantages  were  to  be  obtained  only  dur- 
ing several  months  of  each  winter,  and  then  usually  only  after  a  long 
and  difficult  tramp  to  the  primitive  little  log  cabin  that  served  as  the 
schoolroom.  Amid  these  surroundings  John  A.  Newbauer  was  born 
October  17,  1847.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  helped 
to  cultivate,  and  in  spite  of  his  lack  of  opportunities  secured  an  excel- 
lent education,  being  always  at  the  head  of  his  class.  On  one  occasion, 
when  a  mere  lad.  he  '"spelled  down"  all  the  spellers  of  Union  City 
and  won  as  a  prize  a  fifteen-dollar  Webster's  dictionary.  Always  am- 
bitious and  aspiring,  a  great  reader  and  student,  he  became  well  informed 
on  many  subjects  of  importance,  and  is  today  one  of  the  best  educated 
men  in  his  community.  He  gave  the  same  assiduous  attention  to  learn- 
ing every  detail  of  farm  work,  and  thus  was  able  to  take  his  place  among 
the  agriculturists  of  his  section,  and  to  win  success  in  his  competition 
with  them.  In  1873  he  first  came  to  Hartford  City,  and  here  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  a  meat  market.  It  was  at  that  time  that  the 
great  financial  panic  came  on,  business  was  at  a  standstill,  it  was  im- 
possible to  collect  money,  and  firm  after  firm  and  business  man  after 
business  man  went  down  to  ruin.  Although  he  was  still  a  young  man. 
with  but  little  experience  in  business,  Mr.  Newbauer  was  able  to  weather 


40         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

this  financial  storm,  and  came  out  with  colors  flying,  where  many  older 
men  had  been  compelled  to  acknowledge  defeat.  For  fifteen  years  .he 
continued  to  successfully  conduct  this  venture,  and  he  then  again  turned 
his  attention  to  pursuits  of  an  agricultural  nature.  He  still  owns  110 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  adjoining  Hartford  City,  and  continues  to 
give  it  the  benefit  of  his  able  management  and  supervision.  In  addi- 
tion he  has  forty-seven  and  one-half  acres  located  in  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
and  this  land,  like  the  other,  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  a  valuable  gravel  pit  on  his  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Hartford  City, 
and  various  other  interests  have  attracted  his  attention  and  enlisted  his 
abilities  at  different  times.  For  twenty-two  years  he  was  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  farming  implements,  building  supplies,  etc.,  but  this  is  being 
conducted  at  this  time  by  his  sons,  while  he  gives  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  his  farm.  For  five  years  he  was  cashier  of  the  Black- 
ford County  Bank,  of  which  he  was  the  organizer  in  1892,  and  continues 
to  be  vice-president  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  thereof.  In 
financial  matters,  as  in  business,  he  has  ever  held  the  full  confidence  of 
his  associates,  not  alone  in  a  business  way,  but  because  of  his  well-known 
integrity  and  straightforward  dealing.  His  beautiful  home  is  located  at 
No.  220  South  High  street,  and  is  furnished  with  every  modern  com- 
fort and  convenience.  Mr.  Newbauer  is  enjoying  life  in  a  manner  be- 
fitting one  who  has  labored  long  and  faithfully  and  who  has  won  the 
right  of  rest  from  his  strenuous  toil  of  former  years.  In  his  political 
views  a  democrat,  he  has  served  as  township  trustee  for  more  than  seven 
years,  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  several  terms,  and  was 
recently  elected  a  county  council  but  declined  to  serve.  In  his  official 
capacities,  he  endeavored  to  aid  his  community  in  every  way,  thus  prov- 
ing himself  a  helpful  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Newbauer  was  married  in  Hartford  City,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Bolner,  who  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Hartford  City,  and  lived  with 
her  brother  during  her  earlier  years,  having  lost  her  parents  when  still 
a  child.  Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newbauer:  Hazel, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  George  H.,  a  sketch  of  whose  career 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  work;  Altha,  the  wife  of  George  Har- 
vey, engaged  in  draying  in  Hartford  City:  Robert  L.,  single,  who  is 
manager  of  his  father's  farming  implement  business;  Eva  V.,  deputy 
in  the  county  treasurer's  office  under  her  brother,  George  H.,  and  one 
child  who  died  in  infancy.  The  children  have  been  given  good  educa- 
tional advantages,  passing  through  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Hart- 
ford City,  and  have  been  well  fitted  for  the  honorable  positions  they  are 
now  filling  in  life.  All  have  proved  a  credit  to  their  community  and  to 
their  training.  Mr.  Newbauer  has  been  much  interested  in  work  of  a 
fraternal  nature,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  various  orders  of  Odd- 
fellowship  for  over  forty  years.  He  has  been  district  deputy  grand 
master  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  financial  secretary  for  sixteen  years, 
and  was  the  organizer  of  the  lodge  and  encampment,  as  well  as  the  can- 
ton, of  the  order  at  Hartford  City.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
Red  Men  for  twenty-five  years  and  was  recently  elected  a  representative 
to  the  great  council  of  Indiana. 

Levi  Thompson  Stanley.  That  farming  can  be  developed  into  one 
of  the  most  agreeable  and  satisfying  occupations  in  which  men  engage, 
that  industry,  perseverance  and  good  judgment  form  the  foundation 
for  a  successful  career,  and  that  integrity  and  honesty  are  among  the 
most  valuable  of  human  assets,  are  facts  emphasized  in  the  life  of 
the  late  Levi  T.  Stanley,  who  during  a  long  period  carried  on  successful 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  41 

operations  in  stockraising  and  farming  in  Licking  township,  Blackford 
county,  and  passed  away  at  his  home,  February  13,  1903.  Mr.  Stanley 
was  a  native  of  Indiana,  having  been  born  in  Randolph  county.  Septem- 
ber 27,  1859,  and  a  son  of  Zachariah  and  Sarah  (Cox)   Stanley. 

Mr.  Stanley  belongs  to  the  old  and  honored  Quaker  family  of  that 
name,  of  Wayne  county,,  whose  members,  belonging  to  the  Society  of 
Friends,  contributed  so  generously  to  the  founding  and  maintenance 
of  Earlham  College,  of  Richmond.  After  their  marriage,  the  parents  of 
Mr.  Stanley  settled  on  a  farm  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  where  they 
made  their  home  for  some  years,  and  then  went  to  a  farm  near  Eaton, 
Delaware  county.  There  the  father  passed  away  when  about  fifty 
years  of  age,  and  Mrs.  Stanley  subsequently  married  Robert  Lanning 
and  lived  at  Mill  Grove,  Blackford  county,  where  they  remained  ful- 
some years.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Laning  his  widow  went  to  Eaton, 
and  there  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  in  tie'  faith 
of  the  Methodist  church.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children,  of 
of  whom  two  are  deceased,  five  grew  to  maturity,  were  married  and  are 
now  deceased,  and  the  oldest  and  the  youngest,  who  are  the  only  ones 
living,  are  married  but  have  no  children. 

Levi  Stanley,  the  third  of  the  family  in  order  of  birth,  was  still  a 
lad  when  his  parents  went  to  Delaware  county,  and  there  secured  Ids 
education  in  the  public  schools.  The  vocation  of  agriculturist  was  chosen 
as  his  life  work,  and  when  he  was  reared  to  establish  a  home  of  his 
own  he  married  Mary  Lanning,  who  was  born  in  Mill  Grove,  Black- 
ford county.  Indiana,  in  1864.  She  was  educated  there  and  was 
a  teacher  prior  to  her  marriage,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Licking  town- 
ship, January  7.  1892.  She  was  the  mother  of  one  son,  Ralph,  who 
was  given  a  good  education,  is  now  manager  for  the  Knott  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  of  Tell  City.  Indiana,  married  Elsie  Scheafer,  and  has 
one  son,  Rudolph.  Mr.  Stanley  was  married  to  Miss  Charlottie 
Thorp,  at  Eaton,  Delaware  county,  February  -t.  189'!.  She  was 
born  at  Kendallville,  Noble  county,  Indiana,  March  15,  1869.  was  born 
and  reared  in  that  village  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley  lived  for  a  time  on  the  Atkinson 
farm,  in  Licking  township,  for  two  years,  then  moving  to  north  of  Hart- 
ford City,  where  they  lived  for  five  years,  and  finally  moved  to  the 
present  farm  in  section  18,  Licking  township,  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
and  one  of  the  best  of  its  size  in  the  county,  entirely  equipped  with 
the  latest  and  most  valuable  improvements.  Here  are  located  a  com- 
fortable, seven-room  white  house,  and  a  good  red  barn,  30x40  feet,  in 
addition  to  which  there  are  other  buildings  substantial  in  character  and 
attractive  in  architecture.  Everything  about  the  property  suggests  the 
presence  of  able  management  and  thrift,  and  such  are  indeed  found 
here,  for  since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Stanley  has  had  entire  charge 
of  the  place  and  has  made  its  operations  a  decided  success  Following 
in  the  plan  laid  out  by  her  husband,  she  raises  large  crops  of  wheat, 
hay,  oats  and  corn,  the  land  being  well  drained  in  spite  of  the  presence 
of  a  plentiful  supply  of  water,  and  has  also  had  satisfactory  dealings 
in  the  line  of  live  stock.  Mr.  Stanley  was  a  good  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  his  community  found  in  him  one  who  could  ever  be  de- 
pended upon  to  suppoi-t  beneficial  movements  and  to  give  of  the  best 
of  himself,  his  time  or  his  means  in  behalf  of  the  community's  welfare. 
He  was  a  democrat,  although  not  a  politician,  and  had  friends  among 
the  members  of  all  the  political  parties. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley:  Hazel  0..  bom 
October  9,  1895,  a  graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  High  school,  class 


42  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  1913,  and  now  a  student  of  music ;  Russell  0.,  born  September  17, 
1899,  and  now  in  his  second  year  at  high  school;  and  one  child  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mrs.  Stanley  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epsicopal 
church,  is  widely  known  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  has  numerous 
friends  who  admire  her  for  her  many  admirable  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart. 

Prank  F.  Dougherty.  In  the  general  real  estate,  and  fire  and  life 
insurance  business  at  Hartford  City,  representing  the  State  Life  In- 
surance Company  and  several  fire  companies,  Frank  F.  Dougherty  has 
been  thus  established  as  a  factor  in  Blackford  county  commercial  life 
for  the  past  ten  years.  The  State  Life  Insurance  Company  regards 
Mr.  Dougherty  as  one  of  its  ablest  representatives,  has  implicit  faith 
in  Lis  loyalty  and  faithfulness  to  the  company,  and  his  ability  and 
practical  achievement  in  the  insurance  field  ranks  him  as  one  of  the 
most  capable  business  getters  in  the  state.  He  has  been  with  the  State 
Life  since  1905,  as  general  agent  for  his  district,  and  the  confidence  of 
the  company  is  well  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  always  worked  with- 
out bonds.  In  1913  the  business  turned  through  his  office  was  second 
in  volume  among  all  the  returns  from  the  various  agents  of  the  State 
Life  in  the  state.  His  business  is  located  in  the  Gable  Block  on  the 
north  side  of  the  public  square  in  Hartford  City.  During  the  past 
year  Mr.  E.  W.  Hutcheus  of  Portland,  Indiana,  has  been  associated 
with  him  in  the  office.  Previous  to  taking  up  insurance  and  real 
estate  in  a  permanent  way,  Mr.  Dougherty  spent  six  years  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman  in  different  parts  of  the  country  and  from  early  youth 
he  has  been  regarded  as  a  hustler  and  thoroughly  deserving  of  all  his 
success.  His  first  regular  experience  was  as  carpenter  and  mechanic 
in  Blackford  and  Grant  counties. 

Mr.  Dougherty  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  at  Millville, 
January  21,  1868.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  when  eleven  years  of 
age  his  family  moved  to  Grant  county,  and  his  education  was  com- 
pleted in  the  public  schools.  His  father,  Samuel  Dougherty,  had  the 
distinction  of  being  the  second  white  child  born  in  Henry  county, 
Indiana.  His  birth  occurred  August  22,  1822,  and  he  was  the  son  of 
John  Dougherty,  a  native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  the  United  States, 
first  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married  there  to  Rebecca  Kott, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  an  old  family.  After  their  marriage 
John  Dougherty  and  wife  lived  only  a  few  years  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  1S21  migrated  west  and  found  a  home  in  the  wilderness  of  Henry 
county.  Indiana.  They  settled  at  Millville  in  Liberty  township,  secured 
eighty  acres  of  government  land,  and  passed  through  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes and  experiences  of  the  pioneers,  living  for  a  time  in  a  log  cabin 
until  they  could  erect  a  more  comfortable  home,  and  their  labors  result- 
ing eventually  in  prosperity  for  themselves,  and  in  the  redemption  of 
a  considerable  part  of  the  country  from  primitive  conditions.  Grand- 
father Dougherty  died  in  Henry  county  at  the  age  of  seventy,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  They  had  a  large  family 
of  eight  children,  six  daughters  and  two  sons.  One  of  these  are  still 
living,  one  being  James  Dougherty  of  Hagerstown,  Indiana,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  children  and  grandchildren. 

Samuel  Dougherty,  the  father,  grew  up  and  learned  the  trade  of 
cooper,  which  employed  him  for  many  years,  first  at  Milton.  Indiana, 
later  at  his  birthplace  of  Millville,  and  "in  1879  he  moved  to  Jefferson 
township,  Grant  county,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  which  remained  his 
home  until  his  death,  July  26.  1888.     His  widow  still  lives  on  the  home- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         |:; 

stead  in  Grant  county  and  is  seventy-one  years  of  age.  Both  were 
active  members  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  Samuel  Doughertj  was  a 
democrat  who  east  his  first  vote  for  James  K.  Polk  in  1844,  although 
his  father  before  him  was  a  whig.  During  the  Civil  war  Samuel 
Dougherty  saw  two  years  of  service  as  a  regimental  teamster.  He  and 
his  wife  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  and  they  are  briefly 
mentioned  as  follows:  Alice  is  the  widow  of  Frank  Newcom  of  Hagers- 
town.  Indiana,  aud  has  two  daughters  and  one  sun;  Elizabeth  is  the 
widow  of  L.  P.  Harris,  lives  at  Richmond,  Indiana,  and  lias  one  sun; 
Lawrence  W.  is  married  and  has  a  son  Samuel  Ross,  and  is  engaged 
in  the  grain  and  hay  commission  business  at  Hartford  City,  having  at 
one  time  served  as  county  auditor  for  Blackford  county;  Jeptha  J.  is 
a  mechanical  engineer  and  fruit  grower  at  Bountiful,  Utah,  and  has 
two  sons  and  one  daughter  by  his  first  wife;  John,  who  has  been  twice 
married  and  has  a  daughter  by  his  first  wife,  is  a  farmer  near  Hagers- 
town,  Indiana ;  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  is  Frank  F.  Dougherty ; 
Daniel  V.,  who  is  unmarried,  is  connected  with  the  State  Epileptic 
Institution  at  Newcastle.  Indiana;  Everete  lives  with  his  mother  in 
Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county,  his  wife  being  deceased,  and  he 
has  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

Mr.  Frank  F.  Dougherty  was  married  in  Jefferson  township  of 
Grant  county  to  Dora  L.  Owens,  who  was  born  in  Coffey  county.  Kansas, 
December  7,  1870,  but  was  educated  in  Upland  in  Grant  county,  In- 
diana. Her  father.  John  M.  Owens,  died  at  Winnemac,  Indiana,  in 
1901,  and  was  a  farmer.  His  widow  now  lives  in  Hartford  City  aud 
is  sixty-two  years  of  age  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Dougherty  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  six  children  :  Alice,  aged  twenty- 
three,  married  Carl  Swindler,  of  Blackford  county,  but  they  now  live 
at  Tulsa,  Oklahoma;  Cecil  Helen  is  a  student  in  the  Muncie  College; 
Mildred  H.  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1914  in  the  Hartford  City  high 
school;  Harry  is  a  grade  school  pupil:  Mary  F.  is  also  in  grade  school, 
and  Annabel  is  the  youngest.  Mr.  Dougherty  takes  an  active  part  in 
fraternal  matters,  especially  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a 
trustee  of  Blackford  Lodge,  No.  135.  of  that  order,  and  has  been  through 
all  the  chairs  and  is  a  member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  El  Capitan  Temple  No.  94,  D.  0.  K.  of  K.  at  Muncie.  In 
politics  a  democrat,  he  is  one  of  the  vigorous  workers  in  his  party  and 
both  in  business  and  civic  affairs  one  of  the  leaders  in  Hartford  City 
and  Blackford  county. 

John  S.  Sellers,  M.  D.  The  high  professional  attainments  of 
Dr.  Sellers  give  him  impregnable  vantage-ground  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative physicians  and  surgeons  of  Blackford  county  and  he  main- 
tains his  residence  and  professional  headquarters  at  Hartford  City, 
the  judicial  center  of  the  county.  The  Doctor  is  a  scion  of  a  family 
that  was  founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  days,  and  his  lineage 
touches  Scotch,  Irish  and  Welsh  stock,  his  paternal  grandfather  having 
been  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry;  in  the  old  Key- 
stone state  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  this  sterling  citizen,  and 
his  wife,  whose  family  name  was  Brandon.  She  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  Welsh  extraction.  Soon  after  their  marriage  the  grand- 
parents of  Dr.  Sellers  removed  to  Kentucky,  in  which  state  their  chil- 
dren were  born,  and  in  the  early  '20s  the  family  came  to  Indiana  and 
numbered  themselves  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Wayne  county. 
where  the  grandfather  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity  id' 
the  present  village  of  Walnut  Level.  There  he  reclaimed  from  the 
wilderness  a  productive  farm  of  200  acres,  and  he  was  long  known  and 


44         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

honored  as  one  of  the  strong  and  influential  men  of  that  section  of  the 
state,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside  until  their  death. 
The  grandfather  of  the  Doctor  died  in  the  prime  of  his  vigorous  and 
prolific  life,  having  passed  to  his  reward  more  than  eighty  years  ago 
and  his  widow  having  survived  him  by  a  number  of  years.  They  reared 
a  number  of  children,  and  of  the  number  Isaac  Sellers  figures  as  the 
father  of  him  to  whom  this  review  is  dedicated. 

Isaac  Sellers  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1812,  and  he  was 
a  young  man  at  the  time  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Indiana. 
He  assisted  in  the  development  of  the  home  farm,  in  Wayne  county, 
and  had  his  full  quota  of  experience  in  connection  with  the  life  of  a 
pioneer.  In  Wayne  county  he  wedded  Miss  Emma  Trocksell,  who 
was  born  in  Maryland,  in  the  year  1816,  her  paternal  grandparents  hav- 
ing immigrated  to  America  from  Germany  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century  and  having  established  their  permanent  home  in 
Maryland.  In  that  commonwealth  was  born  the  father  of  Mrs.  Emma 
(Trocksell)  Sellers.  When  the  daughter  Emma  was  a  child  the  family 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  at  Richmond,  the  county  seat  of  Wayne 
county.  After  his  marriage  Isaac  Sellers  removed  to  Madison  county, 
where  he  filed  claim  to  forty  acres  of  government  land  and  effected  the 
purchase  of  an  additional  tract  of  160  acres.  He  brought  his  land  under 
effective  cultivation  and  became  one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  and 
representative  citizens  of  Madison  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years,  his  wife  living  to  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Though 
both  were  reared  in  the  other  faiths  they  became  zealous  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  they  lived  righteous  lives,  so  that 
they  merited  and  received  the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  them.  They 
became  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  of  the  num- 
ber Dr.  Sellers  of  this  sketch  is  now  the  only  one  living. 

Dr.  John  S.  Sellers  was  born  in  Richland  township,  Madison  county, 
Indiana,  on  the  18th  of  November,  1843,  and  he  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cational training  in  the  common  schools  of  the  locality  and  period.  In 
the  study  of  medicine  the  Doctor  gained  his  initial  knowledge  iinder 
the  direction  of  an  able  private  preceptor,  one  of  the  leading  physicians 
of  Madison  county,  and  finally  he  entered  the  Indiana  Medical  College, 
in  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  an  institution  in  which  he  was  graduated 
as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1878,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medi- 
cine. For  two  years  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Sellers  was  engaged  in 
practice  in  his  native  county,  and  thereafter  he  was  a  resident  and 
practitioner  of  medicine  at  Sulphur  Springs,  Henry  county,  until  1881, 
when  he  came  to  Blackford  county  and  established  his  residence  at 
Montpelier,  where  he  built  up  a  large  and  representative  practice  and 
where  he  remained  fully  thirty  years,  removal  to  Hartford  City,  the 
judicial  center  of  the  county,  having  been  made  in  1911.  Dr.  Sellers 
gave  years  of  earnest  and  effective  service  in  the  alleviation  of  human 
suffering  and  distress  and  he  is  now  retired  largely  from  active  prac- 
tice, though  the  many  representative  families  to  whom  he  has  ministered 
in  past  years  still  place  insistent  demands  upon  him,  for  his  able  serv- 
ice and  unfailing  kindliness  and  consideration  have  given  him  inviolable 
place  in  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the  people  of  Blackford  county. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  the  county, 
and  has  always  been  known  for  his  civic  loyalty  and  public  spirit- 
Distinctive  honor  is  due  to  Dr.  Sellers  for  the  intrinsic  patriotism 
which  he  manifested  during  his  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the 
Civil  war.  In  October,  1862.  from  Madison  county,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  with  this  gallant   command  he  continued  in  active  service  until 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         45 

the  close  of  the  war,  his  honorable  discharge  having  been  granted  to 
him  on  Christmas  day  of  the  year  1865  and  the  last  six  months  of  his 
service  having  been  in  connection  with  the  provost  marshal's  depart- 
ment, after  the  cessation  of  specific  conflict  following  the  surrender 
of  General  Johnston  and  Lee.  The  Doctor  received  a  slight  scalp  wound 
in  the  battle  of  Kingston,  North  Carolina.  Though  he  participated  in 
many  engagements  he  was  never  captured,  but  lie  had  many  narrow 
escapes.  He  has  perpetuated  the  more  gracious  associations  of  his 
military  career  by  retaining  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  The  Doctor  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  in 
times  past  he  has  been  an  active  and  appreciative  member  of  the  Am.  i  i 
can  Medical  Association,  the  Indiana  State  Medical  Society,  and  minor 
professional  organizations. 

At  Anderson.  Madison  county,  in  the  year  1872,  Dr.  Sellers  wedded 
Miss  Emma  J.  Menefee,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  who  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  tine  old  Southern  family  of  this  name.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  Menefee.  who  had  been  a  substantial  planter  and 
slaveholder  in  Virginia,  but  who  voluntarily  freed  his  slaves  prior  to 
the  Civil  war.  He  came  to  Indiana  and  established  his  home  in  Madi- 
son county,  where  he  became  a  successful  farmer,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  he  served  the  Union,  in  the  commissary  department.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  residents  of  Madison  county  until  the  time  of  their 
death.  Mrs.  Sellers  has  long  been  a  most  devoted  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  has  been  specially  active  in  benevolent  and 
charitable  work.  In  conclusion  is  given  brief  record  concerning  the 
children  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Sellers.  Charles  A.  was  graduated,  in  190-1, 
in  the  Fort  Wayne  Academy  of  Medicine,  at  Fort  Wayne,  this  state, 
the  institution  having  later  been  consolidated  with  the  Indiana  Col- 
lege of  Medicine.  He  succeeded  to  his  father's  large  practice  at  Mont- 
pelier,  and  later  came  to  Hartford  City,  where  he  now  holds  prestige 
as  one  of  the  leading  young  physicians  of  his  native  county.  The  first 
wife  of  Dr.  Charles  A.  Sellers  died  shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  only 
child,  which  likewise  died  at  birth.  She  was  born  at  Madison,  this 
state,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Greiner.  As  his  second  wife  Dr. 
Charles  A.  Sellers  married  Miss  Catherine  Chapman,  who  was  formerly 
a  successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  Montpelier  high  school,  ami  the 
two  children  of  this  union  are  Gertrude  and  Betty  Virginia.  Addie, 
the  only  daughter  of  Dr.  John  S.  Sellers,  is  the  wife  of  Frederick 
Chandler,  of  Hartford  City,  and  they  have  two  children,  Helen  and 
Lucille. 

Frank  Culberson.  Practically  the  entire  career  of  Frank  Culber- 
son has  been  identified  with  Blackford  county.  A  great  many  men  and 
women  in  this  county  remember  him  for  his  school  work  as  a  teacher, 
and  about  nine  years  were  spent  in  the  school  room  chiefly  in  Licking 
township.  A  young  man  of  progressive  energy  and  ambition,  of  brains 
and  good  family,  he  has  already,  while  still  in  his  thirties,  established 
himself  securely  in  business  affairs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  grocery  firm 
of  Pursley  &  Culberson  at  Hartford  City.  Their  store  enjoys  a  large 
trade  both  in  the  city  and  surrounding  country,  and  has  a  splendid 
location  in  the  very  heart  of  the  business  center  of  105  S.  High  street 
on  the  west  side  of  the  square.  The  firm  has  been  in  existence  since 
October,  1908. 

Frank  Culberson  was  born  in  Washington  Court  House.  Ohio.  .Jan- 
uary 8,  1881.  Six  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Hartford 
City,  he  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Blackford  county  and  after  grad- 
uating from  the  city  high  school  and  with  three  years  additional  train- 
ing in  the  Marion  Normal  College  qualified  as  a  teacher  and  spent  nine 


46         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

years  in  that  work.  In  Licking  township  he  was  in  charge  of  the  school 
of  District  No.  12  three  years,  for  a  similar  time  in  District  No.  3,  and 
one  year  each  at  District  No.  5  and  No.  9,  and  also  taught  a  year  in 
Harrison  township. 

Mr.  Culberson's  parents  were  David  H.  and  Josephine  E.  (Thomp- 
son) Culberson.  His  father  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  a  son 
of  George  Culberson,  who  spent  all  his  life  in  that  state  as  a  farmer, 
and  had  a  large  family  of  children.  The  religion  of  the  Culberson  has 
been  Methodist  for  a  number  of  generations.  David  H.  Culberson,  who 
was  of  Scotch  stock,  grew  up  in  his  native  Ohio  county,  and  married 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mahala  (Brakfield)  Thompson.  The  Thomp- 
sons were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  but  were  married  in  Ohio  and  lived 
in  Greene  and  Clinton  counties.  Joseph  Thompson  died  in  Clinton 
county  at  Sabina  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  and  his  widow  still  lives 
there  and  is  seventy-seven  years  of  age  at  this  time.  Both  the  Thomp- 
sons and  Culbersons  have  all  been  radical  democrats  in  politics.  Frank 
Culberson  was  the  first  born  of  his  parents,  and  a  daughter  Maude 
was  also  born  in  Ohio.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Atkinson  of  Lick- 
ing township,  and  has  two  children,  the  first  being  Francis  Joseph,  Jr. 
After  the  birth  of  these  children  David  H.  Culberson  and  wife  moved 
to  Indiana  and  established  their  home  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Section  19  of  Licking  township.  It  required  much  hard  work  and 
close  economy  to  make  both  ends  meet  and  to  improve  their  land  into 
a  productive  homestead,  but  the  father  was  of  the  pioneer  type  and 
his  industry  enabled  him  to  provide  well  for  his  family.  He  was  born 
in  October,  1856,  and  died  in  Blackford  county,  September  3,  1904. 
Besides  his  long  career  as  a  farmer,  he  was  honored  with  the  office 
of  county  commissioner  for  three  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a 
Methodist,  and  his  widow  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead  and  is  sixty- 
five  years  of  age.  After  they  moved  to  Blackford  county  one  other 
child  was  born,  Mildred,  who  is  the  wife  of  Ashford  Rogers,  and  they 
now  occupy  the  home  farm  in  Section  19  of  Licking  township.  Mr. 
Rogers  and  wife  have  one  daughter,  Isabel  M. 

Frank  Culberson  was  married  in  Licking  township  to  Miss  Gertrude 
E.  Atkinson.  She  was  born  in  Hartford  city,  was  educated  in  the 
rural  schools  and  besides  her  devotion  to  home  and  family  takes  con- 
siderable part  in  local  social  affairs.  She  was  born  September  9,  1883, 
a  daughter  of  Hugh  C.  and  Mary  Atkinson,  who  are  farming  people 
of  Licking  township.  Mr.  Culberson  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons;  Wayne  Harold,  aged  eleven,  is  now  in  the  city  grade  schools,  and 
Donald  A.  is  five  years  of  age.  Both  Mr.  Culberson  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  affiliates  with  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  and  in  politics  follows  the  long  standing 
affiliation  of  the  family  with  the  democratic  interests. 

Rev.  Harvey  T.  Walker.  There  has  been  no  period  in  recorded 
history  when  the  caring  for  the  dead  has  not  been  a  feature  of  even 
savage  life  and  the  ceremonies  have  been  of  a  character  that  has  been 
marked  by  the  measure  of  civilization.  A  study  of  habits  and  customs 
of  every  nation  will  disclose  that  a  reverence  has  been  paid  to  the  dead 
oftentimes  such  as  has  not  been  given  to  the  living,  and  even  the  most 
uncivilized  of  savages  can  point  to  their  burning  temples,  their  stone 
crypts,  their  tree-top  burials  or  their  funeral  barks.  However,  there 
has  never  been  a  time  when  the  proper,  dignified,  sanitary  conduct  of 
funeral  obsequies  and  disposal  of  the  remains  of  those  whose  life  work 
has  ended  has  been  so  complete  as  at  present,  Embalmers  and  funeral 
directors  of  the  present   day  in  this  country  are  no  longer  mere  me- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  47 

chanics,  but,  ou  the  other  hand,  are  carefully  trained  in  this  profession 
and  are  frequently  graduates  of  more  than  one  college,  liev.  Harry 
T.  Walker,  of  Montpelier,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Cincinnati  College  of 
Embalming,  in  which  he  holds  a  life  scholarship  and  the  chair  of 
lecturer  and  demonstrator,  a  graduate  of  the  Askins  Training  School 
of  Embalming,  of  Indianapolis,  holds  Ohio  license  No.  L939  A.  the 
highest  in  the  state,  and  Indiana  license  No.  1550,  both  obtained  through 
a  most  rigid  examination,  and  is  known  as  the  "Consultee"  all  over  this 
part  of  the  state,  as  au  expert  in  his  chosen  field. 

Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Indiana,  September  2ti,  1884, 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools,  this  being  sup- 
plemented by  courses  in  Amboy  Academy  and  Taylor  University,  at 
Upland,  Indiana.  He  was  granted  a  local  minister's  license  in  the 
United  Brethren  church  in  190-4,  his  first  charge  being  at  Boyleston, 
Clinton  county,  Indiana,  from  whence  he  went  to  Lapel,  Madison 
county,  and  in  1906  became  a  member  of  the  White  River  United 
Brethren  Conference.  On  completing  his  work  at  Lapel  he  came  to 
Montpelier,  where  for  three  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  at  the  same  time  became  the  owner  of  his  present  business 
of  undertaking,  embalming  and  funeral  directing  on  Main  street.  He 
has  continued  to  fill  a  local  pastorate,  and  is  frequently  called  upon 
for  lectures  and  talks  at  high  schools  and  before  other  gatherings. 

Mr.  Walker  comes  of  an  old  and  honored  Virginia  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  stock,  the  first  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have  any  record  being 
his  great-grandfather,  William  Walker,  of  West  Virginia,  a  salt  manu- 
facturer during  early  days  on  the  Kanawha  river.  He  was  a  slave- 
holder, but  freed  his  servants  before  the  Civil  War  and  came  to  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  his  last  years,  being  buried  within  forty  miles  of  Cin- 
cinnati. He  married  in  West  Virginia,  Mary  Stewart,  of  Scotch  stock, 
who  also  died  in  Ohio,  in  the  faith  of  the  Dunkard  church,  of  which 
her  husband  was  also  a  member.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons.  Of  these,  Elliott  Walker,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  the  youngest.  He  was  born  in  West  Virginia  in  1804, 
and  was  married  to  Lavina  Williamson,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  and 
(his  second  wife)  to  Anna  Eckart,  who  bore  him  one  son.  He 
had  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio  in  young  manhood,  and  later 
moved  to  Madison  county,  Indiana,  and  still  later  to  Miami  county, 
Indiana,  where  his  first  wife  died.  He  subsecpiently  went  to  Marshall 
county,  Indiana,  and  passed  away  on  his  farm  near  Plymouth,  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  six  months.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and 
is  now  eighty-nine  years  old,  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Walker  was  a  Dunkard  and  a  republican,  while  his  first  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church.  Of  his  children  by  his 
first  wife  there  were  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  of  these,  Rev. 
William  A.,  the  father  of  Rev.  Harry  T.,  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth. 

Rev.  William  A.  Walker  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana. 
October  22,  1842,  and  in  youth  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  At  tin- 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  offered  his  services  to  the  Union  cause, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  K,  Thirty-fourth  Regiment,  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served  ten  months,  and  then  con- 
tracted measles  aud  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 
Later,  he  became  a  member  of  Company  F,  Sixteenth  Regiment.  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  and  continued  to  serve  therewith  until  tin 
close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Walker's  service  covered  a  period  of  three  years 
and  seventeen  days,  and  through  brave  and  meritorious  service  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  He  participated  in  many 
hard-fought  engagements,  aud  in  August,  1863,  while  serving  on  spe- 


48         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

cial  duty  was  captured  by  the  Confederates  and  confined  at  Tyler, 
Texas,  being  there  confined  for  nine  months.  He  received  a  severe 
gunshot  wound  in  his  right  hip,  and  after  his  recovery  from  his  wound 
was  struck  in  the  side,  by  a  cavalry  wagon  tongue,  an  injury  which 
troubled  him  greatly  in  after  years.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Walker  went  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter 
for  some  years,  but  subsequently  returned  to  Miami  county,  Indiana, 
and  was  married.  Later  he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  working  at  his  trade  for  about  four  years,  and  upon  his 
return  to  Indiana  located  at  Amboy,  where  he  manufactured  tile  for 
five  years.  William  A.  Walker  is  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Amboy  station  for  eleven 
consecutive  years.  Following  this  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Miami  county, 
on  which  he  carried  on  operations  until  1906,  and  in  that  year  retired 
and  went  to  Amboy,  Miami  county,  Indiana.  Mr.  Walker  was  mar- 
ried in  Miami  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Malinda  C.  Daily,  who  was 
born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  July  7,  1843,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Nicum)  Daily,  natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Daily  was  born  January  15, 
1806,  and  his  wife  December  14,  1813,  and  both  died  in  Miami  county, 
Indiana,  in  1880,  within  three  days  of  each  other.  They  were  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Friends  church,  and  Mr.  Daily  was  a  lifelong 
democrat.  Mrs.  Walker's  grandparents,  Edmond  and  Anna  (Emery) 
Daily,  were  farming  people  of  Virginia  and  members  of  the  Dunkard 
church.  They  early  came  West  to  Ohio,  and  there  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives  on  a  farm,  the  grandfather  passing  away  in  1859,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five,  and  the  grandmother  in  the  same  year  when  eighty- 
two  years  old.  Mrs.  Walker  died  July  5,  1906,  at  Amboy,  Indiana, 
the  mother  of  four  children  who  grew  up  and  were  married :  Emma, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wagnar,  of  Peru,  Indiana,  a  railway  en- 
gineer, and  has  one  son :  Gus ;  Mary  Etta,  who  died  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Henry  Graf  of  Miami  county,  by  whom  she  had  three  children, 
— Harley,  Myrtle  and  Lola;  Elizabeth  J.,  who  died  after  her  marriage 
to  Harry  Vincent,  and  left  a  daughter, — Montrue;  and  Harvey  T. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Rev.  Walker  married  Mary  Lickbelt 
and  moved  to  Culver,  Marshall  county,  Indiana. 

Harvey  T.  Walker  was  married  in  Miami  county,  Indiana,  in  1905, 
to  Miss  Nellie  M.  Freeman,  who  was  born  in  Miami  county,  August  12, 
1887,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  North  Grove  high  school.  They  have 
had  three  children,  born  as  follows:  Garnel  born  September  21,  1909: 
Ghlee  Delight,  September  7,  1911 ;  and  Garl  D.,  March  4,  1913.  Mrs. 
Walker  is  in  perfect  sympathy  with  her  husband  in  all  his  undertak- 
ings. She  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  a  teacher  in  the 
Sunday  school,  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  church  and  charitable 
work.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Walker  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  Blue 
Lodge  and  Knights  of  Pythias  No.  188,  of  the  latter  of  which  is  past 
chancellor,  and  holds  membership  also  in  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men,  being  past  sachem.  His  political  faith  is  that  of  the  republican 
party. 

Albert  A.  Russell.  Few  of  the  citizens  of  Blackford  county  have 
won  their  way  to  more  deserved  success  than  has  Albert  A.  Russell, 
owner  of  a  finely  cultivated  farm  and  extensive  breeding  stables  in 
Licking  township.  Although  still  a  young  man,  with  the  best  years 
of  his  life  still  before  him,  he  has  already  achieved  what  many  would 
consider  sufficient  prosperity  for  a  lifetime  of  steady  effort,  and  the 
fame  of  his  stables  is  giving  him  prestige  all  over  the  county.  Mr.  Rus- 
sell has  spent  his  entire  career  within  the  limits  of  Blackford  county, 
where  he  was  born  March  29,  1882,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Esther  A. 
( Stallsmith )  Russell. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 


49 


Samuel  Russell  was  born  iu  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  after  Ins 
marriage  to  Miss  Stallsmith,  who  was  born  in  Blackford  county,  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Licking  township  and  here  for  a  Long  period  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  later  securing  another  propertj  in 
"Washington  township.  On  this  latter  he  passed  away,  January  21, 
1906,  being  then  but  forty-eight  years  of  age.  His  widow  was  married 
to  Thomas  Clevenger,  of  Centerville,  Wayne  county,  [ndiana,  a 
prominent  farmer,  now  retired.  By  her  first  maTriage  she  was  the 
mother  of  seven  children,  namely:  May,  who  died  in  infancy;  Emma, 
the  wife  of  William  Hurley,  of  Ceylon,  Indiana,  with  two  son's  and  two 
daughters;  Albert  A.,  of  this  review;  Henry,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Harrison  township,  married  and  the  father  of  two  sons:  Etta, 
the  wife  of  Walter  Glancey,  of  Mill  Grove.  Blackford  county;  David, 
who  resides  on  a  farm  in  Licking  township;  and  Grace,  single,  living 
near  Greenville,  Ohio. 

Albei't  A.  Russell  was  reared  amid  rural  surroundings,  and  his 
education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools  of  Licking  township, 
his  youth  being  about  evenly  divided  between  his  studies  and  his  duties 
on  the  home  place,  he  being  the  eldest  son.  It  was  but  natural  that  lie 
should  adopt  the  vocation  of  agricultural  pursuits  as  his  life  work  when 
he  embarked  upon  a  career  of  his  own,  and  accordingly  he  settled  mi  a 
farm  of  forty-seven  acres,  located  in  section  3,  Licking  township,  where 
he  has  since  continued  operations.  He  now  devotes  forty  acres  to  grain 
farming,  with  twenty  acres  in  oats  and  twenty  acres  in  wheat,  and  has 
brought  his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  made  numerous 
modern  improvements.  But  although  he  has  been  successful  as  a  gen- 
eral farmer,  it  is  in  the  line  of  stock  raising  that  he  has  met  with  the 
greatest  business  prosperity.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of  cattle  and  line 
Duroc  hogs,  shipping  large  numbers  to  the  markets  each  year,  but  bis 
stables  have  acquired  fame  principally  because  of  his  fine  horses,  lie 
being  one  of  the  best  known  breeders  of  draft  and  road  horses  in  the 
county.  In  his  stables  are  found  "Hindoo,"  a  Belgian  registered  stal- 
lion, imported,  eight  years  old,  weight  2,040  pounds;  "Humorous,"'  a 
registered  imported  Percheron  stallion,  six  years  old.  weight  2,000 
pounds,  which  has  proved  a  good  breeder;  "Album."  a  dapple  gray 
imported,  registered  Percheron  stallion,  1,850  pounds,  also  an  excel- 
lent breeder;  and  "Colonel  Harrison.'"  a  three  year  old,  which  weighed 
1,800  pounds  before  its  third  year,  and  which  has  a  most  promising 
future.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  conservative,  although  progressive  business 
man.  He  always  has  kept  in  the  middle  of  the  road  and  has  avoided 
extremes.  Honesty  and  industry  have  been  his  guiding  stars  ami  the 
mediums  through  which  he  has  gained  success,  and  have  brought  him 
the  rewards  of  confidence,  prosperity  and  happiness.  In  the  line  of 
his  chosen  work,  Mr.  Russell  is  accounted  one  of  the  best  informed  men 
in  the  county,  and  is  frequently  sought  for  advice  in  matters  pertain- 
ing to  live  stock. 

Mr.  Russell  was  married  in  Licking  township  to  Miss  Lula  M.  Butler, 
who  was  born  in  this  township.  June  9.  1883,  and  here  reared  ami 
educated,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Lydia  (Grabber)  Butler,  the  former 
of  whom  is  deceased,  while  the  latter  survives  aml*at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years  is  still  active  in  the  management  of  the  home  farm.  She 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  her 
husband  was  also  an  adherent.  His  attitude  toward  temperance  ex- 
tended to  all  phases  of  his  life,  moderation  was  one  of  his  conspicuous 
qualities  from  his  youth,  and  the  prohibition  party  found  in  him  a 
warm  supporter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have  three  daughters:  Lela, 
aged  nine  years,  who  is  attending  school ;  Maybelle,  who  is  seven  years 
old  and  also  a  student  in  the  public  schools  of  Licking  township;  and 


50         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Marie,  who  is  eight  months  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  are  devoted 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  have  been  active  work- 
ers in  its  various  movements.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  democrat,  and  while  not 
a  politician  in  the  accepted  sense  of  the  word  takes  a  keen  and  intelli- 
gent interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  and  at  all  times  endeavors 
to  serve  the  best  interests  of  his  section  by  electing  good  men  and  secur- 
ing helpful  legislation. 

Jacob  Willmann.  The  late  Jacob  Willmann.  who  for  thirty-five 
years  was  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Washington 
township,  was  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Blackford  county.  No  for- 
tunate family  of  pecuniary  advantages  aided  him  at  the  outset  of  his 
career.  He  commenced  his  struggles  with  the  world  as  a  young  man, 
and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  September  12,  1901,  was  entirely 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  Difficulties  and  obstacles  confronted 
him,  but  these  were  overcome  by  determined  efforts,  and  as  the  years 
passed  he  worked  his  way  steadily  upward  until  he  was  recognized  as 
one  of  his  community's  most  substantial  men. 

Mr.  Willmann  was  born  July  1,  1842,  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Rebecca  (Bailey)  Willmann.  His  father,  born 
in  Germany  about  the  year  1812,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  land, 
and  about  the  year  1830  accompanied  a  party  of  emigrants,  including 
his  parents,  to  the  United  States.  The  family  made  its  first  settle- 
ment in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  Michael  Willmann  was  married,  sub- 
sequently removing  to  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  where  the  grandparents  both  died.  Here  the  father 
purchased  and  improved  a  good  farm  and  became  a  man  of  substance 
and  standing  in  the  community.  He  was  past  seventy  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  while  Mrs.  Willmann  lived  to  be  eighty-one 
years  old.  They  were  lifelong  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church, 
which  they  had  joined  in  their  native  land,  and  Mr.  Willmann  was  a 
democrat  and  one  of  the  early  commissioners  of  Blackford  county.  The 
children  born  to  Michael  and  Rebecca  Willmann  were  as  follows:  Tina, 
who  died  as  an  infant;  Susanna,  who  also  died  young;  Peter,  whose 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Jacob,  of  this  review; 
and  John  and  George,  the  only  survivors,  both  of  whom  have  large 
families  and  are  the  owners  of  valuable  farms  in  Blackford  county. 

Jacob  Willmann  was  still  a  child  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Blackford  county,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  home- 
stead, assisting  his  father  in  the  hard  and  unceasing  work  of  clearing 
the  land,  and  securing  his  education  in  the  district  schools  during  the 
short  winter  terms.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  sec- 
tion 35,  Washington  township,  on  which  was  located  a  small  log  cabin. 
A  few  acres  had  been  partly  improved,  but  the  land  was  practically 
without  cultivation,  and  Mr.  Willmann  set  himself  resolutely  down 
to  the  development  of  a  good  farm.  The  log  cabin  continued  to  he  the 
family  home  until  1882,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  commodious  frame 
residence  of  six  rooms,  to  which  were  added  three  more  rooms,  and 
which  still  stands,  a"  handsome  white  structure  surrounded  by  a  full 
set  of  substantial  farm  buildings.  As  the  years  passed  and  his  finances 
permitted,  Mr.  Willmann  added  to  his  land  from  time  to  time,  until 
at  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  223  acres,  all  improved,  and  all  still 
in  the  family.  Mr.  Willmann  was  an  industrious  man  and  set  an 
example  for  energetic  and  intelligent  labor.  He  was  a  man  of  the 
strictest  integrity,  and  his  record  in  business  transactions  was  without 
stain  or  blemish  of  any  kind.     General  farming  and  stock  raising  oecu- 


BLACKF.ORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         51 

pied  his  attention,  and  in  both  of  these  lines  he  met  with  well  merited 
success.  A  democrat  in  political  matters,  politics  held  out  no  attrac- 
tion to  him  and  he  cared  little  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office.  He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  church  and  continued  faithful 
to  that  belief  throughout  his  life.  A  good  citizen,  an  industrious  farmer, 
a  kind  husband  and  father  and  a  loyal  friend,  when  he  passed  away 
his  community  lost  a  man  whose  place  it  was  found  hard  to  fill. 

Mr.  Willmami  was  married  in  1866  in  Jackson  township,  Black- 
ford county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Schmidt,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  April  17,  1S45,  and  was  an  infant  in  arms  when  brought 
to  Delaware  county.  Indiana,  by  her  parents.  John  P.  and  Martha  E. 
(Schwartz)  Schmidt.  Mrs.  Willmann's  parents  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many, the  father  born  at  Hesse  Darmstadt  and  the  mother  at  Cohessen. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  as  young  people  with  their  parents, 
the  journey  being  made  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  consuming  ninety  days. 
They  were  married  at  Chambersburg.  Pennsylvania,  July  29,  1842, 
and  in  1845,  with  their  two  children,  Martha  E.  and  Peter,  came  with 
a  one-horse  team  overland  to  Delaware  county,  although  later  they 
moved  to  Cicero,  Hamilton  county,  Indiana,  where  the  mother  died  in 
1854.  Mr.  Schmidt  then  came  with  his  children  to  Jackson  township, 
Blackford  county,  where  he  followed  farming  and  tailoring  until  his 
death  in  1882.  He  was  married  to  Anna  B.  Treitsch,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  womanhood, 
and  she  died  in  Jackson  township  in  1878.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  six  children:  an  infant;  Elizabeth,  who  died  after  her  mar- 
riage and  left  two  children;  Katherine,  the  wife  of  Peter  Waltz,  of 
Hamilton  county,  Indiana,  who  has  seven  children;  Jacob,  born  in 
1861,  a  bachelor  and  living  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Willmami;  Eva.  the 
wife  of  Ed.  Sutton,  living  in  Grant  county  and  the  mother  of  two 
daughters;  and  William  H.,  a  farmer  of  Harrison  township,  Blackford 
county,  who  is  married.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Willmann  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Martha  E. ;  Peter;  Philip  L.,  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  has  been  married  three  times  and  lias  six  children ;  Sarah,  the 
widow  of  Joseph  Markle,  lives  at  Hartford  City  and  has  no  issue;  and 
John  H.,  a  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  is  married  and  has  five  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willmann  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  as 
follows:  S.  Peter,  living  on  a  farm  in  Licking  township,  married  Eliza- 
beth Gucker,  and  has  five  children.  Ruth  E..  Robert  A..  Paul  A..  Reuben 
0.  and  Martha  R. ;  Margaret  R..  still  single  and  living  at  home,  and 
who  with  her  two  sisters  is  the  owner  of  a  nice  farm  of  sixty-three  acres, 
a  part  of  the  homestead;  John  Henry,  clerk  at  Wiler's  Store,  at  Hart- 
ford City,  married  Amelia  Schumacher  and  has  two  children.  Kenneth 
0.  and  Vonda  Elizabeth;  Jacob  M..  a  farmer  of  Licking  township,  mar- 
ried Caroline  Schumacher,  and  has  two  children,  Ralph  W.  and  Xaomi 
Delight;  Lewis  D.,  who  married  Clara  Weschke,  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Licking  township,  and  has  seven  children,  Harry  Clayton,  Luther 
Clarence,  Esther  M..  Arlo  L..  Maria  C.  Ruby  N.  and  Audra  A.:  Anna 
Barbara,  who  is  single,  resides  at  home,  and  is  identified  with  Wiler's 
Store,  at  Hartford  City:  William  E.,  living  on  a  farm  in  Arkansas, 
married  Amelia  Brose,  of  Washington  township,  and  has  a  daughter, 
Helen  C. ;  Charles  M..  who  died  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  un- 
married; Walter  M.,  who  is  single  and  resides  with  his  brother  mi  the 
Arkansas  farm;  and  Martha  C,  who  graduated  from  the  Hartford 
City  high  school  in  the  class  of  1911  and  who  married  June  18,  L914, 
Reverend  Simon  Long,  and  lives  at  Xenia.  Ohio.  Mrs.  Willmann 
and  the  members  of  her  family  are  identified  with  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church  of  Hartford  City.     She  is  a  lady  widely  known  and 


52         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

highly  respected  in  Washington  township,   and  has  numerous  friends 
throughout  this  vicinity. 

Norman  W.  Jackson.  At  the  present  time  the  leading  citizen  of 
Harrison  township,  so  designated  officially  by  the  choice  of  the  people, 
is  Norman  W.  Jackson,  trustee  of  the  township^  and  a  lifelong  resident 
of  this  vicinity.  The  Jackson  family  has  been  identified  with  Blackford 
county  more  than  sixty  years,  and  by  farming  and  liberal  public  spirit 
have  been  a  family  of  great  usefulness  in  this  section.  Norman  W. 
Jackson  outside  of  his  official  relations  with  the  community  is  esteemed 
as  a  progressive  farmer,  a  man  who  has  made  that  industry  a  business, 
and  by  strict  attention  to  its  details  has  accumulated  a  more  than  grati- 
fying success. 

Norman  W.  Jackson  was  born  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  God- 
frey Reserve  in  Harrison  township,  June  30,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  M.  and  a  grandson  of  Edward  C.  Jackson,  both  of  whom  were 
identified  with  this  part  of  Blackford  county.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents, Edward  C.  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Jackson,  were  born  respec- 
tively in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  were  taken  when  children  to 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  married  there,  and  in  1850  moved  to  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  and  located  in  Harrison  township.  Edward  Jackson 
was  a  democrat  and  quite  active  in  local  affairs.  There  were  eight 
children  :  William  Jackson,  deceased ;  Alfred,  who  served  in  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Indiana  Regiment  during  the  Civil  war;  J.  J.  Jackson,  a  soldier 
in  the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois  Regiment  for  three  and  a  half  years; 
Mary  J.,  who  married  Benjamin  Hudson  and  both  are  now  deceased; 
Samuel,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Sarah  A.,  deceased ;  George  M. ;  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  James  Schultz. 

George  M.  Jackson  was  an  infant  when  the  family  moved  to  Black- 
ford county,  and  has  the  distinction  of  having  attended  a  log  cabin 
schoolhouse.  His  preparation  for  life  so  far  as  schooling  was  con- 
cerned was  about  the  average  of  that  time.  In  1870  he  married  Anna 
D.  Cunningham,  who  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  January  16, 
1847,  and  was  eighteen  years  old  when  her  family  came  to  Indiana. 
George  M.  Jackson  is  one  of  the  men  who  came  up  from  almost  poverty 
to  prosperity.  At  one  time  he  was  assessed  ten  dollars  for  personal 
property,  but  now  owns  considerable  land  and  Math  his  son  is  pro- 
prietor of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  His  home  farm  comprises 
seventy-seven  acres,  and  every  dollar  in  property  possessed  by  him 
has  been  acquired  as  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment. For  several  years  after  his  marriage  he  was  a  renter,  and  by 
thrift  and  hard  work  got  his  start.  Five  years  of  industry  enabled 
him  to  buy  thirty-five  acres,  and  he  still  owns  a  portion  of  that  first 
purchase.  '  George  M.  Jackson  and  wife  have  four  children :  Norman 
W. ;  Eliza  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Levi  Murphy;  Ambrose,  who  lives  in 
this  state;  Gertrude,  the  wife  of  Ross  Beamer;  and  one  deceased,  Wil- 
liam. The  family  are  communicants  of  the  Friends  church,  and  George 
M.  Jackson  is  a  minister  and  well  esteemed  in  his  church  society.  In 
politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

Norman  W.  Jackson  in  a  business  way  is  best  known  as  proprietor 
of  Jackson  Valley  Farm,  situated  six  miles  southeast  of  Montpelier. 
That  place  represents  a  high  degree  of  cultivation  and  improvement, 
and  its  resources  and  value  are  a  fair  measure  of  Mr.  Jackson's  business 
career,  which  has  been  one  of  successful  management  since  young  man- 
hood. Reared  in  Harrison  township,  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
when  about  sixteen  years  of  age  he  left  his  books  to  take  up  the  serious 
occupation  of  life.     He  remained  with  his  father  until  nineteen,  and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        53 

in  January,  1892,  established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to 
Nettie  Liestenseltz.  ..Mrs.  Jackson  was  born  in  Harrison  township, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  To  their  union  have  been  born 
six  children,  as  follows:  Roy  R.  Jackson,  who  married  Mamie  Wil- 
liams and  lives  in  Harrison  township  as  a  farmer;  William  R.,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  common  schools  and  now  at  home;  Eliza,  who  also  finished 
the  common  school  course;  Anna  C,  who  completed  the  course  of  the 
common  schools  in  1914;  Herbert  and  Herman,  twins. 

Mr.  Jackson  affiliates  with  Montpelier  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  As  a  democrat  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  politics 
for  a  number  of  years,  served  on  the  township  and  county  committee, 
and  on  July  3,  1911,  was  appointed  township  trustee.  His  work  as  a 
public  official  has  been  consistent  with  his  business  career,  and  the 
people  of  the  township  believe  that  the  -schools,  the  roads,  and  other 
interests  have  never  been  in  better  hands  than  during  the  present 
trusteeship.  Mr.  Jackson  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-three 
acres  of  land  in  Section  25  of  Harrison  township,  and  at  the  present  time 
he  is  erecting  a  new  8-room  modern  home.  There  is  also  a  house  on 
the  west  end  of  the  farm.  His  barn  is  36x48,  and  the  place  is  well 
improved  in  every  way,  including  about  3,000  rods  of  tiling  and  other 
open  ditches. 

Daniel  E.  Spaulding.  A  Blackford  county  agriculturist  whose 
career  is  deserving  of  much  praise  is  Daniel  E.  Spaulding,  whose  years 
have  all  been  spent  in  Blackford  county  and  whose  family  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  oldest  in  this  section.  He  began  life  without  capital 
and  without  assistance  from  influential  friends,  and  has  worked  his  way 
steadily  upwards  from  a  humble  financial  position  to  the  ownership  of 
a  finely  developed  farm  in  Washington  township. 

Daniel  E.  Spatdding  w7as  born  on  a  farm  in  Harrison  township  of 
Blackford  county,  July  28,  1867,  a  son  of  George  C.  and  Catherine 
(Wilson)  Spaulding.  The  family  was  established  in  this  part  of  Indiana 
by  his  grandfather,  Francis  Spaulding,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont 
and  of  New  England  lineage.  In  that  state  he  married  Mary  J.  Hale, 
also  of  New  England  stock  and  related  to  the  prominent  Hale  family. 
After  his  marriage  Francis  Spaulding,  with  four  brothers,  and  his  wife 
emigrated  to  Indiana.  That  was  a  number  of  years  before  the  first 
railroads  were  constructed  this  far  west,  and  the  Spauldings  all  located 
in  the  vicinity  of  Montpclier,  and  acquired  new  and  probably  govern- 
ment land.  Four  of  these  Spaulding  pioneers  were  named  Francis, 
Stephen.  Frank  and  John.  They  spent  their  lives  in  the  same  locality 
where  they  went  through  the  hardships  of  pioneer  existence,  and  most  of 
them  attained  a  good  old  age  before  death.  Francis  Spaulding  died 
at  his  home  one  mile  west  of  Montpelier  at  the  age  of  sixty-live,  and  liis 
widow  survived  him  four  or  five  years.  His  death  was  the  result  of 
an  accident.  He  and  his  son  had  been  felling  timber,  and  in  its  fall  a 
portion  of  the  tree  struck  Mr.  Spaulding  and  brought  about  his  death. 
He  and  his  wife  had  become  well  known  people  in  that  community,  were 
good  Christians,  and  kindly  and  helpful  neighbors  after  the  pioneer 
fashion.  Their  children  were  Henry.  Alfred,  George  C.  Isaac  and 
Minerva,  also  Eveline  and  Harrison,  both  deceased. 

George  C.  Spaulding  was  born  in  Harrison  township  of  Blackford 
county,  July  15,  1844,  grew  up  in  a  somewhat  primitive  country,  attended 
a  common  school,  and  after  his  marriage  engaged  in  farming  in  Harri- 
son township  until  1873.  That  year  marked  his  removal  to  Washing- 
ton township,  when  he  bought  forty  acres  in  Section  12.  The  new  pur- 
chase was  land  in  its  primeval  state,  and  his  labors  were  the  means  of 


54        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

bringing  it  into  a  fine  state  of  cultivation  and  the  making  of  it  a 
valuable  property.  On  that  home  George  C.  Spaulding  died  March  8, 
1913,  just  six  days  after  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife.  He  was  a  repub- 
lican in  politics,  a  prominent  member  of  Bethel  United  Brethren  church, 
of  which  he  was  a  trustee  and  a  leading  supporter,  and  was  a  man  of  no 
small  influence  in  community  affairs.  George  C.  Spaulding  was  married 
in  Wells  county  to  Catherine  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  that  county  in 
1845  and  died  March  2,  1913.  She  was  likewise  active  in  the  affairs  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  Her  parents  were  Joseph  and  Leah  Wil- 
son, natives  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  married  and  at  an  early  day  they 
left  their  native  state  and  with  ox  teams  and  wagons  moved  to  Indiana. 
The  land  on  which  they  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Keystone  was  entirely 
without  improvement,  and  during  the  years  in  which  they  cleared  the 
soil,  built  a  home,  and  gained  a  foothold  in  the  new  country  they  had 
to  endure  all  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  existence.  Joseph  Wilson  was 
born  September  2,  1812,  and  died  January  21,  1891,  and  his  wife  was 
born  January  24,  1824,  and  died  September  30,  1894.  The  Wilson  family 
was  among  the  founders  and  principal  supporters  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  in  their  community,  and  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  republican  in  politics. 
To  the  marriage  of  George  C.  and  Catherine  Spaulding  were  born  the 
following  children:  Daniel  E.;  William,  born  June  27,  1869,  and  died 
in  1870;  Delia,  born  September  30,  1873,  and  died  in  December,  1874; 
Alonzo  M.,  born  November  11,  1874,  an  active  farmer  of  Washington 
township,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Verna  Williams  has  two  children,  Virgil 
E.  and  Gladys  Opal;  and  Estella  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Milton  Ritchie, 
and  lives  in  Montpelier,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Daniel  E.  Spaulding  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  was  reared  amid  rural  surroundings.  He  early  decided  to  adopt 
agriculture  as  his  life  work,  and  after  attaining  his  majority  faced  the 
world  on  his  own  account,  working  on  various  properties  in  the  county. 
Carefully  saving  his  earnings,  by  1900  he  was  able  to  make  his  first 
purchase,  a.  tract  of  fourteen  acres  in  Washington  township,  to  which 
he  added  from  time  to  time  as  his  circumstances  would  permit,  until  he 
owned  seventy-nine  acres,  in  two  plots.  This  land  he  continued  to  cul- 
tivate until  March,  1914,  when  he  sold  this  land  and  bought  his  pres- 
ent property,  a  handsome  tract  of  ninety  acres  located  in  section  23. 
Mr.  Spaulding  has  made  numerous  improvements  on  his  land,  has  a 
modern  residence  and  a  large  red  barn,  36x48  feet,  owns  good  stock 
and  uses  modern  machinery,  and  has  made  his  farm  into  an  attractive 
and  handsome  country  home.  His  success  has  come  to  him  as  a  result 
of  conscientious  and  painstaking  effort,  tireless  industry  and  steady 
application  along  well-directed  lines.  Among  his  neighbors  and  asso- 
ciates he  is  known  as  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  who  is  ever  ready 
to  assist  others  and  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  community  as  far 
as  lies  in  his  power. 

Mr.  Spaulding  was  married  in  Washington  township,  to  Miss  Alvina 
Dearduff,  who  was  born  in  this  township,  September  17,  1867,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mahala  (Johnakin)  Dearduff.  Her  parents, 
natives  of  Ohio,  were  married  in  that  state,  and  soon  thereafter  came 
to  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county,  from  whence  they  removed  to 
Washington  township.  The  father  served  four  years  in  the  Civil 
war  as  "a  member  of  Company  I,  130th  Regiment,  Second  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  in  1901,  while 
the  mother  survived  until  August,  1907,  and  was  sixty-five  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  They  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren    church,    and    Mr.    Dearduff   was    a   lifelong    republican.      In 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         55 

their  family  were  fourteen  children,  all  of  whom  arc  now  deceased 
save  four:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mathew  Runkle,  of  Dundee, 
owner  of  a  feed  mill,  and  has  three  children, — Clifton,  Florence  May, 
and  Mary;  Alvina,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Spaulding;  Janus,  a  fanner  of 
Washington  township,  who  married  Bertha  Black,  now  deceased,  and 
has  three  children, — Goldie,  Arzia  and  Elsie;  and  Oliver,  employed  at 
the  cement  works  at  Hartford  City,  married  Alice  Bunch  and  has  two 
children. — Howard  and  Harold.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding  have  two 
children:  Ralph,  born  September  21,  1891;  and  Grace,  born  October 
29,  1900.  Mr.  Spaulding  is  a  republican,  but  has  never  cared  for  public 
office. 

Daniel  Knox.  Among  the  substantial  representatives  of  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Blackford  county  is  found  Daniel  Knox,  the  owner 
of  an  excellent  property  in  section  23,  Washington  township,  and  a 
citizen  who  has  won  success  in  his  ventures  through  the  force  of  his 
own  industry,  ability  and  thrift.  He  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored 
family  of  Scotland,  and  traces  his  aneestry  back  through  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  whose  father  was  the  nephew  of  Sir  John  Knox, 
*of  Scotland,  a  religious  reformer,  born  at  Giffordsgate,  near  Hadding- 
ton, Scotland,  in  1505.  He  was  a  pioneer  of  Puritanism,  was  a  prisoner 
of  war  and  for  nineteen  months  was  confined  in  the  French  galleys;  a 
friend  of  Calvin  and  Beza ;  a  preacher  of  sermons  that  moved  their 
hearers  to  demolish  convents:  with  a  price  on  his  head,  yet  never  falter- 
ing: arrested  for  treason,  an  armed  "congregation"'  as  his  heels; 
burned  in  effigy,  for  years  a  dictator — he  spent  his  life  forwarding  the 
Reformation  in  Scotland.  His  great  work,  distinguished  in  Scottish 
prose,  was  his  "History  of  the  Reformation  of  Religion  within  the 
Realm  of  Scotland"  (1584).  His  famous  "Letter  to  the  Queen 
Dowager"  appeared  in  1556;  the  "First  Trumpet  Blast  Against  the 
Monstrous  Regiment  of  Women,"  inveighing  against  women  taking 
part  in  the  government,  and  which  offended  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  1558. 
He  died  in  Edinburgh,  November  24,  1572. 

The  great-great-grandfather  of  Daniel  Knox,  was  a  military  officer 
in  the  army  of  Gen.  George  Washington,  and  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  served  for  seven  years,  with  an  admirable  record.  Little 
is  known  of  the  following  generation,  but  the  grandfather  of  Daniel 
Knox  was  John  Knox,  who  was  a  farmer  and  was  born  in  Virginia. 
He  married  a  Virginia  girl,  whose  name  is  forgotten,  and  moved  to 
Kentucky,  where  their  son,  William,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Bourbon  county,  January  15,  1820,  being  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  two  sons  and  nine  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  were 
married  and  had  families.  When  William  Knox  was  three  years  of 
age,  the  family  moved  to  Brown  county,  Ohio,  and  there  resided  for 
seven  years,  at  that  time  coming  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where 
William  Knox  grew  to  maturity.  He  there  married  Susan  Clevenger, 
who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  November  25,  ls24.  and  died  Novem- 
ber 7,  1900.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ruth  Clevenger,  both 
pioneers  of  Wayne  county,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  and  died  in  advanced  years  as  firm  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  They  became  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Knox  was  the  youngest.  In  1849,  William  Knox,  his  young 
wife  and  most  of  the  members  of  the  Knox  family,  including  his  par- 
ents, John  Knox  and  wife,  came  to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  estab- 
lished themselves  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county.  There  John 
Knox  died  when  very  old,  while  the  grandmother  survived  him  and 
later    came    to    Washington    township,    Blackford    county,    where    she 


56  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

passed  away,  when  aged  past  three  score  years.  They  were  for  an 
extended  period  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Knox  was  an  official  for  many  years,  and  was  identified  with  the 
building  and  organization  of  Knox  Chapel,  in  Grant  county.  He  was 
a  strong  whig,  later  joined  the  republican  party,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  War  was  a  stanch  Union  man. 

William  Knox  and  his  wife  resided  in  Grant  county  until  the  birth 
of  all  of  their  children,  and  in  1865  came  to  Washington  township, 
Blackford  county  settling  on  section  35,  where  the  father  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  partly  improved  land.  There  he  continued  to  follow 
farming  until  his  death,  August  23,  1901,  the  mother  having  passed 
away  nearly  one  year  before.  They  were  great-hearted,  charitable 
people,  widely  known  and  respected  in  their  community,  and  faithful 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  being  the  organizers  of  the 
first  class  in  Washington  township,  from  which  grew  what  was  known 
as  the  Fairview  Church.  From  1856  Mr.  Knox  was  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican, and  took  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  local  affairs,  although  more 
for  the  advancement  of  his  community  than  for  any  personal  prefer- 
ment. He  was  the  father  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity  save  two,  while  five  are  still  living  and  the  heads  of 
families. 

Daniel  Knox  was  born  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  July  25,  1854, 
and  grew  up  in  Blackford  county,  where  he  was  given  the  advantages 
of  a  common  school  education.  Ever  since  coming  to  Blackford  county, 
thirty  years  ago,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Washington  township,  and 
this  has  been  the  scene  of  his  labors  and  his  well-merited  success.  On 
coming  to  this  township  he  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in  section  23, 
to  which  he  has  since  added  a  like  tract  in  section  22,  and  all  of  his 
property  is  improved,  being  one  of  the  best  tracts  in  the  township. 
Both  farms  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with  the  finest  of 
improvements.  He  has  a  large  nine-room  white  house,  built  in  1904, 
a  barn  40x50  feet,  painted  red,  grain  and  stock  barns,  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  all  are  of  substantial  character  and  handsome  appear- 
ance. On  his  other  farm  he  has  a  good  residence  and  two  barns,  and 
both  properties  are  well  equipped  with  machinery  and  implements.  An 
excellent  manager,  Mr.  Knox  has  been  able  to  make  his  land  produce 
a  full  amount  of  success  for  the  labor  he  has  expended  upon  it.  He 
raises  a  good  grade  of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and  is  known  as  a  fine 
judge  of  live  stock. 

Mr.  Knox  was  married  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Wise,  who  was  born  at  Cambridge  City,  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  May  10,  1857,  and  was  eight  years  of  age  when  she  came  to 
Blackford  county  with  her  parents,  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Brie) 
Wise,  a  full  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  the  review  of  Joseph  Wise, 
on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knox  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children :  William  A.,  born  October  2,  1878,  now 
living  in  Macoupin  county,  Illinois,  where  he  is  the  owner  of  a  farm, 
married  Emma  Layman,  and  has  four  children — Virgil,  Pauline,  Thuro 
and  Helen ;  Sanford  Leroy,  born  November  2,  1881,  who  is  engaged 
in  operating  his  father's  farm  in  Washington  township,  married  Emma 
Ford,  and  has  three  children — Esther,  Ruth  and  Pearly;  Myrtle  P.. 
born  September  30,  1883,  married  Charles  Dick,  of  Washington  town- 
ship, a  farmer,  and  has  four  children — Cecil,  Crystal,  Harold  and 
Mary;  Lora  H.,  born  November  4,  1885,  a  farmer  in  Northwestern 
Canada,  where  he  owns  320  acres  of  land,  is  single;  Luther  W.,  born 
November  5,  1890,  is  engaged  in  cultivating  one  of  his  father's  farms, 
married  Lillie  Nelson,  and  has  one  son — Clarence  V. ;  and  Zelda,  born 
October  17,  1892,  is  single  and  lives  with  her  parents. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  57 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knox  are  faithful  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  he  is  serving  at  the  present  time  as  class  leader.  Bis 
political  views  are  those  of  the  republican  party,  but  he  has' not  been 
active  in  political  affairs,  except  as  a  supporter  of  movements  which 
affect  the  general  welfare  of  his  immediate,  community. 

Theodore  Ftjqua.     It  has  been  given  to  Theodore  Fuqua  to  pass 

the  seventieth  milestone  of  his  life's  journey,  and  throughout  this  long 
career  he  has  encountered  and  conquered  many  obstacles,  has  had  the 
experience  of  joy  and  sorrow,  and  has  a  record  of  efficient  and  faithful 
service  to  his  country,  his  locality,  and  to  himself  and  family.  Mr. 
Fuqua  is  now  living  retired  at  Hartford  City,  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  agricultural  and  public  affairs  of  Blackford  county  for  the 
past  forty  years.  Theodore  Fuqua  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and 
the  early  generations  of  the  family  lived  in  Virginia  and  later  in 
Tennessee.  His  grandfather,  William  Fuqua,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  married  there,  later  set  out  with  his  wife  and  children  in 
wagons  and  with  teams  and  crossed  the  mountains  into  eastern  Ten- 
nessee, locating  in  Stewart  county  of  that  state.  Their  home  was  in  the 
midst  of  the  mountain  districts,  and  it  is  a  part  of  the  family  record 
that  this  family  operated  one  of  the  stills  tor  the  manufacture  of  "moon- 
shine" whiskey.  William  Fuqua  and  wife  both  died  there,  when  old 
people,  their  last  years  being  spent  near  the  village  of  Thorp.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  influence  in  his  locality,  and  was  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  land.  Of  a  rather  large  family  of  children,  one  of 
the  older  was  Austin,  father  of  Theodore  Fuqua.  He  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia in  1809,  was  a  young  man  when  the  family  crossed  the  mountains 
to  Tennessee,  and  as  he  was  not  satisfied  with  his  surroundings  finally 
returned  with  an  uncle  to  Virginia,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Woods. 
She  was  born  in  Virginia  of  an  old  Virginia  family,  and  her  father, 
James  Woods,  was  a  native  of  the  same  state  and  had  fought  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  death  came  when  about  eighty  years 
of  age.  James  Woods  was  a  farmer,  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  that 
political  faith  has  characterized  both  the  Fuqua  and  Woods  families 
through  nearly  all  its  members  in  different  generations.  Austin  Fuqua 
a  short  time  after  his  marriage  came  to  Indiana,  and  after  several  years 
of  residence  in  Madison  county  bought  a  partly  improved  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Delaware  county  in  Salem  township.  It 
was  a  time  when  practically  all  of  eastern  Indiana  was  new  and  sparsely 
settled,  and  the  Fuqua  home  could  boast  of  few  improvements,  and  its 
comforts  were  wrung  as  a  result  of  hard  labor  directly  from  the  soil. 
A  log  cabin  was  the  first  home,  and  that  was  subsequently  replaced 
with  a  house  of  hewed  logs.  On  that  farm  Austin  Fuqua  continued  to 
live  and  labor  until  his  death  in  April,  1863.  His  wife  survived  him 
ten  years.  Both  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and 
people  of  the  highest  character.  As  a  democrat,  Austin  Fuqua  filled 
one  or  two  offices  in  his  home  township.  Of  their  children,  eleven,  six 
sons  and  five  daughters,  reached  mature  age,  and  ten  are  still  living,  all 
of  them  past  the  age  of  fifty  years. 

Theodore  Fuqua,.  who  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth,  in  this 
family,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  February  29,  1844.  Dur- 
ing his  childhood  the  family  moved  to  the  farm  in  Delaware  county 
just  described,  and  he  grew  up  there,  attending  the  primitive  country 
schools  of  the  day,  and  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age  enlisted  on 
August  4,  1862,  in  Company  B  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry. 
His  command  went  to  the  front  along  the  Ohio  river,  and  at  Richmond, 
Kentucky,  he  was  captured  on  the  last  day  of  August,  only  a  few  weeks 


58         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

after  his  enlistment.  Several  months  later  he  was  paroled  and  ex- 
changed, and  rejoined  his  regiment  in  time  to  participate  in  the  seven 
days'  fighting  along  the  Yazoo  valley,  and  was  in  the  various  maneuvers 
and  campaigns  along  the  lower  course  of  the  Mississippi  until  the  hard 
service  in  a  Southern  climate  put  him  in  the  hospital,  and  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  on  account  of  physical  disability  on  April  20, 
1863. 

The  first  news  given  him  on  reaching  home  was  of  his  father's  death 
two  weeks  previously.  He  took  his  place  on  the  farm  and  helped  in 
its  management  until  October,  1864,  and  then  married  Mary  J.  Rinker. 
She  was  born  in  Delaware  county  on  a  farm  near  that  of  the  Fuqua 
family,  December  4,  1845,  and  was  reared  and  received  her  education 
in  the  same  locality.  Her  parents  were  John  and  Jane  (Clevinger) 
Rinker.  His  father  was  born  in  Virginia,  came  to  Delaware  county 
with  his  father,  Rev.  George  Rinker,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  was  a 
pioneer  settler  in  Henry  county  in  Indiana,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
died.  John  Rinker  and  wife  were  married  in  Henry  county,  lived  some 
time  in  Wayne  county,  and  from  there  moved  into  Delaware  county, 
where  he  leased  and  improved  land  and  eventually  owned  about  three 
hundred  acres  of  Salem  township  soil.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three.  He  was  accounted  one  of  the  strongest  men  physically  in 
his  neighborhood.  He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  in  politics  a  democrat.  His  wife  died  about  ten  years  later 
at  the  age  of  seventy. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Theodore  Fuqua  and  wife  moved  to  Jackson  township 
in  Blackford  county.  His  labors  and  efficient  management  resulted  in 
the  improvement  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  his  prosperity  has  been  a 
thing  of  steady  growth  for  forty  years.  On  January  24,  1911,  he 
moved  to  Hartford  City  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  a  town  home,  and 
he  and  his  wife  now  occupy  a  commodious  residence  at  522  W.  Main 
street.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born  three  children.  Emma  is 
the  wife  of  J.  B.  Orndorff,  of  Hartford  City,  and  their  children,  Ora, 
Guy,  Crystal  and  Louis  Theodore,  are  all  well  educated  and  are  married 
excepting  the  youngest.  Maggie,  the  second  child  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  Clara  died  after  her  marriage  to  Harvey  Davis,  and  left 
three  children,  Esta,  Cecil  and  Hugh,  but  the  last  named  died  aged  two 
months. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fuqua  since  youth  have  been  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  he  has  filled  the  office  of  trustee  in  that  society 
for  a  number  of  years.  As  a  loyal  democrat,  he  has  done  his  part  in 
community  affairs,  having  been  trustee  of  Jackson  township  four  years, 
a  member  of  the  county  council  for  seven  years,  and  was  formerly  a 
member  of  Jacob  Stall  Post  No.  227  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Aakon  Nelson.  A  member  of  that  class  of  workers  whose  prac- 
tical education,  inherent  ability,  quick  perception  and  ready  recog- 
nition of  opportunities  have  advanced  them  to  positions  of  prominence 
and  substantiality  formerly  occupied  only  by  men  many  years  their 
seniors,  Aaron  Nelson  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  progressive  young 
agriculturists  of  fertile  Washington  township.  The  major  part  of 
his  active  career  has  been  passed  in  this  community  and  through  close 
application  and  well-directed  and  earnest  efforts  he  has  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  handsome  and  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Nelson  comes  of  an  old  and  honored  family.  His  grandfather, 
Martin  Nelson,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  of  southern  parentage,  mar- 
ried there  a  North  Carolina  girl,  Lucy  Futrell,  and  during  the  latter 
'thirties  or  early  'forties,  made  the  journey  overland  to  Indiana,  locat- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         59 

ing  on  a  small  farm  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  where  both 
passed  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives,  the  father  being  quite  old 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  while  the  mother  was  much  younger  when 
she  passed  away.  Facts  concerning  this  sturdy  pioneer  couple  are 
meagre,  but  it  is  remembered  that  they  were  people  of  sterling  char- 
acter, industrious  and  hard-working  and  faithful  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  while  the  grandfather  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  democratic  party.  Martin  and  Lucy  Nelson  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  number  of  children,  including  Stephen,  the  father  of  Aaron 
Nelson;  Martin;  Michael;  Benoni,  the  only  survivor  and  resides  at 
Marion ;  Lucy  and  Jane. 

Stephen  Nelson  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1832  and  was  a  lad 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana.  He  grew  up  on  the  home 
farm  in  Monroe  township,  securing  such  advantages  as  were  available 
in  the  early  country  schools,  and  as  a  young  man  decided  upon  a  career 
in  agriculture.  He  was  married  three  times,  his  first  wife  dying  soon 
after  marriage,  without  issue,  while  by  the  second  union  two  children 
were  born :  Jesse  E.  and  Lucy  Jane,  both  of  whom  married  and  are 
now  deceased.  Mr.  Nelson  married  for  his  third  wife  Mrs.  Stacy  M.  Ad- 
kinson  of  Jefferson  township,  who  was  born  at  Newport,  Wayne  county, 
Indiana.  She  had  been  married  first  in  Grant  county,  where  she  had 
been  reared,  to  John  Adkinson,  who  died  in  that  county  in  the  prime 
of  life,  leaving  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  was  married  and  had  four 
children.  Mrs.  Nelson  is  still*  living  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county, 
and  is  seventy-eight  years  of  age,  a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  to  which  her  husband  also  belonged.  He  was  a  democrat  in 
politics.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  were  as  follows :  Emma- 
zetta,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Shannon  and  has  a  daughter, — Goldie; 
Winhurn,  who  died  after  his  marriage  to  Ella  Hodson.  and  had  two 
children, — Tacy  and  Maybell  of  Oklahoma  ;  Abigail,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Smith,  of  Monroe  township,  where  her  mother,  Mrs.  Nelson, 
lives,  and  has  eight  children ;  Aaron,  of  this  .review ;  Maggie,  who  died 
after  her  marriage  to  Clayton  Holloway,  a  merchant  of  Farmville. 
Grant  county,  and  was  the  mother  of  two  sons. — Orval  and  Harry : 
Martin,  deceased,  who  was  a  fanner  of  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  mar- 
ried Etha  Johnson,  who  survives  him  and  resides  in  Washington  town- 
ship and  has  two  children, — Yashti  and  Vesta  L. ;  and  Estena,  who 
passed  away  in  childhood. 

Aaron  Nelson  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Monroe  township. 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  July  30,  1877,  and  varied  the  monotony  of  boy- 
hood work  on  the  homestead  by  attending  the  district  schools  of  his 
locality,  securing  a  good  mental  training  therein.  Coming  to  Black- 
ford county  in  young  manhood,  he  received  forty  acres  of  land  through 
inheritance,  in  section  7,  Washington  township,  and  to  this  he  has 
since  added  a  like  acreage  in  section  S.  the  greater  part  now  being 
under  cultivation.  Mr.  Nelson  is  a  general  farmer,  growing  corn,  rye 
and  oats,  and  also  devotes  a  large  part  of  his  land  to  meadows,  upon 
which  browse  a  herd  of  fine,  content  and  well-fed  cattle.  He  has  made 
a  success  of  his  ventures  through  strict  attention  to  business  and  an 
intelligent  use  of  modern  methods,  and  has  added  to  the  value  of  his 
property  by  the  erection  of  modern  buildings  of  a  substantial  char- 
acter and  the  installing  of  improved  equipment  and  machinery,  lie 
has  two  large  red  barns,  a  comfortable  seven-room  residence  and  other 
good  buildings,  and  the  appearance  of  the  farm  is  further  enhanced 
by  eight  hundred  eatalpa  trees,  all  planted  by  Mr.  Nelson.  A  man  of 
nrobity  and  temperate  habits.  Mr.  Nelson  is  a  supporter  of  the  prohibi- 
tion   party,   but    has    taken    only   a    good    citizen's    interest    in    political 


60         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  * 

matters.     The  family  holds  membership   in  the   Christian  church,  in 
the  support  of  which  Mr.  Nelson  has  been  liberal. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  to  Miss 
Rosetta  Smith,  who  was  born  in  that  township,'  March  1,  1875,  and 
reared  and  educated  there,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Smithgall) 
Smith,  natives  of  Grant  county  who  are  still  living  on  a  farm  in  Mon- 
roe township,  the  father  being  past  sixty  years  age  and  the  mother 
more  than  fifty.  She  is  a  member  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church, 
and  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  lifelong  republican.  Three  children  were 
in  the  Smith  family,  namely :  Mrs.  Rosetta  Nelson ;  Rosco,  who  married 
Cecil  Strange,  a  farmer  on  the  Monroe  township  homestead,  and  has 
three  children, — Dorothea  E.,  James  L.  and  Agnes  D.;  and  Ethel,  who 
married  Jesse  Spark,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  and  has  one 
son, — Lance.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have  had  Ave  children:  Carl  E., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  months ;  0.  Gladys,  aged  thirteen,  Arthur 
J.,  aged  eleven,  Garth  L.,  aged  seven,  all  attending  school;  and  Pauline 
E.,  the  baby,  aged  four  years. 

Joseph  Wise.  To  the  enterprise  and  industry  of  such  strong  and 
forceful  men  of  Blackford  county  as  Joseph  Wise  is  due  the  continued 
prestige  of  this  section  of  the  state  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising. 
Although  not  a  native  of  this  county,  he  has  spent  the  entire  period 
of  his  active  career  within  its  limits,  and  through  a  life  of  industry  and 
consecutive  effort  has  become  the  owner  of  a  number  of  valuable  prop- 
erties, among  them  the  home  farm  located  on  section  3,  Licking  town- 
ship. Mr.  Wise  was  born  December  23,  1859,  in  Wayne  county,  In- 
diana, and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Brier)  Wise. 

Andrew  Wise  was  born  on  the  River  Rhine,  in  Switzerland,  and 
belonged  to  a  family  of  good  stock,  but  when  about  twenty  years  of  age 
decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  United  States  and  accordingly  made 
his  way  to  this  country  in  a  sailing  vessel.  Later,  becoming  home- 
sick, he  returned  to  his  native  land  on  a  visit,  and  when  he  again  came 
to  America,  during  the  early  'fifties,  the  voyage  was  a  most  thrilling 
one,  the  crew  mutinying  and  everyone  giving  themselves  up  for  lost. 
The  captain,  however,  regained  command  of  the  ship  and  succeeded 
in  taking  it  safely  into  the  port  of  New  York.  Mr.  Wise  was  a  tanner 
by  trade  and  traveled  extensively  all  over  the  country  in  the  pursuit 
of  his  vocation,  but  finally  located  permanently  in  Wayne  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  established  a  tannery.  Following  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War  lie  disposed  of  his  interests  there  and  came  to  Blackford  county, 
locating  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Washington  township,  which 
was  partly  improved  and  had  a  log  cabin.  For  this  property  he  paid 
$1,000,  later  he  bought  forty  acres  more  for  $400,  and  still  later  bought 
an  additional  100  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $1,200.  There  he  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  until  eight  years  before  his  death,  when  he 
went  to  Hartford  City,  and  there  spent  the  evening  of  his  life,  passing 
away  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  a  stanch  demo- 
crat and  a  good  citizen,  a  strong  minded  man  and  one  well  read  and 
with  a  broad  knowledge  of  important  matters.  Mrs.  Wise  survived 
him  until  1907,  and  died  at  her  home  at  Hartford  City  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  although 
her  husband  was  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children,  as  follows :  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Knox,  a 
farmer  of  Washington  township,  and  has  four  sons  and  two  daughters; 
Joseph,  of  this  review;  and  John,  a  farmer  and  the  owner  of  120  acres 
of  good  land,  the  old  homestead  in  Washington  township,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  had  two  daughters,  of  whom  one  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         61 

Joseph  Wise  was  given  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
locality,  and  when  he  became  of  age  purchased  LOO  acres  of  laud,  at 
thirty-three  dollars  an  acre.  He  lived  upon  this  trad  for  some  years, 
and  is  still  the  owner  thereof,  but  later  moved  from  Washington  town- 
ship to  Licking  township,  where  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  Eor 
$1,600,  and  an  additional  forty  acres  for  $1,500.  Later  he  was  com- 
pelled to  pay  $6,000  for  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  and  $2,300  for  forty 

acres,  and  in  addition  to  these  properties  he  also  has  the   ho stead 

of  120  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $15,000,  and  on  this  is  located  a  large 
barn,  112x36  feet,  with  an  "el"  50x30  feet,  a  modern  eight-room  resi- 
dence with  all  conveniences,  and  substantial  outbuildings  of  every  char- 
acter. This  farm  presents  a  very  attractive  appearand',  the  barns  and 
outbuilding  being  all  painted  red  and  the  house  white,  everything  is 
in  a  good  state  of  repair,  things  are  neatly  and  systematically  arranged, 
and  the  whole  property  shows  the  presence  of  good  management  and 
thrift.  Mr.  Wise  also  owns  six  homes  in  Hartford  City,  including  his 
own  residence  on  North  Jefferson  street.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing he  is  an  extensive  grower  of  graded  stock  and  a  breeder  of  high 
grade  hogs,  cattle  and  horses.  He  has  gained  success  through  a  life 
of  industry,  energy  and  honorable  dealing,  and  has  gained  not  alone 
material  success,  but  the  universal  esteem  and  regard  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  either  in  a  business  or  social  way. 

Mr.  Wise  was  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Miss  Catherine  Hiser, 
who  was  born  in  this  county,  in  1857.  Her  father.  Peter  Hiser,  was 
a  native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  was  a  young  man  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Blackford  county,  in  the 
wilds  of  Harrison  township.  There  his  father  secured  government 
land,  and  both  father  and  grandfather  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  there,  the  former  dying  some  twenty-six  years  ago,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  .years.  The  mother  still  resides  with  her  sons  on  a  farm  in 
Harrison  township  and  is  nearly  ninety  years  of  age.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Cale  and  she  was  born  in  Indiana  of  German  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  have  the  following  children :  John  L.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  operating  one  of  his  father's  properties  in  Washington  town- 
ship, married  Katie  Walker,  and  has  two  children, — Lester  and  Dora- 
the;  William,  residing  at  home,  a  graduate  of  Depauw  University,  who 
is  now  taking  a  medical  course  in  the  Indiana  Medical  College.  Indian- 
apolis; and  Corra,  aged  fifteen  years,  who  is  a  student  in  the  Eart- 
ford  City  High  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  are  faithful  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  democrat  in  his  political  views  and 
gives  his  influence  to  the  support  of  good  men  and  measures. 

Benjamin  A.  Van  Winkle.  There  are  elements  in  the  personality 
of  this  prominent  business  man  and  popular  citizen  of  Hartford  City, 
Blackford  county,  where  he  is  treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the 
Hartford  City  Paper  Company,  which  represents  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant industrial  enterprise  of  the  judicial  center  and  metropolis  of 
this  fine  county.  All  who  have  known  Mr.  Van  Winkle  know  that  he 
is  big  of  physique,  mind  and  heart,  and  those  who  know  him  best 
realize  that  we  do  not  in  the  least  falsify  the  facts  in  this  statement, 
and  they  also  realize  that  he  is  possessed  of  great  business  acumen  and 
executive  ability.  Such  men  have  friends  because  they  deserve  them. 
and  the  direct,  sincere  and  kindly  nature  of  Mr.  Van  Winkle  has  given 
to  him  a  host  of  valued  and  appreciative  friends.  As  a  citizen  he  is 
broad-minded  and  progressive,  and  gives  to  Hartford  City  his  co- 
operation in  its  business  and  civic  activities. 

As  the  name  indicates,  Mr.  Van  Winkle  is  a  scion  of  sturdy  Holland 


62         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Dutch  ancestry,  and  the  original  progenitors  of  the  American  branch 
came  from  Holland  with  that  distinguished  colonist,  Peter  Stuyvesant, 
a  gallant  soldier  and  the  last  of  the  Dutch  governors  of  New  York. 
Representatives  of  the  Van  Winkle  family  were  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  New  Amsterdam,  from  which  quaint  old  town  was 
developed  our  great  national  metropolis,  and  few  are  the  English- 
speaking  folk  who  do  not  recall  with  pleasure  the  use  of  the  family 
cognomen  by  Washington  Irving,  in  his  famous  tale  of  the  trials  and 
vicissitudes  of  "Rip  Van  Winkle."  Simeon  Van  Winkle,  great-grand- 
father of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  finally  went  from 
the  old  Empire  State  to  North  Carolina,  and  about  the  time  Daniel 
Boone  initiated  his  labors  in  settling  colonies  in  Kentucky,  Simeon  Van 
Winkle  and  his  wife  were  numbered  among  those  who  followed  the 
gallant  frontiersman  into  the  wilds  of  the  Blue  Grass  State,  which  was 
at  that  time  a  part  of  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Winkle  made  the 
long  journey  on  horseback  and  for  several  years  they  resided  in  the 
same  colony  as  did  the  members  of  the  Boone  family.  Later  Simeou 
Van  Winkle  extended  his  pioneer  experiences  and  labors  in  the  Terri- 
tory of  Ohio,  whither  he  made  his  way  about  the  year  1800,  transport- 
ing his  family  and  household  effects  with  teams  and  wagons.  In  Ohio 
he  entered  claim  to  a  full  section  of  heavily  timbered  land,  which  he 
obtained  from  the  government,  and  in  the  wilderness  he  erected  his 
primitive  log  house,  after  which  he  essayed  the  arduous  task  of  reclaim- 
ing his  land  to  cultivation.  He  found  the  Indians  of  the  locality  to  be 
mainly  of  the  tribe  of  which  Chief  Bigfoot  was  the  head,  and  one  of  his 
few  white  neighbors  was  Adam  Poe,  who  later  met  the  Indian  chief  in 
personal  combat  and  succeeded  iu  extinguishing  the  life  of  his  dusky 
foeman.  The  Van  Winkle  family  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of  the 
dangers  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  in  the  old  Buckeye  State  and 
they  did  well  their  part  in  aiding  the  forward  march  of  civilization  in 
that  now  opulent  commonwealth.  The  old  homestead  was  in  the  central 
western  part  of  the  State,  and  there  Simeon  Van  Winkle  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  his  widow  having  been  past  ninety  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  her  death.  They  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  the 
major  number  of  whom  attained  to  years  of  maturity,  and  even  the 
brief  data  here  incorporated  indicate  how  long  and  prominently  the 
family  name  has  been  identified  with  the  annals  of  American  history. 
Of  the  sons  who  lived  to  lend  new  honors  to  the  patronymic  were  David, 
John,  Jesse,  Robert,  and  James,  and  there  were  other  sons,  as  well  as 
daughters,  who  reared  families  of  their  own  and  gave  to  the  name  of 
Van  Winkle  worthy  representatives  in  divers  sections  of  the  Union. 

Jesse  Van  Winkle  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  near  the  present 
village  of  West  Alexandria,  and  the  year  of  his  nativity  was  1805, — 
nearly  seven  years  prior  to  the  admission  of  Ohio  to  the  Union.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead  and  as  a  young  man  he  wedded 
Miss  Margaret  Howell,  of  Lebanon,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  which  vicin- 
ity he  thereafter  gave  bis  attention  for  several  years  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, a  number  of  his  children  having  been  born  in  that  county,  including 
Austin,  William  and  Robert.  In  1832  Jesse  Van  Winkle  removed  with 
his  family  to  Madison  county,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  that  had  been  partly  reclaimed,  the  former  owner  having  been 
William  Gale,  and  the  property  being  in  Adams  township.  The  family 
here  endured  also  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  their  domicile  being 
a  rude  log  house  of  the  type  common  to  the  locality  and  period,  and 
the  father,  with  the  assistance  of  his  sturdy  sons,  developed  a  produc- 
tive farm,  this  old  homestead  continuing  to  be  his  place  of  abode  until 
his  death,  in  1870.    His  widow  was  eighty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  63 

of  the  close  of  her  life,  and  in  1888  this  noble  pioneer  woman,  vener- 
able in  years,  had  the  distinction  of  completing  entirely  by  hand  an 
old-fashioned  patchwork  quilt  which  she  presented  to  her  great-grand- 
daughter. On  the  quilt  she  inscribed  her  own  name  and  also  that  of 
the  recipient,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  A.  Van  Winkle  of  this  review. 
Mrs.  Margaret  (Howell)  Van  Winkle  was  a  woman  of  strong  char- 
acter and  indefatigable  industry,  and  she  had  special  skill  in  various 
lines  of  handicraft,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  earlier  years  she  was 
accustomed  to  weave  hats  from  rye  straw  grown  under  the  primitive 
conditions  in  Indiana.  She  not  only  bleached  and  wove  the  straw,  but 
formed  the  same  into  hats  that  represented  the  height  of  style  for  the 
women  of  the  pioneer  days,  her  skill  in  this  domain  causing  many  of 
her  neighbors  to  avail  themselves  of  her  artistic  talent.  Both  she  and 
her  husband  were  prominent  pioneer  members  of  the  Christian  church 
iu  Indiana,  and  their  home  was  made  a  place  of  hospitable  welcome 
and  entertainment  for  the  itinerant  preachers  of  the  early  days.  Of 
the  twelve  children  ten  attained  to  maturity. 

Rev.  William  Van  Winkle,  son  of  Jesse  and  Margaret  (Howell  i  Van 
Winkle,  and  father  of  him  whose  name  initiates  this  review,  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1828,  and  thus  he  was  a  child  of  four 
years  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Madison  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  reared  to  adult  age  on  the  pioneer  farm  and  where  his 
educational  advantages  were  those  afforded  in  the  primitive  schools  of 
the  day,  these  being  maintained  principally  on  the  subscription  plan. 
In  his  youth  he  abandoned  the  work  of  the  farm  and  served  a  practical 
apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  iu  which  he  became  a  skilled 
artisan.  After  his  marriage  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  for  a 
few  years,  in  Madison  county,  and  in  the  meanwhile  he  had  devoted 
much  thought  and  study  to  the  preparing  himself  for  the  ministry  of 
the  Christian  church.  As  a  clergyman  of  this  denomination  he  there- 
after labored  with  much  of  consecrated  zeal  and  devotion  in  Madison, 
Delaware,  Henry,  Hamilton  and  Rush  counties,  and  his  kindliness, 
ability,  and  earnest  desire  to  aid  and  uplift  his  fellow  men  gained  to 
him  the  loving  affection  of  those  who  came  wdthiu  the  sphere  of  his 
influence.  Early  in  life  he  had  given  special  attention  to  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  later  he  attended  lectures  in  the  Indianapolis  Medical 
College.  At  the  age  of  forty-five  years  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Clarksville,  Hamilton  county,  where  he  had  held  his  last 
regular  pastoral  charge,  and  he  proved  successful  as  a  physician,  the 
while  there  came  frequent  requisitions  for  his  services  as  a  minister. 
He  retired  from  active  labors  in  1886,  and  his  death  occurred  iu  1896. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  mind  and  noble  character,  and  his  memory  is 
revered  by  all  who  came  within  the  ever  widening  angle  of  his  benignant 
influence. 

Rev.  "William  Van  Winkle  was  thrice  married,  the  maiden  name  of 
his  first  wife  having  been  Judd.  This  wife  died  within  a  few  years 
after  their  marriage  and  was  survived  by  her  second  child,  Theodore 
P.,  who  was  but  three  months  old.  Theodore  P.  Van  Winkle  is  now 
engaged  iu  the  drug  business  at  Hartford  City:  he  married  .Miss  Mary 
Halpin  and  their  only  surviving  child  is  Ray.  who  is  in  the  employ 
of  the  Hartford  City  Paper  Company.  For  his  second  wife  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Van  Winkle  married  Miss  Ellen  Lanham.  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
but  reared  and  educated  in  Madison  county,  Indiana.  She  was  sum- 
moned to  the  life  eternal  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  a  woman  of  pure 
and  lovely  character,  and  of  her  five  children  four  are  now  living.— 
Benjamin  A.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Alice,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Abraham   Caylor   and   resides  in   the   city   of   Anderson, 


64  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Madison  county,  all  of  her  children  being  deceased ;  Loretta  is  the  wife 
of  Jesse  Mills,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Hamilton  county,  and  they  have 
two  sons  and  two  daughters;  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  Byron  Whitsel,  a, 
farmer  in  the  State  of  Oklahoma,  and  they  have  several  children; 
Margaret  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Rev.  William  Van  Winkle 
chose  for  his  third  wife  a  widow  with  two  children,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  two  children,  her  death  occurring  in  1890. 

Benjamin  A.  Van  Winkle  was  born  on  the  old  Reason  Sargent  farm 
in  Adams  township,  Madison  county,  Indiana,  on  the  19th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1853,  and  he  was  reared  in  that  county  and  at  Newcastle,  Henry 
county,  in  which  city  he  attended  the  public  schools,  later  having  been 
a  student  in  a  select  school  at  Frankton,  Madison  county.  After  de- 
voting his  attention  for  a  time  to  teaching  in  the  district  schools  he 
entered  the  State  Normal  School,  where  his  application  further  forti- 
fied him  for  the  pedagogic  profession.  He  later  became  principal  of 
the  public  schools  of  Fortville,  Hancock  county,  where  he  thus  served 
during  the  three  years  from  1875  to  1878,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  Hartford  City,  Blackford  county,  where  he  was  as- 
sociated with  his  half-brother.  Theodore  P.  Van  Winkle,  in  the  drug 
business  for  four  and  one-half  years.  In  1883-4  he  was  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Hartford  City  Telegram,  for  two  years  thereafter  he 
conducted  a  furniture  store  in  the  city,  and  for  the  ensuing  two  years 
he  was  here  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  trade. 

In  the  autumn  of  1890  Mr.  Van  Winkle  accepted  the  position  of 
bookkeeper  for  the  Utility  Paper  Company,  manufacturers  of  straw 
paper,  and  after  becoming  a  stockholder  of  the  company  he  had  charge 
of  its  branch  at  Eaton,  Delaware  county,  where  operations  were  con- 
ducted under  the  title  of  the  Paragon  Paper  Company.  In  1900  Mr. 
Van  Winkle  disposed  of  his  interest  in  this  corporation  and  become  as- 
sociated Avith  Chicago  men  in  the  building  and  operating  of  the  Chilli- 
cothe  paper  mills,  at  Chillicothe,  Illinois.  He  had  charge  of  the  opera- 
tion of  these  mills  for  twro  years  and  then  returned  to  Hartford  City, 
where  he  became  manager  of  the  power  plant  of  the  United  Board 
Paper  Company,  which  had  absorbed  the  original  paper  manufactory 
with  which  he  had  here  been  identified.  Later  he  represented  the  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  branch  of  the  same  corporation,  and  he  remained  in  that 
city  two  yars.  On  the  15th  of  December,  1904,  Mr.  Van  Winkle  be- 
came general  manager  of  the  Hartford  City  Paper  Company,  which 
soon  afterward  introduced  the  manufacture  of  Greaseproof  and  Glassine 
paper,  being  the  first  to  take  up  this  line  of  work  in  the  United  States. 
The  company  now  manufacture  fifteen  tons  of  paper  a  day  and  the 
products  are  shipped  into  the  most  diverse  sections  of  the  Union,  the 
while  an  extensive  export  trade  also  is  controlled.  The  company  rep- 
resent the  American  pioneers  in  their  special  field  of  production  and 
the  splendid  enterprise  has  proved  a  most  valuable  contribution  to  the 
industrial  prestige  of  Hartford  City  and  Blackford  county,  as  well 
as  to  that  of  the  entire  State  of  Indiana.  Since  1906  the  company  have 
maintained  large  offices  in  New  York  City  and  Chicago,  with  agencies 
in  other  leading  cities  of  the  Union.  The  output  of  the  finely  equipped 
plant  finds  ready  demand  from  the  Canadian  provinces  to  Montevidio, 
South  America  and  in  New  Zealand.  In  the  mills  employment  is  given 
to  an  average  force  of  160  persons,  and  seven  persons  constitute  the 
office  corps.  Mr.  Van  Winkle  is  treasurer  as  well  as  general  manager 
of  the  company  and  his  zeal  and  technical  and  executive  ability  have 
been  potent  in  the  development  of  the  extensive  and  important  in- 
dustry. 

In  politics  Mr.  Van  Winkle  gives  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        65 

and  a  number  of  years  ago  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council 
of  Hartford  City,  though  he  has  had  no  predilection  for  public  office. 
He  is  at  the  present  time  president  of  the  Indiana  Association  of 
Manufacturers  and  Commerce,  with  headquarters  in  the  city  of  Indian- 
apolis, and  his  term  expires  in  December,  1914.  He  is  likewise  a 
member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  American  Protective  Tariff 
League,  which  has  its  headquarters  in  New  York  City.  He  and  Ids 
wife  arc  attendants  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  the  latter 
is  a  devoted  member,  his  lirst  wife  having  likewise  been  of  the  Pres- 
byterian faith,  and  their  daughter  having  been  a  communicant  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

At  Eden.  Hancock  county,  on  the  2nd  of  September,  1877,  Mr.  Van 
Winkle  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Leah  Jarrett,  and  their  gracious 
companionship  continued  for  more  than  thirty  years,  the  relationship 
having  been  severed  when  the  devoted  wife  was  summoned  to  eternal 
rest,  on  the  2nd  of  January,  1910.  Eva  C,  the  only  child  of  this  union. 
was  born  January  28,  1882,  was  graduated  in  the  Harcourt  Place  Semin- 
ary. Gambier.  Ohio,  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1901,  and  she  later  became 
the  wife  of  Harmon  Anderson,  of  Hartford  City,  where  she  died  May 
24,  1909,  only  a  few  days  after  the  birth  of  her  only  child.  Benjamin 
H..  who  was  born  on  the  17th  of  the  same  month  and  who  survives 
her.  For  his  second  wife  ~Slv.  Van  Winkle  wedded  Miss  Emma  L. 
Clevenger.  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Middletown,  Indiana,  and  who 
maintained  her  home  in  Indianapolis  for  twenty  years  prior  to  her 
marriage.  She  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Van  Winkle's  first  wife 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  tenderly  cherishes  her  memory. 

In  an  incidental  way  it  majr  be  noted  that  Mr.  Van  Winkle  is  a 
cousin  of  John  Q.  Van  Winkle,  who  rose  from  the  position  of  peanut 
boy  on  the  line  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad  to  the  dignified  office  of  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  entire  Big  Four  System,  and  who  later  became 
assistant  to  the  second  vice-president  of  the  New  York  Central  Rail- 
road Company. 

James  Needler.  Nearly  the  entire  life  of  James  Needier  has  been 
passed  in  Hartford  City,  and  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  lumber  trade.  Commencing  in  the  humblest 
position,  he  mastered  its  many  details,  and  has  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness until  he  has  attained  a  commanding  place  among  the  enterpris- 
ing dealers  of  Hartford  City,  and  has  been  able  to  hold  it  amid  the 
strong  competition  which  increasing  capital  and  trade  have  brought 
to  the  city.  His  success  has  been  due  alone  to  his  energetic  character 
and  business  capacity,  for  he  began  life  without  pecuniary  assistance 
or  the  aid  of  family  or  other  favoring  influences. 

Mr.  Needier  was  born  near  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  May  29, 
1876,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  A.  and  Nancy  Jane  (Cunningham) 
Needier,  natives  of  Blackford  county,  Indiana.  The  grandparents  on 
both  sides  of  the  family  had  settled  in  this  county  at  an  early  date. 
probably  coming  from  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  had  made  settlements 
in  the  wild  woods  of  Licking  township,  securing  tracts  of  land  from 
the  United  States  government.  They  cleared  and  cultivated  their 
land,  developed  good  farms,  reared  families  to  lives  of  thrift  and  in- 
dustry, and  rounded  out  their  careers  as  honored  and  respected  pioneer 
people.  They  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Cunningham  Cemetery,  located 
five  miles  southwest  of  Hartford  City. 

Francis  A.  Needier  married  Nancy  Jane  Cunningham  at  the  old 
Cunningham  homestead,  and  they  began  their  life  as  farming  people  in 
Blackford  county,  where  thev  established  a  home.     After  the  birth  of 


66         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

their  first  child,  a  daughter,  Estella,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
months,  they  moved  to  the  state  of  Iowa,  and  for  some  time  lived  in  and 
near  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  Mr.  Needier  being  employed  as  a  mail 
carrier  for  three  or  four  years.  When  their  son,  James,  was  about 
three  years  old,  the  parents  removed  to  Kansas,  and  in  that  state  the 
third  child,  Amy,  was  born  in  Cloud  county.  For  three  years  Mr. 
Needier  was  engaged  in  farming  in  the  Sunflower  State,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Blackford  county,  Indiana.  Some  time  afterward  he  was 
separated  from  Mrs.  Needier  and  returned  to  Kansas,  where  he  was 
married  a  second  time,  and  still  makes  his  home  there.  Mrs.  Needier, 
who  also  married  a  second  time,  is  now  sixty-four  years  of  age,  and 
resides  with  her  son  James  of  this  notice.  Amy  Needier,  the  only  liv- 
ing daughter,  married  Thornton  P.  McCann,  and  lives  at  Plainville, 
Daviess  county,  Indiana,  being  the  mother  of  two  children,  namely: 
Esther  and  Herbert. 

James  Needier  was  about  six  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  Blackford  county,  and  here  his  life  has  since  been  spent.  He 
has  been  a  hard  and  industrious  worker  since  his  youth,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  secured  in  such  time  as  he  could  spare  from  his  chores.  His 
opportunities,  accordingly,  were  not  many,  but  he  made  the  most  of 
them,  and  later  years  of  observation,  reading  and  experience  have  made 
him  a  thoroughly  informed  man  on  subjects  of  general  importance. 
Mr.  Needier  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Willman  Lumber  Company.  He  had  no  experience  in  that  line  of 
work,  and  it  was  necessary  that  he  start  in  in  the  most  humble  capacity. 
Besides  a  steady  occupation,  at  a  period  of  life  when  so  many  young 
men  waste  their  opportunities  in  frivolity  and  dissipation,  he  was  en- 
abled to  gain  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  details  of  the  business, 
thus  qualifying  himself  for  the  management  which  was  to  ultimately 
come  into  his  hands.  Mr.  Needier  has  never  worked  for  any  other 
concern  since  joining  his  present  company,  a  length  of  service  which 
has  shown  remarkable  tenacity  of  purpose  as  well  as  the  possession  of 
qualities  that  have  commended  him  to  his  employers.  Step  by  step 
he  has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward,  familiarizing  himself  with 
every  detail  of  the  business  as  he  has  advanced,  and  proving  himself 
trustworthy  and  capable  in  every  emergency.  In  1910  he  was  made 
manager  of  the  concern,  and  since  the  death  of  J.  P.  Willman,  in  1904, 
he  has  been  practically  in  charge  of  the  business,  although  R.  K.  Will- 
man  remains  as  the  chief  stockholder  of  the  business.  The  Willman 
Lumber  Company  was  founded  in  1890  by  J.  P.  Willman,  for  the 
handling  of  all  kinds  of  lumber,  building  supplies  and  building  hard- 
ware, also  operating  a  large  planing  mill  and  giving  employment  to 
fifteen  men,  thus  caring  for  a  large  local  output.  Under  Mr.  Needier 's 
management  the  business  has  increased  materially  and  his  energy  and 
progressive  ideas  have  served  to  impart  to  those  about  him  his  en- 
thusiasm. His  opinion  upon  matters  connected  with  the  trade  is  in- 
fluential with  the  associated  dealers,  who  have  confidence  in  the  sound- 
ness of  his  judgment,  and  who  regard  him  as  thoroughly  informed. 
Mr.  Needier  is  essentially  a  business  man,  and  has  not  been  especially 
active  in  public  matters,  although  he  has  ever  been  ready  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  citizenship,  and  has  served  capably  for  one  term  as  alder- 
man of  the  First  Ward.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  the  democratic 
party. 

Mr.  Needier  was  married  at  Hartford  City,  to  Miss  Ann  Elizabeth 
Kalbfleisch,  who  was  born  May  2,  1878,  in  Canada,  but  reared  and 
educated  at  Petoskey,  Michigan.  Her  parents,  Conrad  and  Annie 
(Bickell)    Kalbfleisch'   were  born  in  Germany,   and   came  to   America 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        67 

as  children,  their  parents  settling  iu  Canada,  where  they  grew  up  and 
were  married.  Later  they  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Emmet 
county.  Michigan,  near  Petoskey,  where  they  still  reside  and  are  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  Of  the  seven  sons  and  three  daugh 
ters  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kalbiieiseh,  all  are  living  and  married  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Needier  have  been  the  parents  of  four  children:  Paul  and 
Fay,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Harold  J.  and  Rollin  Joseph,  who  are 
attending  the  Hartford  City  graded  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needier 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  have  been 
liberal  in  their  support  of  its  various  movements.  He  has  been  inter- 
ested in  fraternal  matters,  being  a  member  of  the  Encampment  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  past  grand  and  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the  local 
lodge  of  the  Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics.  During  his 
long  residence  in  Hartford  City,  he  has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance, 
in  which  he  has  many  appreciative  friends. 

Andrew  J.  Miller.  No  individual  of  the  community  of  Montpelier, 
Indiana,  is  more  honorably  and  substantially  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural and  commercial  interests  of  Blackford  county  and  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  this  section  than  is  Andrew  J.  Miller. 
Opportunity  in  the  life  of  this  thrifty  and  enterprising  farmer  has 
never  been  allowed  to  knock  twice  at  his  door,  but  at  all  times  has 
been  turned  to  the  best  possible  account,  both  from  a  personal  and 
community  standpoint.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Miller  was  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business  at  various  points,  but  eventually  returned 
to  farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a  very  satisfactory  measure  of 


Andrew  J.  Miller  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  on  his  father's  old  mill 
property  on  the  Salamonie  river,  one  mile  northwest  of  Montpelier, 
June  5,  1858,  a  son  of  Fred  G.  and  Charlotte  (Lowrey)  Miller.  His 
father  was  born  in  1836  in  Germany  and  as  a  youth  of  sixteen  years 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  came  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
subsequently  moving  to  Wells  county  to  join  his  brother  Henry,  a 
farmer.  His  father  and  grandfather  had  been  millers,  and  he  was 
trained  to  this  business  in  his  youth,  so  that  later,  with  his  brother, 
John  A.  G.  Miller,  he  built  the  old  Salamonie  mills,  on  the  river  of  that 
name.  This  was  first  operated  as  a  sash  sawmill,  and  was  entirely  con- 
structed of  wood,  even  to  the  gearing,  etc.  During  the  Civil  War  the 
brothers  added  stone  bubrs,  and  continued  to  operate  the  mill  with 
great  success  for  some  years.  Later  Mr.  Miller  came  to  Montpelier 
and  erected  a  modern  mill,  with  D.  and  A.  Spaulding  as  partners,  and 
this  also  proved  a  huge  success.  In  addition  Mr.  Miller  was  the  owner 
of  large  properties,  had  a  good  home  and  owned  stock  in  two  Mont- 
pelier banks,  in  one  of  which  he  held  a  place  on  the  directing  board.  He 
was  entirely  a  self-made  man.  When  he  came  to  this  country  with 
his  sister  Catherine,  making  the  journey  in  a  sailing  vessel  which  took 
fifty-two  days  to  make  the  stormy  trip,  be  was  possessed  of  $2.50  in 
money  and  a  silver  watch.  When  he  passed  away  at  his  comfortable 
home  at  Montpelier,  June  4,  1908,  he  was  generally  accounted  one  of 
the  most  substantial  men  of  his  community.  Mrs.  Miller,  who  was 
also  born  in  Germany,  survived  her  husband  until  1910.  when  she 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  There  were  six  children  in 
the  family,  Andrew  J.  being  the  only  son  living,  while  a  sketch  of  the 
daughters  will  be  found  in  the  review  of  Fred  Miller  in  another  part 
of  this  work. 
'  The  country  schools  of  Indiana   furnished   Andrew  J.   Miller  with 


68         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

his  educational  training,  and  as  a  youth  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of 
his  father,  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  and  learned  the  trade 
of  miller.  In  1879  he  went  to  Metamora,  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
and  there  for  twenty  years  conducted  a  mill,  in  1893  replacing  it  with 
a  more  modern  plant,  continuing  to  conduct  it  until  1902,  when  he 
returned  to  Montpelier  and  settled  on  his  present  property,  which 
he  received  from  his  father.  This  he  has  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
development,  has  placed  thereon  \aluable  improvements  of  every  kind, 
and  is  now  building  a  new  grist  and  flour  mill.  He  devotes  his  atten- 
tion to  general  farming  and  the  raising  of  stock,  along  both  of  which 
lines  he  has  met  with  well-deserved  success,  but  while  acquiring  a  com- 
fortable competence  he  has  led  by  no  means  a  self-centered  life,  for  he 
has  taken  a  keen  interest  in  education,  politics,  local  government  and 
the  social  life  of  the  community. 

In  1880  Mr.  Miller  was  married  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Kate  Murray,  who  was  born  at  Metamora,  in  1857,  and  there 
reared  and  educated,  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Emily  (Jenks) 
Murray.  Mr.  Murray  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Maine,  but  in  young 
manhood  came  to  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  here  was  married  to 
Miss  Jenks,  who  had  been  born  here.  Both  lived  to  be  past  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  Mr.  Murray  was  by  occupation  a  miller  and  farmer 
and  also  was  identified  with  a  packing  house  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  have  been  the  parents  of  these  children:  Harry,  a  graduate  of 
the  high  school,  who  resides  with  his  parents  and  superintends  the 
operations  on  the  home  place;  Edith,  a  graduate  of  the  Montpelier 
High  school  and  now  a  teacher  in  the  schools  of  Wells  county;  Charles 
C,  a  driller  with  a  large  oil  concern  in  the  West ;  and  Fred,  a  graduate 
of  the  public  schools,  residing  at  home.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  democrat, 
and  he  and  his  family  are  consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Jonas  A.  Palmer.  A  resident  of  Blackford  county  for  a  period 
of  thirty-five  years,  Jonas  A.  Palmer  has  been  continuously  identified 
with  the  interests  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  since  1885  has  been 
located  at  Dundee,  Roll  P.  0.,  where  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  flourish- 
ing hardware  business.  A  man  of  progressive  and  enterprising  spirit, 
he  has  contributed  to  the  growth  and  development  of  his  community 
in  various  ways,  and  his  record  as  a  business  man  and  a  citizen  is 
such  as  to  entitle  him  to  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  to  a  place  among  the  real  builders  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Palmer  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  In- 
diana, October  26,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Johu  Weslev  and  Catherine 
A.    (Griffith)   Palmer. 

Jacob  Palmer,  the  great-grandfather  of  Jonas  A.  Palmer,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  and  was  there  married  to  Elizabeth  Riser,  of  Ireland, 
their  children  being  all  born  in  the  Old  Dominion  state.  In  1828  the 
family  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Perry  county,  near  the  town 
of  Thornville,  and  there  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Riser)  Palmer  passed 
away.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  the 
oldest  child  being  Samuel  Palmer,  the  grandfather  of  Jonas  A.  Palmer. 
Samuel  Palmer  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  December  27, 
1809,  and  died  at  Dundee  (Roll  P.  0.),  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
January  3,  1901,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  seven  days.  On  April 
13,  183*2,  Samuel  Palmer  was  married  to  Sarah  Fox,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Fox,  a  resident  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  their  first  home 
after  marriage  was  in  Walnut  township,  Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  Four 
children  were  born  to  them  in  that  county.  Eliza  Ann,  born  October 
26,  1832,  married  February  12,  1852,  Jonas  H.  Lee,  born  April  2,  1829. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  69 

and  she  died  May  11,  1889,  while  he  passed  away  June  13,  1894,  their 
twelve  children  being,— Samuel  P.,  born  April  12,  1853,  died  Decem- 
ber 20,  1889;  Margaret,  bom  November  29,  1854;  Sarah  E.,  born  Sep- 
tember 2:!.  1856,  died  April  5.  1859:  Evangeline,  bom  November  22, 
1858;  Hezekiah,  Lorn   December  3,   1860,  died  .May  24.  1905;   Ida  and 

Ada,  twins,   bora    October   16.   1863;    Mary    E.   L..'  born    I) mber    19, 

1864.  died  September  6.  1904;  Dora,  born'  October  28,  1868,  died  Jan 
uary  21,  1869;  Cora,  born  October  28.  186").  died  August  14.  1871,  and 
Nora,  born  March  28,  1S72.  died  August  23.  1872;  John  Wesley,  tin-  father 
of  Jonas  A.  Palmer,  born  March  8,  1S34;  Jacob  Palmer',  bom  Jan- 
uary 13,  1836.  married  April  12.  1858.  Elizabeth  Brumbaugh,  who 
was  born  March  S.  1841.  and  their  ten  children  were, — Henry  S.,  born 
November  17,  1858:  Frederick,  born  October  30,  1860,  anil  died  at 
Huntington,  Indiana,  October  30.  I860;  Jacob  M.,  born  August  9,  1863; 
Sarah  E.,  born  December  28.  1865;  Rebecca,  born  October  14.  1867; 
Catherine  C,  born  October  3,  18(1;  Samuel  II..  born  May  22.  1874; 
Mary  E.,  born  December  28.  1876:  William  D.,  born  March  1.  1878, 
and  Neoma  M.,  horn  August  11.  1884;  and  Elizabeth,  born  December 
18,  1837,  and  died  in  1875.  In  the  year  1839  the  family  emigrated  to 
Indiana  and  settled  in  Jackson  township.  Wills  county.  Mr.  Palmer 
resided  there  for  forty  years,  when  he  sold  his  farm  to  William  Banter, 
his  son-in-law,  who  now  owns  the  property.  Six  children  were  born 
in  Wells  county,  as  follows:  Joseph  Granton  Vanhorn,  born  .lime  12, 
1840,  died  October  14,  1846;  Mary  Magdaline.  horn  August  10,  1842, 
married  August  20,  1862,  William  Banter,  born  August  10,  1832,  and 
their  eight  children  were, — Jacob  H,  born  March  5.  1863,  died  in  the 
same  year ;  Samuel  Ellis,  born  Mav  19.  1865 ;  John  W.,  horn  March  5, 
1867;  Sarah  E.,  born  May  27,  1869;  Eliza  S„  born  February  22,  1871; 
Ida  A.,  bom  June  19.  1874,  died  October  6.  1889;  two  infants,  bora 
February  12,  1880,  died  the  same  day:  and  Maggie  Lee  (a  girl  raised), 
born  November  8,  1883,  died  April' 30,  1906;  Samuel  Hamilton,  born 
April  15,  1845,  married  February  9,  1865,  Elizabeth  Lee,  who  was 
born  June  5.  1845,  and  their  seven  children  were. — Rosella,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1866,  died  October  1,  1872;  John  W.,  horn  August  17,  1868; 
Susannah,  born  February  3.  1872;  Hettie  V..  born  March  10.  1875; 
Manford  E.,  born  November  4.  1877,  died  May  14.  1879;  Hanford, 
born  November  4,  1877,  died  August  22,  1879 ;  and  Nellie  B.,  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1883;  Susannah  Annelsley,  born  July  10,  1847,  married 
April  19,  1866,  Thomas  Hunt,  who  was  born  November  22.  1840.  and 
their  five  children  were, — Sarah  E..  born  July  23.  1867:  Joseph  W., 
born  February  14,  1870;  Mary  A.,  born  October  1.  1872:  Samuel  T. 
G.,  bom  March  2,  1874;  and  John  C.  born  March  22.  1884.  and  the 
father  of  these  children  died  December  5.  1903;  Daniel,  born  August 
26,  1853,  died  January  26,  1854;  and  Sarah  Jane  Griffith,  bora  May 
3,  1851,  married  September  4,  1870.  Benjamin  B.  Ely.  who  was  bora 
May  11,  1848,  and  their  nine  children  were. — Rosa  Zetta.  born  July 
30,  1871;  William  F.,  born  December  8,  1872;  Charles  A.,  born  April 
28,  1874,  died  March  4.  1876;  Carie  A.,  born  October  4,  1876.  died 
March  24,  1881;  Minnie  M.,  born  February  7.  1878.  died  March  26, 
1881;  Loye  E.,  bora  November  22,  1880,  died  April  11.  1881;  Fred  B., 
born  December  7,  1884;  Georgia  C,  born  November  19.  1888;  and 
Ruth  Palmer,  born  Julv  30.  1892. 

On  February  16.  1879.  Sarah  (Fox)  Palmer  died  in  the  faith  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  she  and  her  husband  had 
united  during  the  early  years  of  their  married  life  and  of  which  they 
had  remained  faithful  and  consistent  members.  On  September  1.  1881. 
Samuel  Palmer  was  again   married,   his  wife  being  Mrs.   Lucy   Stout, 


70         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

who  survives  him.  Of  his  posterity  there  are  now  living  three  daugh- 
ters, two  sons,  fifty-nine  grand-children,  ninety  great-grand-children, 
and  six  great-great-grandchildren.  There  are  nineteen  grandchildren, 
twenty-two  great-grandchildren,  and  one  great-great-grandchild  dead. 
There  are  also  living  a  host  of  relatives  whose  ancestors  emigrated  with 
him  from  Ohio  and  settled  near  him  in  Indiana,  and  whose  posterity 
has  helped  to  develop  this  country  from  a  wilderness  state  and  make 
it  blossom  like  a  rose.  "Uncle  Sam"  Palmer,  as  he  was  called  and 
generally  known,  will  long  be  remembered  by  all  his  posterity  who 
revere  his  honorable  life,  worthy  acts  and  length  of  years.  In  the 
future  history  of  the  pioneers  of  this  country,  his  name  will  receive 
honorable  mention  as  an  actor  in  the  stirring  daj'S  which  tried  men 's 
souls  and  tested  the  metal  of  which  they  were  made.  He  died  at  Dun- 
dee, Roll  P.  0.,  January  3,  1901,  aged  ninety-one  years,  seven  days. 
In  political  matters  he  was  a  democrat  throughout  his  life. 

Following  is  given  a  record  of  the  descendants  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
Palmer,  as  compiled  by  his  grandson,  Jonas  A.  Palmer.  Samuel 
P.  Lee,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  November  22,  1882, 
to  Neomi  MeElvaine,  and  died  December  20,  1889,  his  widow  surviv- 
ing and  residing  at  No.  35  Mechanic  street,  Shelbyville,  Indiana,  and 
is  now  Mrs.  Feidler.  Margaret  Lee,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer, 
was  born  November  29,  1854,  married  November  4,  1875,  to  William 
Sunderman,  who  was  born  March  14,  1852,  and  their  eight  children 
were:  Eliza  Christina,  born  July  30,  1876,  married  March  15,  1898,  to 
Jacob  Voght,  who  was  born  December  9,  1868,  their  children  being, — 
Earl  A.,  born  June  6,  1899,  Thelma,  born  January  28,  1900,  died 
August  10,  1900,  Emma  M.,  born  March  2,  1901,  Louis  E.,  born  De- 
cember 5,  1903,  Edward  O,  born  August  22,  1904,  and  Wilber,  born 
March  24,  1906;  Jonas  T.  D.,  born  May  7,  1880,  resides  at  Andrews, 
Indiana,  married  Emma  Britton ;  Mary  E.  O,  born  November  21,  1882, 
died  November  12,  1900;  William  A.,  born  November  29,  1883,  mar- 
ried August,  1905,  to  Mabel  Cullison,  born  September  28,  1886 ;  Ida  C, 
born  Mav  17,  1885 ;  Flora  Etta,  born  April  19,  1887,  married  June  29, 
1907,  Samuel  DeWitt  Weeks,  born  Mav  8,  1887 ;  Louis  H.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1891,  and  Nora  A.,  born  April  28,  1894. 

Evangeline  Lee,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married 
November  4,  1875,  to  William  Whitestine,  who  was  born  November 
25,  1856,  and  died  December  9.  1895,  their  children  being:  Samuel 
Orville,  born  January  22,  1878,  died  January  1,  1902;  Chester,  born 
January  5,  1884;  and  Bertie,  born  September  8,  1887.  In  August, 
1889,  Mrs.  Whitestine  married  Arnold  Feller,  and  now  resides  at 
Greeley,  Colorado.  Hezekiah  Lee,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer  was 
married  June  17,  1893,  to  Louise  Morse,  and  died  May  24,  1905, 
his  wife  passing  away  January  26,  1904,  and  their  children  were  Her- 
bert Palmer,  born  June  26,  1894,  and  Horace  Morse,  born  May  4,  1896, 
both  of  Los  Angeles,  California.  Ida  Lee.  granddaughter  of  Samuel 
Palmer,  was  married  April  15.  1888.  to  Henry  Plum,  who  was  born 
September  2,  1861,  and  they  have  one  son,  Bernard,  born  June  27, 
1893.  They  reside  at  24  Douglas  street.  Hammond,  Indiana.  Ada 
Lee,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  married  November  22,  1890, 
George  McCartney,  born  January  8,  1855,  resides  at  Huntington,  In- 
diana, and  has  one  son,  Ray  A.,  born  January  29,  1893.  Mary  E.  L. 
Lee,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  married  March  8,  1883,  Wil- 
liam D.  Cole,  born  January  10,  1858,  and  they  resided  at  Andrews, 
Indiana,  and  had  two  children:  Anna  Dale,  born  January  19,  1884, 
and  Archie  Edwin,  born  November  1,  1887.  The  mother  died  Sep- 
tember 6,   1904.     William  Lee,  grandson   of  Samuel  Palmer,  married 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  71 

October  7,  1892,  Arvilla  Rhodes,  and  they  bad  two  children:  Arthur 
R..  born  August  23,  1894,  and  Earl  B.,  born  .June  5,  L896.  Mr.  Lee 
married  July  4,  1904,  Johany  L.  Nail,  who  was  born  Januarj  9,  1884, 
and  they  had  two  children,  Ila  I).,  born  .July  23,  1905,  and  Gilla  E.' 
born  June  22,  1907,  and  they  reside  at  Junction,  Arizona. 

Sarah  C.  Palmer,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  born 
January  24,  1863,  and  married  Addison  S.  Woodard,  June  28,  1881,  be 
being  bom  December  1.  1861,  and  they  now  reside  at  Van  Buren,  In- 
diana. Their  children  are  as  follows:  Bber,  born  February  19,  1882, 
died  February  IS,  1888;  Chester  E..  born  October  22,  1885,  married 
November  26,  1905,  to  Pearl  E.  Massey,  born  June  24,  1883,  and 
resides  near  Van  Buren.  Indiana;  Nora  P>.,  born  November  9,  1887;  [da 
B.,  born  April  14,  1900:  and  an  infant,  born  June  7.  1901,  died  June 
18,  1901.  Clarence  A.  Palmer,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  married 
Bertha  Gleim,  who  was  born  June  IS,  1877.  and  died  May  24.  1895, 
and  they  had  one  daughter.  Elsie,  born  May  24,  1895.  On  October  18, 
1906,  Mr.  Palmer  married  Pearl  Richey,  who  was  born  October  2'_', 
1880.  and  they  reside  at  Roll,  Indiana. 

Henry  S.  Palmer,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  to 
Clara  Tomson,  December  10,  1880,  she  being  born  June  17.  1858,  and 
they  had  one  daughter,  Jessie  M..  born  August  21.  1883,  married  Oc- 
tober 16,  1907,  to  E.  E.  Cullers,  of  Bluffton,  Indiana.  Sarah  E.  Palmer. 
granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  March  6,  1887,  to 
George  W.  Paul,  who  was  born  May  3,  1860,  and  they  reside  at  Hunt- 
ington, Indiana,  and  have  had  the  following  children:  an  infant,  born 
August  4,  1888,  and  died  August  6,  1888;  Naomi  Grace,  bom  October 
16,  1889;  Herman  W.,  born  June  18,  1891;  William  E..  born  January 
10,  1S93,  died  April  24,  1893 ;  Jacob  II.,  born  April  8.  1894 ;  Mary  L.. 
born  October  2,  1898,  died  December  3,  1898:  and  Palmer  S.,  bora 
September  8,  1901.  Rebecca  Palmer,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer, 
was  born  October  14.  1867.  and  married  August  8,  1891,  to  Levi  Hen- 
dricks, who  was  bora  August  9,  1S63.  They  reside  at  Huntington. 
Indiana,  and  have  one  son.  Milo,  born  December  11,  1893.  Catherine 
E.  Palmer,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  March  28, 
1891.  to  Frank  P.  Emley,  bora  October  4,  1863.  They  reside  at  Hunt- 
ington, Indiana,  and  have  two  sons:  Palmer  T..  born  July  24.  1895, 
and  AY.  Dale,  born  February  9.  1902.  Samuel  H.  Palmer,  grandson 
of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  March  20.  1900.  to  Effie  E.  Treel,  born 
November  26,  1874.  They  reside  at  Huntington.  Indiana,  and  have  had 
three  children :  Carl  R..  born  March  22,  1901 ;  Mary  I.,  born  November 
12,  1902;  and  Howard  W„  born  June  20,  1905.  Mary  E.  Palmer, 
granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  March  7.  1896.  to  Aaron 
Shidler.  bora  November  11.  1S69.  They  reside  at  Huntington.  Indiana. 
and  have  had  three  children:  Nancy  E..  born  July  6.  1898,  died  Oc- 
tober 12.  1898;  Rose  Marie,  bora  December  14.  1899;  and  Jacob  Aaron, 
born  February  2.  1908.  William  D.  Palmer,  grandson  of  Samuel 
Palmer,  was  married  November  24.  1903.  to  Catherine  Tuhey,  born 
April  23.  1877.  They  reside  at  Huntington.  Indiana,  and  have  two 
children:  Eugene  W.,  born  October  24.  1904:  and  Arthur  Francis, 
horn  September  24.  1906.  Neoma  M.  Palmer,  granddaughter  of  Samuel 
Palmer,  was  married  December  23.  1905.  to  Otto  Fulton,  born  Novem 
ber  8.  1883.  and  they  reside  at  Huntington.  Indiana,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren:  George  C.  born  June  29,  1906,  and  Charles  S..  born  April  25. 
1908. 

Samuel  Ellis  Banter,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  -bin 
uarv  1.  1887,  to  Clara  B.  Rice,  born  November  17.  1869,  and  they 
reside   at   Roll.    Indiana,    and   have   had    four   children:    Samuel    Carl, 


72         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

born  November  22,  1887;  Charles  P.,  bom  July  28,  1889,  and  died 
July  11,  1890;  William  0.,  born  February  26,  1891;  and  Ralph,  born 
November  23,  1902.  Eliza  S.  Banter,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer, 
was  married  November  24,  1896,  to  William  N.  Risinger,  born  August 
31,  1861,  and  they  reside  at  Roll,  Indiana,  and  have  had  two  children: 
William  Bernard,  born  July  16,  1902,  died  September  9,  1904;  and 
Mary,  born  April  14,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Risinger  are  also  rearing 
Neal  McBride,  born  April  15,  .1906,  son  of  Maggie  Lee. 

John  W.  Palmer,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  Oc- 
tober 18,  1890,  to  Cora  J.  Stevenson,  born  June  9,  1869,  and  she  died 
November  5,  1893,  having  been  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Mabel  B., 
bom  June  12,  1891.  Mr.  Palmer  married  January  25,  1896,  Jane  J. 
Cruse,  bora  January  18,  1870,  and  they  reside  near  Montpelier, 
Indiana,  and  have  had  seven  children:  Fred,  bom  June  18,  1896:  Mary 
E.,  born  April  19,  1898;  Seland,  born  November  2,  1899;  Violet,  born 
April  25,  1901,  died  August  29,  1901 ;  Ruth,  born  February  26,  1903 ; 
Helen,  bora  March  2,  1905,  died  March  10,  1905;  and  Samuel  M.,  born 
February  17,  1906.  Susannah  Risinger,  granddaughter  of  Samuel 
Palmer,  was  married  September  26,  1891,  to  Walter  Ervin  Risinger, 
born  February  15,  1867.  They  reside  at  Roll,  Indiana,  and  have  had 
five  children:  Alta  B.,  bom  March  19,  1892,  died  August  30,  1901; 
John  W.,  bora  January  24,  1894,  died  January  16,  1895;  Oscar  B., 
born  November  3,  1895 ;  Samuel  D.,  born  December  11,  1898 ;  and  Evert 
D..  born  March  18,  1906,  died  March  30,  1906.  Hettie  Viola  Palmer, 
granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  December  21,  1895, 
to  Chancey  D.  Elwood,  born  December  6,  1872,  and  they  reside  near 
Van  Buren,  Indiana,  and  have  four  children:  Howard  Francis,  born 
February  13,  1897;  Harvey  Palmer,  born  May  1,  1899;  Homer  Lee, 
born  October  25,  1901;  and  Hope  Delight,  born  October  31,  1905. 
Nellie  B.  Palmer,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  No- 
vember 1,  1902,  to  James  E.  Turner,  born  July  22,  1882,  and  they  have 
had  four  children:  Walter  H.,  born  February  21,  1904;  and  three 
infants,  who  died  on  the  dav  of  their  birth,  March  16,  1905,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1906,  and  May  24,  1908.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  reside  at  Bridge- 
port, Illinois. 

Sarah  E.  Hunt,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married 
November  25,  1889,  to  Samuel  N.  McNeal,  who  was  born  October  15, 
1867.  They  reside  at  Carpenter,  Oklahoma,  and  have  four  children: 
Clarence  J.,  born  October  17,  1890;  Jennie  S.,  born  July  21,  1892; 
Aurel  F.,  born  October  5,  1894;  and  Marrie  E.,  born  April  1,  1903. 
Joseph  W.  Hunt,  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  born  February  14, 
1870,  married  January  14,  1900,  Lydia  Sanders,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 19,  1880.  They  reside  at  Akron,  Colorado,  and  have  fouT  chil- 
dren: Letta  May,  born  November  30,  1900;  Imogene,  born  December 
2,  1902;  David  Theodore,  born  November  21,  1904;  and  John  Rayman, 
born  January  15,  1907.  Mary  A.  Hunt,  granddaughter  of  Sanruel 
Palmer,  was  married  October  22,  1890,  to  John  A.  Ripley,  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1868.  They  reside  at  Graham,  Missouri,  and  have  had  eight 
children:  Emmet  Virgil,  born  February  22,  1892;  Oren  Thomas,  born 
November  7,  1893,  died  May  22,  1895; 'Ethel  Margaret,  born  April  10, 
1895;  John  William,  born  March  21,  1898;  Alma  Masia,  bora  Jvdy  5, 
1900;  Susan  Elizabeth,  born  May  19,  1902;  Fay  Alice,  bom  April  24, 
1904;  and  Aurel  D.,  born  March  26,  1908. 

Rosa  Zetta  Ely,  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married 
March  2,  1899,  to  W.  C.  Heminger,  who  was  born  August  25,  1868,  and 
they  reside  at  Montpelier,  Indiana,  and  have  two  children :  Charles 
W.,  born  April  1,  1900;  and  Paul  V.,  born  January  30,  1904.    William 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  73 

Franklin  Ely.  grandson  of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  July  L6,  L893, 
to  Ella  Loretta  Sills,  who  was  born  December  9,  L875.  They  reside 
at  Montpelier,  Indiana,  and  have  seven  children:  Rilla  >'..  bora  Oc- 
tober  27,    1894:    William    Benjamin,    born    October    L5,    L896;    Bar] 

Curtis,  born  February  16,  1899;  Ralph  Sills,  horn  February  20,  1901  ; 
George  Ernest,  horn  July  31,  1903;  Harry  Orval,  born  Augusl  2  !, 
1905;  and  Russel  Palmer,  born  May  7.  1908.  Fred  B.  Ply.  grandson 
of  Samuel  Palmer,  was  married  May  27,  1907,  to  Elsie  E.  Petzold, 
horn  at  South  Milwaukee.  Wisconsin,  September  16.  1SSS,  and  they 
now  reside  at  Montpelier,  Indiana. 

Since  the  foregoing  statistics  were  gathered,  the  following  sup- 
plementary notes  have  been  obtained.  Ruth,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Hunt, 
born  January  27,  1909.  Mildred  Catherine,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Hunt, 
born  February  3,  1910.  Ruth  died  February  26,  1909.  John  Raymond 
died  March  28.  1909.  Burr  J.  Palmer  married  Lena  F.  Gebhart,  Au- 
gust 12.  1908,  she  was  horn  December  16.  1890.  Arnold  Feller  died 
September  22.  1907,  and  his  wife  married  March  3.  1909,  Willis  s. 
Eavens,  born  February  19,  1849.  and  they  reside  at  Greeley,  Colo- 
rado. Jacob  M.  Palmer  died  February  13,  1909.  and  Jacob  1'almer. 
April  22.  1909.  Born  to  Samuel  H.  and  Effie  E.  Palmer,  Elizabeth  A.. 
June  8,  1909.  Luella  Irene,  wife  of  Chester  Whitestine,  married 
March  1.  1902,  born  September  28,  1S70,  resides  at  Denver.  Colorado, 
and  has  had  three  children:  Ester  Alberta,  born  November  25,  1902; 
Grace  Mildred,  born  November  30,  1903,  died  August  19.  1904;  and 
Olive  Vera,  born  May  21.  1906.  Grace  (Donlson)  Whitestine,  wife  of 
Bert  S.  Whitestine,  born  August  20,  1886,  married  January  Id,  19(19. 
Robert  Gale,  born  March  10.  1910.  Leota  E.  and  Lena  E.,  daughters 
of  Walton  I.  and  Susaimah  Risinger,  born  December  1,  1909.  Grace 
Paul  married  Pearl  L.  Farrar,  born  October  13,  1887,  resides  at  Hunt- 
ington, and  has  one  son:  Arthur  Paul,  horn  August  5,  1910.  DeWitt 
and  Emma  Weeks  have  two  children:  Sumner  William,  horn  July 
1,  1908,  and  Violet,  born  November  2.  1909.  Tena  and  Jacob  Vought 
have  a  son,  Wilhelm,  born  May  13,  1909;  William  and  Mabel  Sunder- 
man  have  two  children :  Charles  William,  born  December  25,  1908,  and 
Wilbert  Lee,  born  February  15,  1910.  William  and  Johany  L.  Pee  have 
a  daughter,  Greta,  born  in  1909.  William  and  Catherine  Palmer  have 
a  daughter,  Catherine  Marie  Alice,  bom  June  6,  1910.  Mabel  B. 
Palmer  married  Dwight  L.  Elwood.  born  August  24,  1878.  John  W. 
and  J.  Palmer  have  two  children :  Cecil  William,  born  August  16, 
1909,  and  Evert  Cleo.  born  July  25,  1910.  Nellie  B.  and  James  E. 
Turner  had  one  daughter :  Gertrude,  born  September  21,  1909.  and  died 
September  30,  1909.  Clarence  A.  and  Pearl  Palmer  had  one  child  : 
Merrit,  born  October  19,  1909.  William  F.  and  Ella  L.  Ely  had  one 
child:  Gladys  Marie,  born  June  15,  1910.  Fred  B.  and  Elsie  L.  Ely 
had  one  child:  Elvina  Ruth,  horn  December  24,  1909. 

John  Wesley  Palmer,  father  of  Jonas  A.  Palmer,  and  first  son  and 
second  child  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Fox)  Palmer,  was  horn  March  8. 
1834,  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  and  died  February  2.  1889.  He  was 
five  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Wells  county,  In- 
diana, and  here  was  married  February  24,  1856.  to  Catherine  A. 
Griffith,  who  was  born  February  8,  1838,  in  Ohio,  daughter  of  Eli  and 
Mary  Griffith,  of  the  Buckeye  state,  who  came  as  early  settlers  to  Jack- 
son township,  Wells  county,  spending  the  remaining  years  of  their 
lives  on  the  farm  which  they  improved.  They  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Universalist  church,  and  Mr.  Griffith  was  a  democrat  in 
his  political  views.  After  their  marriage,  John  Wesley  Palmer  and  his 
•wife  settled  down  to  farming  in  Jackson  township,  and  there  the  father 


74  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

passed  away  after  a  long  career  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  was  one  of  his  community's  prominent  and 
influential  men,  serving  for  a  number  of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  early  joined  the  Universalist  church  and  were 
faithful  to  that  belief  during  their  whole  lives.  The  mother  still  sur- 
vives, residing  with  her  son,  Clarence  A.,  and  in  spite  of  her  seventy- 
six  years  is  hale  and  hearty  and  alert  in  mind  and  active  in  body. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Samuel  E.,  born  March  23,  1857,  who 
died  March  27,  1861 ;  Jonas  A.,  of  this  review,  born  October  26,  1858 ; 
Mary  M.,  born  December  3,  1860,  died  January  18,  1871 ;  Sarah  C,  born 
January  24,  1863;  Willis  0.  D.,  born  February  19,  1865;  Rosebud, 
bom  April  21,  1870,  died  July  21,  1870;  Clara  A.,  born  January  24, 
1873,  died  July  10,  1889 ;  and  Clarence  A.,  born  April  24,  1876. 

Jonas  A.  Palmer  was  the  second  child  of  his  parents  and  was  reared 
in  Jackson  township  and  educated  in  the  district  schools.  As  a  youth 
he  gave  his  attention  to  farming,  but  in  1879  came  to  Dundee  and  took 
up  blacksmithing,  a  vocation  which  he  followed  until  1885.  At  that 
time  Mr.  Palmer  entered  mercantile  lines  and  carried  on  a  general 
merchandise  business  until  March,  1894,  when  he  became  a  hardware 
merchant,  and  has  since  devoted  his  energies  to  the  building  up  of  an 
excellent  trade.  Through  good  management  and  business  ability  he 
has  met  with  success  in  his  ventures,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  live, 
progressive  business  men  of  the  locality.  Since  January,  1907,  his  son, 
Burr  J.  Palmer,  has  been  his  partner  in  business.  The  postoffice  at 
Dundee  has  been  known  as  Roll  Postoffice  since  1880  or  1881,  and  since 
April  6,  1894,  Mr.  Palmer  has  been  postmaster  at  this  place.  His  serv- 
ices have  been  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  people  of  Dundee,  and  his 
unfailing  courtesy  and  obliging  manner  have  won  him  numerous 
friends.  In  political  matters,  Mr.  Palmer  is  independent,  depending 
upon  his  own  judgment  in  his  choice  of  public  officials.  He  was  the 
organizer  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  local  lodge  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  was  first  past  chancellor  and  represented  the  lodge  first  in 
June,  1892.  He  belongs  also  to  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  and  takes  much  interest 
in  fraternal  work. 

Mr.  Palmer  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  Mary  Prances 
Brotherton.  June  20,  1885.  She  was  born  January  26,  1868,  daugh- 
ter of  John  T.  and  Abigail  (Rice)  Brotherton,  prominent  and  wealthy 
farming  people  of  "Washington  township,  Blackford  county.  She  died 
at  her  home  October  10,  1888,  in  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  God,  and 
left  one  son.  Burr  J.  Palmer,  who  is  his  father's  partner  in  business. 
He  was  born  November  23,  1887,  was  educated  at  Dundee,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Lena  Gebhart,  who  was  born  December  16,  1890.  They  have 
two  children  :  Wilma,  born  May  6,  1909  ;  and  Bernetta  F.,  born  February 
10,  1911.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his 
wife  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  church. 

On  April  26,  1890,  Mr.  Palmer  was  married,  to  Lillie  B.  Roberts, 
horn  July  22,  1866,  who  died  November  18,  1906,  without  issue,  in 
the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Palmer  is  very 
proud  of  his  little  grandchildren,  and  they  have  been  the  i-ecipients 
of  every  ten-cent  piece  which  has  come  into  his  possession.  At  this 
time  the  elder  child  has  $156  to  his  credit,  while  the  younger  has  $96.00, 
and  in  addition  he  has  also  given  them  five  shares  in  the  Lexington  Life 
Insurance  Company. 

On  March  4,  1909,  Mr.  Palmer  was  married  to  Mrs.  Martha  J. 
Miller,  who  was  born  January  23,  1863.  By  her  first  marriage  to 
Francis  Miller,  now  deceased,  Mrs.  Palmer  had  three  daughters  and 
four  sons.    She  and  Mr.  Palmer  have  had  no  children. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         7;, 

Henry  C.  Davisson,  M.  D.  The  great  popularity  of  Dr.  Davisson 
is  based  alike  on  his  distinctive  professional  ability  and  his  all  abid- 
ing spirit  of  optimism  and  good  cheer.  A  more  buoyant  temperament 
than  his  is  seldom  encountered,  and  its  influence  touches  every  person 
who  comes  within  the  gracious  angle  of  his  genial  presence.  The  Doctor 
has  achieved  noteworthy  success  along  professional  and  financial  lines 
and  has  been  the  definite  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Hartford  City,  the  fine  judicial 
center  of  Blackford  county,  and  merits  consideration  as  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  section  of  the  State. 

Dr.  Henry  Coffman  Davisson  was  born  at  Norton,  Delaware  county. 
Ohio,  on  the  25th  of  September,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Carl 
Davisson,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  (Coffman)  Davisson,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Ireland,  and  the  latter  at  Newark,  Licking  county.  Ohio,  of 
German  ancestry.  The  lineage  of  the  Davisson  family  is  traced  hack 
to  staunch  Scotch  origin,  but  the  family  was  early  founded  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  where  representatives  of  the  name  settled  on  leaving 
Scotland  to  escape  religious  indignities,  if  not  persecution,  as  they 
were  non-conformists  and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Henry 
C.  Davisson  was  a  child  of  about  two  years  when  his  parents  immi- 
grated from  the  Emerald  Isle,  approximately  a  century  ago.  and  estab- 
lished their  home  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia.  There  his  father, 
Henry  Carl  Davisson,  Sr.,  passed  the  residue  of  his  long  and  indus- 
trious life,  and  his  wife  also  attained  to  advanced  age.  Concerning 
their  children  Dr.  Davisson,  of  this  review,  has  not  definite  information 
save  concerning  his  own  father  and  the  latter 's  brother  Ananias,  who 
became  a  prominent  member  of  the  Virginia  bar  and  who  served  as 
a  general  in  the  Confederate  army  in  the  Civil  war.  Henry  Carl  Davis- 
son, Jr.,  was  reared  at  Harrisonburg.  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
and  there  in  his1  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  As  a  young 
man  he  left  his  native  state  and  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  maintained 
his  home  for  a  number  of  years,  a  successful  artisan  at  his  trade.  He 
finally  returned  to  his  native  county,  and  the  closing  years  of  bis  life 
were  passed  at  Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  in  the  turbulent  period  leading  up  to  the  Civil 
war  he  was  a  stalwart  Abolitionist.  In  1840  he  became  a  resident  of 
"Morrow  comity,  Ohio,  and  in  Peru  township,  that  county,  he  was  the 
only  adherent  of  the  whig  party  in  the  early  days.  He  later  affiliated 
with  the  republican  party,  and  his  death  occurred  about  the  year  1898. 
At  Newark,  Licking  county,  Ohio,  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Coffman,  and  she  preceded  him  to  eternal  rest,  the  closing  years 
of  her  life  having  been  passed  in  Morrow  county.  Ohio.  Of  the  two 
sons  and  three  daughters  only  two  are  now  living. — Dr.  Henry  C. 
and  Mrs.  Anna  E.  Glassford,  the  latter  being  a  widow  and  an  evangel- 
ist of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  residence  at  Fort  Scott. 
Kansas. 

Dr.  Davisson  was  reared  to  adult  age  in  Morrow  county.  Ohio,  and 
from  the  age  of  twelve  years  to  that  of  sixteen  he  prosecuted  his  studies 
in  Mount  Hesper  Seminary,  later  taking  a  classical  course  in  the  semi- 
nary at  Granvilh'.  Ohio.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  Pennoek,  an  able  physician  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
and  after  duly  fortifying  himself  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  though  he  did  not  receive  the  specific  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine  until  1870.  when  he  was  graduated  in  a  well  ordered  college 
of  medicine.  The  Doctor  has  been  indefatigable  in  the  work  of  his 
profession,  has  been  a  close  and  appreciative  student,  has  kept  abreast 


76  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  the  advances  made  in  medical  and  surgical  science,  and  his  success 
has  given  him  secure  prestige  as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  northern  Indiana,  he  having  for  many  years  been  engaged  in 
active  practice  in  Blackford  county.  With  marked  acumen  Dr.  Davis- 
son  has  made  investments  in  real  estate,  and  through  this  medium  he 
has  accumulated  a  substantial  fortune,  his  investments  having  been 
largely  in  well  improved  farm  properties  in  this  section  of  Indiana. 
These  farms  "yield  forth  their  increase  in  due  season"  and  give  to 
the  owner  an  appreciable  revenue.  The  Doctor  has  reason  to  take 
pride  in  his  success  and  he  finds  pleasure  in  his  association  with  the 
great  basic  industry  of  agriculture,  giving  to  his  various  properties  his 
personal  supervision  in  a  general  way. 

The  call  of  patriotism  did  not  find  Dr.  Davisson  lacking  when  the 
Civil  war  was  precipitated.  In  response  to  President  Lincoln's  first 
call  for  volunteers,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private,  and  through  his 
influence  seventeen  other  young  men  were  induced  to  enlist  at  the  same 
time.  The  Doctor  soon  became  a  member  of  the  surgical  corps  of 
his  command,  and  he  made  a  splendid  record  during  the  period  of 
his  service  in  the  Union  ranks. 

In  Blackford  county  Dr.  Davisson  is  the  owner  of  four  good  farms, 
and  his  residence  in  Hartford  City  is  one  of  the  most  spacious  and 
attractive  in  the  county,  the  same  being  situated  on  Walnut  street  and 
having  eleven  rooms.  In  the  home  he  delights  to  extend  welcome  to 
his  host  of  friends,  and  his  wife  proves  a  most  gracious  and  popular 
chatelaine.  Mrs.  Davisson  is  a  leader  in  the  social  activities  of  Hart- 
ford City  and  is  likewise  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  Doctor  holds  membership  in  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, the  Indiana  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Blackford  County 
Medical  Society,  and  also  in  the  Delaware  District  Medical  Society,  of 
which  he  served  one  year  as  president.  He  has  been  an  appreciative 
student  of  the  history  and  tenets  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  with  which 
he  is  actively  affiliated,  as  a  member  of  the  various  York  Rite  bodies, 
as  well  as  the  Murat  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  in  the  city  of  Indian- 
apolis. Dr.  Davisson  has  gained  more  than  local  reputation  as  a  post- 
prandial and  general  impromptu  speaker,  is  possessed  of  much  literary 
ability,  including  facility  in  metrical  composition,  and  he  has  contrib- 
uted to  the  press  many  interesting  articles,  besides  giving  to  various 
medical  journals  valuable  articles  touching  his  experience  in  his  profes- 
sional work.  His  success  is  the  more  pleasing  to  contemplate  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  when  he  arrived  in  Blackford  county  his  cash  capital 
was  summed  up  in  a  single  silver  dime, — a  coin  that  he  long  treasured 
as  a  souvenir  but  one  that  was  finally  stolen  from  him. 

At  Trenton,  Blackford  county,  in  1860,  Dr.  Davisson  wedded  Miss 
Eliza  Anderson.  They  have  no  children,  but  they  reared  in  their 
home  Lida,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Davisson  and  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  J. 
Farrell,  who  is  bookkeeper  for  the  Johnson  Glass  Company,  of  Hart- 
ford City,  and  clerk  of  the  court  of  Blackford  county,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Davisson  is  a  sister  of  Judge  Randolph  C.  Anderson,  who  is  a  repre- 
sentative legist  and  jurist  of  South  Dakota,  with  residence  at  Miller, 
Hand  county. 

Alvin  Chandler.  As  a  sterling  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  Hart- 
ford City,  the  judicial  center  of  Blackford  county,  and  as  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  well  known  pioneer  families  of  this  section  of  the 
state,  Mr.  Chandler  is  well  entitled  to  recognition  in  this  history.  He 
is  a  scion  of  the  staunches!  of  English  stock  and  his  ancestors  who  be- 
came the  founders  of  the  American  branch  of  the  family  were  members 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  77 

of  the  Society  of  Friends,  of  which  noble  religious  body  the)  were  early 
representatives  in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  time  of  William  Penn. 

The  original  American  progenitors  of  the  Chandler  Eamily  immi- 
grated from  England  to  the  New  World  in  1687,  and  the  head  of  the 
family  was  George  Chandler,  who  was  accompanied  by  liis  wife  and 
their  seven  children.  The  long  and  weary  voyage  was  made  on  a  primi- 
tive sailing  vessel,  and  en  route  the  husband  and  father  was  attacked 
with  illness  that  terminated  in  his  death,  his  remains  being  buried  at 
sea.  The  stricken  widow  and  children  finally  reached  American  shores 
and  made  their  way  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they  settled  on  the  llrandy- 
wine  river,  near  Chadsford,  in  November,  1687.  In  that  vicinity  .Mrs. 
Chandler  passed  the  remainder  of  her  life  and  there  she  contracted  a 
second  marriage,  the  name  of  her  second  husband  having  been  Hawks. 
The  next  in  line  of  direct  descent  to  the  subject  of  this  review  was 
Swithin  Chandler,  who  was  a  prosperous  farmer  in  the  old  Keystone 
state,  where  he  lived  until  the  close  of  his  life.  In  England  the  family 
had  early  become  identified  with  the  Society  of  Friends,  ami  in  America 
the  members  of  the  family  were  associated  with  the  Fox  branch  of  this 
fine  old  Quaker  stock.  Of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Swithin  Chandler 
the  one  to  whom  Alvin  Chandler  traces  his  lineage  was  Jonathan  Chan- 
dler. This  worthy  forbear  passed  his  entire  life  in  Pennsylvania,  when' 
he  likewise  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  his  son  John,  the  next 
in  line,  also  became  a  successful  Pennsylvania  farmer.  lie  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  there  remained  throughout  his  life.  He  reared  a 
large  family  of  children  and  his  son  Spencer  was  born  about  the  time 
of  the  inception  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Spencer  Chandler  at- 
tained to  venerable  age  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  marry  outside 
the  Society  of  Friends,  from  which  organization  he  was  deposed  on 
this  account.  He  wedded  Nellie  Coleson  and  they  removed  to  Ohio,  to 
become  pioneer  settlers  of  Guernsey  county.  There  Spencer  Chandler 
secured  a  tract  of  wild  land,  much  of  which  he  reclaimed  to  cultivation, 
and  the  property  eventually  became  very  valuable,  as  it  had  rich  de- 
posits of  coal.  About  1S50  Mr.  Chandler  sold  his  land  to  Mortimer 
Wood,  whose  descendants  still  hold  the  property.  Spencer  Chandler 
was  past  middle  life  at  the  time  when  he  sold  his  Ohio  holdings  and  he 
soon  afterward  came  to  Indiana  and  established  his  resilience  in  Black- 
ford county.  Here  he  entered  claim  to  unimproved  land  in  Washington 
and  Harrison  townships,  but  later  he  returned  to  Ohio,  where  his  wife 
died.  Their  children  were  John,  William.  Mary,  Polly  (Mrs.  Hammer), 
Martha  (Mrs.  Logan)  Coleson,  Aaron  and  James.  Some  of  the  sons  and 
one  son-in-law,  Peter  V.  Hammer,  came  to  Blackford  county  to  insti- 
tute the  reclamation  of  the  land  previously  mentioned.  These  sturdy 
citizens  became  prosperous  agriculturists  and  influential  citizens  of 
Blackford  county,  and  Mr.  Hammer  was  one  of  the  first  county  commis- 
sioners. He  was  a  man  of  herculean  proportions,  having  been  six  feel 
and  four  inches  in  height  and  of  corresponding  avoirdupois.  All  of 
the  Ohio  representatives  of  the  Chandler  family  eventually  came  to 
Blackford  county  and  established  homes,  but  Coleson  and  Aaron  later 
removed  to  the  west,  where  they  died.  All  of  the  others  of  the  brothers 
and  sisters  died  in  Blackford  county  with  the  exception  of  Martha,  who 
still  resides  in  Harrison  township,  and  who  is  now  an  octogenarian. 
After  the  death  of  her  first  husband.  Mr.  Logan,  she  became  the  wife 
of  John  Kirkpatrick.  who  likewise  is  still  living. 

James  Chandler,  father  of  him  to  whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated. 
was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1823,  and  in  the  old 
Buckeye  state  he  was"  reared  and  educated.  There  also  was  solemnized 
his  marriage  to  Sarah  A.  Logan,  who  died  a  year  later,  as  did  also  her 


78         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

only  child.  Albert  Chandler  later  came  to  Blackford  county,  and  at 
Montpelier  he  wedded  Miss  Frances  Ardelia  Rice,  who  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  in  1830,  and  who  was  a  child  of  six  years  at  the  time 
of  the  family  removal  to  Montpelier,  Indiana,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ira  P.  and  Ardelia  (Stephens)  Rice, 
the  former  a  native  of  Vermont  and  the  latter  of  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  the  state  of  New  York,  whence 
they  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  in  1836.  Mr.  Rice  took  up 
a  tract  of  land  on  a  part  of  which  the  thriving  town  of  Montpelier  is 
partially  situated,  and  there  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  his 
widow  attaining  to  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  both  having  been 
earnest  Christian  folk  who  commanded'  unqualified  popular  esteem. 
Mr.  Rice  was  originally  a  whig  and  later  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
the  same  holds  good  with  the  older  generation  of  the  Chandler  family. 
After  his  second  marriage  James  Chandler  engaged  in  farming  on 
a.  homestead  near  Montpelier,  his  land  having  been  secured  from  the 
government  and  having  been  school  laud.  He  developed  a  productive 
farm  and  his  life  was  one  of  distinctive  integrity  and  usefulness,  so 
that  he  ever  had  secure  hold  upon  popular  confidence.  He  died  on  his 
old  homestead  on  the  28th  of  June,  1864,  and  his  widow  then  assumed 
the  management  of  the  farm  and  the  rearing  of  her  children.  She  sur- 
vived her  husband  by  many  years  and  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal 
in  1888,  loved  by  all  who  had  come  within  the  sphere  of  her  gentle  influ 
ence.  She  was  a  devout  member  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church  and 
her  daily  life  was  guided  in  accord  with  the  faith  which  she  thus  pro- 
fessed. Of  the  children  of  James  and  Frances  Ardelia  Chandler,  Alvin 
of  this  review  was  the  first  in  order  of  birth ;  Marietta  is  the  wife  of  John 

A.  Shannon  and  they  reside  on  the  old  Chandler  homestead,  their  chil- 
dren being  four  sons  and  one  daughter;  Mary,  who  resides  with  her 
husband  on  a  portion  of  the  old  Chandler  farm,  is  the  wife  of  William 

B.  Evers,  and  they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Nye  and  their  residence  is  unknown. 

Alvin  Chandler  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Montpelier 
township  and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  October  10,  1854.  His  early 
educational  advantages  were  those  of  the  common  schools  of  the  locality 
and  he  early  began  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  He  continued  to 
attend  school  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  and  thereafter  was  asso- 
ciated in  the  work  and  management  of  the  home  farm  until  1879, 
when  he  began  a  practical  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith  trade.  He 
became  a  skilled  workman  and  for  four  years  was  employed  as  a  journey- 
man, by  John  Mason,  in  Hartford  City.  In  February,  1889,  he  pur- 
chased the  business  of  his  employer,  and  he  has  since  conducted  an 
independent  business,  his  personal  popularity  and  his  distinctive  skill 
having  gained  to  him  a  substantial  and  appreciative  patronage.  In  1900 
he  erected  a  brick  shop,  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  dimensions,  and  his  estab- 
lishment is  equipped  with  the  most  improved  tools  and  accessories,  with 
four  forges  in  the  center  of  the  smithy,  and  with  air  and  power  sup- 
plied by  electricity  of  five-horse  power.  He  does  a  general  blacksmith- 
ing  and  repair  business  and  is  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  skilled 
mechanic,  even  as  he  is  recognized  as  a  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

In  politics  Mr.  Chandler  has  given  staunch  allegiance  to  the'  Repub- 
lican party,  and  in  a  fraternal  way  he  is  prominently  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  which  organization  has  conferred 
upon  him  many  honors  of  official  order.  He  is  now  serving  as  district 
deputy  grand,  "and  his  affiliations  are  with  Patriot  Lodge  No.  262;  En- 
campment No.  115,  Patriarchs  Militant;  Canton,  No.  45;  and  Lodge  No. 
294,  Daughters  of  Rebekah.     He  is  active  in  each  department  of  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  Tit 

order  and  is  one  of  its  most  influential  representatives  in  Blackford 
county.  -Mrs.  Chandler  and  her  children  hold  membership  in  the  Metli 
odist  Episcopal  church  in  their  home  city. 

In  Hartford  City,  on  the  13th  of  June,  1880,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.'  Chandler  to  .Miss  Clara  A.  Rowe,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  city,  on  the  2.5th  of  February.  1856,  and  who  was  reared  from 
early  childhood  to  the  age  of  twelve  years  at  Muncie,  this  State  Shi 
is  a  daughter  of  Henry  P.  and  Emeline  (Brugh)  Rowe,  who  wire  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  Blackford  county.  Mr.  Rowe  passed 
the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  the  state  of  Washington  and  his  wife  died 
at  Muncie,  Indiana,  her  father.  .Jacob  Brugh,  having  been  a  pioneer 
of  Blackford  county.  Indiana,  and  one  of  the  early  county  officials;  he 
died  in  Hartford  City,  at  an  advanced  age.  Concerning  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler  brief  record  is  here  given:  Edith,  who  remains 
at  the  parental  home,  was  graduated  in  the  Hartford  City  high  school 
and  has  been  a  successful  and  popular  teacher;  Jay,  who  likewise  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  the  high  school,  is  married  and  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Hartford  City,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  under 
the  direction  of  his  father;  Jennie,  who  duly  availed  herself  of  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools,  now  holds  a  position  as  clerk  in  a 
local  mercantile  establishment ;  Ruth  also  received  equal  educational 
privileges  and  is  bookkeeper  and  stenographer  in  a  leading  dry-goods 
store  of  Hartford  City;  William  was  graduated  in  the  high  school  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1914;  and  Maria  is  a  student  in  the  local  schools. 

Joseph  Martin.  The  late  Joseph  Martin,  who  died  at  his  home  in 
the  attractive  little  city  of  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  on  the  18th  of 
July,  1911,  came  with  his  widowed  mother  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  when 
he  was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years,  and  he  was  thereafter  associated  with  his 
two  brothers  in  the  reclaiming  of  a  pioneer  farm  in  the  forest  wilds  of 
Wells  county.  Later  he  came  to  Blackford  county,  where  he  achieved 
success  in  connection  with  his  various  productive  activities,  having  been 
for  a  long  period  in  the  service  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad 
Company  and  having  been  a  man  whose  sterling  attributes  of  character 
gave  him  inviolable  place  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him. 

Mr.  Martin  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Greenville,  the  judicial  center 
of  Darke  county,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1840,  and  he  was  a  mere  child 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age 
he  accompanied  his  widowed  mother,  three  brothers  and  one  sister  to 
Indiana,  the  family  home  having  been  established  in  Chester  township, 
Wells  county,  in  1855.  •  There  the  sons  set  themselves  vigorously  to  the 
task  of  reclaiming  a  productive  farm  from  the  forest  wilds,  and  their 
arduous  efforts  were  eventually  attended  with  definite  success  and  con- 
comitant prosperity,  so  that  the  loved  and  devoted  mother  was  provided 
with  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home  in  the  declining  years  of  her  life, 
which  came  to  a  close  only  when  she  had  attained  to  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-nine  years.  Her  four  children  survived  her  but  all  are  now 
deceased  except  one  of  the  sons. 

He  to  whom  this  memoir  is  dedicated  contributed  his  quota  to  the 
development  and  improvement  of  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Wells 
county,  and  there  he  continued  to  be  actively  identified  with  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  removal  to  Blackford  county,  about  the  year  1873.  \< 
earlier  years  he  had  also  done  a  successful  business  in  the  burning  of 
lime,  for  which  he  found  a  ready  market,  and  finally  he  entered  M 
employ  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad  Company,  in  the  service 


80         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         h 

of  which  he  continued  for  many  years,  principally  in  the  capacity  of 
watchman.  In  the  meanwhile  he  became  the  owner  of  an  attractive  resi- 
dence property  in  Montpelier,  and  this  homestead  still  continues  the  abid- 
ing place  of  his  widow  and  one  of  their  sons.  Mr.  Martin  met  his  deal 
as  the  result  of  a  pitiable  accident  while  he  was  working  for  the  railroad 
company  just  mentioned.  He  was  operating  a  railroad  "speeder," 
which  was  wrecked  by  an  ' '  extra ' '  and  unexpected  freight  train,  and  he 
received  such  serious  injuries  that  he  survived  only  a  few  days,  his 
death  having  occurred  July  18,  1911,  as  previously  stated  in  this  con- 
text. He  was  a  man  of  high  principles  and  he  labored  earnestly  and 
effectively  for  many  years,  the  while  he  was  loyal  to  all  civic  duties  and 
commanded  the  high  regard  of  those  who  came  within  the  compass  of 
his  influence.  His  political  support  was  given  to  the  Democratic  party 
and  he  manifested  much  interest  in  those  things  that  tend  to  conserve 
the  social  and  material  welfare  of  the  community. 

In  Chester  township,  Wells  county,  in  1868,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Martin  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Bentley,  who  was  born  at  Lena, 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1840.  and  who  was  ten  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  parents'  removal  to  Chester  township,  Wells 
county,  where  she  was  reared  to  maturity  and  received  excellent  educa- 
tional advantages,  as  gauged  by  the  standards  of  the  locality  and  period. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Asahel  and  Phoebe  (Patterson)  Bentley.  both 
natives  of  Ohio,  where  the  former  was  born  in  Erie  county  and  the  latter 
they  finally  removed  to  Darke  county,  Ohio,  the  closing  years  of  their 
lives  having  been  passed  in  Chester  township,  Wells  county,  where 
the  father  procured  eighty  acres  of  wild  land  and  where  he  and  his 
sons  reclaimed  a  valuable  farm.  There  the  father  died  in  1868,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years,  in  the  meanwhile  having  represented  Indiana  as 
a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war.  He  served  during 
virtually  the  entire  period  of  the  great  conflict  through  which  the  integ- 
rity of  the  nation  was  perpetuated,  and  was  a  member  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirtieth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  While  in  the  military 
service  he  was  injured  in  the  breast  while  driving  a  team  of  army  mules, 
and  this  precipitated  pulmonary  tuberculosis,  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  died  only  a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  as  loyal  in 
the  "piping  times  of  peace"  as  he  showed  himself  to  be  during  his  faith- 
ful service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union,  and  he  had  been  specially  successful 
as  a  representative  of  the  nursery  business  in  the  early  days,  having 
set  many  of  the  ultimately  fine  orchards  in  Wells  county,  where  he  was 
known  and  honored  as  a  man  of  ability  and  genuine  worth  of  char- 
acter. A  few  years  after  his  death  his  widow  became  the  wife  of  James 
Bell,  a  prosperous  merchant  at  Keystone,  Wells  county,  and  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Bell  she  returned  to  her  farm  in  Chester  township,  that 
county,  where  she  continued  to  reside  until  she  too  was  summoned  to 
the  life  eternal,  in  1901,  when  eighty-one  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
woman  of  gentle  and  noble  character  and  was  a  most  devout  member 
of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church.  Of  her  nine  children,  all  born  of 
her  first  marriage,  Mrs.  Martin  is  now  the  only  survivor.  Mrs.  Martin 
is  a  woman  of  most  gracious  and  winning  personality  and  has  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  in  her  home  community,  her  pleasant  residence,  in  Mont- 
pelier, being  known  for  its  generous  and  unostentatious  hospitality. 
Concerning  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  the  following  brief 
record  is  consistently  entered :  Charles  W.,  who  is  a  prosperous  and 
representative  merchant  of  Albany,  Delaware  county,  this  State,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  shoe  business,  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
John  Franklin,  who  has  been  identified  with  the  oil  producing  and  drill- 
ing business  since  he  was  a  youth  and  who  remains  a  bachelor,  is  now  a 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         81 

resident  of  Cleveland,  Oklahoma;  E.  Roswell  and  Mary  each  died  at 
the  age  of  Eour  years,  and  Minnetta  at  the  age  of  our  year;  Grace  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Tisern,  of  Montpelier,  and  they  have  three  daughters; 
and  Frederick  E.,  who  remains  with  his  widowed  mother,  is  thirty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1914.  Like  the  other  children 
who  attained  to  adult  age.  he  received  excellent  educational  advantages, 
aud  he  is  now  devoting  his  time  as  a  moulder  in  the  Cup  Metal  Works, 
being  one  of  the  popular  young  men  of  Montpelier,  where  he  is  prora 
inently  identified  with  the  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  has 
passed  all  of  the  official  chairs.  The  attractive  home  of  .Mrs.  Martin  and 
her  son  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Huntington  and  Columbia  streets, 
and  Mrs.  Martin  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Montpelier. 

Philip  Michael.  Agriculture  offers  a  profitable  field  for  the  man  of 
industry,  who  is  willing  to  labor  faithfully  and  industriously  and  to 
make  the  most  of  the  opportunities  which  present  themselves.  However, 
it  is  not  every  worker  in  this  field  who  attains  a  full  measure  of  success. 
That  men  of  broad  and  varied  experience  are  best  equipped  for  the 
vocation  of  farming  is  doubted  by  no  one  who  is  familiar  with  the 
intellectual  and  general  demands  placed  upon  present  day  exponents 
of  scientific  agriculture.  Especially  is  a  knowledge  of  general  business 
an  important  item  in  the  equipment  of  those  who  are  masters  of  the 
basic  industry  of  the  world,  and  it  may  be  said  to  be  this  advantage 
which  has  contributed  so  largely  to  the  success  of  Philip  Michael,  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Licking  township,  who  owns  and  operates 
135  acres  of  fine  land  located  in  sections  3  and  5. 

Mr.  Michael  was  bom  in  Union  township,  Delaware  county,  Indiana, 
December  22,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  Hammill 
(Studebaker)  Michael,  natives  of  the  Hoosier  state,  the  former  born 
in  Miami  county  and  the  latter  in  Delaware  county.  Samuel  Michael 
was  educated  and  reared  in  Miami  county,  and  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Shepherd,  who  died  in  that  county  when  still  in  young  woman- 
hood, leaving  one  daughter,  who  married  and  is  now  a  widow.  Dur- 
ing the  early  'fifties,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Samuel  Michael 
removed  to  Delaware  county,  and  was  there  married  to  his  second  wife, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Hammill.  a  widow.  They  continued  to  make  their  home 
in  Delaware  county  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  having  their 
comfortable  home  on  their  farm  in  Union  township,  and  there  Mr. 
Michael  passed  away  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  while  Mrs. 
Michael  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  church,  with  which  she  had  been  connected 
throughout  her  life.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Michael  was  a  democrat. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael:  William  A.  and 
"Wesley  T..  both  deceased,  who  were  married  and  had  families;  two 
children  who  died  in  infancy;  Stephen  I).,  a  farmer  in  the  western  part 
of  Indiana,  who  is  married  and  has  a  son. — William;  Philip,  of  this 
review;  and  Lucy  B.,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  S.  Bell  and  has  three 
children. 

Philip  Michael  was  given  the  educational  advantages  usually  afforded 
to  farmers'  sons  in  Indiana  during  his  youth,  and  grew  up  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  Union  township.  When  he  entered  upon  a  career 
of  his  own,  some  twenty  years  ago,  he  was  $600  in  debt,  and  had  only 
his  own  ambition  and  determination  to  set  him  upon  the  highway  to 
success.  So  earnestly  and  faithfully  has  Mr.  Michael  labored,  however, 
that  today  he  is  the  owner  of  135  acres  of  fine  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  is  under  cultivation,  and  here  he  has  the  finest   of  machinery, 

Vol.  1—6 


82         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

equipment  and  improvements.  His  set  of  substantial  buildings  include 
a  large  red  barn,  42x52  feet,  and  a  handsome  new  residence  of  thirteen 
rooms,  comfortably  furnished  and  equipped  with  the  most  up-to-date 
conveniences,  painted  attractively  in  white  and  green  trimmings.  The 
farm  is  well  drained  and  furnished  with  good  well  water,  and  all  in 
all  since  he  has  owned  the  property  he  has  enhanced  its  value  in  numer- 
ous ways.  Mr.  Michael  grows  all  kinds  of  cereals,  which  he  feeds  to  his 
stock  and  has  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  of  the  finest  grades.  In 
addition  he  has  a  very  lucrative  threshing  machine  business,  hulling 
some  25.000  bushels  of  wheat  annually.  Mr.  Michael  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability,  capable  of  holding  his  own  in  the  competition  of  modern 
times  and  bearing  a  high  reputation  for  integrity  in  commercial  transac- 
tions. His  industrious  career  has  been  rewarded  by  a  full  measure  of 
success,  and  the  high  degree  of  his  citizenship  may  be  measured  by  the 
esteem  and  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  townsmen. 

Mr.  Michael  was  married  to  Miss  Lorinda  Bell,  who  was  born  in  Lick- 
ing township,  Blackford  county,  in  1868,  and  reared  and  educated 
here,  daughter  of  Francis  M.  and  Lorinda  (Cunningham)  Bell,  the 
former  born  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  the  latter  in  Ohio.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bell  were  married  in  Blackford  county,  and  here  continued  to 
be  engaged  for  many  years  in  farming,  Mr.  Bell  dying  at  the  home  of 
his  daughter,  Mi's.  Michael,  April  14,  1911,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years,  while  Mrs.  Bell  still  survives  and  makes  her  home  at  Hartford 
City.  Of  their  six  children,  two  died  in  infancy ;  Rolla,  a  single  man 
and  a  farmer,  recently  met  an  accidental  death,  falling  from  a  building 
when  thirty-three  years  of  age ;  William,  a  farmer  of  Delaware  county, 
married  and  with  a  family;  Nancy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jack  Cole,  of 
Eaton,  Indiana,  and  has  a  son  and  a  daughter;  and  Mrs.  Michael. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  there  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Ima,  who  is  the  wife  of  Ansley  Reasoner,  living  on  a  farm  in  Lick- 
ing township,  and  the  mother  of  four  children, — Donald,  Harold,  Robert 
and  Vaughn,  the  last-named  living  with  her  grandparents;  Dosia,  who 
resides  at  home ;  Crystal,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Swoveland,  a  farmer 
in  Licking  township;  and  Isa,  Geneva,  Freda  G.,  and  Philip  F.,  all  at 
home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  and  their  children  are  members  of  the 
Dunkard  church.    In  political  matters  he  is  a  republican. 

J.  Christian  "Weschke.  Many  of  the  most  substantial  agricultur- 
ists of  Blackford  county  are  residing  on  farms  which  have  been  in  the 
family  possession  for  many  years,  and  which  they  have  resided  upon  and 
cultivated  all  of  their  lives.  In  this  class  stands  J.  Christian  Weschke, 
who,  during  a  long,  active  and  useful  career  has  been  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  of  Washington  township.  He  was  born  on  the  old  family  home- 
stead in  section  26,  August  28,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Mag- 
dalena  (Long)  Weschke.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in 
1842,  of  an  old  and  honored  family  of  the  Fatherland  which  was  identi- 
fied with  the  Lutheran  church  there.  The  grandparents,  Christian  and 
Henrietta  Weschke,  were  born  in  Germany,  and  in  1851  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  locating  in  Wayne  county  and  subsequently  removing 
to  Blackford  county,  Indiana.  Here  the  grandparents  passed  away  in 
advanced  years,  and  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  sons:  Charles  and  William,  who  operates  the  old 
homestead  in  Washington  township. 

Charles  Weschke  was  a  lad  of  about  nine  years  of  age  when  be 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  States,  and  grew  to  manhood  in 
Indiana,  here  securing  his  education  in  the  early  district  schools.  He 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  active  career,  liv- 


BLACKFORD  .VXD  GRANT  COUNTIES  83 

ing  on  the  200-acre  farm  in  Washington  township,  and  died  in  1878. 
He  was  an  industrious  worker,  active,  energetic  and  progressive,  was  a 
good  citizen  and  helpful  neighbor,  and  had  the  respecl  and  esteem  of  all. 
Reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  church  he  remained  true  to  that 
belief  throughout  his  life,  and  in  political  matters  gave  his  support  to 
the  democratic  party.  Mrs.  Weschke  was  born  in  1841,  in  Crawford 
county.  Ohio,  of  German  parentage,  and  was  a  young  woman  when  she 

came  to  Blackford  county.     She  passed  away  at  the  h e  of  her  son. 

November  30.  1913.  Two  children  were  born  to  Charles  and  Magda- 
len a  (Long)  Weschke;  J.  Christian:  and  .Mary,  who  had  just  completed 
her  education  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

J.  Christian  Weschke  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  his  father  died,  and 
he  early  went  to  work  on  the  homestead  place,  his  education  being  secured 
in  the  district  schools.  As  a  youth  the  management  of  the  home  farm 
was  practically  placed  in  his  hands.  200  acres  being  left  him  by  his 
father,  to  which  he  has  since  added  forty  acres,  and  the  entire  propertj 
is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  grows  large  crops  of  corn, 
wheat  and  oats,  using  the  most  highly  approved  methods  in  his  work, 
and  being  a  firm  believer  in  the  use  of  modern  machinery,  flis  build- 
ings are  of  a  substantial  character  and  include  two  residences  and  a 
barn  28x40  feet,  in  addition  to  the  regulation  structures  for  the  shelter 
of  his  grain,  stock  and  implements.  As  an  agriculturist  he  has  shown 
himself  possessed  of  ability,  and  in  the  line  of  stock  breeding  he  has 
also  met  with  success.  Everything  considered,  he  is  entitled  to  a  place 
among  the  representative  men  of  the  township  who  are  assisting  to  main- 
tain  a  high  agricultural  standard. 

Mr.  Weschke  was  married  in  Licking  township.  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  to  Miss  Mary  Haag.  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Licking  town- 
ship and  is  a  daughter  of  Gustave  and  Catherine  (SpeideU  Haag.  na- 
tives of  Germany  who  came  to  the  United  States  as  young  people  and 
were  married  in  Ohio.  Subsequently  they  came  to  Blackford  county. 
Indiana,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Licking  township,  where  they  have 
since  made  their  home.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  four  survive,  and  of  these  two  are  still  single.  Two  daughters 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weschke :  Ruth  Margaret,  born  October 
5.  1905;  and  Esther  Magdalena.  born  July  3,  1907.  both  attending  school. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weschke  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  national  political  matters,  but  in  local  affairs  is  inclined 
to  use  his  own  judgment  in  his  choice  of  the  candidate  he  deems  best 
fitted  for  the  office  at  stake.  He  has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance  during 
his  long  residence  in  the  township,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  and  respect  of 
a  large  number  of  appreciative  friends. 

John  A.  G.  Miller.  It  is  most  gratifying  to  the  editors  and  pub- 
lishers of  this  history  to  accord  specific  recognition  to  this"  well  known, 
venerable  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  Montpelier,  Blackford  county, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  benign  peace 
and  prosperity  that  should  ever  accompany  and  dignify  advanced  age. 
He  is  a  representative  of  a  sterling  German  family  that  has  been  one  of 
prominence  and  influence  in  Blackford  county  since  the  pioneer  .lays, 
and  his  ability,  integrity  and  productive  industry  proved  fruitful  in 
making  him  a  potent  force  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this 
favored  section  of  the  State,  along  both  social  and  industrial  avenues. 
His  activities  were  principally  in  connection  with  agriculture  and  the 
operation  of  a  grist  mill,  and  he  has  at  all  times  stood  exponent  of  the 
most  enlightened  and  loyal  citizenship,  as  he  is  a  man  of  stronir  intel- 
lectualitv  and  broad  and  well  fortified  views. 


84  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Christoph  Miller,  grandfather  of  him  to  whom  this  review  is  dedi- 
cated, was  a  member  of  a  family  long  one  of  prominence  in  the  fine  old 
Kingdom  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  where  for  a  number  of  generations  the 
name  was  closely  associated  with  the  flour-milling  industry,  under  the 
best  conditions  then  prevailing.  Christoph  Miller  was  born  in  Bavaria 
between  the  years  1775  and  1780,  and  he  was  long  actively  engaged  in 
the  operation  of  grist  and  sawmills  in  his  native  province,  where  he 
continued  to  have  his  abode  until  his  death,  which  occurred  about 
1860.  His  only  child,  Christoph,  Jr.,  was  born  about  the  year  1795, 
and  eventually  succeeded  to  the  substantial  milling  business  of  his  father. 
He  continued  his  residence  in  Bavaria  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years,  and  his  wife,  Margaret,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
locality  and  whom  he  wedded  in  the  year  1815,  was  fifty-one  years  of 
age  when  she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal,  both  having  been  devout 
adherents  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Concerning  their  children  it  is 
possible  to  offer  brief  data  in  this  connection :  Andrew  passed  his  entire 
life  in  Bavaria,  followed  the  vocation  of  grist  miller,  and  he  married 
but  had  no  children.  Margaret  reared  a  family  of  children  and  passed 
her  entire  life  in  her  native  land,  as  did  also  Elizabeth  and  Anna,  both 
of  whom  were  survived  by  children,  the  husband  of  the  former  having 
been  a  manufacturer  of  combs  and  Anna's  husband  having  been  a  paper 
manufacturer.  Henry  came  to  the  United  States  in  1838,  as  the  first 
representative  of  the  family  in  the  New  "World,  and  he  was  an  honored 
pioneer  of  Wells  county,  Indiana,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  mill- 
wright and  also  operated  a  grist  mill  for  a  term  of  many  years.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  died  many  years  ago  and  of  their  children  ten  attained 
to  years  of  maturity.  John  A.  G.,  of  this  review,  was  the  next  in  order 
of  birth.  Mrs.  Catherine  Fensel  came  to  the  United  States  when  a  young 
woman,  her  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  Ohio,  and  she  and  her 
husband  were  residents  of  Blackford  county  for  many  years  prior  to 
their  death,  they  being  survived  by  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Fred- 
erick, the  youngest  of  the  children,  is  accorded  a  memorial  tribute  on 
other  pages  of  this  publication. 

John  A.  G.  Miller  was  born  at  the  old  family  homestead  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  August  15,  1833.  There  he 
received  excellent  educational  advantages  and  there  he  learned  thor- 
oughly the  ancestral  trade  of  miller.  In  1853,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
Mr.  Miller  severed  the  gracious  ties  that  bound  him  to  home  and  father- 
land and  proceeded  to  Bremerhaven,  where  he  took  passage  on  a  sail- 
ing vessel  and  set  forth  to  join  his  brother  Henry  in  America.  Sixty-one 
days  elapsed  before  the  primitive  vessel  arrived  in  the  port  of  New  York 
City,  and  the  young  German,  imbued  with  self-reliance  and  definite 
ambition,  though  at  the  time  not  in  the  least  conversant  with  the  Eng- 
lish language,  came  at  once  to  Blackford  county,  where  he  joined  his 
brother  Henry,  who  had  come  to  America  the  preceding  year.  The  two 
brothers  became  actively  identified  forthwith  with  the  operation  of  a 
grist  and  sawmill,  and  John  A.  G.  also  found  requisition  for  his  serv- 
ices as  a  carpenter  and  builder,  so  that  he  soon  attained  to  no  little  local 
prominence  as  an  alert  and  industrious  business  man.  In  the  year 
1856  Mr.  Miller  took  unto  himself  a  wife,  and  with  the  earnest  co-opera- 
tion and  sympathy  of  a  devoted  companion  and  helpmeet  he  redoubled 
his  efforts  to  acquire  a  competency  and  establish  a  home  in  consonance 
with  their  laudable  ambition.  His  energies  were  thereafter  directed  to 
farming  and  milling  and  the  passing  years  brought  to  him  large  and 
worthy  success,  so  that  he  is  to-day  able  to  scan  with  satisfaction  the 
perspective  of  past  years  and  to  know  that  he  has  so  ordered  his  course 
as  to  merit  the  prosperity  which  now  attends  him,  and  which  places  him 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  85 

among  the  substantial  capitalists  of  the  city  and  county  that  have  long 
represented  his  home,  his  retirement  from  active  business  having  oc- 
curred about  the  year  1898.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Miller 
gave  distinctive  evidence  of  his  loyalty  to  the  land  of  his  adoption,  by 
enlisting  lor  service  in  the  Civil  war.  In  1861  he  became  a  private  in 
Company  11,  Sixty-first  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  two  months 
later,  while  making  with  his  command  a  gallant  charge  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  he  received  a  severe  wound  from  a  rifle  shot,  the  ball  strik- 
ing near  the  knee  joint  of  his  left  leg,  and  the  injury  nearly  necessitat- 
ing the  amputation  of  the  leg.  lie  was  incapacitated  for  further  field 
service  and  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  shortly  before  the  close 
of  the  war,  on  account  of  total  disability.  His  memories  of  that  period 
in  his  career  are  vitalized  by  his  affiliation  with  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

In  1S95  Mr.  Miller  erected  in  the  heart  of  the  business  district  of 
Montpelier  the  substantial  three-story  brick  building  which  is  known  as 
the  Miller  Block  and  which  is  twenty-six  by  sixty-six  feet  in  dimensions, 
being  still  one  of  the  best  business  structures  in  the  city.  He  is  the 
owner  of  his  commodious  and  comfortable  residence,  on  Franklin  avenue, 
and  here  he  finds  repose  and  gracious  environments,  with  contemplation 
of  the  past  and  association  with  old  and  valued  friends,  though  the 
supreme  loss  and  bereavement  of  his  life  came  when  his  loved  wife  was 
called  to  the  laud  of  the  leal,  after  many  years  of  devoted  companionship. 
In  politics  Mr.  Miller  has  accorded  unswerving  allegiance  to  the  demo- 
cratic party ;  he  has  been  for  forty  years  affiliated  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  and  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
has  maintained  active  membership  iu  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 
His  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  his  wife  like- 
wise was  a  devoted  member. 

In  the  year  1856  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Miller  to  Miss 
Sarah  P.  Morris,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  1833, 
and  whose  death  occurred  at  the  home  in  Montpelier,  on  the  7th  of  July, 
1892,  her  memory  being  revered  by  all  who  knew  her  and  had  apprecia- 
tion of  her  gentle  and  noble  character.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Mary  Morris,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  the  father  having  died 
in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  the  mother  having  passed  the  elosiug 
years  of  her  life  iu  the  home  of  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Miller,  wife  of  the 
subject  of  this  review.  In  conclusion  is  entered  brief  record  concerning 
the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller:  Jerome,  a  young  man  of  line 
character  and  talent,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  his  untimely 
demise  being  a  sore  bereavement  to  his  parents  and  many  devoted 
friends;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Heslin,  of  Mount  Carmel,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  one  son  Carry;  Anna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Carey  H. 
Cloud,  died  in  1892,  without  issue,  and  her  husband  also  is  deceased; 
William,  who  is  identified  with  the  oil  industry  in  Blackford  county, 
resides  at  Montpelier,  and  has  two  sons,  Henry  and  Darrow;  Margaret 
M.,  who  is  a  trained  nurse  by  profession,  has  achieved  noteworthy  suc- 
cess as  owner  of  a  well  ecpaipped  hospital  at  Newcastle,  this  state. 

William  Noonan.  Blackford  county  has  come  to  be  accounted  one 
of  the  most  flourishing  agricultural  sections  of  Indiana  through  the 
exertions  of  strong  and  forceful  men  who  have  made  a  thorough  study 
of  conditions  and  methods  and  who  have  worked  no  less  for  the  com- 
munity's interests  than  for  their  own.  In  this  category  may  be  placed 
William  Noonan,  the  owner  of  a  well-developed  farm  in  section  27, 
Licking  township,  where  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  passed. 
He  inherits  the  substantial  and  sturdy  traits  of  his  Irish  ancestors,  and 


86        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

was  born  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  January  20,  1854,  being  a  son 
of  Dennis  and  Ellen  (Lyons)  Noonan,  natives  of  County  Kerry,  Ireland, 
where  they  were  born  between  1815  and  1820. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Noonan  were  members  of  old  and  honored 
families  of  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  early  'thirties,  although  they  did  not  meet  until  settling  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  they  were  married,  and  where  their  first  son,  John, 
was  born.  Not  long  thereafter  they  removed  to  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana, 
where  Dennis  Noonan  secured  employment  as  a  foreman  on  railroad 
construction  work,  but  in  186-1  turned  his  attention  to  farming  when  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Licking  township,  section  26.  Mr.  Noonan, 
however,  knew  little  of  farming,  so  turned  the  operation  of  the  land 
over  to  his  sons  and  resumed  railroad  work  as  a  foreman  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railway  in  Mill  Grove  township,  and  later  assisted  in  the  com- 
pletion of  the  building  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western,  being  identified  with 
this  road  either  in  the  line  of  construction  or  as  a  section  foreman  for 
ten  years.  On  leaving  the  service  of  this  line  he  returned  to  his  farm, 
and  there  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life,  dying  in  1904,  when 
seventy-seven  years  of  age.  He  was  laid  to  rest  beside  his  wife,  who 
had  died  ten  years  before,  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Cemetery  at  Hartford 
City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noonan  were  early  members  of  St.  John's  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  at  Hartford  City  and  were  active  in  its  work.  In 
early  life  Mr.  Noonan  was  a  democrat,  but  later  adopted  the  principles 
of  the  populist  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noonan  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  John,  who  studied  law  for  four  years  with  Ben- 
jamin G.  Shinn,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  served  as  recorder  of  Black- 
ford county  for  three  years,  and  then  went  West,  being  now  a  prom- 
inent attorney  of  Glenwood  Springs,  Garfield  county,  Colorado.  He  is 
married  and  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  John  and  William,  who  are 
students  at  Stanford  University,  and  Eleanor;  Mary  and  Margaret  are 
unmarried  and  live  with  their  brother  William  on  the  home  farm  in 
Licking  township. 

William  Noonan,  like  his  brothers  and  sisters,  grew  up  on  the  orig- 
inal eighty-acre  purchase  made  by  their  father  in  Licking  township,  and 
secured  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  In  1875  a  second  eighty-acre 
tract  was  added  to  the  homestead,  in  section  26,  and  five  years  later 
a  like  addition  was  made  in  the  same  section,  this  being  followed  a  few 
years  later  by  the  purchase  of  sixty-five  acres  in  section  27.  On  the 
last-named  tract  is  located  the  family  residence,  a  commodious  home 
of  eleven  rooms,  in  addition  to  which  there  are  to  be  found  a  fine  barn 
and  substantial  outbuildings.  There  are  no  buildings  on  the  original 
purchase,  but  the  land  is  well  improved,  as  are  all  the  tracts,  while  the 
second  farm  has  two  good  barns  and  the  third  a  well  built  house  and 
barn.  Mr.  Noonan  has  his  farm  stocked  with  a  fine  herd  of  Aberdeen- 
Angus  cattle,  a  flock  of  high  grade  sheep,  good  swine  and  fine  horses. 
Mr.  Noonan 's  clean  and  upright  life  commands  respect  and  good  will, 
and  as  the 'legitimate  custodian  of  a  large  estate  he  has  demonstrated 
his  ability,  his  sagacious  and  thrifty  management  and  his  good  control. 

Mr.  Noonan  is  a  well  educated  and  well  read  man,  with  a  wide  and 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  subjects  of  a  nature  worth  while.  In  politi- 
cal matters  he  is  independent,  but  is  inclined  to  have  socialistic  leanings. 
With  his  sisters  he  is  a  faithful  member  of  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  in  the  belief  of  which  he  was  reared. 

William  W.  Bonge.  Bearing  a  family  name  that  has  been  worthily 
linked  with  the  civic  and  business  affairs  of  Blackford  county  for  more 
than  forty  years,  William  Washington  Bonge  has  here  maintained  his 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         87 

home  from  the  age  of  17,  and  through  his  well  ordered  endeavors  he 
has  achieved  distinctive  success.  He  has  done  much  to  foster  the  social 
and  material  advancement  ami  prosperity  of  Montpelier,  the  attractive 
little  city  of  his  home,  and  here  he  is  the  owner  of  valuable  real  estate, 
including  substantial  business  struetures  and  his  handsome  residence 
property.  Though  he  has  been  measurably  crippled  since  he  was  a  lad 
of  eight  years.  Mr.  Bonge  has  not  permitted  this  minor  infirmity  to 
interfere  with  his  productive  activities,  and  at  all  times  he  has  stood 
exponent  of  loyal  and  liberal  citizenship  and  that  initiative  and  con- 
structive ability  that  figures  as  the  metewand  of  success  that  is  deserv- 
ing of  its  name.  He  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  in  this  part  of  the 
state  and  as  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Blackford  county  is 
entitled  to  specific  mention  in  this  history. 

William  \Y.  Bonge  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  28th 
of  March,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Mindenhall)  Bonge, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  in  the  first 
decade  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in 
England,  in  1813,  she  having  been  a  mere  child  at  the  time  of  the  family 
immigration  to  America  and  her  parents  having  passed  the  residue  of 
their  lives  in  Pennsylvania.  The  father  of  Henry  Bonge  met  his  death 
by  drowning  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
and  this  accident  had  a  strange  origin,  as  he  was  a  somnambulist  and 
was  walking  in  his  sleep  when  he  was  precipitated  into  the  bay  and 
was  drowned,  his  widow  surviving  him  for  several  years.  Henry  limine 
was  reared  and  educated  iu  Maryland,  and  in  Pennsylvania  was  sol- 
emnized his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Mindenhall,  soon  after  which 
auspicious  event  in  his  life  he  removed  with  his  wife  to  York  county. 
Pennsylvania,  where  all  of  their  ten  children  were  born  and  where  the 
family  home  was  maintained  until  1869,  when  removal  was  made  to 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  from  which  place  the  family 
came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  in  the  following  year,  the  home 
being  established  in  Hartford  City,  the  county  seat.  There  Henry 
Bonge,  in  association  with  some  of  his  sons,  engaged  in  the  manufactur- 
ing of  cigars,  and  they  built  up  an  excellent  trade  of  both  wholesale 
and  retail  order,  the  father  having  also  had  for  a  time  other  business 
interests  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  died  in  December,  1881,  his  widow 
long  surviving  him  and  having  been  more  than  eighty-six  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  in  January,  1900.  Both  were 
folk  of  sterling  character,  earnest,  industrious  and  unassuming,  and 
they  commanded  the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  them,  both  having 
been  communicants  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  Mr.  Bonge  having  been 
unwavering  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party.  Of  the  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters  two  died  in  early  childhood.  The  eldest 
of  the  children,  freorge,  became  imbued  with  the  wanderlust  when  a 
youth,  and  he  traveled  extensively  throughout  the  country.  He  was 
in  the  South  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  and  was  impressed  into 
the  Confederate  service,  and  he  was  killed  by  the  discharge  of  a  cannon. 
Mrs.  Clementine  McCreary,  the  eldest  of  the  daughters,  is  a  widow  and 
still  resides  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  place  of  her  nativity. 
Her  husband  died  in  1893  and  she  is  now  eighty-five  years  of  age  ( 1914). 
Daniel  who  rendered  valiant  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Onion  in  the 
Civil  war,  in  which  he  participated  in  many  important  engagements,  and 
in  connection  with  which  he  was  captured  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  his 
exchange  being  soon  afterward  effected,  and  he  now  resides  at  Hart- 
ford City,  Indiana.  He  has  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Frederick, 
who  likewise  served  as  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  for  a  period 
of  three  vears,  became  a  farmer  in  Blackford  county  and  was  a  resi- 


88  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

deut  of  Hartford  City  at  the  time  of  his  death,  being  survived  by  his 
widow,  two  sous  aud  oue  daughter.  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Eli  Miller, 
of  York  eouuty,  Pennsylvania,  where  her  death  occurred,  aud  her  hus- 
baud  aud  four  children  are  still  liviug.  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  John  Span- 
gler,  a  carpenter  and  builder  of  Muncie,  Indiana,  and  they  have  nine 
children,  Penroe,  who  is  employed  as  a  glass  worker  at  Gas  City, 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  became  the  father  of  a  large  family  of  children, 
several  of  whom  are  living. 

William  W.  Bonge,  whose  name  initiates  this  article,  was  the  tenth 
in  order  of  birth  of  the  ten  children,  and  passed  the  days  of  his  child- 
hood and  early  youth  in  his  native  county  in  the  old  Keystone  State, 
where  he  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools.  He  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Ohio  and  thus  was 
seventeen  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  which  has  represented  his  home  during  the  long  intervening 
years.  In  Hartford  City  he  learned  the  cigarmaker's  trade  in  the  fac- 
tory conducted  by  his  father,  aud  in  1881,  when  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  he  established  his  residence  at  Montpelier,  where  he  continued  to  be 
engaged  in  the  retail  liquor  trade  uutil  1901,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
business  and  assumed  the  position  of  agent  for  the  Centlivre  Brewing 
Company,  of  Fort  Wayne.  For  several  years  he  traveled  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  this  company,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  the  local  agent 
for  the  company,  having  supervision  of  its  business  in  Montpelier  and 
other  towns  in  Blackford  county.  Through  his  well  directed  endeavors 
Mr.  Bonge  has  accumulated  a  competency,  though  he  lays  no  claim  to 
being  in  affluent  circumstances.  In  1891  he  erected  the  Bonge  Block, 
on  Main  street,  near  the  First  National  Bank  of  Montpelier,  and  this  is 
one  of  the  substantial  and  attractive  business  blocks  of  the  town.  In 
1895  he  still  further  manifested  his  civic  enterprise  and  his  loyalty  to 
Montpelier,  by  erecting,  on  South  Main  street,  his  present  commodious 
and  attractive  residence,  of  fourteen  rooms,  this  being  one  of  the  tine 
homes  of  the  thriving  little  city  and  being  known  for  its  generous  and 
unostentatious  hospitality.  Mr.  Bonge  is  the  owner  also  of  an  excellent 
business  block  on  West  High  street,  and  all  these  properties  stand  as 
concrete  evidences  of  the  success  that  he  has  achieved  in  temporal  affairs. 

Liberal  and  progressive  as  a  citizen,  Mr.  Bonge  has  been  unflagging 
in  his  support  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  leader  in  its  local  activities,  though 
the  only  public  office  in  which  he  has  consented  to  serve  is  that  of  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  a  position  of  which  he  continued  the  incumbent 
for  four  years.  He  has  aided  materially  in  the  development  and  upbuild- 
ing of  his  home  city  and  here  is  popular  in  both  business  and  social 
circles.  He  is  affiliated  with  Montpelier  Aerie,  No.  441,  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles. 

In  the  year  1879,  at  Hartford  City,  Mr.  Bonge  wedded  Miss  Mar- 
garet McDorman,  who  was  born  in  Jay  county,  this  state,  on  the  20th 
of  April,  1860,  and  who  was  there  reared  and  educated.  Of  the  chil- 
dren of  this  union  four  are  living,  and  concerning  them  brief  record  is 
made  in  conclusion  of  this  review.  Walter  F.,  who  was  born  in  the  year 
1882,  completed  the  curriculum  of  the  Montpelier  high  school  and  after 
his  graduation  entered  Purdue  University,  at  Lafayette,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  department  of  pharmacy.  He  is  now  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  in  Montpelier  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
popular  young  business  men  of  his  native  city,  where  he  is  prominently 
affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  served  as  exalted  ruler  of  the  former  and  in  the  latter 
having  received  the   chivalric   degrees  in  the   commandery  of  Knights 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        89 

Templars,  besides  which  he  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Walter  F.  Bonge  married  Miss  olive  Lacy,  of  Montpelier,  and  thej  have 

one  son.  Waller  W..  who  was  horn  in  1906.  Harry  L\,  the  second  son, 
was  horn  in  1884,  and  still  remains  at  the  parental  home,  his  educa- 
tional discipline  having  been  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Montpelier. 
Ethel,  who  was  horn  in  1888  and  educated  in  the  schools  "I'  her  home 
city,  is  now  the  wile  of  Brooks  Gutelius,  and  they  reside  at  Tulsa,  Okla- 
homa, where  Mr.  Gutelius  is  in  the  employ  of  the  National  Supplj  I  'oca 
pany.  They  have  two  children,  Thomas  and  Margaret  -lane.  Reda  R., 
the  youngest  of  the  children,  was  horn  in  1891,  was  graduated  in  the 
local  high  school  and  in  Miami  University,  Oxford.  Ohio,  and  is  one  of 
the  popular  young  ladies  of  Montpelier,  where  she  proves  a  gracious 
coadjutor  of  her  mother  in  extending  the  hospitalities  of  the  family 
home. 

Allen  K.  Gadbury.  The  life  record  of  the  hit.'  Allen  K.  Gadbury 
is  illustrative  of  the  possible  control  over  early  limitations  and  of  tin- 
wise  utilization  of  ordinary  opportunities.  From  young  manhood  un- 
til advanced  age  he  was  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Blackford  county,  and  the  substantial  fortune  which  he  accumulated  was 
gained  through  hard  and  conscientious  labor  and  business  dealings  of 
the  most  honorable  character.  Although  nearly  a  decade  has  passed 
since  his  death,  Mr.  Gadbury  is  still  remembered  as  a  man  of  business 
integrity,  public-spirited  citizenship  and  loyalty  to  friendships,  and  a 
sketch  of  his  life  is  eminently  worthy  of  a  place  among  the  substantial 
men  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Gadbury  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  January  29,  1820,  and  be- 
longed to  a  family  of  good  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock  which  had 
resided  in  the  Keystone  state  for  many  years.  He  was  still  a  youth 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana,  the  family  locating  in 
Blackford  county,  where  both  parents  passed  away  many  years  ago, 
their  names  having  been  forgotten.  Allen  K.  Gadbury  embarked  upon 
a  career  of  his  own  upon  attaining  his  majority,  and  adopted  the  voca- 
tion of  tilling  the  soil  as  the  field  to  which  to  devote  his  activities.  He 
chose  a  tract  of  land  in  Licking  township,  upon  which  he  subsequently 
erected  a  log  cabin,  and  to  this  Mr.  Gadbury  brought  his  wife,  who  had 
been  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Townsend.  She  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  August  2,  1818,  and  was  a  young  girl  when  she  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Indiana,  here  growing  up  and  receiving  a  public  school  educa- 
tion. In  early  life  Mrs.  Gadbury  was  a  Presbyterian,  but  later  joined 
the  Dunkard  church,  in  the  work  of  which  she  took  an  active  part,  being 
known  far  and  wide  for  her  goodness  of  heart.  When  she  passed  away, 
August  21,  1892,  she  left  behind  a  wide  circle  of  sorrowing  friends. 
Mr.  Gadbury  remained  true  to  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church  all 
of  his  life,  and  in  political  affairs  supported  the  democratic  party.  A 
most  thrifty  and  industrious  man,  his  well-directed  labors  resulted  in 
the  accumulation  of  three  eighty-acre  farms,  all  of  which  he  put  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  upon  each  of  which  he  erected  a  hand- 
some set  of  substantial  buildings.  Among  his  fellow-citizens  Mr.  Gad- 
bury was  known  as  a  leader  in  local  affairs,  and  for  many  years  served 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  a  capacity  in  which  his  decisions  were  rarely 
questioned  so  highly  was  he  regarded.  In  his  death,  in  1905,  Licking 
township  lost  a  man  who  at  all  times  had  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity and  its  people  at  heart. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gadbury  were  the  parents  of  five  children:  James  G., 
who  died  on  a  farm  in  Blackford  county  after  his  marriage,  leaving  a 
family;  Henry  T.,  who  died  on  his  farm   of  eighty  acres  in  Licking 


90         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

township,  leaving  a  son  and  a  daughter,  both  residents  of  the  old  home 
place ;  Mrs.  Lacy  Boots ;  Lydia  J.,  who  died  after  her  marriage  to  Henry 
Orn,  and  left  four  children;  and  Joseph,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  while  still  attending  school. 

Mrs.  Lacy  Boots,  the  only  surviving  member  of  this  family,  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  place  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  In- 
diana, August  15,  1851,  and  was  reared  at  home  and  educated  in  the 
local  public  schools.  At  this  time  she  is  the  owner  of  a  finely  cultivated 
and  well  equipped  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land,  with  a  com- 
fortable residence  and  commodious  barn,  and  carries  on  general  farming 
operations  with  a  full  measure  of  success,  being  an  excellent  business 
woman  and  the  possessor  of  shrewdness  and  foresight.  She  was  married 
to  Israel  Boots,  and  they  have  had  two  sons :  Henry  Allen,  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  where  his  mother  spent  the 
greater  part  of  her  married  life,  married  Grace  Hudson,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Licking  township ;  and  James  Israel,  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Randolph  county,  married  Mary  Baker,  and  has  two 
sons, — Homer  and  Gale.  Mrs.  Boots  has  also  reared  an  adopted  daugh- 
ter, Miss  Alice  M.  Boots,  now  a  well  educated  young  lady  of  eighteen 


Israel  G.  Burris.  There  has  been  no  parasitic  element  in  the  career 
of  this  representative  citizen  and  influential  business  man  of  Montpelier, 
Blackford  county,  and  the  large  and  definite  success  which  he  has  achieved 
stands  in  concrete  evidence  of  the  ability,  zeal  and  discrimination  with 
which  he  has  directed  his  energies,  the  while  he  has  exemplified  in  all  of 
the  relations  of  life  that  unswerving  integrity  and  those  high  ideals  that 
ever  beget  unqualified  popular  approbation  and  esteem.  Mr.  Burris  is 
one  of  the  substantial  capitalists  and  progressive  citizens  of  Montpelier, 
and  he  has  served  with  marked  circumspection  and  effectiveness  as  mayor 
of  the  city,  his  incumbency  of  this  chief  executive  office  of  the  munic- 
ipal government  showing  conclusively  the  estimate  placed  upon  him  in 
the  community. 

Mr.  Burris  is  a  scion  of  patrician  lineage  in  the  historic  old  common- 
wealth of  Virginia,  where  the  original  progenitors  established  their  home 
in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national  history,  so  that  the  name  has  been 
long,  even  as  it  has  most  honorably,  identified  with  the  annals  of  the 
Old  Dominion.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Burris  was  born 
in  Virginia  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  the  lineage 
is  traced  back  to  sterling  English  origin.  This  worthy  ancestor  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  commonwealth  and  he  operated  for 
many  years  the  ferry  across  the  Ohio  river  at  Wheeling,  in  what  is  now 
the  State  of  West  Virginia.  He  was  a  genuine  frontierman  and  a  pioneer 
of  much  initiative  energy,  his  experiences  having  been  many  in  the  forma- 
tive period  of  history  in  West  Virginia  and  it  having  been  his  portion 
to  attain  to  the  patriarchal  age  of  one  hundred  and  seven  years.  One 
of  his  several  children  was  John  Burris,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  review.  John  Burris  was  born  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 
in  1793,  his  native  state  having  then  and  having  long  afterward  con- 
tinued an  integral  part  of  Virginia.  He  was  reared  under  the  condi- 
tions and  influences  of  the  pioneer  era  in  that  section  of  the  Union  and 
there  was  solemnized  his  first  marriage.  There  also  were  born  two  of 
his  children, — Maria  and  Israel,  the  date  of  the  former's  nativity  hav- 
ing been  1812,  and  that  of  the  latter.  1814.  [srael  Burris,  father  of 
Montpelier 's  well  known  citizen,  was  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Ohio,  and  his  parents  were  pioneer  settlers  in  Butler  county, 
that  state.    His  father  there  obtained  a  tract  of  school  land,  his  original 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         91 

homestead  having  comprised  seventy-five  acres.  He  made  a  clearing  in 
the  virgin  forest  and  after  there  erecting  his  humble  log  house  he  con- 
tinued his  grappling  with  the  wilderness  until  he  bad  cleared  a  little 
tract  on  winch  to  plant  his  first  crop,  lie  eventually  reclaimed  and 
improved  a  productive  farm,  proved  himself  well  equipped  for  the 
labors  and  responsibilities  of  the  pioneer  and  empire  builder,  ami  he 
continued  to  reside  on  his  old  homestead  until  five  years  before  his  death. 
when  he  moved  to  Oxford.  He  died  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety- 
seven  years,  the  family  having  been  in  the  various  generations  notable 
for  longevity.  The  first  wife  of  John  Burris  died  in  Butler  county,  after 
having  become  the  mother  of  seven  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom 
exemplified  the  sturdiness  of  the  stock  from  which  they  sprung,  as  all 
attained  to  maturity  and  reared  families  of  their  own,  with  the  sole 
exception  of  the  eldest  child,  Maria,  who  never  married  but  who  lived 
to  the  notably  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  She  was  a  woman  of 
strong  individuality,  fine  intellectual  gifts  and  gracious  personality.  For 
seventeen  years  she  was  a  popular  teacher  in  the  Twelfth  District  school 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  She  continued  to  maintain  her  home  in  the 
Buckeye  state  until  the  close  of  her  long  and  useful  life.  Of  the  other 
children  Stephen,  Asa,  Jacob,  William,  Melissa  and  Laura  are  still 
living,  all  being  the  heads  of  fine  families  and  each  of  them  having 
passed  the  psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  second  wife  of  John  Burris  was  Leach,  and  they  had 
no  children.  Mrs.  Burris  attaining  to  advanced  age.  .Mr.  Burris  and  his 
fii'.st  and  second  wives  were  zealous  and  influential  in  the  pioneer  activi- 
ties of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Ohio,  and  the  fine  old  home- 
stead place  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Oxford.  Butler  county. 
After  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  ninety-two  years  Mr.  Burris  and  his 
second  wife  left  the  old  homestead  farm  which  he  had  made  one  of  the 
model  places  of  Butler  county,  and  established  their  home  in  the  village 
of  Oxford,  where  they  lived  in  gracious  retirement  until  the  close  of  their 
lives,  honored  as  noble  pioneer  citizens  of  that  section  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  In  polities  Mr.  Burris  was  originally  a  whig,  but  he  transferred 
his  allegiance  to  the  republican  party  at  the  time  of  its  organization  and 
thereafter  continued  a  staunch  advocate  of  its  principles. 

Israel  Burris,  as  previously  stated,  was  born  at  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia,  in  1814.  He  was  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  adult  age  and  where  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  those  afforded  in  the  pioneer  schools.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  he  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  to  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  in  which  he  became  a  specially  skilful  artisan,  and  he 
devoted  the  major  part  of  his  active  career  to  successful  enterprise  as, 
a  contractor  and  builder.  He  continued  his  residence  in  Ohio  until  1845, 
when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Indiana  and  established  his  home  at 
Laurel,  Franklin  county,  a  town  of  not  a  little  importance  at  that  time. 
as  it  was  located  on  one  of  the  canals  that  then  constituted  the  main 
arteries  of  transportation  in  Indiana.  There  he  engaged  in  the  work 
of  his  trade,  in  the  employ  of  Joseph  Cooper,  the  owner  of  the  canal. 
In  this  connection  he  had  charge  of  the  installing  the  canal  gates  and 
aqueducts.  At  Laurel  Mr.  Burris  finally  turned  his  attention  to  work 
as  a  millwright,  and  in  1868  he  removed  to  Wawasee,  Fayette  county, 
where  he  found  employment  as  millwright  in  the  paper  mills.  There  he 
continued  to  maintain  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
13th  of  February,  1875.  He  was  a  fine  mechanic  and  his  facility  in 
mechanical  lines  far  transcended  the  limitation  of  the  specific  trade  to 
which  he  had  been  trained  in  his  youth.  He  was  a  man  of  lofty  principles 


92         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

and  tender  and  generous  nature,  his  religious  convictions  having  been 
deep  and  sincere  and  both  he  and  his  wife  having  been  most  zealous 
and  devout  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  political  views  were 
indicated  by  the  unswerving  adherence  he  gave  to  the  cause  of  the 
democratic  party,  and  in  the  Laurel  lodge  of  Free  &  Accepted  Masons 
he  served  sixteen  consecutive  years  as  worshipful  master. 

At  a  point  on  the  line  between  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  Israel 
Burris  married  Miss  Martha  Knotts,  and  she  was  comparatively  a  young 
woman  at  the  time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  at  Laurel,  Indiana.  The 
three  children  of  this  union  were  Benjamin,  Charles  and  Mary,  all  of 
whom  attained  to  years  of  maturity,  aud  of  whom  Charles  is  yet  living,  he 
being  at  the  National  Soldiers'  Home  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  was  a  valiant 
soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  three  years, 
a  portion  of  the  time  as  a  member  of  the  Sixty-eighth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  later  as  a  member  of  the  Fourteenth  Indiana  Battery  of 
Light  Artillery.  At  Mixerville,  Indiana,  Israel  Burris  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  Miss  Mary  Gray,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1818,  and 
who  was  a  daughter  of  David  Gray,  the  maiden  name  of  her  mother 
having  been  Blackburn.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ireland  and  as  a  young 
man  immigrated  to  the  United  States,  where  his  marriage  was  solemnized 
in  the  early  part  of  the  second  decade  of  the  nineteenth  ceutury,  his 
wife  having  been  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  whence  they  soon  afterward 
came  to  Indiana  and  established  their  home  on  the  west  bank  of  In- 
diana creek,  near  the  present  village  of  Mixerville,  Franklin  county, 
where  they  were  pioneers  of  prominence  and  influence  and  where  they 
continued  to  reside  on  their  old  homestead  farm  until  their  death,  when 
of  venerable  age.  Both  were  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Mrs.  Mary  (Gray)  Burris  passed  the  closing  years  of 
her  life  at  Laurel,  Franklin  county,  where  she  died  in  1899,  secure  in 
the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Concerning  her  children  the  fol- 
lowing brief  data  are  available :  Frank,  who  follows  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright, is  a  widower,  residing  at  Connersville,  Fayette  county,  and  he 
has  three  children;  Israel  G.,  of  this  review,  was  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  John  and  Lewis  died  when  young;  Eugene  passed  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  at  the  old  home  town  of  Laurel  and  is  survived  by  one 
daughter ;  Emmett  is  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  resides  at  Connersville, 
he  and  his  wife  having  no  children;  Nina  is  the  widow  of  Dudley 
Templeton  and  is  now  living  with  a  niece  in  the  city  of  Portland, 
Oregon. 

Israel  G.  Burris  was  born  at  Laurel,  Franklin  county,  on  the  20th 
of  September,  1849,  and  his  earliest  recollections  touch  the  conditions 
and  influences  of  the  pioneer  days  in  that  section  of  Indiana,  where  he 
was  reared  to  adult  age  and  where  his  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools.  There  also  he  began  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  and  in  1869  he  went  to  the  city  of  Lafayette,  where 
he  completed  his  apprenticeship  under  favorable  circumstances.  Later 
he  was  employed  as  a  journeyman  at  his  trade  in  Conuersville,  this 
state,  and  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  finally  he  returned  to  Laurel.  In  March, 
1875,  he  established  his  residence  at  Montpelier,  Blackford  county, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside  and  where  he  has  been  actively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  trade  during  the  long 
intervening  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  His  application  has  been 
earnest  and  consecutive,  and  in  all  these  years  few  have  been  the  work 
days  that  have  not  found  him  busily  engaged  at  his  bench.  In  1876 
he  here  erected  a  residence  of  modest  order,  and  later  he  built  his 
present  attractive  residence.  In  1877  he  erected  a  frame  business  build- 
ing on  High  street,  and  this  he  utilized  as  his  headquarters  until  1895, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         93 

wheii  he  built  the  substantial  brick  block  that  now  marks  the  location. 
He  has  been  distinctively  successful  in  temporal  affairs,  and  this  has 
been  a  merited  reward  for  his  many  years  of  earnest  toil  and  endeavor. 
He  is  the  owner  of  and  has  improved  with  good  buildings  two  farms  in 
Blackford  count}',  one  place  comprising  seventy-three  acres  and  Hie 
other  eighty  acres,  in  Harrison  township.  lie  rents  the  farms  hut  gives 
to  the  same  a  general  supervision. 

Mr.  Harris  has  been  uncompromising  in  his  support  of  the  cause 
of  the  democratic  party,  insofar  as  national  ami  state  issues  are  in- 
volved, and,  by  reason  of  the  regularly  elected  incumbent  having  failed 
to  qualify,  he  served  as  the  first  county  assessor  of  Blackford  county, 
by  appointment  eouferred  by  the  board  of  county  commissioners.  His 
public  spirit  has  been  unflagging  and  he  has  been  zealous  in  support- 
ing those  measures  that  have  made  for  the  substantial  development  of 
Montpelier  along  both  civic  and  material  lines.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  city  council  for  eight  years,  and  in  1909  there  came  a  flatter  mark 
of  popular  confidence  and  esteem  when  he  was  elected  mayor,  his  ad- 
ministration continuing  four  years  and  redounding  unequivocally  to 
the  general  good  of  the  city  and  its  people. 

Mr.  Burris  has  been  long  and  prominently  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  which  he  is  past  master  of  Montpelier  Lodge,  No.  600, 
Free  &  Accepted  Masons;  past  high  priest  of  the  Hartford  City  Chap- 
ter, No.  Ill,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  and  past  illustrious  master  of  Hart- 
ford City  Council,  No.  76,  Royal  &  Select  Masters;  and  a  member  of 
Bluffton  Commandery,  Knights  Templars,  at  Bluffton.  Wells  county. 
With  each  of  these  organizations  he  is  still  in  active  affiliation,  as  one 
of  the  influential  and  popular  representatives  of  the  fraternity  in  this 
section  of  his  native  state. 

Near  Oxford,  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1871,  Mr.  Burris  gave 
fitting  observation  of  the  birthday  anniversary  of  General  George  Wash- 
ington, since  he  was  then  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Joanna  Woodruff, 
the  only  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Woodruff.  Mrs. 
Burris  was  born  near  Middletown,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  on  the  3d  of 
October.  1852.  and  in  that  county  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Her 
parents  finally  came  to  Indiana,  aud  her  mother  died  in  Jay  county, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  her  father  finally  establishing  his  resi- 
dence  at  Montpelier,  where  he  died  in  the  autumn  of  1910,  at  the 
great  age  of  ninety-three.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  most  zealous  and 
prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
served  not  only  as  deacon  and  class  leader  but  also  as  a  layman  preacher. 

In  conclusion  of  this  sketch  of  the  career  of  an  honored  citizen  is 
consistently  given  brief  record  concerning  the  children  born  to  him 
and  his  loved  and  devoted  wife :  Nina  P.  is  the  wife  of  Archibald  Cran- 
dall,  who  is  identified  with  oil-well  operations  in  Oklahoma,  and  their 
only  child  is  a  son,  Burris.  Ida  L.  is  the  wife  of  Ernest  Fields,  who  has 
charge  of  the  operation  of  one  of  the  farms  owned  by  Mr.  Burris,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Daniel.  Adrian  R.  is  the  wife  of  William  Geery, 
employed  in  the  nil  fields  near  Bellair,  Crawford  county,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  no  children.  Mary  F.  is  the  wife  of  Merle  Smith,  engaged 
in  the  photograph  business  in  Montpelier.  and  they  have  no  children. 
Josie  is  the  wife  of  Glenn  Arick,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
Montpelier,  and  they  likewise  have  no  children. 

John  V.  Tidd.  A  scion  of  the  fourth  generation  of  the  Tidd  fam- 
ily in  America,  he  whose  name  initiates  this  review  is  numbered  among 
the  representative  business  men  of  Hartford  City,  Blackford  conntv, 
where  he  conducts  a  successful  merchant-tailoring  business  and  is  known 


94  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

as  a  progressive  and  loyal  citizen.  The  name  of  the  Tidd  family  has 
been  identified  in  turn  with  the  history  of  the  States  of  Virginia,  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  and  in  the  different  generations  its  representatives  have 
stood  exemplar  of  utmost  patriotism  and  have  played  well  their  part  as 
industrious  and  worthy  citizen. 

John  Tidd,  paternal  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  England,  about  the  year  1806,  and  he  was  a 
child  at  the  time  of  his  parents'  immigration  to  America.  Settlement 
was  made  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  where  his  father  obtained  a  tract 
of  land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  both  he  and  his  wife  con- 
tinuing to  reside  in  the  Old  Dominion  State  until  their  death.  There 
John  Tidd  was  reared  to  maturity  ou  the  old  homestead  plantation 
and  there  his  marriage  was  solemnized,  the  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
having  been  Hamilton.  All  of  their  children  were  born  in  Virginia  and 
there  he  continued  to  devote  his  attention  to  farming  until  his  removal 
to  Ohio.  In  the  Buckeye  State  he  settled  in  Greene  county,  his  farm 
being  near  the  village  of  Jamestown.  John  Tidd  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  and  was  venerable  in  years  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  life  eternal  by  several  years.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  at- 
tained to  maturity  and  reared  families  of  their  own.  All  of  them  are 
now  deceased.  Of  the  five  children  Samuel  Warwick  Tidd,  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  review,  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born 
in  Virginia,  about  1838,  and  was  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  family  re- 
moval to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  and 
where  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss  Lucinda  Glass,  who  was 
born  in  that  county,  in  1850,  a  daughter  of  Vincent  and  Lila  Glass, 
who  were  pioneers  of  Greene  county  and  who  are  supposed  to  have 
removed  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Glass  having  been  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  both  he  and  his  wife  having  been  residents  of  Greene 
county  until  their  death.  They  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  living  in  1914.  All  of  them 
reside  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Tidd. 

After  his  marriage  Samuel  W.  Tidd  continued  to  following  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  stock-growing  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  until  1899, 
all  of  his  children  having  been  born  in  that  county.  In  the  year  men- 
tioned he  came  to  Indiana,  and  for  the  first  year  he  resided  on  a  farm 
near  Eaton,  Delaware  county.  He  then  removed  to  Hartford  City, 
Blackford  county,  where  his  death  occurred  in  July,  1907,  and 
where  his  widow  still  maintains  her  home.  He  was  a  staunch 
republican  and  at  one  time  was  actively  affiliated  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  a  man  of  steadfast  in- 
tegrity and  ever  commanded  the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  as  is  also  his  widow.  Concern- 
ing their  children,  brief  record  is  here  entered :  Charles,  who  resides 
in  Oregon  City,  Oregon,  is  married  and  has  one  son;  Albert  died  in 
childhood;  John  V.,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Miss 
Isola  M.  remains  with  her  widowed  mother. 

John  V.  Tidd  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  April, 
1873,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal 
to  Indiana,  his  early  education  having  been  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county.  He  was  reared  to  maturity  in  Hartford 
City  and  as  a  youth  he  here  became  a  clerk  in  the  mercantile  establish- 
ment of  the  Wiler  Company,  with  which  concern  he  remained  as  a 
capable  and  valued  employe  for  seventeen  years.  In  March,  1913,  he 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business  estab- 
lished at  111  South  Jefferson  street,  where  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        95 

the  firm  of  .John  V.  Tidd.  and  his  firm  is  having  a  representative  trade 
as  merchant  tailors  as  well  as  in  the  repairing,  renovating  and  press- 
ing department  of  his  well  equipped  establishment.  The  firm  also  are 
agents  for  a  popular  brand  of  shoes,  and  this  department  of  the  enter- 
prise likewise  has  an  excellent  patronage. 

Mr.  Tidd  is  one  of  the  popular  and  well  known  business  men  of 
Blackford  county,  is  a  republican  in  national  and  state  affairs,  bul  in 
loeal  matters,  where  no  definite  issues  are  involved,  he  is  not  constrained 
by  strict  partisan  lines.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  local  organizations  of 
the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moos.-,  iii  which  latter  he  has  passed  all  the  official  chairs  of  his  lodge, 
including  that  of  dictator,  besides  representing  the  same  in  the  supreme 
convocation  of  the  order,  in  the  city  of  Detroit.  Michigan,  in  1912. 

In  1907  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Tidd  to  .Miss  Elsie 
Jarvis,  who  was  horn  in  the  state  of  New  -Jersey,  in  1885,  and  who  was 
but  two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  mother "s  death.  She  came  to 
Hartford  City.  Indiana,  in  company  with  her  father,  John  Jarvis.  who 
followed  the  trade  of  glass-cutter  during  his  active  career  and  who  now 
lives  with  his  children,  passing  varied  periods  with  each  of  them.  He 
is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  a  Repuliliean  in  politics  and  is  seventy- 
four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1914.  .Mr.  and  .Mrs. 
Tidd  have  a  fine  little  son.  John  S..  who  was  horn  -July   16,   1908. 

Elijah  Townsend.  Accounted  one  of  the  progressive  and  prac- 
tical agriculturists  of  l>lackford  county,  Elijah  Townsend  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  locality  all  of  his  life,  and  through  earnest  and  con- 
secutive lalior  has  gained  a  position  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. Although  a  firm  believer  in  methods  that  are  time  tried  and 
known  to  be  practicable,  he  has  kept  himself  thoroughly  abreast  of  the 
times  in  all  things,  and  his  activities  have  been  rewarded  in  a  manner 
commensurate  with  their  merits.  Mr.  Townsend  was  horn  on  a  farm  in 
Washington  township.  Blackford  county.  Indiana,  January  10,  1851, 
and  is  a  son  of  Alvah  and  Elzary  (Shields)  Townsend. 

Gilbert  Townsend,  the  grandfather  of  Elijah  Townsend,  came  from 
Putnam  county.  New  York,  to  Indiana  during  the  early  thirties,  and 
with  his  wife  and  family  located  in  Blackford  county,  where  be  entered 
land  from  the  United  States  Government.  He  devoted  liis  life  to  the 
cultivation  of  his  farm  in  Washington  township,  improved  a  good 
property,  and  died  there  about  1856  or  1857.  when  about  seventy  years 
of  age.  He  is  rememhered  as  a  large  man,  of  rugged  build,  and  a  con- 
sistent and  energetic  worker  who  fought  his  own  way  to  success.  His 
wife,  who  had  been  Polly  Saxton,  of  New-  York,  was  a  sister  of  James 
Saxton,  a  well  known  early  settler  of  Blackford  county,  and  lived  to 
be  nearly  one  hundred  years  of  age.  Of  their  six  or  seven  children, 
all  have  now  passed  away. 

Alvah  Townsend.  father  of  Elijah  Townsend.  was  one  of  the  younger 
of  his  parents'  children,  and  was  horn  in  the  state  of  New  York,  in 
1830  or  1831.  He  was  still  a  small  lad  when  he  was  brought  to  In- 
diana by  his  parents,  and  grew  up  amid  rural  pioneer  surroundings 
in  Washington  township,  his  educational  advantages  being  confined  to 
several  winter  terms  in  the  primitive  district  schools.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Townsend  became  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  the  old  homestead  place, 
which  he  farmed  until  being  drafted  into  the  Thirty-first  Regiment, 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  War.  At  the  close  of  that  struggle,  with  his  honorable  discharge 
and  a  record  for  soldierly  bravery  and  faithful  service,  Mr.  TowTisend 
returned   to   his  home   and  resumed   agricultural   operations,   later   be- 


96  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

coming  the  manager  of  the  Col.  A.  B.  Steel  homestead,  containing  about 
a  section  of  land  in  Licking  township,  of  which  he  remained  as  the 
directing  head  for  thirty-two  or  thirty-three  years.  He  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  sections  6  and  7,  in  Licking  township,  upon 
which  his  home  was  made  for  several  years,  he  then  moving  to  what 
was  known  as  the  Adam  Shields  farm,  in  "Washington  township,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1909.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  community, 
was  active  in  democratic  politics,  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Universalist  church.  In  Washington  township,  Mr.  Townsend  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elzary  Shields,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  young 
woman  when  she  came  to  Washington  township  with  her  parents,  Adam 
and  Anna  Shields,  who  were  pioneer  farmers  here  and  lived  to  advanced 
ages.  They  had  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom  Elzary  died  in 
1913,  when  about  seventy-eight  years  of  age,  a  member  of  the  Sole 
Steeple  church,  now  defunct.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Townsend,  of  whom  one  is  deceased,  and  ten  are  now  living,  mar- 
ried and  with  families. 

Elijah  Townsend  has  devoted  himself  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil 
since  boyhood.  He  grew  up  on  the  homestead  place,  and  when  not 
engaged  in  attending  the  public  schools  was  to  be  found  at  work  with 
his  father  and  brothers,  thus  securing  a  thorough  training  for  what  he 
has  since  made  his  life  work.  His  present  property,  located  in  section 
6,  Licking  township,  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  is  furnished 
with  modern  and  substantial  buildings,  and  has  up-to-date  improve- 
ments of  every  kind.  As  a  business  man  Mr.  Townsend  is  entitled  to 
the  respect  and  esteem  always  commanded  by  men  of  integrity,  and 
as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  he  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  condi- 
tions and  methods. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  married  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  to  Miss  Rachel  Ann  Farmer,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
in  1856,  and  died  at  the  home  place  in  section  6,  March  18,  1898.  She 
was  the  mother  of  the  following  children :  Olie,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Thomelson,  a  farmer  of  Grant  county,  the  oldest  child,  and  has  five 
sons;  Charles,  assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm, 
married  Laura  Jones,  the  daughter  of  Frank  Jones,  and  has  four  sons 
and  two  daughters;  William,  a  farmer  near  Burn,  Indiana,  married 
and  has  five  children ;  Fred,  living  at  Hartford  City,  where  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Wilier  store,  married  and  has  six  children;  Adam,  a 
worker  in  the  oil  fields  of  Illinois,  married  and  has  three  children: 
and  Oma,  the  wife  of  Sylvester  Casterline.  engaged  in  glass  working 
at  Hartford  City,  and  has  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Townsend  is  a  democrat,  but  has  not  taken  an  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  outside  of  supporting  movements  for  the  progress  and 
advancement  of  the  community.  His  acquaintance,  secured  during  his 
long  residence  here,  is  extensive,  and  his  friends  are  numerous. 

Harry  Alexander.  One  of  the  progressive  and  circumspect  busi- 
ness men  who  have  given  metropolitan  prestige  to  the  thriving  little 
city  of  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  is  the  proprietor  of  the  large  and 
admirably  appointed  department  establishment  known  as  the  Mammoth 
Racket  Store.  This  admirable  retail  enterprise  was  founded  by  Mr. 
Alexander,  the  present  executive  head  of  the  business,  in  1903.  and 
he  has  signally  demonstrated  his  facility,  enterprise  and  advanced  poli- 
cies in  modern  merchandising  of  the  best  type,  the  result  being  that  his 
trade  has  shown  a  constantly  cumulative  tendency  and  he  has  secure 
vantage-place  as  one  of  the  representative  merchants  of  Blackford 
county.     The  various  departments  of  his  establishment  are  well  stocked 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         97 

with  the  best  of  staple  goods  and  novelties,  and  two  floors  of  large  area 
are  demanded  for  the  accommodation  of  the  well  ordered  and  prosperous 
enterprise,  the  Raeket  Store  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular in  Montpelier  and  catering  carefully  and  effectively  to  a  discrimi- 
nating patronage.  Great  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  Alexander  for  his  achieve- 
ment, for  he  initiated  business  in  Montpelicr  with  a  capital  stock  of 
only  $370.  and  through  his  able  management  and  fair  and  honorable 
dealings  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  business  that  in  extent  and 
importance  is  almost  phenomenal  in  a  town  of  the  population  of  Mont- 
pelicr. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Alexander  has  not  lacked  diversity  from  the  time 
of  his  appearance  on  the  stage  of  life's  activities.  He  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, in  the  year  1862.  was  reared  in  England,  where  his  early  educa- 
tion was  acquired,  and  in  the  United  States  he  has  found  the  field  of 
opportunity  that  has  enabled  him  to  win  large  and  worthy  success. 
Like  his  ancestors  for  several  generations,  he  was  reared  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  his  early  experience,  a  veritable  apprenticeship,  has  proved 
of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  his  independent  business  career.  His 
parents  removed  from  Germany  to  the  city  of  London,  England,  where 
his  father,  Israel  L.  Alexander,  became  a  successful  merchant,  and  there 
both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Carl  Alex- 
ander, an  uncle  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  an  extensive  and 
wealthy  coffee  planter  in  Brazil,  but  Harry  Alexander  and  his  brother 
Morris  are  the  only  male  members  of  the  immediate  family  line  who 
have  established  homes  in  the  United  States,  Morris  being  now  a  com- 
mercial traveler  from  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  he  and  his  family 
maintain  their  home. 

Harry  Alexander  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  principally  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  his  sister  who 
had  married  and  here  established  a  home.  The  attractions  of  the  strange 
land  proved  sufficient  to  prevent  his  return  to  England,  and  for  many 
years  he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  vocation  of  mercantile  salesman, 
in  the  employ  of  various  firms  and  at  different  places.  In  the  mean- 
while his  ambition  and  good  judgment  caused  him  to  conserve  carefully 
his  earnings,  and  his  first  independent  enterprise  was  projected  when 
he  came  to  Montpelier  and  established  the  modest  mercantile  business 
from  which  he  has  developed  his  present  extensive  and  prosperous  mer- 
cantile establishment. 

In  the  State  of  Nebraska  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander to  Miss  Elizabeth  Fuller,  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
"West  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  P.  Fuller,  her  parents  being 
now  residents  of  Hartford  City,  the  judicial  center  of  Blackford  county, 
Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  have  two  children.  Sidney  Perry, 
completed  the  curriculum  of  the  Montpelier  high  school  and  is  now 
cashier  in  his  father's  mercantile  establishment,  besides  which  he  is  a 
popular  factor  in  local  athletic  and  social  circles,  as  he  has  made  an 
excellent  sprinting  record  and  is  a  talented  pianist.  Minnie,  the  younger 
of  the  two  children,  was  born  in  1900,  and  is  attending,  in  1914,  the 
Sacred  Heart  Academy  in  the  city  of  Fort  Wayne.  She  has  much  talent 
in  music,  and  as  a  vocalist,  though  a  mere  girl,  she  has  been  called  upon 
to  sing  in  leading  church  choirs  in  her  home  city  and  also  in  Fort  "Wayne. 

Mrs.  Alexander  is  a  shrewd  business  woman,  aiding  her  husband  in 
conducting  his  business  and  has  been  a  material  factor  in  her  husband's 
success. 

Though  he  is  primarily  and  essentially  a  business  man,  with  a  full 
appreciation  of  the  exactions  and  responsibilities  involved,  Mr.  Alex- 
ander has  not  hedged  himself  in  with  his  personal   interests  but  has 


98         BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

stood  exponent  of  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizenship.  He  has  had  no 
desire  to  enter  the  arena  of  so-called  practical  politics,  but  he  accords 
a  staunch  support  to  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party,  his  progressive- 
ness  and  sterling  character  having  gained  to  him  the  unqualified  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  community  iu  which  he  has  achieved  note- 
worthy success  and  precedence. 

Liberty  T.  Armitage.  Of  the  men  of  Blackford  county  who  have 
wielded  the  implements  of  destruction  as  well  as  those  of  construction, 
who  have  bravely  upheld  their  country's  integrity  on  the  held  of  battle 
and  have  capably  maintained  its  supremacy  in  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  agriculture,  few  are  better  known  or  more  highly  esteemed  than 
Liberty  T.  Armitage,  the  owner  of  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  lying  in  section  18,  Licking  township.  For  forty-two  years  Mr. 
Armitage  has  identified  himself  with  the  farming  interests  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  and  in  the  meantime  has  performed  the  duties  of 
citizenship  so  faithfully  and  well  that  he  has  won  the  unquestioned 
right  to  be  named  as  one  of  his  community's  helpful  and  stirring  men. 

Mr.  Armitage  was  born  at  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1840,  and  was  three  months  old  when  he  was  brought  to  Jay 
county,  Indiana,  by  his  parents,  Seth  and  Prusia  (Thayer)  Armitage. 
His  father,  a  native  of  Upper  Canada,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
young  manhood  and  settled  in  Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  the  mother 
being  a  native  of  Rhode  Island  and  a  member  of  an  old  New  England 
family.  On  coming  to  Jay  county,  Indiana,  with  his  wife  and  five 
children,  Seth  Armitage  secured  employment  at  his  trade  of  wagon- 
maker  at  Pennville,  but  some  time  thereafter  went  to  Knox  township  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  for  a  number  of  years.  Some  time  prior  to  his  death,  in  1898, 
Mr.  Armitage  retired  from  active  labors,  and  passed  away  on  his  farm 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  was  a  good  farmer,  one  of  his 
community's  well  known  men  and  a  public-spirited  citizen,  was  stanch 
in  his  support  of  the  Union  at  a  time  when  his  part  of  the  county  was 
largely  in  favor  of  slaveholding  and  was  also  a  republican  when  Jay 
county  was  largely  democratic.  On  his  mother's  side  he  came  of  good 
old  Quaker  stock,  but  was  himself  a  Methodist,  an  official  of  his  church, 
and  for  years  a  class  leader.  His  first  wife  died  on  the  home  farm,  when 
Liberty  T.  Armitage  was  still  young,  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  the  mother  of  five  children:  Ellen,  who  died  as  a 
child,  two  weeks  after  the  death  of  her  mother;  Seba,  who  met  his 
death  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  as  a  result  of  sickness, 
having  been  a  member  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
aged  twenty-six  years,  and  left  a  widow  and  daughter,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  deceased ;  Mason,  who  died  as  a  .young  man  not  long  after  his 
mother's  death;  Liberty  T. ;  and  Aaron,  who  died  single  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  Seth  Armitage  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Timber- 
lake,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Mary 
E..  who  died  as  a  young  lady  of  eighteen  years;  John,  who  served 
two  years  as  a  Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  now  a  prominent 
attorney  of  Peru,  Indiana,  is  married  and  has  two  daughters:  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  single  and  makes  her  home  in  Jay  county ;  Emma,  who  is 
the  widow  of  David  Kesler,  of  Hartford  City,  and  now  living  in  Jay 
county;  Laura,  single,  who  lives  with  her  sister  in  Jay  county;  Alvin, 
of  Denver,  Colo.,  in  the  hardware  business;  Mark,  a  farmer  near  Syra- 
cuse, New  York ;  and  Ollie,  wdio  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Miller,  a  Jay  county 
farmer,  and  has  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Liberty  T.  Armitage  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Jay  county  and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES         99 

was  given  good  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  being  a  student  in 
the  Farmers  Academy  when  President  Lincoln  made  his  first  call  lor 
troops  during  the  Civil  War.  Although  a  lad  of  but  twenty  years,  his 
patriotism  was  aroused,  and  with  other  youths  of  his  neighborhood  he 
succeeded  in  enlisting  September  21,  1S61,  in  Company  F,  Thirty- 
fourth  Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  an  organization  with 
which  he  served  for  three  years,  participating  in  numerous  engagements 
and  having  many  thrilling  experiences.  Following  the  death  of  his 
brother,  Mr.  Armitage  contracted  the  typhoid  fever,  and  was  contined 
to  the  hospital  for  some  months,  but  rejoined  his  regiment  at  New 
Madrid,  Mississippi,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills, 
the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  the  taking  of  Jackson  and  Vicksburg,  at 
which  latter  place  he  received  his  only  wound,  a  gunshot  injury  on  the 
cheek.  Mr.  Armitage  received  his  honorable  discharge  September  21, 
1864,  after  a  brave  and  honorable  record  as  a  soldier,  and  at  once 
returned  to  Jay  county  to  again  resume  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  There  he 
remained,  however,  only  until  1866  in  which  year  he  came  to  Blackford 
county  and  located  on  a  farm.  He  came  to  his  present  place  in  1872, 
the  property  at  that  time  being  practically  a  wild  swamp,  with  little 
promise  of  ever  becoming  a  productive  farm.  Earnest,  continued  and 
well-directed  labor  have  wrought  wonders  upon  this  property,  and  as 
the  years  have  passed,  Mr.  Armitage  has  developed  a  valuable  tract, 
equipped  with  the  most  modern  of  improvements  and  boasting  of  an 
excellent  set  of  buildings.  A  practical  farmer  of  the  old  school,  he  has 
kept  himself  fully  abreast  of  the  advancements  being  made  in  agricul- 
ture, and  is  able  to  thus  successfully  compete  with  the  labors  of  the 
younger  generation  growing  up  about  him.  All  but  eight  acres  of  timber 
of  his  land  is  developed,  his  residence  has  nine  rooms,  and  his  barn  is  a 
structure  44x60  feet.  Mr.  Armitage  grows  wheat,  oats  and  corn,  and  has 
a  good  grade  of  all  kinds  of  live  stock.  He  is  esteemed  in  his  locality 
for  his  many  stable  and  reliable  traits  of  character,  for  his  unceasing 
devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  and  for  the  example 
offered  of  ability,  perseverance  and  well-won  success. 

Mr.  Armitage  was  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Emma  Mercer,  who  was  born  in  this  county  about  1844  and  died 
in  1867.  without  issue.  Mr.  Armitage  was  married  in  August,  1871, 
to  Miss  Emma  Stevens,  of  Marion,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  who  was 
born  in  Logan,  Ohio,  and  was  a  young  woman  when  brought  to 
Indiana  by  her  parents,  Elias  R.  and  Matilda  B.  (Rose)  Stevens.  Here 
her  father  died  during  the  Civil  War,  while  her  mother  survived  for 
some  years.  Grandfather  Rose  was  killed  at  Perry's  victory  on  Lake 
Erie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armitage  have  been  the  parents  of  six  children, 
namely:  Frank,  who  is  single  and  lives  with  his  parents,  assisting  his 
father  in  the  work  of  the  home  place ;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Edward  Stew- 
art, living  on  a  farm  in  Licking  township,  who  has  four  children, — 
Maybelle.  Robert.  Edna  and  Selma ;  Martha,  who  resides  at  home  and  is 
unmarried;  Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Elwood  Phillips,  a  farmer  of 
Washington  township,  and  has  three  children, — Walter,  Donald  and 
Esther:  Nellie,  the  wife  of  John  Williams,  living  on  a  farm  in  Licking 
township,  and  has  two  children, — Mildred  Myrle  and  John ;  and  Esther. 
a  graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  high  school,  who  is  single  and  devotes 
herself  to  music.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armitage  and  their  children  are  consist- 
ent members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church. 

Hiram  Tewksbtry.  Among  the  men  of  Blackford  county  who  have 
contributed  materially  to  the  advancement  and  development  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  great  state  of  Indiana,  the  late  Hiram  Tewksbury  held  an 


100  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

important  place.  For  many  years  associated  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  his  community,  he  accumulated  a  large  property  and  so  spent 
his  life  that  he  held  the  highest  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
and  when  he  died,  June  4,  1905,  the  locality  in  which  he  had  lived  so 
long  suffered  a  severe  loss.  Mr.  Tewksbury  was  born  in  Ohio,  December 
16,  1840,  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Betsy  (Tewksbury)  Tewksbury,  na- 
tives of  New  Hampshire  and  members  of  old  and  honored  New  England 
families. 

Nathaniel  Tewksbury  was  born  August  6,  1799,  and  was  married  in 
New  Hampshire,  February  24,  1835,  to  Betsy  Tewksbury,  who  was  born 
November  7, 1807.  After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Summit  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  1841  the  little  family  came  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  by 
way  of  ox-teams,  purchasing  new  government  land,  where  they  settled 
down  to  pioneer  life.  For  many  years  they  were  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  becoming  widely  and  favorably  known  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  at  all  times  exerted  an  influence  for  good.  Mr.  Tewksbury 
died  February  11,  1878,  and  his  wife  March  17,  1877,  both  in  the  faith 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren :    Hiram ;  and  Henrietta,  who  died  in  infancy,  July  12,  1842. 

Hiram  Tewksbury  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Wells 
county,  and  received  good  educational  advantages,  completing  his  studies 
at  Liber  College.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  educa- 
tional work  in  Wells  and  Blackford  counties,  but  eventually  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  so  well  managed  his  operations 
that  he  accumulated  1,000  acres  on  the  line  between  the  two  coun- 
ties mentioned.  His  land  was  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  equip- 
ped with  modern  improvements  and  substantial  buildings,  and  stocked 
with  a  high  grade  of  horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep.  Throughout  his 
life  he  was  industrious  and  enterprising,  and  among  those  who  had 
business  dealings  with  him  was  known  as  a  man  of  the  strictest  integ- 
rity and  high  business  principles.  At  one  time  he  was  a  candidate 
for  office  on  the  People's  ticket,  in  Wells  county,  but  failed  of  election. 

Hiram  Tewksbury  was  married  first,  on  April  30,  1863,  to  Mary 
Jane  Harris,  of  Jay  county,  Indiana,  and  to  them  two  sons  were  born, 
John  Marion,  born  August  24,  1864,  and  Elmer,  born  January  31,  1866. 
His  wife  died  September  10,  1877.  He  was  married  at  Battle 
Creek,  Michigan,  January  22,  1880,  to  Mrs.  Cecelia  (Nowlin)  Conley, 
who  was  born  at  Rochester,  New  York,  January  23,  1845,  and  was  reared 
and  well  educated  at  Dearborn,  Michigan,  to  which  place  she  had  been 
taken  as  a  child  by  her  parents,  Addison  and  Mary  (McConaghy) 
Nowlin.  Her  father  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  May 
8,  1814,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Dorothy  (Hoyt)  Nowlin,  natives 
of  New  York,  where  the  former  was  born  December  25,  1763,  and  the 
latter  November  14,  1794.  The  grandfather  passed  away  December 
19,  1852,  while  the  grandmother  attained  advanced  years.  The  family 
has  always  been  associated  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  chief 
occupation  of  its  members  has  been  that  of  farming.  Addison  Nowlin 
was  married  October  6,  1840,  passed  his  life  in  farming  pursuits,  and 
died  November  25,  1892,  at  Misaukee  county,  Michigan,  his  widow  now 
being  a  resident  of  Jackson,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Tewksbury  was  married 
to  George  E.  Conley,  who  died  in  the  prime  of  life  in  Michigan, 
leaving  two  children :  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  one-half 
years;  and  Mary  C,  who  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Johnston,  proprietor 
of  the  Big  Store,  at  Montpelier,  and  has  three  children, — Hilda,  aged 
twenty-two  years,  James  C,  who  is  fourteen  years  of  age.  and  Edward 
J.,  aged  six.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tewksbury  there  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:     May  Eva,  who  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  101 

of  Montpelier  and  Bluffton,  is  the  wife  of  Harold  Hungerford,  of  Con- 
cord, Michigan,  and  has  one  son, — Richard  Hopkins;  Joy  E.,  born  in 
1884,  educated  at  Indianapolis  and  Montpelier  and  now  connected  with 
the  Big  Store,  married  Dean  Lacey,  and  has  one  son, — Robert  E.;  and 
Helen  II.,  a  graduate  of  Montpelier  high  school  and  Knickerbocker  Hall 
(1906),  a  young  lady  of  much  talent  and  a  teacher  of  music,  who  is 
single  and  resides  at  home  with  her  mother. 

Mrs.  Tewksbury  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  has  been 
active  in  its  work  and  charities.  Her  tine  farms  cover  a  half-section 
of  land,  and  on  them  are  to  be  found  the  latest  improvements.  Her 
comfortable  home  at  Montpelier  is  situated  on  West  Green  street,  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  she  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  numerous  sincere  and 
admiring  friends. 

Percival  G.  Johnson.  The  true  little  city  of  Montpelier,  Black- 
ford county,  has  proved  a  most  attractive  place  of  residence,  and  this 
fact  has  fortunately  given  to  the  community  a  goodly  quota  of  retired 
farmers,  who  are  here  enjoying  the  well  earned  rewards  of  former 
years  of  earnest  endeavor.  Of  this  contingent  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  worthy 
and  popular  representative,  and  as  one  of  the  venerable  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  the  county  he  is  eminently  entitled  to  specific  recog- 
nition in  this  history. 

Like  many  other  citizens  of  this  section  of  Indiana,  Mr.  Johnson 
can  revert  to  the  old  Buckeye  State  as  the  place  of  his  nativity  and 
he  is  a  scion  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  that  common- 
wealth. He  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  November, 
1835,  and  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Susanna  (Moorman)  Johnson,  who 
were  natives  of  either  Pennsylvania  or  Virginia  and  who  continued  to 
reside  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  for  a  term  of  years,  their  marriage  hav- 
ing there  been  solemnized  and  the  respective  families  having  settled  in 
Ohio  in  the  pioneer  epoch  of  its  history.  In  1839,  John  Milton  John- 
son came  with  his  family  to  Indiana  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers in  Chester  township,  Wells  county,  where  he  obtained  a  tract  of 
wild  land  and  essayed  the  arduous  task  of  reclaiming  the  same  to  cul- 
tivation. There  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  died  when  about  forty 
years  of  age,  and  she  was  survived  by  seven  children,  of  whom  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  is  now  the  only  one  surviving,  he  having  been  about 
four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Indiana,  so  that 
he  was  here  reared  under  the  conditions  and  influences  of  the  pioneer 
days  and  has  witnessed  the  opulent  development  and  progress  of  the 
Hoosier  State.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  John  Milton  Johnson 
wedded  a  widow,  Mrs.  Eliza  fWoolray)  Wright,  and  soon  afterward 
they  came  to  Blackford  county  and  established  their  home  on  a  farm 
in  Washington  township,  where  they  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives, 
Mr.  Johnson  having  been  sixty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death 
and  his  widow  having  attained  to  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  John 
M.  Johnson's  life  was  marked  by  indefatigable  industry  and  utmost 
integrity  of  purpose,  and  he  not  only  endured  the  hardships  and  ardu- 
ous labors  of  the  pioneer,  but  also  aided  in  the  inarch  of  social  and 
industrial  progress,  his  character  and  labors  making  altogether  con- 
sistent the  placing  of  his  name  on  the  enduring  roll  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Indiana.  He  was  originally  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  both  he  and  his  first  and  second  wives  were  zealous  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

It  can  be  readily  understood  that  the  early  educational  advantages 
of  Percival  G.  Johnson  were  limited  to  the  somewhat  primitive  pioneer 
schools  in  Wells  county,  this  state,  but  through  this  medium  he  gained 


102  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

the  nucleus  around  which  he  has  developed  his  broad  and  practical  fund 
of  knowledge,  through  his  association  with  men  and  affairs  and  through 
self-application.  In  initiating  his  independent  career  as  an  agricultur- 
ist he  established  himself  upon  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  Chester  town- 
ship, Wells  county,  and  there  he  developed  one  of  the  model  places  of 
the  county,  the  farm  being  improved  with  excellent  buildings  and  other- 
wise giving  palpable  evidences  of  thrift  and  prosperity.  Mr.  Johnson 
continued  to  reside  upon  his  farm  until  1905,  when  he  removed  to 
Montpelier,  where  he  has  since  lived  virtually  retired,  his  attractive 
residence  property,  which  he  owns,  being  situated  at  301  West  Hunt- 
ington street,  and  the  old  homestead  farm  being  still  in  his  possession. 
He  has  stood  representative  of  the  best  type  of  farmers  and  stock-grow- 
ers and  as  a  citizen  has  so  ordered  his  course  as  to  merit  and  receive 
the  high  regard  of  his  fellow  men.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  gov- 
ernmental affairs,  both  national  and  local,  and  is  well  informed  on 
the  questions  and  issues  of  the  hour,  his  political  allegiance  being  given 
to  the  Republican  party  and  both  he  and  his  wife  being  zealous  and 
valued  members  of  the  Montpelier  congregation  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

In  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  Indiana,  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1856,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  to  Miss  Margaret 
Cloud,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  on  the  15th  of  March, 
1835,  a  daughter  of  Noah  and  Lydia  A.  (Pugh)  Cloud,  who  came  to 
Wells  county,  Indiana,  in  1840,  about  five  years  after  her  birth.  The 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Virginia  and  her  father  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Cloud,  who  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Continental  Line  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  and  who  thereafter  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio, 
where  he  settled  in  the  early  pioneer  days,  prior  to  the  admission  of  the 
state  to  the  Union.  Thomas  Cloud  attained  to  advanced  age  and  died 
in  Ohio,  and  his  widow  passed  the  closing  period  of  her  life  in  Wells 
county,  Indiana,  where  she  died  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety  years, 
both  she  and  her  husband  having  been  Primitive  Baptists  in  their  reli- 
gious faith.  After  settling  in  Wells  county,  Noah  Cloud  there  continued 
his  residence  on  his  original  pioneer  farm  until  about  1850,  when  he 
settled  on  a  tract  of  wild  land  lying  in  Grant  county.  There  he  re- 
claimed a  productive  farm  from  the  forest  wilderness,  and  on  this  home- 
stead they  continued  to  reside  until  their  death,  when  well  advanced 
in  years.  Of  their  eight  children  only  two  are  living, — Mrs.  Johnson  and 
her  brother  William,  the  latter  being  now  a  resident  of  the  city  of 
Indianapolis. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  walked  side  by  side  down  the  pathway 
of  life  for  nearly  sixty  years,  mutually  sustained  and  comforted  by  love 
and  devotion  and  enduring  with  fortitude  the  trials  and  sorrows  that 
have  been  their  portion  and  from  which  no  life  is  immune.  In  the 
gracious  evening  of  their  lives  they  find  solace  and  happiness  in  the 
filial  solicitude  of  their  children  and  children's  children  and  in  asso- 
ciation with  friends  who  are  tried  and  true.  Concerning  the  children 
brief  record  is  entered  in  conclusion  of  this  sketch.  Emma,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  James  Berson,  is  deceased  and  is  survived  by  three 
children,  William,  Edith  and  Margaret.  Elma  is  the  wife  of  Louis  H. 
Tate,  a  successful  business  man  of  Montpelier,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren,— Dimmie  L.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Saxon,  of  Montpelier, 
and  who  has  three  children;  Lemuel,  who  is  engaged  in  the  cleaning 
and  pressing  business  in  Montpelier,  he  and  his  wife  having  no  children  ; 
and  Margaret,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home.  Lewis  C,  next  in 
order  of  birth  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  is  postmaster 
at  Hartford  City  and  is  individually  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  pub- 
lication.   Loetta  became  the  wife  of  Lewis  Shidler  and  upon  her  death 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  L03 

left  two  "children,  both  of  whom  are  living— Iva  M.  and  Eva  M.  Win- 
field  W.,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  Earm  and  is  identified  with 
the  oil-well  operations  in  Wells  county,  is  married  and  has  four  chil- 
dren,— Lena,    .Maude.    Margaret    and    Charles. 

John  Moses  Hallam.  Among  the  old  and  honored  residents  of 
Blackford  county,  is  the  venerable  and  highly  respected  citizen  whose 

name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  review,  and  who  after  a  Long  period 
of  activity  is  now  living  in  honest  retirement.  It  may  he  said  of  Mi'. 
Hallam  that  during  his  active  career  lie  was  a  typical  representative  of 
the  best  and  highest  class  in  the  agricultural  element  of  the  county, 
while  his  citizenship,  in  both  times  of  peace  and  the  days  of  warfare. 
lias  been  such  as  to  give  him  an  honored  and  honorable  name. 

Moses  Hallam.  the  grandfather  of  John  Moses  Hallam.  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  of  Irish  parentage,  and  was  married  at  Washington,  in 
his  native  state,  to  a  lady  of  Irish  birth.  Later  they  moved  to  Clinton 
county.  Ohio,  where  both  passed  away,  the  father  being  upwards  of 
seventy  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallam 
were  faithful  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  John  Hallam,  son 
of  Moses  and  one  of  his  older  children,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  to  a  Pennsylvania  girl.  Sarah  Kane, 
who  had  been  born  and  reared  in  Washington  county.  After  their 
marriage  they  removed  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  John  Hallam 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Born 
October  22,  1805,  he  passed  away  September  22.  1839,  a  short  time 
before  the  birth  of  his  son,  John  M.  Mrs.  Hallam  was  born  June  4, 
1805,  and  died  January  6,  1880.  Both  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Cedars  Presbyterian  church. 

John  Moses  Hallam  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  February  2, 
1840,  a  short  time  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He  received  ordinary 
public  school  advantages  and  was  reared  a  farmer,  residing  with  his 
mother  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  Mrs.  Hallam  had  subse- 
quently married,  in  1850.  Jordan  Rick,  of  North  Carolina,  and  during 
the  Civil  War  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana.  John  M.  Hallam  en- 
listed in  September,  1S61,  from  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  Company  B, 
Fortieth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Capt.  James  Hayworth 
and  Colonel  Craynor,  and  went  to  the  front  in  Eastern  Kentucky,  later 
seeing  service  in  West  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  On  September  20.  1863, 
he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  upper  right  arm,  while  engaged  in 
fighting  the  forces  of  Longstreet.  at  Chickamauga,  and  after  being  con- 
fined at  Fort  Dennison  for  some  time  was  given  his  honorable  discharge 
because  of  disability.  He  was  at  all  times  known  as  a  brave  and  valiant 
soldier,  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  and  his  daring  frequently 
led  him  into  dangerous  positions  from  which  he  had  numerous  narrow- 
escapes.     Throughout  his  service  he  wTas  a  private. 

When  his  military  career  was  closed.  Mr.  Hallam  resumed  the  pur- 
suits of  peace,  coming  to  Blackford  county  to  join  his  mother,  who  was 
then  living  on  a  farm  which  she  had  purchased  in  Washington  township. 
Here  she  continued  to  make  her  home  until  her  death,  at  which  time 
Mr.  Hallam  assumed  the  management  of  the  property,  which  he  still 
owns.  This  is  a  well-cultivated  tract  of  eighty  acres,  located  in  section 
18.  Washington  township,  on  which  Mr.  Hallam  has  made  numerous 
improvements  of  a  handsome  and  substantial  character.  He  has  a  mod- 
ern eight-room  house,  painted  white,  a  commodious  barn  and  several 
good  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of  his  grain  and  machinery.  He  lost 
one  barn  by  lightning.  An  industrious  and  energetic  man.  Mr.  Hallam 
labored  faithfully  until  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  in  1904.  caused  his  retire- 


104  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

merit.  He  still  superintends  the  operations  on  his  farm,  however,  and 
through  his  good  management  is  in  receipt  of  a  handsome  income.  The 
greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention  have  been  given  to  general  farm- 
ing, but  he  has  also  made  a  success  of  stock  raising  ventures,  and  is  known 
as  a  good  judge  of  cattle.  Absolutely  reliable  in  all  of  his  business  trans- 
actions, he  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  among  his  associates,  and 
his  name  is  synonymous  with  fair  dealing  and  fidelity  to  engagements. 

In  1879  Mr.  Hallam  was  married  in  Wells  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss 
Isabelle  Mary  Greenlees,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  February  19,  1849, 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Isabella  (Forsythe)  Greenlees.  The  mother 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  when  Mrs.  Hallam  was  still  a  child,  and 
in  1859  she  went  with  her  father  to  Ohio,  where  they  resided  for  three 
years.  They  then  returned  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Grant  county, 
where  the  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  in  1881.  He  died 
in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his  wife  had  also  been 
a  member. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallam  have  been  the  parents  of  three  children:  Roy, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  after  his  marriage  to  Pearl 
Nelson,  of  Grant  county,  his  widow  now  being  a  resident  of  Monroe 
township,  that  county,  with  her  four  children,  Vica  G.,  John  H.  T., 
Esther  I.  and  Roy  I.;  Maggie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Lora  A.  Tudor,  a 
farmer  of  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  and  has  a  son,  Hallam  M.;. 
and  Elly,  who  died  when  one  month  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallam  are 
consistent  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Politically,  he  is 
a  republican,  but  takes  only  a  good  citizen's  interest  in  public  matters. 

Seth  Diehl.  A  Hartford  City  business  man  who  since  1891  has 
built  up  a  large  and  prosperous  establishment  as  a  general  blacksmith, 
Seth  Diehl  is  of  the  substantial  German  stock  originating  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  with  many  interesting  associations  with  the  pioneer  life  of 
early  eastern  Indiana.  His  people  were  not  only  founders  of  homes 
and  conquerors  of  the  wilderness,  but  were  notable  for  the  part  they 
took  in  community  and  religious  affairs,  and  also  in  the  kindly  helpful- 
ness which  is  so  valuable  an  asset  in  the  social  welfare  of  every  locality. 

Mr.  Diehl's  grandparents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  after 
their  marriage  moved  to  Ohio,  and  a  few  years  later  located  in  Ran-, 
dolph  county,  Indiana,  buying  land  near  Saratoga,  where  those  good 
people,  David  and  Elizabeth  (Sheets)  Diehl,  both  died.  The  grand- 
father passed  away  about  twenty  years  before  the  grandmother,  who 
was  eighty-two  years  old.  She  was  born  in  1802  and  he  about  1800. 
They  had  one  son  and  ten  daughters.  The  son,  Ephraim  Diehl  and 
one  of  the  daughters  are  now  deceased,  while  the  eight  remaining  chil- 
dren are  all  living  and  are  all  married  except  one. 

Ephraim  Diehl,  who  was  born  in  1817,  probably  in  Pennsylvania, 
was  reared  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  at  an  early  age  learned  the  trade 
of  broom  maker,  an  occupation  which  he  subsequently  varied  with  activ- 
ities as  a  farmer.  His  death  occurred  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana, 
May  22,  1861,  at  the  age  of  forty-four.  Although  then  only  in  the  prime 
of  life,  he  had  prospered  and  provided  well  for  his  family.  He  was  a 
church  worker  and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  In  Randolph  county  occurred 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Baugh.  She  was  born  in  that  county 
in  1820  and  died  at  her  home  near  Union  City  in  June,  1862,  being 
about  the  same  age  as  her  husband.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
or  New  Light  church. 

Margaret  Baugh  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Morris)  Baugh. 
The  former  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Greene 
county,   Tennessee,  both  born  about   1800  and  married   in   Tennessee. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        105 

Soon  after  their  marriage  about  1820  they  came  north  and  located  in 
Randolph  county,  where  they  secured  government  hind  and  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  that  community.  Their  housekeeping  began  in  a 
cabin  of  logs,  and  all  the  country  about  them  was  wild  and  covered 
with  heavy  timber  filled  with  game.  During  the  first  year  the  bears, 
carried  oft'  the  only  hog  they  had,  and  they  subsisted  largely  on  game, 
and  corn  pone  and  hazel-brush  tea.  This  primitive  mode  of  living  was 
improved  in  successive  years,  and  finally  they  improved  a  good  eighty 
acre  farm  and  spent  their  last  years  in  a  hewed  log  home.  John  Baugh 
died  just  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  while  his  widow  survived 
many  years  and  was  eighty-four  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Both  were 
noble  characters,  charitable,  helpful,  and  were  people  whose  service 
was  almost  indispensable  in  the  early  days.  John  Baugh  was  a  Dunkard 
in  religion  while  his  wife  was  a  New  Light  Christian.  Grandmother 
Polly  (Mary)  Baugh  was  one  of  the  remarkable  pioneeer  women  whose 
lives  have  been  celebrated  in  many  stories  of  early  days.  She  was  the 
midwife  physician  for  a  country  covering  many  miles  for  a  period  of 
fifty-six  years.  Seldom  did  she  fail  to  respond  to  a  call  for  her  pro- 
fessional services,  and  it  was  her  custom  to  ride  horseback,  and  at 
some  of  the  most  distant  eases  be  in  the  saddle  for  two  days  and  a  night, 
stopping  and  eating  bread  and  drinking  hazel-brush  tea  on  the  way. 
The  people  of  several  counties  iu  Indiana  and  Ohio  knew  and  esteemed 
her,  and  she  not  only  attended  many  others  in  the  birth  of  their  chil- 
dren, but  herself  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  and  reared  four 
others  from  infancy.  The  richness  of  her  charity  and  love  went  out  to 
hundreds  of  young  and  old.  and  she  was  always  looking  after  the  wel- 
fare of  other  people.  Of  her  twelve  children  nearly  all  are  still  living, 
and  some  of  them  are  upwards  of  ninety  years  of  age  and  have  their 
homes  in  several  states. 

Seth  Diehl  who  is  one  of  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  and  five  sons  and  one  daughter  are  still  living,  was 
born  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  June  25,  1S57.  His  early  education 
was  acquired  there,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  began  learning  the 
trade  of  blacksmith  at  Winchester.  That  has  been  Ids  regular  occupa- 
tion ever  since,  and  after  a  few  years  he  set  up  a  shop  of  his  own,  and 
has  always  been  on  the  steady  road  of  prosperity.  In  September,  1901, 
Mr.  Diehl  moved  to  Hartford  City,  built  a  good  shop  at  607  E.  Water 
street,  and  has  had  a  good  business.  He  now  owns  considerable  prop- 
erty in  Hartford  City,  including  a  comfortable  home  at  601  Market 
street. 

Mr.  Diehl  is  an  ardent  prohibitionist,  and  has  affiliated  with  that 
party  and  with  the  cause  for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  was  married 
in  Randolph  county  to  Emma  J.  Frazier.  who  was  born  in  Lynn  town- 
ship of  Randolph  county,  September  6,  1859,  and  grew  up  and  was 
educated  in  that  vicinity.  Of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  her  grand- 
parents from  the  Southern  states,  she  is  the  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Joanna  (Ellis)  Frazier,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Randolph  county, 
Indiana,  were  married  there,  and  in  1901  moved  to  Hartford  City,  where 
their  deaths  occurred,  her  father  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  and  her 
mother  at  seventy-six.  Both  were  faithful  members  of  the  Friends 
church  and  lived  up  to  the  fine  principles  and  practices  of  the  Quaker 
religion.  Mr.  Frazier  was  a  bell  maker  by  trade,  which  he  had  learned 
in  early  boyhood,  but  subsequently  became  a  blacksmith  and  for  eighteen 
years  was  associated  with  his  son-in-law  Mr.  Diehl. 

To  Mr.  Diehl  and  wife  have  been  born  four  children :  Harriet  A. 
is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Stone,  a  blacksmith  at  Hartford  City,  and 
they  have  three  children.  Ephraim,  Ruth  and  Frank;  Ethel  is  the  wife 


106  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  George  Ford,  who  is  employed  in  the  paper  mill  at  Alexandria,  In- 
diana, and  they  have  no  children;  Seth,  Jr.,  a  blacksmith  at  Hartford 
City,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Georgia  Shawhan  has  two  children,  Wil- 
liam, three  years  old,  and  Dorothy,  aged  one  year ;  Jennie  B.  is  the  wife 
of  Earl  E.  Owens,  who  is  a  blacksmith  living  in  Oklahoma.  Mr.  Diehl 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  the  daughters  are 
also  of  the  same  religion. 

J.  Alonzo  Shewalter.  This  well  known  and  representative  citizen 
of  Blackford  county  has  an  ancestral  record  in  which  he  may  well  take 
pride,  as  it  bears  its  unmistakable  evidence  of  lofty  patriotism  and  use- 
ful and  worthy  citizenship,  as  one  generation  has  followed  another  on 
to  the  stage  of  life's  activities.  His  paternal  ancestors,  of  staunch 
German  stock,  settled  in  Virginia  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national 
history,  and  the  family  name  has  likewise  been  linked  with  the  history 
of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  in  which  latter  state  the  family  was  founded  more 
than  half  a  century  ago.  Mr.  Shewalter  has  been  one  of  the  influential 
citizens  and  prominent  business  men  of  Hartford  City,  the  attractive 
judicial  center  of  Blackford  county,  and  in  all  of  the  relations  of  life 
he  has  honored  the  name  which  he  bears.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier  of 
the  Union  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a  member  of  an  Indiana  regiment,  and 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  state  since  his  boyhood  days,  so  that  the 
fine  old  Hoosier  commonwealth  is  endeared  to  him  by  many  gracious 
memories  and  associations. 

John  Shewalter,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  a  resident  of  the  historic  Old  Dominion  State  of  Virginia, 
and  lived  at  Winchester,  in  the  beautiful  Shenandoah  valley.  On  the 
10th  of  August,  1810,  he  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Settlemer,  whose  an- 
cestors were  colonial  settlers  in  New  England.  In  the  earlier  genera- 
tions the  men  of  the  Shewalter  family  in  America  gave  their  attention 
largely  to  mechanical  vocations,  and  John  Shewalter  was  an  expert  ar- 
tisan as  a  wagon  and  carriage  maker,  at  a  time  when  virtually  all  work  in 
this  line  was  fine  handicraft.  He  finally  removed  with  his  family  from 
Virginia  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  Buckeye  State  he  was  for  many  years  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Wilmington,  the  judicial  center 
of  Clinton  county.  There  he  conducted  a  wagon  and  carriage  shop  and 
there  both  he  and  his  wife  died  when  venerable  in  years,  both  having 
been  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  well  may  it  be  said 
that  they  lived  "Godly,  righteous  and  sober  lives,"  and  fully  merited 
the  high  esteem  in  which  they  were  uniformly  held.  Their  children 
■were  Eliza  and  Elias  R.,  who  married  and  reared  children  and  were 
folk  of  honest  worth  and  substantial  achievement. 

Major  Elias  Shewalter,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
at  Winchester,  capital  of  Frederick  county,  Virginia,  in  1817,  and  he 
was  about  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to 
Ohio,  the  long  overland  journey  having  been  made  with  teams  and 
wagons,  long  before  the  era  of  railroad  transportation.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  at  Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  there  learned 
under  the  direction  of  his  honored  father  the  trade  of  carriage  and 
wasjonmaking.  After  his  marriage  he  succeeded  to  the  business  estab- 
lished by  his  father  in  this  field  of  artisanship  and  while  still  a  youth 
he  became  prominent  in  military  affairs  in  the  old  Buckeye  State.  At 
the  time  of  the  Mexican  war  his  tactical  ability  was  effectively  utilized, 
since  he  trained  many  soldiers  who  enlisted  for  that  conflict  in  the 
section  of  Ohio  in  which  he  resided,  his  services  in  this  capacity  hav- 
ing been  officially  recognized  by  the  Governor  of  the  State,  who  pre- 
sented to  him  a  handsome  sword  and  uniform.     When  the   Civil  war 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  107 

was  precipitated  on  a  divided  nation  he  was  a  residenl  of  Indiana,  and 
organized  several  companies  for  the  defense  of  the  Union,  and  he  had 
carefully  drilled  a  Dumber  of  these  even  before  the  actual  call  Eor  vol- 
unteers was  made  by  President  Lincoln.  When  hostilities  became  immi- 
nent and  the  call  was  issued  by  the  President,  lie  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
an  Indiana  regiment  of  volunteers,  and  soon  thereafter  he  was  chosen 
captain  of  h'is  company.  His  gallant  and  efficient  service  in  the  held 
brought  about  his  promotion  to  major  of  his  battalion,  and  he  led  his 
regiment  in  the  sanguinary  battles  of  Franklin  ami  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, as  well  as  in  other  engagements  marking  the  progress  of  the  war. 
He  served  nearly  three  years,  with  distinction  as  a  commanding  officer 
and  as  a  loyal  and  gallant  soldier  who  ever  held  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  men.  Prior  to  the  war  Major  Shewalter  had  withdrawn 
from  the  work  of  his  trade  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Indiana,  where  lie 
became  siezed  of  an  estate  of  more  than  320  acres.  To  the  careful 
and  effective  supervision  of  this  extensive  estate  and  the  care  of  their 
children  his  noble  wife  applied  herself  with  unceasing  devotion  dur- 
ing the  period  of  his  service  as  a  soldier.  The  maiden  name  of  Mrs. 
Shewalter  was  Eliza  Jane  Hale,  and  she  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  about  the  year  1814,  her  parents  having  settled  in  that  state  prior 
to  its  admission  to  the  Union,  in  1812.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Maria  (Sabin)  Hale,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, a  birthright  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  the  latter  of 
whom  was  of  New  England  ancestry  and  birth,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  they  continued  to  re- 
side until  their  death.  Mr.  Hale  having  passed  away  when  he  had  attained 
to  the  patriarchal  age  of  nearly  ninety-seven  years  and  his  wife  hav- 
ing died  when  about  eighty  years  of  age,  both  having  been  lifelong 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  commonly  designated  as  Quakers. 

In  1851  Major  Elias  Shewalter  came  with  his  family  to  Indiana  and 
purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land  in  Jay  county,  and  later  bought  160 
acres  more  and  he  reclaimed  this  land  to  cultivation,  became  one  of 
the  able  and  substantial  agriculturists  of  the  county  and  a  citizen  who 
wielded  large  and  beneficent  influence  in  connection  with  public  and 
industrial  affairs  in  that  section  of  the  state.  Major  Shewalter 's  entire 
life  was  guided  and  governed  by  the  highest  principles,  he  was  a  man 
of  superior  intellectuality  and  mature  judgment,  and  he  was  kindly 
and  tolerant,  though  he  never  made  any  compromise  for  the  sake  of 
expediency  when  questions  of  right  and  justice  were  involved.  He  and 
his  wife  were  earnest  and  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  their  abiding  Christian  faith  was  shown  forth  in  their 
daily  lives.  The  Major  naturally  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  but  with  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  transferred  his 
allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  as  it  stood  exponent  of  the  prin- 
ciples in  which  he  believed. — especially  the  preservation  of  the  integrity 
of  the  Union.  Tins  sterling  citizen  continued  to  reside  in  Jay  county 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aiigust  26.  1898.  at  which  time  he  was 
eighty-one  years  of  a?e.  his  birth  having  occurred  April  17.  1817.  His 
marriage  was  solemnized  February  22.  18.37.  and  his  cherished  and  de- 
voted wife  did  not  long  survive  him.  as  she  was  called  to  the  life  eternal 
in  November,  189S,  her  memory  being  revered  by  all  who  came  within 
the  sphere  of  her  gentle  and  gracious  influence.  The  names  of  the  chil- 
dren are  here  entered  in  respective  order  of  birth:  Maria  E..  John  W., 
J.  Alonzo.  Samuel  H..  Charles  M..  Clarence  C.  Josephine.  Alice.  Howard 
M..  Edward  H..  Ebenezer  I.,  and  U.  Grant! 

J.  Alonzo  Shewalter  was  born  at  AVilmin<rton.  Clinton  county.  Ohio. 
on  the  26th  of  August.  1841,  and  thus  was  a  mere  lad  at  the  time  of  the 


108  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

family  removal  to  Jay  county,  Indiana,  in  1851,  as  previously  noted 
in  this  context.  He  is  indebted  to  the  common  schools  of  Ohio  and  In- 
diana for  his  early  educational  discipline  and  was  signally  favored  in 
being  reared  in  a  home  of  ideal  associations  and  influences.  When 
came  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  youth  of  nineteen  years, 
but  his  patriotic  ardor  was  in  consonance  with  that  of  his  honored 
father,  and  the  latter  was  not  alone  in  representing  the  immediate  fam- 
ily in  the  ranks  of  the  brave  "boys  in  blue."  J.  Alonzo  and  his  elder 
brother,  John  W.,  as  well  as  his  next  younger  brother,  Samuel  H.,  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  their  gallant  father  and  all  became  valiant  sol- 
diers of  the  Union,  the  others  of  the  brothers  having  been  too  young 
for  service.  The  three  brothers  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-ninth  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  all  proved  well  their  loyalty  and  gallantry  as 
privates  by  participating  in  the  various  engagements  in  which  their 
regiment  was  involved,  all  escaping  capture  and  serious  wounds  except 
J.  Alonzo,  of  this  sketch.  The  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  served  principally 
in  the  command  of  General  Sherman,  and  Samuel  H.  finally  received 
promotion  to  the  office  of  Colonel  in  the  command  of  General  Kilpatrick, 
under  whom  he  accompanied  Sherman  on  the  ever  memorable  march 
from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  On  the  1st  day  of  the  battle  of  Stone's 
River,  Tennessee,  in  November,  1862,  J.  Alonzo  Shewalter,  when  with 
his  command  on  the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  forces,  was  captured  by 
the  enemy,  and  thereafter  he  was  held  for  sixty  days  as  a  captive  in 
historic  old  Libby  Prison,  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  where  he  endured 
his  quota  of  the  hardships  that  made  the  name  of  that  prison  infamous. 
After  his  exchange  had  been  effected  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  and  he 
continued  in  service  for  only  seven  days  less  than  four  years, — thus 
covering  virtually  the  entire  period  of  the  great  internecine  conflict  before 
he  received  his  honorable  discharge. 

After  the  close  of  his  military  career  Mr.  Shewalter  resumed  his 
association  with  the  great  elemental  industry  of  agriculture,  and 
eventually  he  became  owner  of  his  father's  fine  old  homestead  in  Jay 
county.    For  thirty-five  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  trade 

at    ,   that   county,   where   he   also   became   a   successful 

manufacturer  of  staves  and  heading  for  barrels.  In  1890  he  removed  to 
Hartford  City,  and  here  he  conducted  a  prosperous  manufacturing 
business  'in  the  line  noted  above  for  a  period  of  about  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  the  factory  was  destroyed  by  fire.  He  has  since 
given  his  attention  largely  to  his  extensive  landed  and  other  capitalistic 
interests,  and  has  achieved  pronounced  success  in  his  various  operations. 
His  landed  estate,  in  different  States  of  the  Union,  now  aggregates 
fully  1,400  acres,  and  he  owns  also  his  attractive  residence  property  at 
508  North  High  street,  Hartford  City.  In  politics  Mr.  Shewalter  main- 
tains an  independent  attitude  and  he  is  zealous  in  his  opposition  to  the 
liquor  traffic.  His  more  gracious  memories  concerning  his  military 
career  are  perpetuated  through  his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

At  Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1886,  was  solem- 
nized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Shewalter  to  Miss  Mary  E.  McMullin,  who 
was  there  born  in  the  year  1847  and  who  was  there  afforded  excellent 
educational  advantages.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Henry)  McMullin,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
of  Scotch  and  English  ancestry,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  at 
Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county,  that  State,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  their  respective  par- 
ents settled  in  the  pioneer  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMullin  continued 
to  reside  in  Clinton  county  until  their  death,  and  each  attained  to  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  109 

age    of    seventy-three    years,    Mrs.    McMullin    having    been    eighteen 

years  her  husband's  junior,  as  she  was  eighteen  and  lie  thirty  -sis  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  He  was  a  birthright  member 
of  tlu-  Society  of  Friends,  but  his  wife  was  a  member  of  another  re- 
ligious organisation.  Mrs.  Shewalter  is  u  prominent  and  popular  fig- 
ure iu  the  various  soeial  activities  of  her  home  city,  where  she  is 
identified  with  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  and  Ladies'  Aid  Society. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shewalter  have  one  son.  .Morris  B.,  who  was  born  in 
Jay  county,  in  lt^T.  and  who  received  the  advantages  of  the  public 
sehools  and  a  business  college.  He  is  now  assistant  bookkeeper  at 
the  Hartford  City  paper  mills.  He  wedded  Miss  Trenna  Templeton, 
and  they  have  one  child.  James  Alonzo  II,  who  was  born  in  1912.  In 
their  home  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alonzd  Shewalter  reared,  from  the  age  of 
seven  years,  their  niece,  Veta  DeTray,  who  can  claim  kinship  with  the 
great  General  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette, 
who  was  graduated  in  the  Hartford  City  high  school  in  11)10  ami  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  0.  Townsend,  of  this  city. 

Joseph  P.  Horton.  The  business  interests  of  Montpelier,  Indiana. 
are  well  and  capably  represented  by  Joseph  P.  Horton,  who  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  book,  stationery,  cigar  and  confectionery  store  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Huntington  streets.  Mr.  Horton  belongs  to  an  old 
and  honored  family,  and  is  able  to  trace  it  back  to  the  year  1570.  He  is 
in  the  tenth  generation  from  Joseph  Horton,  and  the  genealogy  of  the 
family  is  as  follows: 

(I)  Joseph  Horton.  born  in  1570,  in  England. 

(II)  Barnabas  Horton,  son  of  Joseph,  born  July  13,  1600,  at 
Meansley,  Leicestershire,  England,  emigrated  to  America  in  1633  in  the 
ship  Swallow,  Capt.  Jeremy  Horton,  master  and  owner,  and  in  1638 
located  at  Hampton.  Massachusetts.  He  removed  to  New  Haven. 
Connecticut,  in  1640,  his  wife  and  two  children.  Joseph  and  Benjamin, 
being  with  him  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year  settled  permanently 
on  Long  Island,  now  Southhold,  Suffolk  county.  New  York. 

(III)  Caleb  Horton,  son  of  Barnabas,  born  at  Southhold,  Suffolk 
county,  New  York,  in  1640,  married  December  23.  1665,  Abigail  Hallock, 
daughter  of  Peter  Hallock,  the  Pilgrim. 

(IY)  Barnabas  Horton,  son  of  Caleb,  born  on  Long  Island,  New 
York.  September  23,  1666,  married  1686  Sarah  Hines,  and  had  issue. 

(Y)  Caleb  Horton,  son  of  Barnabas,  was  born  at  Southhold.  New- 
York,  December  22,  1687,  married  December  10,  1714,  Phoebe  Terry, 
moved  in  1848  to  Roxbury  (now  Chester),  New  Jersey,  and  had  six 
sons  and  six  daughters. 

(VI)  Richard  Horton,  son  of  Caleb,  was  born  at  Southhold,  New 
York,  about  1729,  married  Elizabeth  Harrison,  and  moved  to  Chester, 
New  Jersey,  in  1758,  and  later  to  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  died,  the  father  of  seven  sons.  He  was  a  Quaker  by  religious 
faith  as  was  also  his  wife. 

(VII)  Samuel  Horton,  Sr.,  son  of  Richard,  was  born  about  1752, 
and  was  married  in  1772  or  1775  to  Ortha  Evans,  the  daughter  of 
Hugh  Evans.  He  located  at  Norristown,  Pennsylvania,  when  that  place 
was  a  settlement  containing  but  six  log  houses,  and  later  moved  to  Brad- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  where  his  death  occurred  either  in  1835  or 
1836,  his  wife  having  passed  away  several  years  before.  They  were 
the  parents  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children. 

(VIII)  Samuel  Horton,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel,  Sr.,  was  born  at  Nor- 
ristown, Pennsylvania.  March  16,  1791,  in  one  of  the  six  log  cabins  that 
constituted  the  little  hamlet.     He  was  married  in  1811  to  Elizabeth  Fos- 


110  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ter,  daughter  of  Basil  and  Mary  (Penn)  Foster.  Mary  Penn  was  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Penn,  who  was  the  son  of  Charles  Penn,  a  brother 
of  William  Penn.  Mrs.  Horton  was  born  September  22,  1783,  and  died 
April  17,  1870.  In  1814  Mr.  Horton  moved  to  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
and  in  1830  to  Hillsboro,  in  that  county,  later  going  to  Marion,  Indiana, 
where  lie  died  October,  1871.     They  had  a  large  family  of  children. 

(IX)  Joseph  Baker  Horton,  son  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  and  father  of 
Joseph  Pearl  Horton,  was  born  January  7,  1820,  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Marion,  Indiana,  with  his  parents  in  1841.  In  1901 
he  removed  to  Home  City,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  there  died  March 
16,  1904.  He  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  a  vocation  which  he  fol- 
lowed largely  in  Marion  until  1890,  and  was  prominent  in  local  political 
affairs,  being  a  leading  factor  in  the  local  organization  of  the  republican 
party.  On  May  16,  1856,  he  was  married  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Lydia  Zink,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  July  6,  1837,  and  died  February 
12,  1901,  at  Marion,  Indiana.  She  was  a  daughter  of  David  and  Jane 
(Miller)  Zink,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock, 
who  were  married  in  Ohio,  or  just  before  leaving  Pennsylvania,  and 
died  at  Hillsboro,  he  being  a  little  past  fifty  years  of  age,  and  she  when 
nearly  eighty.  They  were  thrifty  and  well-to-do  people,  and,  like  the 
Hortons  for  generations,  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Joseph  Baker  Horton  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children :  May,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty-five 
years ;  Joseph  Pearl,  of  this  review ;  Eddy,  a  graduate  of  the  high 
school,  who  died  when  eighteen  years  of  age;  Clarence,  who  died  in 
1913,  aged  about  forty-six  years,  married  Mary  Overman,  and  had  two 
sons:  Murray  M.  and  Robert;  Lizzie,  who  died  when  two  years  old; 
Charles,  who  died  young;  and  Lena,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Wil- 
liams, of  Seattle,  Washington,  connected  with  the  Vancouver  Railway 
Company. 

(X)  Joseph  Pearl  Horton,  son  of  Joseph  Baker,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 24,  1859,  and  received  good  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  at- 
tending the  graded  and  high  schools  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  College 
at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  At  that  time  he  became  a  student  of  electrical 
work,  and  was  thus  engaged  until  1S89  when  he  went  to  the  South  and 
embarked  in  the  lumber  business.  He  continued  therein  until  1893  and 
at  that  time  returned  to  the  North  and  at  Marion,  Indiana,  again  took 
up  electrical  construction  work,  continuing  thus  engaged  until  1896.  In 
that  year  Mr.  Horton  came  to  Montpelier  and  established  a  news  stand, 
book  store,  and  stationery,  cigar,  tobacco  and  confectionery  business, 
located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Huntington  streets,  in  a  room  in  the 
Columbia  Building,  which  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  flourishing  enter- 
prises of  the  city.  Mr.  Horton  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability, 
and  his  activities  have  been  prosecuted  in  such  an  able  manner  that  he 
has  been  able  to  successfully  compete  with  the  strong  competition  that 
the  years  have  brought.  He  has  at  all  times  maintained  a  high  reputa- 
tion for  integrity  and  honorable  dealing,  and  represents  the  substantial 
and  reliable  element  of  the  town  and  county,  his  life  affording  an  excel- 
lent example  of  thrift,  moderation  and  public  spirit. 

Mr.  Horton  was  married  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Annette  Beck, 
daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  Ann  (Kittle)  Beck,  the  former  born  in 
Ohio  and  the  latter  in  New  York.  They  were  residents  of  Ohio  for  many 
years,  the  father  dying  at  Fremont  in  1885,  while  the  mother  still  sur- 
vives and  makes  her  home  with  her  three  daughters.  Although  now 
nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  she  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  Mrs.  Horton 
was  reared  and  educated  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  and  has  been  the  mother  of 
the    following    children:      Anna   L.,    educated    at   Marion    and   Mount 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  111 

Pleasant,  a  graduate  of  the  statu  norma]  school,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  A.  Doods,  and  has  one  sou, — Horton  ('..  horn  m  .May.  1909; 
and  Harry  Zink,  bom  in  1887,  a  graduate  of  the  Montpelier  High  school, 
who  now  has  a  position  with  the  Chaney  Hardware  Company  .Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hortou  are  members  of  the  .Methodist  Episcopal  church,  iu  which 
Mr.  Horton  is  a  steward,  while  -Mrs.  Ilorton  is  president  of  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society.  Mr.  Hortou  is  fraternally  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  iu  both  of  which  he 
has  tilled  all  the  chairs  aud  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

Joseph  H.  Rhoades.  A  resident  of  Hartford  City  since  1*74.  Mr. 
Rhoades'  name  is  associated  with  various  phases  of  the  city's  commer- 
cial activities.  At  first  in  the  merchandise  business,  he  transferred  his 
attention  in  1SS0  to  real  estate  and  insurance,  and  has  the  distinction 
of  haviug  established  the  first  insurance  office  at  the  count}-  seat.  His 
activities  in  real  estate  and  insurance  have  aggregated  a  greater  volume 
than  those  of  any  other  company  or  individual  iu  the  county,  and  his 
position  as  one  of  the  successful  factors  in  the  community  has  long  been 
assured. 

Mr.  Rhoades  comes  of  a  Pennsylvania-Dutch  family,  and  it  was  estab- 
lished during  the  colonial  days  of  American  history.  His  grandfather, 
Jacob  Rhoades.  who  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  about 
1780-82,  was  married  in  his  native  county  to  Madelina  Smith,  also  of 
Pennsylvania  stock  and  an  old  family.  After  his  marriage  Jacob  Rhoades 
and  wife  moved  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Licking  county.  In  the  various 
generations  there  have  been  many  meu  prominent  in  affairs,  and  Jacob 
Rhoades  had  many  extensive  interests.  Besides  farming  he  operated  a 
mill,  owned  and  operated  two  pig-iron  furnaces  and  maintains  a  service 
for  transportation  by  wagon  and  teams  of  goods  from  Philadelphia  to 
Zanesville  and  other  trading  points  in  Ohio.  After  selling  his  interests 
in  Licking  county  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Delaware  county  of  the  same 
state,  and  henceforth  carried  on  his  agricultural  and  stock  raising  opera- 
tions on  a  large  scale.  It  was  his  distinction  to  have  been  a  pioneer  in  the 
introduction  of  Durham  cattle  into  Ohio.  His  excellent  judgment  and 
his  management  enabled  him  to  accumulate  a  large  estate,  chiefly  in  land, 
and  when  he  became  old  he  distributed  the  greater  part  of  his  six  or 
seven  hundred  acres  of  farms  among  his  children,  giving  each  one  an 
80  acre  tract,  a  substantial  start  iu  life.  Mr.  Rhoades  died  at  a  good  old 
age  at  Dublin  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  in  1863.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  all  over  Central  Ohio,  and  for  many  years  was  an  active  supporter 
of  the  whig  faith  in  politics,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  people  of 
that  class  who  do  most  towards  upbuilding  any  community  in  its  forma- 
tive stages.  His  wife  passed  away  several  years  before  him.  They  had 
a  large  family,  including  Jacob  Jr.,  William,  John,  Joseph,  Henry, 
Eliza,  Kate,  and  Annie.  All  married  and  had  children  and  all  are  now 
deceased,  some  of  them  having  passed  away  in  Ohio  and  others  in  Mis- 
souri. As  a  family  they  were  all  successful,  and  usually  farmers  and 
stock  dealers,  though  occasionally  one  branched  out  into  exclusive  busi- 
ness lines  or  into  a  profession. 

Henry  Rhoades,  the  father  of  the  veteran  Hartford  City  business 
man,  was  born  in  1809,  either  in  Pennsylvania  or  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio.  His  youth  was  spent  in  Licking  county,  where  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Holmes.  She  was  born  in  Muskingum  county.  Ohio,  in  1819  and 
died  on  Christmas  Day  of  1907,  at  a  venerable  age.  Her  death  occurred 
in  Columbus,  Ohio.  She  too  was  of  a  Pennsylvania  family,  and  her 
father  Peter  Holmes,  had  served  as  a  soldier  and  with  the  rank  of  an 
officer  in  the  war  of  1812,  being  inspector  of  meats  for  the  commissary 


112  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

department.  Peter  Holmes  died  at  Mt,  Sterling,  Ohio,  on  the  old  Na- 
tional Road,  at  a  good  old  age.  After  his  military  experience  he  had  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock  buying,  and  was  a  man  of  considerable  business 
and  civic  prominence. 

The  ten  children  of  Henry  Rhoades  and  wife  were:  Joseph  H. ; 
John,  who  died  a  young  man  of  twenty-two ;  Jane,  who  lives  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  the  wife  of  Al  McCoy,  and  has  three  children ;  Jacob,  now  deceased, 
who  was  twice  married  and  left  a  family  of  children ;  Mary  is  a  resident 
of  Columbus,  Ohio,  married  and  without  issue;  Henry,  who  for  many 
years  was  superintendent  of  the  stock  yards  and  is  now  in  the  insurance 
and  real  estate  business  in  Columbus,  Ohio;  Simon,  who  accidentally 
shot  himself  while  hunting  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  Douglas,  who  lives 
in  Columbus  and  has  several  children;  Jackson,  who  died  in  young  man- 
hood ;  and  Nathaniel,  who  lives  in  Columbus,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  aud 
makes  his  home  with  his  sister  Mary. 

Joseph  II.  Rhoades  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  August  16, 
1834,  but  when  four  years  of  age  his  parents  took  him  to  Delaware 
county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  marriage  occurred  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  Margaret  E.  Carr  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  in  1844,  but  was  reared  in  Miami  county,  a 
daughter  of  Absolom  and  Mary  Carr,  both  of  whom  lived  to  a  good  old 
age  and  died  on  a  farm  in  Miami  county. 

After  his  marriage  Joseph  H.  Rhoades  located  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  and 
was  connected  with  the  railways  there,  now  a  part  of  the  Panhandle 
Road,  from  1861  until  1865.  His  next  business  location  was  at  Urbana, 
Ohio,  where  he  did  merchandising,  and  in  1874,  forty  years  ago,  moved 
to  Hartford  City.  His  enterprise  here  for  several  years  was  a  general 
store  on  the  south  side  of  the  square.  In  1880  Mr.  Rhoades  gave  up  sell- 
ing goods  by  retail,  and  opened  an  office  for  insurance  and  real  estate. 
From  that  time  on  his  time  and  attention  has  been  devoted  to  those  lines, 
and  his  success  has  been  notable.  He  was,  as  already  mentioned,  the 
first  regular  insurance  man  in  Hartford  City.  It  can  also  be  credited 
to  him  that  he  has  handled  more  sales  of  farms  and  farm  lands  in  this 
county  than  any  other  real  estate  man.  His  large  and  well  equipped 
office  is  in  the  Cooley  Block  on  the  west  side  of  the  square.  Mr.  Rhoades 
represents  sixteen  fire  insurance  companies.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
and  National  Insurance  Association,  and  has  long  had  a  recognized 
prominence  in  his  business.  For  the  past  twenty-two  years  associated 
with  him  as  his  capable  assistant  has  been  Miss  Bertha  M.  Dale,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Indiana  and  is  one  of  the  most  capable  business 
women  of  Blackford  county.  She  has  familiarized  herself  with  every 
department  of  Mr.  Rhoades'  work,  is  a  practical  abstractor,  both  she  and 
Mr.  Rhoades  are  notary  publics,  and  she  deserves  much  credit  for  the 
successful  business  which  has  been  carried  on  under  Mr.  Rhoades'  name 
for  so  many  years. 

Mr.  Rhoades  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order  in  the  Lodge,  Chap- 
ter and  Council,  and  has  passed  several  chairs.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Elks  Lodge  No.  625  of  Hartford  City,  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat. 

William  N.  Cunningham.  During  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  a 
large  amount  of  the  building  enterprise  in  Hartford  City  and  vicinity 
has  been  performed  by  William  N.  Cunningham,  whose  career  as  a 
building  contractor  has  brought  him  a  successful  position  in  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Cunningham  represents  one  of  the  very  earliest  families 
located  in  Blackford  county,  and  their  home  has  been  in  this  section  of 
Indiana  for  eighty-five  years.  The  family  was  established  here  by  his 
grandfather,  and  its  various  members  have  always  been  noted  for  their 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        113 

good  citizenship  and  ability  to  manage  their  own  affairs  successfully 
and  provide  well  for  their  families. 

The  Cunninghams  came  from  Virginia,  grandfather  Adam  Cunning- 
ham having  been  a  native  of  that  state  and  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Ee  was 
born  about  1800,  when  a  young  man  moved  to  Ohio,  and  there  married 
a  Miss  Denny,  who  was  also  born  in  Virginia  probably  about  three 
years  after  her  husband,  and  also  of  Scotch  forefathers.  To  their  union 
were  born  the  following  children:  Jane.  Lydia,  John  M.,  Henry,  Sarah. 
Andrew  .]..  Nancy  and  Marinda.  In  1829,  after  the  birth  of  tic  first 
three  children,  the  grandparents  put  their  possessions  and  children  on 
wagons  and  with  teams  drove  across  the  country  to  Blackford  county, 
locating  on  government  land  four  ami  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Eart- 
ford  City  in  Licking  township.  Adam  Cunningham  having  selected  his 
location  and  made  some  disposition  of  his  family,  walked  all  the  way  to 
Fort  Wayne,  a  distance  of  more  than  fifty  miles,  in  order  to  perfect 
his  entry  and  get  a  title  to  his  land.  In  that  place  he  worked  hard 
and  gradually  improved  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
The  old  log  house  was  subsequently  replaced  by  a  good  frame  dwelling, 
and  his  wife  having  died  in  middle  life  he  married  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Lavina  Romain.  She  owned  a  farm  in  her  own  right,  and  they 
lived  on  that  place  until  their  death,  he  passing  away  in  1872  and  she 
some  years  later.  There  were  no  children  by  the  second  marriage.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Dunkard  church,  and  his  politics  was  democratic. 
Of  the  children  of  Adam  Cunningham  still  living  the  following  are 
mentioned :  Henry  Cunningham,  who  lives  in  Montpelier  and  has  three 
sons;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  James  McVicker  of  Blackford  county,  and 
lives  on  a  farm  and  has  three  children:  Marinda  is  the  widow  of  Francis 
Bell,  and  has  her  home  on  Main  street,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  sons  and 
two  daughters;  Nancy  is  the  widow  of  Abner  Needier,  of  the  old  Needier 
family  of  Grant  and  Blackford  counties. 

John  M.  Cunningham,  the  father  of  W.  N.  Cunningham,  who  was 
the  third  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1827.  and  was  just  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  set  out  for  Indiana.  On  the  old  homestead 
in  Licking  township  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  later  was  married  in 
Jackson  township  to  Tsabel  Hamilton,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  about  1837, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Hamilton.  The  Hamilton  family 
moved  to  Blackford  county  at  a  quite  early  day.  and  lived  here  and  in 
Wells  county  until  both  Thomas  and  Mary  died,  the  former  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  and  the  latter  at  eighty-seven.  Thomas  Hamilton  was 
a  republican  in  polities. 

After  his  marriage  John  M.  Cunningham  located  on  a  farm  in 
Licking  township,  and  kept  his  home  there  until  1873.  when  he  moved  to 
Hartford  city  and  after  that  worked  principally  at  the  carpenter  trade, 
but  finally  retired  and  spent  his  last  years  in  comfort.  His  death  oc- 
curred December  24.  1910.  His  widow  is  still  living,  at  the  home  of  a 
daughter  in  Michigan,  and  is  now  past  seventy  years  old.  Both  she  and 
her  husband  were  members  of  the  Dunkard  church,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a  democrat  throughout  his  career.  John  M.  Cunningham  and  wife 
had  the  following  children :  Mary,  who  died  when  three  or  four  years 
old:  Eliza,  who  lives  in  Texas  as  the  wife  of  Alex  McNeal ;  William  N. ; 
George  W..  who  is  a  machinist  in  Toledo.  Ohio,  and  has  three  daughters ; 
Eleanor,  who  is  now  living  with  her  second  husband  in  northern  Mich- 
igan, and  has  no  living  children. 

The  birth  of  William  N.  Cunningham  occurred  in  Licking  township 
November  22,  1864.  The  common  schools  furnished  him  his  book  train- 
ing, and  from  1880  until  1884  he  worked  out  a  thorough  apprenticeship 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.    After  that  for  a  number  of  .years  he  was  em- 


114  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ployed  under  various  contractors  as  journeyman,  and  in  1903  established 
a  business  as  a  building  contractor  in  Hartford  City.  Since  then  he  has 
employed  his  business  organization  in  the  construction  of  a  number  of 
private  residences  and  much  business  property  and  also  has  erected 
several  public  schools  in  the  county.  In  politics  Mr.  Cunningham  be- 
longs to  the  republican  party  and  is  a  temperance  man,  advocating 
prohibition. 

In  1886  Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  in  his  old  home  community 
in  Licking  township  to  Lavina  Alice  Hollingshead.  Her  birth  occurred 
in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  October  26,  1869,  and  she  was  reared 
partly  there  and  partly  in  Blackford  county,  with  her  education  sup- 
plied by  the  schools  of  both  localities.  Her  parents  were  James  and 
Ann  Louisa  (Rutter)  Hollingshead.  Her  father  was  born  in  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  and  her  mother  in  Virginia,  and  both  came  with  their  re- 
spective parents  to  Delaware  county,  locating  on  partly  improved  land 
near  Granville.  Mrs.  Cunningham's  grandmother  Hollingshead  was 
ninety-three  years  of  age  when  she  died  and  her  grandmother  Rutter 
attained  the  age  of  eighty-three.  James  and  Anna  Louisa  Hollingshead 
had  a  good  farm  in  Licking  township,  and  her  father  enjoyed  a  reputa- 
tion as  an  able  trader  and  was  quite  a  prosperous  man.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1897,  while  his  wife  passed  away  May  13,  1900,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four.  Both  were  members  for  many  years  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  he  was  a  democrat.  Mrs.  Cunningham  was  one  of  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  married  but  one.  No  children 
have  come  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunningham,  and  they  have  mantained  a 
hospitable  home  for  their  friends  and  are  generous  and  active  workers 
in  the  community  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Hartford  City. 

William  Bird.  That  Blackford  county  ranks  high  among  the  agri- 
cultural regions  of  the  Central  West  is  largely  due  to  the  exertions  of 
such  men  as  William  Bird,  whose  privilege  it  has  been  to  realize  many 
worthy  ambitions,  and  through  the  exercise  of  good  judgment  and  busi- 
ness sagacity  wrest  from  his  opportunities  a  full  measure  of  success.  His 
career  has  been  a  long  and  active  one,  and  at  all  times  has  been  charac- 
terized by  a  strict  adherence  to  integrity,  and  his  conduct  has  been  such 
as  to  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  the  builders  of  this  rich  and  productive 
section  of  the  Hoosier  state.  Mr.  Bird  was  born  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Blackford  county,  Indiana,  July  22,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Caroline   (Williams)   Bird. 

The  Bird  family  originated  in  Ireland,  from  whence  the  grandfather 
of  James  Bird  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Ohio.  For 
some  years  they  resided  in  the  Buckeye  state  and  then  came  to  Indiana, 
but  in  their  later  years  removed  to  Kansas,  and  there  passed  away  on 
their  farm,  ripe  in  years  and  in  the  possession  of  a  comfortable  income. 
They  were  Protestants  in  their  religious  faith,  and  the  grandfather  was 
a  stalwart  republican.  James  Bird  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  coming  to  Indiana  in  his  youth.  He  was  married  in  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  to  Caroline  Williams,  and  following  their  union  they 
came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  began  housekeeping  on  a  farm 
in  section  19,  Washington  township.  There  Mr.  Bird  continued  to  be 
engaged  in  successful  farming  enterprises  until  his  death  in  the  prime 
of  life,  in  1865.  He  was  an  energetic  and  industrious  man.  worked 
faithfully  that  he  might  establish  a  home  for  his  children,  and  through  a 
life  of  probity  and  integrity  won  his  fellow-citizens'  respect  and  esteem. 
He  was  the  rather  of  the  following  children:  Joseph,  residing  on  the 
old  Bird  homestead,  has  been  married  twice,  having  a  son  James  by  his 


•^5*p 


s 


] 


«fc 


<^> 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  115 

first  marriage,  and  two  daughters,  Ruth  and  Myrtle,  by  the  second  union; 
Emma  and  Rosella,  who  died  as  small  children;  John,  a  bachelor,  carry- 
ing on    farming   in    Delaware   county.    Indiana;    Evaline,    residing    in 

Idaho,  is  the  widow  of  New  ton  Gaskill,  and  has  five  sons;  William,  of 
this  iwicw:  ami  .Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  Mr.  Bird 
was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  was  a  republican 
in  political  matters,  hut  found  little  time  to  spare  from  his  farming 
interests  to  devote  to  public  affairs,  and  never  was  a  seeker  after  public 
office.  After  his  death  .Mrs.  Bird  was  again  married,  her  husband  being 
Andrew  .1.  Cray,  who  still  survives  and  is  living  at  the  Odd  Fellows 
Home,  at  Greensburg,  Indiana,  being  well  advanced  in  years.  Mrs. 
Gray  died  on  the  old  Bird  homestead  in  Washington  township,  in 
August,  1910,  when  eighty  years  of  age,  in  the  faith  of  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  she  had  been  a  lifelong  member.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray 
were  the  parents  of  one  son :    Lewis. 

"William  Bird  was  reared  in  Washington  township,  and.  varying  the 
routine  of  the  paternal  farm  by  attendance  at  Independence  school  dis- 
trict, grew  to  rugged  manhood,  cherishing  wholesome  ambitions  and 
sane,  practical  ideals.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  and 
grandfather  he  adopted  farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and  upon  at- 
taining his  majority  entered  upon  a  career  of  his  own,  excellently 
equipped  both  in  body  and  mind  for  his  struggles  with  the  world.  Mr. 
Bird  was  engaged  in  operations  on  various  properties  in  Washington 
township  until  1908,  when  he  came  to  his  present  farm  in  section  28.  a 
tract  of  forty  acres.  He  has  been  here  but  six  years,  but  during  this  time 
has  made  numerous  improvements,  and  the  property  gives  ample  evi- 
dence of  his  thrift  and  good  management.  It  is  well  laid  out,  is  culti- 
vated to  a  high  degree,  and  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  oats,  corn  and 
wheat,  and  to  large  pastures.  Mr.  Bird  feeding  all  of  his  grain  to  his 
fine  stock.  His  ventures  both  in  cattle  and  hogs  have  been  successful,  and 
as  a  business  man  he  has  displayed  signal  ability.  He  has  a  nice  seven- 
room  house,  erected  in  1908,  as  well  as  a  30x56  barn,  built  in  the  same 
year,  and  the  outbuildings  are  substantial  in  character  and  well  equipped. 
Modern  methods  find  favor  in  Mr.  Bird's  eyes,  and  he  makes  a  study  of 
his  calling,  keeping  fully  abreast  of  its  numerous  advancements. 

Mr.  Bird  was  married  in  Monroe  township.  Grant  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Emma  Futrell,  who  was  born  October  7,  1870,  in  that  county, 
daughter  of  Jordan  and  Rebecca  (Ballinger)  Futrell,  the  former  of 
whom  died  at  Upland,  Indiana,  December  25,  1913,  while  the  latter  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in 
Monroe  towuship.  A  complete  review  of  the  Futrell  family  will  be  found 
"iii  another  part  of  this  work.  Mrs.  Bird  died  at  her  home,  August  27, 
1913,  widely  mourned.  She  had  been  the  mother  of  these  children  : 
Lester  J.  and  Chester  J.,  twins,  born  in  1889,  the  former  of  whom  is 
single  and  lives  with  his  father,  while  the  latter  married  Ora  Johnson 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  "Washington  township ;  and  Ralph,  born  in 
1892.  who  resides  at  home  and  assists  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
homestead.  The  members  of  the  Bird  family  are  all  identified  with  the 
Christian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Bird  was  for  some  years  deacon  at  Inde- 
pendence. He  was  for  a  long  period  a  supporter  of  the  republican  party, 
hut  with  the  birth  of  the  so-called  "Bull  Moose"  party,  in  1912,  trans- 
ferred his  allegiance  to  that  organization  and  has  since  supported  pro- 
gressive candidates. 

Joseph  N.  Gettys,  Among  the  substantial  farmers  of  Blackford 
county  who  have  made  more  than  an  ordinarily  creditable  record  in 
husbandry  as  well  as  in  citizenship,  is  Joseph  N.  Gettys,  whose  hand- 


116  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

some  residence  and  valuable  farm  are  located  in  section  9,  Licking 
township.  Few  of  the  citizens  of  this  locality  can  boast  of  a  longer  resi- 
dence here,  for  Mr.  Gettys  has  passed  his  entire  life  of  sixty-seven  years 
within  the  limits  of  this  locality,  having  been  born  on  the  farm  he  now 
occupies,  January  24,  1847,  a  grandson  of  Joseph  Gettys,  who  was  born 
near  Waynesburg,  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  the  year  1780, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  adopted  the  vocation  of  agricvdturist. 
He  first  came  to  Indiana  on  horseback  to  visit  his  sons,  then  returning 
to  his  Pennsylvania  home,  where  he  died  in  ripe  old  age.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  ventures,  being  honest,  industrious  and  enterprising  and 
was  known  as  one  of  his  community's  substantial  men.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  a  Pennsylvania  girl,  who  died  there,  and  they  reared  a  family  of 
thirteen  children,  most  of  whom  settled  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  married 
and  reared  families,  and  all  now  deceased.  Of  these  children,  James 
Gettys,  the  father  of  Joseph  N.,  was  the  eldest.  He  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  Waynesburg,  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  November, 
1808,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  He  came  to  In- 
diana in  1838,  on  horseback  and  secured  120  acres  of  land  in  section 
9,  Licking  township,  entering  this  property  from  the  Government.  After 
deadening  ten  acres,  he  left  it  in  charge  of  another  early  settler,  with 
instructions  to  raise  a  log  house,  while  Mr.  Gettys  returned  to  his  Penn- 
sylvania home.  After  three  years,  with  his  wife  and  one  daughter,  Ann 
Eliza,  he  returned  to  Indi'ana  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  log 
cabin  home,  and  here  began  to  make  improvements.  Later,  in  1861,  he 
added  forty  acres  more  to  his  property  and  this  he  improved  and  made 
into  a  beautiful  home.  Here  he  passed  away  in  September,  1869,  his 
widow  surviving  him  until  1882.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Moore, 
and  she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1S16,  and  there  married 
"William  Penn,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons :  Clare,  who  died  as  a  soldier 
during  the  Civil  War,  of  sickness;  and  William,  who  also  served  in 
that  struggle  as  a  member  of  a  volunteer  regiment  from  Wisconsin, 
was  a  brave  and  faithful  soldier  and  now  owns  a  good  farm  of  his  own 
at  Monroe,  Wisconsin,  and  is  living  a  quiet,  retired  life.  Joseph  N. 
Gettys  was  the  second  child  born  to  the  parents,  and  the  first  born  in 
Indiana.  He  has  one  living  brother,  Samuel,  who  is  now  retired  and 
lives  in  Hartford  City,  married,  and  the  father  of  four  children. 

After  completing  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Licking  town- 
ship, Joseph  N.  Gettys  concentrated  his  attention  upon  agricultural  pur- 
suits, in  which  he  has  been  engaged  all  of  his  life.  At  the  time  of  his 
father's  death  he  inherited  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  then  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  some  of  the  other  heirs,  so  that  he  now  has  eighty- 
seven  acres  of  some  of  the  finest  land  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  He  owns  two  farmhouses,  painted  white,  with  a  large  and  com- 
modious barn  and  substantial  outbuildings,  painted  red,  and  all  the 
equipment  is  of  the  latest  manufacture  and  everything  about  the  place 
is  in  the  finest  repair.  Although  he  is  now  retired  from  active  pursuits, 
having  accumulated  a  handsome  competency  through  his  years  of  faith- 
ful labor,  he  still  superintends  the  operations  on  his  land,  especially  in 
the  department  of  stock  raising,  in  which  he  is  an  expert.  He  is  widely 
known  all  over  this  part  of  Blackford  county,  and  has  won  and  main- 
tained the  respect  and  esteem  of  those  who  know  him  best. 

Mr.  Gettys  was  married  in  Licking  township  to  the  daughter  of  a 
neighbor.  Miss  Elizabeth  Kemmer.  She  was  born  on  a  farm  in  section 
9,  Licking  township,  on  a  part  of  600  acres  that  had  been  entered  by  her 
grandfather,  Peter  Kemmer.  at  an  early  day,  he  having  migrated  to 
this  locality  from  Kentucky  after  his  marriage  to  Christina  Taylor. 
They  spent  many  years  in  this  locality,  but  finally  went  to  live  with  a 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  117 

sou  iii  Payette  county,  Indiana,  where  they  died  when  about  ninety  years 
of  age.  Tiny  were  honest.  God-fearing  people,  and  held  the  universal 
respect  of  those  who  lived  in  their  community,  Mrs.  Kemmer  was  a 
member  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church  for  many  years.  Of  their 
three  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  have  passed  away.  Samuel  Kemmer, 
the  second  son  and  third  child,  was  the  father  of  ill's.  Gettys.  lie  was 
born  -May  10.  1823,  was  a  farmer  all  of  his  life,  and  died  at  the  home 
of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gettys.  May  •">.  1907.  In  polities  he  was  a  demo- 
crat, and  was  known  as  an  influential  man  in  his  community,  lie  was 
married  in  Blackford  county  to  .Miss  Emma  J.  Ellis,  who  was  born 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  May  8,  1825.  and  came  to  the  Hoosier 
state  with  her  parents  as  a  child.  She  passed  away  on  the  old  Gettys 
farm  in  Licking  township,  March  11,  1898.  She  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church,  and  was  locally  well  known  and  greatly 
beloved  because  of  her  many  estimable  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 
There  were  four  children  in  her  family:  Samantha,  who  died  after 
her  marriage  and  left  four  children;  Mrs.  Jacob  Kemmer,  who  lives 
at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  has  one  daughter;  Mrs.  Gettys;  aud  Charles, 
who  lives  at  Marion.  Indiana,  is  married  and  has  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gettys  have  had  two  children,  Ruth  and  Earl, 
both  of  whom  died  in  early  infancy.  The}-  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  Formerly  a  republican,  during  the  past 
twenty  years  Mr.  Gettys  has  given  his  stanch  support  to  the  prohibi- 
tion party,  and  to  the  men  and  measures  which  he  feels  will  best  ad- 
vance the  moral,  educational  and  material  interests  of  the  county  of 
his  birth. 

Ralph  W.  Burkhakt.  One  of  the  young  and  aggressive  business 
men  of  Hartford  City  is  Ralph  W.  Burkhart,  engaged  in  the  monument 
and  undertaking  business  with  offices  in  the  Masonic  Temple  building. 

Mr.  Burkhart  comes  of  German  ancestors,  but  the  family  lived  for 
several  generations  in  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  Levi  Burkhart, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1824  or  1825,  early  in  life  moved  to  Putnam 
county,  Ohio,  and  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  that  vicinity  acquired  a 
large  amount  of  new  and  unimproved  land,  aggregating  in  the  total 
about  eight  hundred  acres,  an  amount  that  was  sufficient  to  give  each 
of  his  children  a  good  farm  and  an  excellent  start  in  the  world.  The 
death  of  this  pioneer  occurred  in  Putnam  county  in  1905  when  he  was 
eighty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  exceptional  character,  a  hard 
worker,  a  loyal  citizen,  and  a  devout  Methodist.  He  was  twice  married 
in  Putnam  county,  and  the  first  wife  died  there,  they  having  likewise 
been  active  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  The  children  of  the 
first  marriage  were :  John  Y. ;  Anna,  who  married  David  Thrapp  of 
Putnam  county;  Andrew,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-one  years:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Coats,  of  Pandora, 
Putnam  county,  Ohio,  and  has  one  foster  daughter;  Samuel,  who  lives 
on  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead,  is  married  and  has  six  sons  and  three 
daughters;  Anna  whose  husband  Stanley  Crawford  occupies  a  part  of 
the  old  Burkhart  homestead  in  Putnam  county,  and  they  have  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  By  his  second  marriage  Levi  Burkhart  had  one  son.  Emmett. 
who  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father. 

John  Y.  Burkhart.  father  of  the  Hartford  City  business  man.  was, 
born  in  Putnam  county  in  1850  and  died  in  Steuben  county.  Indiana,  in 
February.  1904.  His  education  was  acquired  by  attendance  at  the  Ger- 
man settlement  schools  in  his  native  county,  and  his  life  began  as  a 
farmer  and  stock  buyer  and  shipper.  Reverses  came  to  him  in  this  occu- 
pation as  a  result  of  fluctuating  markets,  and  finally  in  1887  he  moved  to 


118  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Indiana  and  settled  at  Angola  in  Steuben  county.  There  he  became  a 
commission  fruit  merchant  and  was  also  prominent  in  public  affairs. 
One  of  the  leaders  of  the  republican  party  in  the  county,  he  served  as 
city  marshal  at  Angola  for  four  years,  was  a  member  of  the  council  and 
before  his  death  acquired  a  comfortable  prosperity.  He  was  much  in- 
terested in  the  Methodist  church,  a  class  reader,  a  trustee  for  years, 
and  also  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  His  home 
church  felt  his  leadership  and  influence  to  be  almost  indispensable,  and 
it  was  a  heavy  loss  to  the  community  when  he  died.  John  Y.  Burkhart 
was  married  in  his  native  county  in  Ohio  to  Miss  Clara  Thrapp,  who  was 
born  in  Putnam  county  in  1851,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  and 
now  lives  at  Angola.  Like  her  husband  much  of  her  interest  has  been 
taken  up  with  church  affairs,  and  both  parents  have  enjoyed  the  venera- 
tion and  honor  of  their  children.  Her  parents  both  lived  and  died  in 
Putnam  comity,  Ohio,  were  farming  people,  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  in  politics  republican.  The  children  of  John  Burkhart 
and  wife  were  as  follows:  Violet  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  S.  L.  Roberts  of 
Franklin,  Indiana,  state  superintendent  of  the  Baptist  Mission,  and  their 
three  living  children  are  Alice,  Gladys  and  Elizabeth,  while  Princess 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  George  McConkey 
office  manager  for  the  International  Harvester  Company  at  Bellows 
Falls,  and  their  children  are  Lowell,  Virginia,  Dorothy,  and  Ruth;  0. 
W.,  who  is  in  the  laundry  business  at  St.  Mary's,  Ohio,  is  married  and 
has  a  son  John  Y. ;  Charles,  who  is  proprietor  of  the  Angola  Steam 
Laundry,  is  married  but  has  no  children;  Bessie  is  the  wife  of  John 
Welda,  a  druggist  at  Kendallville,  and  they  have  no  children ;  Ralph  W. 
is  the  next  in  the  family ;  Barbara  Hope  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Reilly,  a 
pharmacist  associated  with  Mr.  Welda  at  Kendallville,  and  their  one 
son  is  Robert;  Hazel  E.  is  the  wife  of  Edward  C.  Flanders,  a  civil  engi- 
neer by  profession,  and  they  have  their  home  with  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Burkhart;  Marjorie  is  the  wife  of  Cyrus  Cruz,  an  electrical  engineer 
employed  by  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  at  Michigan  City,  Indiana. 

Ralph  W.  Burkhart  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  October  26, 
1886,  and  was  one  year  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Angola,  Indiana. 
Like  his  brothers  and  sisters  he  was  well  educated  in  the  city  schools,  and 
after  leaving  the  high  school  spent  three  years  with  his  brothers  in  the 
steam  laundry  business.  This  was  followed  by  two  years  of  experience 
with  L.  N.  Klink,  an  undertaker  and  monument  man,  and  in  1910  he 
graduated  from  the  Barnes  Embalming  School  at  Chicago,  one  of  the 
best  institutions  for  the  training  of  undertakers  in  the  country.  With  a 
brief  experience  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Angola,  Mr.  Burk- 
hart in  1912  came  to  Hartford  City  and  has  since  been  identified  with 
C.  F.  Rutledge  in  the  monument  business  and  undertaking.  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge  is  a  graduate  embalmer  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  the  two  young 
men  both  possess  the  enterprise  required  for  successful  business  careers, 
and  enjoy  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  a  large  number  of  the  best 
people  in  Blackford  county. 

Mr.  Burkhart  is  unmarried,  and  is  well  known  in  fraternal  circles  at 
Hartford  City.  He  affiliates  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  was  on  the  committee  which  had  in  charge  the  dedication  cere- 
monies at  the  opening  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Temple  at  Hartford  City.  He 
is  also  affiliated  with  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  in  politics  is  a 
democrat. 

Henry  Blake.  Solid  business  connections  and  natural  ability,  com- 
bined with  thorough  experience,  assist  a  merchant  to  vie  successfully  with 
competitors,   and   in   many   instances   by   developing   an   originality   of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  119 

handling  sales  to  distance  them  and  secure  success  thorough  the  medium 
of  the  best  advertisement — that  of  the  satisfied  customer.  Among  the 
substantial  merchants  of  Blackford  county,  one  whose  prosperity  has 
been  gained  thus  is  Henry  Blake,  the  proprietor  of  a  thriving  grocery 
business  at  Hartford  City,  and  one  of  his  community's  most  energetic 
and  progressive  men. 

Mr.  Blake  comes  of  old  ami  honored  New  England  ancestry,  his 
father,  Hiram  Blake,  being  born  in  Connecticut  in  1822,  his  grand- 
father, Samuel  Blake,  being  also  a  native  of  that  state.  The  latter,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  five  sons,  moved  to  Vinton  county,  Ohio,  in 
1824.  and  not  long  thereafter  the  grandmother  died  when  still  in  middle 
life,  while  Samuel  Blake  died  in  Vinton  county  when  past  eighty  years 
of  age.  one  of  his  locality's  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizens. 
Of  his  sons,  there  grew  to  maturity:  Edward.  Samuel,  Jr.  and  Hiram 
and  Henry.  Henry  Blake  moved  to  Huntington  county,  Indiana,  and 
died  there  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  being  married  and  the 
father  of  two  sons.  Edward  lived  and  died  in  Vinton  county,  Ohio, 
reaching  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  was  married  and  left  a  son  and  a 
daughter.  Samuel  Blake,  Jr.,  was  a  resident  of  Vinton  county.  Ohio, 
throughout  his  life,  and  like  his  brothers  was  a  well-to-do  farmer.  He 
was  married  and  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years  left  four  sons, 
of  whom  three  are  well  known  physicians  of  Ohio.  Drs.  Charles,  Henry 
and  Horton  Blake,  the  last-named  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Franklin 
county,  living  near  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Hiram  Blake  was  still  a  lad  when  taken  to  Vinton  county,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  grew  up  as  a  farmer  hoy.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Bobo, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  in  1850  they  migrated  to  Indiana 
and  settled  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Kessler  farm,  in  Delaware 
county.  The  family  made  the  journey  through  with  teams,  being  forced 
to  cut  their  way  through  the  timber  to  their  pioneer  home,  and  that  land 
was  cleared  and  put  under  cultivation  by  Mr.  Blake.  Subsequently  he 
moved  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  in  1873  came  to  Hartford 
City,  which  continued  to  be  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death.  .March 
27,  1910.  Mrs.  Blake  followed  him  to  the  grave  February  15,  1905. 
They  were  earnest,  honest.  God-fearing  people,  Mr.  Blake  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  Light  church  and  Mrs.  Blake  a  -Methodist.  Stanch  as  a 
democrat,  he  served  one  term  as  assessor  and  contributed  to  his  com- 
munity's welfare  in  numerous  ways.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  one  is  deceased.  E.  Catherine,  who  died  after  her 
marriage  to  William  Andrews,  and  left  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Those 
who  survive  are  as  follows:  Sarah  M..  who  is  the  wife  of  James  R.  Rob- 
erts, and  a  resident  of  Hartford  City,  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  married;  Samuel  (III),  who  is  the  proprietor  of  a  thriv- 
ing restaurant  business  in  Muncie,  and  the  father  of  three  daughters 
and  one  son:  Ezekiel.  living  in  Hartford  City,  the  father  of  one  son  and 
two  daughters;  Malinda,  the  wife  of  B.  Edgington,  M.  I).,  of  Warren, 
Indiana,  and  the  mother  of  one  son  and  two  daughters;  Henry:  and 
Hiram  J.,  whose  prosperous  restaurant  business  is  located  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Square  in  Hartford  City,  is  married  and  has  a  son  and 
daughter,   both   married. 

Henry  Blake  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Blackford  county. 
Indiana.  September  8,  1861,  and  there  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when- be  became  a  clerk 
in  J.  P.  Winters  &  Sons'  store,  and  then  entered  a  grocery  establishment. 
where  he  acted  in  a  like  capacity,  thus  gaining  much  valuable  experi- 
ence. Upon  attaining  his  majority,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Reasoner,  but  this  venture  proved  an  unsuccessful  one,  and  Mr.  Blake 


120  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

was  left  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  firm.  Disappointed,  but  not  discouraged, 
he  started  all  over  again,  accepting  a  clerkship  with  J.  P.  Winters  & 
Sons,  the  same  firm  with  whom  he  first  started,  and  where  he  continued 
for  ten  years,  and  then,  in  1882,  again  became  the  proprietor  of  a  gro- 
cery business,  which  he  conducted  successfully  for  four  years.  He  then 
entered  the  shoe  business,  with  which  he  was  identified  until  1897,  and 
from  that  year  until  1900  was  engaged  as  a  jobber  of  groceries,  etc.,  in 
Indianapolis.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  came  to  Hartford  City  and 
established  his  present  business,  which  has  proved  a  most  successful  one. 
In  1910  Mr.  Blake  erected  his  present  store,  a  structure  40x90  feet,  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  Square,  occupying  both  up  and  down  stairs 
and  carrying  a  full  line  of  the  most  up-to-date  goods.  He  has  steadily 
built  up  a  trade  of  large  proportions,  the  people  of  his  community  realiz- 
ing that  he  is  familiar  with  their  needs  and  wants  and  ready  to  supply 
them  at  reasonable  prices.  His  business  transactions  have  shown  him  a 
shrewd  man  of  affairs,  always  ready  to  grasp  an  opportunity,  yet  one 
who  is  honorable  in  all  things  and  with  a  thorough  respect  for  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  others. 

Mr.  Blake  was  married  in  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Clara 
Runkle,  who  was  born  in  Wells  county,  Indiana,  and  there  reared  and 
educated,  and  where  her  parents  were  early  settlers.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Blake  are  the  parents  of:  Susie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Irey,  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois,  and  has  two  children, — Robert  and  Henry;  Florence, 
who  is  single,  and  the  proprietress  of  a  millinery  business  in  Hartford 
City;  Harry  O,  who  holds  a  position  with  the  Standard  Oil  Company, 
of  Oklahoma,  and  is  single;  Lucille,  who  is  the  wife  of  Raymond  Rapp, 
a  butcher  of  Hartford  City,  and  has  one  daughter, — Vivian ;  Ruth  and 
Blanche,  who  reside  with  their  parents  and  are  attending  the  Hartford 
City  High  school ;  and  Wallace  and  Clara,  who  are  attending  the  graded 
schools  of  this  city.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  May  24,  1905,  in 
the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Blake  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  Although  not  an  office  seeker,  he  has  taken  an  interest  in  all  that 
affects  his  community.  A  first-class  business  man,  who  knows  every  de- 
tail of  his  work,  a  loyal  citizen  striving  to  bring  about  good  government 
and  aid  in  the  moral  uplift,  he  has  achieved  a  remarkable  success  during 
his  lifetime,  and  may  be  well  numbered  among  those  who  have  been  the 
architects  of  their  own  fortunes,  and  who  have  builded  well. 

Rev.  Lewis  Reeves.  Known  and  revered  for  his  long  and  faithful 
service  as  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Mr.  Reeves 
has  now  retired  from  active  pastoral  work  of  specific  order  and  is  the 
able  incumbent  of  the  office  of  deputy  county  clerk  of  Blackford  county, 
where  his  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of  his  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Reeves  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Union  City,  Darke  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1847,  and  his  lineage  is  traced  back  to  staunch 
English  origin.  He  was  named  in  honor  of  his  grandfather,  Lewis 
Reeves,  who  was  born  near  Bridgeton,  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey, 
between  1790  and  1795,  and  who  served  for  a  time  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  At  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  in  February,  1818,  he  married 
Hannah  Miller,  who  likewise  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  of  German  an- 
cestry. Mr.  Reeves  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  he  continued  to  fol- 
low his  vocation  in  New  Jersey  for  a  number  of  years.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  however,  he  came  to  the  West  and  first  established  his  home 
at  Warren,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  work  of 
his  trade  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  business  men  of  the  town,  his 
residence  having  there  been  established  within  the  year  1818.     In  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  12] 

earlier  '40s  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
few  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Union  City  lie  purchased  a  farm  of 
forty  acres,  to  the  development  and  cultivation  of  which  he  directed  ins 

energies,  the  while  he  maintained  a  profitable  business  in  making  hoots 
and  shoes  for  the  people  of  the  vicinity,  keeping  his  work  bench  in  his 
home.  Both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives  in  Darke 
county,  honored  by  all  who  knew  them,  and  each  passed  the  psalmist's 
allotted  span  of  "three  score  years  and  ten."  Mr.  Reeves  was  a  Whig 
iu  his  politieal  adherency,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  devoul  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  became  the  parents  of 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,   all   of   whom   are   now   deceased   and    each 

of  whom  married  and  reared  children  with  the  exception  of  o I'  the 

daughters. 

Lemuel  M.  Reeves,  father  of  Rev.  Li  wis  Reeves,  was  born  at  Warren, 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  on  the  18th  of  December,  1818.  Reared  to  ma- 
turity in  his  native  town,  he  there  gained  his  early  education  in  the 
pioneer  schools  and  there  also  be  served  a  seven  years'  apprenticeship 
to  the  trad,-  of  cabinetmaking.  He  continued  to  follow  his  trade  after 
his  removal  to  Darke  county.  Ohio,  where  also  he  purchased  and  sold 
two  or  more  farms.  In  1868  he  removed  with  his  Family  to  Converse, 
Miami  county,  Indiana,  and  there  he  passed  the  residue  of  his  long 
and  active  life,  his  death  having  occurred  January  17.  1902,  his  cherished 
and  devoted  wife  having  been  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  tin-  1st  of 
July.  1892.  Her  maiden  name  was  Julia  Bradford,  ami  she  was  horn 
in  Portage  county.  Ohio.  -Inly  12.  1 81D.  their  marriage  having  been 
solemnized  in  Windom,  that  county,  on  the  25th  el'  January,  1842.  Mrs. 
Reeves  was  a  representativi  of  the  historic  old  Bradford  family  of  New 
Eugland,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Millie  (Loveland)  Bradford, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  the  latter  of  Vermont,  their 
marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  Ohio.  They  were  pioneers  of 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  there  each  attained  to  advanced  age.  Mr. 
Bradford  having  been  past  seventy  at  the  time  of  death  and  his  widow 
having  attained  to  the  age  of  eighty-four  years;  both  were  devout 
adherents  of  the  Christian  church  and  in  politics  Mr.  Bradford  was  a 
Whig.  Lemuel  M.  and  Julia  (Bradford)  Reeves  became  the  parents 
of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  at  the  present  time  three  of  the 
sons  are  living,  all  having  married,  as  did  also  the  sister.  Two  of  the 
sons  still  retain  their  residence  at  Converse,  Miami  county,  this  State. 

Rev.  Lewis  Reeves  was  the  eldest  of  the  children  and  he  gained  his 
early  education  in  his  native  county,  later  attending  school  at  Union 
City,  Randolph  county,  Indiana.  Endowed  with  alert  and  receptive 
mentality,  he  devoted  himself  earnestly  to  study  and  reading,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirty-eight  years  he  began  his  ministerial  labors  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  held  a  pastoral  charge  at  Mentone,  Indiana,  for 
three  years;  his  next  incumbency  of  equal  duration  was  at  Fremont, 
Steuben  county;  later  he  was  pastor  of  a  church  at  Harlan,  Allen  county, 
where  he  remained  five  years;  he  next  held  for  five  years  a  pastorate 
at  Swayzee,  Grant  county  ;  was  four  years  at  Russiaville,  Howard  county  ; 
and  in  1906,  after  years  of  earnest  and  fruitful  endeavor  in  the  ministry. 
he  was  retired  by  his  church  and  placed  on  the  superannuated  list.  He 
has  found  satisfaction  in  employing  his  time  and  attention  in  connec- 
tion with  his  present  office,  thai  of  deputy  county  clerk  of  Blackford 
county,  a  position  of  which  he  has  been  the  incumbent  since  January  1 . 
1914,  "and  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  Hartford  City. 

Mr.  Reeves  is  a  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party  and 
is  prominently  affiliated  with  the  Masonic-  fraternity,  in  which  be  is  past 


122  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

master  of  the  lodge.  He  is  identified  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  is  past  commander  of  Coultor  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at 
Russiaville,  as  he  had  served  nearly  two  years  as  a  valiant  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  in  which  he  was  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Cavalry.  He  enlisted  about  six  months  prior  to  his  seventeenth 
birthday  anniversary  and  with  his  command  he  saw  hard  service,  in- 
cluding participation  in  a  number  of  sanguinary  engagements.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  received  his  honorable  discharge,  haping  been  mus- 
tered out  with  his  regiment,  in  which  he  was  a  member  of  Company  B. 
He  took  part  in  fully  twelve  battles  and  during  his  military  career  was 
only  slightly  wounded.  At  Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers  the  father 
of  Mr.  Reeves  enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, with  which  he  served  four  months.  Mr.  Reeves  and  his  wife  are  most 
zealous  and  valued  members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Hartford  City,  and  he  still  finds  more  or  less  requisition  for  his  serv- 
ices as  a  minister  of  this  denomination. 

In  1870,  at  Mill  Grove,  Blackford  county,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Reeves  to  Miss  Mary  Robbins,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  this  State,  on  the  10th  of  November,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeves 
have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  as  foster  parents  they  have  reared  in 
their  home  the  following  named  persons :  Etta  Thorpe,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  William  Lanning,  of  Grant  county;  William  Stewart,  who  re- 
sides at  Mill  Grove,  Blackford  county;  and  Ursie  Morehead,  who  was 
with  her  foster  parents  from  the  time  she  was  four  years  of  age  until 
her  marriage. 

James  B.  Lynn.  It  would  be  difficult  to  discover  a  better  illus- 
tration of  the  results  to  be  attained  by  a  life  of  industry  and  persevering 
effort  than  the  career  of  James  B.  Lynn,  now  a  substantial  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  and 
the  owner  of  160  acres  of  well-improved  land  located  in  sections  19  and 
20.  When  Mr.  Lynn  faced  the  world  on  his  own  account  his  capital 
consisted  of  an  ordinary  common  school  education,  a  sturdy  heart,  a 
high  ambition  and  a  pair  of  willing  hands.  With  these  and  the  clear- 
headed judgment  which  the  years  have  brought  he  has  advanced  himself 
to  a  position  of  acknowledged  prominence  among  the  agriculturists  of 
his  locality,  and  today  stands  as  an  excellent  exemplification  of  the  self- 
made  man. 

Mr.  Lynn  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  November  15,  1855,  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Brower)  Lynn,  both  families  having  long 
been  residents  of  the  Buckeye  state.  His  grandparents  spent  their  lives 
in  tilling  the  soil,  a  vocation  which  the  family  has  followed  for  genera- 
tions, and  reached  advanced  years,  passing  away  in  Ohio.  They  were 
devout  church  people,  and  the  grandfather  was  an  adherent  of  demo- 
cratic principles.  Samuel  and  Jane  Lynn  were  born,  reared,  educated 
and  married  in  Guernsey  county,  there  cultivated  a  valuable  farm,  and 
passed  their  entire  lives  in  the  peaceful  surroundings  of  rural  life.  The 
father  met  an  accidental  death,  being  killed  while  crossing  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  tracks  at  Port  Washington.  Ohio,  by  a  through  freight 
train,  being  at  that  time  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Like  his  father  he  was 
a  democrat,  but  was  a  modest  and  unassuming  man,  never  courted  public 
notice,  and  did  not  care  for  the  honors  of  office.  The  mother  survived  him 
a  number  of  years  and  was  aged  eighty-seven  at  the  time  of  her  death. 
Both  were  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Of  their  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  one  son  and  one  daughter  are  deceased,  and  of  the 
living  all  are  married  with  the  exception  of  one  son. 

James  B.  Lynn  was  granted  the  usual  educational  advantages  secured 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES  123 

by  Ohio  farmers'  sons  of  his  day  and  locality,  but  the  greater  pari  of 
his  education  has  been  secured  in  the  schools  of  experience  and  hard 
work.  He  was  given  a  good  agricultural  training  on  his  father's  home- 
stead, where  he  resided  until  1881,  and  at  that  time  weiii  to  the  oil  sec- 
tion of  Van  Buren  township.  Grant  county,  there  engaging  in  work  as  a 
farmer.  He  was  earnest  and  industrious  and  thriftily  saved  his  earn- 
ings, so  that  iu  1902  he  came  to  Washington  township  and  purchased 
his  present  property,  then  hut  partly  developed  and  undercultivated. 
Mr.  Lynn  at  once  set  about  to  make  improvements,  and  as  the  years 
have  passed  he  has  added  to  his  buildings,  his  machinery  and  his  stock,  so 
that  now  he  has  one  of  the  really  valuable  properties  of  this  part  of  the 
county,  an  attractive  estate  that  evidences  in  its  every  department  the 
careful  and  intelligent  management  of  its  owner.  Mr.  Lynn  is  termed 
a  "hustler"  by  bis  neighbors  and  associates,  his  energetic  nature  and 
keen  foresight  having  led  him  into  progressive  innovations  that  the  more 
conservative  and  less  courageous  have  been  slow  to  adopt.  The  success 
which  he  has  gained  would  seem  to  indicate  that  his  methods  are  desir- 
able. .Air.  Lynn  has  a  tine  ten-room  home,  a  large  barn,  40x44  feet,  and 
a  full  set  of  necessary  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of  his  grain  and  im- 
plements. He  grows  large  crops  of  all  kinds  of  cereals,  from  corn  to 
rye,  is  alive  to  the  latest  methods  and  advocates  strongly  the  use  of  the 
most  modern  machinery.  Aside  from  general  farming,  he  lias  been 
successful  in  raising  stock,  having  tine  Duroc  swine.  Short  Horn  and  Red 
Polled  cattle,  .Merino  sheep  and  a  good  grade  of  horses.  In  his  business 
transactions  he  has  ever  been  honorable  and  aboveboard,  so  that  his  name 
is  .synonymous  with  integrity  and  honesty  and  he  possesses  the  full  con- 
fidence of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  into  contact. 

Mr.  Lynn  was  married  in  Van  Buren  township.  Grant  county.  In- 
diana, to  Bliss  Maybelle  C.  Oliver,  who  was  born  March  19,  1873,  a 
daughter  of  Everett  and  Elvira  (McArthur)  Oliver,  natives  of  Ohio  who 
lived  for  many  years  in  Grant  county  and  there  owned  a  large  farm. 
Mr.  Oliver  died  in  Van  Buren  township,  July  is.  1887,  while  his  widow- 
still  survives,  living  in  "Wells  county  with  her  third  husband  at  the  iilv 
of  sixty-four  years.  She  has  had  no  children  by  her  hist  two  marriages. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  were  members  of  the  Christian  church.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lynn  there  have  been  born  two  children:  .lay  Stewart,  born 
December  15,  1893.  educated  in  the  public  schools,  living  with  his  father 
and  assisting  him  with  his  agricultural  operations,  married  Bertha 
Houseman,  the  daughter  of  George  Houseman,  and  has  a  daughter, 
Catherine,  who  was  born  November  25,  191'!;  and  Florence  June,  born 
June  6,  1898.  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools,  who  lives  at  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynn  and  their  children  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  Mr.  Lynn  adheres  to  the  principles  of  the  democratic 
party,  but  is  not  a  politician  and  has  never  been  a  seeker  after  public 
preferment. 

Joshua  T.  Kellet.  There  are  many  elements  which  render  most 
consistent  the  representation  here  accorded  to  this  sterling  and  honored 
citizen  of  Blackford  county,  where  he  has  maintained  his  home  since  his 
boyhood  days,  where  he  is  a  scion  of  a  prominent  pioneer  family  and 
where  he  has  gained  definite  success  and  prestige  through  well  ordered 
endeavors  and  right  living.  Tie  was  long  and  actively  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits  in  the  county  and  that  he  has  impregnable  place 
in  popular  confidence  and  esteem  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  served, 
and  with  marked  fidelity  and  discrimination,  as  treasurer  of  the  county. 
He  is  now  living  virtually  retired,  in  his  attractive  home,  at  620  Fast 
Main  street.  Hartford  City,  and  it  is  most  gratifying  to  present  in  this 
publication  a  brief  review  of  his  personal  and  ancestral  history. 


124  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Joshua  T.  Kelley  was  born  iu  Campbell  county,  Virginia,  on  the 
14th  of  November,  1844,  and  is  of  staunch  Scotch-Irish  lineage,  both  his 
paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  having  settled  in  the  historic  Old 
Dominion  state  in  an  early  day  and  the  names  of  both  families  having 
been  worthily  identified  with  American  development  and  progress.  The 
paternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Kelley  were  James  and  Betsey  (Stone) 
Kelley,  he  a  Scotchman  and  she  a  Virginian.  They  passed  their  lives 
in  Virginia,  where  they  were  concerned  with  the  great  basic  industry 
of  agriculture ;  both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church  and  they  were 
highly  honored  in  Campbell  county,  where  their  home  was  long  main- 
tained. Benjamin  P.  Kelley,  father  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  June,  1819,  and  in  his  native  state  he 
was  reared  and  educated,  his  early  discipline  of  practical  order  having 
been  that  gained  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  home  farm  or 
plantation.  He  finally  became  a  plantation  overseer,  and  on  the  4th  of 
January,  1844,  he  wedded  Miss  Maria  Elizabeth  Hall,  who  was  born  in 
Campbell  county,  Virginia  and  whose  father,  Isham  Hall,  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  old  and  honored  citizen  of  that  county  at  the  time  of 
his  demise. 

Two  years  after  his  marriage  Benjamin  F.  Kelley  removed  with  his 
family  to  Tennessee,  in  which  state  he  remained  about  one  year,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  he  continued  his  way  westward  and  established 
a  home  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio.  In  that  county  were  born  the  other 
two  children  of  his  first  marriage, — William  H.  and  Martha  J. ;  Joshua 
T.,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  only  one  of  the  children  born  in  Virginia. 

In  1852,  with  teams  and  wagons.  Benjamin  F.  Kelley  came  with  his 
family  to  Indiana  and  numbered  himself  among  the  pioneers  of  Black- 
ford county.  In  Washington  township  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
school  land,  and  from  the  swamp  and  wilds  he  reclaimed  a  productive 
farm.  He  drained  his  land,  felled  the  timber  and  developed  a  good 
farm.  On  this  original  homestead  he  resided  for  many  years,  and  with 
increasing  prosperity  he  purchased  additional  land  in  the  same  town- 
ship. He  had  much  to  do  with  the  development  of  that  part  of  the 
county,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a  valuable  landed  estate,  and  he 
died  on  one  of  his  farms,  in  1899,  secure  in  the  high  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him.  His  first  wife  died  on  the  16th  of  January,  1880,  a  woman 
of  gentle  and  gracious  personality,  and  she  was  fifty-five  years  of  age 
when  she  was  thus  summoned  to  the  life  eternal.  For  his  second  wife 
Benjamin  F.  Kelley  wedded  Mrs.  Amanda  J.  (Baker)  Bowen,  widow 
of  James  Bowen.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1846,  and  she 
now  resides  in  Hartford  City.  She  has  two  sons  by  her  first  marriage, 
Adelbert  and  William.  Concerning  the  children  of  her  second  marriage 
the  following  brief  data  are  given :  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Wales 
of  Oklahoma,  and  they  have  one  daughter;  Myrtle,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Orville  Craft,  is  deceased  and  is  survived  by  three  daughters ;  Logan 
is  a  resident  of  Texas,  and  Benjamin  F.,  Jr.  and  Harlan  have  their 
homes  in  Oklahoma. 

Joshua  T.  Kelley  was  a  lad  of  eight  years  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Blackford  county,  and  here  he  was  reared  under  the  condi- 
tions and  influences  of  the  pioneer  days.  He  did  not  neglect  the  oppor- 
tunities afforded  in  the  somewhat  primitive  schools  of  the  locality  and 
period  and  his  alert  mentality  has  since  enabled  him  to  profit  fully  from 
the  lessons  to  be  gained  in  the  stern  school  of  experience,  so  that  he  is 
known  as  a  man  of  broad  information  and  mature  judgment. 

Reared  to  the  sturdy  and  invigorating  discipline  of  the  farm,  Mr. 
Kelley  continued  to  devote  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  until 
he  was  moved  to  respond  to  the  call  of  higher  duty,  when  the  integrity 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  125 

of  the  nation  was  menaced  by  armed  rebellion.  On  the  -1st  of  March, 
1864,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  enlisted  in  Company  I 
Thirty-fourth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  proceeded  with  his 
command  into  Tennessee.  The  regiment  finally  wenl  to  Nevi  Orleans, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  guard  duty,  as  was  it  later  on  the  Rio  Grande 
river.  Mr.  Keller  continued  on  active  duty,  as  a  loyal  and  gallanl  sol 
dier  of  the  Union,  for  nearly  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he 
received  his  honorable  discharge,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1866.  Be  en- 
dured his  full  .share  of  the  hardships  incidental  to  the  great  civil  conflict, 
especially  while  doing  guard  duty  in  the  far  south,  and  lie  perpetuates 
the  more  gracious  memories  and  associations  of  his  army  life  by  retaining 
membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Kelley  returned  to  Blackford  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  on  shares.  Later  he  purchased  land  of  his 
own,  and  eventually  he  accumulated  a  line  estate  of  370  acres,  all  of  which 
he  improved  and  all  of  which  is  in  Washington  township,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  an  eighty  acre  farm  in  Harrison  township.  The  improvements 
on  his  farms  include  substantial  and  attractive  buildings,  the  best  of 
drainage  facilities  and  other  accessories  to  make  the  properties  of  the 
best  modern  type.  Mr.  Kelley  has  given  his  attention  to  diversified 
agriculture  and  the  raising  of  high-grade  live  stock,  and  his  success  has 
been  on  a  parity  with  his  energy  and  progressive  policies.  He  still  owns 
his  farm  properties  and  gives  to  the  same  a  general  supervision,  though 
he  has  lived  virtually  retired  in  Hartford  City  since  1899. 

Zealous  in  the  support  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  Mr.  Kelley  became  one  of  its  prominent  representatives  in 
Blackford  county.  In  the  autumn  of  1SS6  he  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer, aud  his  administration  was  marked  by  scrupulous  care  and  effec- 
tive results,  so  that  it  met  with  unequivocal  popular  approval.  After 
the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  twice  renominated,  but  the 
Democratic  party  had  gained  such  a  majority  in  the  county  that  he 
met  defeat  with  the  rest  of  the  Republican  ticket  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Kelley  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  since  1868  and, 
as  before  noted,  he  is  identified  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

In  1868  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Kelley  to  Miss  Anna  E. 
Gettys,  who  was  born  in  Green  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  :!lst  of 
July.  1S44,  and  whose  death  occurred  November  1!',  1878.  Of  this 
union  were  born  four  children,  concerning  whom  the  following  brief 
record  is  given:  Sarah  E..  who  was  born  January  19,  186!),  is  the  wife 
of  George  C.  Baker,  of  Cleveland.  Ohio:  Arthur,  who  was  born  February 
14,  1872,  is  a  representative  farmer  of  Washington  township:  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Minnie  Roby  and  they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter:  Anna 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Bugh,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  and 
they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter;  the  twin  sister  of  Anna  E.  died 
on  the  day  of  birth. 

On  the  28th  of  November.  1880,  Mr.  Kelley  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage, by  his  union  with  Miss  Martha  R.  Pierson,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1862, 
and  who  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Emily  (Johnson)  Pierson.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Kelley  were  born  in  Ohio  and  were  wedded  in  Grant 
county.  Indiana.  They  finally  settled  in  Washington  township.  Black- 
ford county,  where  they  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Pierson 
was  one  of  the  sterling  farmers  of  this  county  and  here  In-  died  in  1888, 
his  widow  surviving  until  1893  and  both  having  been  zealous  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church.  They  had  five  sons  and  seven  daughters, 
and  of  the  number  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now  living. 
Joshua  T.  and  Martha  R.  Kelley  became  the  parents  of  four  children: 


126  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

William  died  at  the  age  of  six  weeks;  Mary  E.,  who  was  born  August 
16,  1883,  is  the  wife  of  Otto  M.  Headley,  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business  at  Marion,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son ;  Emma,  who  was  born 
June  24,  1888,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Douglas,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Washington  township,  and  they  have  one  daughter;  Laura,  who  was  born 
August  20,  1892,  was  graduated  in  the  Hartford  City  high  school  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1911  and  still  remains  at  the  parental  home; 
and  L.  Grant,  who  was  born  February  5,  1898,  is  attending  school  in 
his  home  city.  Mrs.  Kelley  and  her  children  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the  family  is  prominent  in  the  best 
social  life  of  the  community. 

Abner  D.  Wolverton.  Many  of  the  substantial  and  reliable  resi- 
dents of  Blackford  county  are  descendants  of  families  which  originated 
in  Virginia,  and  whose  members  have  played  a  prominent  part  in  the 
upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  business,  financial,  professional  and 
agricultural  interests  of  various  parts  of  the  Hobsier  state.  One  who 
belongs  to  this  class  in  Blackford  county  is  Abner  D.  Wolverton,  the 
owner  of  a  farm  in  section  13,  Washington  township,  and -a  citizen  who 
stands  high  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  those  among  whom  he  has 
lived. 

Mr.  Wolverton  is  a  grandson  of  James  Wolverton,  who  was  born  in 
the  Old  Dominion  state,  of  English  ancestry.  He  served  in  the  French 
and  Indian  Wars,  and  was  married  to  a  Miss  Hughes,  also  of  Virginia, 
and  in  1828  came  West  as  far  as  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a 
real  pioneer  of  that  part  of  the  Buckeye  state,  settling  down  in  a  log 
cabin,  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  where  Indians  still  made  their  homes 
and  wild  game  abounded.  There  the  grandfather  continued  to  engage 
in  modest  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  about  1830,  while  the 
grandmother  survived  a  number  of  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Shelton,  who  married,  lived  and  died  in  Guernsey 
county,  Ohio,  and  left  a  family;  Govey;  Newton;  Julia  Ann,  who  mar- 
ried Alexander  Lantz,  lived  and  died  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  had 
four  sons  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  two  of  them  being 
confined  in  Andersonville  Prison,  where  one  died ;  and  three  daughters, 
names  forgotten,  who  also  grew  up  and  were  married. 

Govey  Wolverton,  the  father  of  Abner  D.  Wolverton,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  in  February,  1823,  and  was  a  child  of  about  five  years  when 
the  family  moved  to  Guernsey  county.  Ohio.  His  education  was  of  a 
limited  character,  as  his  father  had  died  when  he  was  still  a  babe,  and 
with  his  elder  brother,  Shelton,  he  was  bound  out  to  a  Mr.  Taylor,  of 
Guernsey  county.  When  Govey  Wolverton  was  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
had  driven  a  team  for  Mr.  Taylor,  and  in  the  next  year  found  employ- 
ment on  the  old  national  turnpike,  then  building  in  Ohio.  In  1847,  some 
years  later,  he  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  still  a  single  man, 
and  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  section  11,  Washington  township, 
from  Asa  Engle,  who  had  entered  it  in  1838,  but  had  made  no  improve- 
ments. Mr.  Wolverton  moved  to  his  property  in  1849,  having  in  the 
meantime  been  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Miss  Athalinda  Sprague, 
who  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ohio,  in  February,  1827.  She  came 
to  Indiana  as  a  child  with  her  parents,  James  H.  and  Pollie  (Owens) 
Sprague,  who  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Licking  township,  and  there 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Although  they  had  reached  only 
middle  life,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sprague  had  been  successful  in  their  ventures 
and  were  known  as  reliable  and  substantial  people  of  their  community. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children:  Franklin;  Mrs.  Wolverton 
and  Polly,  all  of  whom  married  and  had  families.    The  Spragues  are  of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        L>7 

the  old  Massachusetts  Spragues,  who  settled  ;it  Marinetta,  Massachu- 
setts in  Colonial  days.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Wolverton 
settled  down  to  clearing  and  improving  their  home  place,  and  here  they 
succeeded  in  the  development  of  a  handsome  and  valuable  farm.    The 

father  died  August  11,  1864.  and  the  mother  August  11.  1902,  both 
being  well  and  favorably  known  and  highly  respected  by  all.  The  father 
was  a  democrat,  but  was  not  active  in  political  affairs,  preferring  to 
devote  himself  to  the  simple  duties  of  his  farm  and  home.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Covey  Wolverton  were  as  follows:  Aurelia,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  six  years;  James  E.,  who  died  single  in  young  manhood; 
and  Abner  D. 

Abner  D.  Wolverton  was  born  March  1.  1863,  in  Washington  town- 
ship. Blackford  county,  Indiana,  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and 
upon  which  he  has  spent  his  entire  career.  Brought  up  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  he  adopted  that  vocation  when  a  young  man.  and  bis  whole 
career  has  been  devoted  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  well-merited  success.  In  addition  to  the  homestead,  which  is  now 
highly  improved,  he  owns  five  acres  adjoining,  on  section  10.  and  has 
a  farm  of  280  acres  near  Springfield,  Missouri.  A  thrifty  and  enter- 
prising general  farmer,  he  raises  large  crops,  but  also  gives  a  large  part 
of  his  land  to  pastures  and  meadows,  on  which  he  raises  a  fine  grade 
of  livestock,  including  cattle,  sheep,  horses  and  hogs.  He  is  a  capable 
business  man,  with  a  reputation  for  integrity  and  honorable  dealing, 
and  his  career  has  been  one  which  reflects  credit  upon  himself  and  his 
community.  His  political  views  are  independent,  but  he  at  all  times 
endeavors  to  advance  his  community's  interests,  and  with  this  end  in 
view  supports  good  men  and  measures. 

Mr.  Wolverton  was  married  in  "Washington  township,  Blackford 
county,  to  Miss  Scelinda  Berrier,  who  died  five  years  ago,  leaving  five 
children:  Archibald,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1914,  Bluffton  High 
school ;  Iza  and  Mary,  residing  at  home,  both  attending  the  Dundee 
High  school,  and  Abner,  Jr..  and  Russell,  both  attending  school,  the  older 
admitted  to  High  school. 

Alexander  Nelson  Pursley  is  a  young  man  of  unusual  ability, 
both  in  the  marts  of  trade  and  commerce  and  in  the  field  of  politics. 
Few  men  of  his  age  and  length  of  experience  have  been  able  to  secure 
and  hold  positions  of  such  trust  and  responsibility  in  public  life,  while 
the  success  that  has  come  to  him  also  in  the  business  world  in  such  as  is 
is  not  attainable  by  the  ordinary  man.  Like  many  of  the  progressive 
and  energetic  business  men  of  Hartford  City,  he  has  spent  his  life  in 
his  present  locality,  has  grown  with  it  and  prospered  with  its  pros- 
perity, and  has  always  interested  himself  closely  with  its  development. 

Mr.  Pursley  comes  of  solid  old  Irish  stock,  the  immigrant  ancestor 
of  the  family  in  America  being  Jacob  Pursley,  who  was  born  in  1774  in 
Ireland,  and  in  1791,  with  a  brother  and  three  sisters,  took  passage  on 
a  sailing  vessel  whose  destination  was  the  United  States.  After  a  long, 
tedious  and  tempestuous  journey,  the  little  party  reached  New  York 
City,  and  at  least  Jacob  went  on  to  Kentucky,  hut  in  1801  we  And  him 
married  to  Rachael  Rankin  and  coming  overland  to  Fayette  county, 
Ohio.  Locating  in  the  wilds  of  that  county,  his  was  the  third  white  fam- 
ily to  make  a  settlement  within  its  borders,  and  his  first  log  cabin  home 
was  erected  on  Sugar  Creek,  not  far  from  Washington  Court  House. 
Ohio  was  still  a  territory,  and  the  little  cabin  was  surrounded  by  dense 
woods,  in  which  lurked  the  hostile  red  man  and  all  kinds  of  wild  game, 
but  the  sturdy  pioneer  couple  braved  all  dangers,  faced  all  hardships 
and  worked  courageously  to  make  a  home  for  their  family,  and  to  de- 


128  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

velop  a  productive  farm,  objects  which  were  accomplished  after  years 
of  ceaseless  toil.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Jacob  Pursley  was  eighty-nine 
years  of  age,  while  his  wife  also  attained  advanced  years.  It  is  believed 
that  they  were  Catholics ;  at  any  rate,  Mr.  Henry  Pursley,  a  son  of  Jacob, 
later  donated  the  land  on  which  the  first  Roman  Catholic  church  was 
erected  in  what  is  at  present  the  city  of  Washington  Court  House. 

Of  their  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  Henry  Pursley  was  born  in 
1803,  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio.  He  grew  up  amid  pioneer  surroundings, 
his  boyhood  home  being  the  little  log  cabin  and  his  playground  the 
great  stretches  of  heavy  timber.  His  education  was  secured  iu  the 
primitive  schoolhouse,  taught  by  teachers  who  were  satisfied,  usually, 
with  giving  their  pupils  a  perfunctory  knowledge  of  the  "three  R's," 
and  the  greater  part  of  his  training  was  secured  in  the  school  of  hard 
work  and  experience.  After  his  marriage  to  Sophia  L.  Rupert,  he 
secured  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  to  which  he  added  as  the  years 
passed  until  he  was  the  owner  of  640  acres  of  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  is  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Washington  Court  House.  Here 
he  and  Mrs.  Pursley  pursued  active,  although  modest,  lives,  rearing  their 
children  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift,  and  contributing  materially 
to  the  welfare  and  progress  of  their  community.  Mr.  Pursley  died  in 
1873,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  some  years.  He  was  an  extensive 
breeder  of  stock,  horses  and  mules,  and  was  known  as  one  of  his  county 's 
most  substantial  agriculturists.  It  is  not  known  what  particular  church 
they  attended,  but  in  polities  Mr.  Pursley  was  a  democrat  and  somewhat 
of  a  leader  in  the  affairs  of  his  party  and  of  the  people  of  all  that  section. 
Of  their  children,  Nancy,  Rachel  and  Jacob  lived  to  maturity,  were 
married  and  reared  large  families.  All  were  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Ohio. 

Jacob  Pursley,  son  of  Henry  Pursley,  was  born  in  1831,  at  Wash- 
ington Court  House,  Ohio,  and  there  spent  his  entire  career,  dying  in 
1875.  He  was  there  married  to  Miss  Susanna  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
1832,  and  still  survives,  hale  and  hearty  in  spite  of  her  eighty-two  years. 
She  is  now  making  her  home  with  her  children,  dividing  her  time  be- 
tween those  in  Indiana  and  in  Ohio.  Of  these  children,  William  Henry, 
the  father  of  Alexander  N.  Pursley,  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  nine 
children  grew  to  man  and  womanhood,  eight  are  still  living  and  have 
families,  and  all  have  been  successful  in  agricultural  pursuits,  being 
people  of  both  brawn  and  brain.  Jacob  Pursley  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  church,  but  others  of  the  family  have  adopted  dif- 
ferent faiths,  William  H.  Pursley  and  his  wife  adhering  to  the  teachings 
of  the  same  church,  however. 

William  Henry  Pursley  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  March 
27,  1856.  After  preparing  in  the  public  schools,  he  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  Lebanon  (Ohio)  College,  and  in  1887  came  to  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  In  his  youth  he  was  engaged 
for  several  years  in  teaching  school,  but  he  soon  turned  his  attention 
to  farming  and  raising  stock,  upon  which  he  has  continued  to  concen- 
trate his  energies.  He  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  property  located  in 
Licking  township,  and  his  ventures  have  been  rewarded  with  success 
because  of  his  good  management,  his  shrewdness,  foresight  and  unceas- 
ing labor.  While  still  residing  in  his  native  county  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Amy  Sanderson,  who  was  born  in  that  county.  May 
6,  1860,  daughter  of  Alexander  Nelson  Sanderson.  Mr.  Sanderson  died 
in  Fayette  county  when  seventy-two  >7ears  of  age,  while  Mrs.  Pursley 's 
mother  passed  away  many  years  before.  Her  maiden  name  was  Doane. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  still  living, 
all  being  married  and  the  parents  of  children.     Nine  children  were  born 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES       129 

to  William  Henry  and  Amy  (Sanderson)  Pnrsley,  of  which  six  still 
survive,  namely:  Alexander  N.,  of  this  review;  Jacob,  city  marshal  of 
Hartford  City,  who  is  married  and  has  two  daughters;  Orvall,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  .Marion  Law  School,  a  successful  attorney  of  Montpelier,  who 
is  married  and  has  three  daughters;  Albert,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Hartford  City,  is  married  and  has  two  daughters;  Earl,  who 
is  single  and  a  school  teacher;  and  .Miss  Edith,  single,  who  is  attending 
the  Hartford  City  High  school. 

Alexander  \.  Pursley  was  bora  March  3,  1878,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City.  His  early  training  was 
of  an  ordinary  character,  but  this  has  since  been  supplemented  by  much 
reading,  wide  business  experience  and  keen  observation  of  men  and 
affairs,  and  one  cannot  now  be  long  with  Mr.  Pursley  without  coming 
to  a  realization. of  the  fact  that  he  is  a  very  well  educated  man  on  a 
number  of  different  and  important  subjects.  He  early  decided  upon 
a  career  in  mercantile  lines,  and  accordingly  left  the  home  farm  and 
established  himself  in  the  grocery  business  at  Hartford  City,  which  has 
been  the  scene  of  his  labors  and  successes  during  tin-  past  sixteen  years. 
For  the  last  six  years  of  this  time  he  has  been  located  in  the  VanCleve 
building,  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Square,  having  a  storeroom 
24x120  feet,  with  a  basement  under  all.  Mr.  Pursley  handles  a  com- 
plete and  up-to-date  line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries,  as  well  as  field 
and  garden  seeds,  and  has  built  up  an  excellent-  trade  through  straight- 
forward and  honorable  dealing  and  uniform  courtesy  to  his  patrons. 
His  business  ability  is  marked,  and  to  it  he  adds  a  wealth  of  ideas,  and 
an  ability  to  recognize  and  grasp  opportunities.  While  .Mr.  Pursley's 
business  interests  have  expanded  rapidly  and  widened  in  scope,  thus 
demanding  more  and  more  of  his  attention,  he  has  still  found  time  to 
interest  himself  helpfully  in  democratic  politics.  In  1908  he  was  elected 
a  trustee  of  Licking  township,  in  which  capacity  he  is  serving  his  sixth 
year,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  this  section  has  had  a  more  capable  or  popular 
official.  He  is  known  as  one  of  the  wheelhorses  of  democracy  in  Black- 
ford county,  and  at  this  time  is  chairman  of  the  county  democratic 
committee,  his  personal  popularity,  his  organizing  and  executive  ability 
and  his  keen  knowledge  of  political  conditions  having  done  much  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  party  in  this  section.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Pursley  is  connected  with  the  Benevolent  aud  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
is  past  Worthy  President  of  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  a  trustee 
of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  a  charter  member  and  treasurer  of 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees  for  some  years,  and  a  charter  member  of  Knights  of  Columbus. 
As  president  of  the  Indiana  Trustees  Association,  the  municipal  organ- 
ization of  the  state  of  Indiana,  Mr.  Pursley  is  at  the  head  of  1,016  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Pursley  is  a  man  who  has  made  his  own  way  in  life,  and  has 
succeeded  because  he  has  been  able  to  overcome  obstacles  and  because 
his  plans  have  been  well  laid,  well  directed  and  well  carried  out.  Dur- 
ing his  long  residence  in  this  community,  he  has  formed  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance, and  in  it  he  can  number  many  warm  and  appreciative 
friends. 

Mr.  Pursley  was  married  in  Hartford  City,  to  Miss  Mary  Sloan,  who 
was  born  in  August.  1877,  in  Greenville,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  with  her  parents  when  five  years  old.  her  education 
being  secured  in  the  public  schools  here.  She  has  been  the  mother  of 
the  following  children :-  Evaline  and  Kathlyn.  twins,  fifteen  years  of  age, 
graduates  of  the  parochial  school  and  now  students  in  the  Hartford 
City  High  school;  Leo  and  Clara,  who  are  attending  the  parochial 
schools:  William  and  Lawrence,  at  home;  and  three  children  who  died 


130  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  childhood.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pursley  are  members  of  St.  John's  Roman 
Catholic  church. 

Jacob  K.  Shick.  The  Shick  family  located  in  Hartford  City  more 
than  sixty-five  years  ago,  when  the  first  court  house  was  being  erected 
on  the  public  square.  Since  then  its  various  members  have  occupied 
not  only  a  highly  respected  position  in  the  community,  but  have  been 
useful  as  workers  and  have  created  prosperity  for  themselves  and  assisted 
in  the  development  of  the  many  activities  which  constitute  the  modern 
city  and  the  county  of  Blackford.  Jacob  K.  Shick  has  long  been  active 
in  business  affairs,  was  able  to  use  his  skill  in  the  erection  of  many 
buildings  in  and  about  Hartford  City,  and  there  are  few  people  there 
who  are  not  acquainted  with  his  business  standing  and  integrity  as  a 
citizen. 

The  Stacks  are  of  German  ancestry  and  were  early  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Jacob  Shick,  Sr.,  father  of  Jacob  K.,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania about  1790.  His  parents  were  both  born  and  reared  and  possibly 
were  married  in  Germany  coming  thence  to  the  United  States,  and 
rearing  their  children  in  Pennsylvania.  From  that  place  they  moved 
out  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Muskingum  county,  where  both  died. 
In  Muskingum  county  Jacob  Shick,  Sr.,  married  Miss  Barbara  Cline, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  her  parents  were  Pennsylvania  people  and 
likewise  of  German  origin.  The  Clines  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Muskingum  county,  Barbara  Cline 's  father  died  there,  while  her 
mother  subsequently  moved  out  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and 
passed  away  at  a  good  old  age.  In  religion  three  generations  of  both 
the  Shicks  and  Clines  were  Lutherans,  and  Jacob  and  his  wife  were 
both  adherents  of  that  church. 

After  the  birth  of  all  their  children  Jacob  and  wife  left  Ohio  in  April, 
1847,  and  with  wagons  and  teams  made  the  journey  overland  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Hartford  City  while  the  first  court  house  was  being  con- 
structed on  the  square.  It  was  a  village  at  the  time,  and  much  of  the 
trade  was  due  to  its  position  as  the  seat  of  county  government.  Jacob 
Shick  established  a  hotel  and  general  store  on  the  square,  and  was  thus 
employed  for  some  years  until  selling  out.  and  moved  to  Henry  county, 
where  he  found  a  place  as  keeper  of  a  toll  gate  on  the  old  National  Pike. 
Late  in  life  he  returned  to  Hartford  City,  and  here  both  he  and  his 
wife  passed  away,  Jacob  about  1876  when  past  eighty-five  years  of  age, 
and  his  widow  some  six  years  later  when  about  eighty-three  years  of 
age. 

Of  the  family,  comprising  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  Jacob 
Shick,  Sr.,  and  wife,  the  following  mention  is  made :  John,  who  was  a 
tinner  and  hardware  merchant  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Hartford 
City,  died  in  October,  1908,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  and  left  a  family 
of  two  daughters,  now  living  in  Hartford  City ;  Elizabeth,  always  known 
as  Betsey,  died  after  her  marriage  to  Henry  Huffman,  who  is  also  de- 
ceased, and  at  her  death  she  was  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  her  one 
son  being  now  a  resident  of  Hartford  City ;  Leonard  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Muncie,  was  a  farmer,  in  later  years  a  dairyman,  and  by  trade  a 
tinsmith,  was  past  eighty-three  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  had  a 
family  of  five,  three  daughters  and  two  sons ;  Catherine,  who  also  lived 
to  be  more  than  eighty  years  of  age.  was  the  wife  of  James  Ayres,  a 
farmer  and  shoemaker,  and  they  left  six  children;  Maria  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years ;  Nancy,  who  was  the  wife  of  Spanger  Bruce,  and 
died  in  Nebraska  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  left  two  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter, who  are  still  living  while  two  daughters  are  deceased ;  Henry  died 
in  Pennsylvania  in  early  childhood ;  William,  who  for  many  years  fol- 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES  131 

lowed  the  hardware  and  tinware  business,  is  a  resident  of  Muncie,  and 
a  widower  with  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Of  this  family  Jacob  K.  Shick  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
May  13,  1843,  and  was  therefore  about  four  years  old  when  the  home 
was  established  iu  the  little  village  of  Hartford  City.  It  was  in  Hart- 
ford City  that  he  grew  up,  and  in  his  own  recollection  has  a  record 
of  practically  every  improvement  and  change  which  have  wrought  the 
modern  city.  He  attended  the  early  public  schools  of  the  county  seat, 
and  when  ready  to  take  up  a  serious  occupation  of  his  own  learned  the 
tinner's  trade,  subsequently  the  cabinet  maker's  trade,  and  followed 
the  latter  vocation  at  a  time  when  most  coffins  were  made  by  hand,  in- 
stead of  being  furnished  from  a  ready  stock.  Usually  the  order  for  a 
coffin  was  not  delivered  until  after  the  death  of  the  party  for  which 
it  was  intended,  and  Mr.  Shick  in  the  early  days  was  again  and  again 
called  upon  to  begin  work  very  early  in  the  morning,  and  sometimes 
had  to  continue  his  labors  late  into  the  night  in  order  to  finish  his  com- 
mission. For  the  past  thirty  years  Mr.  Shick  has  been  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful building  contractors,  and  a  large  number  of  residences,  business 
blocks,  and  some  of  the  public  buildings  in  Blackford  county,  testify 
to  his  skill  and  reliability  in  this  work. 

At  the  same  time  he  has  done  his  share  of  public  work,  has  served 
in  the  city  council,  and  as  a  democrat  has  always  been  active  in  local 
and  county  matters. 

Mr.  Shick  was  first  married  in  Hartford  City  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Taughinbaugh,  who  was  born  May  29,  1842.  She  was  brought  to  Hart- 
ford City  when  a  girl,  and  died  there  April  12,  1892.  By  that  marriage 
were  three  sons  and  three  daughters:  Lydia,  who  was  born  September 
16,  1863,  is  the  wife  of  Jason  Huggins,  who  is  in  the  meat  business  at 
Coffeyville,  Kansas;  they  have  two  children,  Charles  and  Mabel,  the 
latter  being  married  and  the  mother  of  Harriet  and  Lydia.  William 
L.,  who  was  born  December  19,  1865,  died  January  17,  1907,  and  mar- 
ried Ha  Scott.  Haddessah  C.  born  March  4,  1868,  married  Walter 
Cline,  a  glass  cutter  of  Coffeyville,  Kansas,  and  they  have  a  daughter 
Catherine.  Charles  L.,  born  February  17,  1870,  died  December  8,  1871. 
Alta  B.,  born  October  3,  1872,  died  July  3,  1905,  the  wife  of  Edgar 
Simmons,  and  they  lost  their  onl.v  child  at  the  age  of  three  weeks. 
Walter  A.,  born  July  3,  1880,  is  a  glass  worker  at  Coffeyville,  Kansas, 
and  by  his  marriage  to  Nellie  Buckles  has  Ester  and  Marion  K. 

Mr.  Shick  on  June  21,  1904,  was  married  in  Hartford  City  to  Mrs. 
Rebecca  (Story)  Brieker.  She  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  8,  1858,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  a  daughter  of 
William  G.  and  Mary  A.  (Story)  Brieker.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
England,  reared  and  married  in  Laneastershire,  and  after  the  birth  of 
four  children  they  emigrated  to  America  in  February,  1848,  and  settled 
at  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Story  was  a  workingman.  and  later 
moved  to  Pittsburg  where  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  After 
that  he  returned  to  Brownsville,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Story  were  both  members  of  the  Episcopal  church  while 
in  England  and  later  became  Methodists  in  this  country.  By  her  mar- 
riage to  Thomas  W.  Brieker  of  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  that  state 
December  17,  1894,  Mrs.  Shick  has  three  children :  William  Nelson 
Brieker,  who  died  unmarried  November  29,  1898,  aged  twenty-three ; 
John  L.,  who  is  now  a  cooper  of  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania,  and  mar- 
ried May  Pangratz;  and  Mary  Ann.  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
March  22.  1906.  after  her  marriage  to  Leslie  "Walker,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, Nelson  W.  and  Wilma  R. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shick  are  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist 


132  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Episcopal  church  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  in  which  he  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  the  official  board.  He  is  prominent  in  Odd  Fellow- 
ship, a  member  of  the  Encampment,  and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Rebekahs.  He  has  been  through  the  various  chairs  of  the  local  lodge 
and  has  served  in  the  Grand  Encampment.  Mrs.  Shick  has  filled  all  the 
chairs  of  the  local  lodge  of  the  Rebekahs. 

Franklin  Ely.  Of  the  men  who  have  actively  participated  in  the 
agricultural  transformation  of  Blackford  county  during  the  past  thirty 
years,  none  are  better  or  more  favorably  known  than  Franklin  Ely, 
owner  of  a  farm  in  section  2,  Washington  township,  and  a  man  who  has 
won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen  through  a  life  of 
clean  and  honorable  living.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Blackford 
and  Grant  counties,  having  been  born  at  Jadden,  Grant  county,  January 
20,  1853,  a  son  of  John  and  Keziah  (Richardson)  Ely,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  former  of  German  parentage  and  the  latter  a  member  of 
a  Pennsylvania  family. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Ely  came  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  with  their 
parents  as  young  people,  and  after  growing  to  maturity  there  were 
married  in  that  county,  where  they  began  their  life.  John  Ely  had 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  in  his  youth,  and  for  some  years  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  at  Grandville,  in  connection  with  which  he  manu- 
factured agricultural  implements.  After  some  years  he  came  to  Jadden, 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  about  the  year  1850  opened  a  smithy  at 
that  place,  but  disposed  of  his  interests  there  and  came  to  Hartford 
City,  from  whence  he  eventually  removed  to  Dundee  (Roll.  P.  0.), 
where  he  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  He  was  an  indus- 
trious, energetic  and  enterprising  workman,  and  secured  a  competency 
through  faithful  and  persistent  efforts.  It  is  probably  that  his  death 
was  hastened  by  his  army  experiences,  for  during  the  Civil  "War  he 
served  more  than  three  years  as  a  private  and  non-commissioned  officer 
in  an  Indiana  volunteer  regiment  and  Grant  county  company,  partici- 
pating in  numerous  hard-fought  engagements,  including  that  of  Gettys- 
burg, and  was  wounded  three  times.  His  record  was  that  of  a  gallant, 
faithful  and  hard-fighting  soldier,  one  who  won  and  retained  the  admira- 
tion of  his  comrades  and  the  respect  of  his  officers.  Mr.  Ely  was  a 
democrat,  but  not  an  office  seeker.  His  widow  survived  him  for  a  long 
period,  and  died  at  Montpelier,  Indiana,  when  seventy  years  of  age. 
She  had  for  many  years  been  a  devout  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
The  children  of  John  and  Keziah  (Richardson)  Ely  were  as  follows: 
Benjamin,  a  retired  blacksmith  of  Montpelier,  married  Sarah  Palmer, 
and  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters;  Mary,  who  died  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Dr.  William  Wilt,  also  deceased,  who  left  one  son,  Delbert  Wilt, 
D.  D.  S.,  a  practicing  dentist  of  Montpelier;  Franklin,  of  this  review; 
and  George,  a  retired  blacksmith  of  Montpelier,  who  married  Nancy 
Alexander  and  has  a  daughter,  Mabell,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Ray 
Green. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  school  of  Jadden 
and  Hartford  City,  Franklin  Ely  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
under  the  capable  preeeptorship  of  his  father,  who  was  considered  one 
of  the  most  skilled  men  in  his  line  in  the  community.  He  continued 
to  follow  this  trade  with  success  until  1885,  when  he  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  purchasing  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  located  in 
section  2,  Washington  township,  where  he  still  resides.  Here  he  has 
continued  to  reside  and  make  improvements  to  the  present  time,  now 
having  a  handsome  eight-room  house,  painted  white,  with  a  large  red 
barn,  30x56  feet,  and  other  buildings  for  the  shelter  of  his  stock,  grain, 


AND  MRS.  JAMES  I).  WEAVER 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  133 

implements  and  machinery.     His  property  is  an  attractive  one,  reflecl 

bag  .Mr.  Ely's  industry,  thrift  and  good  management,  and  its  structures 
are  kept  in  the  best  of  repair,  sixty  acres  of  land  are  under  cultiva- 
tion, tin-  other  twenty  being  in  native  timber.  Mr.  Ely's  reputation 
in  business  eircles  is  that  of  a  man  who  lias  always  lived  up  to  his 
obligations,  and  upon  whose  record  no  stain  appears.  He  takes  a  pride 
in  his  community,  ami  has  at  all  times  demonstrated  a  commendable 
eagerness  to  assist  in  its  advancement  in  every  possible  way. 

.Air.  Ely  was  married  in  Washington  township  to  Aliss  Margarel 
Chandler,  who  was  horn  in  May,  1854,  near  the  present  home  of  -Mr. 
Ely.  here  reared  and  educated,  and  died  June  20.  1897.  She  was  a 
splendid  woman,  a  faithful  wife  and  helpmate  and  a  devoted  mother, 
charitable  of  heart,  and  of  excellent  ability.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children,  as  follows:  Willard  B.,  a  general  merchant  of  Dundee  (Roll 
P.  O.i.  married  Ora  Brotherton,  and  has  six  children, — Ivolue,  Lorena, 

Neil.  Vaughn.  Delight  and  Lois,  the  eldest  a  graduate  of  common  scl I  ; 

Austin,  engaged  in  farming  in  Harrison  township,  married  Verna  Dick, 
and  has  two  children, — Leslie  and  Esther;  Dustin,  a  merchant  of  Con- 
nerville.  married  Myrtie  Alexander,  and  has  one  child. — Burl;  Charles. 
a  machinist,  who  is  unmarried;  and  L.  Mabell  and  Mary  L..  who  reside 
at  home  and  keep  house  for  their  father. 

Mr.  Ely  and  his  sons  are  consistent  democrats,  and  faithfully  support 
their  party's  candidates  and  policies.  All  are  widely  known  in  this 
section,  and  their  friends  are  only  limited  by  the  number  of  their 
acquaintances. 

James  Dalis  Weaver.  Among  the  prominent  citizens  of  Hartford 
City,  James  Dalis  Weaver  has  had  a  prominent  place  for  some  years, 
and  retired  to  this  city  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  well  deserved  prosperity, 
won  through  a  career  as  a  farmer  and  business  man.  The  Weaver  fam- 
ily is  well  known  both  in  Blackford  and  in  Jay  counties,  and  they  have 
lived  in  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  originally  in  Virginia,  where  the  name  was 
established  during  the  colonial  era. 

In  original  ancestry  the  Weavers  came  from  Germany.  The  grand- 
father of  the  Hartford  City  gentleman  above  named  was  Henry  Weaver, 
who  was  born  in  Orange  county.  Virginia,  about  1765.  ten  years  before 
the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Exceptional  business  ability, 
whether  in  agriculture  or  the  management  of  other  affairs,  seems  to 
have  been  characteristic  of  this  family  through  nearly  all  its  representa- 
tives. Grandfather  Weaver  owned  a  large  plantation  in  Culpepper 
county,  Virginia,  near  Culpepper  Courthouse,  and  died  there  in  1863, 
when  about  ninety-nine  years  of  age.  While  he  was  a  southerner,  he 
apparently  had  little  sympathy  with  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  is 
said  to  have  freed  a  great  many  slaves,  giving  each  one  a  horse,  bridle 
and  saddle,  and  sending  them  north  to  'Richmond,  Indiana,  the  old 
Quaker  community,  where  as  freedmen  they  were  able  to  begin  life 
anew.  Henry  Weaver  was  married  in  Virginia  to  Miss  Christler,  who 
was  born  in  that  state,  where  her  family  had  long  lived.  She  died  some 
years  before  her  husband.  Both  were  people  of  the  finest  morality  and 
Christian  character,  members  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  were  constantly 
engaged  in  a  work  of  service  to  their  fellow  men.  Of  their  seven  sons 
and  two  daughters  all  are  now  deceased,  but  the  children  were  long 
lived,  and  most  of  them  were  more  than  eighty  years  of  age  when  death 
came.  They  married  and  had  families,  and  their  descendants  are  now 
found  in  many  states. 

Of  the  children  of  Henry  Weaver  and  wife  one  was  Albert  Christler 
Weaver,  father  of  James  D.     He  was  born  in  Culpepper  county.  Vir- 


134  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ginia,  in  1817,  grew  up  in  that  vicinity,  and  learned  the  trade  of  miller, 
millwright  and  millstone  dresser.  From  Virginia  he  moved  north  to 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1847  established  a  home  in  Indiana.  His 
trip  to  Indiana  was  made  across  country,  and  it  required  a  hard  struggle 
to  get  through  the  woods  to  the  eighty  acres  which  he  had  selected  for 
a  home.  Two  hundred  dollars  was  the  price  paid  for  that  land,  and  he 
and  his  family  took  shelter  in  a  little  log  cabin  which  occupied  a  cleared 
space  among  the  trees.  There  he  literally  dug  out  the  stumps  and 
underbrush,  and  made  a  farm  as  the  result  of  strenuous  labor.  One  of 
his  first  acts  after  reaching  the  homestead  was  to  plant  a  small  orchard 
of  three  or  four  acres.  Those  fruit  trees  proved  a  boon  to  the  home  and 
also  to  the  community,  and  the  apples  and  other  fruits  grown  there  were 
long  celebrated  in  that  neighborhood.  The  surroundings  were  all  wild, 
and  it  is  said  that  when  some  neighbors  killed  a  beeve  and  Mr.  Weaver 
carried  a  portion  of  it  home  in  the  evening  it  was  necessary  to  keep  a 
hickory  torch  lighted  in  order  to  scare  away  the  wolves  which  were  at- 
tracted by  the  scent.  But  fresh  beef  was  a  luxury,  and  most  of  the 
larder  was  supplied  by  the  abundance  of  wild  game  which  existed  in 
the  woods  and  on  the  prairies  and  could  be  had  by  any  ordinary  hunter. 
This  pioneer  settler  was  noted  among  many  other  things  for  his  fine 
markmanship.  A  story  that  is  related  of  him  tells  how  he  killed  with 
one  bullet  from  his  trusty  rifle  eight  wild  turkeys.  He  dug  a  trench, 
scattered  corn  in  it,  and  concealing  himself  allowed  a  number  of  tur- 
keys to  collect  along  the  trench,  then  whistled,  and  when  all  had  raised 
their  heads  out  of  curiosity  he  took  aim  and  his  shot  brought  down 
eight  fowls. 

Few  of  the  early  Indiana  settlers  were  so  successful  either  as  farm- 
ers or  business  men  as  Albert  C.  Weaver.  As  a  manager  and  director 
of  the  labors  of  others  he  had  few  superiors.  His  landed  possessions  at  one 
time  aggregated  six  hundred  acres.  When  fifty  years  of  age  he  left  his 
farm  and  moved  to  Dunkirk  in  Jay  county,  and  there  went  into  business 
as  a  general  merchant  with  his  son  Newton  G.  Their  enterprise  pros- 
pered, and  its  management  had  some  points  worthy  of  note.  They  em- 
ployed several  clerks,  getting  boys  from  the  country  to  perform  the 
work,  and  all  the  money  collected  during  the  day  was  deposited  in  a 
drawer  at  night,  and  there  was  never  a  case  of  dishonesty  or  irregularity 
in  the  conduct  of  the  business.  Albert  C.  Weaver  had  never  received 
any  mercantile  training,  and  when  he  started  the  store  he  used  his 
splendid  common  sense  to  guide  him.  He  was  a  successful  overseer, 
and  while  he  never  bought  or  sold  a  dollar's  worth  of  goods  himself, 
he  saw  to  it  that  his  subordinates  were  well  instructed  in  the  manner  of 
how  to  do  it,  and  his  management  was  such  that  he  made  his  fortune 
as  a  merchant.    His  death  occurred  in  Dunkirk  in  1902. 

The  late  Albert  C.  Weaver  was  a  man  of  very  ripe  knowledge,  pos- 
sessed rare  judgment,  and  his  influence  could  not  otherwise  be  but  ex- 
tremely helpful  to  any  community.  For  many  years  he  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  Democrats  of  Jay  county,  though  never  a  politician, 
and  exerted  his  influence  only  in  behalf  of  his  friends  and  for  the  sake 
of  good  government. 

In  Ross  county,  Ohio,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Wiltshire,  who 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  who  died  when  past  sixty  years  of  age  in 
Dunkirk.  Her  fine  qualities  of  womanhood  were  not  less  remarkable 
than  her  husband's  many  virtues.  She  did  much  to  rear  her  children 
carefully  and  prepared  them  for  lives  of  usefulness.  There  were  six 
children,  of  whom  James  D.  was  the  oldest.  Henry  W.,  who  now  lives 
in  Dunkirk  a  retired  farmer,  has  a  wife  and  children;  John  W.,  who 
died  in  Dunkirk  in  1912,  was  for  many  years  his  father's  successor  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  135 

merchandising,  and  left  a  family ;  Newton  G.,  who  is  a  retired  business 
man  of  Hartford  City,  is  married  and  lias  a  family  of  children;  Mary  F., 
who  died  without  children  as  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Ilartman,  and  her  husband 
by  a  second  marriage  has  two  children ;  Cornelia  S.,  died  unmarried 
when  about  twenty-five  years  of  age. 

James  D.  Weaver,  who  was  the  only  one  of  the  children  born  in 
Ohio,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Highland  county,  February  20,  1845. 
After  a  few  years  his  parents  moved  to  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  in 
1847,  and  he  grew  up  on  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  which 
then  prevailed  in  Xiles  township  of  that  county.  After  becoming  of 
age  he  started  life  on  his  own  account,  and  was  for  years  a  farmer, 
combining  in  later  years  a  grocery  store  with  his  farming,  and  was  the 
first  and  last  postmaster  of  Niles  Postoffice.  He  was  able  to  retire  in 
1908  with  a  substantial  prosperity.  In  that  year  he  moved  to  Hartford 
City  and  bought  his  present  home  at  300  Conger  street,  where  he  is 
now  enjoying  life  with  none  of  the  cares  of  business.  Besides  some 
property  interests  in  Hartford  City,  Mr.  Weaver  owns  a  well  developed 
farm  of  forty-five  acres  in  Blackford  county. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  first  married  in  Niles  township  of  Delaware  county 
to  Miss  Rebecca  Worster.  She  was  born  of  one  of  the  good  old  families 
of  Delaware  county,  and  died  ten  years  after  her  marriage.  There 
were  four  children :  Amos  A.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Dunkirk 
and  follows  the  business  of  glass  worker,  spent  three  years  as  a  soldier 
during  the  Cuban  and  Philippine  wars  and  was  a  non-commissioned 
officer.  William  died  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  in  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado.  Elwood  M.,  who  has  been  twice  married  and  has  a  son  and 
two  daughters  by  his  first  wife,  was  a  farmer  for  a  number  of  years,  but 
now  is  in  business  in  Dunkirk.  Oscar  D.  enlisted  and  saw  service  in 
Cuba  during  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  afterwards  entered  the  serv- 
ice for  the  Philippines,  and  remained  in  those  islands  two  or  three  years ; 
he  was  wounded  in  the  arm  while  in  Cuba ;  at  the  present  time  he  makes 
his  home  with  his  family  in  a  houseboat  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  spends 
most  of  his  time  as  a  fisherman. 

Mr.  Weaver  for  his  second  wife  married  at  Dunkirk.  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
McMullen.  whose  maiden  name  was  Salsbury.  She  was  born  in  Greene 
county.  Ohio,  and  grew  up  there  and  in  Jay  county,  Indiana.  Her 
father  died  from  illness  contracted  while  serving  with  an  Ohio  regi- 
ment in  the  Civil  war.  Mrs.  Weaver  first  married  John  McMullen,  who 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  died  of  consumption  several  years 
after  the  close  of  that  war.  There  were  three  McMullen  children  :  Harry 
W.,  Hattie  B.,  and  Frederick  Greer,  all  of  whom  are  married  and  have 
families.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  have  just  one  child,  Orley  0.,  who  is  a 
well  driller  and  a  worker  in  the  oil  and  gas  fields.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver 
are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  as  a  practical  religious 
worker  Mr.  Weaver  also  affiliates  with  the  Salvation  Army. 

Philip  H.  Johnson.  Of  the  younger  generation  of  farmers  whose 
efforts  promise  to  lend  vigor  and  prestige  to  the  future  of  Blackford 
county,  one  to  whom  more  than  passing  mention  is  due,  is  Philip  IT. 
Johnson,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  well-cultivated  tract  of  land  in  section 
15.  Washington  township.  Mr.  Johnson  comes  of  an  old  and  prominent 
family  of  Ohio,  his  grandfather.  Detrick  Johnson,  being  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  He  grew  up  there  and  was  married,  and  began  his  active 
career  as  a  farmer,  but  during  the  latter  'forties  or  early  'fifties  came 
to  Indiana,  where  he  entered  land  from  the  government,  and  from  the 
wilderness  developed  a  good  and  productive  farm.  He  accumulated  IfiO 
acres,  on  which  he  erected  a  substantial  home  and  other  buildings,  and 


136  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

became  known  as  one  of  the  solid  and  successful  men  of  his  community. 
His  widow  survived  him  some  j'ears,  but  both  were  well  advanced  in 
age,  although  but  little  is  known  of  these  pioneers  save  that  they  were 
rugged,  sturdy  and  God-fearing.  The  grandfather  met  his  death  as 
the  result  of  a  runaway  accident.  A  brother  of  the  grandfather,  Lemuel 
Johnson,  came  to  Indiana  at  the  same  time,  developed  a  valuable  farm, 
was  married  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1909,  left  a  large  family. 

AVilliam  Johnson,  the  father  of  Philip  H.  Johnson,  was  one  of  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  namely :  John ;  William ;  Dr.  Emanuel,  a 
physician  of  Lima,  Ohio,  who  is  married  and  has  a  single  daughter; 
Lemuel,  a  resident  of  Grant  county;  Thomas  and  James,  deceased; 
Mary  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Roy,  of  Marion,  Indiana,  and  has  a 
family;  Eliza,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Crevenston,  and  lives  at  Con- 
verse, Indiana,  the  mother  of  two  sons;  and  Maggie.  William  Johnson 
was  born  in  1855,  in  Grant  county,  six  miles  west  of  Marion.  He  was 
there  reared  and  married  a  Wabash  county  girl,  Leah  Bradley,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  there,  a  daughter  of  Ohio  parents  who 
spent  the  latter  years  of  their  life  in  Wabash  county  and  there  died 
well  advanced  in  years.  All  the  children  of  William  and  Leah  Johnson 
were  born  in  Grant  county,  but  later  he  went  to  Howard  county,  where 
he  resided  for  some  years  and  was  the  owner  of  207  acres  of  land.  He  is 
still  the  owner  of  143  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Marion,  in  which  city 
he  and  his  wife  are  now  living  retired,  hale  and  hearty,  and  surrounded 
by  the  comforts  which  their  honest  and  industrious  lives  have  brought. 
In  the  fall  of  1910,  Mr.  Johnson  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  section 
15,  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  where  his  son,  Philip  H. 
Johnson,  now  resides,  and  which  he  is  operating  most  successfully,  grow- 
ing the  various  cereals,  fine  grades  of  swine  and  staple  grades  of  stock. 
He  has  good  farming  utensils,  substantial  buildings  and  improvements' 
of  the  best  type,  and  largely  through  his  own  industry  and  energy  has 
made  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  his  part  of  Grant  county. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  December  16,  1879, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Sycamore,  Howard  county, 
where  he  resided  for  some  years.  Subsequently,  he  returned  to  Grant 
county,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susie  Bowman,  who  was  born 
in  Wabash  county,  in  1881,  and  died  December  18,  1904.  One  daughter 
was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  namely :  Edna  L.,  born  February 
9,  1902,  who  resides  at  home  and  is  attending  the  public  schools.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  married  at  Marion,  Indiana,  to  Mrs.  Gladys  (Hipp) 
Krebs.  who  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Indiana,  October  28,  1880,  educated 
there  and  in  Fulton  county,  and  married  Joseph  Krebs,  who  was 
born  July  27,  1878,  at  Peru,  Indiana.  They  became  the  parents  of 
two  daughters:  Silva  M.,  born  February  4,  1900,  and  now  attending 
high  school;  and  Lagretta,  born  May  23,  1904,  who  lives  with  an  aunt 
at  Marion.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson, 
namely :  Everett  D.,  born  July  10,  1911 ;  and  Lester  L.,  born  May 
27,  1914.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Johnson  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  and  grandfather, 
Mr.  Johnson  is  a  democrat,  but  has  been  too  busy  with  his  farming  in- 
terests to  engage  actively  in  political  matters. 

Lawrence  W.  Daughertt.  As  one  of  the  representative  citizens 
of  Blackford  county  and  as  a  prominent  and  influential  business  man 
of  Hartford  City,  where  he  conducts  a  substantial  and  prosperous  com- 
mission trade  as  a  buyer  and  shipper  of  grain,  hay  and  other  produce, 
Mr.  Daugherty  is  fully  entitled  to  special  consideration  in  this  history, 
and  the  high  estimate  that  is  placed  upon  him  in  his  home  county  is 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  L37 

indicated  by  the  fad  that  he  has  served  both  as  county  auditor  and  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  review.    He  is  a  scion,  in  the  third  generation, 

of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  Indiana,  with  whose  history 
the  name  has  been  identified  for  Dearly  a  century,  and  in  all  of  the  rela- 
tions of  life  he  has  admirably  upheld  the  prestige  of  his  patronymic. 
In  fhe  agnatic  line  his  ancestry  is  traced  hack  to  staunch  Scotch-Irish 
origin,  hi.s  paternal  grandfather.  .John  Daugherty  having  been  horn 
probably  in  Pennsylvania,  though  data  concerning  the  early  history 
of  thi'  family  in  America  are  notably  meager.  Thus  it  may  he  that  he 
was  horn  prior  to  his  parents'  immigration  to  the  United  States,  in 
which  event  he  was  at  the  time  a  mere  child.  He  was  reared  to  ma- 
turity in  the  old  Keystone  State,  and  there  was  solemnized  his  marriage 
to  Rebecca  Knox,  who  was  of  Welsh  parentage.  In  Pennsylvania  were 
horn  his  elder  children,  and  in  1819,  with  teams  and  wagons,  he  came 
with  his  family  to  the  pioneer  wilds  of  Henry  county.  Indiana,  where 
he  entered  claim  to  a  tract  of  heavily  timbered  land,  in  Liberty  town- 
ship. He  became  one  of  the  successful  pioneer  farmers  of  that  county. 
and  his  was  the  herculean  task  of  reclaiming  his  land  from  the  wilder- 
ness, both  he  and  his  noble  wife  having  been  well  fortified  for  the  respon- 
sibilities and  labors  that  ever  fall  upon  pioneers  in  a  new  and  unde- 
veloped region.  John  Daugherty  was  about  seventy-six  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  widow  attained  to  the  age  of  about  eighty- 
five  years,  both  having  been  numbered  among  the  best  known  ami  most 
honored  pioneer  citizens  of  Henry  county  and  both  having  been  zealous 
members  of  the  New  Light  Christian  church ;  in  politics  Mr.  Daugherty 
was  a  Democrat.  This  worthy  couple  reared  a  large  family  of  children, 
and  of  the  two  who  are  still  living  it  may  be  recorded  that  James  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  of  Hagerstown.  Wayne  county,  this  State :  and  that  Mrs. 
Amanda  Nordman  is  a  resident  of  Rushville,  Rush  county.  The  nam--s 
of  those  deceased  are  here  entered:  Priscilla,  Clarissa.  William,  Eliza- 
beth, Samuel,  Mary,  Rebecca,  and  Louisa. 

Samuel  Daugherty,  father  of  him  to  whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Liberty  township.  Henry  county. 
on  the*  23d  of  August,  1822,  and  in  his  native  county  he  was  reared 
to  years  of  maturity,  his  incidental  educational  advantages  in  his  youth 
having  been  those  of  the  primitive  pioneer  schools.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  cooper,  and  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five  years  he  followed  this 
trade  at  Millville.  Henry  county,  where  he  conducted  a  well  ordered 
cooperage  of  the  type  common  to  the  locality  and  period.  He  finally 
established  his  residence  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  that  county, 
and  he  made  this  one  of  the  valuable  properties  of  that  district,  there 
continuing  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1887.  He  never  wavered  in  his 
allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  was  a  man  of  sterling  character  and 
positive  views,  and  ever  commanded  the  high  regard  of  his  fellow  men, 
his  religious  faith  having  been  that  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  of  which 
his  second  wife  was  a  devout  adherent.  In  Henry  county,  as  a  young 
man,  he  wedded  Malinda  Shaw,  who  was  born  in  that  county  about  the 
year  1825,  and  who  passed  the  closing  period  of  her  life  in  Tipton 
county,  where  she  died  in  1861,  her  religious  faith  having  been  that  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Samuel  Daugherty  eventually  contracted  a  second 
marriage,  and  of  this  union  four  children  were  born.  Concerning  the 
five  children  of  the  first  marriage  it  may  be  noted  that  Lawrence  W.,  of 
this  review,  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth;  Alice,  who  is  the  widow 
of  Robert  F.  Newcomb,  resides  at  Hagerstown,  Wayne  county,  and 
has  one  son  and  two  daughters ;  Elizabeth,  who  has  no  living  children, 
is  the  widow  of  Leonard  P.  Harris  and  resides  at  Richmond.  Wayne 
county :  Jeptba  is  a  mechanical  engineer  by  vocation  and  now  lives  in 


138  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

the  State  of  California ;  and  John,  who  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  has  one  daughter. 

Lawrence  W.  Daugherty  was  born  in  Henry  county,  this  State,  on 
the  17th  of  April,  1859,  and  his  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  county  and  Grant  county.  His  independent  career 
was  initiated  in  connection  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  continued 
to  be  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Grant  county  until  1896,  when 
he  established  his  residence  at  813  North  High  street  in  Hartford  City, 
this  attractive  home  having  been  erected  by  him  within  the  preceding 
year  and  having  since  continued  his  place  of  abode.  In  1906  Mr. 
Daugherty  was  elected  county  auditor,  and  he  retained  this  office  four 
years,  his  administration  having  been  careful  and  effective  and  having 
gained  to  him  unequivocal  popular  commendation.  He  later  served, 
with  equal  ability,  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  review.  Upon  retir- 
ing from  the  office  of  auditor  Mr.  Daugherty  engaged  in  the  buying 
and  shipping  of  grain  and  hay,  and  with  this  line  of  enterprise  he  has 
since  continued  to  be  actively  and  successfully  identified.  He  buys 
produce  in  the  local  field  and  ships  to  the  leading  markets  of  the  East 
and  Middle  West.  In  politics  he  accords  stalwart  allegiance  to  the 
democratic  party,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in- 
eluding  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  Mrs.  Daugherty  like- 
wise is  an  active  member;  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees.  Mrs.  Daugherty  is  a  woman  of  most  gracious  social 
qualities,  and-  besides  being  State  treasurer  of  the  Indiana  organiza- 
tion of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  her  eligibility  for  which  is  based  on 
her  father's  gallant  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war, 
she  is  also  secretary  of  the  Children's  Board  of  Guardians  of  Blackford 
county.  She  is  a  most  popular  and  influential  factor  in  the  representa- 
tive social,  religious  and  philanthropic  activities  of  her  home  city. 

The  year  1881  gave  record  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Daugherty  to 
Miss  Sarah  Walker,  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Grant  county, 
this  state,  where  she  was  born  on  the  2d  of  January,  1861,  her  paternal 
grandparents  having  been  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Jef- 
ferson township,  that  county.  Mrs.  Daugherty  is  a  daughter  of  Arthur 
and  Rebecca  (Rogers)  Walker,  who  passed  their  entire  lives  in  Grant 
county,  their  respective  parents  having  there  established  homes  in  the 
early  pioneer  days,  upon  their  immigration  from  Virginia.  Arthur 
Walker  became  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and  representative  citi- 
zens of  Jefferson  township,  Grant  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years,  his  loved  and  devoted  wife  having  been  called  to  the 
life  eternal  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years  and  their  old  homestead  place 
being  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Daugherty,  who  cherishes  it  by  reason  of 
the  hallowed  memories  and  associations  of  the  past.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daugherty  have  one  son,  S.  Ross,  who  was  born  in  September,  1882, 
and  who  completed  the  curriculum  of  the  Hartford  City  high  school. 
For  the  past  fourteen  years  he  has  been  a  valued  employe  of  the  Hoover 
Furniture  Company,  of  Hartford  City.  He  married  Miss  Mabel  Rohr, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  this  city,  and  they  have  no  children. 

Elisha  Pierce  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  law  at 
Hartford  City,  Blackford  county,  for  more  than  forty  years,  and 
is  one  of  the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  this  section  of 
the  state.  As  a  mere  boy  he  went  forth  with  an  Indiana  regiment 
to  give  valiant  service  in  the  Civil  war.  and  the  same  high  prin- 
ciple of  loyalty  has  characterized  him  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He 
has  been  influential  in  politics  in  Indiana  and  has  served  with  marked 
ability  as  a  member  of  the  State  legislature.     He  is  one  of  the  well 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  139 

known  and  highly  honored  citizens  of  Blackford  county,  and  his  char- 
acter and  achievement  fully  entitle  him  to  specific  consideration  in  tins 
publication. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  born  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  Decem- 
ber, liSib,  but  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Indiana  since  his  boyhood  days. 
His  paternal  great-grandfather.  Elisha  Pierce,  was  born  in  England, 
of  the  staunchest  of  English  stock,  and  it  is  thought  that  his  worthy 
ancestor  came  to  America  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  established  his  residence  in  North  Carolina,  but  little  authentic 
data  concerning  him  having  been  preserved  by  his  descendants.  The 
inference  is  that  he  continued  a  resident  of  North  Carolina  until  his 
death.  His  son  James,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  initiates  this 
article,  was  born  in  Northhampton  county,  North  Carolina,  in  L786, 
and  there  he  was  reared  to  maturity.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
old  DeBerry  family  of  that  state,  and  representatives  of  the  same  were 
prominent  soldiers  and  patriots  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  After  his 
marriage  James  Pierce  established  his  home  on  a  plantation  in  North- 
ampton county,  North  Carolina,  and  there  all  of  his  children  were 
born,  brief  record  concerning  them  being  here  incorporated :  Little- 
bury  was  the  father  of  Elisha  of  this  review.  Lucy  became  the 
wife  of  a  man  named  Oliver  and  they  were  residents  of  Harrisburg, 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  at  the  time  of  their  death.  Sallie  likewise  mar- 
ried a  representative  of  the  Oliver  family,  and  she  died  in  middle  life. 
Henry  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
and  here  he  lived  until  his  death,  tw-o  of  sons  and  one  daughter  still 
surviving  him.  Elizabeth  married  a  Mr.  Jackson  and  they  continued 
their  residence  in  Ohio  until  their  death.  Drew  B.  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  he  and  his  wife  have  six  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

Littlebury  Pierce  was  born  in  Northampton  county,  North  Carolina, 
on  the  21st  of  December,  1820,  and  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  his  par- 
ents passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  There  he  wedded  Miss  Huldah 
Graham,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  about  1831,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Graham,  whose  father  immigrated  from  Ireland  to  America  and  who 
here  married.  They  were  pioneers  of  Ohio,  and  in  that  State  their 
death  occurred.  He  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  six.  The 
maiden  name  of  the  wife  of  Thomas  Graham  was  Stafford,  and  her 
parents,  of  German  descent,  were  pioneers  of  Ohio.  Within  a  short 
time  after  his  marriage  Littlebury  Pierce  established  their  residence 
on  a  farm  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  there  were  born  their  first  three 
children, — Elisha.  James  and  Rebeea.  In  1851  the  family  came  to 
Indiana  and  the  home  was  established  on  a  pioneer  farm  in  Monroe 
township.  Grant  county.  A  number  of  years  later  removal  was  made 
to  a  farm  in  Washington  township.  Blackford  county.  Still  later  the 
father  obtained  a  firm  in  Licking  township,  where  he  continued  to  be 
engaged  in  general  farming  until  he  removed  to  Hartford  City,  the 
county  seat,  where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  3.  1898.  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  His  wife  survived  him 
by  about  two  years  and  was  sixty-nine  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  on  the  17th  of  July.  1900.  both  having  been  consistent  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the  father  was  a  local  preacher 
therein.  He  was  a  democrat  in  his  political  proclivities.  Of  the  twelve 
children  Elisha  of  this  review  was  the  first  born;  James  T.,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry  in  the  Civil 
war,  died,  of  illness,  while  in  the  service:  Rebecca  and  her  husband  and 
children  still  reside  in  Ohio:  William  is  a   resident  of  St.  Louis.  Mis 


140  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

souri ;  Franklin  died  in  infancy ;  Jesse  B.  is  a  real-estate  dealer  and  in 
suranee  broker  in  the  State  of  Kansas;  Stephen  D.  is  a  painter  by 
vocation  and  resides  in  Hartford  City;  Hanford  E.  is  engaged  in  the 
plumbing  business  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Wiley  T.  resides  in  Hartford 
City;  Charles  Wesley  was  for  years  a  successful  teacher,  a  graduate 
of  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  with  the  class  of 
18y2,  is  now  a  member  of  the  Blackford  county  bar,  and  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  Elisha  in  the  real-estate  business  and  is  also 
a  piano  dealer  at  Hartford  City;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Wesley  Atkin- 
son, who  is  city  marshal  at  Havens,  Kansas;  and  Minnie  V.  is  the 
wife  of  Robert  E.  Smith,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Delaware  county, 
Indiana. 

Elisha  Pierce  was  about  five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  his  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  pioneer  days.  He  was  but  fifteen  years 
old  when  his  father  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  as 
the  father  found  that  the  needs  of  his  family  prevented  his  service 
Elisha,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  volunteered  to  become  his  substitute 
in  the  Union  ranks.  Though  a  mere  boy  he  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany 1,  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with  this  com- 
mand he  served  one  year,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged,  his  term 
under  the  draft  having  expired.  He  returned  home  and  attended 
school  one  year,  and  he  then  responded  to  the  call  of  patriotism,  in 
1864,  by  enlisting  in  the  veteranized  Twenty-sixth  Indiana  Infantry, 
with  which  he  continued  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  participated  in  fourteen  engagements  and  in  the  meanwhile  served 
for  some  time  as  drill  master,  so  that  at  the  termination  of  the  war  he 
was  discharged  as  a  non-commissioned  officer. 

Up  to  the  time  that  he  first  entered  the  Union  service  Mr.  Pierce 
could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  after  the  war  his  one  dominant  am- 
bition was  to  obtain  an  education.  He  accordingly  made  good  use  of 
the  scholastic  advantages  afforded  him  in  the  public  schools,  and  soon 
proved  himself  eligible  for  service  as  a  teacher.  In  1869  he  began  the 
study  of  law,  under  the  preceptorship  of  John  D.  Jetmore,  of  Hart- 
ford City,  and  his  receptive  mind  enabled  him  to  make  rapid  advance- 
ment in  the  assimilation  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence,  with  the  result 
that  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873.  During  the  long  intervening 
years  he  has  continued  in  the  active  and  successful  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Hartford  City,  and  he  has  been  identified  with  a  large  amount 
of  important  litigation  in  Blackford  county.  In  1886  he  was  elected  a 
representative  in  the  state  legislature,  and  he  was  re-elected  in  1888 
and  he  gave  good  account  of  himself  as  a  loyal  and  public-spirited  leg- 
islator, his  work  having  been  efficient  both  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
house  and  those  of  the  various  committees  to  which  he  was  assigned. 
He  has  ever  been  a  staunch  advocate  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic 
party  but  in  later  years  has  abated  somewhat  his  activity  in  local  poli- 
tics. Mr.  Pierce  is  a  notary  public  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  local 
lodges  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  both  he 
and  his  wife  being  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  year  1870  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Pierce  to  Miss  Ella 
Beecher,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  October  30,  1851,  but  who 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  where  her 
father  was  a  substantial  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce  have  one  son, 
Horace  Greeley,  who  was  born  in  1872,  and  who  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  Taylor  University,  at  Upland.  He  now  resides  in  Muncie,  this 
state,  is  an  electrician  by  vocation,  and  he  and  his  wife  have  one  son,  a 
lad  of  ten  years. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  141 

Richard  Dick.  Our  of  the  leading  exponents  of  scientific  Earming  in 
his  part  of  Blackford  county  is  Richard  Dick,  the  owner  of  L01  acres 
of  cultivated  land,  lying  in  section  10,  Washington  township.  Mr.  Dick 
has  made  a  life  study  of  agricultural  methods,  of  soil  conditions  and 

of  the  possibilities  of  this  region,  and  his  theories  and  methods  have 
been  proved  correct  by  the  attainment  of  a  lull  measure  of  success  from 
his  operations.  Mr.  Dick  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  having  been 
horn  in  Morgan  county,  September  15,  1851,  a  son  of  Uriah  and  Rosa 
(Michael)  Dick. 

Uriah  Dick  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  Virginia  parents  who  spent  their 
lives  there.  He  died  March  26,  161)2.  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 
Keared  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  state,  lie  early  adopted 
farming  as  his  lite  work,  and  continued  to  be  engaged  therein  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  lie  was  married  in  Virginia,  and  there 
were  born  the  following  children:  William,  who  died  young:  Mary 
O,  deceased,  who  married  Daniel  sills,  ami  had  a  family  of  four- 
teen children,  of  whom  all  but  the  eldest  are  living,  and  the  greater 
number  are  now  married;  Sarah  A.,  who  died  in  young  womanhood  ; 
and  Richard.  Emily  and  John,  two  later  children,  were  born  in  Black- 
ford county.  The  family  came  to  Indiana  about  the  year  1855  and  made 
a  settlement  in  Harrison  township,  at  that  time  a  comparatively  new 
section,  locating  in  a  log  cabin  on  a  wild  farm,  which  the  parents  con- 
tinued to  cultivate  during  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives.  The 
mother  died  a  few  years  after  their  arrival,  and  Mr.  Dick  was  subse- 
quently married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Kitterman,  nee  Wickersham,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  July  16,  1837,  and  who  died 
June  26,  1912.  She  was  married  to  .Mr.  Kitterman.  by  whom  she 
had  five  children:  Dorilas.  Ellen.  Mary  Susan,  Charles  and  Annis, 
all  living  and  all  married.  Mr.  Kitterman  died  October  7,  1S66.  In  1876 
Mrs.  Kitterman  married  1'riah  Dick,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
three  children :  Alonzo  and  Clinton,  who  reside  on  the  old  farm  in 
Washington  township  and  have  families;  and  one  child  who  died  in 
early  infancy.  The  Dicks  have  always  been  democrats.  Mrs.  Dick  was 
reared  in  the  Quaker  faith,  from  which  she  was  expelled  when  she 
married  outside  of  the  church,  then  joining  the  United  Brethren  faith. 
Several  of  the  dogmas  of  this  church  she  failed  to  agree  with,  and  there- 
after worshiped  as  she  believed^  being  a  great  student  of  the  Bible,  and 
died  a  Christian. 

The  public  schools  of  Blackford  county  furnished  Richard  Dick  with 
his  educational  training,  and  he  grew  up  a  farmer,  adopting  the  calling 
of  his  forefathers.  He  was  married  February  1,  1 S 7 7 .  and  following 
this  event  spent  five  years  on  the  old  Kitterman  homestead  in  section  1, 
Washington  township.  In  March.  1882,  he  purchased  101  acres  of 
good  land  in  section  10,  Washington  township,  on  which  there  had 
been  ten  acres  already  improved,  and  this  he  has  since  put  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  it  now  being  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  the 
township.  He  has  a  handsome  residence  of  ten  rooms,  painted  white, 
and  fitted  with  every  modern  convenience.  His  large  barn,  40x61  feet, 
was  built  in  1899,  and  in  addition  there  are  a  full  set  of  outbuildings 
of  the  most  substantial  character.  The  farm  is  well  stocked  with  Dur- 
ham cattle,  Poland-China  hogs  and  good  horses,  and  Mr.  Dick  feeds 
the  greater  part  of  his  grain.  A  man  of  practical  ideas,  he  has  also 
followed  the  trend  of  the  times  and  has  realized  the  value  of  modern 
ideas,  so  that  at  this  time  he  rotates  from  corn  to  wheat  and  then  to 
grass,  and  back  to  wheat  each  three  years.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent 
business  ability,  and  a  long  life  of  honorable  dealing  has  placed  him 
high  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 


142  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dick  have  been  flie  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Minnie,  the  wife  of  William  Ford,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township, 
has  eight  children  by  this  marriage, — Fieri,  Ray,  Marie,  Faul,  Mary, 
Ralph,  James  and  Harvey,  and  by  her  first  marriage,  to  Frank  Griffiths, 
has  one  son,  Carl  E. ;  Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Austin  Ely,  a  farmer  of  Har- 
rison township,  has  two  children, — Leslie  and  Esther;  Charles,  a  farmer 
of  this  township,  married  Myrtle  Knox,  and  has  four  children, — Cecil, 
Crystal,  Harold  and  Mary;  Irven,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township, 
married  Goldy  Emsehwiler,  and  has  three  children, — Forest,  Florence 
and  Francis;  Harvey,  a  carpenter  of  California,  who  is  single;  Ross, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Washington  township,  married  Eva  Burson,  and 
has  one  son, — Maxwell;  Ennis,  single  and  his  father's  assistant  in  the 
work  of  the  homestead ;  Sherman,  who  is  also  single  and  resides  on  the 
home  place ;  and  Lovisa  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months.  Mr. 
Dick  and  his  sons  are  democrats  in  national  politics,  but  in  local  affairs 
are  apt  to  take  an  independent  stand,  preferring  to  use  their  own  judg- 
ment in  their  choice  of  candidates  whom  they  deem  best  fitted  for  public 
office.  All  the  men  of  this  family  are  recognized  as  able,  reliable  and 
substantial  citizens,  credits  to  their  parents,  to  their  training  and  the 
community. 

John  E.  Wise.  One  of  the  handsome  and  valuable  farming  proper- 
ties of  Washington  township  is  that  belonging  to  John  E.  Wise,  a 
tract  of  120  acres  located  in  section  26,  all  of  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  thirteen  acres  of  wood  land. 
Here  he  has  a  commodious  frame  house,  a  large  barn  42x60  feet,  in  addi- 
tion to  other  necessary  outbuildings,  the  whole  property  presenting  an 
attractive  appearance  and  evidencing  the  skilful  management  and  care 
of  its  owner.  Mr.  Wise  was  born  near  Cambridge,  Wayne  county,  In- 
diana, August  24,  1862,  and  was  two  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Blackford  county  with  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Brier) 
Wise,  the  former  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  the  latter  of  Prussia. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  as  young  people,  and  were  married  in 
Wayne  county,  where  the  father  followed  the  trade  of  tanner,  an  occu- 
pation which  he  had  learned  in  his  native  land.  After  coming  to  Black- 
ford county,  Mr.  Wise  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  26, 
Washington  township,  three  acres  of  which  had  been  cleared  and  here 
was  located  a  small  log  cabin.  Mr.  Wise  cleared  his  property  from 
the  timber,  and  added  forty  acres  by  purchase,  and  five  years  after 
locating  here  built  a  hewed  log  home  in  which  the  parents  resided  until 
their  retirement  some  eight  or  ten  years  before  their  death.  They  then 
removed  to  Hartford  City,  where  the  father  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years  and  the  mother  when  seventy-two  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wise  were  honest,  industrious  and  God-fearing  people  and 
led  upright,  honorable  lives,  rearing  their  children  to  industry  and  in 
tegrity  and  assisting  their  community  as  far  as  lay  in  their  power. 
Mr.  Wise  was  reared  in  the  Catholic  faith,  while  his  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  his  political  views  he  was  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  democracy,  but  was  not  a  seeker  after  the  honors 
of  public  life.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Mary, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Knox,  who  is  the  owner  of  240  acres 
of  good  farming  land  in  Washington  township,  and  has  five  children,— 
Luther,  Selda.  Myrtle,  Roy  and  Richard ;  Joseph,  a  sketch  of  whose 
career  will  be  found  in  another  part  of  this  work;  and  John  E. 

John  E.  Wise  received  the  usual  educational  advantages  granted  to 
the  youths  of  his  day  and  locality,  and  grew  up  amid  rural  surround- 
ings' in  Washington  township.     During  the  winter  months  he  applipd 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRAM1  COUNTIES  143 

himself  to  his  studies  in  the  district  school,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
year  was  devoted  to  assisting  his  father  and  brother  in  cultivating  the 
homestead.  He  has  always  devoted  himself  to  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  since  his  father's  retirement  has  had  charge  of  the  home  place, 
which  he  now  owns.  About  1894  Mr.  Wise  replaced  the  hewed  log  home 
with  the  present  residence,  a  comfortable,  well-furnished  home,  and 
about  four  years  later  built  the  grain  and  stock  barn.  Each  year  he 
has  continued  to  make  improvements,  and  the  land  is  well  drained, 
being  tiled  throughout.  He  raises  large  crops  of  corn,  which  averages 
about  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre,  oats  about  thirty  bushels,  and  wheal 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  bushels  per  aire.  His  livestock  is  of  a  good 
grade,  and  he  has  done  a  successful  business  in  cattle,  hogs  and  horses 
for  years.  -Mr.  Wise  is  an  advocate  of  the  use  of  modern  machinery 
and  methods,  and  the  successful  results  which  have  attended  his  efforts 
should  prove  a  good  argument  in  behalf  of  up-to-date  operations.  In 
his  business  transactions  he  has  always  strictly  adhered  to  fair  and 
honorable  principles,  so  that  his  reputation  among  his  associates  is 
high,  and  his  name  is  an  honored  one  upon  commercial  paper.  During 
the  twenty-four  years  that  he  has  been  the  owner  of  his  present  prop- 
erty he  has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  the  numbers  of  his  friends 
will  testify  to  his  general  popularity. 

Mr.  Wise  was  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Lucy 
Huffman,  who  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Indiana,  July  13.  1868,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  She  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Blackford  county,  they  being  Richard  and  Sarah  E. 
(Dearduff)  Huffman,  who  spent  the  latter  years  of  their  lives  in  Har- 
rison township.  Mr.  Huffman  was  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
of  his  community,  and  was  not  unknown  to  public  life,  having  for  some 
years  served  efficiently  in  the  capacity  of  superintendent  of  the  Black- 
ford county  poor  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  have  been  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Bertha,  who  died  in  1905.  in  the  prime  of 
young  womanhood,  aged  sixteen  years,  four  months;  Mary,  born  May  14. 
1892,  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  now  the  wife  of  Harry  Glenn, 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Blackford  county,  and  has 
one  daughter, — Ruby,  born  in  September,  1912. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  are  devout  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of 
which  he  was  for  some  years  trustee.  Like  his  father  Mr.  Wise  is  a 
democrat,  but  politics  have  not  proven  attractive  enough  to  lure  him 
from  his  fields,  and  his  public  services  have  been  confined  to  stanch 
support  of  those  men  and  measures  through  whom  he  believes  the  county 
will  gain  the  most  benefit. 

Samuel  A.  Mills.  The  present  sheriff  of  Blackford  county  is  not 
only  filling  this  important  office  with  marked  circumspection  and  ability 
but  he  also  has  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  first  candidates  of 
the  progressive  party  to  have  been  elected  in  the  State  of  Indiana. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  Blackford  county  from  the  time  of  his  na- 
tivity, and  is  a  member  of  a  well  known  pioneer  family  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  His  present  official  preferment  denotes  the  estimate  placed 
upon  him  in  a  popular  sense,  and  he  is  proving  specially  efficient  as 
a  public  official. 

Mr.  Mills  was  born  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  on 
the  9th  of  September.  1852.  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  G.  and  Nancy  Ann 
(Lilliebridge)  Mills,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Braxton  county. 
West  Virginia,  which  state  was  at  that  time  an  integral  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  latter  of  whom  was  bora  in  Providence.  Rhode  Island. 
Thomas  G.  Mills  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Ann    ("Shields')   Mills,  both 


144        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

representatives  of  staunch  Scotch  lineage  and  both  natives  of  Virginia, 
where  all  of  their  children  were  born  and  reared,  tne  respective  laimlies 
having  been  founded  in  the  historic  Uld  Dominion  in  the  colonial  era. 
Thomas  G.  Mills  was  reared  in  that  part  of  Virginia  that  now  con- 
stitutes tlie  State  of  West  Virginia,  and  there  his  marriage  was  solemn- 
ized. To  this  union  had  been  born  one  son  and  two  daughters  in  West 
Virginia,  and  then  Thomas  G.  Mills,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, as  well  as  by  his  venerable  parents,  came,  in  1S49  or  1850,  to 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  the  long  journey  being  made  with  team  and 
wagon  and  several  weeks  having  elapsed  before  the  ambitious  family 
of  immigrants  reached  its  destination.  At  that  period  the  march  of 
development  in  northern  Indiana  had  not  been  carried  far,  as  much  of 
the  land  was  still  covered  with  the  native  timber  and  entirely  unre- 
claimed. The  Mills  family  obtained  land  in  Washington  township, 
Blackford  county  and  the  tract  of  160  acres  was  entirely  undeveloped, 
the  former  owner  having  made  no  effort  to  improve  the  property.  In 
the  midst  of  the  wilds  was  erected  the  little  log  house  that  was  to  con- 
stitute the  family  domicile,  this  structure  having  been  erected  on  the 
land  purchased  by  Samuel  Mills,  grandfather  of  the  present  sheriff  of 
the  county,  and  the  entire  family  having  for  some  time  occupied  the 
one  dwelling,  the  while  Thomas  G.  Mills  carried  forward  the  reclama- 
tion of  his  farm  of  160  acres.  In  the  pioneer  log  house  just  mentioned 
Samuel  Mills  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives,  each  attain- 
ing to  advanced  age.  Samuel  Mills  was  a  son  of  John  Mills,  who  was  a 
patriotic  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  having  volunteered 
his  services  while  a  resident  of  North  Carolina  and  his  having  been  the 
distinction  of  attaiuing  to  the  patriarchal  age  of  one  hundred  and  one 
years,  the  remains  of  this  loyal  soldier  of  the  Revolution  being  interred 
in  the  Hadden  cemetery,  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county. 
Indiana,  a  fact  that  indicates  that  when  the  family  came  to  this  state 
it  was  represented  by  four  generations.  His  family  name  was  Hadley, 
and  under  this  name  he  served  in  the  Revolution,  but  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  for  some  reason  not  known  to  his  descendants,  he  changed 
his  name  to  Mills,  which  has  since  been  retained  by  the  generations 
that  have  followed.  Thomas  G.  Mills  developed  a  productive  farm  of 
ninety  acres,  and  he  was  one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Washington  township  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1817,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  He  was  a  democrat  in  his  political 
proclivities  and  took  a  loyal  interest  in  public  affairs  of  a  local  order. 
His  wife  was  about  sixty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  Mrs.  Mills 
having  also  been  the  mother  of  two  sons  by  a  former  marriage  to  Charles 
Stockton.  One  of  these  sons  is  still  living,  Charles  Stockton,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Ohio,  and  the  other  son,  Edward  Stockton,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy  years.  Of  the  second  marriage  the  only  two  now  living  are 
Samuel  A.,  of  this  review,  and  his  younger  brother,  Bluford  A.,  the 
latter  being  now  the  head  of  a  department  in  the  Indiana  Epileptic 
Village,  at  New  Castle,  Henry  county. 

The  present  sheriff  of  Blackford  county  was  reared  to  the  sturdy 
discipline  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  in  Washington  township,  and  his 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  owing  to  the  exigencies  of  time  and 
place.  He  attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  the  neighborhood  during  the 
winter  terms  and  in  the  summer  seasons  he  early  began  to  contribute 
his  quota  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  so  that  he  soon  learned  the  dignity 
and  value  of  consecutive  industry.  The  Sheriff  recalls  that  in  his  boy- 
hood days  his  shoes  were  made  by  an  itinerant  shoemaker  and  for  the 
purpose  was  utilized  the  hide  of  a  calf  that  had  been  on  each  occasion 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        145 

of  requirement  killed  the  year  previously,  so  that  the  leather  might  be 
properly  tanned  in  the  pioneer  tannery  at  Hartford  City.  At  times 
certain  delays  in  the  tannery  deprived  the  ambitious  youngster  of  the 
necessary  foot-covering  ami  prevented  him  from  entering  sdmol  at  the 
opening  of  the  term. 

Mr.  Mills  continued  to  be  actively  identified  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  his  native  county  until  1879,  when  he  went  to  Kansas  and  lo- 
cated in  Smith  county.  lie  thus  became  a  pioneer  of  tin-  Sunflower 
State,  but  its  attractions  and  inducements  seemed  to  him  so  much  less 
than  those  of  Indiana  that  at  the  end  of  one  year  he  returned  to  Black- 
ford county,  this  one  digression  having  been  his  own  abatement  of 
allegiance  to  the  place  of  his  birth.  lie  became  a  successful  farmer  in 
Licking  township,  where  he  continued  his  operations  until  1902,  when 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  county  poor  house  and  farm,  to 
the  management  of  which  he  devoted  himself,  witli  marked  efficiency, 
for  the  ensuing  eight  years.  After  his  retirement  from  this  position  he 
passed  two  years  on  his  well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  Jack- 
son township,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1912,  coincident  with  the  national 
election,  he  was  chosen  sheriff  of  his  native  county,  the  duties  of  the 
office  having  been  assumed  January  1,  1914.  He  received  a  gratifying 
majority  at  the  polls,  and  tins  was  the  most  significant  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  he  was  candidate  on  the  ticket  of  the  newly  organized  pro- 
gressive party,  to  which  lie  had  transferred  his  allegiance,  his  political 
affiliation  prior  to  that  time  having  been  with  the  democratic  party. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Knights  of  the  Modern  Maccabees  and  he  has  a 
host  of  friends  in  the  county  that  has  been  his  home  during  the  course 
of  his  entire  life. 

Mr.  Mills  first  wedded  Miss  Mary  Ann  Tatman,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  who  come  to  Blackford  count}-  with  her  parents  when  she  was 
a  girl.  She  died  when  about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  was  survived 
by  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  concerning  whom  the  following  brief 
record  is  entered :  Bessie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Lawrence  L.  Fortner,  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Washington  township,  and  of  their  eight  children  six 
are  living:  Francis  M.  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  having  been 
at  the  time  a  student  in  a  business  college;  Alice  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death;  and  Lemuel  L.  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years.  On  November  14.  1892,  Mr.  Mills  married  Miss  Esther 
Elvina  West,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Tennessee  but  who  was  a 
resident  of  Crawfordsville.  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage,  no  children  having  been  born  of  this  union. 

Aaron  L.  McVicker.  It  was  in  the  first  years  of  the  decade  of  the 
thirties  that  the  McVicker  family  wash  established  in  Blackford  county. 
The  different  generations  have  produced  industrious  and  honored  citi- 
zens, men  and  women  of  substantial  worth,  well  able  to  carry  the  burdens 
of  individual  and  social  responsibilities,  and  as  few  families  have  lived 
longer  in  this  section,  so  likewise  the  esteem  in  which  they  are  held  has 
been  increasing  with  length  of  years. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was  Archibald  McVicker,  who 
was  born  in  Scotland,  and  so  far  as  information  is  available  on  that  point 
emigrated  to  America  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  a?o.  He 
subsequently  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  mar- 
ried there,  established  a  family,  and  thus  gave  origin  to  the  different 
generations  that  have  succeeded  him.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  man  of  fine 
physical  constitution  and  oftentimes  took  the  lead  in  community  affairs. 
He  and  his  wife  both  died  in  Guernsey  cotinty. 

Next  in  line  of  descent  comes  Aaron  McVicker,  who  was  born  on  the 


146  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

old  homestead  farm  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  in  1811.  In  1832,  hav- 
ing reached  manhood  and  ambitious  to  establish  himself  in  a  new  coun- 
try, he  walked  all  the  distance  from  Ohio  to  Blackford  county,  and  en- 
tered a  tract  of  government  land  in  Section  10  of  Licking  township,  six 
miles  from  the  courthouse  in  Hartford  City.  He  was  alone,  and  for 
some  days  swung  his  axe  in  the  native  forest,  felled  the  trees  and  with  the 
aid  of  some  friendly  neighbors  put  up  a  rough  log  cabin.  That  work 
completed,  he  returned  on  foot  to  Guernsey  county,  and  soon  after- 
wards celebrated  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Brunei'.  She  was  born 
probably  in  Ohio  and  of  Irish  stock,  and  was  reared  by  foster  parents 
in  Guernsey  county.  In  the  spring  of  1833  this  young  couple  set  out 
with  wagon  and  team  and  made  the  long  journey  overland  until  they  ar- 
rived in  Blackford  county,  and  took  up  their  abode  in  the  cabin  which 
the  husband  had  built  the  preceding  year.  Prom  the  wild  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  their  united  labors  eventually  created 
a  good  farm,  and  prosperity  smiled  upon  them.  When  they  journeyed 
from  Ohio  they  had  as  companions  two  brothers  of  Aaron  McVicker, 
Joseph,  who  entered  land  in  Delaware  county,  and  David,  who  estab- 
lished a  home  in  ( irant  county,  besides  their  sister  Mrs.  Anna  Lyons, 
who  also  went  to  Grant  county.  All  these  reared  families,  and  their 
descendants  are  still  found  in  the  three  counties  named. 

As  the  years  passed  the  old  log  cabin  was  supplanted  by  one  of 
hewed  logs,  and  that  in  turn  by  a  good  frame  dwelling  house,  in  which 
Aaron  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  years.  He  died  in  1861  and  his  wife 
in  November,  1876,  she  being  then  past  sixty  years  of  age.  All  their 
years  had  been  passed  as  hard  workers,  and  both  were  devoted  to  the 
religion  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church,  while  in  politics  he  was  a 
democrat.  The  children  of  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  (Bruner)  McVicker 
were :  Mary  A.,  who  married  James  A.  Gadbury,  and  died  leaving  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  one  daughter  having  preceded  her 
in  death;  David  Cyrus,  who  died  about  six  years  ago,  had  one  son  and 
two  daughters,  and  his  second  wife,  who  was  a  Mrs.  Stevens,  and  whose 
maiden  name  was  Harrington,  is  still  living;  Eliza  married  Randolph 
Boney,  lives  in  Grant  county,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children;  the 
next  in  the  family  was  James  A.  McVicker ;  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  Adison 
Atkinson,  a  farmer  of  Licking  township,  and  their  children  are  Grant, 
Corey,  George,  Joseph.  Keturah,  Alonzo,  Joseph,  and  Harvey;  Nancy 
died  unmarried  when  past  fifty  years  of  age ;  Alice  died  after  her  mar- 
riage to  George  Powers  who  is  also  deceased,  and  their  children  were 
Mark,  Anna,  Pearl  and  Fred ;  Eli  is  a  farmer  and  miner  in  Colorado, 
and  by  his  marriage  to  Malinda  Gassup  Collins,  has  a  daughter  Maud ; 
Joanna  married  Eli  Hamilton,  both  being  now  deceased,  and  they  left 
children,  Frank,  Claud  and  Pearl. 

James  A.  McVicker,  of  the  third  generation  of  this  family  in 
America,  was  born  in  Blackford  county  on  the  old  homestead  above 
mentioned  on  September  27,  1840.  He  is  still  living,  in  his  seventy- 
fourth  year,  one  of  the  oldest  native  sons  of  this  county.  As  a  boy  he 
attended  the  primitive  country  schools,  but  in  the  discipline  of  hard 
work  in  the  clearing  and  improvement  of  a  pioneer  farm.  He  still 
owns  the  old  homestead  on  which  he  was  reared,  and  has  long  been 
known  as  one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  The  house  he  occupies  is  the  one  built  by  his  father  many  years 
ago,  though  many  improvements  have  since  been  made.  James  A. 
McVicker  is  a  prohibitionist  and  applies  to  his  personal  practice  the 
principles  which  he  would  have  govern  in  community  and  state.  His 
activities  have  never  extended  outside  of  his  farm  and  family,  though 
in  community  esteem  he  stands  very  high. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  147 

James  A.  McVicker  was  married  in  his  native  township  and  count}  to 
Sarah  C.  Cunningham,  who  was  born  within  a  mile  of  her  present  home 
on  August  13,  1844.     She  belongs  to  the  old  Cunningham  I'amih   that 

was  likewise  among  the  early  settlers  of  Licking  township,  and  full  de- 
tails concerning  them  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  publication.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  -James  A.  McVicker  are  both  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  he  is  treasurer  of  his  local  society.  Their  children  were: 
Aaron  L.;  Alary  Lavina,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  R.  Carman,  a  Blackford 
county  farmer,  ami  their  children  are  Carl.  Alma,  Esther  and  Jason; 
Julia  A.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  six  months  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Riley  R.  Reasoner;  I'retta  J.  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  t  lie 
next  child  iu  infancy;  George  M.,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Licking  township 
and  married  Cora  Watts,  and  has  children,  Leroy,  Cecil,  Otto  and  Cath- 
erine; Ella  M.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Merrett,  a  carpeuter  of  Hartford 
City,  aud  their  children  are  Crystal.  Erlin  and  Lucile;  Alice  died  un- 
married at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years:  Nettie  is  the  wife  of  0.  M. 
McAdams  of  Bridgeport.  Illinois,  and  they  have  a  son  Bernard;  Ida  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at   home. 

Aaron  L.  McVicker,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  article, 
was  boru  on  the  old  farm  established  more  than  eighty  years  ago  by  his 
grandfather,  still  occupied  by  his  father,  on  March  10.  1864.  His  early 
youth  was  spent  in  the  country  where  his  family  had  so  long  Been  known, 
and  he  found  the  source  of  his  education  in  the  local  schools.  His 
years  until  twenty-nine  were  spent  on  the  old  farm,  then  moved  to  Hart- 
ford City,  and  for  the  past  nineteen  years  has  been  identified  with  the 
Sneath  Glass  Company,  working  in  the  different  departments  and  still 
holding  a  position  with  that  important  industry.  Air.  McVicker  is  a 
prohibitionist  in  politics,  and  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  tin-  Macca- 
bees. 

On  March  9,  1890.  he  married  Sarah  E.  Hollingshead,  a  relationship 
which  brings  another  pioneer  Blackford  county  family  into  this  sketch. 
She  was  born  in  Delaware  county  near  Granville  July  17.  1868,  was  edu- 
cated in  her  native  county,  and  lived  a  few  years  in  Blackford  county 
before  her  marriage.  Mrs.  McVicker  is  devoted  to  the  work  of  her 
home,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  daughter.  Esther  Grace,  who  was  born 
August  16.  1891.  She  graduated  from  the  Hartford  City  high  school 
in  1909,  studied  music  in  school  and  later  under  private  instruction, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  James  A.  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and 
is  a  machinist  and  electrician  with  the  Sneath  Glass  Company.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lewis  live  at  542  W.  Kickapoo  street.  They  have  two  children : 
Harold  Paul  Lewis,  born  March  8,  1911 ;  and  Mary  Louise,  born  October 
12.  1913.  Mr.  McVicker  and  his  family  are  all  active  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  serving  on  the  board  of  stewards. 

J.  Frank  Kellet.  Many  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Blackford 
and  Grant  counties  have  resided  on  their  homesteads  all  of  their  lives, 
and  have  gained  all  their  experience  in  tilling  the  land  on  the  prop- 
erties they  now  own.  In  this  way  they  have  gained  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  soil  and  climatic  conditions  and  are  ably  fitted  to  judge  which 
product  will  prove  the  most  profitable  crop.  J.  Frank  Kelley  has  resided 
on  the  homestead  farm  in  sections  8.  16  and  17.  Washington  township. 
all  of  his  life,  and  owns  and  controls  280  acres  of  fine  land,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Kelley  grows  a 
large  acreage  of  corn,  wheat,  oats  and  rye.  with  a  high  average  in  bush- 
els in  all  kinds  of  grain,  although  he  feeds  almost  all  that  he  grows, 
with  the  exception  of  hay.  having  good  grades  of  cattle,  red  and  black 
hogs  and  Polled  and  Short  Horn  cattle.    The  land  is  well  drained,  ditched 


148  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

and  fenced,  and  its  modern  buildings  and  equipment  reflect  the  pro- 
gressive spirit  and  individuality  of  its  owner. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  born  about  one  mile  from  his  present  farm,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1874,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  Dan- 
ville normal  school.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  early  decided  upon  a  career 
as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty  years  took  over  the 
management  of  the  home  place,  of  which  he  has  been  in  charge  ever 
since.  Mr.  Kelley  is  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Rebecca  E.  (Haines)  Kel- 
ley, natives  of  Ohio  who  were  married  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and 
spent  their  lives  after  marriage  in  Blackford  county  on  the  farm  which 
they  improved,  and  on  which  they  resided  until  their  retirement.  At  that 
time  they  removed  to  Pemiville,  Jay  county,  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Kelley 
looks  after  his  extensive  agricultural  interests.  The  mother,  who  died  in 
1905,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  was  a  daughter  of  James  A.  and  Nancy 
E.  (Smith)  Haines,  who  came  from  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  to  Grant 
county,  Indiana,  at  an  early  day,  and  secured  land  from  the  Government, 
on  which  they  spent  the  balance  of  their  lives,  the  father  dying  when, 
seventy  years  of  age,  and  the  mother  when  about  eighty.  They  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions Mr.  Haines  was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican.  William  H. 
Kelley  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Rebecca  (Hall)  Kelley,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  came  to  Ohio  as  young  married  people  and  subsequently 
removed  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  with  their  family,  entering 
government  land  in  section  17,  Washington  township.  Here  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  long  and  useful  lives,  the  grandfather  dying  when 
about  seventy-five  years  of  age,  and  the  grandmother  some  years  before. 
They  were  prominent  pioneer  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
in  which  both  were  very  active.  Mr.  Kelley  was  first  a  whig  and  later  a 
republican,  and  his  descendants  have  been  identified  with  the  latter  party. 

J.  Frank  Kelley  is  one  of  two  children,  his  elder  brother  being  Prof. 
Luther  E.  Kelley,  superintendent  of  schools  of  Montpelier,  Indiana. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Speace,  a  Montpelier  girl  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  is  now  eleven  years  of  age.  J.  Frank  Kelley 
was  married  at  Bluffton,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Myrtle  E.  Palmer,  who  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  this  township  and  the  Marion  Normal  school. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  William  W.  and  Nancy  R.  (Tharp)  Palmer,  natives 
of  Ohio,  who  are  now  well-known  farming  people  of  Wells  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelley  have  had  the  following  children:  Grace  E.,  who 
was  born  in  October,  1905,  and  is  now  attending  the  public  schools ;  Ruth 
R.,  born  January  12,  1907 ;  Esther  C,  born  July  1,  1908 ;  and  Frances 
P.,  born  February  13,  1912.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelley  are  attendants  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  which  they  attend  at  Roll.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  republican,  but  with  the  birth  of  the  progressive  party 
transferred  his  support  to  that  organization.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  at  Roll,  and  has  passed  the  chairs  in  that 
order,  being  past  chancellor  thereof  and  having  represented  his  lodge  as 
a  delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state. 

Alfred  Miles.  Nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century  have  passed 
since  Alfred  Miles  came  to  Blackford  county  and  settled  on  the  farm 
home  on  which  he  now  resides.  The  oldest  man  in  the  county,  he  has 
watched  its  growth  and  development  with  the  eye  of  a  proprietor,  and 
his  contributions  to  its  welfare  and  advancement  have  been  of  a  nature 
to  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  its  most  honored  citizens.  Although 
now  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-five  years  he  retains  his  interest 
in  the  affairs  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived  so  long  and  which 
he  has  served  so  faithfully  and  well. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  L49 

Mr.  Miles  belongs  to  the  distinguished  .Miles  family  which  produced 
that  great  military  figure,  Gen.  Nelson  A.  Miles.  II. •  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Ne\i  Jersey,  April  7.  L819,  and  is  a  sou  of  William  and  Keturah 
(Casterline)  .Miles,  the  former  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1795  and  the 

latter  in  New  .Jersey  in  1797.  They  were  married  in  the  latter  state 
and  m  1824  left  Jersey  for  Steuben  county,  New  York,  where  they  made 
their  home  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  In  1834  they  came  overland  with 
teams  in  Indiana  and  tirst  located  in  Payette  county,  bu1  in  February, 
1841,  moved  on  to  Washington  township.  Blackford  countj  and  settled 
on  virgin  soil  in  section  32.  where  the  father  purchased  a  trad  of 
eighty  acres  of  land.  The  parents  of  William  .Miles,  Thomas  and  .Mary 
(Underwood)  Miles,  came  on  from  their  New  York  state  home,  .joined 
their  son  in  Indiana,  and  there  passed  away  in  advanced  years.  During 
the  Revolutionary  War  Thomas  Miles  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Amen 
can  army,  following  the  Bunker  Hill  battle.  He  is  reported  to  have 
never  been  hurt  or  captured,  the  greater  part  of  his  service  being  con- 
lined  to  duty  as  a  home  guard.  He  and  his  wife  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
.Miles  Cemetery  in  Washington  township,  a  plot  laid  out  by  later  mem- 
bers of  the  family  on  their  farm. 

William  Miles  continued  to  be  engaged  in  farming  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  Washington  township,  but  died  in  January,  1875, 
aged  about  eighty  years,  at  Rockford,  Illinois.  He  was  a  Jacksonian 
democrat,  as  had  been  his  father.  Although  not  a  member  of  any  re- 
ligious denomination,  he  was  a  believer  in  the  good  accomplished  by 
churches,  and  was  a  ready  contributor  to  movements  of  a  worthy  nature. 
Mrs.  Miles,  who  died  November  3,  1842,  in  Washington  township,  at  the 
age  of  forty-five  years,  was  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church. 
Six  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  of  whom 
two  sons  and  one  daughter  were  married.     Alfred  is  the  only  survivor. 

Alfred  Miles  was  a  child  of  five  years  when  taken  to  New  York  by 
his  parents,  and  was  fifteen  years  old  when  he  made  the  long  overland 
trip  to  Indiana.  He  was  twenty-two  years  old  when  he  came  to  Black- 
ford county,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  been  connected  with 
its  agricultural  interests,  a  period  of  seventy-three  years.  Mr.  Miles 
is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  145  acres,  in  section  32.  and  80  acres  of  the 
old  William  Miles  homestead  is  still  owned  by  him.  Although  he  is 
ninety-five  years  of  age,  he  still  retains  his  faculties  in  a  remarkable 
degree,  is  active  in  body  and  alert  in  mind,  and  is  able  to  accomplish 
more  than  many  men  who  are  thirty  years  younger.  His  memory  is 
excellent,  and  he  recalls  readily  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  the  early 
days  when  neighbors  were  few  and  far  between,  and  the  county,  still  in 
its  infancy,  gave  but  little  promise  of  the  wonderful  development  which 
was  to  take  place  within  its  borders.  He  has  led  a  clean  and  industrious 
life  and  to  this  may  be  attributed  his  good  health  and  great  acre.  Like 
his  father,  he  has  been  a  lifelong  democrat,  but  has  not  desired  public 
office  and  has  been  content  to  do  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen,  without  ask- 
ing political  favors  of  any  kind.  He  is  a  devout  and  God-fearing  man, 
but  has  held  to  no  particular  creed,  supporting  all  churches  and  chari- 
table organizations. 

Mr.  Miles  was  married  in  Grant  county.  Indiana,  in  1845.  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Galispie,  who  was  born  in  Fairfield  county.  Ohio,  August  13, 
1820.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  seventeen  years  when  she  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Grant  county,  they  being  James  and  Mary  (Peter  1  Galis- 
pie, who  came  to  Grant  county  in  1837.  located  on  a  new  farm,  which 
they  improved  and  cultivated,  and  passed  the  remaining  years  of  their 
lives  in  Monroe  township,  the  father  passing  away  when  eighty-four 
years  of  age  and  the  mother  when  several  years  younger.     Mrs.  Miles 


150  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

passed  away  at  Jier  home  in  Washington  township,  May  22,  1906,  when 
in  her  eighty-sixth  year.  She  had  been  ever  a  devoted  wife  and  mother, 
and  was  able  to  assist  her  husband  materially  in  his  efforts  to  gain  suc- 
cess. Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miles,  namely :  Jeffer- 
son and  George,  both  of  whom  passed  away  in  youth;  Junius,  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Washington  township,  who  makes  his  home  with  his 
father,  married  Almira  Townsend,  and  has  had  four  children, — James, 
Carrie  and  Harry,  who  are  married  and  have  children,  and  Ella,  who  is 
deceased ;  and  Rebecca,  who  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Townsend,  a  farmer 
of  Grant  county,  has  four  daughters  and  four  sons, — Elmore,  deceased, 
George  N.,  Franklin  and  Thomas,  Lucy,  Gertie  and  Polly,  who  are  all 
married  and  Mary,  who  is  single  and  resides  with  her  parents. 

Adam  Winslow  Miles.  The  Miles  family  has  been  identified  with 
Grant  and  Blackford  counties  for  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century. 
In  the  earlier  generations  they  were  not  only  pioneers  who  helped  to 
clear  up  the  wilderness,  but  both  the  grandfather  and  father  plied 
their  trade  as  shoemakers  and  made  all  the  boots  and  footwear  for  hun- 
dreds of  the  early  settlers  in  their  community.  Mr.  A.  Winslow  Miles, 
who  is  now  retired  from  business  and  living  in  Hartford  City,  is  not 
without  knowledge  of  pioneer  undertaking  himself.  In  his  earlier 
years  he  cleared  up  a  farm  from  the  woods,  and  literally  hewed  out  his 
own  fortune,  since  he  started  practically  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder. 
It  is  his  honorable  distinction  to  have  seen  service  on  the  Union  side 
during  the  Civil  war,  and  he  has  also  been  honored  in  the  county  as 
commissioner  and  with  other  offices,  and  people  have  long  trusted  him 
for  his  business  judgment,  his  public  spirit,  his  integrity,  and  his 
devoted  Christian  character. 

Mr.  Miles'  grandfather  was  Thomas  Miles,  a  native  of  England 
and  of  English  family.  He  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  left  the 
mother  country  and  established  homes  in  America  during  the  colonial 
days.  Thomas  Miles  saw  service  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  few  Blackford  county  citizens  have  more  interesting  colonial  and 
revolutionary  antecedents  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miles.  Thomas  Miles  was 
with  a  Massachusetts  regiment.  He  was  married  either  in  Massachu- 
setts or  New  Jersey,  and  began  life  as  a  farmer  near  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. While  the  family  lived  there  Lorenzo,  father  of  A.  Winslow 
Miles,  was  born  in  1802.  Also  another  son,  William,  and  two  daughters, 
Rebecca  and  Fannie,  were  also  added  to  the  family  while  living  near 
Boston,  and  after  their  birth  the  parents  moved  to  New  Jersey,  and 
some  years  later  removed  from  the  vicinity  of  Newark  to  Steuben 
county,  New  York. 

It  was  about  1835  or  1836  that  the  Miles  family  started  on  its  long 
migration  from  Western  New  York  to  the  state  of  Indiana.  They  first 
found  a  home  in  Fayette  county,  lived  on  a  farm,  and  both  Thomas 
and  Lorenzo  Miles  followed  their  trade  as  shoemakers  in  that  locality. 
There  were  very  few  cobblers  in  any  of  the  early  communities  of  In- 
diana, and  as  practically  all  footwear  was  made  by  hand  their  services 
were  appreciated  accordingly,  and  it  was  easy  for  them  to  exchange 
their  service  at  their  trade  for  work  performed  in  clearing  up  their 
land,  and  in  that  way  they  improved  their  little  farms.  Both  were  men 
comparatively  humble  in  circumstances,  but  were  honored  for  their  in- 
tegrity and  useful  citizenship,  and  gradually  got  ahead  in  material 
goods.  In  1840  they  moved  to  Grant  county,  and  both  Thomas  and 
Lorenzo  entered  eighty  acres  of  land.  Lorenzo  entered  his  in  Jefferson 
township,  Grant  county,  and  Thomas  in  Blackford  county,  Washing- 
ton township.     Once  more  they  took  up  the  work  of  pioneer  settlers  and 


MR.  AND  .MRS.   ADA.M    W.   MILES 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  151 

combined  the  vocations  of  farming  with  shoemaking.  Their  curly  home 
was  a  double  round-log  house  with  a  puueheon  Moor,  aud  people  for 
miles  around  frequented  that  plaee  in  order  to  get  their  shoes  made. 
Gradually  their  land  was  cleared  up,  and  they  lived  in  prosperous  cir- 
cumstances for  their  time.  Lorenzo  .Miles  was  one  of  the  men  engaged 
in  the  early  transportation  business  before  the  era  of  railroads,  and  for 
about  ten  years  hauled  goods  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Hartford  City, 
it  was  necessary  for  him  to  resort  to  this  occupation  since  it  was  more 
profitable  than  cutting  cheap  wood  or  working  at  his  cobbler's  bench, 
and  he  had  a  large  family  of  twelve  children  to  provide  for  and  every 
dollar  was  appreciated.  Lorenzo  Miles  spent  the  rest  of  his  years  on 
the  farm  which  he  had  acquired  direct  from  the  government,  and  died 
August  20,  1866.  The  Revolutionary  soldier,  Thomas  Miles,  had  died 
on  an  adjacent  farm,  also  acquired  from  the  government  in  1838,  his 
death  occurring  in  1849,  when  a  little  past  eighty  years  of  age.  it  is 
from  this  same  general  stock  of  the  Miles  family  that  the  noted  soldier, 
Nelson  A.  Miles,  at  one  time  head  of  the  United  States  army,  is  de- 
scended. Further  data  concerning  the  Miles  connections  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  publication. 

In  1825  Lorenzo  Miles  was  married  in  Steuben  county,  New  York, 
to  Miss  Phoebe  Wass,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  June,  1805.  Her 
early  childhood  and  young  womanhood  were  spent  largely  in  Steuben 
county.  New  York,  and  she  died  at  the  old  homestead  in  Grant  county 
in  March,  18611.  Her  father,  Adam  Wass,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
but  died  in  New  York  state,  and  was  of  Dutch  ancestry.  In  the  earlier 
generations  the  Miles  family  was  not  especially  noted  for  religious  affili- 
ations or  work,  but  Phoebe  Wass  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  de- 
nomination. Lorenzo  Miles  and  wife,  as  already  stated,  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, and  A.  Winslow  was  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth.  The  only  one 
who  did  not  attain  maturity  and  marry  was  one  who  served  as  a  chaplain 
in  a  Nebraska  regiment  during  the  Civil  war,  and  while  returning  from 
the  South  was  stricken  with  illness  and  died  in  a  hospital  at  St.  Louis, 
his  body  now  resting  in  an  unknown  grave.  The  only  survivors  of  this 
large  family  are  the  Hartford  City  resident  and  Mrs.  Fannie  Snyder 
of  Maxwell,  Nebraska,  the  latter  being  eighty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  A.  Winslow  Miles  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  previously 
mentioned  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county,  March  17,  1844,  and 
has  already  passed  the  mark  of  three  score  and  ten.  His  recollections 
include  many  interesting  circumstances  of  pioneer  da3's  in  Grant  and 
Blackford  county.  The  school  he  attended  was  kept  in  a  log  building 
and  was  known  as  the  Bunker  Hill  schoolhouse,  but  he  learned  more 
from  the  practice  of  doing  things  in  the  woods  and  on  the  farm  than 
through  the  literary  instruction  supplied  the  children  of  that  day.  On 
November  15.  1864,  when  a  little  past  twenty  years  of  age,  he  enlisted 
for  service  in  Company  B  of  the  Twenty-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
continued  with  his  command  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  being  honorably 
discharged  in  May,  1865.  It  was  from  the  exposure  and  hardships  of  a 
soldier's  life  that  he  suffered  more  than  from  actual  conflict  with  the 
enemy.  Sleeping  out  on  the  hare  ground  or  on  a  hard  board,  in  all  kinds 
of  weather,  finally  resulted  in  typhoid  fever,  and  in  addition  during  his 
long  illness  his  sufferings  were  aggravated  by  bed  sores,  so  that  he  re- 
turned from  the  war  much  shaken  in  health.  After  that  trying  experi- 
ence he  lived  with  his  father  at  the  old  home  until  the  latter's  death  in 
August,  1866.  and  somewhat  later  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account. 
It  was  only  after  several  years  of  hard  work  and  careful  economy  that 
he  was  able  to  make  his  first  purchase,  and  his  first  deed  called  for  fifty 
acres  in  Section  3  of  Licking  township  in  Blackford  county,  and  is  dated 


152  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

November  12,  1872.  He  got  a  start  financially  by  cutting  off  and  selling 
some  large  hickory  butts  which  stood  on  his  land,  and  from  this  gradually 
went  ahead  until  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and 
business  men  of  Blackford  county.  In  1883,  he  increased  his  land  by  the 
purchase  of  twenty-eight  acres,  and  gradually  all  of  it  came  under  the 
plow  and  has  ever  since  been  one  of  the  productive  farms  of  Blackford 
county.  It  was  improved  with  a  good  barn  and  a  substantial  eight-room 
house.  On  February  5,  1911,  Mr.  Miles  sold  this  good  homestead  which 
represented  so  much  of  his  early  labors  and  sacrifices  for  eight  thousand 
nine  hundred  dollars. 

Many  years  ago  his  business  judgment  and  popularity  brought  him 
into  the  public  life  of  the  county,  and  in  1888  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner  and  re-elected  for  a  second  term,  serving  six  years  alto- 
gether. It  was  during  his  administration  that  the  present  county  court- 
house was  built.  In  1891,  Mr.  Miles  moved  to  Hartford  City,  went  back 
to  the  farm  in  1895,  but  in  1898  returned  and  has  since  resided  at  606 
West  Kickapoo  street. 

In  the  hard  work,  thrift  and  careful  watch  over  all  details,  by  which 
his  prosperity  has  been  won,  Mr.  Miles  gives  full  credit  to  his  wife, 
whose  helpfulness  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  acquisition  of 
their  modest  fortune.  She  was  always  ready  with  a  willing  heart  and 
skilful  hands  to  assist  her  husband  in  hard  labor  to  accumulate  enough 
of  this  world's  wealth  to  provide  for  themselves  a  comfortable  home  and 
a  good  living.  During  the  last  three  and  a  half  years  while  on  the  farm 
she  milked  three  cows  and  made  two  thousand  four  hundred  and 
forty-four  and  a  half  pounds  of  butter  to  sell,  receiving  twenty -five  cents 
a  pound,  also  raising  numbers  of  chickens  and  selling  many  dozens  of 
eggs  at  the  same  time,  and  always  attending  to  her  home  duties.  She 
is  a  Blackford  county  woman  and  Mr.  Miles  met  her  in  that  county  and 
they  were  married  January  17,  1867.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Casterline,  and  her  family  likewise  goes  back  to  the  old  days  of  colonial 
history  and  the  revolutionary  war.  She  was  born  in  Licking  township 
of  Blackford  county  August  28,  1849,  and  has  spent  all  her  life  in  this 
county.  Her  parents  were  Ira  and  Melinda  (Saxon)  Casterline,  who 
were  both  born  in  New  Jersey,  but  were  married  in  Steuben  county,  New 
York,  and  in  1836,  an  early  year  in  Indiana  history,  brought  their  family 
to  Fayette  county,  driving  all  the  way  with  ox  teams  and  wagons,  and 
were  six  weeks  between  New  York  state  and  Indiana.  In  1840  the  Caster- 
line family  settled  in  Blackford  county,  and  acquired  a  tract  of  wild 
land  in  Licking  township,  from  which  was  developed  in  the  course  of 
years  a  good  farm.  Ira  Casterline  died  there  November  16,  1898,  at  the 
venerable  age  of  ninety-three  years,  three  months  and  fifteen  days.  His 
wife  had  passed  away  in  1863  when  fifty-six  years  old.  Going  back 
still  another  generation  in  the  Casterline  genealogy,  Ira  was  a  son  of 
Loamo  and  Charlotta  (Fairchilds)  Casterline,  who  were  born  either  in 
New  Jersey  or  New  York.  Loamo  Casterline  when  eighteen  years  of 
age  enlisted  for  service  with  the  American  troops  under  Washington  at 
Winsted.  New  Jersey.  That  was  during  the  memorable  winter  follow- 
ing the  battle  of  Trenton,  when  the  American  troops  were  encamped 
in  New  Jersey,  and  suffered  almost  as  severely  as  they  did  at  Valley 
Forge.  Charlotta  Fairchilds,  who  married  Loamo  Casterline,  was  the 
daughter  of  Phineas  Fairchilds,  a  New  Jersey  resident  who  was  likewise 
with  General  Washington  during  a  large  part  of  the  revolution,  and  Mr. 
Washington  fed  himself  and  had  his  horse  cared  for  at  the  home  of  the 
Fairchilds  during  a  portion  of  the  cold  winter  just  mentioned.  Phineas 
Fairchilds  also  did  some  good  service  by  using  a  six-horse  team  to  haul 
wood  for  the  armv.    Both  Phineas  Fairchilds  and  wife  were  prominent 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  L53 

people  in  their  community,  and  belonged  to  the  New  York  Statu  branch 
of  that  old  and  prominent  relationship.  Loamo  Casterline  and  wife 
were  married  just  about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  spent  some 

years  in  New  Jersey  and  later  in  New  York,  and  died  in  the  latter  state. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miles  have  no  children.  For  the  past  three  years  they 
have  been  active  members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist  church  in  Hart- 
ford City,  and  Mr.  Miles  serves  as  a  trustee  and  treasurer.  He  is  an 
earnest  church  worker,  and  has  always  been  liberal  in  the  use  of  time 
and  means  to  promote  any  good  cause  and  improve  the  moral  and  spirit- 
ual welfare  of  his  fellow  men.  Besides  his  public  service  as  county  com- 
missioner, lie  served  in  1893  as  superintendent  of  construction  during 
the  erection  of  the  courthouse,  lie  has  also  for  some  years  held  office  as 
drainage  commissioner  in  the  county. 

George  W.  Sweigakt,  B.  D.  S.  Who  peruses  the  pages  of  this  His- 
tory of  Blackford  and  Grant  counties  can  not  fail  to  note  that  in  the  same 
is  given  specific  recognition  to  a  very  appreciable  percentage  of  the  rep- 
resentative professional  men  of  the  two  counties,  and  to  such  considera- 
tion Dr.  Sweigart  is  eminently  entitled,  as  he  is  one  of  the  leading  ex- 
ponents of  the  science  and  art  of  dentistry  in  Blackford  county,  with 
finely  appointed  offices  at  Hartford  City.  That  he  has  shown  great  civic 
progressiveness  and  commands  high  place  in  popular  confidence  and 
esteem  needs  no  further  voucher  than  that  afforded  in  the  fact  that  he 
has  served  as  mayor  of  the  metropolis  and  judicial  center  of  Blackford 
county.  The  Doctor  was  graduated  in  the  Central  Dental  School,  in  the 
city  of  Indianapolis,  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1902,  this  institution 
being  now  consolidated  with  the  Indiana  Dental  College  of  Indianapolis. 

Dr.  Sweigart  was  born  at  Newcastle,  Henry  county,  Indiana,  on  the 
7th  of  July,  1874,  and  there  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  had 
completed  the  curriculum  of  the  high  school.  As  a  youth  he  served  a 
thorough  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  carriage  painting,  and  in  pre- 
paring himself  for  his  chosen  profession  he  depended  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, his  expenses  at  the  dental  college  having  been  defrayed  through 
the  money  which  he  earned  as  a  workman  at  his  trade.  He  became  a 
wage-earner  when  only  twelve  years  of  age  and  has  known  fellowship 
with  personal  responsibility  since  his  boyhood  days.  The  family  line- 
age is  traced  back  to  German  origin,  as  the  name  implies.  In  1799  John 
and  Christian  Sweigart,  two  young  men  of  Germany,  severed  the  home 
ties  and  came  to  the  United  States,  the  two  brothers  following  the 
example  of  many  of  their  countrymen  by  establishing  a  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  they  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Chambersburg,  the  judicial 
center  of  Franklin  county.  They  became  substantial  farmers  of  the 
type  that  has  made  the  German  agriculturist  of  Pennsylvania  a  national 
model  and  in  Franklin  county  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
From  one  of  these  brothers  Dr.  Sweigart  of  this  review  is  a  descendant, 
as  a  scion  of  the  sixth  generation  of  the  family  in  America.  Of  the 
next  generation  his  great-grandfather  was  a  sterling  representative  and 
nearly  his  entire  active  life  was  passed  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chambersburg.  Pennsylvania.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  and  when  he 
was  of  venerable  age  he  came  to  visit  one  of  his  sons  at  Newcastle.  In- 
diana, and  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  Hoosier  State  he  died  at  the 
home  of  his  son  Michael,  after  having  attained  to  the  psalmist's  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten.  Michael  Sweigart,  grandfather  of  him  whose 
name  initiates  this  article,  was  born  in  Franklin  count}7,  Pennsylvania. 
about  a  century  ago  and  there  he  was  reared  to  man's  estate.  In  the  old 
Keystone  State  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Young,  and  in  that 
historic  old  commonwealth  were  born  their  elder  children.     Finallv,  in 


154  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

company  with  one,  and  possibly  two,  of  his  brothers,  and  another  friend 
from  the  same  locality  in  Pennsylvania,  he  came  to  Henry  county,  In- 
diana, and  established  his  residence  in  Henry  township,  two  of  the 
brothers  having  there  entered  claim  to  eighty  acres  of  government  land 
each,  this  land  lying  just  outside  of  the  present  corporate  limits  of  New- 
castle, the  county  seat.  Michael  and  Christian  Sweigart  made  the  jour- 
ney from  Pennsylvania  to  Indiana  on  horseback  at  the  time  when  they 
made  this  selection  of  land,  in  the  early  '40s.  Christian  Sweigart  re- 
claimed his  farm  from  the  forest  and  on  his  old  homestead  passed  the 
residue  of  his  life,  but  his  brother  Michael  resumed  work  at  his  trade, 
that  of  blacksmith.  He  established  a  smithy  at  Middletown,  Henry 
county,  and  several  years  later  he  established  his  residence  in  Newcastle, 
where  he  continued  a  stalwart  and  honored  workman  at  his  trade  until 
his  death,  in  the  '80s,  when  of  advanced  age.  He  was  a  citizen  of  up- 
rightness and  strong  character  and  he  ever  commanded  secure  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years  and 
passed  the  closing  period  of  her  life  in  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  where 
she  died  in  1911,  her  remains  being  interred  beside  those  of  her  husband, 
in  the  cemetery  at  Newcastle.  Both  were  earnest  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  which  represented  the  original 
faith  of  the  Sweigart  family  both  in  Germany  and  Pennsylvania,  but 
with  the  changes  of  passing  years  Michael  and  his  wife  became  com- 
municants of  the  English  Lutheran  church.  They  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  the  major  number  of  whom  are  still  living.  Of  these 
children  Christian  Sweigart  is  the  father  of  Dr.  Sweigart  of  Hartfo 
City. 

Christian  Sweigart,  just  mentioned,  was  born  near  Chambersburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  child  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to 
Henry  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  There  he 
became  a  substantial  farmer  and  stock-grower  and  lie  is  now  living  retired 
in  the  city  of  Newcastle,  where  he  is  known  and  honored  as  a  man  of 
rectitude  and  of  genial  and  kindly  nature.  After  severing  his  associa- 
tion with  agricultural  pursuits  he  served  nearly  twenty  years  as  a 
section  boss  in  the  employ  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  married  Miss  Jane  Sweigart,  who  was  born  in  Henry  county, 
this  State,  and  who  died  at  Newcastle,  that  county,  in  1905,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-seven  years,  she  having  been  a  distant  kinsman  of  her  husband. 
Of  the  children  of  this  union  the  eldest  is  Elsetta,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Williamson,  of  Newcastle;  Dr.  George  W.,  of  this  review,  was 
the  next  in  order  of  birth ;  Charles  is  a  resident  of  Newcastle  ;  Nellie  died, 
in  that  city,  in  April,  1913,  having  been  the  wife  of  Claude  Byers;  Edna 
is  the  wife  of  Walter  Wilkinson  and  they  reside  in  the  old  Sweigart 
homestead  in  Newcastle,  with  the  venerable  father  of  Mrs.  Wilkinson. 

Dr.  Sweigart  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Hartford  City,  during  practically  the  entire  period  since  his  graduation 
in  the  dental  school,  and  his  large  and  representee  patronage  indicates 
alike  his  personal  populartiy  and  his  technical  skill  in  both  laboratory 
and  operative  dentistry.  He  has  shown  distinctive  progressiveness  and 
loyalty  in  a  civic  way  and  has  been  unwavering  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
democratic  party,  as  a  representative  of  which  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
Hartford  City  in  1909  for  four  years,  which  term  expired  in  January, 
1914,  his  service  having  inured  greatly  to  the  civic  and  material  benefit 
of  the  city. 

Dr.  Sweigart  is  an  appreciative  and  popular  affiliate  of  several  fra- 
ternal orders  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  is  past  noble  grand  of  his  lodge,  and  in  this 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  155 

lodge  he  is  a  trustee,  besides  having  served  as  district  deputy.  In  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  he  has  held  the  office  of  worthy  president 
and  been  a  delegate  to  the  grand  aerie  of  the  order  in  the  United  States, 
besides  having  served  seven  years  as  secretary  of  the  local  aerie  of  this 
order.  lie  is  the  present  record  keeper  of  the  Hartford  City  tent  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Modern  Maccabees;  and  lie  has  the  distinction  of  holding 
the  office  of  great  sachem  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  -Men  in  In- 
diana, this  being  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  order  in  the  State, 
the  organization  having  60,000  members  in  Indiana.  The  Doctor  is 
affiliated  also  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  and  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose. 

In  the  year  KS97.  nt  Blnffton,  "Wells  county,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Dr.  Sweigart  to  Miss  Lillie  B.  Poulson.  who  was  born  in  that 
county  on  the  25th  of  November.  1875,  of  Welsh  extraction.  The  two 
children  of  this  union  are  Veva  and  George  Arthur,  both  of  whom  are 
attending  the.  public  schools  of  their  native  city. 

William  B.  Chaney.  The  industrial  and  commercial  interests  of 
the  thriving  little  city  of  Montpelier.  Blackford  county,  have  an  able 
and  popular  representative  in  Mr.  Chaney.  who  here  conducts  a  large 
and  prosperous  business  as  a  dealer  in  heavy  and  shelf  hardware,  stoves, 
ranges,  farming  implements,  paints,  oils,  etc.,  his  well  equipped 
establishment  showing  at  all  times  a  comprehensive  and  select  stock 
in  all  lines  and  his  trade  being  of  that  representative  and  extended 
order  that  gives  evidence  of  his  fair  and  honorable  dealings  and  pro- 
gressive policies,  the  while  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  lo.yal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives  and  in  which  he 
has  secure  place  in  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  In  his  present  busi- 
ness enterprise  he  has  proved  a  worthy  successor  of  his  honored  father, 
who  was  long  numbered  among  the  leading  merchants  and  influential 
citizens  of  Montpelier. 

William  B.  Chaney  was  born  in  -Jay  county.  Indiana,  on  the  14th 
of  December,  1875,  and  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
family  removal  to  Blackford  county,  within  whose  gracious  borders  he 
has  continued  to  maintain  his  home  during  the  intervening  years.  He 
is  a  son  of  Charles  II.  and  Catherine  (Shirk)  Chaney.  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Ohio  and  the  marriage  of  whom  was  solemnized  in  Jay 
county.  Indiana.  In  the  earlier  period  of  his  life  the  father  had  been 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  later  he  achieved  success  as 
a  contractor  and  builder  and  as  a  manufacturer  of  tile,  having  erected 
many  houses  in  both  Jay  and  Blackford  counties.  In  1887  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  from  Jay  county  to  Montpelier.  the  second  city 
of  Blackford  county,  where  he  purchased  the  well  established  hard- 
ware and  implement  business  of  the  firm  of  Johnson  &  Saunders,  the 
establishment  having  been  at  that  time  one  of  less  extensive  order  than 
that  demanded  for  the  accommodation  of  the  large  business  which  he 
built  up  through  aggressive  methods  and  inflexible  integrity  in  all 
dealings  and  transactions.  In  1895  Mr.  Chaney  and  Albert  II.  Bonham 
manifested  their  civic  loyalty  and  liberality  by  erecting,  at  a  most 
eligible  location  on  Main  street,  the  Opera  House  Block,  in  which  were 
provided  the  best  of  accommodations  for  the  hardware  business  in 
which  they  were  at  the  time  associated.  Later  Mr.  Chancy  became  the 
sole  proprietor  of  both  the  fine  building  and  the  business,  and  he  con- 
tinued at  the  head  of  his  extensive  hardware  and  implement  business 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1908.  Charles  II.  Chaney 
was  a  man  of  lofty  principles,  of  unfailing  kindliness  and  consideration 
and  of  high  ideals,  so  that  he  gained   and   retained   not  only  the  con- 


156  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

fidence  and  esteem  but  also  the  affectionate  regard  of  those  who  came 
within  the  sphere  of  his  gracious  influence.  He  was  a  careful  and  far- 
sighted  business  man  and  he  was  at  all  times  ready  to  give  his  influence 
and  tagnible  co-operation  in  support  of  measures  and  enterprises  ad- 
vanced for  the  general  good  of  the  community.  His  political  allegiance 
was  given  to  the  Republican  party  and  while  not  ambitious  for  public 
office  his  civic  loyalty  was  such  that  he  consented  to  serve  three  terms 
as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Montpelier.  He  was  a  most  earnest 
and  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  is  also  his 
widow,  and  he  served  most  efficiently  as  a  trustee  of  the  church  in  Mont- 
pelier, besides  having  been  an  influential  member  of  the  committee  that 
had  general  supervision  of  the  erection  of  the  present  large  and  modern 
church  edifice.  He  was  fifty-seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  demise, 
and  his  widow,  who  will  celebrate  her  sixtieth  birthday  anniversary  in 
1915,  still  resides  in  the  fine  old  homestead  in  Montpelier,  the  home  and 
the  city  itself  being  endeared  to  her  by  the  hallowed  memories  and 
associations  of  the  past.  Mrs.  Chaney  is  a  leader  in  church  and  social 
activities  in  Montpelier,  and  her  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that 
of  her  acquaintances.  Of  the  children  "William  B.,  of  this  re- 
view, is  the  eldest;  Cleo  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Hart,  who  holds  an 
executive  position  in  the  Blackford  County  Bank,  at  Hartford  City, 
their  only  child  being  a  son ;  Hilda  remains  with  her  widowed  mother 
and  is  one  of  the  popular  young  ladies  in  the  social  circles  of  her  home 
city. 

William  B.  Chaney  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  county,  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Montpelier,  and  here  he  continued  his  studies  until  he  had 
completed  the  curriculum  of  the  high  school.  As  a  youth  he  became  as- 
sociated with  his  father's  hardware  business,  and  he  learned  all  de- 
tails of  this  line  of  enterprise,  as  is  fully  attested  in  the  success  which 
he  has  achieved  as  successor  of  his  venerated  father.  Both  as  a  citizen 
and  a  business  man  he  is  fully  upholding  the  high  prestige  of  the  family 
name  and  he  is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  and  loyal  citizens  of  the 
city  that  has  been  his  home  from  his  boyhood  days.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  to  the  republican  party,  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

At  Hartford  City,  in  the  year  1905,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Chaney  to  Miss  Anna  DuChane,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1882  and 
who  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  who 
was  a  young  woman,  their  only  child,  when  she  accompanied  her  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  Hartford  City,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chaney 
have  no  children.  Both  are  representative  factors  in  the  best  social 
life  of  the  community,  and  their  pleasant  home  is  a  favored  rendezvous 
for  their  many  friends. 

Omeb  L.  Risinger.  For  several  years  one  of  the  most  solid  en- 
terprises of  Hartford  City  has  been  the  Risinger  &  Huffman  depart- 
ment store  at  112  W.  Main  street  on  the  public  square.  The  proprietors 
of  this  establishment  have  succeeded  in  furnishing  a  trade  service  which 
gives  the  people  in  that  community  the  best  selection  of  goods  at  mod- 
erate prices,  and  freshness  of  stock,  reliability  and  fairness  in  dealing, 
have  been  important  factors  in  the  success  of  this  concern.  The  store 
occupies  floor  space  30x120  feet  on  two  floors,  besides  basement,  and  they 
handle  all  the  goods  usually  found  in  a  general  store.  The  business 
has  been  under  its  present  title  since  February,  1910,  and  Omer  L. 
Risinger  is  the  active  manager  of  the  business,  a  young  merchant  whose 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT- COUNTIES  157 

success  has  been  much  in  advance  of  his  years.  This  store  was  originally 
started  by  James  Fulton  some  years  before  it  eame  under  the  owner- 
ship of  the  present  firm.  Mr.  Levi  Huffman,  the  second  partner  in  the 
establishment,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Wells  county,  and  practically 
the  entire  management  of  the  business  devolves  upon  Mr.  Risinger. 

It  was  in  the  store  conducted  by  Mr.  Fulton  that  Omer  L.  Risinger 
got  his  first  experience  in  merchandising,  and  he  was  a  clerk  there  while 
still  attending  the  city  schools.  Omer  L.  Risinger  was  born  in  Wells 
county,  Indiana,  November  12,  188!),  and  was  about  thirteen  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Hartford  City  with  his  parents.  His  father  is 
Daniel  Risinger,  now  retired,  and  his  mother  is  Savilla  R.  (Jackson) 
Risinger.  Both  were  born  in  Ohio,  and  were  of  German  ancestry. 
From  Ohio  they  moved  to  Peru,  Indiana,  in  which  city  they  were  mar- 
ried. After  the  birth  of  their  three  first  children  they  moved  to  Wells 
county,  and  the  father  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  owning  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  that  section,  until  he  moved,  in  August, 
1902,  to  Hartford  City.  His  Wells  county  farm  had  been  brought  by 
his  hard  labor  and  good  management  from  a  wilderness  condition  to  a 
valuable  estate,  and  two  years  after  he  located  in  Hartford  City  he 
sold  out.  The  senior  Risinger  was  for  a  time  in  the  meat  market  busi- 
ness, but  is  now  retired  and  lives  on  North  High  street.  He  acquired 
the  principal  interest  in  the  Fulton  store,  with  Mr.  Huffman  as  partner, 
and  has  turned  the  management  of  the  business  over  to  his  son. 

Daniel  Risinger  is  a  democrat  and  he  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  church  of  Hartford  City.  There  were  eight  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows.  They  include : 
Mattie,  wife  of  J.  L.  Mahon,  farmers  in  Blackford  county  and  they 
have  a  number  of  children:  Oliver,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Mont- 
pelier,  Indiana,  and  has  three  children;  Harry,  who  lives  in  Hartford 
City  and  has  one  son ;  Omer  L.,  Phanuel  E.  who  is  unmarried,  and  at 
home;  Clara,  wife  of  Alison  Ruble,  of  Hartford  City.  Mr.  Omer  L. 
Risinger  is  unmarried,  and  is  one  of  the  popular  young  men  of  Hartford 
City. 

Amos  L.  Nelson.  The  fine  section  of  country  lying  about  and 
tributary  to  the  fine  little  city  of  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  has 
precedence  as  one  of  the  admirable  agricultural  sections  of  the  Hoosier 
State,  and  in  the  placing  of  its  products  upon  the  markets  in  an  ex- 
peditious and  effective  way  Mr.  Nelson  has  interposed  with  marked 
ability  and  success,  his  operations,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Arnold 
&  Nelson,  being  of  extensive  and  substantial  order,  in  the  buying  and 
shipping  of  grain,  hay  and  other  products.  The  firm  maintains  its 
headquarters  in  Montpelier  and  has  an  unassailable  reputation  for  pro- 
gressiveness  and  for  fair  and  honorable  dealings, — an  effective  basis 
for  any  line  of  business  enterprise. 

The  firm  initiated  operation  on  the  1st  of  November,  1899.  and  its 
operations  now  include  the  buying  and  shipping  of  grain  and  hay,  the 
handling  of  seeds,  the  conducting  of  a  well  equipped  feed  mill,  and  the 
handling  of  coal  at  retail.  The  equipment  includes  a  modern  elevator 
of  adequate  facilities  and  the  enterprise  contributes  materially  to  the 
commercial  prestige  of  Montpelier.  From  July.  1891,  until  the  estab- 
lishment of  his  present  enterprise,  Mr.  Nelson  was  associated  with  his 
present  partner,  Henry  C.  Arnold,  in  the  grain  business  at  Bluffton, 
the  judicial  center  of  Wells  county,  and  since  the  founding  of  the  Mont- 
pelier branch  of  their  extensive  enterprise  Mr.  Nelson  has  had  charge 
of  its  affairs,  Mr.  Arnold  still  continuing  his  residence  at  Bluffton. 

Amos  L.  Nelson  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  of  his  father, 


158        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

iu  Harrison  township,  Wells  county,  Indiana,  and  the  date  of  his 
nativity  was  May  27,  1858.  He  was  reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of 
the  farm  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  county,  both  experiences  having  tended  admirably  to  fortify 
him  for  a  successful  business  career  in  connection  with  his  present  line 
of  enterprise.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  B.  and  Eliza  (Schoonover)  Nelson. 
Jacob  B.  Nelson  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  was  a  boy  at  the  time 
of  the  family  removal  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  in  the  early  pioneer 
days.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Bales)  Nelson,  who  were 
numbered  among  the  very  early  settlers  of  Lancaster  township,  Wells 
county,  where  the  father  reclaimed  a  productive  farm  from  the  forest 
wilds,  having  there  established  his  home  in  the  early  '40s.  He  was  one 
of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  that  county  and  there  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  about  seventy  years  of 
age,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  a  few  years  earlier,  and  both  hav- 
ing been  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  lie 
having  been  a  democrat  in  his  political  proclivities. 

Jacob  B.  Nelson  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  attained  to  maturity, 'except  one,  who  died  in 
childhood,  and  all  of  the  others  of  whom  married,  with  the  exception  of 
two  sons.  Sanford  and  William  both  sacrificed  their  lives  in  defense 
of  the  Union  while  serving  as  soldiers  in  the  Civil  War.  William  died 
as  the  result  of  wounds  received  in  battle  and  Sanford  died  in  one 
of  the  military  hospitals,  as  the  result  of  illness,  both  being  young  men 
and  bachelors.  Two  others  of  the  sons,  Solomon  and  Silas,  served 
during  virtually  the  entire  period  of  the  war,  took  part  in  many  en- 
gagements and  saw  most  arduous  service,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that 
each  of  them  was  nearly  blind  at  the  time  of  their  return  home.  As 
before  intimated,  Jacob  B.  Nelson  was  a  boy  at  the  time  of  the  family 
immigration  from  Ohio  to  the  wilds  of  Wells  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  was  reared  to  maturity  under  the  conditions  and  influences  of  the 
pioneer  days  and  where  his  marriage  to  Eliza  Schoonover  was  con- 
tracted when  he  was  a  young  man.  There  he  initiated  his  independ- 
ent career  as  a  farmer  but  he  finally  removed  to  Allen  county,  where 
his  wife  died  at  the  birth  of  their  fourth  child,  she  having  been  at  the 
time  in  the  flower  of  gracious  womanhood.  Jacob  B.  Nelson  was  there- 
after twice  married,  and  of  the  third  marriage  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter are  now  living.  When  well  advanced  in  years  Jacob  B.  Nelson  re- 
tired from  his  long  and  successful  association  with  the  agricultural  in- 
dustry, and  he  passed  the  closing  period  of  his  life  in  the  home  of  one 
of  his  daughters,  in  the  city  of  Munice,  this  State,  where  he  died  of  an 
attack  of  smallpox,  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  his  age  at  the 
time  having  been  about  sixty  years.  He  was  a  democrat  in  polities 
and  was  a  man  of  strong  character  and  utmost  rectitude.  Of  the  four 
children  of  the  first  marriage  three  attained  to  years  of  maturity  and 
of  these  the  youngest  is  the  subject  of  this  review.  James  T.  is  a  pros- 
perous mechanic  and  farmer  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  and  his  only 
daughter,  Mrs.  Eliza  Turner,  resides  in  the  city  of  Munice,  her  chil- 
dren being  two  in  number.  Joseph,  the  other  of  the  brothers,  resides 
at  Kendallville,  Noble  county,  and  has  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

On  the  old  homestead  farm  which  was  the  place  of  his  birth  Amos 
L.  Nelson  passed  the  days  of  his  childhood  and  early  youth,  and  it  is 
needless  to  say  that  he  soon  gained  fellowship  with  honest  toil  and 
endeavor,  the  while  his  educational  advantages  were  those  of  the  local 
schools,  as  previously  stated  in  this  context.  Aside  from  his  active 
association  with  the  great  basic  industry  of  agriculture  his  independent 
career  has  been  mainly  in  connection  with  his  present  line  of  enterprise. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        159 

in  wheh  his  success  has  been  substantial  and  unequivocal.  He  is  a 
loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen,  has  been  influential  in  the  local  coun- 
cils of  the  Democratic  party  and  he  served  for  several  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  of  Montpelier. 

At  Bluffton.  Wells  county,  in  the  year  18S7,  -Mr.  Nelson  wedded 
Hiss  Mary  E.  Huffman,  who  was  born  in  that  city  on  the  7th  of  No 
vember,  1S(>7,  and  who  was  there  reared  and  educated,  her  parents 
having  been  pioneers  of  Wells  county.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Nelson  have  one 
son,  Howard  E..  who  was  born  on  the  8th  of  April,  1891,  who  was 
graduated  in  the  Montpelier  high  school,  as  a  member  of  the  class 
of  1909,  and  who  soon  afterward  went  to  Houston,  Texas,  where  he 
is  now  assistant  to  the  chief  clerk  of  the  Houston  Street  Railway  Coin 
pany. — a  young  man  of  tine  character  and  marked  ability. 

Constant  Andre.  Not  mere  temporal  affluence  but  success  that 
has  touched  and  dignified  generic  industrialism  has  been  the  achieve- 
ment of  this  well  known  citizen  of  Hartford  City,  the  metropolis  and 
judicial  center  of  Blackford  county,  and  through  his  character  and 
services  Mr.  Andre  has  honored  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  was 
long  aud  prominently  identified  with  the  glass  works  in  Hartford 
City,  as  a  skilled  and  valued  artisan,  and  here  he  is  now  living  virtually 
retired,  the  labors  of  the  past  years  having  given  to  him  a  competency 
for  the  gracious  twilight  of  his  useful  life. 

Mr.  Andre  was  born  in  Belgium,  on  the  31st  of  January,  1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Virginia  (Eden)   Andre,  both  of  whom 

passed  their  entire  lives  in  Belgium,  with  whose  history  the  res] live 

family  names  have  been  identified  for  many  generations.  The  father. 
who  was  a  skilled  glassworker  by  vocation,  was  seventy-four  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  widow  attained  to  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-six  years,  both  having  been  devout  communicants  of  the 
Catholic  church.  They  became  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  three 
daughters,  the  eldest  of  the  number  being  Alixina,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Gingnard,  a  civil  engineer  in  Belgium,  and  their  children  are 
two  sons;  Philomena  has  been  twice  married  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Bellete,  a  glassworker  in  Belgium,  they  having  no  children: 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Jules  Vironit,  who  is  likewise  a  glassworker  by 
trade  but  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Gas  City,  Indiana,  their  chil- 
dren being  two  sons  and  seven  daughters.  Virginia  died  one  year  after 
her  marriage  to  Louis  Jose  and  left  one  daughter;  Constant  is  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Peter  J.,  is  Belgium  consul  in  Uruguay, 
South  America,  a  position  which  he  has  held  since  1SS8,  and  he  is 
married  and  has  two  children;  and  the  other  three  children  are  de- 
ceased. 

Constant  Andre  was  reared  to  adult  age  in  his  native  city,  and  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  national  schools  of  Belgium,  his  dis- 
cipline including  a  thorough  course  in  chemistry  in  the  Government 
College,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1865. 
As  an  expert  chemist  and  glassworker  he  served  thirty  years  as  manager 
of  an  extensive  factory  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  having  held  this  post 
from  1870  until  1900.  in  which  latter  year  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  established  his  residence  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  has  main- 
tained his  home  the  greater  part  of  the  time  during  the  intervening 
period  and  where  he  has  been  an  able  and  valued  workman  and  executive 
in  connection  with  the  glass  manufacturing  industry.  He  brought  to 
America  the  exceptional  skill  that  has  made  the  glass  manufacturing 
enterprises  of  Belgium  gain  such  distinctive  precedence  and  he  did  much 
to  further  the  success  of  the  same  line  of  industry  in  Indiana.     After 


160  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

coming  to  Hartford  City  he  was  engaged  in  work  principally  in  the 
flatening  department  of  local  glass  manufactories,  and  as  an  expert 
in  the  making  of  mirrors  and  silvering  of  the  same  he  now  finds  em- 
ployment in  an  independent  way,  though  he  has  retired  from  the  more 
arduous  and  exacting  labors  that  long  engrossed  his  attention.  He  is 
the  owner  of  an  attractive  residence  property,  and  the  grounds  about 
his  home  have  an  area  of  one  and  one-half  acres,  at  621  South  Walnut 
street,  the  property  having  been  notably  improved  and  beautified  under 
his  personal  direction.  Mr.  Andre  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  that 
tends  to  advance  the  civic  and  material  welfare  of  his  home  city  and 
both  he  and  his  wife,  as  well  as  their  children,  are  earnest  communicants 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

In  his  native  city,  in  the  year  1867,  was  solemnized  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Andre  to  Miss  Omerine  DeBatty,  who  was  there  bom  on  the 
22nd  of  May,  1846,  and  who  has  proved  a  devoted  companion  and  help- 
mate to  her  husband  as  well  as  a  loving  and  self-abnegating  mother. 
Of  the  nine  children  eight  are  living,  Aglae,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Martin,  having  died  in  1902,  and  being  survived  by  two 
daughters.  Cesarine  is  the  wife  of  Armand  Faux,  of  Hartford  City, 
and  they  have  four  children.  Valeria  is  the  wife  of  John  Dumont,  of 
Hartford  City,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Homer  J.,  who  is  a  glass- 
cutter,  employed  at  Fairmont,  West  Virginia,  as  boss  glass-cutter,  is 
married  and  has  three  sons.  Carmille,  who  resides  in  Hartford  City, 
is  married  to  Pierre  Fievet  and  has  two  daughters.  Gustave  E.,  married 
Georgette  Danday,  but  has  no  children.  He  is  a  vocal  and  instrumental 
music  teacher,  being  a  graduate  of  some  of  the  best  musical  schools 
of  his  native  country.  Gustave  E.  Andre  is  employed  as  a  glass- 
worker  in  Hartford  City.  Lea  A.,  like  others  of  the  children,  gained 
her  education  largely  in  the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City,  and  she 
remains  at  the  parental  home,  as  one  of  the  popular  young  ladies  of 
the  city.  Carlos  C,  who  is  a  talented  and  well  educated  musician,  de- 
voted his  time  principally  to  the  teaching  of  the  ' '  divine  art. ' '  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Bessie  Rhinehart,  of  Hartford  City,  where  they  maintain 
their  home.  Ralph  R.,  who  remains  -at  the  parental  home  and  is  a  glass- 
cutter  by  vocation,  is  a  member  of  the  Hartford  City  band  and  he  and 
all  of  his  brothers  are  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  Gustave 
E.  being  Grand  Knight  of  his  lodge. 

Bleam  Hayden.  During  twenty  years  of  residence  in  Hartford 
City,  Mr.  Hayden  has  exercised  his  enterprise  and  business  ability  in 
siich  a  way  as  to  gain  the  respect  of  the  community  and  enlarge  his  own 
prosperity,  has  performed  those  various  obligations  that  fall  upon  the 
members  of  the  social  community,  and  has  been  particularly  active  in 
the  Christian  church  at  Hartford  City,  his  forefathers  having  accepted 
that  religion  almost  at  the  time  of  its  origin  as  a  separate  denomina- 
tion, and  Mr.  Hayden  has  long  practiced  his  faith  and  worked  for  the 
good  and  upbuilding  of  the  church. 

His  grandfather,  John  W.  Hayden,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of 
Dutch  stock.  He  married  a  Miss  Crawford,  and  some  of  their  children 
were  born  in  Pennsylvania.  In  the  early  twenties  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  and  a  few  years  later  to  Indiana,  locating  on  Silver  Creek  in 
Union  county.  In  that  locality  John  W.  Hayden  built  a  grist  mill  near 
the  town  of  Liberty.  He  had  been  reared  in  the  trade  of  millwright 
in  Pennsylvania,  his  father  before  him  having  followed  the  same  occupa- 
tion. John  W.  Hayden  operated  his  grist  mill  in  Union  county  for  a 
number  of  years.  While  there  his  first  wife  died,  and  after  his  second 
marriage  there  occurred  a  family  estrangement  as  a  result  of  which  he 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES 


161 


and  his  wife  went  west  and  he  died  there,  practically  nothing  of  Ilia 
history  being  known  to  the  present  family  after  he  left  Indiana. 

William  Hayden,  father  of  Bleam,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  was  a 
boy  when  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  and  grew  up  in  Union  county, 
Indiana.  As  both  his  father  and  grandfather  followed  mechanical 
trades,  he  took  up  and  learned  that  of  blacksmith  and  finally  established 
a  smithy  in  Union  county,  moving  his  home  and  vocation  from  thai 
locality  to  Wayne  county.  His  home  was  not  far  from  Cambridge  City, 
and  some  years  later  he  moved  to  Straughn  in  Henry  county,  lb-  was 
regarded  as  a  capable  and  skillful  workman,  and  conducted  a  shop  which 
furnished  excellent  service  to  a  large  community  until  some  eight  or 
ten  years  years  before  !n>  death  in  1884.  He  was  then  quite  an  old 
man.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and  a  Republican  in 
polities.  At  Liberty.  Indiana,  he  married  Phalenia  Howren,  who  was 
born,  reared,  and  educated  in  Union  county,  coming  of  North  Carolina 
parentage  and  ancestry.  She  died  at  Straughn.  in  Henry  county,  in 
1893.  at  the  age  of  seventy.  She  was  likewise  of  the  Christian  church 
and  most  of  tin-  marriages  of  the  family  seem  to  have  connected  people 
of  this  faith.  William  Hayden  and  wife  had  five  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, ten  of  whom  reached  maturity,  and  all  were  married  except  one 
and  all  but  one  had  children. 

Bleam  Hayden,  who  is  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family, 
was  born  in  Union  county.  Indiana,  October  15.  1857.  His  youth  was 
spent  principally  in  Henry  county,  and  the  public  schools  afforded 
him  his  education.  In  Henry  county  on  December  22,  1886,  lie  mar- 
ried Flora  B.  Martindale,  a  granddaughter  of  Elijah  and  Elizabeth 
(Boyd)  Martindale,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  state  they 
moved  and  became  early  pioneers  of  Henry  county,  Indiana.  Her  grand- 
father was  a  farmer  and  in  Henry  county  cleared  up  and  improved  a 
good  estate  and  lived  there  until  1865.  finally  moving  to  Newcastle  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  in  that  community. 
Elijah  Martindale  did  a  great  work  for  the  early  community  of  Henry 
county  as  a  pioneer  preacher  in  the  Christian  church.  He  was  a  close 
friend  of  Dr.  Alexander  Campbell,  the  founder  of  the  Church  of  the 
Disciples,  had  known  him  back  in  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia,  and 
a  number  of  occasions  preached  with  him.  Elijah  Martindale  went 
about  the  country  on  horseback,  carrying  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  and 
of  Christianity  to  many  isolated  communities,  and  was  a  man  of  saintly 
character  and  did  practically  all  his  work  without  remuneration.  His 
son,  Robert  Martindale,  father  of  Mrs.  Hayden,  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Indiana,  in  1S33,  being  one  of  a  large  family  of  fifteen,  all  of 
whom  reached  manhood  and  womanhood.  Robert  Martindale  married 
Margaret  Turner,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  when  three  years  of 
age  was  brought  to  this  country  by  her  parents,  Robert  and  Jane  Turner. 
The  Turners  also  settled  in  Henry  county,  and  Robert  obtained  and  im- 
proved one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  lived  there  until  he 
died  at  a  good  old  age.  Robert  Turner  in  Ireland  had  been  educated 
for  the  priesthood,  but  after  coming  to  this  country  accepted,  with  his 
wife,  the  faith  of  the  Christian  church,  and  always  lived  and  prac- 
ticed according  to  that  religion.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hayden  spent 
most  of  their  lives  in  Henry  county,  but  died  in  Hartford  City,  her 
father  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  and  her  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight.  Her  father  was  one  of  the  elders  in  the  Hartford  City  church, 
and  in  polities  a  republican.  Mrs.  Hayden  was  one  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  married  and  became  heads  of  families. 

Twenty  years  ago  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayden  established  a  home  in  Hart- 
ford City,  and  he  has  been  an  active  worker  and  has  a  profitable  busi- 


162  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ness  as  a  transfer  and  dray  operator.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren: Maude,  who  was  graduated  from  the  Hartford  City  high  school, 
is  now  a  widow  and  has  a  daughter,  Forest  F.,  aged  nine  years  and 
living  with  her  grandparents;  Ralph,  who  was  also  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  is  now  in  the  insurance  business  at  Hartford  City,  and 
married  Mabel  Lieber.  All  the  family  worship  in  the  Christian  church 
at  Hartford  City,  and  Mr.  Hayden  is  a  deacon  and  his  activity  as  a  lay- 
man has  been  pronounced  not  only  in  his  home  society,  but  he  has 
attended  a  number  of  couventions  of  the  church'  and  is  interested  in 
all  phases  of  its  work. 

Frank  M.  Beaty.  Since  its  establishment,  September  24,  1911,  the 
business  enterprise  of  Frank  M.  Beaty  has  supplied  a  many-sided  need 
at  Montpelier  and  has  realized  the  reasonable  expectations  of  its  pro- 
prietor, one  of  the  most  energetic  and  progressive  men  of  the  town. 
In  addition  to  a  first-class  confectionery  and  candy  parlor,  Mr.  Beaty 
conducts  a  wholesale  bakery,  and  the  business  during  the  comparatively 
short  period  of  its  existence  has  grown  to  extensive  proportions.  Mr. 
Beaty  was  born  at  Ossian,  Wells  county,  Indiana,  August  15,  1875,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  R.  and  Oliver  Orlina  (Woodward)  Beaty,  natives 
of  Ohio,  and  born  near  Warren,  that  state.  They  came  as  children  with 
their  parents  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  where  they  were  married,  and 
from  Ossian  William  R.  Beaty  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Thirty-fourth 
Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in  the  Civil  War. 
After  completing  his  first  service,  in  1861,  he  veteranized  and  continued 
to  serve  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  making  a  record  for  bravery  and 
faithful  discharge  of  duty  which  placed  him  high  in  the  esteem  and 
regard  of  his  comrades.  On  his  return  to  his  home  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1875,  when  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness as  a  miller,  and  also  bougbt  and  sold  tracts  of  timber.  His  industry 
and  energetic  operations  gained  for  him  a  handsome  competence,  and 
ten  years  ago  he  retired  from  business.  He  is  still  residing,  at  Ossian, 
being  active  and  alert  despite  his  seventy-two  years.  He  has  long  been 
active  in  public  affairs  and  has  served  repeatedly  as  councilman  of 
Ossian,  being  elected  to  that  office  as  a  republican.  Mr.  Beaty 's  first 
wife  died  in  1882,  leaving  these  children:  Clark  A.,  Alberta,  Frank  M., 
Harry  H.,  Irene  and  Hattie  Pearl,  who  died  young.  Mr.  Beaty  married 
for  his  second  wife  Laura  J.  Woodward,  and  two  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union :  Cletus  V.  and  Gerald  D.,  both  of  whom  are  married. 
All  the  children  were  well  trained  for  lives  of  usefulness  and  honor- 
able living,  and  all  have  families. 

Frank  M.  Beaty  was  reared  and  educated  at  North  Manchester, 
Wabash  county,  Indiana,  and  later  took  a  commercial  course  at  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana,  which  he  completed  with  the  class  of  1896.  At  that 
time  he  became  a  merchant's  clerk  at  his  native  place,  and  so  continued 
for  four  years,  thoroughly  learning  the  principles  of  business  life.  He 
then  became  the  proprietor  of  a  restaurant,  known  as  the  Palace,  at 
Warren,  Indiana,  but  after  two  years  returned  to  Ossian  and  worked 
with  his  father  until  January,  1903,  when  he  came  to  Montpelier,  and 
here  associated  himself  with  George  Braitinger  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  A  short  time  later  he  became  sole  proprietor,  but 
after  a  period  disposed  of  his  grocery  interests  and  September  24,  1911, 
opened  a  bakery  on  Huntington  street.  In  1912  he  came  to  Main  street, 
near  the  post  office,  and  with  H.  H.  Nill  opened  a  candy  store,  but  in 
November  of  the  same  year,  bought  Mr.  Nill's  interests,  and  in  January, 
1913,  built  an  addition  to  his  store  and  began  the  manufacturing  of  con- 
fectionery.    In  November,  1913,  he  brought  his  bakery  from  Hunting- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        163 

ton  to  Main  street,  and  lias  since  operated  the  entire  plant  as  one  busi- 
ness. He  has  a  large  business  in  wholesale  bakery  goods  of  the  staple 
kind,  and  his  plant  lias  a  capacity  of  800  loaves  of  bread  per  diem.  Mr. 
Beaty  is  a  hustler,  alive  to  every  opportunity  for  business  advance- 
ment, and  has  a  high  reputation  in  commercial  circles.  As  a  citizen 
he  lias  shown  himself  ready  to  advance  any  good  movement,  and  he 
is  favorably  known  in  every  community  in  which  his  goods  an-  in  de- 
mand, his  friends  being  as  many  as  his  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Beaty  was  married  at  Ossian  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Johnston,  who 
was  born  at  Ossian,  Wells  county,  in  March,  L878,  ami  reared  and 
educated  there,  daughter  of  Benoni  I),  and  Matilda  J.  Johnston,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  were  married  then-.  Mr.  Johnston  was  a  handler 
of  horses  for  a  number  of  years  at  Ossian  and  was  also  engaged  in  the 
undertaking  business.  He  owned  a  farm  of  320  acres  in  Iowa.  He  is 
now  seventy  years  of  age,  and  Mrs.  Johnston  sixty-six,  and  they  re- 
side at  Montpelier.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beaty  have  had  these  children:  Mil- 
dred and  Benjamin  J.,  who  are  attending  the  public  schools;  Robert, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months;  and  Katherine.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beaty  are  Presbyterians.  He  is  a  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a  Pythian 
Knight,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star.  His  sup- 
port is  giv»n  to  the  candidates  of  the  progressive  party. 

Forney  0.  Stewart.  Long  and  effective  identification  with  the 
great  basic  industry  of  agriculture  has  given  to  .Mr.  Stwart  the  privilege 
of  living  virtually  retired  in  his  native  county,  where  he  commands 
secure  place  in  popular  esteem  and  has  a  pleasant  home  at  612  North 
Cherry  street  in  Hartford  City,  the  judieial  center  of  Blackford  county. 
He  is  a  scion  of  a  family  whose  name  has  been  worthily  linked  with 
the  history  of  this  county  since  the  pioneer  days,  and  the  place  of  his 
nativity  was  the  parental  farmstead,  in  Licking  township,  where  he  was 
born  on  the  21st  of  June,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Louise  ( Wil- 
son) Stewart,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Virginia  and  the  latter 
in  Indiana,  their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  Blackford  county. 
They  continued  to  reside  on  their  farm,  in  Licking  township,  until  the 
close  of  their  lives,  the  mother  having  passed  away  in  1865  and  the  father 
in  1870,  and  the  latter  having  reclaimed  his  land  to  effective  cultivation, 
so  that  he  had  become  one  of  the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  the  county, 
even  as  he  was  a  citizen  who  had  the  sterling  personal  attributes  that 
ever  beget  popular  confidence  and  good  will,  his  political  allegiance 
having  been  given  to  the  democratic  party,  and  his  wife  having  been 
earnest  and  consistent  in  her  Christian  faith  and  practice.  Robert  Stew- 
art, grandfather  of  him  whose  name  initiates  this  review7,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  the  family  was  early  founded  in  the 
historic  Old  Dominion  State,  which  gave  many  sterling  pioneers  to  In- 
diana. Robert  Stewart  came  from  Virginia  to  Blackford  county  in  the 
early  period  of  Indiana  history  ami  obtained  a  tract  of  government  land 
in  the  midst  of  the  primitive  wilds  of  Licking  township,  where  he  and 
his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives,  their  names  meriting  place 
on  the  roster  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  this  favored  section  of  the  State, 
where  they  contributed  their  quota  to  social  and  industrial  progress. 
Adam  and  Louise  (Wilson)  Stewart  became  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  only  four  are  now  living. — three  of  the  number  continuing  their 
residence  in  Blackford  county  and  the  other  being  a  resident  of  Nebraska. 
Before  he  had  attained  to  adult  age  both  the  father  and  mother  of 
Forney  O.  Stewart  had  passed  to  the  life  eternal,  and  he  was  reared  on 
the  old  homestead  farm,  his  share  of  which  he  eventually  sold  to  the 
other  heirs  of  the  estate.     He  had  in  the  meanwhile  attended  the  local 


164  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

school  and  laid  adequate  foundation  for  the  substantial  superstructure 
of  knowledge  that  he  later  was  to  gain  in  the  school  of  practical  ex- 
perience. After  selling  his  interest  in  the  old  homestead  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  forty  acres  in  Section  25,  Licking  township,  and  on  this  place 
he  made  excellent  improvements,  the  buildings  being  of  substantial  and 
attractive  order.  He  remained  on  the  farm  five  years  and  then  sold,  later 
buying  50  acres,  which  he  soon  sold.  He  has  maintained  his  residence 
in  Hartford  City  since  1888.  For  five  years  he  had  the  supervision  of 
the  court  house  and  he  is  now  the  head  janitor  of  the  fine  Interurban 
Building,  the  Carnegie  Public  Library,  and  the  Citizens  Bank,  so  that 
he  finds  ample  demands  upon  his  time  and  attention,  the  while  he  is 
known  as  one  of  the  prosperous  retired  farmers  of  his  native  county. 
Mr.  Stewart  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party, 
is  affiliated  with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  his  wife  is  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

In  Licking  township,  on  May  30,  1888,  Mr.  Stewart  wedded  Miss 
Martha  Williams,  who  was  born  in  that  township  in  March,  1867,  and 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Sarah  (Lewis)  Williams,  both  natives 
of  Cardiff,  Wales,  where  they  were  reared  and  educated,  and  where 
their  marriage  was  solemnized.  Upon  their  immigration  to  America 
they  resided  for  a  few  years  in  the  mining  districts,  principally  in 
Pennsylvana.  They  then  established  themselves  on  a  farm  in  Ohio, 
from  which  State  they  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  pur- 
chased a  small  farm  in  Licking  township,  where  they  reared  their  chil- 
dren. They  finally  removed  to  Hartford  City,  and  here  Mr.  Williams 
died  after  he  had  attained  to  the  psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years 
and  ten,  his  wife  later  died  while  on  a  visit  to  Wells  county,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  both  she  and  her  husband  having  been  consistent  adherents 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  have  two 
children, — Nora  T.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Love,  of  Hartford  City, 
their  only  child  being  a  son,  Robert;  and  Hazel,  whose  husband,  John 
Turner,  is  an  employe  in  the  office  of  the  Hartford  City  Evening  News. 

Mayer  M.  Weiler.  It  is  a  full  half  century  since  the  house  of  Kirsh- 
baum  &  Weiler  was  established  in  Hartford  City  as  a  mercantile  enter- 
prise with  a  general  stock  which  was  gradually  evolved  into  departments, 
giving  the  community  its  first  department  store.  Only  the  older  resi- 
dents recall  the  Kirshbaum  store,  for  many  years  ago  it  was  succeeded 
by  the  Weiler  interests  and  the  Weiler  department  store  has  long 
stood  pre-eminent  in  the  estimation  of  the  shopping  public  of  Blackford 
county. 

It  was  in  1861  that  the  Kirshbaum  store  was  established  in  Hartford 
City.  In  1866  Mr.  David  May  became  a  partner,  and  in  1876  Mr.  Abe 
Weiler  succeeded  Mr.  May.  Mr.  A.  R.  Weiler  bought  an  interest  in  1887, 
and  in  1888  there  came  into  the  firm  Mr.  M.  M.  Weiler,  who  succeeded 
to  the  interests  of  Mr.  Kirshbaum.  At  that  time  the  business  was 
organized  under  the  name  of  A.  Weiler  &  Brothers,  and  that  has  ever 
since  continued  the  business  designation  of  this  large  store,  though 
some  changes  have  occurred  in  the  personnel.  In  1897  was  erected  the 
splendid  large  store  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square,  on  a 
foundation  100x120  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  all  the  floor  space  is 
occupied  by  the  extensive  stock,  which  is  divided  into  departments,  in- 
cluding clothing,  millinery,  carpets,  furniture,  men's  and  women's  ap- 
parel and  all  goods  required  both  for  city  and  country  trade.  The 
Weiler  store  has  always  represented  progressive  enterprise  has  dealt 
in  reliable  goods,  lias  used  methods  for  stimulating  trade,  and  the  repu- 
tation of  the  house  has  been  behind  every  article  sold  over  the  counters. 


PIONEEE  HOM 


ANDREW  J.  SHANNON 

in  1848) 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  165 

In  1911  Mr.  A.  Weiler,  who  had  been  head  of  the  firm,  died,  but  the 
name  is  still  kept.  The  sole  proprietors  at  present  are  Mr.  A.dolph 
Weiler  and  M.  M.  Weiler.  The  Eartford  City  store  is  one  of  a  chain  of 
stores,  and  this  modern  principle  of  merchandising  has  been  carried 
out  with  great  success  by  Weiler  Brothers.  Other  stores  are  loeated  at. 
Portland  and  Farmland,  Indiana,  and  at  Fori  Recovery,  Ohio.  The 
Hartford  City  store  is  under  the  personal  management  of  Mr.  M.  M. 
Weiler.  In  the  busy  season  eighty  people  are  employed  in  thai  large 
emporium,  and  taking  all  the  stores  together  they  furnish  employment  to 
about  two  hundred  people.  Since  the  Weilers  came  into  the  business 
they  have  developed  it  beyond  all  comparison  with  its  earlier  stages,  and 
its  capital  and  volume  of  trade  aggregate  four  or  five  times  whal  they  did 
twenty  or  twenty-five  years  ago.  Each  store  has  its  separate  buyer  and 
is  under  separate  management. 

.Mayer  M.  Weiler.  lead  of  the  Hartford  City  store,  was  born  in  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  of  a  tine  Hebrew  family,  and  is  an  educated  gentleman 
not  only  a  successful  merchant  but  a  public  spirited  and  leading  citizen. 
He  was  born  fifty-three  years  ago.  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
country,  and  in  1882  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Farmland, 
Indiana.  It  was  there  that  he  sold  his  first  goods,  and  then  in  1887 
came  to  Hartford  City  and  in  the  following  year  became  associated 
with  his  present  business.  He  was  at  that  time  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
and  has  long  been  one  of  the  foremost  merchants  of  Blackford  county. 

In  all  local  matters  Mr.  Weiler  takes  an  active  part,  and  is  popular 
with  all  classes  of  citizens  and  has  membership  in  various  fraternal 
orders.  He  is  affiliated  with  both  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  has  served  in  the  different  chairs  of 
those  lodges,  is  a  member  of  the  Encampment  at  Winchester,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Blackford  Club.  Mr.  Weiler  was  married  at  Peru.  Indiana, 
to  Nellie  Levi,  who  was  born  at  Peru,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  there.  Her  father,  William  Levi,  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
for  many  years  identified  with  merchandising  at  Peru  and  now  one  of 
that  city's  bankers.  He  is  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  and  he  married 
Frances  Falk,  who  was  the  first  white  child  born  on  what  is  known  as 
the  Indian  Reservation  in  Miami  county.  Indiana.  She  is  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weiler  have  one  son,  Adolph  R..  now  attending  the  city, 
schools.  Mr.  Weiler  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Hebrew  Temple  on  Delaware  street  in  Hartford  City. 

Arthur  M.  Shannon.  Among  the  native  sons  of  Blackford  county 
who  have  worthily  succeeded  to  the  responsibilities  and  usefulness  of 
earlier  generations  is  Arthur  M.  Shannon,  who  has  long  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  a  man  who  does  things  in  a  thorough  and  successful  manner, 
and  his  farming  activities  in  Harrison  township  have  given  him  a  sub- 
stantial degree  of  material  prosperity. 

Arthur  M.  Shannon  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in 
Harrison  township.  May  17,  1865.  His  parents.  Andrew  J.  and  Mar- 
garet (Teach)  Shannon,  were  both  natives  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  came 
from  there  to  Indiana,  establishing  a  home  in  Blackford  county  many 
years  ago.  The  father  died  in  1902  and  the  mother  is  still  living.  Of 
their  nine  children,  four  still  living  are :  John,  a  farmer  in  Harrison 
township;  Dennis  F.,  a  teacher  in  Blackford  county;  Arthur  M. ;  and 
Andrew  A.,  a  Michigan  farmer. 

While  growing  up  to  young  manhood  in  Harrison  township  Arthur 
M.  Shannon  attended  the  district  schools  and  was  given  a  thorough  dis- 
cipline in  his  life  work  by  the  duties  of  the  home  farm.  Some  years 
after  attaining  bis  majority  he  was  married  in  May,  189T).  to  Lucy  Jack- 


166  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

son,  who  was  born  in  Wells  county,  Indiana.  Their  five  children,  com- 
prising a  happy  family  of  boys  and  girls  who  are  being  trained  to  lives 
of  usefulness,  are  Carl,  Forest,  Flora,  Fay  and  Avilda.  Politically  Mr. 
Shannon  is  a  Republican,  but  has  found  little  time  for  mingling  in  poli- 
tics and  has  done  his  best  work  for  the  community  through  his  regular 
vocation. 

The  Shannon  home  comprises  a  hundred  acres  of  fine  land,  located 
two  miles  east  and  two  miles  south  of  Montpelier.  While  the  general 
crops  and  staples  of  Blackford  county  have  claimed  his  chief  attention, 
Mr.  Shannon  is  also  recognized  as  a  successful  breeder  of  the  English 
Berkshire  hogs.  At  the  head  of  his  herd  is  ' '  Hoosier  Wonder, ' '  a  splen- 
did animal  whose  regular  weight  is  four  hundred  pounds.  All  the  stock 
on  the  Shannon  farm  is  graded  up  and  kept  in  the  finest  condition,  and 
he  makes  profits  whether  sending  his  stock  to  the.  regular  market  or  in 
the  sale  of  breeding  animals. 

Thomas  C.  Neal.  It  is  uniformly  conceded  by  those  best  entitled  to 
express  an  authoritative  opinion  that  there  is  in  Blackford  county  no 
citizen  who  exemplifies  in  so  high  and  worthy  a  degree  the  spirit  of  pro- 
gressiveness  and  unselfish  civic  loyalty  in  so  eminent  a  degree  as  does 
Thomas  C.  Neal,  the  present  mayor  of  the  beautiful  little  city  of  Mont- 
pelier. He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  somewhat  more  than 
forty  years,  and  there  are  few  lines  of  productive  enterprise  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State  that  he  has  not  touched  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  to  them 
clearer  demarcation  in  the  realm  of  constructive  and  progressive  ad- 
vancement, In  him  the  qualities  of  initiative  energy  and  distinct  fore- 
sight are  shown  in  strong  relief,  and  he  has  not  only  made  things  move 
to  his  own  benefit  but  has  also  prompted  constructive  action  on  the  part 
of  others.  He  is  one  of  the  honored  and  influential  citizens  of  the  county, 
and  rather  to  express  in  this  introductory  paragraph  an  estimate  of  the 
man  and  his  achievement  it  were  better  to  permit  the  following  brief  rec- 
ord of  his  career  tell  its  own  story. 

Further  interest  attaches  to  the  peculiarly  successful  and  somewhat 
spectacular  career  of  Mr.  Neal  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a  native 
of  Indiana  and  was  reared  in  that  section  of  the  State  that  is  still  the 
field  of  his  manifold  and  prolific  operations  in  various  and  important 
phases  of  industrial,  manufacturing  and  commercial  activity.  Mr.  Neal 
was  born  at  Marion,  the  judicial  center  of  Grant  county,  Indiana,  on  the 
12th  of  February,  1852,  and  his  lineage  is  traced  back  to  the  staunchest 
of  Scotch  origin.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Nancy  (Roberts)  Neal, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  West  Virginia  and  the  latter  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  at  Marion, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade  of  carpenter  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  where  he  later  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He 
finally  resumed,  in  1858,  the  work  of  his  trade,  and  thereafter  he  con- 
tinued for  many  years  as  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders 
at  Marion,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  He  was  a  man  of  positive  character,  inflexible  integrity 
and  marked  business  acumen,  and  he  commanded  the  implicit  confi- 
dence and  high  regard  of  his  fellow  men.  His  devoted  wife  preceded 
him  to  eternal  rest  by  several  years  and  was  but  thirty-four  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  She  was  a  devout  member  of  the  New 
Light  church,  a  branch  of  the  Christian  or  Disciples'  denomination, 
and  her  life  was  gentle  and  kindly,  she  having  been  a  member  of  one 
of  the  well  known  pioneer  families  of  Grant  county.  Charles  W.  Neal 
was  originally  a  whig  and  later  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  he  was  an 
influential  figure  in  public  affairs  in  Grant  county  for  many  years.     Of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  1G7 

the  two  children  Thomas  O,  of  this  review,  is  the  elder,  and  John  C,  who 
died  at  Montpelier,  Blackford  county;  in  L894,  a1  the  age  of  thirty-six 
years,  wedded  Miss  Mary  Gavin,  who  survives  him,  as  do  also  their 
three  children, — Hugh.  Jessie  ami  Ella. 

Thomas  C.  Xeal  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  of  Marion,  his  native 
place,  I'm-  his  early  educational  discipline,  which  was  supplemented  by  a 
commercial  course  in  a  business  college  at  Bloomington,  this  State.  For 
live  years  he  was  employed  a.s  representative  of  the  firm  of  Switzer  & 
Turner,  of  Marion,  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  ami  later  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  .1.  A.  Gause,  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  in  whose  interest 
he  came  to  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  in  1871.  lie  was  so  favorably 
impressed  with  the  attractions  and  bright  outlook  of  the  town,  which 
was  then  a  mere  village,  that  he  determined  to  establish  his  permanent 
home  in  Blackford  county  and  in  this  place.  Early  in  1872  he  engaged 
in  the  grain  and  live-stock  business  at  Montpelier,  ami  through  energy 
and  good  management  he  soon  developed  a  substantial  and  prosperous 
enterprise  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  grain  ami  stock.  Mr.  Xeal 
early  identified  himself  with  the  agricultural  and  live-stock  industries 
in  a  more  independent  way.  and  he  has  at  the  present  time  one  of  the 
iiui'  landed  estates  of  Blackford  county.  He  became  a  breeder  of 
standard-bred  horses  and  also  introduced  the  first  pure-blood  Jersey  cat- 
tle into  Blackford  county.  This  tin,'  farm,  devoted  to  diversified  agri- 
culture, engrossed  much  of  Mi-.  Neal's  time  and  attention  from  1S72  until 
1899,  when  he  sold  the  property,  in  order  to  meet  the  exigent  demands 
placed  upon  him  by  his  other  important  capitalistic  and  business  inter- 
ests. Later,  however,  he  purchased  another  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved landed  estate  in  Harrison  township,  and  to  this  he  gave  the  name 
of  the  West  Side  Stock  Farm.  He  has  made  many  improvements  on 
this  place,  and  its  value  is  greatly  enhanced  by  reason  that  on  the  same 
an-  oil  wells  that  yield  from  eighteen  to  twenty  barrels  per  day.  and 
natural  gas  wells  that  give  an  appreciable  and  available  supply  of  gas 
for  general  and  industrious  purposes.  Mr.  Xeal  i.s  the  owner  also  of 
a  splendid  farm  of  200  acres  in  Jackson  township,  and  his  political  pro- 
clivities are  measurably  indicated  when  it  is  stated  that  to  this  place  he 
has  given  the  title  of  the  Bull  Moose  Stock  and  Fruit  Farm.  This  is 
known  as  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  entire  State  of  Indiana,  and  here 
is  found  a  tract  of  forty  acres  devoted  to  fruit  orchards,  besides  which 
the  place  has  one  of  the  best  gravel  pits  in  this  section  of  the  State. 
Eleven  oil  wells  have  been  drilled  on  this  farm  and  they  are  in  the 
control  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company.  The  succinct  and  pertinent 
statements  that  appear  on  the  business  envelopes  used  by  Mr.  Xeal  in 
connection  with  his  various  operations  are  well  worthy  of  reproduction. 
They  are  as  follows:  "Tf  it's  live-stock  to  buy  or  sell,  we  are  always  in 
tlie  market;  if  it's  high-grade  gravel  for  good  road,  we  have  it:  if  it's 
fruit,  we  have  it  in  season:  if  it's  ice  to  cool,  we  have  it."  The  Bull 
Moose  Stock  and  Fruit  Farm  is  eligibly  situated  five  miles  northwest 
of  Montpelier.  and  the  place  is  a  source  of  much  and  well  merited 
pride  to  its  progressive  owner. 

Mr.  Neal  is  general  manager  of  the  National  fastings  Company,  of 
Montpelier.  and  this  represents  one  of  the  most  important  industrial 
enterprises  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  erection  of  the  company's 
plant  was  initiated  in  1896.  but  before  it  was  completed  the  business, 
as  originally  projected,  went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver.  A  failure  is 
something  that  Mr.  Xeal  ever  contemplates  with  great  disfavor,  and  in 
this  instance  he  promptly  came  to  the  rescue  of  the  budding  enterprise 
that  was  thus  summarily  nipped.  He  became  associated  with  others  in 
the  purchase  of  the  plant,  at  the  receiver's  sale,  and  by  energy  and  de- 


168        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

termined  purpose  he  and  his  associates  succeeded  in  placing  the  enter- 
prise upon  a  substantial  basis.  He  was  president  and  general  manager 
of  the  company  from  the  latter  part  of  1897  until  1901,  when  he  severed 
his  executive  connection  with  the  company.  In  1902,  however,  he  again 
assumed  the  office  of  general  manager,  of  which  position  he  has  continued 
the  incumbent,  the  business  having  been  signally  prospered  under  his 
able  and  progressive  supervision  and  direction.  The  output  of  the  well 
equipped  and  thoroughly  modern  plant  includes  all  kinds  of  heavy  and 
light  castings,  and  the  products  are  sold  in  the  most  diverse  sections  of 
the  Union.  The  corps  of  employes  varies  from  150  to  250  men  and  the 
output  is  now  averaging  fully  500  tons  per  annum.  G.  Max  Hoffman, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  is  now  president  of  the  company ;  James  O  'Donnell,  of 
Montpelier,  vice-president;  D.  F.  Bash,  of  Indianapolis,  secretary;  and 
Mr.  Neal  general  manager.  The  board  of  directors  has  seven  members 
and  Messrs.  O 'Donnell  and  Neal  are  the  resident  members  of  the 
board. 

In  politics  Mr.  Neal  was  aligned  with  the  democratic  party  until 
the  national  campaign  of  1912,  when  he  vigorously  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  newly  organized  progressive  party,  under  the  leadership  of  Colonel 
Roosevelt,  of  whom  he  is  a  great  admirer.  Mr.  Neal  served  1884  to  1887 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  Blackford  county, 
and  later  he  was  employed  to  fill  out  two  years  of  an  unexpired  term 
in  the  same  office.  The  aggressiveness  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Neal  have 
not  been  shown  entirely  in  his  business  and  political  activities,  but  he 
has  been  a  leader  in  the  furtherance  of  measures  and  enterprise  pro- 
jected for  the  general  good  of  the  community.  He  was  elected  mayor 
of  Montpelier  in  November,  1913,  and  it  may  well  be  understood  that 
his  administration  is  proving  characteristically  vigorous  and  progressive, 
his  dispensation  as  head  of  the  municipal  government  of  his  home  city 
being  such  as  to  insure  due  conservatism  in  the  handling  of  the  city's 
finances  and  yet  such  as  not  to  curb  proper  expenditures  for  public  im- 
provements and  incidental  contingencies.  Mr.  Neal  was  the  first  citizen 
of  Montpelier  to  have  a  telephone  installed  in  his  residence,  at  a  time 
when  the  telephone  business  was  still  comparatively  in  its  infancy  in 
this  section  of  the  State ;  and  he  was  also  the  first  in  Montpelier  to  utilize 
natural  gas  for  illuminating  and  domestic  purposes.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Farmers'  Deposit  Bank  of  Montpelier,  and  he  assisted 
also  in  the  organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Montpelier,  of 
which  he  is  a  director  and  also  vice-president.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  as  a  charter  member  of  the  lodge  at  Montpelier.  He 
attends  and  gives  liberal  support  to  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  his 
wife  is  a  zealous  member. 

In  November,  1872,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Neal  to 
Miss  Susan  Angeline  Spalding,  who  was  born  in  Wells  county,  this 
state,  in  1853,  and  who  was  but  one  year  old  at  the  time  of  her  parents' 
removal  to  Blackford  county,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated  and 
where  her  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of  her  acquaintances. 
Her  father,  Franklin  B.  Spalding,  was  numbered  among  the  extensive 
and  representative  farmers  of  Blackford  county,  his  old  homestead,  one 
and  one-half  miles  northwest  of  Montpelier,  being  still  in  the  possession 
of  the  family.  On  this  homestead  both  he  and  his  wife  died,  and  he  sur- 
vived her  by  a  number  of  years,  both  having  been  consistent  members  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Spalding  was  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of 
this  section  of  Indiana  and  he  wielded  in  earlier  years  not  a  little  influ- 
ence in  public  affairs  of  a  local  order,  his  support  having  been  given  to 
the  Whig  party  until  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  latter,  to  remain  thereafter  a  stal- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  169 

wart  advocate  of  its  principles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neal  have  one  son,  Charles 
Mitchell  Neal,  who  was  born  in  lSTll  and  who  was  afforded  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  public  schools  of  Montpelier,  and  those  of  the  institu- 
tion now  known  as  the  Valparaiso  University,  at  Valparaiso,  this  State, 
He  now  resides  upon  ami  has  the  general  supervision  of  Ins  lather's 
West  Side  Stock  Farm,  of  which  mention  has  been  made  in  a  preceding 
paragraph,  and  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
his  native  county,  lie  married  Miss  Emma  Degler,  ami  they  have  two 
children. — Eleanor  ami  Thomas  .Mitchell,  the  former  being  thirteen  and 
the  latter  eleven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writing. 

Francis  M.  Reynolds,  M.  D.  Engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  attractive  little  city  of  Montpelier,  Dr.  Reynolds 
is  not  only  recognized  as  one  of  the  representative  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  Blackford  county  but  also  as  a  progressive  citi/en  whose  suc- 
cess has  been  distinctive  along  both  professional  and  material  lines.  In 
addition  to  owning  and  occupying  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  mod- 
ern brick  residences  in  Blackford  county,  the  same  having  fifteen  rooms 
and  being  heated  by  an  effective  hot-water  system,  he  is  also  the  owner 
of  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres,  eligibly  situated  in  Wells  county, 
at  a  point  about  6  miles  northeast  from  Montpelier.  His  residence  in 
Montpelier  has  been  consistently  pronounced  the  finest  in  Blackford 
county,  and  it  is  made  a  place  of  most  cultured  and  gracious  hospitality, 
as  a  center  of  much  of  the  representative  social  activity  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Dr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Adams  county.  Indiana,  on  the  16th  of 
February,  1870,  and  after  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  he  completed  an  effective  course 
in  the  Northwestern  Ohio  Normal  School,  at  Ada,  and  he  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  pedagogic  profession,  of  which  he  was  an  able  and  pop- 
ular representative,  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Indiana,  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  He  supplemented  his  education  also  by  a  course  in 
the  commercial  department  of  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  & 
Business  College,  an  institution  now  known  as  Valparaiso  University. 
In  consonance  with  his  laudable  ambition  and  well  formulated  plans, 
the  Doctor  finally  was  matriculated  in  the  Indiana  Medical  College,  at 
Indianapolis,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1807 
and  from  which  he  received  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  forth- 
with established  his  residence  at  Montpelier,  and  here  he  has  continued 
in  active  and  successful  practice  during  the  intervening  period  of  more 
than  a  decade  and  a  half,  all  extraneous  interests  having  been  subordi- 
nated to  the  demands  of  his  profession,  which  he  has  significantly  dig- 
nified and  honored  by  his  services  and  his  observance  of  the  highest 
ethical  code  of  his  chosen  vocation.  In  1900  he  completed  an  effective 
post-graduate  course  in  the  New  York  Post  Graduate  Medical  College, 
in  the  national  metropolis,  and  since  that  time,  though  continuing  Ids 
labors  as  a  general  practitioner,  he  has  given  special  attention  to  the 
treatment  of  the  diseases  of  the  eye.  ear,  nose  and  throat.  Dr.  Reynolds 
has  been  essentially  a  close  and  appreciative  student  of  the  best  of  the 
standard  and  periodical  literature  of  his  profession,  and  he  furthers  his 
technical  precedence  also  through  his  active  affiliation  with  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association,  the  Indiana  State  Medical  Society  and  the 
Blackford  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Reynolds  is  a  son  of  Pleasant  and  Caroline  (Bolton")  Reynolds, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Virsrinia  and  the  latter  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  The  lineage  of  the  Reynolds  family  is  traced  back  to  staunch 
English  origin  and  representatives  of  the  name  settled  in  the  historic  Old 


170  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Dominion  State  in  an  early  day.  The  marriage  of  the  parents  was 
solemnized  in  Adams  county,  Indiana,  and  Pleasant  Reynolds  became 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  highly  esteemed  farmers  of  French  town- 
ship, that  county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1895,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  year  1816.  He  came 
from  Virginia  to  Indiana  in  the  early  pioneer  days,  in  1839,  and  at  that 
time  the  city  of  Bluffton,  judicial  center  of  Wells  county,  was  repre- 
sented by  only  four  houses.  There  he  remained  for  a  time  and  finally 
removed  to  Adams  county,  where  he  purchased  wild  land  and  eventually 
developed  a  productive  and  valuable  farm.  His  cherished  and  devoted 
wife,  who  was  his  veritable  helpmeet,  was  bom  in  the  year  1833  and, 
surviving  him  by  a  number  of  years,  she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  Both  were  zealous  members  of  the  New 
Light  Christian  church  and  in  politics  Mr.  Reynolds  was  first  a  whig 
and  later  a  republican.  Of  the  five  children,  all  sons,  the  Doctor  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth,  and  all  are  still  living,  with  well  established  homes 
and  attractive  family  relations. 

Dr.  Reynolds  is  a  most  enthusiastic  advocate  of  the  principles  and 
policies  of  the  progressive  party  and  he  took  a  specially  active  and  influ- 
ential part  in  effecting  the  organization  of  its  Blackford  county  con- 
tingent, the  party  gaining  decisive  victories  in  electing  a  number  of  its 
candidates  in  the  county  in  the  election  of  1912.  For  six  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Montpelier  school  board.  He  was  also  instrumental  in 
obtaining  for  Montpelier  the  Carnegie  library.  He  sketched  the  plans 
for  the  building  and  was  chairman  of  the  building  committee.  Also  a 
member  of  the  library  board  for  eight  years.  In  a  fraternal  way  the 
Doctor  is  affiliated  with  the  Hartford  City  Lodge  of  the  Benevolent 
&  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  in  his  home  county  it  may  consistently 
be  said  that  his  circle  of  friends  and  admirers  is  limited  only  by  that  of 
his  acquaintances. 

In  Wells  county,  this  State,  in  the  year  1899,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Dr.  Reynolds  to  Miss  Lillie  M.  Sehott,  who  was  born  in  that 
county,  in  June,  1872,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Hannah 
(Keller)  Sehott,  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  of  German  lineage.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sehott  came  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  he  had  become  one  of  the  extensive  landholdei-s  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Wells  county,  where  he  owns  three  admirably  improved  farms, 
besides  which  he  has  valuable  landed  interests  in  Ohio  and  Missouri. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  have  two  daughters,  Grace  C.  and  Ruth,  both  of 
whom  are  students  in  the  public  schools  of  Montpelier.  Dr.  Reynolds 
is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  largest  private  libraries  in  the  county. 

Chester  I.  Brickley.  In  the  colonial  days  four  brothers  came  from 
the  German  fatherland  and  found  homes  in  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvania  was  the  home  of  the  first  two  or  three  gen- 
erations, and  from  that  state  the  descendants  scattered  to  the  West,  and 
since  early  in  the  history  of  eastern  Indiana  one  line  has  been  repre- 
sented in  Blackford  county  and  vicinity,  and  it  is  to  that  branch  Chester 
I.  Brickley,  of  Hartford  City,  belongs.  Quiet  but  effective  citizenship, 
usefidness  as  members  of  the  community,  prosperity  in  business  affairs, 
and  worth  and  integrity  of  character  have  been  prominent  elements  in 
the  family  history. 

John  Brickley,  grandfather  of  Chester  I.,  grew  up  in  Pennsylvania 
and  became  a  farmer  and  coal  miner.  While  still  young  and  unmarried 
he  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Youngstown.  Ohio,  and  there  married  Mary 
Woodward,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  On  a  farm  in  that  neighborhood 
they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days,  and  reared  their  family  of  seven  sons 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  171 

and  the  old  homestead  is  still  in  possession  of  their  descendants  near 
Youngstown.  One  of  these  sons,  Joshua,  still  lives  at  Akron,  Ohio,  is 
quite  old  and  has  a  son  aud  daughter. 

Jehu  Brickley,  father  of  Chester  1..  was  the  lift  1 1  in  the  number  of 
seven  sons,  and  was  horn  in  1835.  After  his  youth  had  been  spent  in 
Ohio  he  moved  to  Indiana  just  before  the  war,  and  Located  at  Portland, 
in  Jay  county.  From  there  he  went  out  as  a  private  in  the  Seventieth 
Regiment  of  Indiana  Infantry,  and  saw  one  year  of  service,  returning 
without  wounds.  On  again  taking  up  the  duties  of  civil  life  lie  learned 
the  trade  of  harness  maker  in  Hartford  City,  and  that  was  his  occupa- 
tion until  his  health  failed,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  timber 
business  and  in  that  way  regained  his  strength.  He  was  next  a  grain 
dealer  for  twenty  years,  and  finally  retired,  and  the  three  years  of 
his  life  prior  to  his  death,  in  1903,  were  spent  quietly,  though  he  as- 
sisted to  some  extent  his  son  in  the  conduct  of  the  latter 's  business. 
Jehu  Brickley  is  remembered  as  a  man  of  solid  worth  and  quite  active 
in  local  affairs.  He  was  a  democrat,  served  several  years  in  Hartford 
City  as  city  marshal,  and  was  at  one  time  commander  of  the  Jacob  Stahl 
Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Jehu  Brickley  was  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Mrs.  Esther  Brick- 
ley, the  widow  of  his  older  brother.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  of 
Pennsylvania  parents,  but  of  German  stock,  the  family  having  moved 
out  from  Pennsylvania  first  to  Wayne  county  and  later  to  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  and  died  in  the  latter  county.  Her  parents  were  Henry  and 
Esther  M.  (Wagner)  Kerschner.  Both  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  were 
substantial  farming  people  and  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs. 
Esther  Brickley  is  now  eighty-eight  years  of  age,  and  quite  feeble  in 
both  mind  and  body.  To  the  marriage  of  Jehu  Brickley  and  wife  were 
born  five  children,  of  whom  Chester  I.  is  the  only  son.  The  four  daugh- 
ters were :  Armitha,  wife  of  John  H.  Sailor  of  Richmond,  Indiana,  and 
their  daughter,  Edna,  is  the  wife  of  Ralph  Diffendoffer  of  New  York 
City ;  Emma  married  Frank  Forney  of  Hartford  City,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Harry,  Minta  and  Lucile,  Minta  being  city  librarian  in  Hart- 
ford City ;  Alice  died  when  a  young  woman ;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
MeEldowney  of  Hartford  City,  and  their  son  Erie  is  a  baker  by  trade, 
while  their  daughter,  Marie,  is  a  trained  nurse  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Chester  I.  Brickley  was  born  in  Hartford  City  in  a  house  that 
stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  his  bakery  establishment.  His  birth 
occurred  December  14,  1867,  and  as  he  grew  up  he  attended  the  local 
schools  and  chose  for  his  vocation  the  trade  of  baker.  There  is  no  more 
useful  calling  than  that  of  furnishing  good  food  to  the  people,  and  it  is 
through  that  business  that  Mr.  Brickley  has  performed  his  best  service 
to  this  community,  and  he  is  not  only  a  good  baker,  but  an  excellent 
citizen  in  all  the  word  implies.  His  first  business  establishment  was  on 
West  Main  street,  but  in  1913  he  built  his  present  quarters  at  120  East 
Main,  having  a  building  60x120  feet.  It  is  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
facilities  for  first-class  work,  and  his  name  has  come  to  be  associated  with 
high-class  products. 

Mr.  Brickley  was  married  in  Hartford  City  to  Ella  Hughes,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  here,  a  daughter  of  Eli  and  Susan  Ash- 
baugh  Hughes,  of  a  Blackford  county  family  that  receives  more  de- 
tailed mention  on  following  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brickley  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Paul  J.,  eighteen  years  of  age  and  a  member 
of  tin-  class  of  191-4  in  the  Hartford  City  high  school;  Verda  S..  who 
has  finished  the  grade  schools  and  is  fourteen  years  of  age;  and  John 
F.,  aged  five  years.  Mrs.  Brickley  is  a  Lutheran,  while  her  son  and 
daughter  are  Methodists.  Mr.  Brickley  has  affiliations  witli  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat. 


172        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

The  Hughes  family  to  which  Mrs.  Briekley  belongs  had  a  part  in  the 
pioneer  development  of  Indiana.  David  Hughes,  father  of  Eli  and 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Briekley,  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  the  name  has  been  identified  with  Rockingham  county  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.  David  Hughes  was  born  about  1800  in  Rockingham 
county,  and  married  there  Eliza  Gochnauer,  also  a  native  of  Rocking- 
ham county.  She  died  when  her  son,  Eli,  was  an  infant.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  David  Hughes  married  Martha  Blunt,  and  in  1836  they  moved 
out  to  Indiana  and  began  life  as  pioneers  on  raw  government  land. 
David  Hughes  died  when  about  sixty  years  of  age,  and  his  second  wife 
survived  him  and  was  also  past  three  score  mark.  They  left  a  family 
of  six  or  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

Eli  Hughes,  who  was  the  only  child  of  his  mother,  was  reared  by  his 
maternal  grandparents,  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Gochnauer)  Gochnauer. 
They  were  likewise  natives  of  Rockingham  county  and  of  German  ances- 
try. In  1836  they  made  the  long  overland  journey  across  the  mountains 
and  across  the  state  of  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  entered  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Jackson  township  of  Blackford  county.  After 
selecting  his  land  Samuel  Gochnauer  walked  the  entire  distance  through 
the  woods  and  across  the  prairies  to  Fort  Wayne  in  order  to  perfect 
his  claim  and  pay  the  usual  fees  at  the  Land  Office.  All  the  experiences 
of  the  typical  pioneer  were  the  common  lot  of  the  Gochnauer  family  in 
Blackford  county.  Samuel  Gochnauer  was  remarkable  for  his  strength 
and  endurance,  and  by  actual  test  it  is  said  that  he  could  walk  further 
in  a  day  than  a  horse.  When  he  settled  there  it  was  cleared  only  in 
spots,  and  practically  every  home  was  a  rude  log  cabin,  with  a  puncheon 
floor,  a  rough  door  hung  on  leather  straps,  tables  made  of  slabs,  and 
nearly  all  the  domestic  implements  of  the  crudest  sort.  The  original 
log  house  was  replaced  by  a  hewed  log  habitation,  and  eventually  this 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  was  cleared  and  cultivated  and 
became  the  seat  of  prosperity.  Samuel  Gochnauer  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  and  one  of  the  most  expert  workmen  in  all  the  pioneer  community. 
There  was  no  vessel  made  of  wood  which  he  could  not  perfect,  and  it  is 
related  that,  in  spite  of  his  skill,  he  worked  many  a  day  for  a  dollar 
per  diem,  which  was  considered  high  pay.  He  was  one  of  the  strong 
adherents  of  the  Jacksonian  Democracy  in  Blackford  county,  and  was 
honored  by  election  as  county  commissioner.  His  death  occurred  when 
seventy-six  years  of  age  on  his  farm  in  section  6  of  Jackson  township. 
He  passed  away  during  the  decade  of  the  seventies,  and  had  been  pre- 
ceded several  years  by  his  wife,  when  past  sixty.  In  religion  they  were 
German  Reformed. 

Eli  Hughes  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  on  section  6  of  Jackson 
township,  February  19,  1840.  That  was  the  scene  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  and  while  on  his  grandfather  Gochnauer 's  farm  he  gave  his 
labors  to  clearing  up  and  improving  much  of  the  land.  Eventually  he 
came  to  possess  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres,  and  continued  its 
active  management  until  1878.  In  that  year  public  duties  withdrew  him 
from  active  farming,  and  he  moved  to  Hartford  City  to  assume  the 
duties  of  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  in  which  he  served  four  years, 
two  terms.  After  that  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Hartford 
City,  and  purveyed  reliable  goods  to  this  community  for  twenty  years. 
Mr.  Hughes  is  still  living,  having  retired  from  business  about  ten  years 
ago,  and  is  the  owner  of  much  valuable  property  in  the  county  seat. 
His  home  is  at  501  East  Water  street,  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  county  council,  having  been  a  member  of  that 
body  practically  since  its  creation.  Politically  he  is  one  of  the  most 
influential  men  in  Blackford  county,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  county, 
congressional  and  state  conventions. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  173 

Mr.  Eli  Hughes  was  married  in  Washington  township  of  Blackford 
county,  to  Susan  Ashbaugh,  who  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1844, 
and  when  a  young  girl  was  brought  by  her  family  to  Blackford  county, 
locating  on  a  new  farm  in  Washington  township.  Her  parents  were 
Jesse  and  Catherine  (Stahlsmith)  Ashbaugh,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  took  up  their  residence  in  Blackford  county  during  the 
early  fifties,  and  her  father  entered  and  improved  eighty  acres  of  Land. 
That  homestead  was  the  place  where  both  he  and  his  wife  died,  when 
past  sixty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Eli  Hughes  are  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Malinda, 
deceased;  Catherine.  Samuel  J..  Flora,  Emma,  deceased;  Louisa  and 
Walter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  are  both  active  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Hartford  City. 

Frederick  G.  .Miller,  From  the  great  empire  of  Germany  the 
United  States  has  had  much  to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose,  for  Germany 
has  given  to  our  republic  an  element  of  citizenship  than  which  can  be 
found  none  superior  in  intellectual  and  material  productiveness  and  ster- 
ling worth  of  character.  Of  this  element  an  honored  and  venerable  repre- 
sentative in  Blackford  county  was  the  late  Frederick  Miller,  who  passed 
the  gracious  evening  of  his  life,  retired  from  active  labors,  in  the  little 
city  of  Montpelier  and  who  had  the  unqualified  respect  and  high  re- 
gard of  the  entire  community. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  11th 
of  November,  1836,  aDd  he  sturdily  and  without  perturbation  passed  the 
psalmist's  allotted  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten,  admirably  pre- 
served in  both  mental  and  physical  powers,  his  death  occurring  at  his 
home  in  Montpelier  on  the  4th  of  June,  1908.  He  was  a  scion  of  an 
old  and  influential  family  of  Bavaria,  where  in  past  generations  the 
name  was  one  of  prominence  in  connection  with  industrial  and  civic 
affairs.  Christoph  Miller,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was 
born  in  Bavaria  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  there 
he  died  about  the  year  186(1.  having  been  successful  in  business,  as 
operator  of  both  grist  and  flour  mills,  and  having  been  influential  in 
local  affairs  of  a  public  order.  He  was  survived  by  only  one  child. 
Christoph,  Jr.,  who  was  born  about  the  jrear  1795.  and  who  was  reared 
in  his  native  town,  where  he  eventually  succeeded  to  the  substantial 
milling  business  of  his  father  and  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  In  1815  was  solemnized  his 
marriage,  the  personal  name  of  his  wife  having  been  Margaret,  and 
she  having  been  born  and  reared  in  the  same  vicinity  as  her  husband, 
and  both  having  been  zealous  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Their 
eldest  son,  Andrew,  passed  his  entire  life  in  Bavaria,  was  operator  of  a 
grist  mill  for  a  term  of  years  and  though  he  married  he  left  no  children  ; 
Margaret  reared  her  children  and  passed  her  entire  life  in  her  native 
land,  as  did  also  her  sisters,  Elizabeth  and  Anna ;  Henry  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1838  and  became  a  pioneer  of  Wells  county.  Indiana, 
where  he  passed  the  residue  of  his  life  and  where  he  reared  his  family 
of  ten  children:  John  A.  G.  resides  in  Montpelier.  this  county,  and  is 
individually  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this  history;  Catherine  came 
to  the  United  States  and  in  Ohio  she  married  a  fellow  countryman 
named  Geo.  Fensel,  her  home  having  been  for  many  years  in  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  where  she  died,  leaving  two  sons  and  one  daughter: 
and  Frederick  G.,  of  this  review,  was  the  youngest  of  the  number,  the 
devoted  mother  having  been  fifty-one  years  of  age  when  she  was  sum- 
moned to  the  life  eternal. 

Frederick  G.  Miller  was  a  youth  at  the  time  of  his  mother's  death. 


174        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

aud  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  lie  severed  the  ties  that  bound  him  to 
home  and  fatherland,  where  he  had  been  reared  to  the  trade  of  miller 
and  had  received  the  advantages  of  the  schools  of  his  home  town,  and 
he  came  with  his  sister,  Catherine,  to  the  United  States,  residing  for  a 
time  in  Ohio,  and  thence  coming  with  the  same  sister  to  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  became  identified  with  the  milling  business 
on  Salamonie  creek,  near  Montpelier,  this  milling  enterprise  having  been 
founded  by  his  elder  brother,  Henry.  In  the  ownership  and  operation 
of  this  early  grist  mill  Mr.  Miller  later  became  associated  with  his 
brother,  John  A.  G.,  and  they  there  continued  the  enterprise  success- 
fully for  many  years.  Frederick  finally  retired  from  this  field  of  busi- 
ness and  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  purchased 
a  farm  near  the  village  of  Montpelier,  and  he  developed  this  into  one 
of  the  model  places  of  the  county,  the  fine  old  homestead,  adjacent  to 
the  town,  having  continued  to  be  his  place  of  abode  until  he  was  called 
from  the  stage  of  life's  mortal  endeavors,  in  the  fullness  of  years  and 
well  earned  honors.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  man  of  strong  individuality,  posi- 
tive and  well  fortified  in  his  convictions,  and  endowed  with  fine  mental 
powers,  and  these  attributes  combined  with  his  sterling  integrity  to 
make  him  a  man  of  influence  and  one  worthy  of  the  unequivocal  con- 
fidence and  esteem  that  were  always  accorded  to  him.  He  was  a  staunch 
supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  democratic  party,  was  liberal  and  public- 
spirited,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  earnest  members  of  the  Baptist 
church. 

In  1856,  in  Wells  county,  this  State,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Miller  to  Miss  Charlotta  Lowrey,  who  was  born  in  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1838,  and  who  was  twelve  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  her  parents'  removal  to  Wells  county,  Indiana.  She  proved 
a  devoted  and  loved  companion  and  helpmeet  to  her  husband  and  her 
memory  is  revered  by  all  who  came  within  the  compass  of  her  gentle 
and  kindly  influence.  She  survived  her  husband  only  a  brief  interval 
and  her  death  occurred  on  the  9th  of  June,  1910.  The  eldest  of  the 
children  is  Andrew,  who  is  a  well  known  citizen  of  Montpelier,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Katherine  Murray,  and  who  has  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter; Hanna  is  the  wife  of  William  Bonham,  of  Montpelier,  and  they 
have  six  children;  Miss  Jennie  R.  remains  at  the  old  homestead  and  has 
kindly  supplied  the  data  from  which  this  brief  memoir  to  her  honored 
father  is  prepared ;  Benjamin  died  in  childhood ;  Lillie  May  became  the 
wife  of  George  Kelley,  and  died  when  a  young  woman,  leaving  one  son, 
Frederick;  Lottie  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Davis,  of  Sharon,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Jeanette,  Adelbert  and  Glenn;  Mollie  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Charles  G.  Mulvey,  of  Auburn,  New  York,  and  they 
have  one  son,  John  Sellers  Mulvey ;  and  Kittie  is  the  wife  of  John  Bain, 
of  Mount  Etna,  Huntington  county,  she  having  one  son,  Max,  by  her 
first  marriage,  to  the  late  Harry  O'Donnell. 

Miss  Jennie  R.  Miller  acquired  her  early  educational  discipline  in  the 
public  schools  of  her  native  county,  and  her  deep  filial  love  and  solici- 
tude caused  her  to  care  for  her  parents  during  the  declining  years  of 
their  lives, — a  service  which  is  an  enduring  source  of  satisfaction  to  her 
now  that  the  loved  ones  have  passed  forward  to  the  "land  of  the  leal." 
She  remains  in  the  attractive  old  family  homestead,  on  Warren  avenue, 
Montpelier,  and  the  place  is  a  favored  rendezvous  for  her  many  friends, 
who  are  ever  assured  of  gracious  welcome  and  good  cheer. 

John  S.  Leach.  That  deep  affection  for  Nature,  as  the  chosen  handi- 
work of  God,  which  invests  the  plants,  the  flowers  and  the  trees  with  a 
kind  of  companionable  personality,  is  not  given  to  every  man  to  exper- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        n.j 

ience,  but  where  this  gift  is  bestowed  the  world  finds  one  in  whom  vet 
lingers  the  faith  and  gentleness  of  childhood,  combined  with  the  strength, 
courage  and  patience  of  maturity.  In  this  connection  mention  may  be 
made  of  John  S.  Leach,  proprietor  of  the  Hartford  City  Floral  Com- 
pany, located  at  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Walnut  street,  which  was 
established  some  twenty  years  ago  by  Mr.  Leach  in  a  modest  manner, 
and  which  has  grown  to  extensive  proportions,  including  15,000  square 
feet  of  glass,  and  a  plant  finely  equipped  in  every  way.  Mr.  Leach  grows 
titty  varieties  of  pelargoniums,  and  forty-five  varieties  of  Rex  begonias, 
for  the  wholesale  market,  grows  about  50,000  of  these  plants  annually. 
and  from  one  customer  alone  has  orders  for  30,000  plants.  In  addition 
Mr.  Leach  grows  vegetables  for  commercial  purposes.  His  steam  beating 
plant  is  of  the  most  modern  design  and  equipment,  and  heats  his  green- 
house and  his  home,  and  the  plant  is  located  on  eight  acres  of  land  .just 
outside  of  the  city  limits,  well  adapted  to  its  present  purposes.  Flow- 
ers and  plants  are  here  grown  for  the  local  trade,  as  well  as  transferable 
plants,  and  his  floral  pieces  for  funerals  are  of  the  finest  and  most  beauti- 
ful design. 

John  S.  Leach  was  born  at  Perryopolis,  Fayette  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  26,  1853,  and  there  grew  up  and  was  educated.  He  learned 
as  a  youth  the  trade  of  window  glass  cutter,  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion for  some  years  after  coming  to  Hartford  City,  but  abandoned  that 
occupation  when  his  floral  business  grew  to  such  proportions  that  it 
demanded  all  of  his  time  and  attention.  He  has  always  been  a  thrifty 
man  of  progressive  spirit,  characteristics  which  he  has  inherited  from  a 
long  line  of  sturdy  ancestors.  He  comes  of  old  Pennsylvania  stock,  his 
grandfather,  Richard  Leach,  having  been  born  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia, about  the  year  1800.  A  maker  of  staves  and  shingles,  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  his  native  state  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  The  grandfather  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  in 
Pennsylvania  in  early  life,  while  the  second  wife,  who  also  passed  away  in 
Pennsylvania,  left  two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Ann,  Samuel,  David 
and  Catherine,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  and  all  were  married 
except  Ann. 

Samuel  Leach,  the  father  of  John  S.  Leach,  was  born  in  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1830  or  1832,  and  was  a  window  glass  con- 
tracting packer  in  his  native  state.  There  he  married  Julia  Husher,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  year  1835,  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
ancestry.  In  1872,  with  his  wife  and  family,  Mr.  Leach  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Carroll  county,  but  five  or  six  years  later  returned 
to  MeKeesport,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a  small  fruit  grower.  In  this 
occupation  he  was  engaged  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1907.  Mrs. 
Leach  had  passed  away  about  five  years  before,  when  she  was  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.  They  were  strong  Methodists,  Mr.  Leach  being  class 
leader  for  a  number  of  years.  During  a  long  period  he  supported  the 
candidates  and  principles  of  the  republican  party,  but  eventually  turned 
his  attention  to  the  prohibition  party,  with  which  he  voted  until  his 
death.  Three  children  were  born  to  Samuel  and  Julia  (Husher)  Leach, 
as  follows:  John  S.  of  this  review;  Samuel,  an  ironworker  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  is  married  and  has  a  family;  and  Catherine,  the  wife  of 
Albert  Golf,  who  is  engaged  in  selling  houses  by  the  installment  plan 
at  Butler,  Pennsjdvania,  and  has  a  family. 

The  public  schools  of  his  native  locality  furnished  John  S.  Leach 
with  his  educational  training.  While  still  a  resident  of  Carroll  county, 
Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Leach  was  married  to  Malissa  Keith,  who  was  born  in 
Iowa,  in  August.  1861,  was  there  reared  and  educated,  a  daughter  of  Eli 
Keith,  of  Pennsvlvania.  now  deceased.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  have  been  the 


176  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

parents  of  three  children:  Charles  E.,  born  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
September  12,  1874,  educated  at  McKeesport,  Pennsylvania,  was  for 
eleven  years  a  practical  glass  cutter,  and  is  now  engaged  in  business 
with  his  father,  near  whom  he  lives,  married  Leatha  Butler,  of  Shingle- 
house,  Pennsylvania,  and  has  four  children,  Eleanor,  John,  Keith  and 
Gilbert,  the  elder  three  in  school;  Alda,  born  also  in  Carroll  county, 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  and  now  the 
wife  of  Dr.  William  A.  Hollis,  a  specialist  in  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose 
and  throat,  at  Hartford  City,  and  has  four  children, — Esther,  William, 
Arthur  and  John;  and  Albertie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  and  one- 
half  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  are  members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Adveutist 
Church  of  Hartford  City,  being  a  local  elder,  an  office  to  which  he 
was  ordained  in  August,  1907,  for  seven  years.  In  political  matters  he 
is  a  republican,  with  prohibition  tendencies. 

William  G.  Braden.  The  enterprise  which  has  continued  the  de- 
velopment begun  by  the  pioneers  of  Blackford  county  is  well  exemplified 
in  the  career  of  William  G.  Braden,  whose  home  is  in  Harrison  township, 
and  whose  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  its  general  equipment  and  pro- 
ductive management  in  that  section  of  the  county.  Mr.  Braden  came  to 
Blackford  county  some  years  ago  to  work  in  the  oil  fields,  and  finally 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  the  generous  success  which  is  his 
has  been  the  result  of  his  undivided  attention  to  business. 

William  G.  Braden  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Sangamon  county 
December  29,  1868,  a  son  of  Orlando  and  Mary  J.  (Farley)  Braden. 
Both  parents  were  also  natives  of  Illinois.  In  1859  the  family  moved 
out  to  Neosho  county,  in  southeastern  Kansas,  and  Orlando  Braden 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  that  locality.  He  still  lives  there, 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  the  father  of  a  family  of 
eight  children.  The  five  now  living  are  Charles,  George,  William  G.. 
Alonzo  and  Melissa,  the  wife,  of  J.  M.  Davis.  All  the  children  live  in 
Kansas  except  William  G.  Pheba  died  aged  twenty -six  years;  Roy  died 
aged  thirty-nine  years,  and  Wallace  died  aged  six  years. 

William  G.  Braden  was  a  year  old  when  the  family  moved  from  Illi- 
nois to  Kansas,  and  it  was  in  the  Sunflower  state  that  he  grew  up,  acquired 
a  district  schooling,  and  on  leaving  school  took  up  the  serious  business 
of  life  as  a  farmer.  He  married  in  Kansas  Miss  M.  E.  Bennett,  and  they 
began  life  as  a  renter  on  his  father's  farm.  Five  years  were  spent  in 
that  way,  and  in  1896  Mr.  Braden  was  attracted  to  the  oil  fields  of  East- 
ern Indiana  and  thus  located  south  of  Montpelier  in  Blackford  county. 
After  about  two  years  in  the  oil  fields,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  1898. 
and  is  now  proprietor  of  sixty  acres  in  Harrison  township.  His  profits 
have  come  from  the  raising  of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses,  and  all  his  crops 
are  fed  on  his  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braden  have  had  three  children :  Wallace,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Samuel  0.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools,  lives  in  Montpelier;  Ilena,  a  graduate  of  the  Montpelier 
high  school,  is  now  the  wife  of  Oscar  Iber,  who  lives  in  Chicago.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  Mr.  Braden  is  a  deacon 
and  trustee  in  that  church  at  Montpelier.  He  also  affiliates  with  Mont- 
pelier Lodge  No.  188,  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is  a  pro- 
gressive. 

William  II.  Thaep.  One  of  the  highly  progressive  and  thoroughly 
capable  farmers  of  Blackford  county,  who  now  owns  and  operates  a  well- 
improved  farm  in  section  8,  Washington  township,  was  born  on  the  old 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  177 

Tharp  family  homestead  hi  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  August  22,  1862,  and  is 
a  sou  of  William  and  Lucy  (Woodard)  Tharp,  natives  respectively  of 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  They  both  came  of  Southern  parentage, 
and  soon  alter  their  marriage  in  Virginia -moved  to  Mercer  county, 
Ohio,  locating  on  a  new  farm  in  Monroe  township,  where  Mr.  Tharp 
developed  a  property  of  sixty  acres.  There  his  family  of  ten  children 
were  born,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  come  to  Indiana,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  On  locating  in  Blackford  county,  the  family  sell  led  mi  a 
partly  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  section  7,  Washington  town- 
ship, and  there  the  eight  children  grew  to  maturity.  Oue,  John,  married 
and  is  now  deceased,  as  is  also  his  wife,  while  one  daughter  survives 
him;  George  E.,  a  merchant  at  Bluffton,  was  struck  by  an  engine  while 
crossing  the  Lake  Erie  tracks,  hurled  300  feet  and  instantly  killed,  in 
.March.  1913,  when  he  was  forty-two  years  of  age.  he  leaving  a  widow  but 
no  children. 

"William  II.  Tharp  was  the  tilth  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents'  chil- 
dren, and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Blackford  county 
in  the  fall  of  1875.  Two  years  later  the  father  died,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-one  years,  while  the  mother  survived  until  1881,  and  was  also 
fifty-one  years  old.  They  were  well-known  Christian  people,  and  Mis. 
Tharp  was  especially  active  in  the  work  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Tharp  was  a  lifelong  adherent  of  the  principles  of  the  democratic  party. 
Mr.  William  H.  Tharp  grew  to  manhood  in  Washington  township,  ami 
entered  upon  a  career  of  his  own  when  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty 
acres,  in  1892,  on  which  he  resided  for  some  two  years,  then  renting  the 
William  Kelley  farm,  which  continued  to  be  his  home  and  the  seem-  of 
his  operations  for  eight  years  more.  In  1901  he  purchased  thirty  acres 
in  section  17,  to  which  he  subsequently  added  thirty  acres  in  section  8, 
and  he  now  has  the  land  all  under  a  high  state  of  improvement,  with 
good  barns,  tool  shed,  granary  and  other  buildings  and  an  attractive 
eight-room  white  residence.  Good  water  facilities  are  found  on  the 
farm,  but  it  is  well  drained  and  very  productive.  Mr.  Tharp  is  a  good 
business  man  and  bears  a  high  reputation  among  his  neighbors. 

Mr.  Tharp  was  married  in  Washington  township,  to  Miss  H.  Ella 
Cunningham,  who  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  January  3.  1862,  and 
came  to  Blackford  county  as  a  young  woman  with  her  parents,  George 
W.  and  Elizabeth  (Hasketf)  Cunningham.  Mr.  Cunningham  died  at 
Gas  City,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  while 
the  mother  passed  away  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years,  at  Muncie,  Indiana. 
They  were  faithful  members  of  the  Christian  church.  These  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tharp :  Harry,  born  September  2, 
1884.  educated  here  and  married  Verdie  Frank,  lives  on  his  father's 
farm  and  has  two  children. — L.  Twylah,  born  October  22.  1912.  and  Opal 
Deloris.  born  May  31,  1914;  Burr  F..  born  August  8.  1887,  educated  in 

the  graded  schools  and  now  employed  with  a  fire  extinguishei ocern, 

married  Pear]  Pry,  of  Grant  county,  and  has  one  child. — Xevil  ('Ian- 
Marie,  born  October  29.  1896.  a  graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  High 
school,  class  of  1915;  and  I.  Maybell,  born  November  6.  19f)0.  attending 
the  graded  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tharp  attend  various  churches  ami 
are  generous  in  their  support  of  religious  and  charitable  movements.  In 
polities  Mr.  Tharp  is  a  democrat. 

Solomon  E.  Harter.  The  oil  industry  has  brought  a  number  of 
enterprising  citizens  to  Blackford  count.v,  and  among  them  is  Solomon 
E.  Harter.  who  a  few  years  ago  retired  from  a  work  in  which  he  had 
gained  a  reputation  as  one  of  the  most  successful  oil  well  drillers  in  the 
middle  west,  and  having  bought  a  farm  in  Washington   township  has 


178        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

since  applied  himself  no  less  successfully  to  its  management  and  culti- 
vation. 

Mr.  Harter  comes  of  German  ancestry  on  the  paternal  side.  His 
grandfather  Henry  Harter,  who  was  born  of  German  parents  at  Ilion, 
New  York,  more  than  a  hundred  and  ten  years  ago,  spent  all  his  career 
in  that  state,  and  died  near  the  town  of  Panama  near  Chautauqua  not 
long  after  the  close  of  the  (Jivil  War.  His  last  few  years  had  been 
spent  in  retirement.  As  an  active  man  he  was  a  successful  farmer. 
His  wife  was  also  a  New  York  state  woman  and  her  death  occurred  at 
Panama,  when  about  four  score  years  of  age.  They  were  Methodists, 
and  Henry  Harter  was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican  voter. 

Of  the  children  born  to  Henry  Harter  and  wife,  Jared  L.,  father 
of  Solomon,  was  one  of  the  older.  He  was  born  June  21,  1818.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  were:  Henry,  Jr.,  who  lived  and  died  at  Buffalo, 
New  York,  where  he  was  a  business  man,  and  reared  a  family;  James 
lived  and  died  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  and  was  about  eighty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
leaving  two  sons  and  three  daughters;  Harvey,  who  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  New  York  state  but  subsequently  went  out  to  Minnesota  and 
died  there  when  about  seventy  years  of  age,  was  in  business  lines 
and  married  and  had  a  family ;  Mary  married  Samuel  Paddock  of  New 
York  state,  both  died  in  Panama  when  about  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
they  reared  a  family  of  several  children;  Eliza  first  married  George 
Johnson,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons,  and  later  married  a  widower, 
Solomon  Edwards;  Vera  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Woodrick,  and 
when  they  died  in  Jamestown,  New  York,  they  left  a  family. 

Jared  L.  Harter  grew  up  in  New  York  state  near  the  town  of  Ilion, 
and  eventually  became  a  thrifty  farmer  in  Chautauqua  county.  He 
married  Cynthia  E.  Paddock,  who  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county 
and  was  reared  there  coming  of  English  ancestry.  After  four  children 
had  been  born  to  them,  named  Henry,  Darwin,  Vera  and  John,  the 
parents  in  1854  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  the  western  part 
of  the  state  in  Crawford  county,  and  a  farm  in  that  locality  was  the 
home  of  Jared  and  wife  until  the  close  of  their  years.  Jared  died 
January  14,  1905,  and  his  widow,  who  was  horn  March  26,  1820,  sur- 
vived him  two  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  while  in  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  he  was  especially 
strong  in  his  support  of  the  prohibition  principles.  He  was  one  of  the 
influential  citizens  of  Richmond  township  in  Crawford  county.  In 
addition  to  the  four  children  born  in  New  York  state  the  three  born  in 
Pennsylvania  were  Solomon  E.,  Lucy  and  Gilbert.  These  seven  chil- 
dren are  all  now  living,  and  are  the  heads  of  families. 

Solomon  E.  Harter,  who  was  born  January  20,  1857,  grew  up  on 
the  western  Pennsylvania  farm,  was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and 
his  early  youth  was  spent  near  the  great  oil  district  of  Pennsylvania. 
On  becoming  of  age  he  went  to  what  was  then  the  far  west,  the  state 
of  Nebraska,  and  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government 
land  in  Holt  county,  thirty  miles  from  O'Neil,  the  county  seat.  After 
proving  up  his  claim  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  later  was  mar- 
ried in  Ohio  to  Miss  Hattie  J.  Counts.  She  was  born  in  Allen  county, 
Ohio,  April  15,  1875,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  and  has  many 
noteworthy  family  connections.  Her  parents  were  Squire  and  Eliza 
(Monroe)  Counts.  Squire  Counts  was  born  in  Virginia  August  7, 
1839,  and  his  wife  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  October  2,  1836.  They 
were  married  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  he  began  his  career  as  a 
groceryman  at  Delphos  and  later  in  Spencerville,  in  Allen  county. 
Subsequently  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a  contractor,  and  now  lives 
in  Spencerville,  Ohio,  the  possessor  of  means  and  the  honor  and  esteem 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  179 

that  accompany  good  citizenship.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church,  and  he  is  a  republican.  Squire  Counts  when 
a  young  man  ran  away  from  home  in  order  to  give  his  service  to  the 
preservation  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Thirty-tirst  Ohio  Infantry,  and  escaped  with  only  a  slight  gun- 
shot wound  in  the  right  shoulder.  He  was  one  of  rive  brothers,  all 
of  whom  saw  military  service,  the  others  being  Isaac,  Conrad,  William 
and  John.  John  was  killed  on  one  of  the  battlefields  of  the  South. 
The  parents  of  Squire  Counts  were  Virginia  people  who  moved  to  Ohio 
and  were  pioneers  of  Allen  county,  where  they  died  on  t he  farm  that 
their  labors  had  improved  from  the  wilderness,  and  both  were  quite  old. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Counts,  the  wife  of  Squire  Counts,  was  born  in  Ohio,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  and  Adelaid  (Stewart)  Monroe.  Her  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Keziah  Stewart.  Dr.  John  Monroe  was 
born  iu  New  York  state  about  1820  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio 
in  1836.  Both  the  Stewart  and  Monroe  families  were  pioneer  settlers 
in  Uuion  county.  Ohio,  and  in  that  vicinity  Dr.  John  Monroe  and  wife 
were  married,  later  moving  to  Putnam  county,  and  finally  to  Allen 
county,  where  Dr.  Monroe  practiced  medicine  at  Spencerville  until  his 
death.  Pie  was  a  prominent  physician,  .served  as  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature  for  some  time,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  that  section  of  Ohio.  His  widow,  who  was  born  August 
24,  1S20,  died  February  2,  1906.  She  was  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
Christian  church  at  Spencerville,  of  which  she  was  a  charter  member. 

Solomon  E.  Harter  first  became  interested  in  the  oil  development 
in  Blackford  county  in  1892,  and  after  his  marriage  in  Ohio  moved 
his  home  to  this  county.  As  a  contractor  drilling  wells  for  the  Stand- 
ard Oil  Company  and  other  parties  in  the  Eastern  Indiana  field,  he 
was  for  some  years  constantly  employed,  and  his  record  as  a  driller 
includes  the  sinking  of  an  aggregate  of  two  hundred  thousand  feet 
of  wells  in  Blackford,  Wells  and  Grant  counties.  In  the  developing 
of  oil  fields  he  was  for  some  time  associated  with  Frank  Corn.  Xo 
man  in  eastern  Indiana  had  a  reputation  for  more  skillful  or  successful 
work  as  a  wrell  driller  than  Mr.  Harter.  In  1906,  having  bought  a 
fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  in  Sections  11  and  12 
of  "Washington  township,  Mr.  Harter  retired  from  the  oil  industry  and 
is  now  a  contented  and  prosperous  producer  of  the  crops  of  the  soil. 
His  farm  when  he  bought  it  was  well  improved,  and  since  that  time  he 
has  erected  in  1907  an  excellent  barn,  and  also  a  comfortable  dwelling 
house.  After  the  completion  of  his  residence  he  moved  his  family  from 
Montpelier.  His  land  is  made  to  produce  heavy  crops  of  corn,  oats 
and  hay,  but  very  little  of  this  finds  its  way  to  market,  since  he  derives 
his  revenues  chiefly  from  horses  and  cattle.  His  excellent  business 
judgment  has  stood  him  in  good  stead  as  a  practical  farmer. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harter  are  the  parents  of  two  children:  Ruth  Emma, 
born  October  7,  1903,  is  a  bright  young  lady  now  in  the  sixth  grade 
of  the  public  schools;  Boyd  Edward  was  born  May  21,  1908.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harter  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  republican. 

Philip  Schmidt.  The  agricultural  labor  of  Philip  Schmidt  has 
spanned  upwards  of  a  half  a  century  of  Blackford  county  history,  and 
has  resulted  in  the  ownership  of  valuable  tracts  of  land  in  Washington 
township.  During  thirty-seven  years  of  this  time  Mr.  Schmidt  has 
been  the  owner  of  the  property  on  which  he  now  resides,  a  handsome, 
well-cultivated  tract  lying  in  section  2.  to  the  improvement  of  which 
he  has  devoted  his  constant  time  and  attention.  In  his  community  he 
is  recognized   as  a   man   of  substance  and   worth,   and  his   accomplish- 


180        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

merits  have  been  such  as  to  give  him  a  prominent  place  among  the 
developers  of  his  county. 

Mr.  Schmidt,  as  his  name  would  indicate,  is  of  German  descent,  his 
grandparents  spending  their  entire  lives  in  the  German  province  of 
Hesse-Darmstadt.  There  his  father,  Wilhelm  Schmidt  was  born  in 
1807,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
weaver.  Wilhelm  Schmidt  was  married  in  1839  to  Anna  M.  Schwinn, 
who  had  been  born  in  the  same  province,  February  23,  1819,  and 
whose  parents  died  when  she  was  a  child.  Soon  after  their  union  they 
started  for  the  United  States,  the  trip  across  the  ocean  in  a  sailing 
vessel  requiring  seven  weeks,  and  the  young  couple  settled  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father  pursued  his  trade  for  some 
time,  receiving  as  wages  eighteen  cents  per  day.  He  accepted 
whatever  honorable  employment  presented  itself,  and  out  of  his 
meagre  earnings  was  able  to  purchase  an  outfit,  and  with  this 
moved  to  Indiana  and  established  a  home  in  Delaware  county,  where 
his  wife's  half-brother  had  located  some  time  before.  There  Mr. 
Schmidt  cleared  land  under  lease,  improved  and  drained  it,  and  de- 
veloped one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the  locality,  a  tract  of  eighty  acres. 
Within  five  years,  through  tireless  industry,  thrift  and  economy,  he 
had  saved  enough  money  to  come  to  Blackford  county  and  purchase 
204  acres  of  excellent  land,  located  in  section  3,  Washington  township, 
which  was  partly  improved,  with  ordinary  farm  buildings  and  a  few 
primitive  implements.  Mr.  Schmidt  settled  down  to  drain  this  land, 
putting  in  the  greater  amount  of  drains  himself  and  these  being  con- 
structed of  wood.  Probably  no  man  in  the  state  has  done  more  hard 
work  in  clearing,  draining  and  improving-  land  than  did  Mr.  Schmidt, 
for  he  was  a  large  and  powerful  man,  capable  of  accomplishing  much, 
and  with  tireless  ambition  and  determination.  Mr.  Schmidt  died  on 
his  farm  in  1869  and  was  buried  in  a  small  cemetery  on  his 
farm  which  he  had  donated  for  the  use  of  the  public,  while  his 
widow  survived  him  many  years,  and  passed  away  at  the  old  place 
in  May,  1905.  She  was  a  true  and  faithful  wife  and  devoted  mother, 
and  like  the  father  was  industrious,  energetic  and  painstaking.  They 
were  faithful  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Schmidt  was  a  strong  democrat.  The  children  of  Wilhelm  and  Anna 
M.  (Schwinn)  Schmidt  were  as  follows:  William,  who  was  drafted 
into  an  Indiana  regiment  during  the  Civil  War,  served  about  two  years, 
returned  safely  to  his  home  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  died  at  the. 
age  of  seventy -three  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  sons;  Peter,  who 
had  a  similar  military  experience,  was  married  in  Wells  county,  Indi- 
ana, and  has  had  two  sons  and  one  still  is  living, — Daniel;  Margaret, 
deceased,  who  married  Christopher  Blody,  also  deceased,  and  left  two 
daughters, — Mary  A.  and  Dora ;  Jacob,  who  died  some  twenty-five 
years  ago,  after  his  marriage,  leaving  a  son  and  a  daughter. — William 
J.  and  Maggie,  who  both  married  and  had  children :  Michael,  a  farmer 
and  miller,  who  conducted  a  mill  for  many  years  in  Washington  town- 
ship, married  Hannah,  the  only  daughter  of  David  McConkey,  both 
deceased,  and  later  married  Miss  Hughes,  and  at  his  death  left 
two  children, — Lena  M.  Ray  and  Laura,  now  deceased;  Mary  A., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Jasper  McConkey,  and  died  without  issue; 
Louisa,  who  married  late  in  life,  after  the  death  of  her  sister,  Mr.  Mc- 
Conkey, and  had  no  children ;  Adam,  a  sketch  of  whose  career  will  be 
found  in  another  part  of  this  work;  Philip,  of  this  review;  and  Har- 
mon, who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 

Philip  Schmidt  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  February 
18.  1856,  and  was  six  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  181 

Blackford  county.  Since  that  time  he  has  resided  within  the  countj  s 
borders.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  inherited 
the  farm  which  he  still  owns  in  section  3,  in  November,  1877,  a  trad  of 
eighty  acres  to  which  he  subsequently  added  twenty  acres  by  purchase. 

All  of  this  land  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  known 
as  Forest  Grove  Farm.  The  large  barn,  36x56,  built  in  1902,  is  well 
equipped  with  the  most  modern  improvements,  and  is  well  adapted  to 
stock  feeding.  He  built  his  comfortable  eight-room,  yellow  house  in 
1S86,  and  has  various  other  structures,  which  all  combine  to  give 
the  farm  an  attractive  and  prosperous  appearance,  hi  addition  to 
carrying  on  general  farming  Mr.  Schmidt  grows  Poland-China  regis- 
tered swine,  blooded  cattle  of  the  Short  Horn  breed,  a  good  grade  of 
horses  and  Cotswold  sheep.  His  business  transactions  have  ever  been 
characterized  by  a  strict  adherence  to  the  highest  principles  and  his 
reputation  among  his  associates  is  therefore  an  enviable  one. 

Mr.  Schmidt  was  married  in  Washington  township,  to  Miss  Martha 
J.  Shrader,  who  was  born  May  8,  1858,  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
daughter  of  John  R.  and  Mary  Ann  (Cochran)  Shrader.  The  family 
was  founded  in  this  locality  by  Absalom  Shrader,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Schmidt,  who  came  from  Germany  and  entered  land  in  Washing- 
ton township  which  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Schmidt,  and  here  the  grand- 
parents spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  as  did  the  parents.  All 
were  well  known  and  highly  honored  people  of  their  community,  where 
they  were  numbered  among  the  solid  and  substantial  residents.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmidt  there  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Orville,  a  mechanic  of  Dundee  (Roll  P.  0.),  married  Dora  Stevenson, 
and  has  three  daughters  and  two  sons, — Lillie  M.,  Bertha.  Milo  W., 
Laura  and  Glenn ;  Rexford,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  mar- 
ried Addie  Sills,  and  they  have  no  children ;  Herbert  L.,  born  January 
11,  1887,  was  well  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Marion  Nor- 
mal school,  for  eight  years  has  been  a  teacher  and  has  been  very 
popular  with  his  pupils  and  their  parents  alike  since  taking  his  first 
school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  married  Bertha  Littlebridge,  who 
was  born  in  Blackford  county  in  1889,  educated  at  Eaton,  Indiana, 
and  Celina,  Ohio,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — Martha  E.  and 
Herbert  L. ;  and  Frances  Cordelia,  who  was  well  educated,  being  a 
graduate  of  the  Dundee  High  school,  and  is  now  residing  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

Philip  Schmidt  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but  Mrs. 
Schmidt,  while  supporting  all  religious  bodies,  is  affiliated  with  none. 
The  father  and  sons  are  all  earnest  democrats,  but  merely  as  voters. 
Herbert  L.  is  a  member  of  the  Indiana  State  Teachers'  Association. 

Noah  Dearduff.  Iu  every  community  are  found  men  who  started  in 
life  with  little  education,  without  capital  or  influence,  and  who  have 
established  themselves  securely  in  their  communities  by  means  of  un- 
restricted industry,  by  adherence  to  the  best  ideals  of  citizenship  and 
personal  worth,  and  enjoy  their  prosperity  all  the  more  for  the  fact 
that  it  is  of  their  own  creation.  In  this  class  of  Blackford  county  citizens 
Noah  Dearduff  of  Harrison  township  is  a  sterling  representative,  and  he 
also  belongs  to  an  old  and  respected  family  of  the  county. 

Noah  Dearduff  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Harrison  township,  July  24. 
1862,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Ellen  (Miller)  Dearduff.  Both  parents  were 
Ohio  people,  came  to  Blackford  county  many  years  ago.  and  established 
a  home  in  Section  31  of  Harrison  township.  At  that  place  the  father 
died  in  1892  and  the  mother  in  1891.  They  became  the  parents  of  a 
large  family  of  eleven  children,  and  the  eight  who  are  now  living  are 


182  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

mentioned  briefly  as  follows:  Jane,  wife  of  William  Randolph,  living 
in  Hartford  City,  Indiana;  James  L.,  a  farmer  in  Harrison  township; 
Ann,  wife  of  John  Todd,  of  Marion,  Indiana;  Thomas,  of  Montpelier; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Blair  of  Harrison  township;  Noah;  John,  of 
Illinois;  and  Stella,  wife  of  Abe  Coulter  of  Hartford  City. 

While  Noah  Dearduff  was  growing  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Harrison 
township  his  services  were  required  at  home  somewhat  to  the  neglect 
of  his  school  education,  but  his  own  industry  and  energy  have  supplied 
the  deficiencies  of  early  training.  He  lived  at  home  until  twenty-one, 
and  then  was  employed  partly  on  the  home  farm  and  partly  in  the  serv- 
ice of  neighboring  farmers  until  the  age  of  twenty-four.  On  February 
19,  1888,  occurred  his  marriage  and  the  beginning  of  his  independent 
start  in  the  world.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  E.  Taylor, 
who  was  boru  in  Harrison  township  of  Blackford  county,  April  4,  1863, 
a  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Mary  E.  (Canter)  Taylor.  Both  her  par- 
ents came  to  Indiana  from  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  her  girlhood  was 
spent  in  Blackford  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dearduff  started  out  without 
money,  and  made  their  first  capital  as  renters,  and  worked  land  of 
others  for  a  period  of  nine  years  until  ready  to  invest  in  their  own 
home.  Their  present  place  was  bought  in  1897,  and  they  own  a  good 
farm  of  fifty-three  acres. 

They  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Charles,  deceased;  Esther, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  the  wife  of  Chauncey 
Roush,  living  in  Montpelier;  Albert  E.,  born  May  3,  1905,  and  now  in 
the  third  grade  of  the  district  school.  The  family  have  membership  in 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  they  attend  worship  close  to  their  own 
home.  In  politics  Mr.  Dearduff  is  a  prohibitionist  and  a  strict  believer 
in  the  principles  of  temperance. 

George  W.  Persinger.  Nearly  fifty  years  ago  the  Persinger  family 
was  established  in  this  section  of  Indiana,  and  George  W.  Persinger 
through  a  long  and  active  career  has  been  identified  with  both  Grant 
and  Blackford  counties,  and  his  accomplishments  have  been  of  such 
a  varied  nature  as  to  make  him  known  not  only  as  a  prosperous  farmer 
but  also  as  a  building  contractor  whose  operations  have  covered  a  large 
scope  of  territory. 

George  W.  Persinger  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  although  at  the 
time  of  his  birth  on  April  7,  1850,  it  was  Virginia.  He  was  born  near 
Newcastle  in  Gregg  county.  His  parents  were  Alexander  and  Pathma 
(Robertson)  Persinger.  His  father  was  born  in  what  is  now  West  Vir- 
ginia in  1822.  and  his  wife  in  North  Carolina  about  1825.  They  were 
married  in  West  Virginia,  began  life  there  as  farmers,  and  continued 
to  live  there  until  after  the  war  and  the  separation  of  the  western 
section  of  old  Virginia  and  its  establishment  as  a  sovereign  state.  In 
May  1865  the  Persinger  familv  migrated  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Mon- 
roe'township  of  Grant  county.'  The  father  continued  his  vocation  as  a 
farmer  and  late  in  life  moved  to  Washington  township  in  Blackford 
county'  where  his  closing  years  were  spent  in  peace  and  comfort.  He 
died  in  1904  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  His  widow  had  passed  away 
some  twenty  years  previously.  Both  were  people  of  many  excellent 
qualities  of'  heart  and  mind,  and  while  communicants  of  no  church 
were  in  every  essential  true  Christians.  In  politics  he  was  a  democrat. 
Their  children  are  briefly  mentioned  as  follows:  Zachanah,  who 
died  leaving  a  family;  George  W. ;  Martha  A.,  who  married  Benjamin 
Clark  both  of  whom  are  deceased,  being  survived  by  a  son  and  a 
daughter-  John  Oliver,  a  Grant  county  farmer,  who  is  married  and 
has  a  son  and  daughter:  Emily,  the  widow  of  Isaac  Emmett.  lives  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  183 

Grant  county  and  lias  a  sou  aud  three  daughters;  James  E.  is  now  a 
mechanic  employed  in  Gas  City  and  has  a  son  aud  two  daughters; 
Frank  is  a  farmer  in  Grant  county  and  has  a  son  and  daughter;  Lewis 
died  in  young  childhood;  Mary  D.  is  a  resident  of  New  York. 

George  W.  Persinger  Was  about  fifteen  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Indiana.  From  that  time  until  beginning  for  himself,  he 
attended  school  and  trained  himself  for  the  serious  business  of  life, 
and  then  took  up  the  pursuits  of  farming  and  carpentry.  Some  years 
ago  he  came  to  Blackford  county  aud  bought  one  hundred  and  twelve 
acres  in  Washington  township.  Subsequently  he  sold  thirty  acres  of 
his  land,  but  still  has  eighty-two  acres,  and  it  is  practically  all  im- 
proved land  and  a  very  valuable  estate.  It  is  his  home,  but  he  rents 
the  land  and  devotes  all  his  active  attention  to  the  building  business. 
His  homestead  is  well  improved  with  buildings.  There  are  two  barns, 
and  be  recently  erected  one  of  these  for  stock  purposes,  the  dimensions 
being  30x50  feet.  The  large  house  or  dwelling  was  built  by  him  in 
1911. 

Mr.  Persinger  was  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Miss  Hannah 
Smithgall.  She  was  born  in  Wells  county,  Ohio,  May  7,  1855,  was 
reared  and  educated  there,  a  daughter  of  George  Smithgall,  an  early 
Wells  county  settler  and  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Persinger 's  mother  died 
many  years  ago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Persinger  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren :  Harley  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen ;  Lulu  Fay,  who  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  now  lives  at  home.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  politically  Mr.  Persinger  affili- 
ates with  the  democratic  party. 

Isaac  R.  Harrold.  Belonging  to  that  class  of  workers  whose  prac- 
tical education,  quick  perceptions  and  great  capacity  for  painstaking 
industry  have  had  their  influence  in  advancing  them  to  positions  of 
prominence,  Isaac  R.  Harrold  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  strong, 
capable  and  stirring  men  of  Blackford  county,  a  progressive  farmer,  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  a  man  of  philosophical  trend  of  mind.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Washington 
township,  and  through  earnest  and  intelligent  effort  has  made  a  place 
for  himself  among  the  substantial  and  solid  representatives  of  the  farm- 
ing industry  here. 

The  Harrold  family  is  Scotch  origin,  and  early  settled  in  Stokes 
county.  North  Carolina,  where  the  grandfather  of  Isaac  R.  Harrold. 
Ithamer  Harrold.  was  born  in  1811.  The  family  belonged  to  the 
Quaker  faith  and  for  several  years  its  members  devoted  themselves 
principally  to  farming,  but  the  grandfather  w^as  taught  the  hatter's 
trade  in  his  youth  and  followed  this  vocation  for  some  years.  He  was 
married  in  his  native  state  to  Miss  Ruth  Clampitt.  of  the  same  comity, 
who  came  of  similar  ancestry  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children,  of  whom  all  save  the  last-named  were  born  in  North 
Carolina:  Adeline,  deceased;  George  E.,  father  of  Isaac  R. ;  Elizabeth, 
Lewis  and  Hamilton,  all  deceased;  Jane;  William:  Dr.  John  R.;  Elias, 
deceased,  and  Christian  M.  The  family  came  to  Indiana  in  1852  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township.  Wills  county,  where  Ithamer 
Harrold  started  to  carry  on  agricultural  work.  His  first  labors  in  this 
line  were  conducted  on  new  land  in  Jackson  township,  which  he  cleared 
and  cultivated,  and  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1881.  He 
was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican  in  bis  political  views  and  was 
an  influential  factor  in  the  affairs  of  his  community.  Mr.  Harrold 
was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker  church,  but  later  left  that 
denomination  and  became  independent,  in  his  views,   although   he  was 


184  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

at  all  times  known  as  a  devout  and  God-fearing  citizen  and  a  generous 
contributor  to  all  worthy  movements.  One  of  his  brothers,  Stroud  Har- 
rold,  served  for  a  time  in  the  Confederate  army,  but  was  drafted 
against  his  inclinations  and  at  the  first  opportunity  deserted,  but  was 
captured  and  sentenced  to  death.  The  wife  of  lthamer  Harrold  was 
born  in  1812,  in  North  Carolina  and  died  in  18%,  in  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Of  their  large  family  all  grew  up  and 
were  married,  and  three  sons  went  through  the  Civil  War  as  Union  sol- 
diers, two  of  them  being  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.    ' 

George  E.  Harrold,  the  father  of  Isaac  R.  Harrold,  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  March  31,  1837,  and  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  the  family  to  Wells  county,  Indiana.  He  secured  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  early  adopted  the  vocation  of 
farming,  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  all  of  his  life.  He  is  now 
partly  retired,  but  is  still  the  owner  of  a  property  in  Chester  township, 
where  he  makes  his  home,  and  in  which  locality  he  is  highly  esteemed 
and  respected.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  church,  but  is  independent  in  his  views  both  in 
religious  and  political  matters.  Mr.  Harrold  married  Sarah  (better 
known  as  "Sally")  Minnich,  who  was  born  in  1840,  in  Ohio,  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  the  family  having  lived  for  a  good  many  years  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia,  later  moving  to  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
and  then  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  where  about  1850  the,  parents  of 
Mrs.  Harrold,  Jacob  and  Christina  (Ebersole)  Minnich,  settled  on 
government  land.  Prom  the  days  when  they  lived  in  a  little  log  cabin 
home  until  the  time  when  they  had  a  modern  and  substantial  residence 
and  all  the  comforts  of  life,  they  witnessed  the  growth  and  development 
of  that  section  of  Indiana,  and  accumulated  a  farm  of  160  valuable 
acres.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Minnich  married 
Mrs.  Ann  (Wright)  Hamilton,  who  left  no  issue.  Mrs.  George  E. 
Harrold,  the  mother  of  Isaac  R.  Harrold,  died  in  1870,  in  the  faith  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  Mr.  Harrold  was  married  to  Mary 
Minnich,  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife,  who  is  still  living  and  has  had 
six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  married.  Isaac  R.  Har- 
rold is  the  eldest  of  three  sons  born  to  the  union  of  George  E.  and  Sally 
Harrold,  the  others  being:  Ross,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
at  Keystone,  Indiana,  is  married  and  has  three  children, — Virgil,  Grace 
and  Bernice;  and  James  a  farmer  of  Chester  township,  Wells  county, 
who  is  married  and  the  father  of  two  children :    Helmer  and  Delmer. 

Isaac  R.  Harrold  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  Indi- 
ana, September  17,  1861,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  locality,  and  the  high  school  at  Bin  lift  on.  As  a  youth  of  eighteen 
years  he  adopted  the  vocation  of  teacher,  starting  his  career  in  1879  at 
the  Slacum  school,  Wells  county,  and  remaining  two  years  in  this  wild 
flat  swamp  section  of  Indiana.  Following  this  he  taught  the  first  school 
in  Mount  Zion,  where  he  continued  for  several  years,  and  remained  as 
one  of  Wells  county's  best  known  and  most  popular  educators  until 
1881,  in  which  year  he  secured  a  half  interest  in  a  drug  store  at  Dun- 
dee (now  Roll)  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  John  R.  Harrold.  Three  years  later 
he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  when  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  good  land  in  section  8,  Washington  township,  and  this  he 
improved  into  a  fertile  and  productive  property,  and  as  his  finances 
permitted  added  to  his  acreage  from  time  to  time.  His  first  additional 
purchase  was  a  tract  of  twenty  acres,  later  he  added  thirty  acres  adjoin- 
ing, in  section  8,  and  finally  bought  another  thirty-nine  acres,  located 
in  section  4,  on  which  were  located  good  farm  buildings.  His  home  im- 
provements include  a  fine  red  barn,  commodious  and  well  equipped,  and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  185 

a  seven-room  white  residence,  which  is  well  furnished  with  all  modem 
comforts  ami  conveniences.     Mr.  Harrold  is  one  of  the  best  educated 

and  best  trained  men  in  his  part  of  the  county,  and  since  coming  to  his 
present  farm  has  served  for  five  years  in  the  capacity  of  principal  of  the 
Dundee  schools,  lie  grows  a  good  grade  of  stock  and  is  a  practical 
rotating  farmer,  but  corn  and  oats  are  his  stable  crops.  There  is  no 
part  of  the  farm  that  is  not  utilized  profitably,  even  the  woodland  being 
used  as  au  adjunct  for  its  supply  of  fuel.  Mr.  Harrold  is  a  democral  of 
the  active  kind  and  in  1904  was  elected  to  the  office  of  township  trustee, 
a  position  in  which  he  served  for  two  years. 

In  1885  Mr.  Harrold  was  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Miss  At- 
lanta M.  Cunningham,  who  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  September 
1.  1MI6.  was  educated  in  Blackford  ami  Adams  counties.  Indiana,  ami 
was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  she  came  to  Washington  township  with 
her  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  (^Floyd)  Cunningham.  The  father 
was  horn  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia,  and  tin-  mother  in 
(bin.,  and  they  were  married  in  the  Buckeye  state,  subsequently  coming 
to  Indiana  and  both  passing  away  in  Washington  township,  the  father 
in  1908.  when  nearly  eight-one  years  of  age,  and  the  mother  in  1900, 
when  nearly  seventy-eight  years  old.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children  who  grew  to  maturity,  and  of  these  four  are  still  living.  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Harrold  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Sherman,  born  in 
1887.  educated  in  the  country  schools  and  Marion  College,  engaged  in 
farming  on  one  of  his  father's  properties,  married  Victoria  Grabenstott, 
of  this  county,  and  has  two  children, — Vesta  .May  and  Francis  M.;  Ozro. 
born  March  10,  1890,  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  residing  at 
home;  Edna,  born  April  6.  1896,  well  educated  and  residing  with  her 
parents;  and  May,  born  in  March,  1906.  now  a  student  in  the  public 
schools.  Three  children  are  deceased;  Lillie  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
months;  and  George  William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  months;  and 
Jay,  who  was  four  and  onedialf  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Jacob  Burnworth.  The  little  village  of  Mollie  in  Harrison  town- 
ship has  as  one  of  its  chief  enterprises  the  store  and  factory  of  Jacob 
Burnworth.  Mr.  Burnworth  1ms  spent  most  of  his  life  in  eastern  Indi- 
ana, and  many  years  in  Blackford  county,  and  every  undertaking  with 
which  he  has  been  identified  has  helped  him  on  his  way  to  substantial 
prosperity.  Mr.  Burnworth  is  a  merchant  and  also  does  a  large  busi- 
ness as  a  manufacturer  of  drain  tile,  building  blocks  and  brick,  and  there 
is  probably  not  a  resident  in  all  the  country  tributary  to  Mollie  who  is 
not  acquainted  with  and  who  does  not  esteem  Mr.  Burnworth  for  his 
valuable  part  in  the  citizenship  of  the  county. 

Jacob  Burnworth  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Fayette  county 
November  15,  1840.  a  son  of  Mitchell  and  Susan  (Riggle)  Burnworth. 
Both  parents  were  Pennsylvanians.  the  father  a  native  of  Fayette  county 
and  the  mother  of  "Washington  county.  Some  years  after  their  mar- 
riage they  moved  to  Ohio,  and  after  a  few  years  came  to  Indiana  and 
located  in  Randolph  county  in  1861. 

Jacob  Burnworth  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  and  after  coming  to  Randolph  county  was  married  Novem- 
ber 26.  1865.  to  Sarah  E.  Fidler.  Her  birthplace  was  Knox  county,  Ohio. 
and  when  six  years  of  age  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  Randolph 
county,  Indiana.  There  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  her  education 
was  acquired  by  attendance  in  the  schools  of  Randolph  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burnworth  moved  to  Blackford  county  in  1878.  and 
have  therefore  been  identified  witli  this  county  for  more  than  thirty-five 
years.     They  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  and  it  should  also  lie 


186  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

noted  that  they  have  twenty  grandchildren  and  three  great-grandchil- 
dren. This  family  record  is  one  that  indicates  the  usefulness  and  honor 
of  Mr.  Burnworth  and  wife  as  much  as  his  activity  in  business  affairs. 
The  children's  names  and  locations  are  as  follows:  Laura,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  E.  Sutton,  now  serving  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Blackford 
county ;  Lucius  S.,  unmarried  and  living  at  Mollie ;  Linus,  who  married 
Stella  Wilson;  Elza,  who  married  Emma  Mourer,  and  lives  in  south- 
western Indiana;  Cora,  the  wife  of  Edward  Ickes;  Albert,  who  married 
Kittie  Bales;  Ransom,  who  married  Viola  E.  Heniser;  John  F.,  who 
married  Laura  Gardner. 

Mr.  Burnworth  is  a  democrat  who  has  been  honored  in  his  community 
and  several  years  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Harrison  township. 

H.  S.  Thornburg.  With  a  record  of  more  than  thirty  years  as  a 
resident  of  Blackford  county,  Mr.  Thornburg  has  made  his  success  as 
a  farmer,  is  a  man  of  broad  and  thorough  experience  in  the  general  lines 
of  agriculture,  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  the  eastern  Indiana 
counties,  and  both  for  what  he  has  done  in  practical  affairs  and  for  the 
quiet  influence  which  he  has  exerted  in  his  community  is  one  of  the 
highly  esteemed  men  of  Harrison  township. 

H.  S.  Thornburg  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  August  16, 
1855,  a  son  of  Curtis  and  Mahala  (Clevenger)  Thornburg.  Both  par- 
ents came  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  were  married  in  Delaware  county. 
The  father  died  in  Delaware  county,  and  the  mother  in  Blackford  county. 
There  were  fourteen  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely : 
H.  S. ;  John,  a  retired  farmer  at  Montpelier ;  Jane,  wife  of  Melville  Hart, 
of  Harrison  township ;  Mary  S.,  wife  of  David  Yarger  of  Washington 
township ;  C.  E.,  wife  of  Luther  Williams  of  Jay  county. 

The  early  life  of  H.  S.  Thornburg  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  Delaware 
county  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  also  had  some  schooling  after  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Wells  county,  locating  in  Nottingham  township.  Early 
in  his  manhood  Mr.  Thornburg  was  married  in  Wells  county  to  Nancy 
Emmons  of  Wells  county.  She  became  the  mother  of  two  children,  both 
of  whom  died  when  children,  and  Mrs.  Thornburg  is  also  deceased.  After 
her  death  he  married  Nettie  Fetters  of  Randolph  county. 

Mr.  Thornburg  lived  several  years  in  Randolph  county,  moved  from 
there  to  Wells  county,  followed  his  regular  vocation  as  a  renter,  and 
about  1882  came  to  Blackford  county.  He  acquired  his  present  farm 
of  forty  acres  in  Harrison  township,  and  while  providing  for  his  family 
has  not  neglected  his  duties  as  a  neighbor  and  as  a  member  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thornburg  are  the  parents  of  three  children :  Clayton, 
who  married  Lillie  Heniser;  Anna,  who  finished  the  common  school 
course  and  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Russell ;  and  Herbert  Wayne,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Muncie  Business  College  and  now  bookkeeper  for  the  Muncie 
Heat  &  Power  Company. 

The  family  have  membership  in  the  Christian  church  at  Montpelier. 
In  politics  Mr.  Thornburg  is  a  republican,  and  while  never  a  seeker 
for  political  honors  has  served  as  deputy  assessor.  It  has  been  through 
the  exercise  of  the  qualities  of  industry,  as  a  good  father  and  neighbor. 
and  a  public  spirited  citizen  that  he  has  contributed  his  best  service  to 
this  locality. 

Arthur  M.  Hart.  In  the  township  where  he  was  born  and  reared, 
Arthur  M.  Hart  has  for  many  years  enjoyed  a  place  of  usefulness 
and  honor.    His  business  is  that  of  farmer,  and  in  this  section  of  Indiana 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  187 

he  has  acquired  considerable  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  fine  hogs.  Some 
of  the  best  Duroc  Jersey  swine  in  Blackford  county  have  come  from 
his  herd,  which  is  headed  by  "Joe  H."  No.  22,897,  and  also  by  "Fernall 
Pride's  Model"  No.  96,158.  Every  hog  raiser  in  Harrison  township 
understands  Mr.  Hart's  thorough  qualifications  for  his  special  line  of 
industry,  and  his  work  has  not  only  contributed  to  his  own  success  but 
has  helped  to  raise  the  standards  of  live  stock  in  this  section  of  tin-  .state. 

Arthur  M.  Hart  was  born  in  Harrison  township  on  a  farm  two  miles 
west  and  two  miles  south  of  Montpelier,  May  1,  1871.  His  parents 
were  William  and  Rosanna  (Mussetter)  Hart.  Both  father  and  mother 
came  from  Ohio,  where  they  were  born  and  reared,  the  former  coming 
to  Blackford  county  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  the  latter  accompanying;  her 
mother  to  the  same  county  where  the  parents  were  married.  The  father 
is  still  living  in  this  county,  and  four  of  his  children  are  living  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  wife  of  Manson  Williams;  Arthur  M. ;  Rufus  P.,  a  farmer 
in  Blackford  county ;  and  Lizzie,  the  widow  of  Edward  Knox. 

Arthur  M.  Hart  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead,  attended  the  common 
schools,  but  his  education  was  somewhat  neglected,  and  the  deficiencies 
in  that  direction  have  been  supplied  by  close  observation  and  industry 
in  his  chosen  career.  His  life  was  spent  at  home  until  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  and  in  September,  1894,  he  married  Nola  Kitterman.  Mrs. 
Hart  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  attended  district  schools,  and 
was  brought  to  Blackford  county  at  the  age  of  eleven.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  child,  Helen  B.,  born  February  26.  1901. 

Mr.  Hart  is  affiliated  with  Roll  Lodge  No.  347,  Knights  of  Pythias. 
As  a  republican  he  has  been  somewhat  identified  with  party  affairs,  and 
has  been  honored  by  election  to  the  office  of  supervisor  of  his  township. 
His  home  place  comprises  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  besides  his  activity 
as  a  hog  raiser  he  has  been  successful  in  the  production  of  the  general 
crops. 

Charles  J.  Clamme.  In  business  affairs  probably  no  citizen  of  Jack- 
son township  lias  more  extended  relations  with  the  community  than 
Charles  Clamme,  who  is  known  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  a  shipper, 
and  a  contractor  in  road  building.  He  belongs  to  one  of  the  well  known 
families  of  the  county,  and  several  of  his  brothers  are  associated  with  him 
in  the  contracting  business. 

Charles  J.  Clamme  was  born  in  Washington  township  of  Blackford 
county,  March  18,  1878,  and  is  still  a  young  man  for  all  the  success 
that  he  has  won.  His  parents  are  Pierre  and  Elizabeth  (Spyre) 
Clamme,  both  well  known  residents  of  Jackson  township.  His  mother 
was  born  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  and  the  father  in  Germany,  emigrating 
to  America,  and  after  landing  at  New  York  city  found  his  way  to  Black- 
ford county,  Indiana,  in  1867.  There  are  eight  children  in  the  family, 
named  as  follows:  John,  a  former  sheriff  of  Blackford  county  and  noted 
as  a  successful  raiser  of  fine  stock.  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs;  Charles  J.:  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Stoll  of  Jackson 
township :  Albert,  of  Jackson  township,  a  contractor  and  a  stock  feeder ; 
Perry  W.,  a  farmer  and  contractor  in  Jackson  township:  Harry,  also  in 
the  contract  business  and  a  fanner;  Lewis,  a  Jackson  township  farmer; 
and  Anna,  unmarried  and  living  with  her  parents.  The  sons  Charles 
J.,  Albert.  Perry  W.  and  Harry  carry  on  an  extensive  business  ;is  con- 
tractors under  the  name  of  Clamme  Brothers,  and  have  united  their 
interests  in  the  construction  of  roads  and  the  furnishing  of  material, 
and  also  in  the  shipping  of  live  stock.  The  active  business  manager  of 
the  Clamme  Brothers  enterprise  is  Charles  J. 

Reared  in  Washington   and  Jackson   townships,   with   an   education 


188  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

acquired  in  the  local  schools,  Charles  J.  Claninie  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  life  in  Blackford  county  but  for  two  years  was  in  the  state  of  Tennes- 
see. The  old  home  sheltered  him  until  he  was  twenty-three,  but  from 
the  time  he  attained  his  majority  he  has  been  actively  identified  with 
farming.  Later  he  took  up  the  contracting  business  in  furnishing  gravel 
and  stone  materials  for  the  construction  of  improved  roads,  and  has 
also  been  particularly  successful  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  live 
stock.  Mr.  Clamme  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-six 
acres  in  Jackson  and  Harrison  townships,  and  practically  all  that  estate 
represents  his  individual  enterprise  and  management.  On  his  farm  he 
feeds  from  one  to  two  carloads  of  cattle  every  year,  and  raises  most  of 
the  feed  stuffs  to  fatten  his  stock  for  market. 

On  December  24,  1901,  Mr.  Clamme  married  Arminda  Empsweiller, 
who  was  born  in  Jackson  township.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: Charles  J.  P.,  born  September  23,  1902;  Harold  H.,  born  May 
19,  1904;  Minnie  E.,  born  December  30,  1906;  and  Edna  H.  born  June 
5,  1909.  The  family  worship  in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  at 
Hartford  City,  and  Mr.  Clamme  is  one  of  the  active  members  of  the 
Farmers  Club.  A  Democrat  he  has  been  quite  active  in  politics,  has. 
served  as  a  local  committeeman,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  county 
council,  having  been  elected  at  large. 

Samuel  Landon.  The  Landon  family  have  been  identified  with  this 
section  of  Indiana  for  fully  half  a  century,  and  Samuel  Landon  has  won 
prosperity  as  a  farmer  and  influence  as  a  citizen  in  Jackson  township, 
with  which  community  his  efforts  have  been  identified  for  the  past  forty 
years. 

Ripley  county,  Indiana,  was  the  locality  in  which  Samuel  Landon  was 
born  November  4,  1848,  a  son  of  William  and  Priscilla  Powell  Landon. 
His  father  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  his  mother  in  Maryland, 
but  they  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  moved  from  that  state  to  Ripley 
county,  Indiana.  In  May,  1864,  the  father  came  to  Blackford  county, 
but  after  five  months  bought  a  farm  in  Jay  county,  and  that  community 
was  his  home  until  his  death.  There  were  twelve  children  in  the  family, 
ten  of  whom  reached  maturity,  and  the  three  now  living  are  Samuel, 
William  and  George,  all  of  whom  are  respected  citizens  of  Jackson  town- 
ship. Samuel  Landon  as  a  boy  had  a  country  environment,  attended  the 
district  schools,  and  when  about  eighteen  left  his  books  in  order  to  take 
up  the  serious  business  of  life.  Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
he  found  employment  as  a  wage-earner  in  a  sawmill,  and  then  became 
interested  in  farming  in  Jay  county.  On  February  23,  1870,  Mr.  Landon 
married  Margaret  Philabaum,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Blackford 
county,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  A.  Philabaum.  After  their  marriage  they 
started  out  to  make  a  home  of  their  own,  and  for  four  years  Mr.  Landon 
rented  his  father's  farm.  He  then  moved  to  Jackson  township,  in  Black- 
ford county,  and  bought  a  place  of  forty  acres,  and  still  owns  that  land. 
The  improvements  of  his  land  when  he  first  took  possession  was  chiefly 
a  little  cabin  house,  and  with  only  a  few  acres  cleared.  The  many 
improvements  which  mark  his  farm  and  its  productive  state  are  the 
results  of  his  undivided  attention  continued  through  many  years,  and  his 
prosperity  has  been  worthily  won. 

He  aiid  his  wife  have  four  children :  Willam  A.,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Upp  and  lives  in  Jackson  township ;  Edward  M.,  who  married  Cora 
Gair  and  lives  in  Jackson  township ;  Maggie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Baker,  of  Jackson  township ;  and  Leroy,  who  married  Florence  Creek. 
Mr.  Landon  is  fraternally  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order.  In  politics 
he  has  always  stood  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  performed  an 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        189 

important  service  in  the  community  as  superintendent  of  the  Pike  road 
of  Jackson  township. 

1'iiivii  1).  Sills.  Among  the  many  fine  farmsteads  of  Jackson  town- 
ship one  that  has  a  distinctive  character  by  reason  of  its  improvements 
and  also  its  name  is  the  Rattlesnake  Farm,  comprising  seventy-seven  and 
a  half  acres  of  land  and  situated  a  mile  north  and  a  mile  and  a  half  west 
of  Millgrove.  Its  name  is  derived  from  the  circumstance  of  the  killing 
on  the  place  of  a  double-headed  rattlesnake  a  few  years  ago.  Its  pro- 
prietor. Uriah  D.  Sills,  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  actively  identified 
with  farming  enterprise  in  Blackford  county,  but  spent  most  of  his 
younger  years  in  Wells  county.  Besides  his  home  place  Mr.  Sills  owns 
thirty-six  acres  west  of  the  Rattlesnake  Farm.  He  carried  011  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  and  though  starting  in  life  a  poor  man  has 
now  a  secure  position  among  his  fellow  citizens. 

Uriah  D.  Sills  was  born  in  Chester  township,  Wells  county.  Indiana. 
January  27,  1873.  a  son  of  Daniel  and  .Mary  C.  (Dick)  Sills.  The  founder 
of  the  family  in  Indiana  was  grandfather  Daniel  Sills,  Sr..  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  "Wells  county.  Daniel  Sills.  Jr.,  was  horn  on  tin-  same 
place  in  Wells  county  where  Uriah  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  and  is  still 
living  there,  having  reached  a  good  old  age.  His  wife,  who  died  in  Sep- 
tember. 1S98.  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  her  parents  subsequently  moved 
to  Blackford  county.  Indiana.  In  the  family  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Sills 
were  fourteen  children,  thirteen  of  whom  are  still  living,  briefly  men- 
tioned as  follows:  Arvilla,  who  is  now  deceased,  and  was  the  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Snyder,  by  whom  she  had  a  family  of  children;  Lettie  F.  is 
the  wife  of  William  Briney,  and  has  nine  children;  Rosa  I.,  is  the  wife 
of  Isaac  B.  Lowery  of  Wells  county  and  has  two  children;  Uriah  I).  is 
next  in  order  of  birth:  Jennie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Risinger  and  has 
three  children ;  W.  H.  married  Mary  E.  Cutler  and  has  one  child ;  Addie 
D.  is  the  wife  of  Recksford  Schmidt ;  Charles  C.  married  Emma  Turner 
and  has  one  child:  Elijah  B.  married  Alma  Beeks  and  has  one  son  :  Bertha 
M.  is  unmarried;  Susie  0.  is  unmarried;  Alta  H.  is  the  wife  of  Arthur 
Keller ;  and  Mary  C.  and  Noah  D.  are  unmarried  and  live  at  home. 

Uriah  D.  Sills  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm  in  Wells  county, 
and  his  schooling  was  acquired  by  attendance  at  the  district  school  at 
Five  Points  in  Wells  county.  His  days  in  school  continued  with  more  or 
less  regularity  until  he  was  twenty-one.  He  worked  on  the  home1  farm 
until  the  age  of  twenty-six.  and  then  with  very  small  capital  he  started 
in  life  for  himself  and  settled  down  to  the  productive  enterprise  which 
has  since  brought  him  a  substantial  condition. 

On  February  19,  1899.  Mr.  Sills  married  Flora  Newhou.se.  She  was 
born  in  Blackford  county  ami  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Mrs. 
Sills  inherited  some  land,  and  a  few  years  after  their  marriage  they 
traded  that  for  the  present  farm  in  Jackson  township.  Blackford  county. 
To  their  marriage  have  been  born  seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Floyd  II..  Dorsie  D..  Joseph  0..  Ivan  D.,  Uriah  I)..  Jr.,  Burl  B..  Hannah 
C.  Mr.  Sills  is  a  democrat,  but  has  taken  little  part  in  political  affairs. 
His  relations  as  a  kindly  neighbor  and  helpful  friend,  and  his  substantial 
industry  as  a  farmer  have  comprised  his  best  contribution  to  community 
life. 

William  II.  Chapman.  Thirty  years  of  residence  in  Blackford 
county  have  been  sufficient  to  make  William  H.  Chapman  one  of  the  well- 
known  citizens,  and  in  that  time  practically  all  his  ample  prosperity  lias 
been  acquired.  Mr.  Chapman  has  a  tine  farm  home  in  Jackson  township, 
and  every  one  in  that  locality  knows  how  well  he  has  utilized  bis  oppor- 
tunities and  esteems  him  for  his  solid  worth  and  good  citizenship. 


190  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

William  H.  Chapman  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  March 
31,  1854.  When  he  was  four  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Jay 
county,  and  in  that  locality  he  grew  up  and  attended  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter,  with  plenty  of  work  on  the  home  farm  during  the 
summer  to  develop  his  muscles  and  prepare  him  for  his  regular  calling 
in  life.  That  was  the  routine  followed  by  him  until  about  eighteen  or 
nineteen  years  of  age.  He  continued  at  home  until  twenty-one,  and  since 
starting  for  himself  has  slowly  progressed  to  prosperity.  At  the  present 
time  he  owns  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  two  hundred  of 
which  is  located  in  Jackson  township,  and  twenty  acres  in  Knox  town- 
ship of  Jay  county.  This  entire  estate  represents  his  individual  efforts 
except  six  acres,  which  was  his  sole  inheritance.  He  got  a  start  by  work- 
ing for  others  at  wages,  for  many  days,  swinging  an  axe  in  the  woods, 
working  in  the  fields  and  in  harvest  time,  and  in  the  meantime  doing 
a  small  business  as  a  buyer  of  calves  and  colts.  It  was  a  long  and  gradual 
process,  but  finally  he  had  accumulated  enough  to  buy  forty  acres.  This 
was  the  nucleus  around  which  he  has  developed  his  present  fine  estate. 

On  March  10,  1881,  Mr.  Chapman  married  Sarah  C.  Waldo,  who  was 
born  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  January  10,  1856,  and  spent  most  of 
her  early  years  in  Jay  and  Blackford  counties.  Mr.  Chapman  and  wife 
moved  to  Blackford  county  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  for  some  time  lived  in 
the  midst  of  the  heavy  woods,  their  home  being  a  log  cabin.  At  this  time 
they  have  three  living  sons:  Roy,  born  May  31,  1882,  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  married  to  Emma  Scott,  and  has  a  son,  Wilber  A. 
Chapman ;  Merritt,  the  second  child,  married  Alice  Teegarden,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Edwin  William  and  Ethel  Lucile ;  Roscoe,  the  young- 
est, is  unmarried.  Ralph  W.  died  aged  1  year,  8  months  and  21  days.  Mr. 
Chapman  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 

James  B.  Fear.  One  of  the  most  useful  members  of  Blackford 
county's  citizenship  is  Dr.  James  B.  Fear,  whose  activity  in  several 
different  lines  has  brought  him  individual  success  and  has  been  the 
means  of  serving  a  large  community.  Dr.  Fear  is  a  veterinary  surgeon, 
has  practiced  in  Blackford  county  for  twenty-six  years,  and  almost  every 
stock  raiser  in  Harrison  and  adjoining  townships  has  at  some  time  or 
other  availed  himself  of  the  services  of  this  capable  veterinary.  Dr. 
Fear  has  a  practical  interest  in  farming  and  the  stock  business,  and  for 
the  past  sixteen  years  has  maintained  breeding  stables  and  has  had  a 
line  of  fine  horses  whose  stock  is  now  found  in  many  parts  of  the  state. 
The  Elm  Grove  Stock  Farm,  of  which  Dr.  Fear  is  proprietor,  is  sit- 
uated four  miles  west  of  Pennville,  and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  estates 
in  Harrison  township. 

James  B.  Fear  was  born  in  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  November  21, 
1856,  a  son  of  Henry  N.  and  Mary  A.  (Updike)  Fear.  Both  parents  now 
live  in  Blackford  county.  Dr.  Fear,  who  was  the  oldest  of  the  family, 
grew  up  on  a  farm  in  Decatur  county,  and  acquired  his  education  from 
the  district  schools.  After  his  marriage,  having  always  been  interested 
in  stock,  he  took  up  the  study  of  veterinary  surgery,  and  several  years 
later  was  awarded  a  license  to  practice  by  the  State  Board  of  Examiners. 

On  April  18,  1878,  Mr.  Fear  married  Mary  Hackey.  They  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children :  Rosanna,  the  wife  of  Ben  Tolbert ;  New- 
ton W.,  who  married  Florence  Hudson;  Eva  B.,  wife  of  John  L.  Price; 
Edward,  who  married  Rebecca  Gaskill ;  Ora  H.,  who  married  Iva  Horn- 
baker;  Ida  E.,  unmarried;  Ollie  M.,  the  wife  of  DeWitt  Stroud. 

Dr.  Fear  is  a  past  master  of  his  Masonic  lodge,  and  was  honored  ten 
years  with  this  office  in  Priam  Lodge  at  Trenton.  Politically  he  is  a 
democrat. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JAMES   B.  PEA] 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  101 

In  his  stable  at  the  Elm  Grove  Stork  Farm  Dr.  Fear  has  two  stal- 
lions, one  being  Pal  No.  17. Its!;  ami  the  other  Huber,  No.  25,296.  He 
also  keeps  one  tine  jack.  Gabriel,  ti,494.  The  Elm  Grove  Stock  Farm 
comprises  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  all  in  Blackford  county, 
and  in  its  improvements  is  classed  as  one  of  the  high-grade  farms  of 
this  section. 

James  M.  Coktright.  Since  1908  the  administration  of  the  schools 
and  other  liseal  affairs  of  Jackson  township  have  been  in  the  capable  hands 
of  James  M.  Cortright.  the  trustee.  This  township  takes  special  pride  in 
its  school  system  and  other  improvements,  ami  it  is  only  due  to  the 
energy  and  efficiency  of  Mr.  Cortright  to  say  that  this  condition  of  affairs 
has  been  greatly  improved  under  his  official  management.  .Mr.  Cortright 
is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Blackford  county,  and  yet  twenty  years 
ago  he  was  on  the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of  life,  and  his  prosperity 
is  the  direct  result  of  his  honorable  activities  and  capable  industry. 

A  native  of  Blackford  county,  born  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township, 
half  a  mile  west  of  Trenton.  January  12,  1869,  James  M.  Cortright  is  a 
son  of  Hiram  ami  Sarah  (Shull)  Cortright.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  his  mother  in  Indiana,  and  the  latter  is  now  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four.  The  father  by  his  first  marriage  had  one  son,  Morris, 
deceased,  and  the  children  by  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Shull  are :  Rettie,  wife 
of  Ben  Constable  of  Utica,  Ohio;  James  M.;  Charles,  of  Jackson 
township;  Amanda,  wife  of  J.  II.  Wright  of  Jay  county,  Indiana;  Nellie, 
wife  of  Charles  Saunders  of  Montpelier. 

James  M.  Cortright  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township, 
attended  the  common  schools,  later  the  Eastern  Indiana  Normal  College 
at  Portland,  and  for  two  terms  was  a  teacher  of  country  schools  in  this 
county.  His  life  was  spent  in  the  quiet  environment  of  the  old  home 
until  twenty-one,  and  for  a  time  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware 
establishment  at  Hartford  City. 

On  January  7,  1893,  Mr.  Cortright  married  Miss  Calista  M.  Wingate, 
who  was  born  in  Jackson  township  and  educated  in  the  local  schools. 
After  their  marriage  they  had  to  begin  without  capital,  and  found  their 
first  opportunities  as  renters  on  a  farm  in  this  county.  Mr.  Cortright 
applied  himself  energetically  to  the  cultivation  of  his  acres,  while  his 
loyal  wife  aided  him  in  the  management  of  the  household,  and  in  a  few 
years  they  had  some  surplus,  and  after  making  their  first  purchase  of 
land  have  been  steadily  progressive.  Mr.  Cortright  is  now  the  owner  of 
a  fine  farm  of  seventy-four  acres  a  mile  and  three-quarters  west  of 
Trenton. 

To  their  marriage  have  been  born  two  sons:  Herbert,  born  in  August, 
1895,  and  Clayton.  The  older  son  is  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools 
and  of  the  Hartford  City  high  school,  has  taught  school,  and  is  now  a 
student  in  the  Munsey  Normal  College.  The  younger  son  finished  the 
common  school  course  and  is  now  interested  in  farming. 

Mr.  Cortright  has  affiliations  with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men 
at  Mill  Grove  and  is  a  junior  in  the  order.  Politically  a  democrat,  it  was 
on  his  party's  ticket  that  he  was  elected  trustee  of  the  township  in  1908. 
In  his  party  and  throughout  the  community  he  stands  high  and  is  known 
as  a  man  who  can  be  trusted  to  discharge  efficiently  all  public  duties 
imposed  upon  him. 

Manson  Williams.  The  record  of  Manson  Williams  of  Harrison 
township  is  known  to  every  citizen  of  that  section  of  Blackford  county. 
He  is  a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  an  industrious  and  progressive 
farmer,  thoroughly  public  spirited,  and  the  community  has  already  shown 


192  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

its  confidence  in  his  ability  and  rectitude  by  conferring  upon  him  official 
honors. 

Manson  Williams  is  a  native  of  Henry  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
horn  January  12,  1870,  a  son  of  John  and  Amanda  E.  (Martin)  Williams. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  the  old  Dominion  State  of  Virginia,  while  his 
mother  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  she  is  still  living  in  Blackford 
county.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  spent  four  years 
in  that  great  struggle  between  the  states.  His  death  occurred  in  1871, 
and  his  widow  subsequently  married  a  second  time,  and  finally  moved 
to  Blackford  county.  To  the  first  marriage  were  born  three  children, 
and  the  only  one  now  living  is  Manson  Williams. 

The  latter  spent  his  early  childhood  in  Henry  county,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  that  county  and  of  Blackford  county.  His  early 
life  was  spent  in  his  mother's  home,  and  he  finally  left  to  establish  a  home 
of  his  own  after  his  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Hart,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Rosanna  (Mussetter)  Hart.  Mrs.  Williams  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Blackford  county.  Their  two  children  are  :  John  W.,  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1903 ;  and  Ruth  Hart,  born  May  5,  1909. 

Mr.  Williams  has  a  wide  acquaintance  among  the  citizens  of  Black- 
ford county,  and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with  Montpelier  Lodge,  No.  188, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  with  the  Lodge  of  Red  Men  at  Montpelier.  A 
democrat  in  polities,  he  has  been  honored  with  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  twelve  years.  At  the  present  time  he  is  the  nominee  of  his 
party  for  the  position  of  trustee  of  Harrison  township.  In  business  he  is 
known  as  a  quiet,  industrious  worker,  and  enjoys  the  thorough  regard  of 
his  entire  circle  of  acquaintance. 

Alphon.se  Lepevre.  Jackson  township  has  no  more  respected  and 
prosperous  citizen  than  this  native  of  Belgium,  who  came  as  a  poor  boy 
across  the  ocean  to  America,  and  after  various  experiences  in  the  manu- 
facturing districts  of  the  east,  arrived  in  Blackford  county,  and  has  since 
closely  applied  himself  to  the  business  of  agriculture,  and  now  owns  a 
beautiful  farm  home,  which  in  point  of  productiveness  ranks  among  the 
best  in  Blackford  county.  It  is  known  as  the  Shady  Nook  Farm,  located 
four  miles  north  of  Dunkirk,  on  the  Chapman  stone  road,  and  consisting 
of  75.8  acres. 

Alphonse  Lefevre  was  born  in  Rantsart,  Belgium,  November  15.  1865, 
a  son  of  Jules  and  Marceline  (Loriaux)  Lefevre.  His  parents  were  Bel- 
gium people,  and  Alphonse  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  that  came  to  the 
United  States.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  country, 
and  acquired  a  substantial  training  in  his  mother  tongue.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen,  having  earned  enough  money  to  pay  for  his  passage,  he  left 
Belgium  and  landed  at  New  York  City  on  September  26,  1885.  His  first 
location  was  at  Bel  Vernon,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
window  glass  worker  for  three  years.  He  found  employment  in  the  line 
of  his  trade  at  different  places,  and  finally  arrived  in  Dunkirk,  Indiana. 

He  worked  altogether  twelve  years  at  the  glass  trade,  eight  years  of 
that  time  at  Dunkirk.  He  was  also  a  stockholder  in  and  secretary  of  the 
Upland  Co-operative  Window  Glass  Company. 

On  December  24,  1888,  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Lefevre  mar- 
ried Estella  Duler.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Belgium,  born  June  8,  1871. 
and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  her  edu- 
cation having  been  acquired  partly  in  her  native  land  and  partly  in  this 
country.  Mr.  Lefevre  and  wife  have  lived  on  their  present  place  in  Jack- 
son township  since  July  4,  1898.  His  first  purchase  was  a  run-down  farm 
of  thirty-five  acres,  and  he  proved  himself  just  the  man  to  rehabilitate  its 
resources  and  make  of  it  a  tract  of  land  valuable  and  highly  productive. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  193 

With  tlir  proceeds  of  his  managemenl  he  subsequently  added  a  little  more 
than  forty  acres,  and  now  owns  a  farm  that  is  worth  several  times  what 
he  |>aiil  for  it.  and  furnishes  ample  returns  to  provide  for  his  family's 
needs.    They  make  a  specialty  of  dairy  products. 

.Mi-,  and  .Mrs.  Lefevre  are  the  parents  of  six  children  :  Marcel,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  common  schools,  who  married  Zelda  L.  Cortright;  Georgette, 
the  wife  of -I.  B.  Dickson;  Harold  V.,  born  -June  in.  1903;  Arena  A.,  lion, 
February  5,  1905;  Edgar  D.,  born  December  22,  1907;  and  Dorothj  I:. 
born  Augusl  :;.  lull. 

The  family  worship  in  the  Methodist  1'rotestant  church  at  Trenton,  of 
which  Mr.  Lefevre  is  a  member  of  the  official  board.  He  also  affiliates 
with  the  Lodge  No.  156  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  an,]  Lodge 
Xo.  306  and  also  the  Encampment  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Pel- 
lows.    In  politics  he  has  aligned  himself  with  the  Progressive  party. 

Orlando  Sherman  Ford.  Owing  to  the  straightened  circumstances 
in  which  part  of  his  boyhood  was  passed.  Orlando  S.  Ford  began  his 
career  as  an  earner  by  carrying  water  to  a  gang  of  section  hands.  That 
was  many  years  ago.  and  in  the  meantime  he  lias  never  ceased  to  he  a  pro- 
ductive worker,  a  man  of  unusual  success,  and  at  the  present  time  is  con- 
sidered tlie  wealthiest  citizen  of  Jackson  township,  the  owner  of  extensive 
lands,  proprietor  of  a  beautiful  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  situated  eight  miles  southeast  of  Hartford  City.     Altogether  his 

landed  possessions  aggregate  six  hundred  acres,  located  at  different  pit s 

in  Jackson  township. 

Orlando  Sherman  Ford  was  born  in  Preble  county,  ( )hio,  July  5,  1864, 
a  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Richards),  Ford.  Both  parents  were  natives 
of  \Vcsi  Virginia,  went  to  Ohio  when  children,  and  David  Ford  began 
his  career  as  a  bricklayer,  in  1868  engaged  in  tin-  milling  business  near 
Olney.  Illinois,  and  four  years  later  brought  his  family  to  Indiana.  He 
operated  a  flouring  mill,  and  was  at  one  time  accounted  a  man  of  consid- 
erable means,  but  at  his  death  about  1873  left  his  widow  and  two  sons  in 
reduced  circumstances.  His  older  son  had  already  found  a  home  in 
Blackford  county,  and  the  widow  and  Orlando  joined  this  son.  James  H. 
For  a  number  of  years  they  experienced  considerable  hardship,  and  it 
was  during  that  period  of  his  life  that  Mr.  Ford  found  work  as  a  water 
boy.  He  had  no  shoes,  and  as  some  kind  of  footwear  was  necessary  for  his 
work  he  went  in  debt  for  a  pair  and  paid  for  them  at  the  end  of  the 
season's  work.  He  had  varied  experiences  as  a  young  man.  He  was 
employed  on  a  farm  during  the  summer,  and  obtained  his  education  as 
best  he  could  by  attendance  at  the  common  schools  during  the  winter. 
On  April  6,  1886,  with  his  brother  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land, 
comprising  eighty  acres,  all  but  ten  acres  of  which  was  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber.  To  get  this  property  he  went  in  debt,  and  finally 
paid  off  and  has  since  invested  most  of  his  surplus  in  additional  land, 
until  at  the  present  time  he  owns  as  much  improved  farm  property  as 
almost  any  other  citizen  in  the  county.  While  a  general  farmer  and  a 
raiser  of  large  amounts  of  corn,  oats,  wheat  and  other  feed  stuffs,  he  has 
found  his  profits  as  a  cattle  raiser,  and  every  year  for  a  long  time  has 
shipped  a  number  of  carloads. 

On  December  17,  1885,  Mr.  Ford  married  Emma  F.  Anderson,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  Anderson.  Mrs.  Ford  was  born  in  Blackford 
county.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  daughters:  Ruby,  who  after  finish- 
ing the  common  schools  took  a  musical  course,  atid  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  Brown  of  Mill  Grove,  Indiana:  and  Crystal,  who  graduated  from 
the  common  schools  and  was  also  trained  in  music,  and  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Ford  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge 


194  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  While  not  a  member  of  any  church 
he  has  been  liberal  in  his  support  of  religious  institutions,  and  his  father 
was  a  preacher  in  the  Baptist  denomination.  Politically,  Mr.  Ford  is 
a  democrat. 

John  W.  Green.  Though  now  a  farmer,  the  owner  of  a  fine  place 
in  Harrison  township,  Mr.  Green  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the 
oil  industry  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  it  was  while  identified  with 
that  business  in  this  section  of  Indiana  that  he  invested  his  accumulations 
in  land  in  Blackford  county,  and  finally  devoted  all  his  attention  to  the 
growing  of  crops  and  live  stock  rather  than  the  production  of  mineral 
resources.  Harrison  township  has  no  more  substantial  nor  public  spirited 
citizen  than  John  W.  Green. 

Highland  county,  Ohio,  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  he  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  August  29,  1871.  His  parents  were  David  and  Sarah 
(Reveal)  Green.  His  father  died  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  and  the 
mother  is  still  living.  Of  their  five  children  three  are  alive :  Henry, 
whose  home  is  in  Michigan ;  James,  also  of  Michigan ;  and  John  W. 

John  W.  Green,  who  was  born  in  the  village  of  Greenfield,  Ohio, 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Highland  county,  and  a  farmer  boy,  early 
became  acquainted  with  the  work  of  field  and  meadow.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  was  employed  at  work  in  the  oil  fields,  and  there  followed  a 
number  of  years  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  in  the  capacity  of  a 
pumper  for  the  Ohio  Oil  Company.  Later  he  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  field  foreman  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  worked  along  that  line 
for  eight  years.  Finally  Mr.  Green  bought  the  102.45  acres  in  Section  20 
of  Harrison  township,  and  applied  his  experience  and  industry  to  farm- 
ing. His  farm  has  many  advantages  of  location  as  well  as  of  fertility  and 
improvement.  It  is  situated  along  the  line  of  the  L.  E.  &  W.  railroad  and 
the  Indiana  Union  Traction,  five  miles  southwest  of  Montpelier.  Mr. 
Green  is  still  a  comparatively  young  man,  and  his  prosperity  is  all  the 
better  for  having  been  won  entirely  through  his  own  efforts. 

Mr.  Green  married  Jennie  Baker  of  Huntington  county,  Indiana. 
There  marriage  was  celebrated  July  20,  1895,  and  Mrs.  Green  was  born 
in  Jackson  township  of  Wells  county,  being  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  county.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children :  Nora,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools ;  Wade,  Jacob,  Don  and  Edna.  The 
family  worship  in  the  United  Brethren  church  at  Pleasantdale,  and  Mr. 
Green  is  a  member  of  the  Mount  Zion  Lodge  No.  684,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  the 
Encampment  at  Warren.  In  politics  a  republican,  he  has  for  some  years, 
cast  his  vote  independently  so  far  as  local  matters  are  concerned. 

John  Burns.  Throughout  the  history  of  the  country,  the  majority 
of  our  most  distinguished  men  have  been  those  who  have  been  fitted  for 
public  service  through  the  study  and  practice  of  the  law.  One  of  this 
profession  is,  therefore,  more  likely  to  lead  his  community  than  those 
who  have  not  enjoyed  such  advantages  and  training,  and  in  the  business 
world  lawyers  are  frequently  found  at  the  head  of  large  enterprises  which 
demand  the  directorship  of  a  keen,  analytical  mind.  Among  the  prom- 
inent members  of  the  Blackford  county  legal  profession,  one  who  has 
not  only  attained  distinction  in  the  line  of  his  calling,  but  has  also  held 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust  in  public  affairs  and  is  influential  in 
business  circles  in  John  Burns,  of  Hartford  City,  whose  career  has  been 
marked  by  constant  advancement  and  large  achievements. 

Mr.  Burns  was  born  at  Scuffle  Creek,  Chester  township,  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  April  10,  1871,  the  eldest  of  the  ten  children  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
(McCaffrey)  Burns.     His  father  was  born  in  Manchester,  England,  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  195 

1846,  of  Irish  parents,  Michael  and  Emily  (Fitzgerald)  Burns,  who  came 
to  the  Tinted  States  in  1849.  They  were  ninety  days  in  crossing  the 
ocean,  and  on  the  journey  cholera  developed  on  shipboard,  many  of  the 
passengers  died,  and  two  of  the  Burns  children,  Mary  and  Emily,  were 
victims  of  the  dread  disease  and  were  buried  at  sea.  The  survivors  of 
the  little  party  finally  landed  at  New  Orleans  and  made  their  way  up  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  to  Cincinnati,  going  thence  to  Mount  I 'leas 
ant,  Ohio,  where  for  a  few  years  they  resided  on  a  farm.  Subsequently 
they  came  to  Jay  county,  Indiana,  and  during  the  Civil  war  Michael 
Burns'  eldest  son,  John,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  as  a  member  of  an 
Indiana  regiment  of  volunteers,  and  lost  his  life  in  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tennessee,  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  This  left  only  one  son 
surviving,  Joseph  Burns,  who  is  still  living.  Just  after  the  close  of  the 
war  the  family  removed  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  and  started  a  home  in 
Chester  township,  where  they  resided  for  some  years,  but  finally  went 
to  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  where  Michael  Burns  died  some  twenty 
odd  years  ago,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  Mrs.  Burns  survived  her  hus- 
band some  five  years,  and  passed  awTay  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Joseph, 
in  Wells  county,  being  about  seventy  years  of  age.  They  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  and  were  active  in  religious  and 
charitable  work.  Mr.  Burns  was  a  democrat,  but  did  not  care  for  public 
office,  although  ever  ready  to  discharge  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
of  citizenship. 

Joseph  Burns  was  three  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  the  United  States,  and  here  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  much 
the  same  manner  as  those  of  other  Indiana  farmers'  sons  of  his  day.  He 
secured  an  ordinary  common  school  education  and  grew  up  a  farmer, 
assisting  his  father  to  clear  and  cultivate  the  homestead  farm  and  learn- 
ing thoroughly  all  the  details  of  agricultural  work.  On  attaining  man- 
hood he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  McCaffrey,  who  was  born  in  County 
Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  1851,  and  in  1858  came  to  the  United  States  and 
to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  with  her  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth  (Ervin) 
McCaffrey.  Mr.  McCaffrey  became  a  substantial  farmer  and  the  owner 
of  a  valuable  property,  on  which  he  had  a  handsome  residence  and  other 
modern  improvements,  and  there  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years, 
the  mother  passing  away  when  she  was  seventy-five  or  seventy-six  years 
old.  They  were  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Burns  are  still  living,  and  are  prominent  and  highly  esteemed  people  of 
their  community.  They  hold  membership  in  the  Roman  Catholic  church, 
in  the  faith  of  which  they  were  reared  and  to  which  they  have  always 
belonged.  Mr.  Burns  has  long  been  engaged  in  farming,  in  which  he 
has  met  with  a  full  measure  of  success,  has  been  prosperous  as  a  business 
man,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  best  auctioneers  in  Wells  county,  con- 
ducting frequent  and  well-attended  sales.  In  politics  a  democrat,  he  has 
a  wide  following  and  considerable  influence  in  political  circles  of  his 
vicinity,  and  in  addition  to  holding  numerous  minor  offices  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Indiana  State  Legislature  in  1907  and  1908.  Of  the  ten 
children  born  to  Joseph  and  Ann  McCaffrey  Burns,  John  is  the  eldest, 
all  are  living  and  five  are  married  and  have  families. 

After  securing  his  preliminary  educational  training  in  the  Scuffle 
Creek  district  school  in  Chester  township,  Wells  county,  John  Burns 
attended  the  Bluffton  Normal  school,  and  thus  received  his  teacher's  cer- 
tificate. Having  decided  upon  a  career  in  law,  he  began  teaching  school 
during  the  winter  terms,  while  he  devoted  the  summer  months  to  his 
studies,  first  in  the  office  of  Congressman  A.  M.  Martin,  of  Bluffton,  in 
1890,  and  later  as  a  student  of  the  Correspondence  School  of  Law,  of 
Detroit,  Michigan.    Finally,  in  1894,  he  took  his  examination  at  Bluffton, 


196  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

while  Judge  Vaughn  was  on  the  bench,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
following  which  he  went  to  Montpelier  and  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  For  two  years  he  served  as  deputy  prosecuting  attorney 
for  Blackford  county,  and  continued  in  practice  at  Montpelier  until  1900, 
when  he  came  to  Hartford  City  and  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  for 
the  Twenty-eighth  Judicial  District,  Blackford  and  Wells  counties,  subse- 
quently being  re-elected  to  that  office  and  serving  in  all  four  years.  He 
next  acted  for  four  years  as  county  attorney  for  Blackford  county,  but 
during  all  of  these  years  has  continued  his  private  practice,  which  is 
a  large  and  representative  one.  Mr.  Burns  is  au  able  lawyer,  devoted  to 
his  calling  and  with  a  broad  knowledge  of  its  various  branches,  and  his 
connection  with  a  number  of  important  cases  has  given  him  a  firmly  es- 
tablished place  in  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  high  standing  among 
his  professional  brethren.  He  has  shown  his  strength  politically  as  well 
as  in  his  vocation,  for  from  1902  until  1906  he  served  as  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  County  committee,  has  served  his  party  in  numerous 
ways  at  state  and  county  conventions,  and  in  1904  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  that  nominated  Judge  Alton  B.  Parker. 

Mr.  Burns  is  equally  well  known  in  business  and  financial  circles  of 
Hartford  City.  In  1903  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Hartford  City,  was  one  of  the  first  directors,  and  in  1906  was 
elected  vice-president,  a  position  which  he  has  filled  to  the  present  time 
in  addition  to  being  attorney  for  the  institution.  He  is  vice-president  of 
the  Hartford  City  Hotel  Company,  organized  in  1913,  and  president  of 
the  Rook  Construction  Company,  organized  in  1910  for  the  construction 
of  roads,  highways,  streets  and  all  kinds  of  drains.  Mr.  Burns  is  inter- 
ested in  agricultural  pursuits  as  the  owner  of  a  well-cultivated  farm  of 
345  acres,  located  in  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county.  In  each  of  his 
various  lines  of  endeavor,  he  has  showTn  a  careful  and  conscientious  atten- 
tion to  detail,  an  appreciation  of  the  possibilities  and  a  keen  foresight  in 
grasping  and  making  the  most  of  opportunities.  His  associates  rely  on  his 
acumen,  shrewdness  and  good  judgment,  and  he  has  at  all  times  been 
known  as  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity,  loyal  in  his  friendships  and  true 
to  each  and  every  trust. 

While  a  resident  of  Wells  county,  Indiana,  Mr.  Burns  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Zina  Hyer,  who  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  in 
1875,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  place  and  Wells 
county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  N.  and  Ella  (Collier)  Hyer,  natives 
of  Ohio,  the  former  of  German  ancestry  and  the  latter  of  Scotch  descent. 
They  were  married  in  Ohio,  subsequently  removed  to  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  and  finally  removed  to  Dewey,  Oklahoma,  where  they  still  live. 
They  are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  earnest,  honest, 
God-fearing  people.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns  are  the  parents  of  two  children : 
William  Alonzo.  born  April  25,  1895,  educated  in  the  parochial  school  and 
the  Hartford  City  High  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1912,  and'now  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools ;  and  Lillian  E.,  bom 
March  24, 1897,  who  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1916,  Hartford  City  High 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns  and  their  children  are  all  members  of  St. 
John's  Roman  Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Benjamin  C.  Keller.  The  home  of  Benjamin  C.  Keller  is  in  Section 
13  of  Washington  township.  His  residence  has  been  in  Blackford  county 
for  many  years,  and  his  reputation  as  a  progressive  farmer  and  public 
spirited  citizen  has  long  been  secure,  and  his  name  requires  no  introduc- 
tion in  any  account  of  Blackford  county  citizens. 

Mr.  Keller  is  of  Pennsylvania  ancestry,  and  of  substantial  German 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  197 

stock.  His  grandfather,  David  Keller,  was  the  founder  of  the  name  in 
this  country,  and  on  crossing  the  ocean  located  in  Pennsylvania.  In  that 
state  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Karnes,  a  Pennsylvania  girl,  and  there 
three  children  were  born  to  them:  Conrad,  David  and  .Martin.  With 
these  Hirer  children  the  parents  left  Pennsylvania  and  at  an  earlj  day 
found  a  new  home  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  David  Keller  was  there  at 
a  time  when  government  land  was  to  lie  secured,  and  he  entered  a  home- 
stead in  Walnut  township,  in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  and  beginning  his 
labors  during  the  early  thirties  eventually  cleared  up  a  good  farm  and 
was  a  man  of  prosperous  condition.  There  his  first  wife  died  when'in 
the  prime  of  life  and  only  a  few-  years  after  their  settlement,  and  he  sub- 
sequently married  .Mrs.  .Mary  Swisher.  David  Keller  survived  his  second 
wife  and  lived  to  he  about  eighty-five  years  of  age.  There  were  no  chil- 
dren by  the  second  marriage.  The  three  sons  of  the  first  union  all  grew  up 
in  Fairfield  county,  married  and  lived  and  died  in  that  vicinity.  They 
had  farms  in  Walnut  township  and  all  became  heads  of  families. 

Martin  Keller,  the  father  of  the  Blackford  county  citizen  above  named, 
was  the  youngest  of  the  three  brothers.  He  was  horn  about  a  hundred 
years  ago  in  Pennsylvania,  hut  reached  his  majority  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  and  continued  a  successful  farmer  in  that  locality  until  his  death  on 
December  28,  1904.  He  married  Catherine  Rudebaugh,  who  was  horn 
about  1818  either  in  Pennsylvania  or  Ohio,  and  was  a  girl  when  her  par- 
ents established  their  home  on  a  farm  in  Fairfield  county.  Martin  Keller 
and  wife  after  their  marriage  lived  on  a  part  of  the  old  Keller  homestead, 
which  comprised  about  half  a  section  of  land,  and  there  spent  the  rest 
of  their  active  careers.  The  first  wife  of  Martin  died  in  1854,  when  in  the 
prime  of  life.  Her  children  were:  Elizabeth,  wdio  first  married  Albert 
Ellis,  who  was  killed  in  the  army,  ami  had  one  daughter  by  him,  and  for 
her  second  husband  took  Alexander  Parkinson,  by  whom  she  was  the 
mother  of  a  son;  Isaac,  now  deceased,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War  and 
left  one  son;  Lucinda  married  Daniel  Patty,  and  at  her  death  left  a 
daughter;  Almeda,  who  lives  in  Blackford  county  and  has  a  son  and 
daughter,  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Grimes,  a  Blackford  county  citizen  and 
a  soldier  in  the  war;  Benjamin  C.  was  next  in  order  of  birth;  Edward 
lives  in  Jennings  county,  Indiana,  and  has  a  family.  Martin  Keller  for 
his  second  wife  married  Miss  Mary  Rudebaugh,  a  relative  of  his  first 
wife,  and  she  died  in  1901,  being  then  quite  old.  She  became  the  mother 
of  one  daughter,  Margaret  C,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Dailey  of  Perry 
county.  Ohio,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three  daughters  and  one 
deceased. 

Benjamin  C.  Keller  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  February  17,  1848.  His  youth  was  spent  in  a  country  still  not  far 
removed  from  pioneer  conditions,  and  bis  education  was  limited  to  the 
local  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four,  in  1872,  he  came  to  Indiana  and 
for  a  time  was  employed  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle.  Louis  Rudebaugh,  in 
Harrison  township.  In  1873  he  spent  some  time  in  Kansas  and  Illinois, 
and  after  his  return  to  his  uncle's  home  in  1874  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land,  comprising  fifteen  acres  of  timber.  His  youthful  strength  went 
to  the  clearing  and  improving  of  this  small  estate  and  he  finally  sold  it 
to  good  advantage.  He  and  his  wife  subsequently  bought  forty  acres 
in  Section  13  of  Washington  township,  and  that  for  nearly  forty  years 
has  been  the  basis  of  his  substantial  industry  as  a  farmer.  His  land  hold- 
ings have  since  been  increased  to  fifty-four  acres,  and  there  are  few  resi- 
dents of  Washington  township  who  have  worked  more  steadily  and  effect- 
ively to  improve  their  land  than  .Mr.  Keller.  He  has  put  in  tiled  drains, 
has  built  substantial  fences,  kept  up  the  fertility  of  his  soil,  and  among 
more  conspicuous  improvements  are  a  good  house,  a  barn  on  a  foundation 


198  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  40x48  feet,  and  a  fine  bearing  orchard  with  more  than  a  hundred 
trees.  He  is  a  successful  grower  of  all  the  cereal  crops,  and  keeps  up  his 
stock  to  high  grade. 

In  Washington  township  of  Blackford  county  Mr.  Keller  married  Miss 
Sarah  Angeline  McConkey,  of  a  prominent  old  family  in  this  section  of 
Indiana.  She  was  born  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county, 
November  22,  1851,  was  reared  and  educated  here,  and  it  has  been  her 
home  all  her  life.  She  is  esteemed  for  her  fine  neighborly  qualities  and 
her  wholesome  Christian  character.  Her  father  was  Eli  McConkey  and 
her  grandfather  James  McConkey.  James  McConkey  was  a  young  Irish- 
man who  left  his  native  land  and  settled  at  an  early  period  in  Blackford 
county,  entering  large  tracts  of  government  land  in  Washington  town- 
ship during  1834  and  1835.  That  land  he  held  and  improved,  and  was 
an  honored  pioneer  citizen  of  Blackford  county  who  died  during  the 
Civil  AVar.  He  was  then  past  seventy  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  had 
preceded  him  about  seven  or  eight  years.  James  McConkey  married 
Prudence  (Cook)  Manlove,  who  was  born  in  England,  but  was  reared  in 
Indiana.  She  was  about  seventy  years  of  age  when  she  passed  away. 
She  was  the  mother  of  children  by  both  husbands,  and  all  of  them  are 
now  deceased.  Eli  McConkey,  father  of  Mrs.  Keller,  was  born  in  Payette 
county,  Indiana,  January  30,  1824,  grew  up  there  and  married  Eliza 
Matz,  who  was  born  in  Fayette  county  in  October,  1824,  of  parents  who 
came  from  Germany  and  lived  in  died  in  Fayette  county,  where  they 
were  pioneers.  After  the  marriage  of  Eli  McConkey  and  wife  in  1845, 
and  the  birth  of  two  children,  Lafayette  B.  and  Mary  J.,  they  moved  to 
Blackford  county  in  1849,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  on  their  old 
homestead  in  Washington  township.  Eli  died  in  November,  1899,  and  his 
wife,  who  was  born  October  21,  1824,  passed  away  in  1884.  Both  were 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  the  democratic  political 
faith  of  Eli  McConkey  was  also  characteristic  of  all  the  Keller  family. 
Mrs.  Keller  had  the  following  brothers  and  sisters:  Mary  J.  is  the  wife 
of  Matthew  Parks  of  Muncie,  Indiana,  and  has  a  son  and  two  daughters ; 
William  T.  McConkey,  now  deceased,  is  survived  by  his  widow,  Eliza  E. 
(Ketterman)  McConkey,  whose  home  is  in  Montpelier;  James  P.  lives  in 
Madison  county,  Indiana,  and  has  two  daughters;  Cynthia  E.,  deceased, 
married  Calvin  Eiler,  whose  home  is  in  North  Manchester,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children ;  Prudence  C.  is  the  widow  of  Moses  Wolfe 
and  has  four  children  living ;  Ruth  A.  is  the  widow  of  George  Washing- 
ton Wilson,  and  has  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters; 
Reuben  E.,  deceased,  left  a  family  of  four  daughters,  three  of  whom  are 
living;  Emma  E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  McPherson,  living  near  Nabb, 
Indiana,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keller  have  the  following  family:  Eliza  C,  who  mar- 
ried Virgil  D.  Hart,  a  glass  worker  of  Hartford  City,  has  two  daughters : 
Maybell  F.,  born  December  26,  1898,  and  now  in  the  eighth  grade  of 
school,  and  Hazel  Lindsey,  born  December  19,  1900,  and  attending  the 
sixth  grade.  Eli  Martin,  the  second  child,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Grant 
county,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Zina  Nestleroad  has  two  daughters  and  one 
son,  Gladys,  Cecil  Esther  and  Cleobis.  Albert  Erwood,  whose  home  is 
near  Flat  Rock,  Illinois,  has  five  children,  named  Floyd,  Claud,  Gerald, 
Thelma  and  Benjamin  A.  The  daughter,  Elsie  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keller  are  members  of  Bethel  United  Brethren 
church,  and  politically  he  belongs  to  the  democratic  party. 

Admoee  A.  Thomas.  For  twenty  years  Admore  A.  Thomas  has  been 
a  resident  of  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  and  during  fifteen 
years  of  this  time  has  been  located  on  his  present  farm  of  ninety-five 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        199 

acres,  located  in  section  18.  Mr.  Thomas,  who  is  familiarly  known  as 
Adam  Thomas,  lias  devoted  the  greater  pan  of  his  active  career  to  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  operations,  ami  the  success  which  be  has  gained  lias 
been  commensurate  with  the  labors  he  has  performed.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylvania.  February  22,  1863,  and  is  a  sod 
of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Yengst)  Thomas,  both  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock. 
Ilis  father,  ail  agriculturist  by  vocation,  resided  in  Pennsylvania  until 
the  year  1863,  when  he  went  to  Washington  county,  Kansas,  and  there 
his  death  occurred  in  1865,  when  he  was  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Be 
was  a  hard  and  active  worker,  and  his  death  was  caused  by  a  sunstroke. 
Following  her  husband's  demise,  Mrs.  Thomas  went  back  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  she  now  resides  in  Lebanon  county,  near  the  city  of  that 
name,  is  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  and  is  suffering  from  paralysis.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  to  which  her  husband  belonged. 
Admore  A.  Thomas  is  the  youngest  of  five  children  born  to  his  parents: 
Mary  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Brown,  a  farmer  of  Lebanon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  one  daughter. — Maybell  G.;  Alice,  who  is  the 
wife  of  George  Reifine,  living  on  a  farm  in  Lebanon  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, has  three  sons  and  three  daughters;  Sallie,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Elmer  Shawley.  living  on  a  Pennsylvania  farm,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters; Cora,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Heisie,  a  Pennsylvania  farmer,  ami  now  the 
mother  of  a  family;  Minnie,  the  wife  of  a  prominent  Lebanon  county 
farmer  and  public  official;  and  Admore  A.  A  stepdaughter.  Lillie,  be- 
came the  wife  of  George  Like,  and  has  one  son.  William,  and  a  daugh- 
ter. Amanda,  and  lives  at  Lebanon.  Pennsylvania,  with  .Mrs.  Thomas. 

Admore  A.  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county, 
and  as  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  left  the  parental  roof,  and  for  a  short 
time  resided  in  Kansas.  Later,  for  fourteen  years  he  was  associated 
with  the  Fort  Wayne  Gas  Line,  and  from  his  wages  saved  enough  means 
to  purchase  a  farm,  upon  which  he  at  one  time  had  two  gas  and  oil  wells, 
although  it  is  now  devoted  exclusively  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  This 
land  consists  of  ninety-five  acres,  all  improved  with  the  exception  of 
four  acres  of  wood,  and  is  improved  with  excellent  farm  buildings,  and 
machinery  and  equipment  of  the  latest  manufacture.  The  property 
possesses  a  pleasing  and  attractive  appearance,  the  large  white  residence 
standing  in  the  midst  of  other  structures,  and  everything  upon  tire  farm 
is  in  the  best  of  repair.  Mr.  Thomas  has  thirty  acres  of  corn,  fifteen 
acres  of  oats,  some  wheat  and  some  rye.  and  breeds  good  cattle,  horses 
and  hogs,  being  known  as  an  excellent  judge  of  stock.  He  is  a  business 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  through  honorable  dealing  and 
integrity  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana  to  Miss 
Amanda  McYieker,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  in  1860. 
a  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Polly  (Marshall)  McVicker,  both  of  whom 
now  live  on  a  farm  in  section  7.  Licking  township.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  chidren:  Mrs.  Thomas;  and  David,  who  was  married  and 
left  three  children  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have 
one  son,  Charles  D.,  born  September  2,  1S99,  who  is  now  being  educated 
in  the  public  schools. 

(  'iiarles  L.  Smith.  Prominently  identified  with  a  line  of  enterprise 
that  has  important  bearing  upon  the  civic  and  material  prosperity  of 
every  community,  this  well  known  and  honored  citizen  of  Montpelier, 
Blackford  county,  has  for  nearly  twenty  years  been  one  of  the  leading 
factors  in  real  estate  operations  in  the  county,  and  his  fair  and  honor- 
able dealings  have  gained  to  him  popular  confidence  and  esteem,  the  while 
his  operations  have  proved  of  distinctive  benefit  to  his  home  city  and 


200        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

county.  He  has  done  much  to  further  the  social  and  material  progress 
of  Montpelier  and  is  known  as  one  of  its  most  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizens. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  on  the  22nd  of  February,  1870,  and  his  advancement  in  the 
world  lias  been  the  result  of  his  own  ability  and  efforts,  as  he  became 
largely  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  while  yet  a  mere  boy.  His 
initial  experience  was  in  connection  with  the  arduous  work  of  the  farm, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  he  attended  the  district  school  whenever  oppor- 
tunity offered.  As  a  youth  he  was  employed  in  a  bakery  and  confection- 
ery store  in  his  home  county,  and  later  he  was  a  traveling  salesman  for 
three  years.  Since  his  retirement  from  this  vocation  he  has  maintained 
his  residence  in  Montpelier,  where  he  has  found  ample  opportunity  for 
the  winning  of  definite  success.  His  father,  Leroy  L.  Smith,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  in  1843,  and  was  a  son  of  Leonard  Smith,  who  was  of  New  Eng- 
land stock,  but  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  as  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family 
of  that  state.  He  was  reared  and  married  in  Ohio  and  finally  came  to 
Wells  county,  Indiana,  where  he  reclaimed  a  good  farm  from  the  forest 
wilds,  both  he  and  his  wife  attaining  venerable  age,  and  both  continuing 
their  residence  in  Wells  county  until  their  death.  They  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  Leonard  Smith  was  first  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican  in  politics.  His  old  homstead  farm  is  now  owned 
by  his  son  George. 

Leroy  L.  Smith  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  War, 
as  a  member  of  an  Indiana  volunteer  regiment.  He  served  through  the 
last  year  of  the  war  and  though  he  took  part  in  numerous  engagements 
he  was  never  wounded.  He  and  his  wife  now  reside  in  the  city  of  Fort- 
Wayne  and  they  are  in  excellent  health,  though  he  has  attained  to  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  Of  the  ten  children,  two  died  in  infancy,  and  of 
the  number  the  eldest  is  Charles  L.,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch. 
Of  the  three  sons  and  five  daughters  that  are  living,  all  are  married, 
except  one  of  the  sons. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  resident  of  Montpelier  since  1894,  and.  as 
already  stated,  he  has  here  built  up  a  large  and  prosperous  real  estate 
business,  in  which  he  handles  both  farm  and  town  property.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  allegiance,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Montpelier,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 

In  1896  was  solemnized  the  marriage,  at  Montpelier,  of  Mr.  Smith 
to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Alexander,  daughter  of  James  Alexander,  a  representa- 
tive farmer  and  member  of  a  sterling  pioneer  family  of  Wells  county. 
He  lived  retired  in  Montpelier  until  his  death.  At  this  juncture  is  given 
record  of  the  names  and  respective  dates  of  birth  of  the  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith :  Frederick  A.,  January  7,  1897 ;  Leroy  E.,  February  13, 
1901 ;  Florence  E.,  November  1,  1903.  All  of  the  children  are  attending 
the  public  schools  in  their  home  city  and  the  eldest,  Frederick  A.,  is  a 
student  in  the  high  school. 

Dr.  Judge  Corey  Kirkpatrick.  High  on  the  list  of  medical  men  who 
have  achieved  success  in  their  calling  in  Blackford  county,  is  found  the 
name  of  Dr.  Judge  Corey  Kirkpatrick,  who  for  some  years  has  been 
engaged  in  practice  at  Roll.  A  man  of  broad  and  comprehensive  train- 
ing in  his  own  profession  and  other  lines,  he  is  accounted  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  community  and  one  who  lends  strength  and 
substance  to  its  importance  as  a  center  of  education  and  professional 
activity.     Doctor  Kirkpatrick  belongs  to  a  family  which  traces  its  an- 


BLACKFOKD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  201 

cestry  back  in  Scotland  to  the  days  of  the  great  Bruce,  it  being  tradi- 
tional that  one  of  the  early  Kirkpatricks   fought   under  that  warrior 

and  was  named  and  knighted  by  him  upon  the  Held  of  battle,  exclaim- 
ing: '•You  are  no  longer  named  Kilpatriek,  but  Kirkpatrick, "  as  lie 
iiad  saved  the  Church  of  Scotland  from  the  Church  of  England.  Prom 
this  early  ancestor  Doctor  Kirkpatrick  is  removed  nine  or  ten  gener- 
ations. 

•  Indue  Thomas  Kirkpatrick,  the  great-grandfather  of  Doctor  Kirk- 
patrick,  was  an  associate  judge  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
settled  on  coming  to  the  United  States  from  Scotland,  lie  married  Marj 
Henthorne,  daughter  of  William  Henthorne,  of  the  old  Pennsylvania 
family  of  that  name,  and  among  their  children  was  William  M.  Kirk- 
patrick, the  grandfather  of  Doctor  Kirkpatrick,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 31,  1811.  He  married  .Margaret  Crothers,  who  was  born  in  1812, 
daughter  of  .lames  Crothers,  one  of  the  early  government  surveyors  of 
this  part  of  Indiana,  who  laid  out  the  old  government  lines.  In  1841, 
William  M.  Kirkpatrick  came  to  Indiana  with  his  family  and  entered 
land  in  Van  Buren  township,  Grant  county,  where  he  became  the  owner 
of  one-half  section  of  land,  upon  which  he  lived  until  1880.  At  that 
time  he  retired  to  Landisville,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1889, 
when  he  was  nearly  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  having 
passed  away  September  1.  1S87.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was  a  farmer  all  of 
his  life  and  one  of  the  influential  and  prominent  men  of  his  community. 
He  was  an  early  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  later  with  his 
wife  joined  Union  Chapel,  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  was  first 
a  whig  and  later  a  republican,  and  became  a  stalwart  abolitionist. 

William  K.  Kirkpatrick,  the  eldest  son  and  third  child  of  his  par- 
ents, was  born  July  1,  1841.  and  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Van  Buren 
township,  Grant  county.  He  was  given  meager  advantages,  as  were  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  two  of  the  latter,  Margaret  and  Susan,  becoming 
well  known  educators  of  Grant  county.  His  brother.  George  W.,  was  a 
well  known  veterinary  surgeon,  and  in  addition  to  George  there  are  two 
sisters,  Eliza  and  Martha,  living,  and  two  sisters  deceased.  William  K. 
Kirkpatrick  was  married  in  Van  Buren  township,  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
to  Minerva  J.  Corey,  an  aunt  of  Dr.  Charles  W.  Corey.  She  was  born 
in  that  township,  December  13,  1842,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated, 
and  died  March  7,  1888.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick.  hale  and  hearty  in  spite  of 
his  seventy-three  years,  still  resides  on  his  farm.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  a  prominent  and  influential  man  of  his  community,  where 
he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  those  who  have  had  occasion  to  come 
into  contact  with  him  in  any  way.  He  is  an  official  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  twenty  years, 
and  built  as  such  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Van  Buren 
township. 

Judge  Corey  Kirkpatrick  is  the  eldest  living  and  third  son  of  the 
children  of  his  parents,  having  two  brothers.  William  M.  and  Otto  L., 
who  are  married  and  progressive  agriculturists  of  Van  Buren  township. 
and  the  latter  also  a  vuleanizer,  and  a  sister,  Lulla.  who  is  the  wife  of 
Morgan  Beasley.  a  barber  of  Warren.  Indiana,  who  has  a  daughter, 
Martha,  attending  school;  one  sister,  Lelah,  died  October  28.  1912,  and 
left  one  daughter.  Margaret,  nine  years  old.  Judge  C.  Kirkpatrick'  was 
born  on  the  old  original  Kirkpatrick  homestead  in  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, Grant  county,  Indiana.  September  If),  1867,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886.  Returning  to 
the  home  farm,  he  remained  until  1890  and  then  went  to  Nebraska  and 
was  for  one  year  a  student  in  the  normal  college.  In  September.  1892, 
he  went  to  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota,  where  he  taught  until  1896.  and 


202  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

then  went  to  the  state  normal  school  at  Winona,  Minnesota,  where  he  also 
attended  for  a  time.  Returning  to  South  Dakota,  he  remained  one  year, 
and  then  came  back  to  Indiana,  and  attended  the  normal  school  at  Val- 
paraiso. Subsequently  he  went  back  to  South  Dakota,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  educational  work  five  years,  four  years  as  principal  of  the 
Bath  high  school.  On  September  1,  1903,  Doctor  Kirkpatrick  came  back 
to  Indiana  to  commence  his  medical  studies,  having  long  cherished  an 
ambition  to  be  a  physician.  Entering  the  Indiana  Medical  College,  now 
known  as  the  medical  department  of  the  State  University,  he  remained 
there  for  several  years,  and  subsequently  was  a  student  in  the  medical 
department  of  Cornell  University.  He  also  studied  at  the  university  at 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  graduated  in  1907  from  the  Indiana  Medical 
College,  at  once  establishing  himself  in  practice  at  Roll,  where  he  has  a 
well-appointed  and  well-equipped  office  and  a  beautiful  eight-room  resi- 
dence, which  he  has  largely  rebuilt  since  purchasing.  His  practice  has 
steadily  advanced  in  size  and  importance,  and  he  is  now  accounted  one 
of  Blackford  county's  ablest  medical  men.  Doctor  Kirkpatrick  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  the  Indiana  Medical  So- 
iety,  the  Blackford  County  Medical  Society  and  the  Indiana  Eighth 
District  Medical  Society,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by 
his  fellow-practitioners  has  been  evidenced  by  his  election  to  the  pres- 
idency of  the  county  society  from  1911  to  1912.  He  keeps  fully  abreast 
of  the  various  advances  continually  being  made  in  his  calling,  and  spends 
much  of  his  own  time  in  research  and  investigation.  In  politics,  Doctor 
Kirkpatrick  is  independent;  he  has  always  taken  an  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  adopted  place,  and  is  foremost  in  movements  calculated  to 
be  of  benefit  to  its  people. 

Doctor  Kirkpatrick  was  married  at  Roll,  Indiana,  to  Mrs.  Martha  M. 
Bordner,  nee  Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  and  reared  here  and  for  eight  years  was  manager  for  this  end 
of  the  Mount  Zion  Telephone  Company,  the  interests  of  which  she  still 
looks  after,  being  a  thoroughly  capable  business  woman.  Her  only  child, 
Dale,  by  her  first  marriage,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  God,  while  the  Doctor  belongs  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  faith.  He  belongs  to  the  Encampment  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  South  Dakota. 

Abraham  Hahn.  During  his  long  residence  within  the  borders  of 
Blackford  county.  Abraham  Hahn  has  become  one  of  his  community's 
substantial  citizens.  From  small  beginnings  he  has  drawn  about  him 
for  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  his  later  years  such  substantial  com- 
pensations as  wealth,  the  affectionate  devotion  of  his  well  established 
children,  the  credit  for  having  contributed  materially  to  the  general 
progress  of  his  section,  and  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  those  among 
whom  he  has  lived  for  so  long. 

Mr.  Hahn  is  descended  from  German  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  Jacob 
Hahn,  being  a  native  of  the  Fatherland  who  emigrated  to  America  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  War,  or  about  the  time  of  that  struggle,  and  located 
in  Virginia.  Later  he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  American  army  during 
the  War  of  1812.  He  was  married  in  Virginia  and  then  went  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  his  children,  Jacob,  Jr.,  John  and  Hannah  were  born.  All 
married,  spent  their  lives  and  died  in  Pennsylvania,  except  Jacob  Hahn. 
Jr.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  year  1780,  and  there  mar- 
ried Rachel  Shoemaker,  a  native  of  Maryland  who  had  moved  to  the 
Keystone  state  with  her  parents  in  young  womanhood.  After  the  birth 
of  two  children,  Jacob  III.,  and  Margaret,  who  were  born  shortly  after 
1800,  the  family  moved  to  Ohio.     The  journey,  over  a  long  and  cir- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  203 

cuitous  route,  was  a  tedious  aud  hazardous  one.  but  eventually  the  little 
party  of  emigrants  settled  in  what  is  now  the  vicinity  of  Greenville, 
Darke  county,  the  father  taking  up  government  land  at  a  time  when 
Indians  were  still  numerous.  Wild  game  was  to  be  found  in  plenty,  and 
Mr.  Halm,  an  able  hunter,  not  alone  supplied  the  family  larder,  bu1 
also  hunted  as  a  vocation  and  conveyed  produce  to  the  Indians  in  the 
vicinity  of  Peru.  It  was  not  unusual  at  that  time  for  the  white  hinders 
to  be  held  by  the  red  men,  ami  Mr.  Hahn  was  thus  made  a  captive  for 
three  years,  but  so  fearless  and  brave  was  he,  and  possessed  id'  such 
prodigious  strength,  that  he  won  the  respect  of  the  Indians,  whom  he 
frequently  led  on  their  hunting  trips.  Upon  securing  his  release,  .Mr. 
Hahn  returned  to  bis  family  in  Darke  county,  but  after  his  daughter 
had  died  of  the  ague,  he  decided  to  seek  a  more  healthful  country,  and 
accordingly  moved  to  Muskingum  county,  in  the  same  state,  where  he 
engaged  in  teaming  to  Cincinnati,  taking  grain  to  that  city  and  exchang- 
ing it  for  produce  of  various  kinds  for  the  early  settlers.  lie  spent  a 
number  of  years  in  this  vocation  and  in  farming,  but  in  1852  pushed 
still  farther  west,  locating  in  Jay  county,  Indiana,  where  he  passed  the 
balance  of  his  life  as  a  farmer,  and  died  about  the  year  1875.  being  then 
ninety-eight  years  old.  Mr.  Hahn  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many  ways. 
Possessed  of  wonderful  strength,  it  is  related  of  him  that  he  could  drink 
from  the  bung  hole  of  a  whiskey  barrel  raised  by  the  chimbs,  and  could 
pitch  a  barrel  of  salt  easily  and  throw  it  into  a  wagon.  About  the  time 
of  the  War  of  1812  he  had  been  captain  of  a  mustering  company  at 
Greenville,  Ohio,  although  he  did  not  go  to  the  front  in  that  struggle. 
He  had  never  missed  a  meal  until  within  a  few  days  of  his  death,  and 
his  doctor  bill  during  the  ninety-eight  years  of  his  life  would  not  have 
totalled  more  than  five  dollars.  Mr.  Hahn  voted  for  John  Quincy  Adams. 
and  all  the  democratic  presidential  candidates  who  followed  during  his 
lifetime,  and  his  religious  connection  was  with  the  United  Brethren 
church.  During  his  residence  in  Ohio  he  was  a  factor  in  the  opening 
of  the  Walington  Canal,  running  from  Coshocton,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Hahn 
died  when  seventy-five  years  of  age,  in  Madison  county.  Indiana,  having 
been  the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Jacob,  Margaret,  George, 
Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Isaac,  Jackson,  Abraham  and  Rachel,  all  of  whom 
grew  up  and  married,  and  all,  except  one,  of  whom  lived  to  be  past 
sixty  years  of  age.  Those  living  at  this  time  are :  Abraham,  of  this 
review;  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Elijah  Cox,  whose  husband  died  re- 
cently at  the  age  of  ninety-eight  years,  she  being  a  resident  of  Okla- 
homa, and  the  mother  of  several  married  children ;  and  Rachel,  of  Red 
Key,  Jay  county,  Indiana,  the  widow  of  John  Bechnel,  and  the  mother 
of  several  married  children. 

Abraham  Halm  was  horn  in  Muskingum  county.  Ohio,  May  6,  1837, 
and  was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  when  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Jay 
county.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  subsequently  purchased  his 
first  land  for  a  farm  in  Harrison  township,  Delaware  county,  a  tract  of 
forty  acres,  all  in  its  wild  state,  on  which  he  erected  a  log  hut  and  made 
some  clearing.  Later  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty  acres  in  Jefferson 
township.  Grant  county,  which  he  improved  partially,  and  still  later 
bought  forty  acres  near  Upland,  in  the  same  county.  In  1885  Mr.  Hahn 
bought  eighty  acres  in  section  24.  Licking  township,  and  on  that  prop- 
erty continued  to  make  his  home  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  selling  out 
in  1910  for  $6,300,  and  at  that  time  buying  forty  acres  of  land  where 
he  now  resides.  He  has  a  well  improved  property  and  a  comfortable 
home,  and  although  now  retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life  still  takes 
a  keen  interest  in  affairs,  and  is  active  in  body  and  alert  in  mind. 

During  the   Civil   War   Mr.    Hahn   served   in   the   Union   army   for 


204  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

eighteen  months,  and  still  bears  scars  of  the  great  struggle  between  the 
North  and  the  South.  He  was  a  member  of  Company  C,  One  Hundred 
and  Fortieth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  Capt.  H.  H.  Darter, 
Col.  Thomas  J.  Brady,  and  took  part  in  numerous  heavy  engagements, 
being  present  at  the  final  surrender  of  General  Johnson's  army  at 
Greensboro.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  July  11,  1865.  Mr. 
Hahn  was  known  as  a  brave  and  faithful  soldier,  always  to  be  found 
in  the  thick  of  the  battle,  and  during  his  service  lost  an  eye  and  the 
ends  of  two  fingers.  He  still  loves  to  meet  his  old  eomrades  of  the 
stirring  days  of  the  'sixties,  and  is  a  popular  member  of  Capt.  Jacob 
Stahl  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Hartford  City. 

Mr.  Hahn  was  married  in  1862,  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Lavina  E.  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1840,  and  reared  and  educated  there,  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Connor)  Hill,  natives,  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Virginia.  Mr.  Hill 
had  been  married  before,  in  Ohio,  but  after  coming  to  Henry  county, 
Indiana,  his  first  wife  died,  and  be  then  married  Miss  Connor.  Following 
this,  Mr.  Hill  returned  to  Ohio,  but  in  a  short  time  again  came  to 
Henry  county,  where  he  owned  a  farm  in  Harrison  township,  until 
selling  out  and  going  to  Delaware  county.  In  his  later  years  he  moved 
to  Grant  county,  and  there  Mrs.  Hill  died  at  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Hill  passed  away  at  the  home  of  his  eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Rachel 
Nicodemus,  near  Peru,  when  past  ninety  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hahn  have  been  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one ;  Josephine,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nine ;  and  Truman,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Frank,  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  who  married  Martha  Hartley,  and  has  three  children, — Lula 
Josephine,  Vessie  G.,  and  Locia  M.,  all  at  home ;  Emsley,  living  at  Mill 
Grove,  Indiana,  married  Bertie  Smith,  and  has  one  son, — Asel  F. ; 
Minnie,  the  wife  of  Charles  Younce,  a  groceryman  of  Hartford  City, 
and  lias  two  children, — Clifford  A.  and  Dorthea  A. ;  Lillie,  who  married 
Elmer  Pike,  of  Montpelier,  and  has  two  daughters, — Violet  and  Helen; 
and  Mathias,  who  married  Carrie  M.  Cooper,  lives  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  has  a  daughter, — Charlotte  Gertrude. 

Lewis  C.  Johnson.  As  postmaster  of  Hartford  City  since  1910, 
Lewis  C.  Johnson  has  performed  a  large  amount  of  useful  public  service 
for  his  home  city,  and  has  managed  the  affairs  of  his  office  to  the  best 
advantage  and  convenience  of  the  citizens.  Though  a  native  of  Wells 
county,  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  a  resident  of  Blackford  county  many 
years,  and  the  family  name  has  been  identified  with  worthy  citizen- 
ship and  business  and  professional  ability  throughout  its  residence. 

Mr.  Johnson  received  his  first  commission  as  postmaster  of  Hartford 
City  on  July  21,  1910,  and  after  a  short  service  was  re-commissioned 
on  January  1.  1911.  The  Hartford  City  office  is  of  the  second  class,  and 
Mr.  Johnson  has  had  the  responsibilities  of  enlarging  and  perfecting 
the  efficiency  of  his  organization,  largely  due  to  the  introduction  of  new 
features  of  service,  notably  the  parcels  post,  and  also  the  extension  and 
co-ordination  of  the  rural  delivery  service.  He  has  an  assistant  and 
four  clerks,  and  four  city  carriers.  Seven  rural  routes  radiate  from 
Hartford  City. 

Lewis  C.  Johnson  was  born  June  9,  1865,  in  Jackson  township  of 
Wells  county,  was  liberally  educated  for  his  time,  and  in  1884  was 
granted  a  license  to  teach.  It  was  as  an  educator  that  he  was  best 
known  for  many  years,  and  his  efficient  work  in  that  profession  is  still 
well  remembered  by  hundreds  of  his  old  pupils.  He  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Wells  county  until  1892,  when  he  settled  at  Montpelier,  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        205 

Blackford  counts-,  and  did  individual  work  as  a  teacher,  and  also  as  a 
principal  until  1900.  For  a  little  more  than  two  years  .Mi-.  Johnson 
was  employed  in  a  bureau  of  the  department  of  the  interior,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1902  was  elected  county  auditor  of  Blackford  county,  taking 
up  his  official  duties  on  January  1.  1903.  During  the  four  years  spent 
at  the  court  house,  in  Hartford  City,  Mr.  .Johnson  made  many  friends 
in  the  county  seat,  ami  at  the  close  of  his  term  he  became  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank.  That  was  his  work  until  he  took  up  his  duties 
as  postmaster. 

.Mr.  Johnson  is  a  grandson  of  Milton  Johnson  and  a  son  of  I'ercival 
(i.  Johnson,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ohio.  Ilis  grandfather  was  a 
substantial  pioneer  farmer  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  married. 
He  died  in  Blackford  when  about  sixty-five  years  old.  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in  polities  he  was  a 
whig.  Percival  G.  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 7,  1835,  grew  up  as  a  farmer,  and  in  his  young  manhood  moved 
to  Indiana,  and  in  Wells  county  was  married  to  Margaret  Cloud.  He 
is  now  living  a  retired  farmer  at  Montpelier  in  Blackford  county,  and 
is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well  spent  life.  In  politics,  a  republican,  he 
has  often  participated  in  public  affairs,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  four 
daughters:  Emma,  who  died  leaving  three  children;  Elnia,  who  lives 
in  Montpelier,  and  has  three  living  children;  Lewis  C. ;  Loetta,  who 
died  leaving  two  children;  Winfield  W.,  who  is  an  oil  worker  in  Wells 
county,  and  has  four  children;  and  D.  L.,  who  died  in  early  childhood. 

Mr.  Lewis  C.  Johnson  was  married  in  Wells  county,  Indiana,  in  188b, 
to  Miss  Catherine  L.  Knott,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  and  received  her 
education  in  Wells  county.  The  oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
was  Zeffie  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  months.  Their  daughter,  E. 
Dale,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  high  school,  is  now  the 
wife  of  James  C.  Lucas  of  Hartford  City,  and  their  daughter,  Catherine, 
was  born  February  14,  1913.  The  son,  Lewis  Sydney,  born  October 
18,  1904,  is  still  in  the  grade  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  active 
members  of  the  Christian  church  of  Hartford  City,  and  he  serves  on 
the  official  board.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  affiliates  with  Hartford  City 
Lodge  No.  135  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

William  L.  Ervin.  Blackford  count}'  has  profited  by  the  worthy 
citizenship  and  consecutive  industry  of  the  Ervin  family  since  pioneer 
times,  the  first  of  the  name  having  come  in  the  year  1837.  Practically 
all  bearing  the  name  have  been  interested  in  agriculture,  but  they  have 
also  discharged  their  full  share  of  duties  in  society,  education,  religion, 
and  polities,  as  well  as  in  upholding  their  country's  honor  on  the  field  of 
battle.  A  worthy  representative  of  this  family  is  found  in  the  person 
of  William  L.  Ervin,  of  section  2,  Licking  township,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War,  a  successful  agriculturist  and  a  citizen  who  has  won  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men  through  a  long  life  of  integrity  and 
honorable  dealing. 

The  Clan  of  Ervin  found  its  origin  in  Scotland  many  years  ago,  and 
members  of  the  family  were  early  settlers  in  Maryland,  where  John 
Ervin,  the  grandfather  of  William  L.  Ervin.  was  born  about  the  year 
1790.  In  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  came  to  Blackford  county.  In- 
diana, and  here  died  prior  to  the  year  1850.  He  was  married  twice, 
his  wives  being  half-sisters  and  natives  of  Maryland,  and  by  his  first 
marriage  he  had  seven  children.  His  second  union  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Rev.  Joshua  Ervin.  a  Methodist  divine  of 
Munice.  Indiana,  still  survives.     There  were  three  sons  ami  four  daugh- 


206        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ters  in  his  first  wife's  family,  and  among  these  was  Samuel  Ervin,  the 
father  of  William  L.  He  was  born  September  7,  1815,  in  Maryland, 
and  was  still  young  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  there  growing  to  manhood.  In  1837  he  accompanied  his  parents, 
and  most  of  the  children,  of  whom  several  had  married,  to  Indiana, 
where  some  of  the  children  secured  government  land  for  homes  in 
Delaware  county,  Samuel  taking  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
the  vicinity  of  Eaton.  There  he  erected  a  good  frame  home  and  made 
considerable  improvements,  but  in  1850  traded  his  farm  for  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Section  2,  Licking  township,  Blackford  county, 
near  the  present  residence  of  William  L.  Ervin.  There  the  father 
continued  to  be  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  October  2,  1880, 
being  known  as  a  successful  agriculturist  and  a  good  citizen,  a  staunch 
republican,  and  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  he  was  an  organizer  and  church  leader.  He  was  married  three 
times,  first  in  Indiana,  on  March  25,  1841,  to  Miss  Jane  M.  Haight,  who 
was  born  in  New  York  state  May  15,  1815,  and  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead at  Eaton,  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  July  22,  1849,  when  her 
son  William  L.  was  just  one  month  old.  She  also  left  a  daughter,  Naomi, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Harrison  Strong,  has  a  son  and  two  daughters, 
and  resides  in  Union  township,  Delaware  county.  Samuel  Ervin  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Nancy  Alexander,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Robert  Alexander  of  Wells  county  Indiana.  She  died  in  Licking  town- 
ship at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  and  left  two  children :  Robert 
Volney,  now  deceased,  married  Flora  Veach,  and  their  three  children 
were :  Moffitt  H.  Ervin,  of  Los  Angeles,  California ;  Robert  Paul,  of 
Eaton,  Indiana;  and  Ora  Beryl,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Shannon, 
formerly  of  Blackford  county,  but  now  of  Denver,  Colorado,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Ervin.  John  Benson,  the  second  son  of  Samuel  and 
Nancy  Ervin,  died  July  4,  1855,  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years. 
Samuel  Ervin 's  third  marriage  was  to  Anna  Galbreth,  who  survived 
her  husband  about  two  years,  and  died  when  sixty  years  of  age  with- 
out issue. 

William  L.  Ervin  was  born  at  Eaton,  Delaware  county,  Indiana, 
June  22,  1849,  and  secured  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lick- 
ing township,  Blackford  county,  whither  he  was  brought  by  his  father 
as  an  infant.  He  was  still  but  a  boy  when  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  becoming  a  private  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred Thirtieth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  a  period  of  about  two  years.  In  spite 
of  his  extreme  youth  he  proved  himself  a  good  and  faithful  soldier  and 
saw  much  hard  fighting,  being  wounded  in  the  scalp  by  a  Confederate 
bullet  at  the  battle  of  Buzzard's  Roost,  Georgia,  May' 9,  1864.  Upon 
his  return  to  his  Indiana  home  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  also 
attended  school  in  Hartford  City  and  at  Richville  College,  and  taught 
in  the  country  schools  five  successive  terms,  beginning  with  the  autumn  of 
1868.  Since  then  his  career  has  been  that  of  a  substantial  agriculturist, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  handsome  property.  Mr.  Ervin  has  made 
all  the  improvements  upon  his  land,  which  include  two  large  farm 
houses,  two  commodious  barns  and  a  full  set  of  substantial  outbuildings, 
as  well  as  a  thorough  complement  of  modern  farm  machinery  and  equip- 
ment. He  has  engaged  in  general  farming  and  has  also  met  with  suc- 
cess as  a  stock  raiser,  having  good  hogs,  sheep  and  horses,  and  a  val- 
uable herd  of  Polled  Angus  and  other  good  cattle. 

Mr.  Ervin  was  married  in  Licking  township,  December  29,  1870,  to 
Miss  Henrietta  Slater,  who  was  born  in  this  township,  August  20,  1849, 
daughter  of  James  and  Jane  M.  (Kirkpatrick)  Slater,  and  granddaugh- 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES  207 

ter  of  Jacob  Slater,  who  brought  the  family  to  Indiana  from  Ohio  in 
pioneer  days  and  became  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Blackford  county. 

James  Slater  was  married  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  in  L836  came 
to  Blackford  county,  and  located  on  wild  land'  in  Licking  township,  here 
continuing  to  reside  until  his  death.  .James  and  Jane  Slater  were  the 
parents  of  thirteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.  These  children  have  each  brief  mention  as  follows:  David. 
the  eldest  son.  spent  several  years  in  the  California  gold  fields  when 
a  youug  man,  returning  home  in  1862  to  engage  in  agriculture,  having 
purchased  nearly  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  in  1869-70  under- 
took, in  association  with  his  father,  a  sub-contract  for  grading  mi  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad,  hut  the  failure  of  the  chief  contractor 
caused  them  to  lose  nearly  all  they  had.  David  Slater  in  1863  married 
Julia  Everett,  a  daughter  of  a  Jackson  township  pioneer,  and  t hex- 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children.  David  Slater  died  in  March,  1870, 
and  his  widow  and  most  of  his  children  moved  to  Colorado.  The  sec 
ond  son  was  Rezin  Slater,  who  married  Lucy  Hughes,  of  Licking  town- 
ship, a  daughter  of  Aaron  Hughes,  a  pioneer,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren. The  third  son.  Joseph  Slater,  died  in  early  manhood,  having 
for  several  years  taught  school.  Next  in  the  Slater  family  was  the 
seven  daughters.  Elizabeth  married  Ilarve  Harmon  of  Licking  town- 
ship, a  farmer,  and  is  still  living,  the  mother  of  five  children.  Eliza 
married  John  Sims  of  Licking  township,  a  farmer,  and  she  is  now 
deceased,  having  been  the  mother  of  ten  children.  Sarah  died  in  early 
womanhood.  Maria  married  Tice  Hudson,  they  lived  in  Hlackford 
county,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  six  children.  Dona  Martha  married 
Dodge  Swift  of  Licking  township,  a  farmer,  and  became  the  mother  of 
three  children.  Mary  Ann  married  David  W.  Stewart,  a  Jackson  town- 
ship farmer,  and  is  still  living,  the  mother  of  two  children.  Henrietta 
was  the  daughter  who  is  now  Mrs.  W.  L.  Ervin.  John  A.  Slater,  the 
next  son  after  these  daughters,  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Ellen  Lytle  of  Licking  township,  and  their  two  children  are  living, 
Bruce  in  Colorado,  and  Mae  M.,  a  trained  nurse  in  Indianapolis.  John 
A.  Slater  married  for  his  second  wife,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Emsweller 
of  Hartford  City.  John  A.  Slater  was  a  lifelong  school  teacher,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession  in  the  Hartford  City  schools 
when  a  stroke  of  paralysis  caused  his  death.  Lemach  Slater  was 
the  only  one  of  the  thirteen  children  to  die  in  infancy.  Thomas  I.  Slater, 
the  youngest  son,  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Margaret  Davis 
of  Licking  township,  who  lived  only  a  few  years,  and  left  no  children. 
Thomas  Slater  then  went  out  to  Gilpin  county,  Colorado,  and  there 
married  Maggie  Murphy  of  Idaho  Springs,  and  their  one  daughter, 
Katharine,  is  engaged  in  teaching  at  Durango,  Colorado.  Thomas  Slater 
is  now  engaged  in  mining  at  Alice,  Colorado. 

James  Slater,  the  father  of  these  children,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  in  1877,  in  Licking  township.  His  widow.  Jane  M.,  was  by  his 
death  left  alone  at  home,  and  then  gave  up  housekeeping  and  lived 
with  her  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  William  L.  Ervin,  for  eleven  years, 
until  her  death  in  November,  1888. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ervin  have  been  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Satyra  J.  married  Melvin  Ray.  who  died  leaving  two  children,  Charles 
and  Marguerite,  and  married  for  her  second  husband.  P.  W.  Dunn,  a 
farmer  of  Union  township,  Delaware  county,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren, Ruth  C.  and  Betty  J. ;  Aurora  Blanche,  formerly  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City,  is  now  the  wife  of  William  1' 
Modlin,  a  Licking  township  farmer,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children. 
Hazel  and  Mary.    Robert  Franklin  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.    Oscar 


208  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Slater,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the  operation  of  his  father's  homestead, 
married  Ada  Craig  of  Licking  township,  and  their  two  children  are 
Catherine  and  William  C. ;  Thomas  W.,  who  graduated  at  the  Terre 
Haute  Normal  School,  is  a  teacher  by  vocation,  and  now  assistant  sup- 
erintendent of  the  chemical  works  at  Hammond,  Indiana,  and  married 
Ora  Hurlock  of  .Madison  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ervin  are  consistent  members  of  Mount  Carmel  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  a  class  leader  and  prominent  in 
religious  movements.  Theirs  is  an  ideal  country  home,  known  for  its 
refinement  and  hospitality,  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ervin  have  long  been 
accounted  leaders  in  the  social  life  of  the  community.  Since  1884  Mr. 
Ervin  has  been  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  prohibition  party,  having 
in  that  year  east  his  vote  for  John  Pierce  St.  John,  presidential  candi- 
date of  the  prohibition  party. 

David  Cole.  Although  the  conscientious  and  well-directed  labor 
of  David  Cole  belongs  to  the  past  history  of  Blackford  county  rather 
than  to  the  present,  evidences  are  still  to  be  found  of  his  sojourn  within 
its  borders,  and  particularly  of  his  diligence  in  developing  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  wife,  in  section  10,  Washington  township.  Throughout  a 
long  career  he  proved  himself  a  useful  citizen  and  helpful  member  of 
society,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  April  26,  1002,  was  considered 
one  of  the  substantial  and  forceful  men  of  a  stirring  community. 

Mr.  Cole  was  born  April  3,  1836,  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
a  son  of  Broad  Cole,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  came  of  an  honored  family 
of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  grandfather  entered  land  near  Royalton. 
from  the  government.  There  Broad  Cole  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Leah  Peters,  who  had  also  been  born  in  Ohio,  her  parents  settling 
in  the  same  locality  as  did  the  Coles.  Both  the  Coles  and  Peters  were 
enterprising  and  progressive  farming  people,  and  the  parents  on  both 
sides  lived  to  advanced  years,  and  were  successful  in  accumulating 
much  property.  After  their  marriage  Broad  and  Leah  Cole  located  on 
his  father's  large  farm  of  300  acres,  which  he  later  owned,  and  where 
he  and  his  wife  spent  their  active  years,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight,  and  the  mother  when  eighty-five  years  of  age.  They  were 
old  school  Baptists  by  religion,  and  one  of  their  sons,  Thomas  Cole,  be- 
came a  prominent  minister  of  that  faith,  being  known  in  various  parts 
of  the  country.  He  finally  died  in  the  South,  when  about  eighty  years 
of  age,  leaving  a  large  family. 

David  Cole  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  of  whom 
Jonathan,  Henry  and  Joseph  are  yet  living,  are  all  married  and  have 
families.  Jonathan  is  a  resident  of  Lakota,  North  Dakota,  where  he  is 
county  superintendent  of  schools;  Henry  is  a  resident  of  Lancaster, 
Ohio,  where  he  and  his  wife  conduct  a  successful  hotel;  and  Joseph 
is  a  worker  and  writer  of  local  county  historical  works  and  is  now  mak- 
ing his  home  in  West  Virginia. 

David  Cole  was  reared  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  where  he  received 
an  educational  training  which  fitted  him  for  work  as  a  teacher,  being 
thus  engaged  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  until  November  19,  1868,  when 
he  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  120 
acres,  in  section  10,  Washington  township.  From  a  practically  worth- 
less waste,  he  developed  this  land  into  a  valuable  and  productive  farm, 
building  good  structures  and  installing  numerous  improvements  of  a 
modern  character.  Later  he  sold  forty  acres  of  this  property,  and  subse- 
quently platted  two  and  one-half  acres,  which  he  sold  off  in  lots,  this 
section  now  being  an  addition  to  the  village  of  Dundee  (Roll  P.  O.). 
The  balance,  a  property  of  seventy-seven  and  one-half  acres,   is  still 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COrXTlKs  209 

owned  by  Mrs.  Cole.  In  addition  to  his  farming  operations,  Mr.  Cole 
was  for  some  years  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Blackford  countj .  and 
was  very  favorably  known  as  an  educator.  His  citizenship  was  such 
as  to  gain  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  community,  and  those 
with  whom  he  had  business  dealings  invariably  found  him  a  man  of  the 
strictest  business  principles.  Originally  a  democrat,  he  transferred  his 
support  to  the  prohibition  party  during  his  later  years  and  on  everj 
occasion  upheld  the  cause  of  temperance. 

In  1859,  while  still  a  resident  of  Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Ode 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Williamson,  who  was  born 
in  that  county,  April  26,  1837.  She  was  reared  and  educated  there, 
and.  qualifying  as  a  teacher,  "kept"  school  for  two  years  prior  to  her 
marriage.  She  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  1912,  when  she  began 
living  with  her  daughters  at  Montpelier,  between  whose  homes  she 
now  divides  her  time.  Mrs.  Cole  is  a  daughter  of  .Jacob  and  Eliza 
(Odell)  Williamson,  her  mother  being  a  cousin  of  ex-Governor  Odd], 
of  New  York.  Mr.  Williamson  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  four  years 
later  was  taken  to  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  where  his  parents.  Theodore 
and  Rhoda  (Cox)  Williamson,  spent  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives 
on  a  farm.  They  were  Methodists,  and  belonged  to  the  substantial  class 
of  pioneers  who  made  the  Buckeye  state  great.  .Mrs.  Eliza  (Odell) 
Williamson  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Catherine  Odell.  who  came 
from  Virginia  to  Highland  county,  Ohio,  and  took  up  and  improved 
wild  land.  Still  later  in  life  they  went  by  ox  teams  to  .Michigan,  and 
again  began  life  in  a  primitive  way  in  a  new  community.  In  that  state 
they  continued  to  spend  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives.  This  old 
couple,  probably  Methodists,  had  the  spirit  of  the  pioneers,  and  their 
labors  did  much  to  advance  the  development  of  the  various  communities 
in  which  they  made  their  homes.  After  their  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Williamson,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Cole,  settled  on  a  farm  and  there  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  death  claimed  them,  the 
father  when  he  was  seventy-three  years  of  age.  and  the  mother  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  They  were  faithful  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Methodist  church,  in  the  faith  of  which  they  reared  their  children. 
In  early  life  Mr.  Williamson  was  a  whig  in  his  political  proclivities, 
but  later  joined  the  ranks  of  the  republican  party.  He  was  not  an  office 
seeker  nor  politician,  but  was  content  to  spend  his  life  in  the  peaceful 
pursuits  of  the  soil,  free  from  the  jealousies  and  bitterness  of  public 
life.  Mrs.  Cole  wTas  the  sixth  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  six  daugh- 
ters and  one  son  are  still  living,  all  married,  while  four  of  the  daugh- 
ters are  widows. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Enos, 
a  well-known  attorney  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  married  Bertha  Clap- 
per, and  they  have  three  children, — Leah.  Ruth,  and  Burr,  the  two 
former  at  the  City  High  school:  Amos,  a  hardware  dealer  of  Bluffton. 
Indiana,  married  Addie  Oppenheim,  and  has  no  children;  Laura,  widow 
of  Elmer  C.  Storm,  lives  on  her  farm  near  Dundee,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters,— Ruth  and  E.  C. :  Mary  E..  married  Nathan  B.  Certain  of  Illinois, 
a  practical  carpenter  and  builder  who  is  looking  after  the  high  school 
buildings  at  Montpelier,  and  they  have  four  children, — Dorothy,  a  grad- 
uate of  Montpelier  High  school,  class  of  1913,  and  now  a  student  at  the 
Terre  Haute  State  Normal  school,  Howard  Guy.  also  a  high  school  grad- 
uate and  student  at  the  normal  school.  Laura  E.,  a  student  in  the  high 
school,  class  of  1915,  and  Neil  V..  now  in  the  eighth  grade  of  the  public 
schools:  Eliza  L..  the  wife  of  Abe  Gruver.  of  Warren,  Indiana,  has  one 
son. — Calvin  Cole,  aged  ten  years,  who  is  attending  the  public  schools: 
and  Magdalene,  who  is  the  wife  of  Ira  P.  Nelson,  representing  a  Chicago 


210  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

piano  house,  lives  on  High  street,  Montpelier,  and  has  two  daughters, — 
Jessie  M.,  aged  twenty  years,  a  graduate  of  high  school  and  now  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  and  Janice,  aged  nine  years. 

Mrs.  Cole  is  still  active  and  strong  in  body  and  is  in  full  possession 
of  her  mental  faculties.  Her  residence  in  Blackford  county  has  covered 
a  period  of  forty-six  years,  and  during  this  time  she  has  watched  the 
growth  and  development  of  this  section  into  one  of  the  richest  in  the 
great  Hoosier  state.  Throughout  this  time  she  has  continued  to  con- 
tribute her  full  share  toward  the  general  welfare,  and  is  entitled  there- 
fore to  mention  among  the  builders  of  the  county. 

William  Carroll.  The  late  William  Carroll,  who  for  many  years 
was  one  of  Blackford  county's  most  prominent  and  influential  farmers, 
came  of  tine  old  Irish  ancestry.  His  great-grandfather,  Robert  Carroll, 
was  born  of  Protestant  parents,  in  Ireland,  about  1750,  and  there  mar- 
ried Mary  Bell,  who  was  also  of  a  good  family,  and  in  1770  they  came 
to  America,  being  accompanied  by  Mr.  Carroll's  two  brothers  and  his 
sister.  Locating  in  Morriss  township,  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, they  took  up  land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  continuing 
to  be  thus  engaged  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carroll  lived  to  advanced  ages  and  were  well  known  and  highly 
respected  in  their  community.  They  had  seven  children,  including 
James  Carroll,  the  grandfather  of  William  Carroll. 

The  eldest  child  of  his  parents.  James  Carroll  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  about  the  year  1771,  and  in  his  native  locality 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Marshall.  They  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children,  among  whom  Robert  Carroll,  the  father  of  William  Car- 
roll, was  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  and  was  born  June  14,  1800,  in 
Washington  county.  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Margaret  Gregory,  who  was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania  at  about 
the  same  time  and  came  of  Scotch-Irish  stock,  being  a  kinswoman  of 
many  prominent  Pennsylvania  people,  among  them  General  Abercrom- 
bie's  family.  After  the  birth  of  several  of  their  children,  including 
William,  who  was  born  September  10,  1828,  Robert  Carroll  and  his  wife 
migrated  overland  by  way  of  teams  to  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  lo- 
cating upon  wild  land  on  the  Mississinewa  river,  sixteen  miles  north- 
west of  Municetown,  as  it  was  then  called,  not  far  across  the  river  from 
Eaton,  in  1838.  Mr.  Carroll  had  disposed  of  his  Pennsylvania  farm 
for  the  sum  of  $2,000,  and  accordingly  was  able  to  make  quite  a  pur- 
chase of  land  when  he  came  to  Indiana.  The  family  settled  in  a  little 
log  cabin  home,  in  which  were  born  Samuel  and  Margaret,  both  of  whom 
died  young.  The  father  was  a  thrifty  and  industrious  land  owner, 
made  a  success  of  his  undertakings  through  business  acumen  and  good 
management,  and  when  he  passed  away  was  known  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  community  and  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  his  part  of  the  county. 

William  Carroll  was  the  last  of  his  parents'  children  to  die,  passing 
away  at  his  home  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  October  8, 
1902.  He  had  grown  up  on  a  farm  in  Delaware  county,  and  from  young 
manhood  proved  himself  a  steady,  hard-working  man.  When  about 
of  age,  he  with  his  brother  Wesley,  went  to  the  mountains  of  Colorado 
and  Montana,  where  they  were  engaged  in  mining  for  seven  years  and 
met  with  good  success.  Returning  to  Indiana,  they  purchased  some 
COO  acres  of  land  in  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  located  in 
section  5  on  Licking  Creek,  which  stream  ran  through,  watered  and 
drained  the  land.  After  his  marriage,  in  1866,  Mr.  Carroll  settled  on 
this  property,  bringing  his  mother  with  him,  and  she  died  here  in  1869, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        211 

the  father  having  passed  away  a  long  period  before  when  only  forty 
years  of  age.  She  was  sixty-l'onr  years  old  and  passed  away  in  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  ehnreh. 

After  settling  on  his  large  farm  in  Licking  township,  Mr.  Carroll 
began  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment, and  as  the  years  passed  added  to  its  acreage  from  time  to  time, 
until  he  had  nearly  1,000  acres,  the  greater  part  of  his  land  being  im- 
proved. A  thrifty  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  his  cattle,  sheep  and  horses 
were  of  the  best  breed  and  of  every  variety,  and  his  live  stock  of  all 
kinds  met  with  a  ready  sale  in  the  large  markets.  He  was  known  as 
a  leading  exhibitor  at  all  the  stock  shows,  county  fairs  and  agricultural 
exhibits,  won  numerous  prizes  with  his  animals,  and  was  known  as  an 
authority  on  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  breeding  of  stock,  being  a 
frequent  and  valued  contributor  to  agricultural  papers  on  the  subject. 
In  political  matters  he  was  prominent  as  a  republican  in  his  early  years, 
but  became  a  Bryan  democrat  with  the  advent  of  the  brilliant  young 
Nebraskan,  and  continued  a  supporter  of  that  party  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  taking  an  active  part  in  political  matters.  His  last  years 
were  passed  in  semi-retirement,  in  his  beautiful  home,  and  there  he 
passed  away,  mourned  by  a  with-  circle  of  friends  who  had  been  at- 
tracted to  him  by  his  many  manly  and  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart. 

Mr.  Carroll  was  married  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  -J. 
Elton,  who  was  born  and  reared  at  that  place  and  educated  at  Billard 
Academy,  a  female  institute,  in  the  work  of  the  alumni  of  which  she  has 
since  taken  an  active  interest.  She  still  resides  at  the  beautiful,  modern 
country  home  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Carroll  to  replace  the  modest  little 
house  in  which  they  settled  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  Mrs.  Car- 
roll is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Phoebe  (Shoemaker)  Elton,  natives  of 
New  Jersey.  Her  grandparents,  English  people,  emigrated  to  Nova 
Scotia  not  long  after  their  marriage  and  then  came  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania.  In  their  native  land  they 
had  been  prominent,  and  here  they  were  also  known  as  among  the 
leading  families,  and  later  when  they  moved  to  Salem,  New  Jersey,  be- 
came connected  with  the  Shoemakers,  another  well-known  family,  by 
marriage.  John  Elton  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  his 
wife  when  seventy-six.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
were  talented  vocalists  and  belonged  to  the  church  choir.  In  their 
family  there  were  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  up, 
married,    and   reared   children,   and   all   survive   except   three. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll,  and  of  these,  four 
died  young,  while  Margaret  passed  away  as  a  young  woman  in  190L 
Three  children  are  living:  Charles  E.,  Elizabeth  and  Anna.  Charles  E. 
Carroll,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  is  also 
an  authority  on  stock  matters  and  an  able  writer  on  the  subject.  He  is 
engaged  in  looking  after  his  father's  large  estate,  and  is  a  leading  fac- 
tor in  business  affairs  in  the  county.  He  has  for  some  years  been  a  mem- 
ber, of  the  Sheep  Breeders'  Association.  In  public  matters  he  has  also 
been  prominent,  and  is  serving  as  a  joint  member  of  the  Legislature  from 
Blackford  and  Grant  counties  for  the  term  of  1912-14.  Ann  Carroll 
married  Dr.  C.  J.  Stover,  of  Eaton.  Delaware  county,  Indiana;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  resides  with  her  mother,  is  widely  known  is  vocal  and 
instrumental  musical  circles,  being  a  teacher  of  music  with  classes  at 
Hartford  City.  She  also  is  possessed  of  a  beautiful  voice  adapted  to 
church  work,  and  has  frequently  acted  as  soloist  in  the  choirs  of  large 
Indianapolis  churches  and  at  other  points.     With  her  mother  she  at- 


212  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

tends  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hartford  City,  and  both  have  been 
active  in  its  work. 

Jay  A.  Hindman.  He  whose  name  initiates  this  review,  has  achieved 
national  reputation  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  may  well  be  termed 
one  of  the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  the  United  States.  He 
is  a  native  of  Indiana  and  is  thus  fully  entitled  to  definite  recognition  in 
this  volume,  though  he  has  recently  established  his  residence  at  Modesto, 
Stanislaus  County,  California. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Hindman  family  is  traced  to  Dutch  and  Irish 
sources  and  his  lineal  ancestors  were  conspicuous  in  the  colonial  period 
of  our  national  history,  one  of  whom,  on  the  maternal  side,  having  come 
to  this  country  in  1620,  on  the  Mayflower,  and  the  great-grandfather, 
on  the  paternal  side,  was  a  valiant  soldier  and  officer  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution. 

The  maternal  ancestry  was  of  Irish  extraction  and,  as  a  part  of  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  settled  in  Massachusetts,  while  the  paternal  line  was 
Dutch  and  formed  a  part  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  to  which 
was  committed  the  care  and  colonization  of  "New  Netherland. "  This 
company,  in  1626,  purchased  Manhattan  Island  and  erected  a  fort  thereon 
called  "Fort  Amsterdam."  Soon  afterward,  this  company  purchased 
other  tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  including  Governor's  Island  and 
Staten  Island,  and  to  this  source  certain  of  Mr.  Hindman 's  kinsfolk  to 
this  day  trace  title  to  valuable  real  estate  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and 
Brooklyn. 

James  Hindman,  grandfather  of  Jay  A.,  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  the  state  of  New  York  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and 
there  was  reared  to  maturity.  After  his  marriage,  he  emigrated  to  what 
was  then  regarded  as  the  "far  west"  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  near  Wooster,  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  He  became  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  the  state,  and  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
which  met  at  Chillicothe  in  November,  1802,  and  drafted,  and  for  the 
people  ratified,  the  first  constitution  of  Ohio. 

Crooks  Hindman,  son  of  James  Hindman,  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  February  23,  1821,  and  was  married  at  the  same  place,  November 
30,  1848,  to  Matilda,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Sarah  (Mercer)  Brown, 
her  birth  having  occurred  March  27,  1823,  in  the  same  county.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  Frances  E.,  September  13,  1849;  Albert  M.,  February 
20,  1851,  who  died  in  1859;.  Mary  E.,  September  13,  1855,  who  died  in 
the  state  of  Oklahoma  in  the  year  1907 ;  Clarrissa  J.,  August  24,  1857 ; 
Thomas  J.,  October  2,  1859 ;  Jay  A.,  September  1,  1861,  and  Louisa  A., 
April  23,  1864. 

Both  of  these  parents  were  educated  at  the  Wooster  Academy,  a 
Presbyterian  school,  and  at  that  time  one  of  the  leading  educational 
institutions  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  father  excelled  in  mathematics, 
while  the  mother  had  an  especial  aptitude  in  music,  and  attained  a 
remarkable  proficiency  in  the  languages,  including  Greek,  Latin  and 
Hebrew,  and  to  the  time  of  her  death  delighted  to  read  her  Bible  in  the 
original  Hebrew  tongue.  Both  were  devout  Presbyterians  of  the  old 
school,  and  they  applied  their  church  discipline  to  their  family  govern- 
ment with  rigorous  exaction. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  yielding  to  a  desire  for  adventure,  as 
their  ancestors  had  done,  they  left  their  native  heath  where  they  were 
surrounded  with  comfort  and  refinement,  to  make  their  home  in  the  wdds 
of  the  ' '  distant  west, ' '  They  settled  in  Jefferson  Township,  Wells  County, 
Indiana,  and  in  the  spring  of  1849,  built  a  cabin  in  the  woods  and  for 
many  years  endured  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  213 

life.  Here  were  their  children  born  and  reared,  and  by  parental  tutor- 
age, were  educated.  Here  also  the  father  died  in  1876,  bul  be  bad  lived 
to  see  those  dismal  forests  disappear  before  the  resolute  blow  of  the 
woodman's  ax,  and  in  their  stead  were  fertile  farms,  fruitful  fields 
blooming  orchards,  and  happy  homes,  with  schools  and  churches,  low  us 
and  villages  and  good  roads  on  every  hand  to  reward  him  and  his  fellow 
pioneers  for  the  many  hardships  and  privations  they  endured  while 
subduing  an  obstinate  wilderness.  The  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
and  in  1909  she  departed  this  life  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Frances 
E.  Bowman,  near  the  old  homestead,  ripe  in  years  and  rich  in  the  love 
of  all  who  knew  her. 

Jay  A.  Hhidman  was  born  in  the  original  log  cabin  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  has  not  only  tasted,  but  drank  deeply  of  the  cup  of  pioneer 
experience.  While  a  mere  lad,  he  helped  not  only  to  clear  away  the 
forests  and  to  ditch  and  fence  the  farm,  but  helped  also  to  build  the 
public  highways  of  the  township  through  bramble,  swamp  and  woods, 
and  many  were  the  days  during  which  he  drove  an  ox  team  drawing  logs 
to  build  corduroy  roads  across  impassable  "swales"  that  abounded  in 
that  region  in  those  days. 

The  demands  upon  his  labor  were  too  pressing  to  allow  him  to  attend 
public  school,  but  the  educational  attainments  of  his  parents  stood  him  in 
good  stead,  and  by  their  aid  he  kept  abreast  of  those  who  enjoyed  the 
privileges  of  the  public  schools.  When  he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age, 
his  father  died.  This  bereavement  cast  upon  him  a  heavy  burden  for 
one  so  young  to  bear,  but  he  was  old  beyond  his  years,  and  soon  so 
shaped  his  home  affairs  as  to  enable  him  to  go  away  to  school.  Placing 
the  income  of  the  farm  at  the  disposal  of  his  mother  and  sisters  who 
were  yet  at  home,  he  entered  the  Methodist  Episcopal  College  at  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  This  college  was  later  removed  to  Upland,  Grant  County, 
Indiana,  and  is  now  the  Taylor  University.  Later,  he  entered  the 
Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  now  called  the 
Valparaiso  University,  where  he  graduated  from  the  Teachers'  Depart- 
ment in  the  year  1883,  and  in  the  year  1887,  he  graduated  from  the 
Scientific  Department  of  the  same  institution,  receiving  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science.  These  achievements  were  phenomenal  from  the  fact 
that  not  only  was  he  deprived  of  all  privileges  of  the  public  schools,  but 
that  he  made  his  way  through  college  without  any  financial  aid  whatever, 
and  in  the  meantime  paid  off  a  mortgage  indebtedness  of  $800  on  the 
home  place  in  addition  to  contributing  to  the  support  of  his  mother  and 
younger  sister  who  remained  upon  the  farm. 

While  pursuing  his  first  course  in  college,  through  the  influence  of  a 
fellow  student  from  Blackford  County,  he  was  employed  as  teacher  in 
one  of  the  rural  schools  of  that  county,  in  which  capacity  he  demon- 
strated superior  ability  and  to  which  position  he  was  recalled  for  five 
successive  terms,  during  the  intervals  of  which  he  attended  college,  where 
he  also  taught  four  hours  a  day  in  addition  to  carrying  the  regular  work 
of  the  prescribed  course,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  complete  his  college 
education  with  the  other  members  of  his  class. 

In  the  year  1889,  he  was  elected  County  Superintendent  of  the  public- 
schools  of  Blackford  county,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  the 
year  1891.  Entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  he  found  the  county 
without  any  definite  educational  system  and  the  schools  disorganized,  and 
he  laid  hold  of  the  work  of  bringing  order  out  of  chaos  with  that  zeal 
and  determination  which  has  characterized  his  whole  career.  He  inau- 
gurated a  system  of  gradation  and  reports,  prescribed  a  uniform  course 
of  study,  raised  the  moral  and  educational  requirements  of  teachers  and 


214        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

strove  to  make  teaching  a  profession  and  not  a  "job,"  and  gave  impetus 
to  the  educational  interests  of  the  county  which  is  felt  to  this  day.  Such 
was  the  transformation  in  so  short  a  time  as  to  attract  wide  attention 
and  the  methods  employed  by  him  were  largely  adopted  in  many  of  the 
counties  of  the  state.  As  an  index  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
by  the  educational  fraternity,  we  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from  The 
American  School  Journal,  a  periodical  devoted  to  the  cause  of  education 
and  of  wide  circulation  in  the  middle  west : 

"Perhaps  nowhere  can  be  found  more  striking  evidence  of  the  value 
of  efficient,  vigorous  and  intelligent  supervision  than  in  Blackford 
County,  Indiana.  Although  the  youngest  county  superintendent  in  the 
state,  Prof.  Hindman  has  wrought  a  marvelous  transformation  in  the 
rural  schools  of  that  county.  He  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  educational 
interests  of  the  county  but  three  years,  and  within  that  brief  time  has 
inaugurated  and  put  into  successful  operation  a  public  school  system 
which  is  equal  to  the  best  and  which  has  brought  the  schools  under  his 
supervision  boldly  to  the  fore-front.  But  to  know  the  man,  is  to  discover 
the  cause.  He  is  energy  personified  and  his  soul  is  in  his  work.  While 
he  is  primarily,  and  in  every  true  sense,  a  "school  man,"  he  is  also  a 
man  of  affairs  and  possessed  of  wonderful  versatility.  He  is  not  only  a 
scholar,  but  an  organizer  as  well.  He  is  an  orator  of  high  rank,  possessing 
a  fluency  of  language,  ease  of  manner,  dignified  poise,  graceful  gesture 
and  pleasing  voice  so  harmoniously  blended  as  to  place  him  in  the  front 
rank  as  a  forceful  and  pleasing  platform  speaker,  with  few  equals  and 
none  superior  in  the  state. 

"In  politics,  Mr.  Hindman  is  a  democrat  and  is  the  present  chairman 
of  the  county  central  committee  of  his  party.  And  while  a  partisan  with 
strong  convictions,  he  is  too  broad  to  allow  party  politics  to  enter  educa- 
tional affairs,  as  even  his  political  opponents  admit.  He  has  ever  been 
a  close  student  of  political  history  and  the  science  of  government,  and 
is  strong  in  the  conviction  that  a  tariff  levied  for  the  purpose  of  protec- 
tion is  wrong  in  theory  and  unjust  in  practice.  His  public  utterances 
on  this  and  kindred  questions,  coupled  with  his  superior  oratorical 
ability,  soon  attracted  wide  attention  and  his  services  are  in  great  demand 
as  a  public  speaker,  especially  in  political  campaign  work.  As  early  as 
the  national  campaign  of  1884,  he  canvassed  this  and  adjoining  states 
under  the  auspices  of  his  party  organization  and  was  billed  as  'The  Boy 
Orator  of  Indiana, '  and  in  each  subsequent  campaign,  including  the  one 
just  closed,  he  has  been  heard  throughout  the  states  of  the  middle  west 
and  is  universally  esteemed  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  convincing 
advocates  of  the  principles  for  which  his  party  stands." 

Early  in  life,  he  resolved  to  become  a  lawyer,  and  this  purpose  to 
him  was  a  "polar  star"  in  guiding  his  subsequent  career.  His  choice 
in  this  respect  was  determined  by  an  incident  which  occurred  in  his  early 
childhood.  His  father  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  township  in  which 
he  lived.  A  case  was  tried  before  him  which,  at  that  time,  was  considered 
an  important  event,  and  the  people,— men,  women  and  children, — from 
"all  the  regions  round  about  Jordan,"  came  out  to  hear  it.  To  accom- 
modate the  assembled  hosts,  the  floor  of  the  double  log  barn  was  converted 
into  an  improvised  temple  of  justice.  There  in  the  presence  of  the  motley 
throng,  the  case  was  tried  before  a  jury  which  had  been  summoned  from 
all  quarters  of  the  township.  Appearing  for  one  of  the  parties  to  the 
action,  was  the  Honorable  Joseph  S.  Dailey,  a  rising  young  lawyer  of 
Bluffton.  subsequently  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  The 
occasion  was  an  auspicious  one  to  the  future  disciple  of  Blackstone.  With 
wide-eyed  admiration  and  every  faculty  alert,  he  drank  in  every  word 
which  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  young  attorney,  and  then  resolved  to 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  215 

emulate  him  in  his  chosen  profession.  As  an  interesting  sequence,  years 
afterward,  and  when  both  had  become  prominent,  these  men  were  warm 
personal,  politieal  and  professional  friends  and  mutual  admirers,  and 
they  were  engaged,  as  opposing  counsel,  in  the  midst  of  the  trial  of  an 
important  ease  at  the  time  of  the  sudden  and  untimely  death  of  Judge 
Dailey,  whom  Mr.  Bondman  had  so  long  regarded  as  his  patron  saint. 

Mr.  Hindman's  rise  in  the  legal  profession  was  rapid  and  brilliant. 
From  early  in  life,  he  was  a  elose  and  interested  student  of  lilaekstone. 
Kent,  Greenlief,  Chitty  and  other  eminent  authorities  and  before  begin- 
ning the  active  practice,  few  lawyers  were  better  grounded  in  the  basic 
principles  of  the  law.  During  his  incumbency  of  the  office  of  county 
superintendent,  he  pursued  the  study  and  practical  application  of  the 
law  in  the  office  of  Shinn  &  Pierce  in  Hartford  City.  In  1892,  he  was 
nominated,  without  his  solicitation,  as  candidate,  on  the  democratic  ticket, 
for  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  forty-eighth  judicial  circuit 
of  Indiana,  then  composed  of  the  counties  of  Grant  and  Blackford,  and 
although  the  normal  political  majority  in  the  circuit  was  overwhelmingly 
against  him.  he  was  defeated  in  the  election  by  a  very  narrow  margin. 
At  the  next  session  of  the  state  legislature,  by  a  special  enactment,  the 
forty-eighth  judicial  circuit  was  changed  by  segregating  Grant  county. 
and  Blackford  county  was  united  with  Wells  county,  creating  thereby 
the  twenty-eighth  judicial  circuit.  In  this  circuit  there  was  a  vacancy 
in  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  and,  on  March  8,  190:!,  Mr.  Hindman 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Matthews  to  till  this  vacancy,  to  accept  which 
he  resigned  the  county  superintendency. 

On  assuming  the  duties  of  the  office.  Mr.  Hindman  displayed  the 
same  energy  and  ability  which  had  characterized  his  previous  efforts 
and  he  soon  became  recognized  as  one  of  the  strongest  prosecuting  attor- 
neys in  the  state.  Instead  of  devoting  his  attention  to  petty  infractions, 
he  looked  more  especially  to  grave  violations  of  the  law  and  soon  struck 
terror  to  the  hearts  of  hardened  criminals.  In  disehargine-  the  duties  of 
the  office,  as  in  all  of  his  undertakings,  he  was  conscientious  to  a  high 
degree,  and  was  guided  by  the  theory  that  it  was  as  much  the  duty  of  a 
prosecuting  attorney  to  protect  the  innocent  as  to  convict  the  guilty,  and 
in  cases  where  he  had  reasonable  doubt  as  to  the  guilt  of  the  accused,  he 
frankly  told  the  jury  so  and  asked  for  an  acquittal. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  appointed,  lie  was 
nominated  by  his  party  for  the  ensuing  term  and  stood  for  election  in 
November.  1904.  During  his  incumbency,  the  criminal  and  lawless  ele- 
ment had  learned  that  they  eoidd  receive  no  quarter  at  his  hands,  and 
that  party  fealty  afforded  them  no  immunity  from  prosecution.  Accord- 
ingly, the  lawless  element  of  all  parties  combined  to  encompass  his  de- 
feat, and  tin-  war  was  on.  Courageously,  he  hurled  defiance  at  his 
opponents  and  would  make  no  bargain.  He  warned  all  criminals  that, 
if  elected,  their  only  means  of  protection  from  prosecution  was  to  violate 
no  law.     He  was  importuned  by  influential  members  of  Ins   party   to 

dismiss  certain  prosecutions  then  pending  in  the  courts,  as  a  c lit  ion 

upon  which  he  would  receive  the  support  of  a  powerful  criminal  element, 
but  he  replied  that  his  self-respect  was  not  for  sale  and  that  he  could 
not  be  purchased  at  any  price.  As  a  result,  the  law-abiding  voters. 
regardless  of  party  affiliations,  came  to  his  support.  That  election  was 
a  republican  '■land-slide-'  throughout  the  state  and  his  party  went  down 
to  defeat,  but  he  was  elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  was  the  only  candi- 
date on  the  democratic  ticket  that  carried  his  home  county. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  office  for  which  he  was  elected,  he 
engaged  in  general  practice  of  the  law  in  Hartford  City,  and  his  advance- 
ment in  his  profession  was  rapid  and  distinctive,  as  shown  by  the  success 


216        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

he  has  achieved.  Oil  and  natural  gas  having  been  discovered  in  that 
part  of  the  state,  he  made  an  especial  study  of  the  law  pertaining  to  this 
class  of  property  and  soon  his  clientage  extended  to  all  of  the  oil  and 
natural  gas  fields  in  this  country  and  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  and 
he  is  everywhere  recognized  as  authority  on  this  branch  of  the  law.  So 
great  has  been  the  demand  for  his  services  in  this  class  of  litigation  that 
in  late  years  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  abandon  the  local  practice 
and  devote  his  time  to  this  special  class  of  work,  much  of  which  was  in 
the  Federal  Courts  and  in  the  highest  courts  of  various  states.. 

While,  for  a  number  of  years,  he  has  been  well  known  among  "oil 
men"  of  this  country,  it  was  not  until  the  year  1909  that  he  came  into 
national  prominence. 

For  many  years  natural  gas  was  known  to  exist  in  southern  Kansas, 
and  the  supply  had  been  regarded  as  inexhaustible.  The  Kansas  Natural 
Gas  Company  and  the  Wichita  Gas  Company  were  organized  by  eastern 
capitalists  as  distributing  companies.  Contracts  were  made  with  local 
companies  in  the  various  cities  of  Kansas  and  Missouri  by  which  these 
distributing  companies  obligated  themselves  to  deliver  a  designated  sup- 
ply of  natural  gas  to  the  local  companies  for  a  fixed  period  of  years. 
Replying  upon  these  contracts,  the  local  companies,  in  turn,  made  similar 
arrangements  with  their  customers  to  supply  them  with  this  valuable 
fuel.  Pursuant  to  these  arrangements,  systems  of  pipe  lines  of  enormous 
capacity  were  laid,  pumping  stations  were  installed  and  other  equipment 
supplied,  representing  an  expenditure  of  many  millions  of  dollars.  In 
1906,  the  supply  began  to  fail,  and  in  1909,  these  companies  were  unable 
to  fulfill  their  contracts  for  want  of  an  adequate  supply  of  natural  gas. 
Across  the  state  line,  in  the  state  of  Oklahoma,  was  an  abundant  supply, 
and  these  companies  made  arrangements  to  extend  their  trunk  lines  into 
that  state  to  acquire  this  much-needed  supply,  whereupon  the  legislature 
of  the  state  of  Oklahoma  enacted  a  statute,  the  purpose  of  which  was  to 
prevent  the  piping  of  natural  gas  out  of  the  state.  Efforts  to  lay  a 
pipe-line  into  the  state  were  met  with  armed  resistance.  The  state  line 
was  patroled  by  the  state  militia,  who,  by  command  of  the  governor, 
tore  up  the  pipe  lines  which  were  laid  into  the  state,  and  threw  them 
back  into  the  state  of  Kansas.  To  protect  their  investments  and  to  make 
good  their  contracts,  it  was  necessary  for  these  gas  companies  to  resort 
to  heroic  measures.  The  question  was,  What  could  they  do?  Resort  to 
the  state  courts  would  be  useless,  and  to  pursue  the  usual  method  of 
reaching  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  after  traversing  the 
tedious  routine  of  the  State  Courts,  meant  financial  ruin  by  delay.  The 
ablest  lawyers  in  the  country  were  consulted  and  retained,  among  whom 
were  Parker,  Hatch  &  Sheehan  of  New  York ;  Scarrett,  Scarrett  &  Jones 
of  Kansas  City ;  Zeveley,  Givens  &  Smith  of  Muskogee,  Oklahoma ;  Lee 
&  Mackey  of  Pittsburgh,  and  Jay  A.  Hindman  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana. 
After  careful  consideration,  it  was  determined  to  go  into  the  Federal 
Court,  in  the  first  instance,  to  enjoin  the  Governor,  Attorney  General, 
and  all  of  the  executive  officers  of  the  state  from  attempting  to  enforce 
the  Oklahoma  statute  in  the  State  Courts,  on  the  ground  that  the  statute 
was  in  violation  of  the  Commerce  Clause  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
and  also  of  the  XIV  Amendment.  Although  without  a  precedent  for 
such  procedure,  the  action  was  brought  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Oklahoma,  and,  because  of  his  ripe 
knowledge  of  the  questions  involved,  Mr.  Hindman  was  selected  by  the 
counsel  engaged  to  present  the  case,  which  he  did,  and  the  briefs  which 
he  filed  in  the  courts  are  regarded  by  the  legal  fraternity  as  classics  on 
the  subject  of  Constitutional  Law.  The  case  was  won  in  all  of  the  courts 
through  which  it  passed,  including  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        217 

States,  and  the  derision  rendered  therein  is  a  valuable  precedent  on  Un- 
important questions  involved. 

Mr.  Hindman  is  now  engaged  in  what  he  regards  as  the  crowning 
legal  battle  of  his  lit'.'.  An  action  was  brought  in  the  Circuit  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Illinois,  in  which  the  con- 
trolling question  involved  affects  the  validity  of  more  than  ninety  per 
cent,  of  the  contracts  for  the  production  of  oil  and  gas  in  this  country. 
Previous  to  the  bringing  of  this  action.  Mr.  Hindman  had  raised  the  same 
question  in  a  case  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  had 
secured  a  favorable  decision.  The  vital  question  involved  relate. 1  to  the 
effect  of  what  is  known  as  a  ■'surrender  clause"  in  Leases  on  land  for 
oil  and  gas  purposes.  It  was  the  contention  of  Mr.  Hindman  that  a 
provision  in  a  lease  which  gave  the  lessee  the  right  to  terminal.'  it  at  ,m\ 
time,  by  implication,  gave  the  same  right  to  the  other  party;  that  an 
estate  at  the  will  of  one  of  the  parties,  is  equally  at  the  will  of  both; 
that  contracts,  unperformed,  optional  as  to  one  of  the  parties.-  are 
optional  as  to  both.  The  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  adopted  this  view, 
and  as  practically  all  oil  and  gas  leases  contain  a  clause  giving  the 
lessee  a  right  to  terminate  the  lease  at  any  time,  this  decision,  it'  it  should 
become  a  ruling  precedent,  would  practically  nullify  all  leases  for  oil 
and  gas  purposes  in  this  country.  For  this  reason  all  of  the  great  oil 
companies,  especially  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  were  eager  to  neutralize 
the  Illinois  decision,  and  this  was  the  purpose  for  bringing  this  action 
in  the  Federal  Court.  In  that  court.  Judge  Wright  refused  to  follow 
the  State  Supreme  Court,  but  announced  a  different  rule,  although  the 
lease  in  controversy  was  executed  in  Illinois,  related  to  property  in 
Illinois  and  could  be  performed  nowhere  except  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Hind- 
man contended  that  the  decision  of  the  highest  court  of  the  state  created 
a  rule  of  property  in  that  state  which  was  binding  upon  the  Federal 
Courts,  and,  refusing  to  abide  by  the  decision  rendered,  he  appealed  to 
the  United  States  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  for  the  Seventh  Circuit,  in 
which  court  his  contention  prevailed,  and  the  decision  of  the  lower  court 
was  reversed.  The  case  was  entitled  Smith  et  al.  vs.  Guffey  et  al.,  and 
the  decision  is  reported  in  Vol.  202  Federal  Reporter  at  page  106. 

Having  thus  failed  in  their  purpose  to  nullify  the  ride  established  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  this  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  by  writ  of  certiorari,  where  it  is  now  pending.  Being 
defeated  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals,  the  allied  oil 
interests  added  to  their  previous  array  of  eminent  counsel  other  lawyers 
of  national  fame,  among  whom  were  the  firms  of  Philander  C.  Knox  of 
Pittsburgh,  Levey  Mayer  of  Chicago.  J.  W.  Moses  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
and  Senator  Joseph  W.  Bailey  of  Texas. 

Representing  the  respondents.  Mr.  Hindman  is  alone.  Such  is  the 
confidence  which  his  clients  have  in  him  that,  although  the  amount  in- 
volved is  a  princely  fortune,  they  are  willing  to  stake  all  on  his  ability 
to  cope  with  his  distinguished  adversaries.  They  prefer  to  give  him  free 
rein  and  leave  him  unhampered,  and  the  brief  and  argument  which  he 
has  filed  in  the  highest  court  of  the  land  fully  vindicate  their  judgment 
in  this  respect.  The  paramount  question  involved  is  the  relation  existing 
between  State  and  Federal  Courts,  under  the  Constitution,  and  the  duty 
of  the  Federal  Courts,  under  our  dual  system  of  government,  to  follow 
precedents  established  by  the  decisions  of  the  highest  courts  of  the  State 
when  such  decisions  establish  rules  of  property  within  the  state.  His 
brief  consists  of  more  than  two  hundred  pages  and  is  a  masterful  pre- 
sentation of  the  questions  of  "Judicial  Comity"  and  "Stare  Decisis." 

Although  in  the  prime  of  life.  Mr.  Hindman  has  retired  from  the 
general  practice  and  his  talents,  in  the  future,  will  be  employed  in  an 


218  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

advisory  capacity  only.  Having  earned  a  competency  sufficient  for  the 
necessaries  and  conveniences  of  life,  he  has  gone  to  the  Pacific  Coast, 
where  he  hopes  to  enjoy  his  remaining  years  amid  the  perennial  flowers 
and  sunshine  of  "The  Golden  West." 

John  H.  Philebaum.  The  able  and  popular  incumbent  of  the  office 
of  county  recorder,  Mr.  Philebaum,  is  one  of  the  loyal  and  valued  citizens 
of  Blackford  county.  He  has  deed  interest  in  the  history  of  this  favored 
section  of  Indiana  and  has  given  definite  co-operation  in  the  preparation 
of  the  publication  here  presented,  so  that  the  publishers  would  mark 
their  appreciation  in  the  work  of  a  brief  review  of  his  ancestral  and 
personal  record. 

The  lineage  of  Mr.  Philebaum  in  the  agnatic  derivation  is  traced  back 
to  the  stanchest  of  German  origin,  and  he  is  of  the  fifth  generation  of  the 
family  in  America.  The  founder  of  the  branch  in  the  United  States 
immigrated  from  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and  in  the  fatherland  the 
family  name  has  long  been  identified  with  the  grape-growing  and  wine 
manufacturing  industries.  It  is  supposed  that  this  worthy  ancestor  of 
John  H.  Philebaum  was  married  prior  to  coming  to  the  New  World, 
where  he  established  his  home  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
It  is  a  matter  of  record  that  the  voyage  to  America  was  specially  long 
and  tedious,  owing  to  the  primitive  type  of  the  vessel  and  the  adverse 
conditions  encountered  at  sea,  the  food  supplies  on  the  sailing  ship  having 
been  nearly  exahusted  before  it  arrived  at  its  destination.  Mr.  Phile- 
baum, who  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  him  whose  name  initiates 
this  review,  settled  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  a  representative  of  that  fine 
type  of  citizenship  which  has  made  the  German  agriculturists  of  the  old 
Keystone  State  famous  in  the  nation's  history.  The  religious  faith  of  the 
family  was  that  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  the  early  repre- 
sentatives in  America  retained  the  best  traditions  and  customs  of  the 
German  fatherland,  the  while  they  assimilated  fully  with  the  spirit  of 
the  land  of  their  adoption.  The  great-grandfather  of  John  H.  Philebaum 
likewise  passed  his  life  as  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  of  his  children  the  one  next  in  line  of  descent  to  the  present  county 
recorder  of  Blackford  county  was  Jacob  A.  Philebaum,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  continued  to  give  allegiance  to  the 
basic  industry  of  agriculture  until  he  severed  the  home  ties  and  as  a 
young  man,  came  to  Indiana,  being  accompanied  by  two  of  his  brothers, 
one  of  whom  was  George.  George  Philebaum  established  his  home  at 
Port  Wayne  and  the  other  brother,  Samuel,  located  at  Peru,  .Miami 
county,  the  while  Jacob  A.  selected  Payette  county  as  his  place  of  abode. 

In  that  county  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  this  sterling  pioneer 
to  Miss  Sarah  Sherry,  who  was  of  German  ancestry  and  probably  a 
member  of  a  family  that  originally  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  In  Fayette 
county  Jacob  A.  Philebaum  followed  the  pursuit  of  farming  and  there 
he  remained  until  about  1850.  when  he  sold  his  property  there  and  came 
to  Blackford  county.  Here  be  became  the  owner  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  25,  Jackson  township,  and  the  original  family  residence  was 
a  log  house  of  the  primitive  type  common  to  that  period.  This, cabin 
had  no  floor  save  that  provided  by  loose  boards  and  as  originally  used 
the  entrance  door  was  represented  simply  in  a  quilt  hung  over  the 
opening. 

Jacob  A.  Philebaum  and  bis  family  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of 
pioneer  days  and  courageously  set  to  themselves  the  task  of  reclaiming 
a  farm  from  the  wilderness.  In  that  early  period  wild  game  of  all  kinds 
was  plentiful  and  contributed  much  to  the  family  larder,  and  wolves 
often  gave  their  ungrateful  serenades  about  the  little  log  house.     And  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  219 

this  house  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  life,  which  was 
marked  by  consecutive  industry,  sterling  attributes  of  character  and 
utmost  kindliness.  He  was  sixty-three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  Ins 
death,  August  14.  1863.    After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  contracted 

a  second  marriage,  the  second  wife,  whose  name  was  Eliza  Ford,  becom 
ing  the  mother  of  two  children,  -James  and  Edward;  she  survived  her 
husband  by  a  number  of  years  and  was  a  resident  of  Blackford  county  at 
the  time  of  her  death,  though  the  closing  days  of  her  life  were  not  passed 
on  the  old  Homestead  Farm  just  mentioned.  .Mr.  Philebaum  was  the 
father  of  fourteen  children,  twelve  by  his  first  wife  and  two  bv  the 
second.  Brief  record  is  here  entered  of  the  children  of  the  first  mar- 
riage. David,  the  oldest  son,  was  killed  by  a  limb  falling  from  a 
burning  tree.  April  28.  1856,  at  Id  o'clock  I'.  M.,  while  Daniel,  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  army,  contracted  and  died  of  pneumonia  at  Franklin,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  buried  at  that  place  in  1862 ;  William  H.  is  representative 
farmer  of  Jackson  township  and  has  two  sons,  William  .M.  and  Jacob 
Asa;  Perry  E.,  who  is  now  living  virtually  retired  in  Montpelier,  Black- 
ford county,  has  five  children,  Willard,  Bazzil  B.,  Clem,  Charley  and 
Lydia,  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  J.  Fan-ell.  present  county  clerk  of  Black- 
ford county;  Joseph  Jacob  R.  owns  and  resides  upon  a  farm  in  Fayette 
county  and  has  three  children,  Martin,  Annie  and  Edna;  Martin  M.,  a 
retired  carpenter  and  blacksmith  of  Fayette  county,  has  one  daughter, 
Carrie;  Henry  F.  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Blackford 
county,  and  he  has  nine  children.  Amos.  Estella,  George.  John  \\\.  Wil- 
liam, Harry,  Mary,  Sophronia  and  Lucy ;  George  A.  is  the  father  of  him 
whose  name  introduces  this  article;  Maggie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Landon, 
a  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Blackford  county,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Arthur,  Edward,  Maggie  and  Lee;  Mary  Ann,  who 'first  wedded 
tlie  late  Newton  Bowman,  has  one  child  by  this  union.  Ethel,  wife  of 
D.  W.  Donivan,  principal  of  the  Hartford  City  High  School,  and  she  is 
now  the  wife  of  William  Smith  of  Jay  county,  there  being  no  children 
of  the  second  marriage;  John  W.,  who  is  a  widower  ami  the  father  of 
six  children.  Etta.  Robert,  Asa,  Russell,  Ronald  and  Perry,  now  resides 
with  his  sister,  Mrs.  .Mary  A.  Smith,  just  mentioned;  Emily,  now  the 
wife  of  Sylvanus  Davis,  living  in  Fayette  county,  has  one  daughter. 
Prances,  living  and  two  children  dead.  The  last  death  in  the  immediate 
family  represented  by  the  above  mentioned  children  of  Jacob  A.  Phile- 
baum  occurred  more  than  half  a  century  ago. 

George  Abraham  Philebaum  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  on 
the  2nd  day  of  November.  1846,  and  he  and  his  wife  now  reside  at  Albany. 
Delaware  county,  Indiana,  where  he  is  living  retired,  after  many  years 
of  earnest  and  fruitful  endeavor.  George  A.  Philebaum  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Blackford  county,  and  as  a  young 
man  he  returned  to  Fayette  county,  when-  May  31,  1869,  was  solemnized 
his  marriage  to  Miss  America  Ann  Corbin.  who  was  born  in  that  county 
on  the  6th  day  of  December,  1851.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Philebaum 
continued  to  be  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Fayette  county 
until  1872,  when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Blackford  county,  where  be 
once  more  established  his  residence  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  own- 
ing the  north  half  of  the  west  half  of  Section  25.  in  Jackson  township. 
There  he  continued  to  be  actively  and  successively  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-growing  and  gardening  until  December.  1912.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Albany.  Indiana,  his  present  place  of  abode.  He  is  a  stalwart 
supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  earnest  and  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  the  following  paragraph  is  given  brief  record  concerning  the  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philebaum. 


220        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

May  Tillie  is  the  wife  of  Ross  D.  Peterson,  of  Hart  county,  Kentucky, 
and  they  have  four  children  living, — Merrill,  Ralph,  George  W.  and 
Vera ;  their  fourth  child,  Lala,  met  a  tragic  death,  resulting  from  injuries 
received  when  her  clothing  took  fire.  John  II.,  of  this  review,  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  of  the  children  of  George  A.  Philebaum.  Elijah, 
who  is  now  a  widower,  resides  with  his  son,  Paul,  on  a  farm  in  Jacksou 
township,  Blackford  county.  Webb,  who  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Jackson  township,  wedded  Miss  Orella  C.  Blankenbeker,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Carl  E.,  Alma  C,  Mazy  Lucile,  Delmar  N.,  Lavanna  L.  and 
one,  Floys  Allen,  their  first  born,  dying  in  infancy.  Miss  Sarah  Phile- 
baum presides  over  the  domestic  economies  of  the  home  of  her  brother 
Elijah.  Marshall,  living  in  Dunkirk,  Indiana,  wedded  Miss  Goldie  Hiles 
and  their  children  are  Dorothy,  Richard  and  George.  Maggie  Viola  is 
the  wife  of  Arthur  Armstrong,  likewise  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in 
Jackson  township,  and  they  have  one  son,  James  Vaughn.  Omer,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  same  township,  married  Miss  Bertha  Flatter 
and  they  have  two  children,  Valeda  and  Christena  Belle.  Ruth  Alice  is 
the  wife  of  Harry  Cunningham,  a  farmer  of  Delaware  county,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Beatrice  Marie.  America  Ann,  the  youngest  of  the 
children,  remains  with  her  parents  in  their  pleasant  home  at  Albany, 
Delaware  county. 

John  H.  Philebaum  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  on  the  26th 
day  of  February,  1872,  and  was  thus  an  infant  at  the  time  of  his  parents 
removal  to  Blackford  county,  in  the  same  year.  He  was  reared  to  adult 
age  on  the  home  farm  in  Jackson  township  and  he  continued  his  studies 
in  the  public  schools  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum  of  the  county 
schools.  Thereafter  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  Indiana 
State  Normal  School  at  Marion,  and  from  1893  until  1909  he  devoted 
his  attention  to  teaching  in  the  schools  of  the  districts  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  he  became  a  most  successful  and  popular  representative  of 
the  pedagogic  profession. 

In  1908  Mr.  Philebaum  was  elected  county  recorder,  and  his  excellent 
record  resulted  in  his  re-election  at  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  of  four 
years,  his  present  term  expiring  January  1,  1918.  Since  the  time  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Philebaum  has  manifested  a  lively  and  intelli- 
gent interest  in  political  and  general  public  affairs,  and  for  some  time 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  democratic  county  committee  of  Blackford 
county,  as  representative  from  Jackson  township.  In  a  fraternal  way 
he  is  affiliated  with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  in  his  home 
city  and  county  his  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of  his 
acquaintances. 

On  October  14,  1899,  was  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Philebaum 
to  Miss  Louesa  Alice  Blankenbeker,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
Blackford  county,  December  11,  1870,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Robert 
B.  and  Cordelia  C.  (Batten)  Blankenbeker,  still  residing  on  their  fine 
farm  in  that  township.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philebaum  have  no  children. 

Dennis  F.  Shannon.  Probably  the  oldest  living  educator  in  Black- 
ford county  who  is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  is 
Mr.  Dennis  F.  Shannon.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  the  school 
room,  and  his  high  intellectual  and  literary  attainments,  and  peculiar 
ability  to  impart  his  own  knowledge  to  others,  combined  with  a  pleasant 
personalty,  have  made  him  one  of  the  most  popular  and  efficient  teachers 
that  the  county  has  known. 

Mr.  Shannon  belongs  to  an  old  Irish  family,  whose  members  were 
earlv  pioneers  of  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio.  His  great-grandfather,  John 
Shannon,  whom,  it  is  probable,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  married  there, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  221 

and  migrated  to  Ohio  about  the  year  1805  or  1S06.  He  had  three  sons: 
Anion,  Zacheus  and  James.  All  the  sons  gave  their  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  during  their  younger  years,  but  Zacheus  subsequently 
became  a  successful  inventor,  and  at  one  time  also  believed  that  be  had 
solved  the  mystery  of  perpetual  motion.  He  also  followed  millwrighting 
and  married  and  died  in  his  native  county  of  Ohio,  leaving  a  family. 
James  Shannon  grew  up  a  farmer,  and  in  later  years  left  Ohio  for  Iowa, 
but  after  some  years  moved  on  to  Oregon,  and  there  passed  away.  He 
was  also  married  and  had  a  family. 

Anion  Shannon,  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Shannon,  was  horn  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1800  or  1802,  and  grew  up  in  Tus- 
carawas county,  Ohio.  As  a  youth  he  displayed  a  high  order  of  skill 
with  his  ritle  and  soon  achieved  more  than  a  local  reputation  as  a  hunter 
and  trapper,  killing  great  numbers  of  deer  and  turkeys  and  trapping 
numerous  fur-bearing  animals.  Both  in  Ohio  and  this  part  of  Indiana 
his  prowess  as  a  nimrod  was  well  known,  and  probably  much  of  his  skill 
was  inherited  from  his  father,  who  had  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  among  the  Indians,  by  whom  he  was  highly  respected  and  feared. 
Amon  Shannon  married  Catherine  Collors,  of  Tuscarawas,  also  a  member 
of  a  pioneer  family  of  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  Eliza,  who  married  Seth  S.  Siminton,  who  served  as  a  soldier 
during  the  Civil  war,  in  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  spent  his  later  years  in  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county, 
and  there  died,  leaving  a  family;  Tabitha,  who  married  John  Poy,  of 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  who  met  a  soldier's  death  on  a  southern 
battlefield  during  the  Civil  war,  was  buried  south  of  the  Mason  and 
Dixon  line,  and  left  two  children, — Amon  and  Emma ;  Tabitha  married 
for  her  second  husband  Frank  Potter,  both  deceased,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter,— Maggie,  also  now  dead ;  and  Andrew  J.,  the  father  of  Dennis  F. 
Shannon. 

Andrew  J.  Shannon  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Tuscara- 
was county,  Ohio,  July  3,  1830.  He  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  the 
family  came  to  Indiana,  in  1846,  traveling  overland  with  teams,  through 
the  swamps,  timber,  brush  and  prairie  to  the  wilds  of  Blackford  county. 
Here  they  secured  a  green  wild  farm,  covered  with  timber,  a  part  of 
which  was  first  cleared  for  the  erection  of  a  log  cabin  home,  and  following 
this  the  work  of  clearing  went  rapidly  on  until  they  had  a  good  farm  of 
ninety-three  acres,  yielding  full  and  handsome  crops.  Andrew  J.  Shan- 
non became  owner  of  the  old  homestead  and  later  added  forty  acres  to 
this  property,  the  greater  part  of  which  still  remains  in  the  possession 
of  the  family,  twenty-five  acres  being  owned  by  Dennis  F.  Shannon,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  balance  by  his  brother  Arthur.  Andrew  J. 
Shannon  died  on  his  farm  December  2-4,  1892,  his  death  being  the  second 
in  the  family  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  His  son,  Carey,  died  just  a 
week  later,  aged  seventeen  years,  and  a  daughter.  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Blunt, 
died  a  short  time  before,  all  of  typhoid  fever.  Mr.  Shannon  was  married 
in  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county,  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Teach,  who 
was  born  in  Darke  county.  Ohio.  November  1,  1833,  and  still  lives,  being 
active  and  well  preserved,  and  in  possession  of  all  of  her  faculties, 
making  her  home  with  her  son  Arthur.  She  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
in  1847,  when  she  came  to  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county,  with 
her  parents,  John  and  Ann  (Muster)  Teach,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  February  10.  1803,  and  the  latter  November  5,  1802.  both  being 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Teach  was  of  either  German  or  Pennsyl- 
vania-Dutch parentage,  while  Mrs.  Teach  was  of  Irish  stock.  They  were 
married  in  1830,  and  with  their  family  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  and 
then  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  in   1847,  locating  on    new   laud    in 


222  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Harrison  township,  where  they  cut  out  and  started  to  make  a  farm. 
First  a  log  cabin  was  erected  and  Mr.  Teach  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1849,  when  he  became  infected  by  the  gold  fever  which 
swept  over  the  country  following  the  discovery  of  the  precious  metal  in 
California,  and  made  the  trip  to  that  state.  He  was  heard  of  for  two 
years,  but  soon  his  letters  ceased  abruptly,  and  nothing  more  was  ever 
heard  of  him.  His  widow,  believing  that  he  had  met  a  violent  death, 
after  many  years  was  married  to  Robert  Duffey,  and  during  the  seventies 
moved  to  Lincoln  county,  Kansas,  where  both  died  when  past  seventy-five 
years  of  age,  Mrs.  Duffey  July  21,  1878,  and  Mr.  Duffey  a  year  or  two 
before.  They  had  no  children.  By  her  first  marriage,  Mrs.  Teach  had 
the  following  children:  William  Johnson,  born  April  1,  1831,  died  in 
Kansas,  when  quite  old,  after  a  career  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
married  Elizabeth  Duffy,  deceased,  and  left  a  family;  Margaret  E. 
became  the  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Shannon ;  Avilda  C,  born  December  18, 
1841,  in  Ohio,  married  Jacob  Simonton,  October  10,  1861,  and  died 
June  16,  1913,  her  husband  passing  away  September  23,  1913,  and  leav- 
ing a  family  of  three  children, — Asbury  E.,  married,  and  an  oil  worker 
in  Oklahoma;  Margaret  Ann,  the  wife  of  George  M.  Rains,  living  on  a 
farm  in  Harrison  township;  and  C.  Meta,  the  wife  of  John  Fox,  of 
Montpelier. 

Dennis  F.  Shannon  is  the  second  son  and  child  of  four  living :  John 
Amon,  born  July  8,  1854,  a  farmer  of  Harrison  township,  married 
Maretta  Chandler,  and  have  five  children, — Ellen,  Virgil,  Leslie,  Scott 
and  Clarence,  all  of  whom  are  married  and  have  children  except  the 
last-named;  Clarence;  Arthur  M.,  born  in  1870,  a  successful  farmer  of 
Harrison  township,  married  Lucy  Jackson  of  this  township,  and  they 
have  five  children, — Carl,  Forest,  Flora,  M.  Avilda,  and  Fay,  all  of  whom 
are  single ;  and  Andrew  Arlinda,  born  in  1873,  a  farmer  near  Coldwater, 
Michigan,  married  Miss  Carrie  Lockett,  and  they  have  two  sons,— 
Clifford  and  Charles.  Clifford  married,  and  has  two  children;  Charles 
single,  living  with  his  parents. 

Dennis  F.  Shannon  was  born  in  the  little  log  cabin  home  on  the  farm 
in  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  January  20,  1858. 
There  he  was  reared  amid  rural  surroundings,  securing  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools.  This  he  later  supplemented  by  attendance  at 
the  Fort  Wayne  College,  where  his  future  wife  was  also  a  student,  and 
in  1881  commenced  upon  his  career  as  a  teacher  in  old  district  school 
No.  9.  Mr.  Shannon  has  continued  to  teach  in  the  schools  of  Blackford 
county  to  the  present  time,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  in  Wells 
county,  and  from  the  first  has  been  an  earnest  promoter  of  the  cause  of 
education,  faithfully  giving,  even  at  an  age  when  many  men  excuse 
themselves  from  active  life,  his  time  and  thought  and  work  to  the  cause 
which  enlisted  the  earliest  sympathies  of  his  young  manhood  and  the 
matured  interest  of  his  later  years.  Mr.  Shannon  has  resided  at  his 
cottage  home,  No.  223  East  Green  street,  Montpelier,  Indiana,  since  1883, 
the  year  in  which  he  was  married,  on  September  20th.  His  bride  was 
Mrs.  Amanda  J.  (Bonham)  Thornburg,  who  was  born  at  Montpelier, 
Indiana,  December  5,  1852,  and  was  reared  and  educated  here,  completing 
her  education  at  Fort  Wayne  College.  She  has  a  son,  Frank  B.  Thorn- 
burg, of  Meadows,  Idaho,  from  her  former  marriage.  She  has  also  been 
a  teacher  of  more  than  ordinary  success,  and  has  taught  both  in  the  local 
township  and  city  primary  schools,  before  and  after  her  marriage.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Lydia  (Ballard)  Bonham,  the  former  born 
in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  in  1827,  and  the  latter  in  Ontario  county, 
New  York.  They  were  married  on  or  near  the  farm  entered  from  the 
United  States  Government  by  the  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Shannon,  Peter 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  223 

and  Susanna  (Yost)  Bonhaiu,  who  had  come  from  Sandusky  county, 
Ohio,  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  made  their  entry  in  1839.  There 
Peter  Bonham  died  in  185<i,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  while  the 
grandmother  died  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  in  1887,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church, 
Lyman  Bonham.  the  father  of  -Mrs.  Shannon,  became  a  cabinetmaker  in 
this  comity,  and  was  a  pioneer  at  Montpelier  in  this  line  of  work.  In 
connection  witli  this  trade  lie  made  coffins,  at  a  time  when  all  such  articles 
were  made  by  hand,  and  was  frequently  called  upon  by  the  early  set  this 
to  do  this  kind  of  work.  He  came  to  Montpelier  in  1851,  soon  after  his 
marriage,  prior  to  which  time  lie  had  carried  on  carpenter  work  at 
Muncie.  He  died  in  Montpelier,  March  20,  1883,  having  been  born  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1827,  while  Mrs.  Bonham  was  born  February  25,  1*32.  and 
died  November  2.  1863.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Shannon's  parents  were  members  of  the  New  Light  Chris 
tian  church. 

Mr.  Shannon  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  politics  he  was  for  many  years  a  republican,  and 
served  for  a  number  of  years  as  town  clerk  of  Montpelier  and  also  as 
census  enumerator  of  his  district  from  1890  to  1900.  During  the  cam- 
paign of  1912  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  progressive  party,  and 
has  since  continued  to  give  his  support  to  its  principles  and  candidates. 
His  life  has  been  a  full  and  useful  one,  in  which  he  has  been  permitted 
to  share  in  and  contribute  materially  to  the  growth  and  development  of 
an  important  community.  His  life  has  been  lived  in  such  a  manner  that 
he  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  into  con- 
tact, and  his  literary  efforts  have  given  him  more  than  local  prominence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shannon  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Lena  M.,  horn  March  14,  1885,  educated  in  the  graded  schools  of  Mont- 
pelier, graduated  from  the  City  High  school,  class  of  1904,  and  is  a  young 
lady  of  many  attainments.  She  is  now  society  editor  of  the  Kokomo 
Dispatch,  and  a  part  of  the  time  works  as  a  linotypist.  Formerly  pipe 
organist  at  the  Montpelier  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  she  is  a  talented 
musician,  and  is  now  a  student  in  the  Sherwood  Music  School.  Chicago, 
under  Mrs.  C.  H.  Brown,  a  branch  worker,  under  whose  instruction  she 
is  making  rapid  progress.  Edna  A.,  the  other  child  of  Mr.  ami  .Mrs. 
Shannon,  was  born  January  30.  1887,  and  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  City 
High  school,  class  of  1905.  She  is  well  known  in  musical  circles,  being  a 
teacher  of  some  reputation,  formerly  a  student  under  Mrs.  C.  H.  Brown, 
and  now  in  charge  of  the  local  branch  of  the  Sherwood  Music  School,  of 
which  she  is  an  affiliated  teacher.  She  is  now  the  pipe  organist  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Montpelier.  filling  the  place  vacated  by 
her  sister. 

Ashley  G.  Emshwiller.  One  of  the  present,  active  practicioners  of 
the  Blackford  county  bar  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Ashley  G.  Emsh- 
willer. He  was  born  at  the  city  of  Montpelier.  Indiana.  November  14, 
1875.  and  is  the  son  of  John  Emshwiller  and  Mary  A.  (Bare)  Emshwiller. 
who  were  both  natives  of  Blackford  county.  Indiana,  John  Emshwiller 
having  been  born  in  that  county  in  June,  1842.  His  paternal  grandpar- 
ents were  Abram  Emshwiller  and  Emily  (Painter)  Emshwiller.  who 
came  originally  from  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Black- 
ford county,  Indiana,  about  the  year  1836,  both  of  German  stock;  and 
his  maternal  grandparents  were  Henry  Bare  and  Philena  (Cortright) 
Bare,  both  of  German  ancestry,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania  at  an  early 
date  and  settled  in  Blackford  county  and  remained  until  their  death, 
both  of  the  latter  having  been  dead  a  number  of  years.    John  Emshwiller 


224  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

located  in  Montpelier,  Indiana,  in  the  year  1875,  and  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  and  continued  in  that  business  from  that  date  until  his  death 
in  1911.  He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  the  remaining  five:  Marion  A.,  Robert  M.,  Daisy,  Fred  0.  and  Ash- 
ley G.  are  living  in  the  county;  the  four  former  at  Montpelier,  and  the 
latter  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana. 

A.  G.  Emshwiller  was  graduated  from  the  Montpelier  High  School 
with  the  class  of  1892,  and  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Northern 
Indiana  University,  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  the  fall  of  1892,  and  grad- 
uated therefrom  in  1894  with  a  degree  of  L.L.B.  He  located  at  Mont- 
pelier and  immediately  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law  and  after  a 
period  of  two  years  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  A.  Taughinbaugh, 
which  continued  about  two  years,  and  until  his  appointment  of  deputy 
prosecuting  attorney,  under  the  Hon.  A.  M.  Waltz,  after  which  for  a 
period  of  four  years  he  engaged  in  the  practice  alone.  Later  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Joseph  Burns,  and  with  him  continued  the  practice  of 
law  until  the  election  of  Mr.  Emshwiller,  in  the  year  1904,  to  the  office 
of  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  28th  Judicial  District  of  Indiana,  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Wells  and  Blackford.  After  his  election  as 
prosecuting  attorney  Mr.  Emshwiller  continued  to  reside  at  Montpelier, 
Indiana,  until  September,  1905,  when  he  moved  his  family  and  business 
to  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  where  he  has  resided  since.  He  was  re-elected 
(without  opposition)  to  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  in  1906,  and  in 
all  served  as  such  for  four  years.  During  his  term  of  office  as  prosecut- 
ing attorney,  many  noted  and  important  cases  were  disposed  of  in  which 
were  included  State  v.  William,  Earnest  and  Otto  Cook,  for  the  murder 
of  Preston  Sanderson,  State  v.  Kingsbury  for  attempted  murder  of 
Mussetter,  and  State  v.  Landfair,  abortion. 

From  1901  to  1904  Mr.  Emshwiller  served  as  the  county  attorney  for 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  having  been  selected  three  times  by  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  as  their  advisor. 

In  January,  1909,  he  formed  a  partnership  for  the  practice  of  law 
with  Aaron  M.  Waltz,  and  the  firm  of  Waltz  and  Emshwiller  have  com- 
manded a  very  large  practice  in  Blackford  and  surrounding  counties,  and 
have  been  and  are  engaged  in  all  noted  and  important  cases  in  this 
section. 

Since  January  1,  1910,  Mr.  Emshwiller  has  served  continuously  as 
city  attorney  of  Hartford  City,  his  second  four-year  term  having  been 
initiated  in  January,  1914. 

Mr.  Emshwiller  has  for  years  been  active  politically,  and  in  1907,  he 
was  selected  a  member  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee,  and  served 
his  party  as  such  a  period  of  two  years,  representing  the  11th  Con- 
gressional District. 

At  Montpelier,  in  June,  1897,  Mr.  Emshwiller  wedded  Miss  Lula  B. 
Rawlings,  who  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of 
James  P.  and  Lillie  O.  (Wiggins)  Rawlings,  who  became  residents  of 
Blackford  county  when  she  was  a  child.  Mr.  Rawlings  was  born  in 
Kentucky  and  came  to  Indiana  as  a  young  man.  He  served  two  terms 
as  treasurer  of  Blackford  county,  and  is  now  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emshwiller  have 
three  sons,  all  of  whom  are  attending  the  public  schools  of  Hartford  City ; 
James  R.,  Richard  B.,  and  Ashley  G.,  Jr. 

Daniel  DeWitt.  During  a  long  period  of  years  the  late  Daniel  De- 
Witt  was  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Blackford  county, 
and  during  his  career  advanced  from  obscurity  and  modest  circumstances 
to  prominence  and  independence  among  the  substantial  men  of  his  day. 


JftA  ^J  JM  4o*Cal  4f%$ 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  225 

He  was  born  in  Randolph  eouuty,  Indiana,  September  L3,  1848,  and  died 

at  his  home  in  section  2U,  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  No- 
vember  21.  1910. 

Daniel  and  Elizabeth  DeWitt,  the  grandparents  of  Daniel  D.Witt, 
came  to  Indiana  from  some  one  of  the  eastern  states,  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  fur  many  years,  and  became  prominent  farmers  and 
well-known  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  faith  of 
which  they  died  in  advanced  years.  Two  of  their  sons  were  ministers 
of  that  faith:  Rev.  Elisha,  who  died  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  when 
past  ninety-six  years  of  age,  leaving  a  family;  and  Rev.  Leonard,  who 
lived  in  the  West  and  at  his  death  there  left  several  children.  There 
were  several  other  brothers,  including  John  \\\.  Daniel  and  1'riah,  and 
several  sisters.  Uriah  DeWitt,  the  father  of  Daniel  DeWitt.  was  horn 
in  Indiana  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Holloway.  also  a  native  of  the 
Hoosier  state.  They  began  their  married  life  in  Randolph  county,  but 
subsequently  moved  to  Huntington  county,  where  .Mrs.  DeWitt  died  in 
middle  life.  Subsequently,  Mr.  DeWitt  was  married  a  second  time,  his 
wife  bearing  the  name  of  .Martha  Estell,  and  they  had  a  family,  two  of 
whom  died  when  small,  two  grew  to  maturity  and  one  is  still  living.  The 
children  of  Uriah  and  Elizabeth  (Holloway)  DeWitt  were:  Sarah,  who 
married  and  is  now  deceased  ;  Mary,  who  is  married  and  has  a  foster  son  ; 
Daniel:  John  R.,  deceased,  who  was  a  factory  worker,  married  and  left 
a  family;  and  Mrs.  Martha  De  Witt  still  lives  in  Anderson. 

Daniel  DeWitt  grew  up  at  Anderson,  Madison  county,  Indiana,  and 
became  a  farmer,  having  had  no  education.  In  1885,  he  came  to  Black- 
ford county  and  for  four  and  one-half  years  lived  on  the  George  Mussetter 
farm  in  Washington  township,  later  renting  the  farm  for  three  years  and 
then  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  20,  then  known  as  the 
Harry  Smith  farm.  Here  he  began  in  earnest  to  establish  himself  as  an 
agriculturist,  and  had  begun  extensive  building  operations  when  he  struck 
oil  of  some  value.  He  later  purchased  the  forty-acre  tract  adjoining, 
and  there  his  son  now  resides,  having  a  well-improved  farm  with  a  good 
set  of  buildings.  Mr.  DeWitt  was  a  progressive  and  practical  farmer, 
and  whatever  success  he  made  in  life  was  due  to  his  own  efforts,  aided 
by  those  of  his  worthy  wife.  He  was  an  active  republican  in  political 
matters,  and  for  a  time  served  as  superintendent  of  the  turnpike  in  his 
township  and  county.  At  all  times  he  could  be  relied  upon  to  support 
movements  of  a  beneficial  nature,  and  his  honesty  and  integrity  gained 
him  widespread  confidence  among  his  associates.  For  many  years  he  was 
a  devout  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  died  in  that  faith. 

Mr.  DeWitt  was  married  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  in  1872,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Childress,  who  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Indiana, 
September  19.  1848.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in  Madison  county, 
whence  she  was  brought  at  the  age  of  two  years  by  her  parents,  Alfred 
and  Ruenwa  (Childress)  Childress,  natives  of  Virginia  who  had  been 
relatives  prior  to  their  marriage.  On  coming  to  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Childress  located  at  a  point  near  Warren,  and  there  most  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born,  but  later  they  moved  to  Madison  county,  where  they 
spent  a  few  years.  While  on  a  trip  back  to  Virginia,  Mr.  Childress  was 
thrown  from  a  fractious  colt  which  he  was  attempting  to  break,  and  his 
injuries  resulted  in  his  death.  August  19,  1848,  when  be  was  still  in  the 
prime  of  life.  Mrs.  Childress  was  married  in  1851  to  a  Pennsylvanian, 
Hugh  B.  Stephenson,  and  they  returned  to  Madison  county.  Indiana,  he 
dying  there  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  in  1873.  and  she  in  January,  1  ^77. 
at  the  age  of  sixty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephenson  were  members  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  while  Mr.  Childress  was  a  Baptist. 

Vol.  1—15 


226        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mrs.  DeWitt  has  been  the  mother  of  three  children  and  the  foster 
mother  of  eight  children.  Her  daughters,  Anna  Mary  and  Danna  May, 
died  young,  while  her  son,  Charles  R.  is  still  living.  He  was  born  August 
15,  1876,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  following  which  he 
became  a  farmer  and  at  his  father's  death  took  charge  of  the  homestead. 
He  married  Miss  Florence  E.  Drinnen,  and  they  have  had  the  following 
children  :  Cleo  A.,  a  graduate  of  the  public  schools;  Bertha  E.,  Catherine 
M.  and  Thelma  M.,  attending  school ;  and  Ivaline  M.,  James  D.,  Charles 
R.,  Jr.,  and  John  H. 

Mrs.  DeWitt  has  taken  to  her  heart  and  home  the  following  children : 
George  Rush,  who  died  unmarried  after  growing  to  manhood;  Albert 
Howard,  who  died  after  his  marriage ;  Bertha  Riley,  who  died  in  young 
womanhood;  James  C.  (no  relation)  DeWitt,  an  employe  of  the  flour- 
ing mill  at  Pennsville,  Jay  county,  is  married  and  has  three  children: 
Daniel  P.,  Clarence  R.  and  Violet  I. ;  George  Miller,  who  died  when 
eighteen  years  of  age;  Jane  Estell,  who  married  Archie  Carson,  and 
died  in  Greely,  Colorado,  leaving  one  daughter;  and  Alura  Angelina 
Diltz,  who  is  single  and  has  been  in  Mrs.  DeWitt 's  home  for  fifteen  years. 
Mrs.  DeWitt  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  for  more  than 
fifty  years,  and  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  best  beloved  ladies  of  this 
part  of  the  county. 

James  A.  E.  Alfrey.  The  claim  of  James  A.  E.  Alfrey  upon  the 
consideration  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  Jackson  township  is 
based  upon  thirty  years  of  effective  and  energetic  agricultural  work,  upon 
an  honorable  record  as  a  Union  soldier  during  the  war  between  the 
North  and  the  South,  and  upon  his  helpful  co-operation  in  advancing 
the  best  interests  of  his  community.  Coming  here  in  1884,  he  has  de- 
voted his  attention  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and  so  well  directed  have  been 
his  efforts  that  today  he  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  handsome  farming 
tracts  of  the  township,  a  property  of  140  acres,  located  six  miles  east 
of  Hartford  City. 

Mr.  Alfrey  was  born  in  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  November  1, 
1845,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Nancy  (Helms)  Alfrey.  His  parents, 
natives  of  Tennessee,  came  as  young  people  to  Switzerland  county,  In- 
diana, where  they  were  married,  and  there  resided  until  James  Alfrey 's 
death  in  1850.  'Mrs.  Alfrey  subsequently  married  James  Craig  and 
moved  to  Blackford  county",  and  later  to  Hamilton  county,  Indiana, 
where  she  died  in  1882.  By  her  first  marriage  she  was  the  mother  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  three  are  living  at  this  writing :  Elizabeth,  who 
is  the  widow  of  Mr.  Hultz ;  Martha  J.,  who  is  the  widow  of  A.  J.  Reynolds ; 
and  James  A.  E.  The  subject  of  this  review  was  five  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died,  and  he  went  to  live  at  the  home  of  a  brother,  a  farmer 
of  Hamilton  county,  Indiana.  There  he  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools,  and  applied  himself  to  farm  work  until  1864,  when  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  Thirty-second  Regiment, 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  remained  four  months,  and 
was  then  honorably  discharged  and  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He  had 
an  honorable  record  as  a  soldier,  and  faithfully  performed  every  duty 
that  devolved  upon  him.  Upon  again  taking  up  the  occupations  of 
peace,  Mr.  Alfrey  went  to  Hamilton  county,  and  there  was  engaged  m 
farming  until  1886,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Blackford  county.  Here 
he  secured  a  tract  of  land  in  Jackson  township,  to  which  he  has  since 
added  from  time  to  time  as  his  finances  have  permitted,  and  now  has  a 
well-cultivated  tract  of  140  acres,  upon  which  he  has  made  improve- 
ments of  a  modern  and  substantial  character.  He  is  one  of  the  hustling, 
progressive  men  of  his  community,  and  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
most  approved  methods  of  farming  and  stock  raising. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  227 

In  March,  1871,  Mr.  Alfrey  was  married  to  Miss  .Mary  A.  Vail,  of 
Hamilton  county.  Indiana,  who  was  born  in  Claremont  county,  Ohio  ami 
came  to  Indiana  as  a  child,  being  reared  on  a  farm  in  Hamilton  county. 
Pour  children  have  been  born  to  -Air.  and  Mrs.  Alfrey,  namely:  Ida  E.j 
who  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Barnes,  of  Hartford  City;  Charles  B.,  of 
Jackson  township,  who  married  Ida  Van  Gordon;  James  A.,  also  a  resi- 
lient of  Jackson  township,  who  married  Edith  Strait;  and  Frank  V..  who 
is  single  and  assists  his  father  on  the  homestead.  The  family  is  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Alfrey  is  a  member  of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  of  Blackford  Lodge,  A.  P.  &  A.  M.,  at  Hartford  City. 
In  politics,  a  republican,  he  has  served  his  precinct  as  committeeman, 
has  taken  some  interest  in  local  affairs,  and  is  at  present  his  party's 
nominee  for  assessor  of  Jackson  township.  He  is  looked  upon  as  an 
intelligent,  progressive,  and  public-spirited  member  of  the  community. 

Philip  E.  Wentz.  The  agricultural  region  lying  in  Jackson  town- 
ship is  ably  represented  by  Philip  E.  Wentz.  a  highly  respected  citizen 
who  has  lent  strength  and  substance  to  the  community  in  which  he  has 
resided  for  so  long. 

Mr.  Wentz  is  a  native  son  of  Jackson  township,  and  was  born  Au- 
gust 11,  1850,  his  parents  being  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Ramge)  Wentz. 
The  parents  were  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  the  father  in  1807, 
and  the  mother  in  1809,  and  there  grew  up,  were  educated  and  married. 
On  coming  to  the  United  States  they  landed  at  Baltimore.  Maryland, 
from  whence  they  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  after  three  years  came  to 
Indiana,  and  located  on  a  new  farm  in  Jackson  township,  on  the  Cam- 
den turnpike,  two  miles  east  of  Hartford  City.  There  they  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  the  father  dying  June  6,  1874,  and  the  mother 
in  September,  1881.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
three  survive :  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Peter  Schmidt,  living  at  Seattle, 
Washington;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Harrison  township,  Blackford  countv; 
and  Philip  E. 

Philip  E.  Wentz  was  raised  in  a  log  cabin,  12  by  16,  with  its  log  stick 
chimney,  with  its  puncheon  floor,  with  its  one  six-light  window  8  by  10, 
with  its  rough  lumber  door,  with  its  wooden  hinges,  with  its  string  latch 
always  hanging  out  to  welcome  those  who  wished  to  enter,  with  its  roof 
covered  with  clapboards  and  long  straight  weight  poles  to  hold  the 
boards  in  place,  and  tied  down  at  each  end  with  twisted  hickory  withes. 
This  cabin  went  up  in  flames  on  the  4th  of  July,  1856.  Mr.  Wentz 
attended  the  district  schools,  where  he  received  an  ordinary  educa- 
tion, and  remained  at  home  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-four  years, 
when  he  founded  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Smith, 
July  25,  1874.  She  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  January  26, 
1857,  and  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  in  1861.  Mrs.  Wentz  died 
August  8,  1890,  having  been  the  mother  of  three  children,  of  whom  two 
are  living:  William  A.,  born  April  22.  1876,  a  farmer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship ;  and  Charles  M.,  born  August  5,  1888.  On  July  L':!.  1891 .  .Mr.  Wentz 
married  Catherine  Murphy,  and  four  children  have  been  born  to  them ; 
Orville,  born  May  8,  1892;  Mabel,  born  May  25,  1894;  Floyd,  born  July 
25,  1896 ;  and  Wayne,  born  January  30.  1899.  He  is  a  member  of  Zion 
Lutheran  church,  at  Hartford  City,  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  demo- 
crat. He  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  for  many  years,  and 
owns  a  good  property  of  forty-eight  acres,  located  one-half  mile  south 
and  two  miles  east  of  Hartford  City.  He  moved  to  his  present  place  in 
1882.  It  was  all  swamp  and  he  ditched  it  and  cleared  off  the  timber 
and  planted  his  orchard. 


228  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

William  A.  Wentz,  son  of  Philip  E.  Wentz,  is  one  of  the  young  and 
energetic  farmers  of  Blackford  county  who  are  doing  so  much  for  the 
progress  of  agricultural  standards  here.  He  is  the  owner  of  Maple  Grove 
Farm,  consisting  of  forty  acres,  and  located  in  section  18,  one  and  three- 
quarters  miles  southeast  of  Hartford  City.  He  was  born  April  22,  1876, 
in  Jackson  township,  and  attended  the  district  schools  here  until  reach- 
ing the  age  of  eighteen  years,  following  which  he  worked  for  his  father 
until  attaining  his  majority.  He  was  married  September  12,  1901,  to 
Jennie  M.  Spears,  who  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  July  31,  1875, 
daughter  of  J.  H.  and  Catherine  (Walker)  Spears,  both  now  deceased. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wentz  went  to  the  farm  on  which 
they  now  live,  at  that  time  located  in  the  midst  of  heavy  woods,  and 
this  Mr.  Wentz  has  cleared,  erecting  good  buildings  and  installing  numer- 
ous modern  improvements,  so  that  today  it  is  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of 
the  township.  In  addition  to  his  general  farming  operations,  Mr.  Wentz 
is  agent  for  the  counties  of  Blackford  and  Wells  for  Pioneer  Herbs, 
and  in  this  line  has  met  with  decided  success.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a 
democrat,  but  has  found  little  time  for  public  affairs.  His  religious 
belief  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  while  Mrs.  Wentz  belongs  to  the 
Christian  church.     They  have  no  children. 

John  B.  Willman.  During  a  long  and  active  career  John  B  Will- 
man  has  contributed  materially  to  the  agricultural  welfare  of  Blackford 
county,  and  has  succeeded  in  establishing  himself  firmly  in  a  foremost 
position  among  the  substantial  men  of  his  community  as  well  as  in  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  A  man  of  progressive  ideas  and  spirit,  he 
represents  the  most  enlightened  tenets  of  agriculture,  and  his  handsome 
farm,  located  two  miles  east  of  Hartford  City,  evidences  eloquently  his 
mastery  of  his  vocation.  Mr.  Willman  was  born  in  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  March  10,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Rebecca  (Bailey) 
Willman. 

John  M.  Willman  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  1810, 
and  in  1832  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  at  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, from  whence  he  went  thirty  miles  north  and  secured  employment 
in  digging  a  canal.  At  that  point  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Bailey, 
who  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1808,  and  after  two  years 
they  went  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Morrow  county,  in  the 
same  state.  The  parents  came  to  Indiana  in  1855,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  of  Hartford  City,  and  there  passed  the  remaining  years  of 
their  lives,"  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  the 
mother  when  she  was  eighty-two.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  John  B.,  of  this  review;  George,  who  lives  on  the  old 
Willman  place ;  and  five  others,  since  passed  away. 

John  B.  Willman  was  nine  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to 
Indiana,  and  he  was  reared  amid  pioneer  surroundings,  assisting  his 
father  to  clear  up  the  homestead  and  securing  his  educational  training 
in  the  early  district  schools.  On  November  16,  1869,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Caroline  Kessler,  and  to  their  union  were  born  six  children :  George 
F.,  a  resident  of  Jackson  township;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  David 
Bennett,  of  Licking  township ;  Rebecca,  who  is  the  wife  of  Riley  Stephen- 
son, of  this  township ;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Charles  Ruble,  of  Jackson  town- 
ship ;  and  Elizabeth  and  Catherine,  who  are  single  and  reside  with  their 
father.  Mrs.  Willman  died  in  1885,  and  Mr.  Willman  married  Nancy 
Lindley,  and  they  had  five  children,  of  whom  three  died  young.  Jacob 
L.,  met  death  by  drowning,  July  5,  1914,  aged  twenty  years,  three  months 
and  twenty-one  days,  and  Hazel  B.  is  single  and  resides  with  her  father. 
Mrs.  Willman  died  July  30,  1898.  The  members  of  the  family  are  asso- 
ciated with  the  Lutheran  church. 


BLACKFORD  .VXD  GRANT  COUNTIES  229 

Mr.  Willman  has  always  engaged  in  fanning,  and  at  this  time  is  the 
owner  of  500  acres  of  land,  all  accumulated  through  his  own  well-directed 
efforts  He  has  always  been  honorable  in  his  dealings,  thus  insuring  for 
himself  the  confidence  of  his  associates,  and  a  review  of  his  career  discloses 
that  he  has  never  taken  an  unfair  advantage  of  an  adversary.  Ee  is  qo 
politician,  but  supports  democratic  principles  and  candidates,  and  takes 
an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  township.  All  in  all.  Mr.  Willman  may 
be  accounted  a  reliable,  representative  citizen  of  this  part  of  the  state. 

Thomas  Bryson.  The  late  Thomas  Bryson  was  a  man  of  prominence 
and  influence  in  Wells  and  Blackford  counties,  in  the  former  of  which 
he  established  his  residence  on  his  immigration  from  the  old  Keystone 
State,  more  than  half  a  century  ago.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
the  original  progenitors  of  the  line  in  the  Emerald  Isle  having  left  their 
native  Scotland  and  established  a  home  in  the  north  of  Inland,  where 
they  were  zealous  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  clinging  to  the 
somewhat  stern,  but  still  benignant,  tenets  of  faith  that  significantly 
marked  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Scotland  in  the  early  days.  Mr. 
Bryson  was  a  man  of  impregnable  integrity,  of  distinctive  business 
acumen,  and  he  left  a  definite  and  worthy  impress  upon  the  history  of 
Wells  county,  Indiana,  whence  he  eventually  removed  to  Montpelier, 
Blackford  county,  in  which  attractive  little  city  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1898.  about  four  months 
prior  to  his  eighty-fifth  birthday  anniversary.  He  did  much  to  foster 
the  social  and  material  development  and  progress  of  this  section  of  the 
Hoosier  State,  and  as  a  sterling  pioneer,  his  name  and  deeds  merit  a 
memorial  tribute  in  this  publication. 

Thomas  Bryson  was  born  in  Butler  township,  Butler  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  28th  of  June,  1813,  and  was  a  son  of  Robert  Bryson,  the 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  having  been  Dobbs.  Family  tradition  indi- 
cates that  Robert  Bryson  was  born  on  the  primitive  sailing  vessel  in  which 
his  parents  voyaged  to  America  upon  their  emigration  from  Ireland, 
a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  parents 
established  their  home  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
passed  the  residue  of  their  lives,  the  father  having  become  the  owner  of 
an  extensive  landed  estate  and  having  been  one  of  the  representative 
farmers  of  that  section  of  the  Keystone  Commonwealth.  Robert  Bry- 
son was  reared  and  educated  in  Butler  county,  where  he  not  only  held 
distinct  prestige  as  a  substantial  farmer  and  successful  miller,  but  where 
he  also  was  known  and  honored  as  a  citizen  of  enterprise,  loyalty  and 
influence.  He  and  his  wife  were  not  long  separated  in  death,  and  each 
was  slightly  past  the  age  of  seventy  years  when  summoned  to  the  life 
eternal,  both  having  clung  earnestly  and  zealously  to  the  faith  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  having  regulated  and  moulded  their  lives  in 
harmony  with  the  high  Christian  principles  which  they  held  with  much 
of  consecration. 

Thomas  Bryson  was  reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  home  farm 
and  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  the  locality 
and  period  that  compassed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania.  In  his  native  county  he  did  not  sever  his  allegiance 
to  the  great  basic  industry  of  agriculture  until  his  removal  to  Indiana, 
in  1864.  In  Butler  county.  Pennsylvania,  he  wedded,  and  in  that  county 
all  of  their  children  were  born  on  the  old  homestead  place.  Upon  coming 
with  his  family  to  Indiana,  shortly  before  the  close  of  the  Civil  war, 
Thomas  Bryson  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Wells  county,  and  he 
eventually  became  one  of  the  extensive  land  holders  and  leading  agricul- 
turists of  that  county,  where  he  ever  held  the  unqualified  esteem  of  all 


230        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

who  knew  him,  and  where  he  continued  to  be  honored  as  a  citizen  of 
dignified  worth  and  beneficent  influence  until  he  retired  from  the  active 
labors  that  had  long  engrossed  his  attention  and  removed  to  Montpelier, 
Blackford  county,  in  1892.  In  an  attractive  home,  in  this  fine  little  city, 
both  he  and  his  wife  continued  in  loving  and  devoted  companionship 
until  death  severed  the  gracious  ties,  he  having  passed  to  the  "land  of 
the  leal"  in  1898.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  zealous  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Mr.  Bryson  was 
originally  a  whig  and  later  a  republican  iu  his  political  proclivities.  This 
worthy  couple  marked  the  passing  years  with  kindly  words  and  kindly 
deeds,  and  their  memories  are  revered  by  all  who  came  within  the  sphere 
of  their  gracious  influence.  Concerning  their  children  brief  record  is 
given  in  the  following  paragraph,  and  it  will  be  recalled  that  all  were 
born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania. 

James  C,  who  was  born  on  the  12th  of  October,  1836,  was  a  prominent 
lumber  dealer  at  Pinckneyville,  Perry  county,  Illinois,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  in  January,  1911,  and  he  was  survived  by  his  widow  and  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  John  A.,  who  was  born  March  30,  1838,  died  at 
Montpelier,  Indiana,  in  February,  1871,  and  his  two  children  likewise 
are  deceased,  his  widow  having  survived  him  and  having  contracted  a 
second  marriage.  Joseph  B.,  who  was  born  February  24,  1810,  died 
in  the  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  in  middle  life,  after  having  served 
with  distinction  throughout  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  was  a  member 
of  Company  I,  Thirty-fourth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  His  widow 
is  still  living,  as  is  also  one  daughter.  William  F.,  twin  brother  of  Joseph 
B.,  was  a  member  of  the  same  company  and  regiment,  as  was  the  latter 
in  the  Civil  war.  He  died  November,  1913,  his  wife  having  preceded 
him  to  the  life  eternal,  two  sons  and  one  daughter  surviving  them. 
Eli  X.,  who  was  born  June  26,  1842,  was  actively  identified  with  the  lum- 
ber industry  during  virtually  his  entire  business  career,  and  he  died  at 
Salida,  Lake  county,  Ohio,  in  November,  1911,  leaving  a  widow,  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Sarah  Nellie,  who  is  familiarly  known  to  her 
wide  circle  of  friends  as  Nellie,  was  born  December  7,  1844,  and  her 
early  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  Butler  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Wells  county,  Indiana,  in  which  latter  county  she  continued  to 
reside  with  her  parents  on  the  old  homestead  until  their  removal  to  Mont- 
pelier, in  1892.  Here  she  continued  to  care  for  her  venerable  parents 
with  the  utmost  filial  love  and  solicitude  until  they  passed  from  the  stage 
of  life's  mortal  endeavors,  and  she  still  resides  in  the  fine  old  home, 
at  117  North  Main  street,  she  being  the  owner  of  this  and  other  valuable 
real  estate  in  Montpelier,  where  her  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only 
by  that  of  her  acquaintances.  Miss  Bryson  is  a  zealous  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  this  faith  has  been  held  also  by  the  most 
of  her  brothers  and  sisters.  Ida  J.,  who  was  born  March  9,  1858,  like- 
wise resides  in  Montpelier.  She  became  the  wife  of  George  Lattie,  and 
the  two  children  of  this  union  are  George  and  David.  Prior  to  her  mar- 
riage Mrs.  Lattie  was  a  successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Wells  and  Blackford  counties.  David  A.  Bryson,  who  was 
seventh  in  order  of  birth  of  the  nine  children,  is  individually  mentioned 
on  other  pages  of  this  work,  and  is  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Montpelier. 

David  Alonzo  Bryson.  Blackford  county  claims  as  one  of  its  rep- 
resentative men  of  affairs  and  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens,  the 
popular  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Montpelier.  Mr.  Bry- 
son, in  this  important  executive  capacity,  is  giving  a  most  able  adminis- 
tration and  his  efforts  have  done  much  to  make  the  bank  one  of  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  231 

staunch  and  conservative  financial  institutions  of  this  favored  section 
of  the  Boosier  State.  Its  capital  stock  is  $50,000,  and  it  has  a  surplus 
fund  oi  $12,000,  with  total  deposits  in  excess  of  $317,000,  as  shown  bj 
the  official  report  of  March  4.  L914.  The  personnel  of  the  executive  corps 
of  the  First  National  Hank  of  Montpelier  is  as  here  indicated:  D  \ 
Bryson,  presidenl  ;  T.  C.  Neal,  vie  presidenl  ;  and  II.  o.  Stewart,  cashier! 
Besides  the  president  and  vice  presidenl  the  directorate  includes  also 
I..  C.  Johnson,  II.  R.  Maddox.  II.  B.  Lancaster,  Phanuel  Mclntire  and 
J.  II.  Twihell. 

Mr.  Bryson  is  a  son  of  the  late  Thomas  Bryson,  to  whom  a  memoir 
is  dedicated  on  other  pages  of  this  publication,  til.'  family  data  appear- 
ing in  that  connection  being  so  complete  as  to  render  it  unnecessary  to 
repeat  the  same  in  the  sketch  here  presented,  as  ready  reference  may 
he  made  from  the  index  to  the  article  mentioned.  David  Alonzo  Bryson 
was  horn  in  Butler  township.  Butler  county.  Ohio,  on  the  Kith  of  May, 
1852,  and  he  was  about  two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  re- 
moval to  Wells  county.  Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood'  and 
afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools.  From  1881  to  h^  he 
there  had  the  active  management  of  the  old  homestead  farm  of  his  father, 
and  in  the  latter  year  he  came  to  Blackford  county  and  established  his 
residence  in  the  village  of  .Montpelier.  Here  he  purchased  the  saw  mill 
and  incidental  business  of  George  Saunders,  and  with  this  plant  he  built 
up  a  substantial  and  prosperous  enterprise,  with  which  he  continued 
to  he  identified  for  about  ten  years,  as  one  of  the  representative  factors 
in  the  lumber  business  and  manufacturing  industries  of  the  county.  He 
finally  sold  the  mill  and  became  one  of  the  leading  stockholders  of  the 
bank  and  principal  figures  in  the  organization  of  the  First  National  Hank, 
which  was  incorporated  in  April,  1900.  and  of  which  he  became  cashier. 
the  other  members  of  the  original  official  corps  having  been  C.  Q.  Shull, 
president;  and  T.  C.  Neal,  vice  president.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Shull. 
in  June,  1912,  Dr.  H.  R.  Maddox  was  elected  president,  and  he  retained 
this  incumbency  until  November,  1913.  when  .Mr.  Bryson  became  presi- 
dent of  the  institution  to  the  development  of  whose  substantial  busjness 
he  had  contributed  much,  both  in  a  financial  and  executive  way,  as  be 
continued  to  serve  as  cashier  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
bank  until  he  became  its  president.  The  bank  has  paid  to  its  stockholders 
regular  and  appreciable  dividends,  and  the  progressive  policies  of  Mr. 
Bryson  have  met  with  distinctive  popular  and  official  approval,  as  his 
course  has  been  guided  along  safe  and  conservative  lines  and  with  punc- 
tilious regard  for  the  responsihilities  involved. 

Mr.  Bryson  has  shown  a  most  loyal  and  vital  interest  in  all  that  has 
concerned  the  civic  and  material  welfare  of  his  home  city  and  has  w  ielded 
much  influence  in  puhlic  affairs  of  a  local  order,  as  well  as  being  a  leader 
in  the  business  activities  of  Montpelier.  The  confinement  and  exacting 
duties  of  the  hank  finally  prompted  him  to  seek  connections  that  would 
afford  him  more  outdoor  life,  the  while  he  should  not  in  the  least  abate 
his  active  administrative  duties  in  the  First  National  Bank.  He  com- 
passed this  end  when,  in  March,  1910,  he  repurchased  the  saw  mill  and 
lumber  business,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  personal  supervision, 
the  incidental  activity  having  proved  of  distinct  benefit  to  his  health. 
Mr.  Bryson  is  essentially  liberal  and  public-spirited  in  his  civic  attitude, 
and  is  influential  in  the  councils  of  the  republican  party  in  this  section 
of  the  state.    In  the  time-honored  Masonic  fraternity  In-  is  affiliated  with 

the  lodge  of  Free  and  A< pted   Masons  in  Montpelier,  the  chapter  of 

Royal  Aivh  Masons  at  Hartford  City,  and  the  commandery  of  Knights 
Templars  at  Bluffton.  the  judicial  center  of  "Wells  county.  He  has  served 
many  years  as  treasurer  of  his  lodge.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryson  and  their 


232        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

daughter  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  the  family 
is  one  of  distinctive  prominence  and  popularity  in  connection  with  the 
representative  social  activities  of  Montpelier. 

At  Celina,  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1880,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bryson  to  Miss  Sarah  Ryan,  who  was  born  in  the 
year  1862,  of  staunch  Irish  lineage.  Her  father,  John  Ryan,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  an  Ohio  regiment  in  the  Civil  war,  was  captured  by  the  enemy 
and  thereafter  held  for  some  time  as  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Andersonville 
prison.  After  his  release  he  started  for  the  north  on  the  ill  fated  Missis- 
sippi River  steamer,  "Sultana,"  and  while  attempting  to  swim  to  shore 
after  the  wrecking  of  the  packet-boat  he  was  drowned,  many  other  sol- 
diers having  likewise  lost  their  lives  in  this  disaster.  Mrs.  Bryson  was  an 
infant  at  the  time  of  the  tragic  death  of  her  father,  and  she  was  reared 
in  the  home  of  her  uncle,  Patrick  Ryan,  of  Greensburg,  Decatur  county, 
Indiana,  her  education  havig  been  received  principally  in  Oldenberg 
Convent,  conducted  near  that  place  by  Sisters  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryson  have  one  daughter,  Cora,  who  remains  at  the 
parental  home  and  is  one  of  the  popular  young  women  of  Montpelier, 
where  she  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools,  later  at- 
tending an  institution  of  higher  academic  functions,  in  the  city  of  Port 
Wayne. 

Oren  P.  McFerren.  The  distinctive  place  of  Mr.  McFerren  in  the 
citizenship  of  Hartford  City,  is  due  to  his  enterprise  in  developing  and 
maintaining  a  first-class  grocery  store  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  people 
of  a  large  community  with  all  kinds  of  staple  and  fancy  goods.  His 
store  is  located  on  West  Washington  street,  where  he  occupies  a  room 
20x120  feet,  well  stocked  with  goods,  and  he  makes  a  point  of  catering 
to  the  best  class  of  customers.  Mr.  McFerren  has  been  in  business  on 
his  own  account  in  Hartford  City  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  in  his 
present  location  for  four  years.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  clerk 
in  a  grocery  and  dry  goods  establishment  in  Hartford  City,  and  it  has 
been  by  careful  husbanding  of  his  savings,  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
trade  conditions,  and  by  strict  business  methods  that  he  has  reached  a 
place  of  comparative  independence. 

Oren  P.  McFerren  was  born  in  Jackson  township  of  Blackford 
county,  August  20,  1869.  He  grew  up  and  received  his  education  there, 
and  took  the  normal  course  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  was  given  a 
license  to  teach  school.  However,  he  never  did  any  actual  work  in  the 
schoolroom  as  a  teacher,  but  when  twenty  years  of  age  accepted  a  place 
as  a  clerk,  and  has  been  continuously  identified  with  merchandising  ever 
since. 

Mr.  McFerren 's  parents  were  John  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Everett)  Mc- 
Ferren, his  father,  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  and  his  mother 
of  West  Virginia.  The  McFerrens  came  to  Blackford  county  in  the 
early  days,  and  the  paternal  grandparents  were  Harrison  and  Lydia 
(Beaver)  McFerren,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the  latter 
of  Pennsylvania,  their  marriage  occurring  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana. 
Among  the  children  of  Harrison  and  Lydia  McFerren  there  are  three 
sons  and  a  daughter  still  living ;  one  daughter  of  Auglaize  county,  Ohio, 
being  deceased,  Mary  Casseldine,  who  had  several  children ;  Oliver,  who 
is  married  and  has  a  son  named  Alonzo,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Jackson  town- 
ship ;  Henry,  who  is  a  farmer  in  the  state  of  Louisiana,  and  has  three 
daughters;  Daniel,  who  lives  at  Newcastle.  Indiana,  and  has  a  daughter. 
Forest;  and  Hannah  Stewart,  who  lives  in  De  Ridder.  Louisiana,  and 
has  a  family  of  three  daughters  and  one  son,  namely,  Maude,  Gertrude, 
Edith  and  Alva. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  233 

.Mrs.  Elizabeth  I  Everett  I  McFerren,  the  mother  of  the  Hartford  City 
merchant,  was  oue  of  the  children  of  William  and  Emily  (Riley)  Everett, 
who  were  both  born  in  thai  par!  of  Virginia  now  Wesl  Virginia,  other 
members  of  the  Everett  family  are:  Josephus,  who  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Hartford  City,  and  has  our  daughter,  Leota,  wife  of  Walter 
Nogle;  John,  who  lived  the  most  of  his  life  in  Blackford  countj  and  died 
at  Mill  Grove  when  about  sixty-eight  years  of  age,  had  children,  William, 
deceased.  Abraham,  who  lives  in  West  Virginia,  and  Elza,  deceased  ;  Cath- 
erine Everett  married  a  Mr.  Weirick,  lives  near  Warsaw.  Indiana,  and 
has  a  family  of  Eve  children;  Cena,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Shields  of  West  Virginia,  and  had  several  children;  Laurana  died  after 
her  marriage  to  Daniel  McFerren,  leaving  a  daughter  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Beaver;  Cyrena  Everett  is  the  wife  of  M.  D.  Powell  of 
Muncie,  Indiana,  and  has  a  family  of  two  hoys  and  one  girl;  Mary  Jane 
is  the  wife  of  .Mr.  [ngram  of  Wist  Virginia,  and  has  a  large  family. 
The  McFerren  and  Everett  families  established  homes  in  Blackford 
county  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  development  of  some  of  its  land  from 
pioneer  conditions,  and  some  prosperous  agricultural  acreage  in  -lack- 
son  township  is  the  result  of  their  toil  and  management.  The  grandpar- 
ents, McFerren,  lived  to  good  old  age,  passing  away  when  seventy-five 
or  seventy-six  years  old,  ami  were  among  the  substantial  supporters 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  in  their  community,  while  the  grandpar- 
ents on  the  Everett  side  were  of  the  Methodist  faith  and  enjoyed  high 
esteem  in  Jackson  township,  where  the  grandmother  passed  away  at  tin- 
age  of  forty-six,  and  the  grandfather  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 

After  the  marriage  of  John  A.  McFerren  and  Miss  Everett  they  be- 
gan life  on  a  farm  near  Mill  Grove,  and  it  was  there  that  the  elder  Mr. 
McFerren  passed  away,  July  6.  1912,  when  seventy-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  staunch  democrat  in  politics,  and  in  his  religious  views  was  in- 
clined towards  the  Methodist  church.  lie  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war 
and  honorably  discharged  after  about  four  years  of  service.  His  widow- 
is  still  living  at  her  home  in  Mill  Grove,  and  is  sixty-six  years  of 
age,  and  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Methodist  church.  Their  children 
were  as  follows :  Oren  P. ;  Albert,  who  is  now  living  in  the  state  of  Idaho, 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and  is  forty-one  years  of  age  and  is  un- 
married ;  Arthur,  thirty-five  years  of  age,  a  commercial  salesman  for  a 
wholesale  hardware  house  of  Colorado  Springs.  Colorado,  and  was  mar- 
ried some  years  ago  in  New  Mexico,  but  has  no  children. 

Oren  P.  McFerren  was  married  in  Hartford  City.  February  6,  1901, 
to  Miss  Ella  Nora  Reck.  She  was  born  in  Darke  county.  Ohio.  April  13, 
1871,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Blackford  county,  from  the  schools 
of  which  community  she  acquired  her  education.  Her  father.  Amos 
Reck,  was  well  known  in  Blackford  county,  where  he  died  over  thirty 
years  ago.  He  was  an  honorably  discharged  soldier  of  the  Civil  war. 
Her  mother,  Elizabeth  Newbaurer,  is  still  living  in  her  second  widow- 
hood, being  now  Mrs.  Roby,  and  a  resident  of  Hartford  City,  at  the  age 
of  seventy.     Mrs.   McFerren   has  two  sisters. — Mrs.    Clara    Stewart    of 

Dunkirk.   Indiana,  who  has  thr children,   Ruth,   Ralph  and    Harriett, 

and  Mrs.  Almina  Seinoble  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  who  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  McFerren  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Oren  Russell,  who  is  twelve  years  of  age  and  attending  grade  schools, 
and  Geraldine,  who  is  ten  years  old  and  also  in  school.  Both  Mi-,  and 
Mrs.  McFerren  are  members  of  the  Hartford  City  Methodist  church, 
while  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  order,  and  in  politics 
so  far  as  national  issues  are  concerned,  supports  the  democratic  ticket. 


234  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Aaron  M.  Waltz.  The  bench  and  bar  of  Blackford  county  have 
from  the  earliest  period  to  the  present  time  been  represented  by  men  of 
high  character  and  marked  ability,  and  of  the  prominent  attorneys  and 
counselors  at  law  now  engaged  in  successful  practice  at  Hartford  City, 
the  judicial  center  of  the  county,  one  of  the  leaders  is  he  whose  name 
initiates  this  paragraph,  and  who  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Waltz 
&  Emshwiller,  in  which  his  coadjutor  is  Ashley  G.  Emshwiller,  individ- 
ually mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

Mr.  Waltz  read  law  under  the  effective  preceptorship  of  Benjamin 
P.  Mason,  of  Hagerstown,  a  prominent  member  of  the  bar  of  Wayne 
county,  this  state,  and  he  made  progress  in  the  absorption  and  assimila- 
tion of  the  involved  science  of  jurisprudence,  with  the  result  that  he 
gained  admission  to  the  bar  in  February,  1889.  In  the  following  year 
he  established  his  residence  in  Hartford  City,  where  he  has  since  "con- 
tinued in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profession  and  where  he  has 
gained  marked  precedence  as  an  able  trial  lawyer  and  well  fortified  coun- 
selor. In  the  earlier  period  of  his  professional  activities  here  Mr.  Waltz 
was  associated  in  practice  with  David  H.  Fouts  and  afterward  with 
Ethan  W.  Secrest,  and  later  he  formed  his  present  alliance,  which  has 
proved  in  every  respect  satisfactory  and  prolific  in  results.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  firm  of  Waltz  &  Emshwiller  are  eligible  for  practice  in  all 
of  the  courts  of  Indiana,  including  the  Federal  tribunals.  Mr.  Waltz 
has  shown  his  admirable  powers  in  the  handling  of  many  important  cases, 
and  has  won  through  ability  and  fidelity,  his  well  merited  reputation 
as  a  specially  resourceful  and  versatile  advocate.  In  the  domain  of 
criminal  law  he  has  been  most  successful,  and  one  of  the  celebrated  cases 
in  which  he  appeared  was  that  of  the  State  of  Indiana  versus  Alfred 
Musser,  the  defendant  having  murdered  Eliza  Stolz,  of  Portland,  Jay 
county,  his  specific  purpose  having  been  robbery.  Mr.  Waltz  appeared  as 
the  leading  prosecutor  and  Musser  was  convicted,  with  sentence  to  life 
imprisonment  in  the  state  penitentiary.  On  change  of  venue  this  case, 
which  attracted  wide  attention,  was  transferred  from  Jay  county  to 
Blackford  county.  Mr.  Waltz  also  appeared  for  the  prosecution  in  the 
Crouse  case,  involving  divorce  and  murder,  and  defended  in  the  Under- 
wood case,  in  which  a  young  lady  school  teacher  shot  a  drug  clerk  whom 
she  accused  of  the  seduction  of  her  sister,  the  shooting  having  occurred 
at  Muneie,  Delaware  county.  All  of  these  cases  were  given  special  at- 
tention by  the  metropolitan  newspapers. 

Mr.  Waltz  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1864,  and  his  early  experiences  were  those  gained  in  connection  with 
the  home  farm.  He  duly  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  later  attended  the  normal  school  at  Valparaiso.  Indiana, 
after  which  he  began  the  study  of  law,  as  indicated  in  a  preceding  para- 
graph. The  genealogy  of  the  family  is  traced  back  to  sturdy  Swiss 
origin,  and  the  name  was  spelled  Waltzer  by  the  earlier  generations, 
the  title  having  been  given  because  an  ancestor,  many  generations  ago, 
had  danced  before  and  gained  the  approval  of  a  king  of  Switzerland. 
The  founders  of  the  American  branch  came  to  this  country  from  Switzer- 
land in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  two  brothers  of  the 
name  were  found  enrolled  as  valiant  soldiers  of  the  Continental  line  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  In  this  great  conflict  they  became  separated 
and  after  its  close  one  established  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  the  other 
becoming  a  pioneer  of  Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
To  one  of  these  Revolutionary  soldiers  Aaron  M.  Waltz  traces  his  ances- 
tral line. 

Peter  Waltz,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  article, 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania,  within  the  period  between 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  235 

1790  and  1795.  He  became  a  substantial  farmer  in  the  old  Keystone 
State,  where  he  married  and  where  Solomon  Waltz.  Aaron's  father  and 
his  children  were  born.  Aboul  1820,  he  removed  with  Ins  family  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  a  few  years  later  removal  was  made  to 
Germantown,  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  Peter  Waltz  died  about  the  time 
of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  at  the  home  of  his  son  Solomon,  of  his 
other  children.  Isaac  died  in  Iowa  and  left  a  family;  .Mary  married  a 
man   named    Look,   and   she   passed    the   closing  years  of   ho-   lit',-   on    the 

Pacific  coast;  Elizabeth,  whose  husband  bore  the  name  of  Boyd,  con- 

tinued  to  reside  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  until  her  death,  and  was 
survived  by  at  least  two  children;  Peter,  dr..  and  John  both  reside  in 
Henry  county,  this  state,  the  former  having  a  family,  and  the  latter 
having  never  married;  Samuel  was  a  resident  of  Iowa  for  a  number  of 
years  prior  to  his  death  and  left  a  number  of  children;  Jacob  sacrificed 
his  life  while  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 

Solomon  Waltz  was  horn  in  1813,  and  his  death  occurred  October  I'd. 
1895.  He  wedded  Miss  Mahala  Fonts,  of  Henry  county.  Indiana,  who 
was  born  in  the  year  lS-Jo.  in  that  county,  and  died  in  Wayne  county, 
in  1902,  on  a  farm  adjoining  that  on  which  she  was  born.  Solomon  Waltz 
was  a  communicant  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  his  wife  held 
membership  in  the  German  Baptist  or  Dunkard  church.  His  first  presi- 
dential vote  was  cast  for  General  Andrew  Jackson,  and  he  voted  for 
Lincoln  at  the  time  of  his  first  election,  thereafter  continuing  an  ad- 
herent of  the  democratic  party  until  his  death,  his  father  having  hern  a 
staunch  whig.  Solomon  Waltz  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Wayne  county, 
this  state,  and  in  his  youth  lie  learned  the  trade-  of  carpenter,  which  In- 
followed  successfully  until  he  had  attained  to  tin-  age  of  fifty  years. 
He  then  became  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Hagerstown.  Wayne  county. 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  He  was  a 
man  of  superior  mentality  and  though  his  early  educational  advantages 
were  necessarily  very  meager,  he  applied  himself  diligently  to  reading 
and  study,  with  the  result  that  he  became  known  for  his  broad  fund  of 
knowledge  and  mature  judgment.  His  great  integrity  and  marked 
wisdom  caused  his  counsel  to  be  sought  frequently  by  his  neighbors,  who 
had  implicit  faith  in  him  and  his  sense  of  justice.  Solomon  and  Mahala 
(Fonts)  Waltz  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  and  all  of  the  sons 
have  followed  either  agricultural  or  mechanical  pursuits,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Aaron  M.,  who  was  the  only  one  to  enter  professional  life, 
and  who  was  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  twelve  children.  He  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  this  state,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1864,  and  in  pre- 
ceding  paragraphs  have  been  given  adequate  data  concerning  his  prep 
aration  for  the  profession  in  which  he  has  achieved  much  of  distinction 
and  success. 

In  politics  Mi-.  Waltz  has  given  unswerving  allegiance  to  the  demo 
cratie  party,  and  he  lias  been  an  effective  worker  in  behalf  of  its  cause, 
as  well  as  in  furthering  the  election  of  its  candidates  to  office,  his  in- 
flui  nee  in  this  line  having  been  noteworthy,  the  while  he  has  had  no  de- 
sire for  official  preferment,  save  along  the  line  of  his  profession.  He 
made  an  admirable  record  in  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  for  Black- 
ford and  Wells  counties,  which  constituted  the  28th  Judicial  Circuit,  a 
position  of  which  he  was  the  incumb.-nt  from  1896  to  L900.  Since  the  time 
when  he  attained  to  his  lejral  majority  Mr.  Waltz  has  been  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  In-  has  passed 
the  various  official  chairs  in  both  the  lodge  and  encampment  bodies,  the 
bitter  of  which  he  represented  in  the  Indiana  grand  encampment.  lb-  is 
a  member  also  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Benevolenl 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  is  a  past  exalted 


236        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ruler  of  Hartford  City  Lodge  No.  625,  an  organization  that  he  has  rep- 
resented in  the  national  assemblies  of  the  order.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Democratic  National  Convention  of  1900,  in  Kansas  City,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  the  local  and  state  conventions  of  his  party  in  Indiana, 
besides  serving  a  number  of  times  with  marked  ability  as  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  County  Committee  of  Blackford  county. 

At  Hartford  City,  on  the  21st  of  December,  1893,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Waltz  to  Miss  Anna  Geisler,  who  was  born  at  Win- 
chester, Randolph  county,  Indiana,  December  23,  1869,  her  parents  hav- 
ing removed  to  Hartford  City  when  she  was  a  child.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Magdaline  (Swope)  Geisler,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Alsace-Lorraine,  Prance,  now  a  part  of  Germany,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  a  member  of  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  family ;  when  a  girl  of  sixteen  years  Mrs.  Geisler  came  along  to 
America  and  she  never  visited  her  native  land  until  half  a  century  later, 
when  she  had  the  pleasure  of  renewing  many  of  the  grateful  associations 
of  her  childhood.  George  Geisler,  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  vocation, 
died  in  Hartford  City,  in  middle  life,  and  here  his  widow  passed  away 
in  1906,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waltz  have  no 
children  of  their  own,  but  in  their  home  they  have  reared  Clyde  Harris, 
a  nephew  of  Mrs.  Waltz. 

Joseph  Louis  Hoover.  A  business  man  whose  home  for  sixteen  years 
was  in  Hartford  City,  whose  mercantile  enterprise  was  by  no  means 
confined  to  one  locality,  and  a  citizen  of  remarkable  energy  and  public 
spirit,  the  death  of  J.  L.  Hoover  on  June  15,  1914,  was  a  sad  bereavement 
to  his  home  city,  his  extensive  business  connections  in  many  communi- 
ties, both  in  Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  especially  to  the  happy  little  family 
which  had  always  honored  him  as  husband  and  father.  To  quote  the 
editorial  statement  of  a  local  paper:  "J.  L.  Hoover  was  a  man  this 
city  could  ill  afford  to  lose.  He  was  a  leader  among  men  and  was  a  big 
asset  to  the  town,  being  always  interested  in  the  advancement  of  the 
city.  His  work  here  is  done,  but  his  energies,  which  were  as  those  of 
a  dynamo,  will  continue  to  be  an  inspiration  to  those  who  knew  him 
best.  He  was  formerly  president  of  the  Merchants'  Association,  and 
was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  his  latest 
activities  for  the  city's  betterment  were  directed  toward  making  the 
newly  organized  Commercial  Club  a  success.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
soliciting  committee  and  besides  personal  work  had  intimated  his  readi- 
ness to  lend  financial  assistance.  The  Fall  Festival  Association  and  the 
Business  Men 's  Association  will  also  greatly  miss  the  excellent  advice  and 
hard  work  of  J.  L.  Hoover." 

Mr.  Hoover  had  a  genius  for  commercial  organization,  and  for  some 
years  before  his  death  had  been  vice  president  and  was  probably  the 
most  influential  member  of  the  Hoover-Rowlands  and  the  Hoover-Bond 
Furniture  Syndicate,  operating  a  chain  of  stores  in  many  cities,  includ- 
ing the  Ohio  cities  of  Columbus,  Zanesville,  where  two  stores  were  under 
that  management,  Lima,  Marion,  Mansfield,  Lancaster,  Ashtabula,  Steub- 
enville,  Tiffin  and  Mount  Vernon;  at  Kalamazoo  and  Lansing,  Michi- 
gan; and  at  Richmond,  Columbus,  Hartford  City  and  Montpelier,  In- 
diana. Though  he  began  life  with  his  own  resources  as  his  chief  asset, 
he  rose  to  a  place  of  prominence  in  the  business  world,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  among  the  wealthiest  citizens  of  Hartford  City,  with 
extensive  interests  outside  of  the  furniture  trade,  including  the  owner- 
ship of  a  large  amount  of  property  at  Hartford  City,  Marion,  and 
other  places.  He  was  the  owner  of  the  Marion  Hospital,  where  on  the 
day  before  his  death  he  was  operated  upon  for  appendicitis. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  237 

Joseph  L.  Hoover  was  born  in  Lima,  Ohio,  April  7.  L865.  Be  ram.'  of 
an  old  ami  substantial  German  family,  and  in  that  country  the  name  was 
spelled  Von  Haffer,  and  it  was  the  late  John  Hoover,  father  of  J.  L. 
Hoover,  who  changed  the  spelling  when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
John  Hoover  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1839,  and  when  aboul  fourteen 
years  of  age.  in  IS."):!,  accompanied  an  older  brother  to  the  United  States. 
and  after  a  residence  of  some  time  in  the  east,  probably  in  Pennsylvania, 
the  two  lirothers  became  separated,  and  John,  having  acquired  a  skill 

in  tl abinet  making  trade,  moved  to  Lima.  Ohio,  and  there  assisted 

to  start  the  first  furniture  store,  which  mighl  be  considered  the  nucleus 
of  a  business  with  which  the  Hoover  name  lias  been  associated  success 
fully  for  a  long  period  of  years.  John  Hoover  was  married  in  Bremen, 
near  Columbus,  Ohio,  to  -Miss  Barnadena  Busse,  who  was  horn  in  thai 
section  of  Ohio,  and  of  German  ancestry.  After  his  marriage  John 
Hoover  located  near  Lima,  in  Allen  county,  and  there  he  and  his  wife 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days,  being  honored  for  their  worthj  character 
and  their  helpfulness  in  church  and  community  affairs.  They  were 
devout  members  of  the  Catholic  faith.  John  Hoover  .lied  in  June, 
1911,  and  his  wife  in  August.  191(3.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  the  late  .1.  L.  Hoover  was  the  fourth  child  and 
third  son. 

His  boyhood  was  spent  in  Lima,  with  an  education  in  the  public 
schools,  supplemented  by  attendance  at  a  night  school,  and  at  tin-  age 
of  fifteen  he  was  at  work  in  the  store  of  a  Mr.  Musser,  and  besides 
learning  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  was  also  getting  experience  as  a 
furniture  salesman  and  in  the  undertaking  work.  Four  years  of  appli- 
cation in  this  way  gave  him  that  thoroughness  of  knowledge  of  detail 
which  characterized  all  his  career.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  or  nineteen 
Mr.  Hoover  went  to  Marion  and  was  employed  by  Keller  &  Mead  Chair 
Co.  as  traveling  salesman  for  the  Keller  &  Mead  (hair,  later  as  manager 
of  Keller  Furniture  Store,  and  continued  that  work  until  the  age  of 
twenty-three.  In  the  meantime,  when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  had 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own,  and  a  little  later  moved  to 
Lima  and  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  with  John,  Henry  and 
William  Hoover,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hoover  Brothers.  Five  years 
later,  having  sold  his  interest  to  his  brothers,  with  the  determination  to 
come  to  Marion,  instead  Mr.  Hoover  engaged  in  business  a  short  time 
at  St.  Mary's,  Ohio,  and  then  sold  out  at  an  advantage  and  moved  his 
enterprise  to  Hartford  City,  which  was  his  home  and  the  center  of  his 
business  activities  for  sixteen  years,  until  his  death.  In  1898  he  bought 
the  J.  U.  Moore  Furniture  Store,  in  the  Elton  Block,  opposite  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  subsequently  moved  his  place  of  busi- 
ness to  its  present  location.  In  1899  his  stock  was  destroyed  by  tire,  but 
he  started  anew  and  by  shrewd  business  management  soon  had  the  chief 
business  of  its  kind  in  the  city.  With  the  foundation  of  his  local  success 
in  merchandising,  Mr.  Hoover  became  one  of  the  active  organizers  of  the 
Hoover-Rowlands  Company,  a  syndicate  that  established  furniture  stores 
in  a  number  of  cities,  of  which  company  he  was  vice  president,  and  was 
also  one  of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of  the  Hoover-Bond  Company, 
engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business.  At  tin-  time  of  his  death  .Mr. 
Hoover  had  an  interest  in  sixteen  furniture  stores  in  different  cities,  and 
was  president  of  the  Hoover  Furniture  Company  of  Hartford  City,  this 
enterprise  being  owned  by  himself,  his  youngest  In-other.  Frank,  and 
Arthur  Smith  of  Hartford  City. 

The  late  Mr.  Hoover  was  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  not  being  a  mem 
her  of  any  church,  he  was  wont  to  attend  the  Presbyterian  church  with 
his  wife,  ami  in  religious,  social  and  civic  affairs  was  a   man  of  unusual 


238        BLACK-FORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

breadth  and  liberality.  He  was  a  member  of  three  Hartford  City 
the  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Maccabees,  and  the  Lodge"  of 
Elks  attended  his  funeral  in  a  body,  and  a  special  mark  of  respect  to 
this  prominent  merchant  was  paid  when  the  Hartford  City  business 
houses  remained  closed  during  the  funeral  hour.  Mr.  Hoover  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Blackford  Club,  a  social  organization,  which  during  the 
past  year  has  been  greatly  depleted  by  the  hand  of  death,  Mr.  Hoover 
being  the  fifth  of  its  membership  to  be  called  away. 

Another  comment  on  his  passing  is  the  following  from  the  Marion 
Leader-Tribune:  "Coming  at  a  time  when  Mr.  Hoover  had  reached  a 
prominent  place  in  the  business  world,  when  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life 
and  was  so  essential  to  the  happiness  and  welfare  of  his  family,  his  death 
is  a  crushing  blow  to  his  household.  Another  feature  which  makes  the 
passing  of  the  father  particularly  sad,  is  the  fact  of  the  approaching 
marriage  of  his  eldest  daughter,  Miss  Helen  Hoover,  prominent  socially 
in  Hartford  City.  Mr.  Hoover  was  a  man  who  made  friends  by  the 
scores.  He  was  highly  regarded  by  his  associates,  and  will  be  greatly 
missed  in  the  community  as  well  as  by  his  family  and  relatives." 

Mr.  Hoover  was  married  at  Marion,  Indiana,  January  4,  1888,  to 
Miss  India  Kimball,  whose  family  has  long  been  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent in  the  city  of  Marion.  She  was  born  at  Converse,  Indiana,  February 
12,  1866,  was  reared  there  and  educated  partly  in  the  Holy  Angels  Acad- 
emy at  Logansport,  and  since  her  husband 's  death  has  taken  up  the  active 
administration  of  his  varied  interests. 

The  Kimball  family  of  which  Mrs.  Hoover  is  a  member  has  a  long 
and  interesting  lineage.  Moses  Kimball,  who  was  a  native  of  England, 
came  to  America  with  some  brothers  during  the  Colonial  era,  and  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  served  on  the  American  side  as  a  sergeant.  His  son, 
Abner,  became  a  pioneer  settler  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  died 
there,  an  old  man  after  a  long  career  as  a  farmer.  Abner  married  a  Miss 
Jeffries,  who  died  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  number  of  children.  Among  these  was  Moses  Kimball,  who 
was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  and  married  Miss  Louisa  Powell,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  was  descended  from  Lord  Powell  of  England,  and  was 
also  a  cousin  to  William  Dean  Howells,  the  famous  American  novelist, 
whose  early  boyhood  and  manhood  was  spent  in  eastern  Ohio.  Moses 
Kimball  and  wife,  after  their  marriage,  moved  to  Miami  county,  Indiana, 
took  up  wild  land  and  improved  it,  and  subsequently  once  more  moved 
out  to  the  frontier,  going  to  Kansas  and  in  Wilson  county  acquiring  a 
tract  of  virgin  soil,  and  in  the  course  of  years  developing  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  entire  state.  It  was  improved  with  a  fine  large  stone  house, 
and  a  part  of  the  Kimball  land  is  now  the  site  of  the  city  of  Neodesha. 
Moses  Kimball  and  wife  spent  their  declining  years  in  Kansas  and  are 
buried  in  Wilson  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six 
sons  and  four  daughters,  including  two  well  known  physicians.  One  of 
these  was  Dr.  Thomas  Kimball,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hoover,  and  the  other 
was  Dr.  Abner  D.,  who  was  the  first  physician  and  surgeon  at  the  Na- 
tional Soldiers  Home  in  Marion,  and  held  that  place  until  his  death.  Dr. 
Abner  saw  six  months  of  active  service  during  the  Civil  war,  while  Dr. 
Thomas  was  a  member  of  Company  I  in  the  Eighth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  enlisting  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  serving  for  three  years. 
He  participated  in  eighteen  battles  and  skirmishes,  was  almost  con- 
stantly on  duty,  and  though  in  many  narrow  escapes,  came  out  un- 
scathed. His  superior  officers  were  Major  Steele,  Captain  Williams 
of  Indiana,  and  Colonel  Shunk.  After  the  war  Thomas  Kimball  grad- 
uated in  medicine  from  the  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  practitioner,  and  throughout  his  lifetime  was  sincerely 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES       l>;;:» 

devoted  to  his  profession  and  took  a  Dumber  of  post-graduate  courses.  It 
was  Dr.  Kimball  who  built  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  the  active 
head  of  the  Marion  Hospital.  During  the  Spanish-American  war  ('resi- 
dent McKinley  appointed  him  chief  division  surgeon,  and  as  such  he 
served  with  General  Breckenridge 's,  division  at  Chattanooga.  His  death 
occurred  at  Jacksonville,  where  he  was  seeking  health,  on  March  5,  1905. 
Dr.  Kimball  was  born  November  23,  1S42.  He  was  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  he  and  his  wife  were  .Methodists,  and  fraternally  he  was  identi 
tied  with  tlie  Masonic  Lodge,  Knight  Templar  Commandery,  Scottish 
Rite  degrees,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  char- 
ter members  of  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter,  of  which  .Mrs.  Kimball  was 
chaplain. 

Dr.  Thomas  Kimball  was  married  in  Miami  county.  Indiana,  to  Miss 
Louisa  Vinnedge,  who  was   born   in   Richmond,    Indiana,   January   21, 

1844,  was  educated  there  and  at  Converse,  and  was  a  daughter  id'  M v 

and  Elizabeth  (Jump!  Vinnedge.  Her  maternal  grandfather  was  Rev. 
Jump,  an  Episcopalian  minister.  The  Vinnedge  family  came  originally 
from  Germany,  and  for  many  years  beginning  with  the  pioneer  era 
were  identified  with  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  Moore  Vinnedge 's  father 
was  William  Vinnedge.  Moore  Vinnedge  was  born  in  Hamilton  county. 
Ohio,  moved  from  there  to  Richmond.  Indiana,  when  a  young  man.  and 
after  his  marriage  continued  to  live  there  and  in  Howard  county,  Indiana, 
and  died  at  Kokomo,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  His  widow  died  in  Chicago, 
in  1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  They  were  Methodists,  and  Mr.  Vin- 
nedge was  a  Douglas  democrat. 

The  late  Dr.  Thomas  Kimball  and  wife  had  the  following  children : 
Mrs.  Hoover;  Carl,  who  is  a  lumberman  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  has 
two  sons;  Dr.  Glenn,  a  Marion  physician  and  ex-member  of  the  Indiana 
legislature  from  Grant  county,  married  Minnie  Murdoff,  a  talented 
musician  whose  name  was  long  prominent  in  musical  affairs ;  Earl,  who  is 
a  furniture  dealer,  and  is  married. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Hoover  are  briefly  mentioned 
as  follows :  Irma  Louise  was  born  December  30,  1888,  and  died  February 
20,  1893.  Helen  Elizabeth,  born  May  8,  1891,  educated  in  the  city  high 
school  and  also  at  Los  Angeles.  California,  and  at  Glendale  College,  near 
Cincinnati,  was  married  June  25,  1914,  to  Paul  A.  Moore,  furniture 
dealer,  formerly  connected  with  the  Hub  Clothing  House  of  Chicago,  and 
later  in  the  furniture  business  at  Marion ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  now  have 
their  borne  in  Hartford  City.  Inez  Louisa  was  born  January  21,  1899, 
and  died  the  same  year.  Harriet  Esther  was  born  May  19,  1900,  and 
is  now  in  the  eighth  grade  of  the  Hartford  City  schools,  and  was  also  a 
student  for  a  time  in  Los  Angeles,  California.  It  was  these  two  living 
daughters  who  were  the  chief  pride  of  the  late  Mr.  Hoover,  and  he 
lavished  upon  them  the  riches  of  his  affection  as  well  as  his  abundant  ma- 
terial means.    The  Hoovers  have  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

W.  E.  Hutchexs.  For  the  past  twelve  years  Mr.  Hutchens  has 
been  manager  of  the  United  Telephone  Company 's  branch  office  at  Hart- 
ford City,  with  supervision  over  all  the  lines  controlled  by  that  company 
in  Blackford.  Jay,  Delaware,  Grant  and  Wells  counties.  Mr.  Hutchens 
took  the  management  of  the  Hartford  City  office  when  the  local  telephone 
business  was  of  insignificant  proportions  compared  to  its  present  develop- 
ment. There  were  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  patrons  of  the  local 
exchange  when  he  first  became  manager,  and  at  the  present  time  there 
are  a  thousand  subscribers,  with  many  more  party  lines  reaching  into 
tlie  various  counties  already  mentioned.  Mr.  Hutchens  also  has  charge  of 
Montpelier  exchange,  and  has  about  twenty-five  people  under  his  manage- 


240  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ment.  For  one  year  his  services  with  the  United  Company  kept  him  at 
Portland.  Mr.  Hutchens  is  a  business  expert  in  this  important  public 
utility,  and  one  of  the  best  known  telephone  men  in  the  state. 

W.  E.  Hutchens  was  born  in  Jay  county,  Indiana,  about  forty  years 
ago,  was  educated  in  the  city  schools  and  in  the  Jay  County  Normal, 
and  in  1890,  before  he  was  quite  seventeen  years  of  age,  was  given  a  cer- 
tificate and  elected  to  take  charge  of  a  country  school.  That  was  the 
start  of  a  career  which  made  him  well  known  in  educational  circles 
in  the  eastern  section  of  Indiana.  He  taught  in  both  Jay  and  Mercer 
counties,  and  for  seven  years  was  connected  with  the  Portland  city 
schools  and  principal  of  the  Garfield  school  there.  Mr.  Hutchens  han- 
dled the  varied  responsibilities  of  a  school  in  the  same  systematic  manner 
which  he  has  introduced  into  the  telephone  work,  and  the  success  which 
characterized  him  as  an  educator  has  been  continued  in  his  new  field  of 
endeavor. 

Mr.  Hutchens  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Sidella  A.  (McLaughlin) 
Hutchens,  both  natives  of  Indiana,  and  from  families  that  were  early 
settlers  and  prominent  people  of  Jay  county.  Alexander  Hutchens,  who 
was  born  in  1832  and  died  in  1887,  began  his  business  career  at  Sala- 
monie  in  Jay  county,  and  was  a  grocery  merchant  until  his  death.  He 
was  also  an  active  republican  and  at  one  time  was  candidate  for  a  county 
office  on  that  ticket.  His  widow,  who  is  now  seventy  years  of  age  and 
still  possessed  of  the  vigor  of  life,  lives  with  her  son  Eugene  W.  at  Hart- 
ford City.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Her  children  are 
briefly  mentioned  as  follows:  Ida  B.,  who  died  unmarried  in  February, 
1913 ;  William  E. ;  and  Eugene  W.,  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance 
business  at  Hartford  City,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Bessie  Moore  has  a 
daughter  Catherine. 

William  E.  Hutchens  was  married  at  Portland,  Indiana,  in  June. 
1894,  to  Miss  Lola  L.  Butcher.  She  was  born  at  Geneva  in  Adams  county, 
Indiana,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  it  was  while  a  student 
at  the  Portland  Normal  that  she  met  Mr.  Hutchens.  She  is  the  mother 
of  two  daughters:  Modjeska,  eighteen  years  of  age,  graduated  from  the 
Hartford  City  high  school  in  1913,  and  her  talents  in  music  are  now 
being  trained  by  study  of  piano  and  pipe  organ  preparatory  for  a  con- 
servatory course ;  Marjorie  is  thirteen  years  of  age  and  in  the  Freshman 
class  of  the  Hartford  City  high  school.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  Mr.  Hutchens  has  filled  several  chairs  in  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  and  in  polities  is  republican. 

Elbert  Smilack.  This  valued  citizen  of  Hartford  City  is  a  native 
of  Russia,  came  to  America  fifteen  years  ago,  and  after  some  varied 
experiences  which  did  not  bring  him  any  capital  he  arrived  in  Hartford 
City  within  a  few  months  after  landing  at  Philadelphia.  He  had  to 
borrow  money  to  get  his  start  in  the  county  seat  of  Blackford,  but  since 
contrived  to  prosper  so  that  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  wealthier  men 
of  that  city.  Much  has  been  said  of  the  boundless  opportunities  presented 
in  the  New  World  to  the  immigrant  from  the  old.  but  it  will  usually  be 
found  that  an  exceptional  degree  of  enterprise,  initiative,  industry,  and 
courage  are  important  factors  in  the  creation  of  such  a  success  as  has 
been  acquired  by  Elbert  Smilack. 

In  Russia  Mr.  Smilack 's  name  was  spelled  Smilackoff.  He  was  born 
in  Smolanks,  October  15,  1872.  His  father  Abraham  was  an  attorney  by 
profession  and  is  still  living  in  the  old  country,  sixty-six  years  of  age. 
The  mother  of  the  Hartford  City  business  man  died  when  this  son  was 
eighteen  months  old,  he  being  the  youngest  of  four  children.  The  father 
is  now  living  with  his  second  wife,  and  by  that  union  there  is  one  son 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  241 

who  still  lives  in  Russia,  but  recently  returned  from  America.  One  of 
Mr.  Sniilack's  brothers  died  young,  a  sister  is  married  and  living  in 
Russia,  and  another  brother  is  still  single  in  the  old  country. 

Elbert  Smilaek  grew  up  and  was  very  well  educated,  being  a  member 
of  a  fairly  prosperous  family.  He  learned  the  trade  of  confectioner,  and 
after  a  few  years  was  employed  as  commercial  representative  for  a  loaf 
sugar  manufacturing  concern.  He  was  with  that  house  from  the  age 
of  sixteen  to  twenty-one,  being  secretary  and  bookkeeper  in  the  office 
the  first  year,  and  after  that  traveling  extensively  over  a  large  part  of 
the  Empire.  At  twenty-one  Mr.  Smilaek  was  impressed  into  the  military 
service  for  a  period  of  six  years,  belonging  to  the  dragoons,  but  after  four 
years  and  six  months  was  relieved  from  further  duty  because  of  his 
exi  client  record.  At  the  time  of  his  discharge  he  was  at  Kiev,  from  there 
set  out  for  his  home,  and  thence  went  to  Antwerp,  Belgium,  where  he 
took  passage  on  the  ship  Penn  for  the  United  States.  After  sixteen  days 
en  route  he  was  landed  in  Philadelphia,  and  there  began  bis  American 
adventures.  It  was  in  1899,  and  from  the  east  he  journeyed  west  as  far 
as  Kalamazoo.  Michigan,  worked  there  six  weeks,  went  to  Chicago,  was 
employed  in  that  great  city  three  days  at  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  day, 
but  being  dissatisfied  with  his  employment  made  his  way  to  Marion, 
Indiana,  and  there  found  work  which  gave  him  a  small  amount  of  capi- 
tal. With  this  he  purchased  a  horse,  buggy  and  harness  for  thirty-five 
dollars,  and  drove  across  the  country  to  Hartford  City,  where  he  arrived 
with  thirty-five  cents  in  his  pocket.  In  deciding  to  remain  there  he 
chose  wisely  and  well.  A  friend  loaned  him  five  dollars  to  make  a  start 
in  the  junk  business,  and  in  a  short  time  he  had  repaid  the  advance  fund 
and  from  that  beginning  has  built  up  a  business  which  has  enabled  him 
to  invest  extensively  and  he  is  rated  at  a  fortune  of  over  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  He  owns  a  large  business  property.  40x120  feet  on  East  Wash- 
ington street,  a  fine  home  at  306  East  Main  street,  five  acres  of  land  as 
grounds  about  his  residence,  and  also  has  property  in  Buffalo,  New  York 
laud  in  Dewey,  Oklahoma,  and  forty-seven  oil  wells  in  this  state,  located 
in  Blackford,  Wells  and  Randolph  counties.  Few  native  Americans  could 
exhibit  a  better  record  of  business  prosperity  than  this  former  Russian 
citizen. 

Mr.  Smilaek  took  out  his  naturalization  papers  some  years  ago,  and 
has  since  affiliated  with  the  republican  party  in  politics,  and  takes  much 
interest  in  local  affairs.  On  October  31.  1905,  at  Muncie.  Indiana.  Mr. 
Smilaek  married  Gertrude  Rubin,  who  was  also  born  in  Russia,  in  the 
year  1885,  and  in  young  womanhood  emigrated  to  America  in  1904  to 
join  her  brother  Jacob  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  Later  she  went  to  live  with  an- 
other brother.  Louis,  in  Muncie,  Indiana,  where  she  was  married.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smilaek  have  two  children :  Celia,  who  is  seven  years  of  age 
and  in  school,  and  Sophia,  six  years  old.  Mr.  Smilaek  is  active  in  lodge 
and  fraternal  work,  has  taken  fourteen  degrees  in  Scottish  Rite  Masonry, 
is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge.  No.  106 ;  of  the  Chapter.  No.  Ill ;  of 
Council.  No.  76.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge  No.  625,  and  be- 
longs to  both  the  Lodge,  No.  262,  and  the  Encampment  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows in  all  their  branches.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  Lodge, 
No.  135.  of  the  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  394,  and  Mrs.  Smilaek  is  a  member 
of  the  Eastern  Star,  all  of  Hartford  City. 

William  T.  McConkey.  Although  twenty  years  have  passed  since 
the  death  of  William  T.  McConkey,  he  is  still  remembered  by  the  older 
residents  of  Washington  township  as  an  industrious,  enterprising  and 
practical  farmer,   a  reliable  and   thoroughly  progressive  citizen   and   a 


242        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

neighbor  whose  loyalty  to  his  friends  was  proverbial.  He  was  taken 
away  in  the  prime  of  life,  yet  he  had  already  achieved  much  that  was 
worthy  and  helpful  to  his  community,  and  a  review  of  his  career  is 
therefore  eminently  worthy  of  mention  in  a  work  of  this  nature. 

Mr.  McConkey  was  born  in  Washington  township,  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  January  7,  1850,  and  died  on  the  farm  owned  by  him  there 
February  1,  1892.  He  was  a  son  of  Eli  and  Eliza  (Marts)  McConkey, 
natives  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  the  former  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  the 
latter  of  German  stock.  James  McConkey,  the  grandfather  of  William 
T.  McConkey,  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married  in  Fayette 
county,  Indiana,  to  Mrs.  Prudence  (Cook)  Manlove,  a  North  Carolinian. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  had  a  family  of  six  children.  James  McConkey 
was  a  widower  when  he  married  Mrs.  Manlove,  having  formerly  married 
a  Miss  Burt,  in  Pennsylvania,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, viz:  John  Joel,  Hannah,  Betsey,  David,,  James  and  Zephaniah. 
His  marriage  with  Mrs.  Manlove  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children : 
Eli.  Sophronia  and  Thomas  Cranor.  Sophronia  married  Reuben  Allen; 
David  came  to  Blackford  county  about  1836  and  settled  on  land  here 
entered  by  his  father,  who  took  up  four  sections  and  one  eighty-acre 
tract  at  the  same  time;  James  came  next  and  had  a  large  family,  but 
only  three  lived  to  mature  years,  a  son,  Walter,  a  daughter,  Margaret, 
■who  married  Ephraim  Perry,  and  another  daughter  who  married  a 
son  of  Daniel  Sills,  and  after  his  death  married  a  Mr.  Fritz;  Zephaniah 
came  to  Blackford  county  in  1849,  and  Eli  in  February  of  the  same 
year.  James  and  Prudence  McConkey  by  their  marriages  had  altogether 
sixteen  children,  of  whom  Eli  was  the  last  survivor. 

Eli  McConkey  was  born  January  30,  1825,  and  was  married  in  Novem- 
ber, 1845,  to  Eliza  Marts.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Marts  and  his 
wife.  Christena  (Myers)  Marts,  who  were  reared  in  Pennsylvania  and 
never  learned  to  speak  the  English  language  until  they  came  to  Fayette 
county,  Indiana.  They  became  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  among 
whom  were:  Henry,  Charles,  Sarah,  Moses,  Isaac,  Christena,  who  mar- 
ried Newman  Shinn,  Eliza,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Barbara,  Mary,  Catherine  and 
Gideon.  Christena  Shinn  was  born  November  14,  1820,  and  died  at 
Hale,  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  March  22,  1912.  Moses  and  Isaac  were 
twins  and  married  twin  sisters  named  McCormick,  and  each  had  twelve 
or  thirteen  children.  Moses'  youngest  children  were  twin  sons  who 
looked  almost  exactly  alike.  Peter  Marts  subsequently  sold  his  farm 
and  went  to  Arcadia,  Indiana,  where  he  died  when  nearly  eighty  years 
of  age.  while  his  widow  subsequently  located  at  the  home  of  the  Mc- 
Conkeys,  and  died  there  in  her  ninetieth  year. 

In  February,  1849,  Eli  McConkey  and  wife  moved  to  Blackford 
county,  and  settled  on  a  farm  which  had  been  entered  by  his  father 
James  McConkey,  and  they  continued  to  reside  there  during  the  remain- 
ing years  of  their  lives,  succeeding  through  thrift  and  industry  in  devel- 
oping an  excellent  farm.  Eli  McConkey  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-five, while  Mrs.  McConkey  was  fifty-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
her  demise.  They  were  faithful  members  of  the  Dunkard  church,  with 
which  they  were  identified  for  years,  and  in  the  faith  of  which  they 
died.  In  politics  Eli  McConkey  was  a  democrat  but  not  an  office  seeker, 
although  he  was  known  as  a  good  and  helpful  community  worker,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  had  in  the  highest  degree  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  those  about  them.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of 
children. 

The  next  to  the  oldest  child  of  his  parents,  William  T.  McConkey,  grew 
up  amid  rural  surroundings,  and  much  of  his  boyhood  was  spent  in 
assisting  his  father  in  his  agricultural  duties,  while  his  education  was 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        243 

being  obtained  in  the  district  schools.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage.  .Mr. 
MeConkey  received  eighty  acres  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
belonging  to  his  father,  and  then  settled  down  to  farming  on  his  own 
account,  making  the  old  homestead  his  residence  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  lie  was  successful  both  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  showed 
himself  at  all  times  a  good  business  man,  and  had  the  complete  confidence 
of  his  associates.  Since  his  death  the  farm  has  been  owned  by  his  widow, 
who  has  now  retired  to  her  home  at  Montpelier,  where  she  is  living  with 
her  son,  Harvey  W.  .MeConkey. 

William  T.  MeConkey  was  first  married  on  September  4.  1875,  to 
Margaret  E.  Mason,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Harriet  Mason.  To  that 
union  were  horn  two  children,  twin  daughters,  Viola  and  Leora,  on  July 

14,  1876.  When  these  babies  were  live  days  old  their  mother  died,  July 
19th,  and  the  daughter  Leora  died  when  sixteen  days  old.  Viola  is  now 
the  wife  of  William  F.  Minnich  of  Wells  county,  and  they  have  a  nice 
farm  of  sixty-seven  acres  in  Jaekson  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minnich 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  as  follows:     Lawrence  YY.,  horn  March 

15,  1898,  now  attending  high  school  at  Warren,  Indiana;  Emma  Pern, 
born  September  16,  1901;  and  Sylvia  Pearl,  horn  October  IS.  1905, 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  MeConkey  was  married  in  Har- 
rison township,  at  the  home  of  the  bride,  to  Miss  Eliza  B.  Kitterman. 
She  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  January  8,  1859,  and  was 
brought  in  childhood  to  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  by  her 
parents.  Harvey  and  Sarah  J.  (Wicksham)  Kitterman,  in  1865.  Harvey 
Kitterman  died  October  7,  1S66,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two.  His  widow 
subsequently  married  Uriah  Dick,  whose  first  wife  was  named  Rosie  and 
left,  him  five  children,  including  Richard  Dick,  in  whose  sketch  in  this 
work  complete  details  of  the  family  history  may  be  found.  Sarah  J. 
Kitterman-Dick  died  June  26,  1912,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  both 
she  aud  her  husband  having  passed  away  in  Blackford  county. 

To  "William  T.  MeConkey  and  wife  were  born  the  following  children  : 
Lawrence,  born  September  6,  1878,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
is  a  railway  fireman  residing  at  Huntington,  Indiana,  and  married  Zelda 
Foreman  of  Blackford  county,  and  they  have  a  daughter  Thelma.  horn 
November  20,  1904,  and  now  attending  the  city  schools:  Frederick,  who 
was  born  March  24,  1881,  has  for  several  years  been  in  poor  health  ami 
is  now  recovering  in  a  sanitarium  at  Newcastle,  Indiana;  Clarence  A. 
was  born  March  14.  1884,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Guy,  born 
July  14,  1888,  married  Ethel  Markin,  and  their  son  Ennis  Kail  was 
born  .May  24,  1911;  Harvey  William,  horn  .July  12,  1891,  is  a  harness 
maker  and  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  mother  at  548  S.  Franklin 
street,  Montpelier.  The  son  Guy  MeConkey  now  operates  The  Old  Home- 
stead, as  the  home  property  in  Section  12.  Washington  township,  is 
appropriately  named.  On  it  Mrs.  MeConkey  has  erected  a  line  stuck 
and  grain  barn,  40x50  feet,  and  the  improvements  are  all  of  the  best, 
making  it  a  very  valuable  property.  Mrs.  MeConkey  and  her  husband 
never  united  with  any  church,  hut  as  the  Dunkard  was  the  most  con- 
venient to  their  home  it  was  the  one  which  they  usually  attended.  The 
late  Mr.  MeConkey  was  a  democrat  in  his  political  views,  although  his 
sons  are  all  republicans.  The  people  bearing  this  name  have  always 
been  industrious,  enterprising  and  true  to  their  engagements,  and  have 
been  decided  factors  in  the  upbuilding  and  general  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  have  made  their  homes. 

Charles  A.  Sellers,  M.  D.  Engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery  at  Hartford  City,  the  county  seat  of  Blackford  county.  Dr. 


244  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Sellers  is  fully  upholding  the  prestige  of  the  family  name,  both  as  a 
physician  and  as  a  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen.  His  father,  Dr. 
John  S.  Sellers,  concerning  whom  individual  record  appears  on  other 
pages  of  this  publication,  lias  long  been  numbered  among  the  prominent 
representatives  of  the  medical  profession  in  Blackford  county,  and  is 
now  living  virtually  retired  in  Hartford  City.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Sellers 
controls  an  excellent  professional  business  and  is  one  of  the  highly 
esteemed  physicians  of  Blackford  county,  where  he  is  now  serving  as 
secretary  of  the  Blackford  County  Medical  Society,  showing  that  he  has 
secure  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  professional  confreres. 

Dr.  Sellers  was  born  at  Alexandria,  Madison  county,  Indiana,  on 
January  14,  1875,  and  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  for  his  prelimi- 
nary educational  discipline.  He  thereafter  completed  a  preparatory 
course  in  a  school  at  Irvington,  a  suburb  of  Indianapolis,  a  preparatory 
school  of  the  University  of  Indianapolis.  As  a  licensed  pharmacist  he 
was  identified  with  the  drug  business  for  three  years,  and  in  1901  was 
matriculated  in  the  Fort  Wayne  College  of  Medicine  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana.  In  this  institution  which  is  now  consolidated  with  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Indiana,  he  was  graduated  as  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1904,  duly  receiving  his  well  earned  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine.  While  an  undergraduate  he  had  gained  practical  experience 
along  professional  lines  through  being  a  student  with  Dr.  Miles  M.  F. 
Porter,  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  Fort  Wayne.  After  his 
graduation  he  devoted  eighteen  months  to  service  as  an  interne  in  a 
leading  hospital  in  the  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  and  he  then  returned  to 
his  home  city,  Montpelier.  Blackford  county,  where  he  was  associated 
in  practice  with  his  father  and  finally  assumed  the  major  part  of  the 
large  professional  business  which  the  latter  had  there  controlled  for  a 
long  period.  In  1909  he  went  to  the  State  of  Utah  and  was  there  four- 
teen months.  In  January,  1911,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  broader 
field,  he  removed  to  Hartford  City,  and'  here  his  success  has  been  on  a 
parity  with  his  distinctive  professional  ability,  and  he  has  a  place  in  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  the  community.  He  is  affiliated  with  and  is 
physician  for  the  local  lodge  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  is  also 
local  examining  physician  for  the  Prudential,  Metropolitan  Life,  Lin- 
coln Life  and  other  representative  life  insurance  companies.  The  Doctor 
is  identified  with  the  Medical  Association,  the  Indiana  State  Medical 
Association,  the  Blackford  County  Medical  Society,  the  District  Medical 
Society  of  the  Eighth  Medical  District,  and  the  Tri-State  Medical  Society 
which* draws  its  membership  from  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Michigan.  Of  the 
District  Medical  Society  he  has  served  as  president  and  vice-president, 
and  is  at  the  present  time  secretary  of  the  county  society.  In  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  Dr.  Sellers  is  affiliated  with  Montpelier  Lodge  No.  600, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  holds  membership  also  in  Hartford  City  Lodge  No.  625, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Dr.  Sellers  first  wedded  Miss  Margaret  Greiner,  who  was  born  and 
reared  at  Madison,  Indiana,  and  who  died  at  the  birth  of  her  first  child, 
which  died  at  the  same  time,  in  June,  1908.  In  the  year  1909.  at  Mont- 
pelier, Blackford  county,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  the  Doctor 
to  Miss  Catherine  Chapman,  who  was  born  at  Fowlerville,  Michigan,  on 
the  30th  of  June,  1879,  and  who  was  for  some  time  a  popular  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  at  Montpelier,  Indiana.  She  was  graduated  at  the 
Michigan  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  as  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1904,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  teaching  in  Michigan  and  Indiana 
from  the  time  of  her  graduation  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Orville  and  Emma  (May)  Chapman,  who  were  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York  but  whose  marriage  was  solemnized  in  Michigan.    Her  father 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  245 

was  a  farmer  in  Michigan  and  became  also  one  of  the  representative  phj 
sicians  of  that  state,  having  been  a  graduate  of  Rush  .Medical  College  of 
Chicago.  He  died  at  Gregory,  Livingston  county,  Michigan,  in  L893, 
and  his  widow  passed  away  in  L910.  Dr.  and  .Mrs.  Sellers  have  two 
children:  Gertrude  E.,  born  August  2.  L910,  and  Betty  Virginia,  born 
October  13,  1912. 

Rowland  J.  Sidey.  The  difference  between  the  generations  of  any 
country  with  a  history  is  commonly  not  one  of  principle  bu1  of  emphasis. 
Our  great  American  republic  owes  its  magnificent  upbuilding  and  the 

exploitation  of  its  wonderful  resources  to  the  fact  that  it  has  almosl 
automatically  developed  men  of  great  initiative  and  executive  power. 

There  has  beeu  room  for  such  men  in  every  progressive  business,  no  mat- 
ter how  crowded  its  ranks  might  be.  The  strength  of  the  man  with  ini- 
tiative is  one  of  the  ideas  and  the  ability  to  shape  those  ideas  into  definite 
achievement.  He  knows  how  to  make  beginnings  and  how  to  expand  his 
practical  ideas  according  to  demands  or  utilitarian  possibilities.  Such  a 
man  in  the  industrial  life  of  Indiana  is  Mr.  Sidey,  who  has  been  activelj 
connected  with  the  development  of  the  extensive  oil-producing  industry 
of  the  state.  His  knowledge  of  the  business  is  one  fortified  by  experience 
that  has  extended  from  his  boyhood  to  tin-  present  day  and  his  advance- 
ment has  come  as  a  result  of  his  own  ability  and  the  mastering  of  cir- 
cumstances, for  he  has  been  virtually  dependent  upon  his  own  resources 
from  the  time  he  was  a  lad  in  his  teens.  At  the  same  time  he  has  overcome 
in  the  practical  school  of  experience  and  self-discipline  the  educational 
handicap  of  his  youth.  He  is  a  prominent  and  influential  figure  in  con- 
nection with  the  oil  industry  in  Indiana,  especially  in  Blackford  county, 
where  be  maintains  his  home  in  Montpelier,  one  of  the  fine  little  cities 
of  this  favored  section  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Sidey  was  born  April  20,  1873,  at  Harvard,  Ontario,  Canada,  a 
son  of  William  and  Emmeline  Reed  (Anthony)  Sidey.  His  father  was  a 
pioneer  in  the  oil  fields  of  the  old  Keystone  state.  The  lineage  is  traced 
back  to  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  stock.  The  family  was  founded  in  America 
by  George  and  Catherine  (Morris)  Sidey,  who  were  born  in  Angus,  Scot- 
land, and  on  coming  to  America  in  1817  settled  and  lived  for  three  years 
at  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  and  in  1820  moved  to  Port  Hope,  Canada. 
They  lived  there  until  1836,  then  settled  on  a  farm  eight  miles  from  the 
same  town,  where  George  Sidey  died  in  1850.  Their  family  comprised 
two  sons  and  three  girls:  John,  born  at  Ogdensburg,  New  York;  Mar- 
garet, Jane  and  Mary,  and  James,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Canada.  The 
son,  James,  is  still  living  in  Toronto ;  is  a  man  six  feet  three  inches  high, 
weighs  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  is  straight  as  an  Indian,  and 
since  early  life  has  been  noted  for  his  prowess  as  a  hunter.  This  charac- 
teristic pertains  to  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  different  generations, 
and  in  occupation  the  family  have  been  farmers  and  carpenters,  physi- 
cians and  always  men  and  women  of  substantial  character. 

John  Sidey.  grandfather  of  Rowland  J.,  and  the  son  of  George,  was  a 
child  when  the  family  moved  to  Canada,  and  there  prepared  himself  for 
the  profession  of  medicine  and  began  practice  in  1838.  In  1851/  he  moved 
to  Bewdley,  ami  there  conducted  a  farm  and  a  store  and  also  established 
a  postoffie'e.  In  1859  he  returned  to  his  old  farm  for  two  Mars,  but  in 
1861  was  once  more  in  Bewdley  and  continued  as  a  merchant  and  as  a 
practitioner  of  medicine  until  his  death  in  1892  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his  community.  Or.  Sidey  was  a 
man  of  buoyant  and  optimistic  nature,  of  strong  and  upright  character 
and  of  fine  mentality,  and  was  well  equipped  for  leadership  in  thought 


246  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

and  action.  In  1840  he  married  Agnes  Sackville.  She  was  born  May  29, 
1820,  at  Gedboro,  Scotland,  and  in  1830  came  with  her  parents  and  five 
brothers,  sailing  from  Whitehaven  on  the  ship  Hetherington,  and  arriv- 
ing in  Port  Hope,  Canada,  in  the  following  June.  The  Sackvilles  located 
on  a  farm  eight  miles  north  of  Port  Hope,  and  that  place  is  still  owned 
in  their  name.  Mrs.  Dr.  Sidey  lived  to  the  extreme  age-  of  ninety-two 
years,  passing  away  in  1912,  and  at  her  death  there  were  left  seven  chil- 
dren, twenty-nine  grandchildren,  twenty-nine  great-grandchildren,  and 
three  great-great-grandchildren.  To  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Sidey  and  wife 
were  born  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  reached  mature  years  and  are 
named  as  follows :  Jackson,  who  was  killed  in  a  railway  accident  in  Can- 
ada, and  was  the  father  of  eight  children ;  James,  who  had  two  children ; 
William,  six  children;  Albert,  two  children;  Catherine,  three  children; 
Thomas,  six  children ;  Frank,  a  bachelor ;  and  Jennie,  two  children. 

William  Sidey,  father  of  Rowland  J.,  was  born  at  Bewdley,  Province 
of  Ontario,  in  1848,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
Province  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Dominion  Militia  at  the  time  of 
the  Fenian  raid.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to  the  United  ritates  and 
established  his  residence  in  the  Oil  Creek  district  of  Pennsylvania,  became 
a  pioneer  worker  in  the  oil  fields,  and  his  entire  active  career  has  been 
one  of  close  and  influential  identification  with  the  oil  industry.  He  has 
drilled  innumerable  oil  wells  in  the  oil  fields  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and 
Indiana,  and  in  1913  became  concerned  with  the  same  line  of  enterprise 
in  the  state  of  California.  His  home  is  now  in  the  new  city  of  Taft,  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  is  still  active  as  an  expert  oilman.  In  Pennsylvania  he 
married  Miss  Emmeline  Reed  Anthony,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that 
state,  and  who  died  in  Taft,  California,  in  March,  1913,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three  years,  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  one  whose  children  may 
well  "rise  up  and  call  her  blessed."  She  was  the  daughter  of  George 
and  Phoebe  (Edwards)  Anthony,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  her  father  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  The  widowed 
mother  later  came  to  Indiana  and  spent  her  declining  years  in  the  home 
of  her  grandson,  Rowland  J.  Sidey,  until  her  death  in  1908  at  the  age  of 
seventy -nine.    She  was  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church. 

Of  the  children  of  William  and  Emmeline  R.  (Anthony)  Sidey,  the 
eldest  is  Lafayette  M.,  an  oil  worker  at  Martinsville,  Illinois,  and  who 
has  four  sons  and  two  daughters :  Roland  J. ;  Phoebe,  the  wife  of  John  L. 
Hunter,  employed  in  the  oil  business  in  Oklahoma,  and  they  have  four 
sons  and  two  daugters ;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Courtland  Rood,  an  oil  man 
of  Taft,  California,  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter ;  Emmeline  is  the 
wife  of  Otis  Burklo,  also  in  the  oil  business  at  Lawrenceville,  Illinois,  and 
has  one  son,  Clarence,  a  resident  of  Oklahoma,  and  married,  but  without 
children. 

Rowland  J.  Sidey  attended  the  public  schools  of  Pennsylvania  until 
thirteeen  years  of  age,  and  though  now  considered  a  man  of  liberal  edu- 
cation it  is  to  his  credit  that  he  has  developed  his  powers  and  acquired 
his  attainments  as  a  result  of  experience,  the  hest  of  all  teachers.  Since 
early  youth  his  work  has  been  in  connection  with  the  oil  industry,  and 
his  experience  includes  every  detail.  In  1893  he  became  associated  with 
the  Manhattan  Oil  Company  of  Ohio,  and  in  March,  1906,  this  company 
sent  him  to  Montpelier,  Indiana,  as  manager  of  its  operations  in  the  local 
field  until  the  expiration  of  its  charter  in  1909.  During  his  development 
work  in  the  Indiana  fields  his  executive  functions,  expert  work  and  inde- 
pendent operation  have  been  attended  with  pronounced  success.  As  an 
operator  with  extensive  connections  Mr.  Sidey  maintains  his  general 
business  office  in  Montpelier,  with  offices  in  the  Cloud  Block,  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  High  streets.     As  a  citizen  he  manifests  the  same 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNT  IKS        247 

progressiveness  that  has  brought  him  success  as  a  man  of  affairs,  and  is 
affiliated  with  Montpelier  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Hartford  City 
Lodge  of  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  his  wife  is  an  active 
member  of  the  .Montpelier  Baptist  church  and  a  popular  figure  in  the 
community's  social  activities. 

The  scope  and  importance  of  the  business  associations  of  Mr.  Sidey 
deserve  some  more  detailed  mention.  In  1!H2  he  organized  the  Central 
Oil  Company,  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
lie  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company,  and  its  operations  have 
yielded  the  stockholders  twenty  per  cent  on  their  investment  annually. 
Its  holdings  include  much  valuable  oil  lands  and  fifty  wells,  all  of  them 
in  the  producing  class. 

At  St.  Marys.  Auglaize  county.  Ohio,  in  1903,  Mr.  Sidey  married  Miss 
Prederica  Claus,  who  was  horn  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemburg,  Ger- 
many, July,  1873,  and  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  her  parents  came 
to  America.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Louise  (Neftley)  Claus, 
who  now  reside  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  both  are  past  seventy  years 
of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidey  have  three  children:  Clarissa  Goldie  is  the 
wife  of  Robert  Boyd,  of  Montpelier,  and  they  have  a  little  daughter, 
Helen  Lucile;  Emmet  R.  and  Rowland  J.,  Jr.,  are  still  at  home  and  attend- 
ing the  public  schools. 

L.  L.  Davis.  In  Jackson  township,  four  miles  south  and  four  miles 
east  of  Hartford  City,  and  one  mile  north  and  four  miles  west  of  Dunkirk, 
is  found  Catalpa  Farm,  a  handsome  tract  of  sixty-nine  acres,  the  propri- 
etor of  which,  L.  L.  Davis,  is  one  of  his  locality's  most  progressive  agri- 
culturists. Although  not  a  native  son  of  Blackford  county.  Mr.  Davis  has 
lived  here  since  his  infancy,  on  his  present  farm,  of  which  he  lias  been  the 
owner  since  1906,  and  is  generally  conceded  to  be  one  of  his  community's 
substantial  men  and  public-spirited  citizens. 

Mr.  Davis  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana.  September  22.  1*76, 
and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  and  Charlotte  (Robbins)  Davis.  His  parents  were 
both  born  in  Randolph  county,  were  there  reared,  educated  and  married, 
and  in  1877  came  to  Blackford  county,  settling  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
their  son,  L.  L.,  and  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the 
father  passing  away  in  1901,  and  the  mother  five  years  later.  Thej  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Alice,  who  is  the  wife  of  Boyd 
Woods:  William  J.,  a  resident  of  Delaware  county.  Indiana:  E.  H.,  of 
Paulding  county,  Ohio;  Benjamin,  of  Blackford  county,  residing  a1 
Millgrove;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Fulton  county.  Ohio;  and  Lillie,  the 
wife  of  Don  Sealey,  a  resident  of  Missouri. 

Tin-  youngest  of  his  parents'  children.  L.  L.  Davis  was  reared  on  the 
homestead  farm,  to  which  he  had  been  brought  as  a  child  of  our  year, 
and  after  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  district  schools  became  a 
student  in  the  Tri-State  College  and  the  Marion  Normal  College,  from 
which  latter  institution  he  received  a  teacher's  license  for  thirty-six 
months.  He  has  been  teaching  since  1897.  At  the  time  of  his  mother's 
death  he  purchased  the  property  from  the  other  heirs. 

On  February  26, 1898,  Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Miss  May  ( lurry,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  an  adopted  daughter  of  T.  H.  Curry,  and  to  this 
union  there  have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Pauline,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  graded  schools  with  the  class  of  191.°,.  and  is  now  a  high 
school  student:  Cledith.  Francis  and  Mary,  who  are  all  attending  the 
public  schools. 

Since  purchasing  the  old  homestead  in  1906.  Mr.  Davis  lias  made 
numerous  improvements  thereon,  including  the  erection  of  sound  and 
substantial  buildings  and  the  installing  of  machinery  of  modern   char- 


248        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

acter.  He  uses  the  most  approved  and  up-to-date  methods  in  his  work, 
and  thus  has  been  able  to  achieve  a  full  measure  of  success  from  his 
labors,  at  the  same  time  improving  the  appearance  of  Catalpa  Farm,  one 
of  the  handsomest  in  this  part  of  the  township.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  he  has  met  with  success  in  breeding  Poland-China  hogs,  his  stock 
being  registered  and  in  great  demand.  Politically,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  demo- 
crat, but  has  never  taken  a  very  active  part  in  politics,  being  too 
engrossed  with  his  private  affairs.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in  his  com- 
munity for  his  many  admirable  traits  of  character,  and  his  wife's  circle 
of  friends  testifies  to  his  general  popularity. 

Adam  Schmidt.  No  richer  or  more  fertile  land  may  be  found  in 
Blackford  county  than  that  lying  in  Washington  township,  where  is 
located  the  fine  farm  belonging  to  Adam  Schmidt.  This  property  attracts 
the  attention  of  the  passerby  and  wins  his  admiration,  for  its  modern 
cottage  home  and  its  other  fine  buildings,  its  up-to-date  equipment,  its 
fat  and  well-fed  cattle  and  its  general  air  of  prosperity  are  such  as  to 
gain  the  approbation  of  the  most  casual  observer.  Mr.  Schmidt's  career 
has  been  one  of  tireless  energy  and  well-directed  management,  and  has 
been  crowned  by  a  success  such  as  comes  only  to  the  men  of  ability  and 
resource.  While  his  life  has  been  a  singularly  busy  one,  and  his  private 
interests  of  an  extensive  character,  he  has  still  found  time  to  devote  to  the 
advancement  of  his  community's  welfare,  and  has  honorably  earned  the 
reputation  of  a  public-spirited  and  useful  citizen.  Mr.  Schmidt  was  born 
March  31,  1854,  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  and  is  a  son  of  Wilhelm 
and  Anna  M.  (Schwinn)  Schmidt. 

Wilhelm  Schmidt  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  1811, 
and  was  there  married  to  Anna  M.  Schwinn,  who  had  been  born  in 
another  province  of  the  Fatherland  in  1817.  Their  respective  parents 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  Germany,  and  soon  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schmidt  emigrated  to  America  during  the  early  thirties.  After 
a  long  and  tedious  trip  in  a  sailing  vessel,  they  landed  at  New  York  City, 
and  from  that  point  made  their  way  to  Hagersburg,  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Schmidt  had  been  a  weaver  in  his  native  land,  but  in  Pennsylvania  was 
glad  to  accept  any  kind  of  honorable  employment  that  opportunity  placed 
in  his  path,  and  his  work  was  invariably  well  done.  Two  children  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  William  and  Peter,  and  when  the  latter  was  still 
an  infant  Mr.  Schmidt  brought  his  family  to  Indiana,  locating  on  a  farm 
as  a  renter  in  Delaware  county.  There  were  born  their  remaining  chil- 
dren: Margaret,  Jacob,  Michael,  Mary,  Louisa,  Adam,  Philip  and  Her- 
man, and  in  1860  the  family  came  to  Blackford  county  and  located  at 
what  was  then  the  hamlet  of  Dundee,  now  Roll.  Here  Mr.  Schmidt  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township,  known  as  the  Roderick 
Crag  farm,  a  large  property  which  Mr.  Schmidt  put  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  upon  which  he  continued  to  make  his  home  during  the 
remainder  of  his  career.  He  died  in  1874,  one  of  the  substantial  and 
highly  respected  men  of  his  community,  while  Mrs.  Schmidt  survived 
until  1905,  and  was  also  well  known  and  greatly  beloved  among  her  many 
friends.  They  were  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  at 
all  times  endeavored  to  live  up  to  its  teachings.  Mr.  Schmidt  was  a 
democrat,  but  took  no  more  than  a  good  citizen's  interest  in  political 
matters.  The  children  of  this  honored  couple  who  are  now  living  are  as 
follows:  Peter,  a  successful  farmer  of  Wells  county,  Indiana,  has  been 
twice  married  and  has  a  son,  Daniel,  by  his  first  union ;  Louisa,  the  wife 
of  J.  N.  McConkey,  lives  in  North  Carolina,  and  has  no  children ;  Adam ; 
Philip,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  married  Jane  Shrader,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Shrader,  and  has  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES       249 

Adam  Schmidt  was  given  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Washington  township,  whence  he  accompanied  Ids  parents  from  Dela- 
ware county  in  1860.  He  resided  at  home  until  attaining  his  majority. 
at  which  time  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  9,  Washington 
township,  and  later  added  to  tins  an  additional  purchase  of  thirty  acres. 
Tins  was  supplemented  by  an  additional  purchase  of  seventy  two  acres 
of  the  homestead  property,  and  all  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  produces  large  crops  of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  rye.  .Air.  Schmidt 
is  a  progressive  ami  enterprising  farmer,  thoroughly  al  rl  to  every 
advancement  made  in  Ins  vocation.  lie  has  met  with  success  both  in 
general  farming  and  in  the  breeding  of  all  kinds  of  good  live  stock,  and 
his  business  ahility  has  enabled  him  to  secure  top-notch  prices  for  his 
products,  lie  has  a  red  barn,  30x60  feet,  and  a  very  pretty  nine-room 
white  house,  surrounded  by  other  buildings  of  substantia]  character  and 
attractive  appearance.  In  his  community  Mr.  Schmidt  hears  a  high  repu- 
tation as  a  man  of  integrity  and  honorable  dealing,  and  has  drawn  about 
him  a  wide  circle  of  appreciative  friends. 

Mi-.  Schmidt  was  married  in  Wells  county.  Indiana,  to  .Miss  Nancy 
E.  Griffith,  who  was  born  in  that  county.  April  2,  1856,  and  was  then- 
reared  and  educated,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Charlotte  \\'il,\  Uril' 
fith,  early  settlers  and  farming  people  of  Wells  county .  u  here  thej  lived 
and  died  in  Jackson  county,  the  father  passing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  while  the  mother  was  past  eighty  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  Both 
were  faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  God.  .Mi-,  and  Mrs.  Schmidt 
have  been  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Pearl  .M..  horn  in  1888, 
a  graduate  of  the  Dundee  High  school,  and  now.  living  with  her  parents: 
Hazel  G.,  born  in  1890,  educated  in  the  Dundee  High  school,  ami  now  tie- 
wife  of  Walter  C.  Ratliff,  living  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township,  has 
one  child,  Francis  Bartell,  born  in  December,  1913;  Francis  E.,  who 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  a  promising  young  man  who  had 
been  educated  in  the  Dundee  High  school;  Mable,  residing  at  home,  a 
well-educated  girl,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  during  the  winter 
months,  and  during  the  summers  a  student  in  the  normal  school  at  Mtin- 
cie;  and  S.  Raymond,  aged  fifteen  years,  who  is  attending  the  Dundee 
High  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmidt  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Church  of  God,  at  Dundee,  and  have  been  liberal  in  their  contributions  to 
its  movements.  Mr.  Schmidt  is  a  democrat,  but  has  not  taken  much  part 
in  political  affairs,  although  always  ready  to  promote  and  support  move- 
ments for  his  community's  betterment. 

Manford  M.  Clapper,  M.  D.  The  medical  profession  in  Blackford 
county  has  a  specially  able  and  popular  representative  in  the  person  of 
Dr.  Clapper,  who  maintains  his  residence  and  headquarters  in  Hartford 
City,  the  judicial  center  of  the  county,  and  who  controls  a  large  and 
exacting  practice.  He  has  a  clear  realization  of  concentration  of  effort 
and  thus  gives  special  attention  to  the  treatment  of  the  diseases  of  tie- 
eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  in  which  lie  is  a  recognized  authority,  as  his 
study  and  investigation  have  been  directed  closely  along  these  lines.  The 
Doctor  was  graduated  in  the  Chicago  Medical  College  as  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1890.  and  received  from  this  admirable  institution  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in  Hartford 
City  since  1891.  and  since  1898  has  devoted  his  attention  almost  entirely 
to  the  special  lines  just  noted. 

Dr.  Clapper  is  a  native  of  Blackford  county,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  11th  of  July,  1863,  and  after  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advan- 
tages of  the  public  schools  he  continned  his  studies  in  turn  in  the  National 
Normal  University  at  Lebanon.  Ohio,  and  in  what  is  now  Valparaiso  Uni- 


250        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

versity,  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  He  devoted  five  years  to  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  and  then  began  the  study  of  medicine,  in  which  domain  he 
has  fortified  himself  by  constant  study  since  his  graduation  in  the  Chi- 
cago Medical  College  as  well  as  by  effective  post-graduate  work.  The 
Doctor  traces  his  lineage  back  to  sturdy  German  origin  and  the  original 
orthography  of  the  name  was  Clappe.  His  great  grandfather,  Henry 
Clapper,  or  Clappe,  emigrated  with  his  family  from  Prussia  to  America 
prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  first  wife  died  after  his  home 
had  been  established  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  Pennsylvania 
he  contracted  a  second  marriage,  and  there  were  children  from  each 
union.  Henry  Clapper  became  a  successful  farmer  of  the  type  that  has 
made  the  German  agriculturist  of  Pennsylvania  nationally  famous  for 
thrift,  and  as  his  descendants  became  scattered  one  of  its  branches 
changed  the  spelling  of  the  name  to  Clapper,  while  another  branch 
dropped  the  final  "e,"  the  Clapp  families,  of  this  genealogical  line  having 
been  prominent  in  both  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  which  latter  State  has 
at  the  present  time  a  representative  of  the  name  in  the  United  States 
Senate. 

Henry  Clapper,  Jr.,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Clapper,  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1787,  and  he  represented  his  native  common- 
wealth as  a  valiant  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  as  did  he  also  in  the  Mex- 
ican war.  After  the  close  of  the  latter  conflict  he  established  his  home  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  he  built  up  a  prosperous  business  as  a  cooper 
and  where  he  died  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years.  In  that 
county  he  wedded  Mary  Smith,  who  died  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  They  were  folk  of  steadfast  character,  true  to  duty  in  its 
every  presentation,  and  both  were  devout  Christians.  The  early  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Clapper  family  in  America  held  the  faith  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  In  later  generations  a  number  of  them  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  denomination,  three  cousins  of  Henry  Clapper,  Jr., 
having  become  clergymen  of  that  church  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  early  political  allegiance  of  the  Clapper  family  was  with  the 
whig  party,  but  later  members  were  found  aligned  with  both  the  repub- 
lican and  democratic  parties,  intrinsic  loyalty  and  patriotism  having 
been  distinctly  in  evidence  as  one  generation  has  followed  another  onto 
the  stage  of  life.  Henry  and  Mary  (Smith)  Clapper  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children, — Ann,  Jacob,  Rachel,  Henry,  Christopher,  John.  Mary 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Of  the  seven  designated  by  name  all  at- 
tained maturity  and  married,  and  all  but  Ann  and  Mary  reared  children. 
Rachel,  who  was  born  in  1824,  is  now  ninety  years  of  age,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Hartford  City,  her  husband  having  died  a  number  of  years  ago. 
Henry  was  born  in  1827,  and  now  resides  in  Grant  county,  this  State. 

Christopher  Clapper,  father  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  was  there  reared  to  man- 
hood. He  received  good  educational  advantages  and  became  a  successful 
teacher  and  farmer  in  his  native  county.  There  was  solemnized  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Catherine  Hall,  who  was  born  in  that  county  in  1832,  and 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Swagert)  Hall,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in  1802,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  about  1805 ;  their  marriage  was  contracted  in 
Stark  county,  and  there  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Hall, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  having  attained  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years  and  his  wife  having  been  somewhat  past  the  age  of  seventy  at 
the  time  of  her  demise.  Both  were  earnest  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  son  of  David  Hall,  who  emigrated  to  America 
from  Durham,  England,  and  who  was  a  son  of  James  Hastings  Hall,  the 
mother  of  the  latter  having  been  a  kinswoman  of  Warren  Hastings,  a 
prominent  character  in  English  history. 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES  251 

In  1854,  soon  after  his  marriage,  Christopher  Clapper  came  from 
Ohio  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  lie  settled  on  a  trad  of  virtually 
unreclaimed  land  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county.  There  he  gave 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  development  and  cultivation  of  his  farm 
until  he  responded,  in  1861,  to  the  call  of  patriotism  and  tendered  his 
services  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  in  Company  K.  Fifty-first 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  continued  in  service  until  he  was 
attacked  with  double  pneumonia,  his  death  having  occurred  at  Ilunts- 
ville,  Alahama,  on  the  22d  of  January,  1865.  He  was  a  private  and  as 
such  participated  in  a  number  of  important  engagements  marking  the 
progress  of  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  sacrificed  his  life.  His  widow  still 
survives  him  and  retains  remarkable  mental  ami  physical  vigor,  she  being 
now  a  cherished  member  of  the  household  of  her  son.  Dr.  Clapper,  of  this 
review,  she  is  a  member  of  the  German  Dunkard  church  and  her  hus- 
band held  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Of  the  children  the 
eldest  is  Theodore,  who  is  a  representative  farmer  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio; 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  George  Marley,  of  New  ( lastle,  Indiana  ;  and  Dr.  .Man 
ford  M.  is  the  youngest  of  the  three,  he  having  been  about  two  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death. 

The  tenets  of  the  democratic  party  have  received  the  unequivocal 
approval  of  Dr.  Clapper,  but  he  has  had  no  desire  to  enter  the  arena  of 
practical  politics.  lie  is  identified  with  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, the  Indiana  State  .Medical  Society  and  the  Blackford  County  Med- 
ical Society.  In  a  fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  the 
Modern  Maccabees. 

In  1893  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Clapper  to  Miss  Auretta 
Kleetisch.  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Blackford  county,  and  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Matilda  (Cline)  Kleetisch,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  1912,  when  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  Kleetisch  was  born  in 
Germany,  whence  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1865,  becoming  a  resident 
of  Blackford  county,  ami  where  he  still  resides,  his  home  being  now  at 
Hartford  City,  and  he  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  in 
1914.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Clapper  have  two  children. — Erskine  Marion,  who  is 
a  member  of  the  class  of  1915  in  the  high  school ;  and  Louretta  Gertrude, 
who  was  born  in  1900  and  graduated  from  the  parochial  school  of  the 
Catholic  church  in  Hartford  City  this  spring,  and  who  will  enter  first 
year  high  school  in  the  fall.  The  Doctor  and  his  family  hold  membership 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Since  this  sketch  was  written.  Dr.  Clapper  has  dosed  his  office  in 
Hartford  City  and  in  February  entered  the  New  York  Post  Graduate 
Medical  School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  June.  June  12th  he  sailed 
for  Europe,  and  is  at  present  doing  Post  Graduate  work  in  The  Royal 
London  Ophthalmic  Hospital  and  also  in  the  Royal  Central  London 
Nose,  Throat  and  Ear  Hospital.  After  graduating  there  he  expects  to 
(liter  school  in  both  Edinburgh.  Scotland,  and  Vienna,  Austria. 

Alonzo  W.  Dick.  The  progressive  younger  element  of  citizens  in 
Blackford  county  is  particularly  well  represented  by  Alonzo  W.  Dick. 
whose  enterprise  as  a  farmer  has  brought  him  individual  success,  and 
who  stands  as  one  of  the  public  spirited  and  efficient  citizens  of  Ins  emu 
munity   in   Harrison   township. 

A  native  of  Harrison  township,  and  born  on  the  farm  where  he  qow 
lives,  Alonzo  W.  Dick  first  saw  the  light  of  day  on  January  26,  1*77.  His 
family  have  lontr  been  identified  with  Blackford  county.  His  father. 
Uriah  Dick,  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  -I.  Wickersham,  was  a  native  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana. 
The  father  died  in  i892  and  the  mother  in  1912.  They  had  just  two  chil- 
dren, and  Clinton  Dick  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Washington  township. 


252        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  Alonzo  W.  Dick  were  spent  on  a  farm,  and 
in  addition  to  the  advantages  furnished  by  the  district  common  schools 
he  took  a  course  in  the  Marion  Normal  College,  and  was  given  a  license 
to  teach  school,  although  farming  has  always  been  his  choice  of  vocation. 
On  February  8,  1902,  Mr.  Dick  married  Mary  E.  Jarrett  of  Wells 
county,  Indiana.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  Wells  county,  and  finished 
the  course  in  the  common  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dick  moved  to  his  father's  estate, 
and  has  since  made  it  a  matter  of  pride  as  well  as  of  vocation  to  bring 
his  land  into  the  highest  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement  and  man- 
aged the  resources  of  his  farm  to  the  best  possible  advantage.  Mr.  Dick 
is  the  owner  of  fifty-six  acres  in  his  home  place  in  Harrison  township,  and 
fifteen  acres  in  Washington  township. 

To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five  children,  namely:  Grant  A., 
born  in  1903 ;  Howard  J.,  born  in  1904 ;  Bacil  T.,  born  in  1906 ;  Waldo  E., 
born  in  1907 ;  and  Ethelbert  J.,  born  February  9,  1914.  Politically,  Mr. 
Dick  since  attaining  his  majority  has  been  steadily  devoted  to  the  repub- 
lican cause  up  to  the  campaign  of  1912,  when  he  found  himself  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  principles  of  the  progressive  party  and  cast  his  vote  in 
that  way. 

Willard  W.  Warfield.  In  each  large  community  every  line  of 
endeavor  is  necessarily  represented  and  in  the  degree  of  ability  in  which 
it  is  handled  rests  the  material  welfare  of  the  people.  No  vocation 
requires  more  tact  or  greater  consideration  for  the  feelings  of  others  than 
that  of  the  undertaker  and  embalmer,  and  his  position  in  the  confidence  of 
the  people  of  the  commtuiity  is  second  only  to  that  of  the  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  stated  that  Willard  W.  Warfield,  a 
representative  of  this  line  of  business,  is  known  as  one  of  the  esteemed 
citizens  of  Montpelier,  Indiana,  where  he  has  been  a  resident  since  1907, 
on  September  1st  of  which  year  he  took  over  the  business  formerly  owned 
by  L.  L.  Howard. 

Mr.  Warfield  was  born  in  Pulaski  county,  Indiana,  November  28, 
1880,  and  is  a  son  of  Elijah  Warfield.  His  father,  a  native  of  Hampshire 
county,  West  Virginia,  was  born  in  1841,  and  as  a  lad  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Pulaski  county,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  up  amid  rural  sur- 
roundings. On  August  11,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Seventy- 
third  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  Civil  War,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  July  30,  1865,  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  after  a  brave  and  meritorious  service.  Upon  his 
return  to  the  pursuits  of  peace  he  located  again  in  Pulaski  county,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Alice  Olds,  a  native  of  that  locality.  She 
was  reared  and  educated  in  that  county,  whence  her  parents  had  come  at 
an  early  day.  Elijah  Warfield  died  in  1883,  having  been  the  father  of  the 
following  children :  Ora,  who  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Johnson  and 
died  without  issue ;  Willard  W. ;  and  George,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Warfield  married  Frank  Osborn,  of  Jasper  county,  Indiana,  and  both 
are  now  deceased,  having  had  no  children. 

Willard  W.  Warfield  was  given  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Pulaski  county,  and  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  embarked  upon  a 
career  of  his  own,  securing  employment  in  furniture  and  piano  factories 
at  Newcastle.  Subsequently,  he  moved  to  Anderson,  where  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  Stephen  Mark,  with  whom  he  learned  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness. He  came  to  Montpelier  in  1907,  and  here  purchased  the  business 
of  L.  L.  Howard,  who  had  decided  to  go  to  Florida,  and  since  that  time 
has  continued  to  be  in  business  here.  Mr.  Warfield  has  been  successful  in 
his  business  enterprises  because  he  possesses  the  qualities  which  go  to  make 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        253 

for  success — good  judgment,  business  faculty,  a  high  sense  of  honor  and 

a  just  appreciation  of  the  rights  of  others.     He  has  every  equipment  i - 

essary  for  dignified  and  effective  funeral  directing,  including  two  funeral 
cars,  and  also  carries  a  large  line  of  caskets. 

Mr.  Warfield  was  married  at  Newcastle,  Indiana.  July  8,  l!"1".  to 
Miss  Eva  May  Lowe,  who  was  born  at  that  place,  August  21,  1884,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  s.  ami  Catherine  (Counseler)  Lowe,  natives  of  New- 
castle. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowe  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  in  farming, 
but  retired  from  active  life  in  1912,  and  since  that  time  have  resided  in 
their  comfortable  residence  on  Hast  Tenth  Street.  Indianapolis.  .Mrs. 
Warfield's  sister,  Mrs.  Ella  Beard,  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  and 
like  her  two  brothers.  George  and  William,  resides  in  Indianapolis.  One 
son  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warfield:  George  W..  born  Augusl 
8.  1908.  They  are  consistent  members  of  the  .Methodist  church,  ami 
Mr.  Warfield  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men  of  Montpelier,  and  the  Blue  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
He  is  a  republican,  but  has  never  been  an  active  politician. 

Henry  Philebaum.  Sixty  years  have  passed  since  Henry  Philebaum 
took  up  his  residence  in  Blackford  county,  and  during  this  time  lie  has 
been  steadfastly  associated  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  His  energetic  and  well-directed  labors  have  resulted  in  the 
attainment  of  a  well-developed  property,  and  today  he  is  justly  accounted 
one  of  the  representative  agriculturists  of  Jackson  township.  Mi'.  Phile- 
baum is  a  native  son  of  the  Hoosier  state,  having  been  born  in  Fayette 
county.  January  6.  1S-15,  his  parents  being  Jacob  and  Sarah  I  Sherry  I 
Philebaum. 

After  their  marriage  the  parents  of  Mr.  Philebaum  migrated  from 
their  native  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  Fayette  county,  and  there  spent 
several  years  on  a  farm,  but  in  185-1  came  to  Blackford  county  and  here 
continued  to  follow  the  pursttits  of  the  soil  until  their  deaths.  Of  their 
children  the  following  are  living  at  this  writing:  William,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War,  and  is  now  a  farmer 
residing  north  and  one-quarter  mile  east  of  the  village  of  Trenton,  In- 
diana; Perry,  a  resident  of  Montpelier;  Joseph,  who  makes  his  home  at 
Connersville.  Fayette  county ;  Martin,  also  a  resident  of  Connersville ; 
Henry,  of  this  review  ;  Maggie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Landon;  Mary, 
who  married  Mr.  Smith;  John,  a  resident  of  Jonesboro,  Indiana;  and 
Emily,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Davis,  of  Fayette  county. 

Henry  Philebaum  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  the 
family  to  Blackford  county,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  amid  rural  sur- 
roundings, being  reared  a  farmer.  His  services  were  almost  constantly 
needed  on  the  home  farm,  and  for  this  reason  he  was  given  but  little  op- 
portunity to  attend  the  district  school,  but  made  the  most  of  his  chances, 
and  in  later  years  his  close  observation  and  experience  have  made  him 
a  well-informed  man  on  important  subjects.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Clark,  who  died  September  23,  1888,  and  to  this  union  there  were  born 
nine  children,  namely:  Amos,  George.  Estella,  John,  Mary,  Sophronia, 
James,  Harry  and  Lucy. 

Mr.  Philebaum  has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  through  individual 
effort  has  been  able  to  accumulate  a  property  of  eighty  acres,  lying  two 
miles  south  of  Trenton.  On  this  he  has  made  improvements  of  a  sub- 
stantial nature,  which  give  evidence  of  his  progressive  spirit  and  good 
management,  and  his  buildings  have  been  erected  with  a  view  of  simp- 
lifying his  work.  He  has  ever  held  a  high  reputation  among  his  fellow- 
citizens  as  a  man  of  honorable  dealing  and  fidelity  to  trust,  ami  lias  dis- 
played his  public  spirit  on  more  than  one  occasion. 


254        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mr.  Philebaurn  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  church,  the 
movements  of  which  he  has  actively  supported.  His  fraternal  connection 
is  with  the  Blue  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  order.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  prohibitionist,  and  while  a  quiet  and  unassuming  man,  not  given 
to  seeking  notoriety,  he  has  been  outspoken  in  his  support  of  temperance. 
All  in  all,  he  may  be  accounted  one  of  Jackson  township 's  representative 
men. 

Rev.  Aaron  S.  Whetsel.  A  long  life  of  service  to  his  community 
and  fellow  men  has  been  that  of  Rev.  Aaron  S.  Whetsel,  of  Jackson 
township.  Mr.  Whetsel  has  for  many  years  been  an  active  minister  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  He  was  ordained  as  a  minister  by  Bishop 
Weaver  at  Dunkirk,  Ohio,  in  1889,  and  traveled  as  an  itinerant  minis- 
ter for  three  years.  His  work  in  the  cause  of  the  church  has  been  given 
without  remuneration,  and  he  has  presented  an  example  of  religious 
faith,  fidelity  to  every  trust,  and  earnest  and  self-sacrificing  effort  in 
behalf  of  moral  and  community  affairs.  Outside  of  his  religious  profes- 
sion, Mr.  Whetsel  is  best  known  as  proprietor  of  the  Verger  Farm,  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  land,  located  two  and  a 
half  miles  northwest  of  Dunkirk  and  three  miles  east  of  Millgrove. 

Mr.  Whetsel  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  Blackford  county,  as  a 
boy  grew  up  in  the  midst  of  pioneer  conditions,  and  through  his  service 
as  a  soldier  during  the  great  war  between  the  states,  as  a  farmer  and 
business  man,  and  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  has  made  a  worthy  name 
and  one  long  to  be  held  in  honor  by  his  descendants.  He  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  June  26,  1843,  a  son  of  William  J.  and  Sarah 
(Hartman)  Whetsel.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
and  his  mother  of  Harrison  county,  West  Virginia.  They  were  married 
near  Wilmington,  Ohio,  in  June.  1842,  and  after  three  years  of  resi- 
dence in  Ohio  moved  to  Blackford  county  in  1846,  locating  in  Jackson 
township,  which  remained  their  home  until  death.  Of  their  three  chil- 
dren all  are  now  deceased  except  Aaron  S. 

Three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Jackson  township,  Rev. 
Mr.  Whetsel  had  almost  reached  manhood  before  the  real  pioneer  era 
closed  in  Blackford  county.  The  schools  at  that  time  were  irregular 
and  ill-supplied  with  means  of  instruction,  and  he  had  no  opportunity 
to  attend  until  after  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and  then  only  in  the 
winter  seasons.  What  he  lacked  of  definite  school  training  as  a  boy  he 
has  more  than  supplied  by  later  years  of  active  study  and  close  and  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  men  and  affairs.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age 
in  July,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E  of  the  Seventh  Indiana  Cavalry. 
The  colonel  of  the  regiment  was  J.  P.  C.  Shanks  of  Portland,  and  his 
lieutenant-colonel  was  Thomas  M.  Brown  of  Winchester.  As  a  soldier 
his  service  continued  until  his  honorable  discharge  in  the  spring  of  1866. 
Returning  to  his  father's  home,  he  applied  himself  to  farming,  and  in 
the  course  of  two  years  was  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own.  On 
October  10,  1868,  he  married  Martha  J.  Kelley,  who  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ohio,  June  2, 1848.  Her  parents  were  B.  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Hall) 
Kelley,  and  her  brothers  were  Joshua  T.  Kelley  and  William  H.  Kelley. 

On  January  1,  1869,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whetsel  located  on  a  part  of  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  The  land  was  entirely  covered  with  woods, 
and  partly  under  water.  It  presented  a  heavy  task  to  be  accomplished 
before  the  land  was  really  profitable  and  productive.  In  the  years  that 
followed  Mr.  Whetsel  proved  himself  an  energetic  worker,  cleared  off 
the  timber,  ditched  the  low  ground,  has  erected  buildings  and  fences, 
and  now  has  what  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  best  improved  farm 
in  that  section  of  the  county. 


V 


^ 

^ 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  255 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whetsel  were  born  twelve  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living  at  this  time,  as  follows:  Lewis  M.,  who  lives 
in  Ohio;  Nora  E..  the  wife  of  Edward  McConneU  of  Pennville,  Indiana: 
Sarah  A.,  wife  of  O.  D.  Starr  of  Jay  county;  William  B.,  whose  wife  is 
deceased  and  he  now  lives  with  his  parents;  B.  F.  of  Jackson  township; 
Olive  M.,  wife  of  John  Goodyear  of  Jay  county:  .Mary  E.,  wife  (if  lv 
E.  Starr  of  Jay  county;  Harry  W.  and  Shanks  B.,  both  of  whom  are 
unmarried  and  live  at  home.  The  four  deceased  children  are:  Law- 
rence V.;  John  F. :  Lucretia  R.,  who  was  twenty-four  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  her  death ;  and  Hazel. 

.Mr.  Whetsel  is  an  active  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
of  Hartford  City.  In  polities  be  adheres  to  the  prohibition  cause,  and 
at  one  time  was  active  as  a  Republican. 

John  II.  Stotler.  That  individuals  of  wide  experience  and  varied 
attainments  are  best  qualified  for  the  vocation  of  farming  is  doubted  by 
no  one  familiar  with  the  intellectual  and  general  demands  placed  upon 
the  present  day  exponents  of  scientific  agriculture.  -Modern  methods 
of  treating  the  soil  have  in  a  large  extent  revolutionized  this  world-old 
occupation,  and  it  is  not  unusual  to  find  at  this  time  members  of  the  pro- 
fessions, business  men,  manufacturers  and  financiers,  devoting  their  time 
to  the  cultivation  of  land.  In  Harrison  township,  Blackford  county,  one 
of  the  most  successful  farmers  is  John  II.  Stotler.  M.  D..  who  after  secur- 
ing his  college  degree  returned  to  the  soil,  in  the  cultivation  of  which  he 
has  met  with  prosperity  and  in  which  he  has  found  a  congenial  occupa- 
tion. 

Mi-.  Stotler  was  born  at  West  Alexandria,  Ohio,  on  June  16,  185S,  and 
is  a  son  of  Edward  Sorber  and  Sarah  (Halderman)  Stotler.  His  father, 
a  native  of  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  migrated  to  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  there  continued  to  be  a  resident  during  a 
long  and  active  career.  In  the  famous  year  of  1849.  when  the  discovery 
of  gold  caused  thousands  to  make  the  wearisome  and  perilous  journey  to 
California,  he  joined  the  hardy  adventurers,  by  way  of  Panama.  In 
I860,  with  others,  he  completed  the  erection  of  a  mill  at  West  Alexandria, 
which  he  operated  a  number  of  years,  but  eventually  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  banking,  and  organized  and  served  as  [(resident  of  several  financial 
institutions  in  the  Bnckeye  State.  He  has  long  been  known  as  one  of 
the  prominent  and  influential  men  of  his  community  and  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  public  affairs.  Mr.  Stotler  had  two  children  by  his  first 
marriage :  John  H. :  and  Sarah  E..  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
By  his  second  union  with  Mrs.  Ilattie  (Ford)  Bonner,  he  has  one  son: 
Edward  S. 

John  H.  Stotler  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  West  Alexandria.  Subsequently  he  attended  Earl- 
ham  College  and  Columbia  University,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to 
the  study  of  medicine,  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from 
the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  Later 
he  took  a  post-graduate  course,  but  never  practiced  his  profession.  In 
1900  Mr.  Stotler  came  to  Indiana  and  began  farming,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  in  addition  to  cultivating  his  own  tract  of  200  acres,  in  Har- 
rison township,  is  looking  after  the  interests  of  an  adjoining  farm  of 
520  acres,  located  in  Jackson  township.  He  has  brought  the  most  modern 
and  scientific  methods  into  his  work,  and  the  results  which  he  has  accom- 
plished have  been  very  gratifying. 

Mr.  Stotler  is  a  member  of  the  "West  Alexandria  Blue  Lodge  of  the 
Masonic  order,  having  never  transferred  his  membership  to  Indiana.  His 
religious  connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Buffalo, 
New  York.    In  political  matters,  a  democrat,  he  has  taken  a  good  citizen 's 


256  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

interest  in  public  affairs,  but  has  uot  cared  to  enter  actively  the  struggles 
of  the  local  arena.  His  acquaintance  in  Blackford  county  is  extensive 
and  his  friends  numerous. 

John  A.  Studebaker.  An  individual's  success  in  any  of  the  activities 
of  life  challenges  the  admiration  of  his  fellow  men,  and  when  this  suc- 
cess has  been  won  by  individual  effort,  and  in  spite  of  handicaps  and 
obstacles,  the  result  is  all  the  more  commendable.  Among  the  men  who 
have  won  prosperity  along  agricultural  lines  in  Blackford  county,  John 
A.  Studebaker  is  worthy  of  more  than  passing  mention.  He  was  but  a 
lad  when  he  started  his  struggles  for  independence,  and  his  career  has 
been  so  characterized  by  industry  and  worthy  effort,  that  he  finds  him- 
self today,  when  still  in  the  prime  of  manhood,' the  possessor  of  a  hand- 
some and  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Studebaker  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  December  5, 
1875,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  J.  and  Louisa  (Helmic)  Studebaker,  the  former  of 
whom  is  now  a  resident  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  while  the  latter  died 
in  1886,  in  the  state  of  Kansas.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  family, 
of  whom  five  are  now  living:  Henry,  who  is  a  resident  of  Tulsa,  Okla- 
homa; B.  P.,  who  resides  at  Weiser,  Idaho;  Pearl,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lang- 
liouse,  of  Portland,  Oregon ;  Lizzie,  the  wife  of  Zachariah  Bussear,  of 
Freesoil,  Mason  county,  Michigan ;  and  John  A.,  of  this  review.  Mr. 
Studebaker  was  still  a  child  when  brought  to  Blackford  county,  and  here 
he  secured  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  early  age  of 
eleven  years  he  showed  his  energetic  spirit  and  ambition  by  beginning 
to  work  on  farms  by  the  month,  and  by  November,  1902,  had  saved 
eight  hundred  dollars,  which  he  invested  in  forty  acres  of  land,  going 
into  debt  for  a  like  amount.  Two  years  later  he  located  on  this  tract, 
and  during  his  spare  hours  worked  out  among  neighboring  farmers  in 
order  to  secure  the  means  with  which  to  buy  farming  implements  and 
utensils.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Studebaker  owns  100  acres  of  land, 
worth  $12,000,  lying  six  miles  east  and  one  mile  north  of  Hartford  City, 
in  Jackson  township,  the  personal  property  on  which  bring  the  value  of 
the  farm  up  to  $15,000.  He  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes 
and  all  that  he  owns  has  been  made  honestly  by  his  own  effort.  In  addi- 
tion to  general  farming,  he  has  been  engaged  fOr  several  years  in  raising 
hogs,  and  each  year  ships  one  or  two  cars  to  the  markets.  In  business 
circles  his  reputation  is  that  of  a  shrewd  and  far-seeing  business  man,  who 
observes  the  strictest  integrity  in  his  dealings  and  has  never  taken  an 
unfair  advantage  of  a  competitor.  A  man  of  advanced  and  modern 
ideas,  he  has  recently  given  his  support  to  the  principles  and  candidates 
of  the  progressive  party,  but  has  found  no  time  to  engage  actively  in 
political  affairs. 

Mr.  Studebaker  was  married  March  22,  1904,  to  Miss  Clara  May  Eik- 
enbary,  of  Huntington,  Indiana,  who  was  born  in  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia. Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  union.  Joseph  L.,  aged  nine 
years;  Walter  F.,  who  is  eight;  Marion  J.,  seven  years  of  age;  Luther 
L.,  who  is  five  years  old ;  and  Cecil  M.,  the  baby,  aged  two. 

Olaf  Hedstrom.  As  the  originator  and  developer  of  an  exceedingly 
important  industry  at  Hartford  City,  the  name  of  Olaf  Hedstrom  de- 
serves a  high  place  among  Blackford  county's  industrial  leaders.  Mr. 
Hedstrom  is  a  type  of  man  whose  concentration  of  efforts  along  one  line 
brings  about  success  and  prosperity,  not  only  where  he  is  individually 
concerned,  but  produces  a  permanent  and  increasing  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity. Reared  and  educated  in  Sweden,  with  exceptional  training  and 
the  influence  of  a  good  family  behind  him,  Mr.   Hedstrom  early  took 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  257 

up  the  paper  making  business  in  its  technical  phases,  and  after  a  broad 
and  thorough  experience  in  Europe  brought  his  ideas  to  America  and 

finally  identified  himself  with  the  paper  mills  at  Hartford  City.  He  now 
controls  a  large  interest  in  that  industry,  and  as  the  perfecter  of  cer- 
tain grades  of  papers,  he  has  given  Blackford  City  a  deserved  fame  among 
the  paper  producing  centers  of  this  country. 

Olaf  Iledstrom  was  horn  in  Norrkoping,  Sweden,  October  1,  1875,  and 
his  family  for  generations  hack  had  occupied  substantial  and  honored 
positions  in  that  country.  His  father,  Anders  Gustaf  Iledstrom  was  born 
m  ( )stergotland  Province,  where  was  also  born  the  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Hanna  Zetterlund.  Throughout  his  active  career  the  father 
followed  the  sea.  became  master  and  captain  of  a  coasting  vessel,  and  a 
few  years  ago  he  retired  and  he  and  his  wife  are  now  living  quietly  in 
the  town  where  their  son  Olaf  was  horn.  The  father  is  now  ninety 
years  of  age.  and  his  wife  seventy-six.  This  veteran  sea  captain  after 
forty-five  years  of  active  service  was  given  a  decoration  and  medal  from 
a  Swedish  pat  riot  ie  society  as  an  award  for  his  splendid  and  efficient 
care  of  his  crew  and  of  the  property  which  he  had  the  management  and 
control  of.  He  was  one  of  the  most  careful  men  who  ever  sailed  the 
high  seas,  and  possessed  all  the  finer  qualities  of  the  seaman.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  State  church  of  Sweden.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  son.  Gustaf,  is  manager 
of  a  woolen  mill  at  Boras.  Sweden,  is  married  and  has  a  son  and  three 
daughters.  The  daughter,  Thekla,  is  the  wife  of  Knut  Markstrom.  and 
lives  in  Sweden,  and  has  one  daughter.  The  other  married  daughter, 
Hanna,  is  the  wife  of  Emanuel  Axselson,  lives  in  Sweden,  and  has  a  son 
and  daughter.  Two  of  the  daughters  are  still  single  and  living  in  Sweden, 
named  Breta  and  Lilly.  Olaf  Hedstrom  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  city,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  civil  engineer  from  a 
technical  college  with  the  class  of  1894.  Two  years  after  leaving  college 
were  spent  in  a  paper  mill  in  his  native  town,  and  he  then  went  as  assist- 
ant superintendent  to  another  mill  at  Klarafors,  and  was  there  seven 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  took  opportunity  to  visit  Germany  and  study 
the  mode  of  making  grease  proof  and  glassine  papers,  which  are  manu- 
factured in  many  variegated  colors  and  designs  and  which  were  brought 
to  a  high  state  of  perfection  in  the  German  centers  of  manufacture.  In 
1905,  Mr.  Hedstrom  brought  the  process  to  the  United  States,  and  he  de- 
serves the  credit  for  having  introduced  these  special  forms  of  paper  manu- 
facture in  this  country.  As  an  educated  man,  he  was  already  familiar 
with  the  language  and  the  commercial  conditions  of  this  country,  and 
the  first  six  months  were  spent  in  travel  in  various  states  and  in  study  of 
paper  mill  conditions.  In  December,  1905,  he  found  himself  in  Hartford 
City,  and  here  formed  a  satisfactory  relationship  and  was  given  the 
opportunity  to  manufacture  his  special  designs  of  papers.  The  Hartford 
City  Paper  Company  adapted  his  plans,  and  as  superintendent  of  those 
mills  they  have  developed  a  business  which  is  distinctive  and  the  product 
has  a  sale  all  over  the  United  States.  About  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
people  are  employed  throughout  the  year  in  the  mills,  and  this  is.  of 
course,  one  of  the  largest  single  items  in  Hartford  City's  industrial 
prosperity. 

Mr.  Hedstrom  was  married  in  Hartford  City,  to  Miss  Ernestine 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  reared  and  educated  in  Hartford 
City.  Her  father  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  died  some  years 
ago.  while  her  mother  is  still  living  in  Hartford  City,  about  fifty  years  of 
age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedstrom  have  one  son,  Olaf  Hamilton  Hedstrom, 
Lorn  June  2-i.  1909.  Mrs.  Hedstrom  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Mr.  Hedstrom  has  membership  in  the  Blackford  Club,  and 
in  polities  is  a  republican. 


258        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Cary  Hammond  Cloud.  A  quarter  of  a  century  of  association  with 
the  business  interests  of  Montpelier  established  for  the  late  Cary  Ham- 
mond Cloud  a  reputation  for  ability,  integrity,  resource  and  unflagging 
industry,  and  placed  his  name  well  to  the  front  among  those  who  have 
contributed  to  the  prestige  of  this  thriving  Blackford  county  city.  Born 
in  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  Indiana,  September  19,  1865,  he  was 
brought  to  Montpelier  by  his  parents  in  1868,  and  before  his  school  days 
had  closed  he  had  identified  himself  with  the  jewelry  business,  with  which 
he  was  most  prominently  and  honorably  associated  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  7,  1911.  His  career  was  characterized  by  a  strict  ad- 
herence to  the  highest  business  principles  and  was  a  credit  to  his  com- 
munity, to  his  training  and  to  the  business  which  he  represented. 

Noah  and  Lyda  (Pugh)  Cloud,  the  grandparents  of  Cary  H.  Cloud, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  being  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and 
the  latter  of  French  descent.  In  1840  they  came  West  as  far  as  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  bringing  with  them  their  children,  among  them :  William, 
born  June  14,  1836;  Margaret,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Percival  E.  John- 
son; and  John,  who  was  married  in  Blackford  county  to  Emma  Buck- 
land,  and  became  first  a  farmer  and  later  a  furniture  dealer  of  Mont- 
pelier, and  died  in  this  county  in  November,  1913,  after  several  years  of 
retirement.  His  widow  now  lives  on  North  Main  street,  Montpelier,  and 
has  a  son,  Bruce,  an  oil  worker,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children. 

William  Cloud,  the  father  of  Cary  H.  Cloud,  was  a  child  of  four 
years  when  taken  to  Highland  county,  Ohio,  subsequently  went  with  them 
to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  in  1851  located  with  the  family  in  Wells 
county,  Indiana,  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  township.  There  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  was  married  November  24,  1861,  to  Mary  Hammond,  who  was 
born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  November  11,  1843.  After  his  marriage 
William  Cloud  lived  in  Wells  county  until  1868,  in  which  year  he  brought 
his  family  to  Montpelier,  becoming  a  dealer  in  hardware  and  stoves. 
He  was  thus  successfully  engaged  until  1883,  when  he  established  the 
first  livery  business  at  Montpelier.  Through  good  management  and  busi- 
ness judgment  he  succeeded  in  making  this  a  prosperous  venture  and  con- 
tinued to  conduct  it  until  his  retirement,  at  which  time  he  went  to  live 
at  the  home  of  his  eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Alpha  Henderson,  and  is  now, 
in  spite  of  his  seventy-six  years,  is  hale  and  hearty.  His  wife  died  in 
1878.  He  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  at  Montpelier, 
as  was  his  wife.  Mr.  Cloud  is  a  democrat.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  William  and  Mary  Cloud:  Alpha  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Grant 
Henderson,  a  grocer  of  Indianapolis,  and  has  one  child, — Mary,  fourteen 
years  of  age  and  attending  high  school ;  Cary  Hammond ;  Lucy,  the  wife 
of  Edward  J.  Hanrahan,  an  oil  worker  and  gauger  at  Sapulpa,  Oklahoma, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Lucile,  aged  eighteen  .years,  who  is  decidedly 
musical ;  Anna,  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  who  conducts  a  select  board- 
ing house ;  and  Isma,  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business,  who  travels  be- 
cause of  ill  health,  married  Louise  Mackey,  of  Ossian,  Indiana,  and  has 
no  children. 

Cary  H.  Cloud  was  educated  in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Mont- 
pelier, graduating  from  the  latter  in  1886.  During  his  schooldays  he 
began  his  association  with  the  jewelry  business,  which  he  studied  under 
the  direction  of  Samuel  Covault,  who  subsequently  admitted  him  to  part- 
nership with  a  capital  of  but  $13.75  for  his  part  of  the  business.  Mr. 
Cloud  was  given  a  good  opportunity  by  Mr.  Covaidt,  however,  and  soon 
made  the  division  equal,  and  in  1886  purchased  the  entire  business,  which 
he  continued  to  conduct  until  his  death  in  1911.  Mr.  Cloud  was  a 
thorough  master  of  his  chosen  vocation,  a  skilled  workman,  a  business 
man  of  keen  perception  and  judgment,  and  a  man  of  the  strictest  in- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        259 

tegrity  iu  his  transactions.  His  contributions  to  the  building  interests 
of  Montpelier  included  the  erection  of  a  fine,  modern,  two-story  brick 
building,  4UxiJtj  feet,  steam-heated,  the  first  really  modern  building  in  the 
city,  and  he  was  also  the  owner  of  considerable  other  property,  includ- 
ing his  own  comfortable  residence  on  Jefferson  street.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Retail  Jewelers'  Association,  and  stood  high  in  the  trade,  con- 
stantly endeavoring  to  raise  its  standards.  Fraternally  his  connection 
was  with  the  Uniform  Rank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  be  had 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  in  the  local  orders.  A  democrat  in  his 
political  views,  he  served  as  city  clerk  for  several  terms,  and  at  all  times 
gave  willingly  of  his  time  and  his  means  to  movements  for  the  city's 
advancement. 

Mr.  Cloud  was  married  in  Montpelier  to  Miss  Anna  Miller,  daughter 
of  John  A.  G.  Miller.  She  died  a  year  or  so  after  marriage,  in  1891, 
without  issue.  Mr.  Cloud  then  married  at  Findlay,  Ohio,  Miss  Delia 
Breidigan,  who  was  born  at  Circleville,  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  March  27, 
1873,  was  educated  at  Carey,  Ohio,  and  grew  up  in  her  native  county. 
Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Cloud  has  continued  successfully 
in  the  management  of  the  business.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Mary  (Zimmerman)  Breidigan,  natives  of  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania, 
who  both  came  of  German  descent.  They  were  married  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  and  not  many  years  later  went  to  Hancock  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  spent  the  balance  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Breidigan,  who  was  a 
landscape  and  subject  painter  of  local  note,  died  in  1904,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years.  As  a  private  soldier  he  served  in  a  regiment  of  Ohio 
volunteers  during  the  Civil  War,  in  which  he  suffered  many  hardships 
and  privations.  His  wife's  father  was  also  a  volunteer  in  that  struggle. 
and  met  a  soldier's  death  on  the  famous  battlefield  of  Gettysburg.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Breidigan  were  prominent  Lutherans,  as  were  the  members  of 
the  Zimmerman  family.  Mrs.  Breidigan  still  resides  at  Findlay,  Ohio, 
and  is  industrious  and  alert,  notwithstanding  her  advanced  years.  .Mrs. 
Cloud  is  one  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  eight  are  still  living,  all  of 
whom  but  one  are  married. 

Mrs.  Cloud  is  a  member  of  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  129,  and  Royal  Neigh- 
bors Lodge  No.  3185,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  latter  order. 
She  has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  being  a 
member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  the  Loyal  "Women.  She  also 
teaches  the  largest  Sunday  School  Young  Men's  class  in  the  city,  which 
started  with  six  pupils  and  within  six  months  grew  to  an  attendance 
of  sixty-seven.  Like  her  late  husband,  she  is  progressive  in  her  views,  and 
a  woman  of  business  intelligence  and  ability.  Her  friends  are  numerous 
all  over  the  city,  and  her  home  is  frequently  the  scene  of  important  social 
functions. 

Josiah  Twibell.  In  Harrison  township  along  the  valley  of  the  Sala- 
monie  river  is  situated  one  of  the  oldest  homesteads  in  Blackford  county, 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Josiah  Twibell,  the  son  of  a  pioneer  who 
nearly  eighty  years  ago  came  to  this  county  and  did  his  share  of  the 
arduous  labor  required  for  reclaiming  the  land  from  the  wilderness.  The 
members  of  the  Twibell  family  have  always  been  esteemed  as  people  of 
upright  character,  thoroughly  industrious,  straightforward  in  their  deal- 
ings, and  in  every  way  valuable  to  local  citizenship. 

On  the  same  farm  that  he  now  owns  and  occupies  Josiah  Twibell  was 
born,  September  11,  1861,  a  son  of  Josiah  and  Margaret  (Church)  Twi- 
bell. Josiah  Twibell,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  and  married  his 
first  wife  in  that  state,  after  which  he  came  to  Blackford  county  when 
it  was  a  wilderness,  entering  land  from  the  government  in  1835.    He  was 


260  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  section  of  the  county,  and  after  clear- 
ing away  a  number  of  trees  from  a  small  patch  of  land,  he  built  himself 
a  cabiu  and  put  in  his  first  crop  among  the  stumps.  At  that  time  Indians 
were  numerous  in  Blackford  county,  and  Josiah  Twibell  besides  farming 
also  did  a  good  deal  of  traffic  with  the  Red  men.  His  first  wife  bore  him 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  By  his  second 
marriage,  to  Miss  Church,  he  was  the  father  of  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living  at  this  time,  namely ;  Basheby,  the  widow  of  Arch  Lacy,  a  resi- 
dent now  of  Montpelier ;  Ann,  wife  of  M.  Lacy,  of  Montpelier ;  Jane,  the 
widow  of  Benson  Shields,  of  Montpelier ;  and  Josiah. 

Josiah  Twibell,  Jr.,  has  always  lived  on  the  old  Twibell  farm  in  Harri- 
son township.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the  local  schools,  and  has  always 
found  his  source  of  living  and  the  scope  of  his  activities  within  the  radius 
of  a  farm.  In  September,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Cloella  Bugh,  who  is 
a  native  of  Blackford  county,  and  was  trained  in  the  common  schools. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  living  children :  Caddie,  who  is  a  grad- 
uate nurse  from  Henrotin  Memorial  Hospital,  and  now  lives  in  Chicago ; 
Margaret,  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  unmarried,  living  at 
home ;  Alice,  who  is  twelve  years  old,  and  possesses  a  natural  musical 
talent.  Mr.  Twibell  is  affiliated  with  Montpelier  Lodge  No.  410,  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  the  Oil  City  Encampment 
No.  182,  being  past  chief  patriarch  and  a  member  of  the  grand  lodge. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Twibell 's  homestead  comprises  ninety- 
eight  acres,  and  besides  cultivation  of  his  land  to  the  staple  crops  he 
owns  and  breeds  a  high  grade  of  livestock,  and  has  found  his  best  profits 
in  stock  farming. 

John  Frederick  Walker.  Those  residents  of  Blackford  county  who 
know  John  Frederick  Walker  and  recognize  in  him  one  of  the  substantial 
and  prosperous  farmers  of  Washington  township  find  it  hard  to  believe 
tbat  when  he  came  to  the  United  States  as  a  young  man  of  twenty-two 
years  his  only  capital  consisted  of  his  ambition  and  determination  to  suc- 
ceed. A  life  of  earnest  endeavor  has  been  crowned  with  prosperity  and 
his  career  proves  that  honest  toil  is  the  best  foundation  upon  which  to 
erect  a  structure  of  success. 

Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Wurttemberg,  Germany,  April  23,  1851,  and 
is  descended  from  old  German  Lutheran  ancestry,  the  members  of  the 
family  having  for  geneations  been  tillers  of  the  soil.  His  grandfather, 
Frederick  Walker,  was  a  native  of  the  same  province  and  was  employed 
on  a  farm  belonging  to  a  large  landholder,  this  being  prior  to  the  year 
1848,  since  which  time  the  land  has  been  subject  to  division  among  the 
children,  as  is  the  custom  in  this  country,  inheritance  ceasing  and  the 
landlord  discontinuing  to  draw  upon  the  estates.  The  grandfather  of 
Mr.  Walker  died  upon  his  home  farm  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  while 
his  wife,  who  had  been  a  Miss  Diirr,  and  a  native  of  the  same  province, 
passed  away  in  1863,  when  about  sixty-three  years  of  age.  They  were 
lifelong  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  George,  who  came  to  the  United  States,  settled  in  Craw- 
ford county,  Ohio,  married  a  Miss  Diirr,  and  at  his  death  left  a  family ; 
Frederick,  who  remained  in  his  native  land,  and  died  a  bachelor  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years ;  Adam,  the  father  of  John  Frederick ;  Jacob, 
who  spent  ten  years  in  the  United  States  and  then  returned  to  his  native 
land,  where  he  died  as  a  bachelor  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years ;  Catherine, 
who  kept  house  for  her  two  brothers,  never  married,  and  died  in  Germany 
at  the  age  of  seventy -seven  years;  and  Barbara,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Wurttemberg,  married  Frederick  Yetter,  a  German  carpenter,  aud  left 
two  sons, — Jacob  F.  and  Frederick,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        261 

Adam  Walker,  the  father  of  John  Frederick  Walker,  was  born  in 
Wakheim,  province  of  Wurttemberg,  Germany,  in  L821,  and  was  reared 
a  farmer,  continuing  to  engage  in  tilling  the  soil  in  his  native  community 
until  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  married  in  his 
native  province  to  Miss  Catherine  Sehettler,  who  was  horn  at  Wakheim. 
in  1820.  and  was  of  similar  ancestry,  and  she  passed  away  two  years 
previous  to  .her  husband's  death.  They  were  lifelong  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  John  Fred- 
erick, of  this  review;  Adam,  a  custom  shoemaker  and  dealer  of  Germany, 
is  married  ;  George,  a  gardener  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  who  is  married  ;  Sieg- 
mund.  a  stone  mason  of  Wakheim,  married  a  Miss  Long;  Catherine,  the 
wife  of  Adam  Walker,  a  farmer  of  Wakheim  ;  Jacob,  the  owner  of  a  farm 
of  240  acres  in  Harrison  township.  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  married 
Elizabeth  Hizer,  and  has  three  children. — William,  Rosa,  Anna  ami  Belle, 
the  three  older  of  whom  are  married  ;  and  Ludwig.  who  lives  in  his  native 
city  in  Germany,  is  married,  and  has  two  sons. 

John  Frederick  Walker  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  place, 
and  when  twenty-two  years  of  age  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  land 
across  the  water.  Accordingly,  he  embarked  on  a  steamer  at  Havre  de 
Grace,  and  after  sixteen  days  on  the  ocean  landed  in  New  York,  in  Sep- 
tember. 1872,  subsequently  making  his  way  to  Crawford  county,  Ohio. 
There  he  secured  employment  as  a  farm  hand  and  continued  to  be  thus 
engaged  for  a  period  of  three  years, following  which  he  went  to  Clark 
county  and  was  similarly  engaged,  but  after  two  years  returned  to  Craw- 
ford county  for  two  years.  During  this  time  Mr.  Walker  worked  indus- 
triously and  thriftily  saved  his  earnings,  so  that  by  1880  he  was  ready 
and  had  the  capital  to  embark  in  operations  on  his  own  account.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  Blackford  county  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
sections  25  and  26,  Washington  township,  which  he  developed  into  a  fine 
home,  and  on  which  he  erected  a  residence  with  eleven  rooms  and  a  com- 
modious barn,  36x60  feet,  in  addition  to  other  necessary  farm  buildings. 
Later  Mr.  Walker  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in  Harrison  township, 
which  is  largely  under  cultivation,  and  on  which  is  a  handsome  six-room 
white  house,  and  a  large  red  barn,  38x60  feet,  this  property  now  being 
occupied  by  his  son.  Mr.  Walker  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability, 
capably  managing  his  extensive  farming  and  stock  raising  interests,  so 
that  his  labors  are  bringing  to  him  very  satisfactory  and  gratifying  re- 
turns, thus  placing  him  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  substantial  men  of  this 
part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Walker  was  married  in  Harrison  township  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Walker,  who  was  born  in  the  same  town  as  her  husband,  August  24,  1853, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1872  with  her  parents,  Casper  and  Mar- 
garet (Schwartzkopf )  Walker,  natives  of  Germany,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Walker  were  well-known  farming  people 
of  Blackford  county  and  the  parents  of  three  children:  Mrs.  Walker; 
John,  who  is  farming  on  the  homestead,  has  been  twice  married  but  has 
no  children ;  and  Anna  Marie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Simon  Kuttler,  lives 
on  a  farm  in  Harrison  township,  and  has  three  children, — Jacob.  Mar- 
garet and  Mary.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  have  had  the  following  children ; 
John,  a  farmer  of  Harrison  township,  married  Ethel  Cole;  Katharine, 
who  married  John  L.  Wise,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township,  and  has 
two  children, — Dorothea  and  Lester;  Emma,  the  wife  of  Austin  Burch- 
ard,  a  farmer  of  Licking  township,  has  four  children, — Lila,  Elma,  Hes- 
ter and  Luther;  David,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  when  a 
student  at  school;  William,  who  lives  on  a  farm  in  Harrison  township, 
married  Ella  Price ;  Samuel  II.,  who  resides  at  home  and  is  assisting  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  homestead;  and  Alice  and  Walter  C,  who 


262  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

reside  with  their  parents.  The  children  have  received  good  educational 
advantages  and  are  proving  a  credit  to  their  training  and  their  com- 
munity. The  family  is  associated  with  the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr. 
Walker  and  his  sons  are  supporters  of  democratic  principles. 

Joseph  Creek.  No  better  farming  land  nor  more  progressive  farmers 
in  Blackford  county  are  to  be  found  than  those  in  Jackson  township,  and 
a  representative  type  is  the  Hickory  Grove  Stock  Farm,  the  proprietor 
of  which,  Joseph  Creek,  is  known  as  an  exponent  of  the  most  highly 
approved  modern  methods.  Mr.  Creek  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
June  14,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Mary  J.  (Landon)  Creek. 
The  parents  were  born  in  Jackson  township,  Blackford  county,  were  here 
reared,  educated  and  married,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  year  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  passed  their  entire  lives  in  Jackson  township.  Of 
their  eight  children,  three  are  living;  Carl,  a  resident  of  Oklahoma; 
Ollie,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Hummer,  of  Harrison  township ;  and 
Joseph.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Creek  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time  and  became  the  father  of  five  children. 

Joseph  Creek  was  reared  in  Jackson  township  and  his  boyhood  was 
passed  amid  rural  surroundings,  his  education  being  gained  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  Until  he  reached  his  majority  he  remained  at  home  assist- 
ing his  father,  and  then  embarked  upon  his  own  career.  His  start  was 
not  particularly  auspicious,  for  he  was  possessed  of  no  capital,  but  he  was 
ambitious  and  determined  and  was  willing  to  work  hard,  so  that  he  had 
no  difficulty  in  securing  employment  among  the  farmers  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  married  July  16.  1897,  to  Miss  Effie  Rhoton,  who  was 
born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  and  reared  in  Blackford  county,  and  they 
at  that  time  moved  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Creek,  located  three 
miles  west  and  two  miles  south  of  Montpelier.  His  original  purchase 
was  forty  acres,  but  to  this  he  has  continued  to  add  as  his  hard  work 
and  good  management  have  brought  him  substantial  returns,  and  at  this 
time  he  owns  134  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Here  he  keeps 
a  good  grade  of  all  kinds  of  livestock,  of  which  he  is  an  excellent  judge, 
and  also  carries  on  general  farming.  Through  a  career  of  honest  dealing 
and  fidelity  to  engagements,  he  has  gained  a  reputation  for  integrity  that 
makes  his  name  an  honored  one  on  commercial  paper  and  gives  him  the 
confidence  of  his  associates. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Creek  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows :  Earl, 
Marion,  Mary,  Freddie  and  Thelma,  all  at  home.  The  family  is  con- 
nected with  the  United  Brethren  church,  in  which  Mr.  Creek  has  been 
active,  serving  for  some  time  and  at  present  in  the  capacity  of  steward. 
His  political  views  are  those  of  the  democratic  party,  but  he  has  not 
taken  any  active  part  in  public  affairs,  although  he  has  frequently  proven 
his  good  citizenship  when  the  welfare  of  his  community  was  at  stake. 
During  the  years  that  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Jackson  township,  he 
has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  in  it  he  may  number  many  friends, 
attracted  to  him  by  his  loyalty  and  good  fellowship. 

Gideon  Warren.  When  the  successful  men  of  Jackson  township  are 
enumerated,  there  is  one  name  always  included  in  such  mention,  and 
that  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Hill  Grove  Stock  and  Poultry  Farm,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  west  of  Mill  Grove,  the  owner  of  which  is  Gideon  Warren, 
a  native  Indiana  man  and  whose  career  has  been  one  of  progressive  ac- 
complishment since  he  took  up  the  serious  responsibilities  of  life  more 
than  thirty  years  ago.  The  Hill  Grove  farm  comprises  a  hundred  acres 
of  land,  has  all  the  best  improvements  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  is 
espeeialh'  noted  for  its  fine  livestock  and  poultry.    As  a  practical  poultry- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        26:5 

man  Mr.  Warren  has  mad,'  his  best  success  with  the  Rhode  Island  Reds 
and  the  Bronze  turkeys.  He  handles  this  branch  of  the  business  with  the 
facility  of  long  experience  and  has  for  many  years  made  it  a  revenue 
producer. 

Gideon  Warren  was  horn  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana.  June  10,  1861. 
His  grandfather  was  William  Warren.  The  parents  were  William  and 
Fannie  (Lamer)  Warren.  His  father  was  horn  in  Randolph  county,  as 
was  also  the  mother,  and  their  respective  families  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  that  section.  The  father  died  at  Lafontaine,  Indiana,  and  his 
widow  still  lives  in  that  vicinity.  They  wen-  the  parents  of  nine  children. 
six  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present  time,  as  follows:  Gideon;  Laura, 
the  wife  of  Cornelius  Hoovey  of  Randolph  county:  Webster,  a  farmer 
of  Huntington  county:  Florence,  wife  of  Alexander  Harrell  of  Lafon- 
taine: Frank,  a  farmer  near  Lafontaine;  and  Elmer,  also  of  Lafontaine. 

Gideon  "Warren  grew  up  on  a  farm  in  Randolph  county,  attended  the 
district  schools,  and  combined  the  instruction  of  hooks  with  the  practical 
duties  of  the  home,  and  was  thus  well  prepared  for  his  chosen  vocation 
as  a  farmer.  On  September  18,  1884,  at  tin1  age  of  twenty-three,  occurred 
his  marriage  and  the  real  start  of  his  career.  His  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Lula  Westfall,  who  was  horn  in  Grant  county.  July  29.  1862.  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Angeline  Westfall.  The  Westfalls  were  early 
settlers  of  Grant  county,  moving  from  there  to  Randolph  county,  and 
Mrs.  Warren  acquired  her  education  partly  in  the  grade  schools  of  that 
county  and  also  in  the  Ridgeville  Normal  school.  For  a  number  of  years 
she  was  one  of  the  popular  and  successful  teachers,  beginning  that  work 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  continuing  until  past  twenty-two  and  until  her 
marriage.  Mrs.  Warren's  brothers  and  sisters  are:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
J.  J.  Tippey  of  Washington  township,  Grant  county :  George  T..  a  farmer 
near  Landisville  in  Grant  county;  and  James  W..  a  farmer  and  real 
estate  man  of  Marion,  Indiana. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  lived  for  a  time  in  Jasper 
county  and  in  Grant  county,  and  in  1894  established  their  home  in  Black- 
ford county  in  Jackson  township.  Their  substantial  success  has  been  ac- 
quired chiefly  since  coming  to  this  county,  and  they  are  among  its  loyal 
and  progressive  citizens.  Their  two  children  are :  Floyd  L.,  born  June 
29.  1895.  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  now  a  young  farmer; 
Golda  0..  born  March  10.  1900.  and  finishing  the  course  in  the  common 
schools.  The  family  have  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Millgrove.  and  while  Mr.  Warren  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  church, 
his  wife  is  active  as  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  In  politics  he  has 
been  an  active  republican. 

Albert  Clamme.  A  member  of  the  prominent  firm  of  Clamme  Broth- 
ers, whose  business  as  contractors,  especially  in  the  building  of  roads, 
lias  brought  them  connections  all  over  this  section  of  Indiana.  Albert 
Clamme  is  also  well  known  as  a  Jackson  township  farmer,  and  is  pro- 
prietor of  the  Lick  Creek  Stock  Farm.  This  farm,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  lies  three  miles  east  of  Hartford  City  and  has 
received  the  special  attention  and  management  of  Mr.  Clamme  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  is  a  practical  business  man.  understands  farming  in 
all  its  details,  is  an  excellent  judge  of  livestock,  and  has  combined  the 
raising  of  the  staple  crops  with  the  breeding  and  feeding  of  cattle  and 
hogs. 

One  of  the  younger  members  of  a  family  that  has  long  been  promi- 
nent in  Blackford  county.  Albert  Clamme  was  born  in  Harrison  town 
ship,  of  this  county.  February  10.  1881.  His  parents  were  Pierre  and 
Elizabeth    (Kagel)    Clamme.     Both  parents  are  now  living  in  Jackson 


264  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

township.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  immigrated  after  get- 
ting his  education  and  his  early  training  when  about  thirty  years  of  age 
to  this  country,  and  after  reaching  Blackford  county  married  Miss 
Kagel,  who  was  born  in  West  Virginia.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  and  among  these  are  the  sons  who  form  the  firm  of  Clamme 
Brothers,  contractors  and  stock  dealers,  consisting  of  Charles,  Albert, 
Perry  W.  and  Harry. 

Albert  Clamme  grew  up  in  Harrison  township,  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  for  some  years  has  been  actively  identified  with  the 
business  of  contracting  conducted  in  association  with  his  other  brothers, 
and  is  also  the  independent  proprietor  of  one  of  the  best  stock  farms 
in  this  section. 

On  March  1,  1908,  he  married  Annie  Price,  who  was  born  in  Jackson 
township.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Margaret,  Ruth  and 
Paul.  Mr.  Clamme  and  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church 
in  Hartford  City,  and  politically  he  is  a  democrat,  a  good  citizen,  but 
with  no  desire  for  office. 

George  Hodson.  In  George  Hodson,  Blackford  county  has  a  citizen 
who  has  materially  contributed  to  its  agricultural  welfare,  he  having 
for  twenty-three  years  been  engaged  in  operating  a  homestead  in  Wash- 
ington township,  known  as  Fairview.  During  his  long  and  active 
career  he  has  accumulated  a  valuable  property,  and  his  general  worth 
as  a  citizen  is  shown  in  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow  men. 

Mr.  Hodson  is  of  Irish-Scotch  descent  and  was  born  February  22, 
1865,  on  a  farm  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  being  a 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Robb)  Hodson.  Samuel  Hodson,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  George  Hodson,  came  from  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  to  Grant  county  during  the  early  'forties  and  settled  on  an  uncul- 
tivated tract  of  land  in  Monroe  township,  which  he  continued  to  improve 
until  the  time  of  his  death  when  not  much  past  middle  life,  his  widow 
surviving  him  for  eighteen  or  twenty  years  and  being  nearly  seventy 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  They  were  good,  Christian 
people  and  at  all  times  had  the  unqualified  esteem  of  those  who  knew 
them.  Peter  and  Christina  (Hillsimer)  Robb,  the  maternal  grandpar- 
ents of  George  Hodson,  came  from  Ohio  during  the  'thirties  and  se- 
cured Government  land  in  Grant  county,  there  passing  the  rest  of 
their  lives  in  tilling  the  soil,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years  and  the  mother  when  sixty-five  years  of  age.  They  were  members 
of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church.  The  members  of  the  Robb  family 
were  always  democrats,  while  the  old  branch  of  the  Hodsons  were  whigs 
and  republicans. 

Jonathan  Hodson  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  1834,  and 
was  a  child  when  he  came  to  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  where  he 
grew  up  and  was  married  in  1857  to  Elizabeth  Robb,  who  had  been 
born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  1829.  After  their  marriage  they 
settled  down  to  the  clearing  of  a  farm  and  the  developing  of  a  home,  and 
thus  their  long  and  useful  lives  were  passed.  The  father  died  May  30, 
1909,  while  the  mother  passed  away  October  14,  1893,  both  in  the  faith 
of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Politically,  Mr.  Hodson  was  a  repub- 
lican. The  children  born  to  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  Hodson  were  as 
follows:  Benjamin,  a  farmer  of  Monroe  township.  Grant  county,  mar- 
ried three  times,  and  has  a  son  by  his  second  marriage.  Pearl,  who  is 
also  a  farmer  and  married ;  Jasper  and  Irwin,  twins,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  single  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  while  the  former  married  Nancy 
Futrell,  is  a  farmer  of  Monroe  township,  and  has  a  family;  Alice,  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  265 

wife  of  Edgar  Thornburg,  a  farmer  of  Monroe  township,  has  two  daugh- 
ters; George,  of  this  review;  and  William  and  John,  twins,  the  former 
of  whom  married  for  his  first  wife,  Miss  Parr,  and  for  his  second, 
Anna  Marker  and  has  three  children  by  his  first  wife;  while  John 
married  Ella  Maddox,  is  a  farmer  of  Monroe  township,  and  lias  two 
children. 

The  educational  training  of  George  Hodson  was  secured  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  homestead.  He 
adopted  farming  as  his  life  work  on  attaining  his  majority,  and  con- 
tinued so  engaged  in  his  native  community  until  1891,  in  which  year 
he  came  to  Washington  township,  Blackford  county,  and  purchased 
ninety  acres  of  land.  After  he  had  put  this  land  all  under  cultivation, 
Mr.  Hodson  purchased  an  additional  forty  acres,  which  he  has  also  put 
under  the  plow,  and  the  property  is  now  one  of  the  valuable  tracts 
of  the  locality,  and  because  of  its  fine  location  is  known  as  Fairview 
farm.  A  progressive  and  enterprising  agriculturist,  with  a  comprehen- 
sive knowledge  of  modern  methods  and  conditions,  he  has  devoted  him- 
self principally  to  the  growing  of  corn,  but  also  has  met  with  success 
in  growing  wheat,  rye.  oats  and  hay,  and  in  addition  has  a  fine  herd  of 
graded  stock.  His  buildings  include  an  eight-room  white  frame  house, 
erected  in  1903,  a  good  red  barn,  36x60  feet,  built  in  1905,  ami  other 
substantial  buildings,  all  in  the  best  of  repair  and  indicative  of  the 
thrift  and  good  management  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Hodson  was  married  in  Washington  township.  October  6,  1892, 
to  Miss  Rachel  Johnson,  who  was  born  on  the  old  Johnson  homestead, 
in  section  18,  Washington  township,  April  12,  1870.  and  reared  in  that 
locality,  being  educated  in  the  old  Independence  school  district.  Mrs. 
Hodson  is  a  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Ruhamma  (Pearson)  Johnson, 
natives  of  Ohio,  who  came  as  young  people  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana, 
at  an  early  day  and  were  here  married.  They  passed  their  lives  on  the 
farm  on  which  they  started  housekeeping,  the  father  dying  in  October, 
1909.  when  aged  a  little  over  seventy-six  years,  while  the  mother  passed 
away  when  past  sixty  years  of  age,  in  1897.  They  were  members  of 
the  Christian  church,  and  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  democrat.  Three  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodson :  Larkin,  born  October  18, 
1893,  died  aged  one  year,  seven  months  and  twenty-one  days;  Bryon, 
who  died  aged  one  vear,  seven  months  and  twentv-one  davs ;  and  Edgar, 
born  April  2.  1903! 

Amos  Perry.  After  years  of  active  and  prolific  activity  in  connec- 
tion with  normal  lines  of  enterprise.  Mr.  Perry  is  now  living  virtually- 
retired  in  the  fine  little  city  of  Montpelier.  Blackford  county,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  substantial,  broad-minded  and  progressive  citizens  of  the  state 
that  has  represented  his  home  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In 
the  course  of  his  manifold  activities  he  has  never  sacrificed  principle  to 
personal  expediency,  but  has  shown  signal  integrity  of  purpose,  has 
placed  true  valuations  upon  men  and  affairs,  and  has  been  tolerant  and 
considerate,  so  that  he  has  naturally  retained  high  place  in  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  in  the  various 
relations  of  life.  The  family  of  which  he  is  a  worthy  scion  traces  its 
lineage  back  to  sturdy  Scotch  origin,  though  it  is  probable  that  the 
founder  of  the  American  branch  has  been  a  resident  of  the  north  of 
Ireland  prior  to  immigration  to  the  New  World.  The  family  name  has 
been  identified  with  pioneer  history  in  at  least  three  different  states  of 
the  Union,  and  the  records  in  the  historical  archives  of  Wells  county, 
Indiana,  give  evidence  that  representatives  of  the  Perry  family  settled 
there  more  than  seventy  years  ago,  as  later  data  in  this  sketch  will  more 
definitely  indicate. 


266  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mi-.  Perry  is  a  descendant  of  Edmund  Perry,  who  was  probably  born 
in  Virginia,  and  whose  father  is  supposed  to  have  settled  in  the  historic 
Old  Dominion  upon  his  immigration  from  either  Scotland  or  Ireland, 
about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  there  the  family  home 
was  maintained  for  a  number  of  years.  Edmund  Perry,  grandfather 
of  Amos  Perr.y,  removed  in  an  early  day  from  Virginia  to  Marietta, 
Ohio,  and  he  became  prominently  identified  with  transportation  activities 
on  the  Ohio  river,  between  that  point  and  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, — a 
man  well  known  and  influential  in  this  field  of  endeavor  and  enterprise. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  the  solemnization  of  each  union  was  found 
recorded  in  Hocking  county,  Ohio.  His  first  wife  died  after  the  birth  of 
one  child,  a  daughter,  who  became  Mrs.  Mary  Donnelly,  and  who  passed 
her  entire  life  in  Ohio.  For  his  second  wife  Edmund  Perry  wedded  Miss 
Elizabeth  Taylor,  who  was  a  native  of  England,  and  concerning  the  chil- 
dren of  this  union  brief  record  is  here  entered-  Matilda  married  Thomas 
Perry,  who  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Wells  county,  Indiana. 
Ellen  was  the  wife  of  John  Moore,  and  they  likewise  were  early  settlers 
of  Wells  county,  where  they  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  They 
had  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  five  of  the  sons  were  valiant  soldiers 
of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war.  Edmund,  Jr.,  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  died 
at  Laporte,  Indiana,  and  left  two  daughters.  Ellery,  who  was  a  loyal 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  died  in  Del- 
aware county,  Indiana,  after  having  reared  a  large  family  of  children. 
Walter  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  further  mention 
will  be  made  of  his  career.  Oliver  Hazzard,  named  in  honor  of  his  dis- 
tinguished kinsman,  Commodore  Perry,  a  first  cousin  of  Edmund  Perry, 
Sr.,  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Golds- 
berry,  having  been  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Blackford  county, 
Indiana,  and  they  had  several  children.  Isaac  was  a  resident  of  Black- 
ford county  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  having  been  killed  in  an  accident 
relative  to  the  operation  of  a  horse-power  threshing  machine.  He  was 
survived  by  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Lucy  J.  became  the  wife  of 
Robert  Moore  and  they  were  residents  of  Laporte,  this  state,  at  the  time 
of  their  death.  Martha  has  been  twice  married  and  has  a  daughter  by 
each  union;  she  is  now  a  resident  of  Concordia,  Kansas.  William,  the 
youngest  of  the  children,  entered  the  Union  service  in  the  Civil  war  and 
near  the  close  of  the  same  all  trace  of  him  was  lost  by  his  family,  so  that 
no  definite  information  is  known  of  him. 

Edmund  Perry,  Sr.,  continued  his  residence  in  Ohio  until  1843,  when 
he  came  with  his  family  to  Indiana  and  established  his  home  in  Wells 
county.  He  accumulated  a  large  landed  estate  in  this  part  of  the  state 
and  he  divided  the  property  among  his  children,  after  having  personally 
supervised  the  reclamation  of  a  productive  homestead  farm.  A  short 
time  prior  to  his  death  he  removed  to  Laporte,  in  the  county  of  the  same 
name,  and  there  he  died,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Edmund,  Jr.,  after  he 
had  attained  to  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years.  He  was  a  man 
of  utmost  rectitude  and  honor  and  he  commanded  the  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  for  a  time  a  resident  of  Iowa,  where  his  second  wife 
died,  and  thereafter  he  contracted  a  third  marriage.  His  third  wife  sur- 
vived him  by  a  number  of  years  and  no  children  were  borit  of  their  union. 

Walter  Perry,  father  of  Amos  Perry,  was  born  in  Hocking  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1829,  and  he  was  reared  to  adult  age  in  the 
coal  mining  district  near  his  birthplace.  Finally  he  became  a  skillful  car- 
penter and  cabinet  maker,  and  to  these  trades  he  devoted  his  attention 
with  marked  success.  In  his  native  county  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Ward, 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Delilah  (Berry")  Ward,  one  of  whose  sons 
was  the  father  of  Eli  Ward,  who  gained  national  reputation  as  a  trainer 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        267 

of  fine  horses.  The  Ward  family,  of  Irish  lineage,  was  founded  in  Ohio 
in  the  pioneer  days.  In  1850  Walter  Perry,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  their  three  children,  came  to  Blackford  county,  and  on  a  pioneer 
farm  in  Licking  township  they  raised  a  few  crops  in  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding year,  this  original  homestead  having  comprised  fortj  acres. 
On  this  farm  Amos  Perry,  subject  of  tins  sketch,  was  horn,  on  the  29th 
of  March,  1862,  and  soon  afterward  the  father,  on  account  of  adverse 
circumstances,  including  financial  stringency,  traded  the  forty  acres  of 
land  for  a  team  and  wagon,  with  which  lie  and  Ins  family  returned  to 
Hocking  county,  Ohio.  There  he  became  associated  with,  his  brother-in- 
law,  Amos  Ward,  in  contracting  and  building,  their  alliance  thus  con- 
tinuing for  several  years.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  Walter  Perry  and  his 
family  resided  in  turn,  and  for  varying  intervals,  in  Miami,  Montgomery, 
and  Warren  counties,  Ohio,  and  in  the  last  mentioned  county  he  en- 
listed for  service  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  hut  within  three  months 
thereafter  he  received  his  honorable  discharge,  on  account  of  physical 
disability.  In  186S  he  returned  with  his  family  to  Indiana,  where  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  near  Keystone.  Wells  county,  and  later 
he  purchased  an  additional  tract,  of  eighty  acres,  in  the  same  township 
of  Chester.  On  the  latter  place  he  continued  to  live  and  follow7  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1879.  when  he  bought  another  farm  in  the  same 
township,  the  same  comprising  fifty-two  acres,  and  there  he  died  on  the 
22nd  of  August,  1S86,  his  widow  long  surviving  him  and  passing  the 
closing  period  of  her  life  in  Wells  county,  where  she  died  in  the  home 
of  her  daughter,  Rosa.  Mrs.  McCullough,  on  the  2:2nd  of  March,  1913. 
She  attained  to  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years  and  twenty-five 
days,  and  retained  her  mental  and  physical  faculties  almost  unimpaired 
till  the  time  of  her  death.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were  lifelong  and 
zealous  members  of  the  Dunkard  church.  Mr.  Perry  was  a  man  of  strong 
individuality,  positive  views,  and  well  matured  mental  powers,  his  large 
fund  of  information  and  mature  judgment  having  given  him  much 
influence  in  the  community  affairs  wherever  he  lived  during  the  course 
of  his  active  career.  He  never  lacked  the  courage  of  his  convictions 
and  his  fine  physical  makeup  and  prowess  made  him  a  formidable  an- 
tagonist when  he  wished  to  administer  chastisement  for  wrong  or  injustice 
on  the  part  of  other  men. 

At  this  juncture  is  given  brief  hut  consistent  record  concerning  the 
children  of  Walter  and  Mary  ( Ward )  Perry.  Daniel  W.,  who  was  born 
in  Hocking  county.  Ohio,  is  a  skilled  mechanic  and  now  resides  at  West 
Alexandria,  Preble  county,  that  state.  He  wedded  Miss  Winnie  Samuels, 
and  they  have  one  son  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  married. 
Elizabeth  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Narglebee,  left  at  her  death 
one  child,  who  is  likewise  deceased.  Isaac  X„  who  is  a  resident  of  Okla- 
homa, has  been  thrice  wedded,  and  his  first  and  second  wives  were  sur- 
vived by  children,  his  third  wife  dying  without  issue.  Permelia  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Martin  0.  Perfect,  of  Clay  county,  Kansas,  and  they  have  three 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Stillman  Spalding,  of 
Blackford  county,  and  they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter;  Martha  A. 
died  in  childhood,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio ;  Simpson  A.,  who  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  died  when  young.  Rosa  M.  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Mc- 
Cullough, a  prosperous  farmer  of  Chester  township,  Wells  county.  Edna 
Leona  is  the  wife  of  Cephas  Staneley,  of  Blackford  county.  Indiana,  and 
they  have  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Orilla  A.,  who  is  a  native  of 
Wells  county,  still  lives  in  that  county,  is  the  wife  of  John  Shadle  and 
they  have  one  son. 

Amos  Perry,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Black- 
ford county,  as  has  already  been  noted  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  and  he 


268  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  his  parents  having  resided 
at  various  places  during  the  period  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  as  early 
statements  in  this  context  fully  indicate.  He  early  began  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood,  and  even  as  a  boy  he  applied  himself  diligently  during  nearly 
the  entire  period  of  the  passing  years,  so  that  his  specific  educational 
advantages  were  notable  chiefly  for  their  absence.  He  attended  school 
in  a  most  irregular  and  desultory  way  and  his  broader  education,  which 
has  become  symmetrical  and  substantial,  has  been  gained  through  self 
discipline  and  association  with  the  practical  affairs  of  life.  As  a  young 
man  he  became  agent  for  R.  M.  Ball,  of  Muncie,  this  state,  and  for 
thirteen  years  he  represented  Mr.  Ball  in  the  sale  of  washing  machines, 
bicycles,  and  many  other  commodities,  his  labors  covering  thirteen  differ- 
ent states  of  the  Union  and  his  success  being  of  high  order,  notwithstand- 
ing his  double  association  with  the  number  13,  of  superstitious  fame. 
He  continued  as  a  traveling  salesman  from  1887  to  1900  and  through 
the  careful  conservation  and  investment  of  his  earnings  he  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  a  substantial  competency.  He  established  his  residence  at 
Montpelier  in  1886,  and  here  he  has  maintained  his  home  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  within  which  he  has  accumulated  a  large  amount 
of  local  property  of  valuable  order.  In  1903  he  erected  his  fine  residence, 
and  he  is  the  owner  of  a  well  improved  farm  of  eighty-five  acres,  which 
yields  to  him  an  appreciable  revenue.  He  is  distinctively  alert  and  pub- 
lic-spirited, is  a  republican  in  his  political  allegiance,  and  he  and  his 
family  hold  membership  in  the  Church  of  Christ. 

In  Chester  township,  Wells  county,  the  year  1875  recorded  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Perry  to  Miss  Esther  A.  Carter,  who  was  born  in  Scioto 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  11th  of  April,  1857,  and  who  was  ten  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Wells  county,  Indiana.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  B.  and  Nancy  A.  (Jackson)  Carter,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana.  The 
marriage  of  the  parents  was  solemnized  in  Wells  county,  where  they 
resided  on  a  farm  for  several  years  thereafter,  and  they  then  removed 
to  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  where,  in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  first 
call  for  volunteers,  the  father  tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the 
Union,  by  enlisting  in  an  Ohio  regiment.  He  served  three  years  with 
this  gallant  command  and  after  his  honorable  discharge  he  re-enlisted, 
as  a  veteran,  and  continued  in  active  service  at  the  front,  as  a  partici- 
pant in  many  important  engagements,  until  shortly  before  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  was  attacked  with  illness  that  resulted  in  his  death,  on 
the  9th  of  September,  1864,  in  a  hospital  at  Marietta,  Georgia.  He  made 
a  record  as  a  loyal  and  valiant  soldier  of  the  republic  and  this  spirit  of 
patriotism  animated  him  until  his  life  was  sacrificed  in  a  glorious  cause. 
After  the  death  of  her  soldier  husband  Mrs.  Carter  returned  to  Wells 
county  and  thereafter  she  resided  on  her  farm  in  Chester  township  until 
September,  1878,  when  she  removed  to  Lincoln  county,  Kansas,  where 
she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  15th  of  February,  1879, — a 
woman  of  noble  character  and  one  who  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  The  first  born  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter 
was  Emily  R.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Francis  M.,  -"ho  was  born  February 
9,  1847,  resides  in  Montpelier,  Blackford  county,  and  has  one  son  and 
two  daughters;  Roswell'A.,  born  July  31,  1849,  died  in  the  following 
year;  Margaret  L.,  born  in  1852,  likewise  died  in  infancy;  William  J., 
born  in  January,  1853.  died  on  the  11th  of  the  following  September; 
Caroline  L.,  a  twin  of  William,  likewise  died  in  1853 ;  James  N.,  born 
September  28.  1854,  resides  at  Clinton,  Ohio,  and  has  four  sons  and  two 
daughters ;  Esther  A.  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Perry  of  this  sketch ;  Peter,  born 
April  8,  1858,  died  in  the  same  year;  Jesse  M.,  born  February  3,  1859, 


BLACKFORD  AND  (JRANT  COUNTIES  269 

is  a  farmer  of  Five  Points  township.  Wells  county,  and  has  children; 
Rebecca  died  in  infancy;  and  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Wilbur  Wilson,  of 
Hartford  City,  their  only  child  being  a  son. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry  have  but  one  child,  Ada  Estella,  who  was  horn 
in  1877,  and  who  was  graduated  in  the  Montpelier  high  school  in  1889. 
She  married  Jonas  G.  Huffman,  son  of  George  Huffman,  a  well  known 
eitizen  of  Wells  county,  and  her  husband  received  the  advantages  of  a 
normal  school,  as  well  as  a  business  college,  being  now  employed  in  .Mexico 
as  an  expert  machinist  in  connection  with  oil  operations.  The  family 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  is  in  the  city  of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and 
Mrs.  Huffman  is  state  agent  in  Nebraska  and  Kansas  for  a  well  known 
tailor-made  corset,  in  which  connection  she  has  shown  marked  ability  as 
a  saleswoman  and  executive.  Her  only  child  is  Pauline  Laverne,  who 
was  born  February  13,  1897,  and  who  is  a  young  woman  of  distinctive 
culture  aud  gracious  personality. 

Riley  R.  Gadbury.  A  record  of  the  agricultural  upbuilders  of  Black- 
ford county  would  be  incomplete  were  not  due  mention  made  of  Riley 
R.  Gadbury,  of  Licking  township,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  well  cultivated 
property  in  section  28  and  one  of  the  progressive  and  public-spirited 
men  of  his  community.  As  an  aid  to  his  intelligent  operations  in  his  pur- 
suit of  success,  Mr.  Gadbury  has  had  agricultural  inclinations  inherited 
from  a  long  line  of  ancestors  who  were  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  these  have 
been  supplemented  by  an  appreciation  of  the  value  of  modern  methods 
ami  ideas.  His  life  lias  been  an  active  and  busy  one,  with  large  interests 
to  make  demands  upon  his  time  and  attention,  but  he  has  at  all  times 
found  the  inclination  and  leisure  to  serve  his  township  and  county  in  a 
public  way  and  at  the  present  writing  is  representing  his  county  for  the 
second  time  in  the  capacity  of  commissioner. 

Mr.  Gadbury  comes  of  old  Virginia  ancestry,  his  grandfather  migrat- 
ing from  the  Old  Dominion  state  to  Ohio  about  the  year  1800  in  young 
manhood  and  there  being  married.  In  1833  he  came  to  Indiana  with  his 
wife  and  several  children,  locating  on  160  acres  of  Government  land  in 
section  32.  Licking  township,  Blackford  county,  where  he  erected  a  log 
cabin.  He  was  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  state,  worked 
faithfully  and  industriously  in  clearing  his  land  from  the  wilderness, 
replaced  the  original  primitive  log  cabin  with  a  modern  and  substantial 
home,  and  became  one  of  the  solid  and  responsible  men  of  his  community. 
He  died  in  1868,  while  his  wife  passed  away  several  years  before,  both 
having  reached  advanced  years.  They  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  in  polities  Mr.  Gadbury  was  a  democrat.  Of 
their  large  family  of  children,  all  grew  up  and  were  married,  and  all 
have  now  passed  away. 

James  A.  Gadbury,  father  of  Riley  R.  Gadbury,  was  the  first  of  the 
children  born  in  the  Indiana  home,  and  was  one  of  the  first  white  chil- 
dren born  in  Blackford  county,  his  natal  date  being  April  25,  1834. 
Growing  to  manhood  on  the  old  farm,  he  received  his  education  in  the 
primitive  subscription  schools,  and  when  he  reached  years  of  maturity 
embarked  in  farming  on  his  own  account  and  became  owner  of  a  part  of 
the  homestead.  There  he  became  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  the  county,  and  was  also  widely  known  in  public  affairs  as  an 
active  and  influential  democrat.  His  death  occurred  on  his  farm  in  May, 
1891.  Mr.  Gadbury  was  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  about 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  McVicker,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  this  township,  and  spent  her  whole  life  here, 
dying  on  the  old  farm  when  forty-two  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  McVicker.  who  came  to  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  at  an 


270        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

early  day,  from  Gurnsey  county,  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers here  and  developing  a  good  farm  from  wild  land.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  reached  advanced  years,  and  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Gadbury  was  a  democrat  in  his  political  views.  Of  their 
family  of  seven  children,  five  grew  to  maturity,  and  Riley  R.  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth.  Emma  married  Henry  Hawley  and  left  three 
children  at  her  death;  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Anderson  D.  Matauk,  of 
Grant  county,  Indiana;  Riley  R.  is  the  next  in  line;  John  A.,  a  retired 
fanner  of  Licking  township,  living  at  Highways,  married  Bernice  Not- 
tingham, and  lias  five  sons ;  and  Arthur  E.,  a  lawyer  and  member  of  the 
firm  of  George,  Cromer  &  Long,  of  Muncie,  Indiana,  married  Anna  Clark, 
and  has  four  sons. 

Riley  R..  Gadbury  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Licking  town- 
ship and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  was  given  charge  of  the  homestead 
fai-m,  continuing  to  be  its  manager  until  1901,  when  he  purchased  185 
acres  of  land  in  section  28,  in  this  township,  located  on  the  west  side 
of  Licking  Creek,  which  waters  and  drains  the  property,  the  farm  being 
equipped  with  closed  or  tile  drainage.  The  land  is  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  and  its  improvements  include  a  nine-room  frame  house,  with 
stone  porch,  which  Mr.  Gadbury  practically  rebuilt  some  five  years  ago, 
and  a  red  barn,  substantial  in  character  and  modern  in  architecture, 
40x66  feet.  His  products  include  all  the  standard  grains  and  cereals, 
and  a  large  part  of  his  attention  is  given  to  the  breeding  of  fine  live 
stock,  including  Short  Horn  cattle,  Duroc  swine,  and  a  superior  breed 
of  sheep  and  horses.  Mr.  Gadbury  is  a  thoroughly  practical  farmer,  with 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  modern  methods,  which  he  practices  scien- 
tifically in  his  operations.  In  his  community  he  is  known  as  a  live, 
progressive  and  energetic  man,  assisting  in  all  movements  for  the  public 
welfare,  and  ever  ready  to  give  freely  of  his  time  and  means  in  a  good 
cause.  Politically  a  democrat,  he  has  served  his  county  efficiently  in  the 
capacity  of  county  commissioner  and  his  service  has  at  all  times  shown 
his  high  appreciation  of  the  responsibilities  of  public  service. 

Mr.  Gadbury  was  married  in  this  township  to  Miss  Almeda  Atkin- 
son, who  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  she  now  resides,  in  1868,  and 
has  spent  her  entire  life  here.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine 
(McCormick)  Atkinson,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Judge  William  Mc- 
Cormick  of  Grant  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkinson  were  pioneers  of  Black- 
ford county,  where  Mr.  Atkinson  first  entered  and  improved  160  acres 
of  land,  and  at  one  time  owned  a  large  property.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
reached  advanced  years  and  died  on  the  homestead,  being  prominent 
and  highly  respected  people  of  their  community.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gadbury:  Wirth  B.,  who  is  attending  the 
Hartford  City  High  school ;  Dwight  A.,  a  graduate  of  the  graded  schools ; 
C.  Hope,  aged  ten  years,  attending  the  graded  schools ;  Pauline,  who  is 
five  years  old;  and  June  D.,  the  baby.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gadbury  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Benjamin  F.  Caldwell.  In  the  lives  and  deeds  of  such  men  as  Ben- 
jamin F.  Caldwell,  of  Licking  township,  there  may  be  found  much  worthy 
of  emulation  by  the  rising  generation.  He  is  now  living  in  comfortable 
retirement  after  a  long  life  of  industry  and  honorable  dealing,  but  dur- 
ing his  career  he  has  not  alone  labored  to  win  success  on  his  own  account, 
but  to  advance  his  community's  interests  and  to  assist  others  in  the 
laborious  struggle  for  independence.  In  him  the  poor  and  unfortunate 
have  ever  found  a  helpful  and  sympathetic  friend  and  benefactor,  and 
now,  in  the  evening  of  life,  he  is  blessed  not  only  with  the  comforts  that 
material  prosperity  may  bring,  but  by  the  gratitude  of  those  who  have 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        271 

found  his  kindly  advice  and  valuable  assistance  the  medium  through 
which  they  have  won  their  way  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Caldwell  is  a  son  of  David  ('.  Caldwell  and  a  grandson  of  Robert 
Caldwell,  natives  of  Virginia  of  Scotch  stock,  the  latter  of  whom  spent 
his  entire  life  in  the  Old  Dominion  state.  David  ('.  Caldwell  passed  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Kentucky,  lie  was  married  in  that  state  to 
Miss  Anna  Anderson,  the  daughter  of  v 'apt.  John  Anderson  ami  his  wife, 
Nancy  (Sutton)  Anderson,  who  spent  their  lives  in  Maryland  and  near 
Alexandria.  Kentucky,  in  which  latter  locality  they  passed  away  as  old 
people.  They  were  faithful  members  of  the  Baptist  church  ami  Captain 
Anderson  attained  his  rank  as  a  soldier  in  the  American  forces  during 
the  War  of  1812.  After  the  birth  of  most  of  their  children.  David  C. 
and  Anna  Caldwell  migrated  to  Indiana,  settling  on  an  unnamed  creek 
in  Hancock  county,  where  the  father  passed  away  soon  after,  being  not 
much  past  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  lie  was  a  whig  in  politics,  but  as 
far  as  is  known  was  not  active  in  public  affairs,  his  attention  being  de- 
voted to  the  tilling  of  his  farm.  Aftei-wards  his  widow  lived  for  forty- 
three  years  with  her  son.  at  IN  I  ill  Grove.  Indiana,  and  there  died  in 
1894,  aged  eighty-three  years.  She  and  the  father  were  both  members 
of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church.  Of  their  seven  children,  but  two  are 
living:  Benjamin  P.,  who  was  third  in  order  of  birth;  and  Mrs.  Lu- 
cinda  Barry,  of  Hancock  county,  Indiana,  who  is  the  mother  of  five 
married  children,  and  a  widow. 

Benjamin  F.  Caldwell  was  born  in  Campbell  county,  Kentucky,  May 
6,  1828.  and  eame  to  Indiana  in  1836.  He  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  he  early  assumed  responsibilities  that  other- 
wise would  have  fallen  on  the  shoulders  of  a  matured  man.  His  educa- 
tion was  limited  to  the  district  schools  of  Hancock  county,  and  there  he 
was  reared  a  farmer,  a  vocation  which  he  continued  to  follow  throughout 
the  active  period  of  his  life.  In  1875  Mr.  Caldwell  moved  from  Hancock 
county  to  Blackford  county,  settling  at  Mill  Grove,  where  he  became  a 
breeder  of  fine  horses.  As  a  pioneer  in  this  line  he  did  much  to  encour- 
age the  improvement  of  this  noble  animal  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and 
in  the  meantime  continued  his  farming  operations,  gradually  adding  to 
his  property  until  he  was  accounted  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of 
the  county.  In  1909  Mr.  Caldwell  retired  from  active  pursuits,  justly 
considering  that  he  had  won  a  rest  from  his  labors,  and  came  to  section 
24,  Licking  township,  to  live  with  his  son,  David  Coleman  Caldwell,  al- 
though he  still  owns  a  fine  home  and  piece  of  property  at  Mill  Grove. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  married  near  Greenfield,  Hancock  county,  Indiana, 
February  14,  1851,  to  Mary  J.  Sample,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  on 
the  unknown  creek,  May  11,  1833.  Her  father,  John  Sample,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood,  for  a  time 
living  in  Pennsylvania  and  later  moving  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  Barrett.  Later  in  life  Mr.  Sample  came  to  Indiana  with 
his  grown  family  and  located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  followed  the 
trade  of  blacksmith  and  edged  tool  maker.  He  was  a  man  remarkable 
for  his  love  for  humanity,  a  jolly,  whole-souled  man  who  was  loved  by 
all,  and  who  was  still  active  up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  death  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  He  was  a  "Shouting  Methodist,"  as  was 
his  wife,  who  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Mrs.  Cald- 
well is  the  only  survivor  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  only  four  of  whom 
were  married.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell : 
Dr.  David  Coleman,  who  for  twelve  years  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  but  now  follows  farming,  a  progressive,  energetic  man  of  sixty- 
two  years,  who  owns  a  fine  home  and  well-cultivated  farm,  married 
Sarah  Fleming,  who  died  five  years  ago  in  the  prime  of  life;  and  Adelia 


272        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Thorp,  a  machinist  and  farmer  of  Mill 
Grove,  Blackford  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  have  accomplished  a 
work  the  results  of  which  will  live  long  after  they  have  passed  from 
the  scenes  of  life's  activities.  With  an  intense  love  for  children,  they 
have  taken  no  fewer  than  twelve  into  their  home  and  hearts,  and  have 
reared  them  to  strong  and  worthy  man  and  womanhood,  fitting  them 
capably  for  the  places  which  they  have  been  called  upon  to  fill.  Some 
of  these  children,  although  not  all,  have  been  relatives,  but  all  who  have 
been  married  have  come  back  to  the  old  home  to  have  the  ceremony  per- 
formed. In  spite  of  his  eighty-one  years,  Mr.  Caldwell  continues  to 
take  a  keen  interest  in  matters  of  importance  as  they  affect  his  com- 
munity and  the  country  in  general.  He  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  demo- 
cratic principles  and  has  a  wide  knowledge  of  political  conditions  and 
issues.  He  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  have  for  many  years  been  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church. 

John  T.  Cloud.  In  the  death  of  John  T.  Cloud,  which  occurred 
October  14,  1913,  Montpelier  lost  a  citizen  who  had  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  city's  importance  as  a  center  of  business  activity.  For  years 
connected  with  a  prosperous  commercial  enterprise,  his  record  was  ever 
that  of  a  trustworthy,  capable  and  energetic  man  of  affairs,  and  his  in- 
fluence, given  to  the  promotion  of  education  and  good  citizenship,  was 
such  as  to  make  his  loss  keenly  felt. 

Mr.  Cloud  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Grant  county,  August 
7,  1843,  his  parents  being  Noah  and  Lydia  Ann  (Pugh)  Cloud.  He  was 
a  grandson  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Cloud,  who  were  born  in  Pennsvl- 
vania  and  died  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  Noah  Cloud  was  born  in  Ohio. 
November  24,  1810,  and  was  married  near  Lynchburg  to  Lydia  Ann 
Pugh,  who  was  born  in  Highland  county,  that  state.  May  23,  1808.  In 
1840  they  came  to  Grant  county  after  the  birth  of  three  'children  :  Mar- 
garet, William  and  Elizabeth,  and  in  1847-8  came  to  Wells  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  they  secured  wild  land  in  Jackson  township.  There  they  suc- 
ceeded in  developing  a  home  after  numerous  trials  and  hardships,  and 
in  1866  came  to  Montpelier,  where  Noah  Cloud  and  his  wife  spent  the 
remaining  years  of  their  lives.  In  this  city  Mr.  Cloud  became  a  pioneer 
business  man,  being  the  proprietor  of  a  tin  shop  and  stove  and  hardware 
business,  but  after  five  years  sold  out  to  bis  son,  William  Cloud,  who 
continued  the  business  for  many  years.  The  children  born  to  them  in 
Grant  and  Wells  county  were  :  Lucinda,  born  July  9,  1841,  died  in  child- 
hood ;  John,  born  August  7,  1843 ;  Robert,  born  December  22,  1849,  died 
young ;  and  Lydia  Ann,  born  in  1854,  also  died  in  childhood. 

Noah  Cloud  died  October  18,  1893.  He  was  a  man  who  was  widely 
known  for  his  beneficent  influence  upon  the  community.  He  had  a  strong 
spiritual  insight  and  found  his  reformation  and  joy  and  peace  of  soul 
while  praying  by  his  plow  in  the  field,  and  the  light  he  then  saw  never 
left  him,  although  he  never  adopted  any  particular  religious  creed.  Mrs. 
Cloud,  who  died  August  29,  1870,  was  also  a  true  Christian,  and  like  her 
husband  was  widely  respected  and  beloved. 

John  T.  Cloud  was  reared  to  the  pursuits  of  the  farm,  but  as  a  young 
man  adopted  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  followed  this  vocation  until 
engaging  in  the  hardware  business.  The  latter  he  left  to  become  a  fur- 
niture dealer  and  cabinetmaker,  a  line  in  which  he  continued  successfully 
until  his  retirement.  In  addition.  Mr.  Cloud  was  largely  interested  in  the 
oil  business,  and  owned  a  farm  of  forty  acres  which  is  now  the  property 
of  his  widow,  who  now  survives  him  and  resides  in  the  family  residence 
at  No.  224  Main  street,  Montpelier,  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Cloud  in 
1873.     Mr.  Cloud  was  a  man  of  the  highest  character,  and  was  emin- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNT  IKS        273 

-•nth-  worthy  of  the  high  regard  and  esteem  in  which  he  was  universally 
held.  His  fidelity  to  engagements  was  proverbial,  as  was  his  loyaltj  to 
friendships,  and  his  absolute  honesty  and  integrity  were  never  questioned. 

Mr.  Cloud  was  married  in  Wefls  county,  Indiana,  to  .Miss  Emma  J. 
Buckland,  who  was  horn  in  Franklin  county.  Ohio,  .March  29,  1849,  and 
was  four  and  one-half  years  of  age  when  broughl  to  Jackson  township, 
Wells  county,  by  hi']' parents.  William  P.  and  Eliza  (Richland)  Buck- 
land,  the  former  a  native  of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Ca- 
yuga county.  New  York.  They  were  married  in  the  former  county,  and 
came  to  Indiana  after  the  birth  of  four  children,  settling  in  a  log  cabin 
in  the  wilderness,  when  wild  game  abounded  and  civilization  was  a  thing 
of  the  distant  future.  There  they  passed  their  lives  in  the  peaceful 
pursuits  of  the  soil,  bravely  facing  the  dangers  which  threatened  and 
through  energy  and  perseverance  overcoming  the  obstacles  which  ap- 
peared in  their  path.  They  died,  honored  and  respected,  the  father 
March  22,  1888,  and  the  mother  November  26,  1897,  both  in  tin-  faith 
of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr.  Buckland  was  a  democrat  in  politics.  Mrs. 
Cloud  is  one  of  six  living  children,  two  boys  and  four  girls,  all  the  latter 
now  being  widows. 

One  son  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cloud:  Bruce  N.,  born  in  Wills 
county,  Indiana,  December  3,  1S68,  educated  at  Montpelier,  where  he 
was  brought  at  the  age  of  three  months,  and  a  graduate  of  the  colleges  at 
Danville,  Indiana,  and  Ada,  Ohio.  For  some  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  furniture  business,  but  disposed  of  his  interests  therein  to  become  an 
oil  operator,  a  line  in  which  his  good  business  ability  has  enabled  him  to 
gain  a  full  measure  of  success.  Mr.  Cloud  married  Catherine  M.  Maddux, 
and  now  lives  at  Montpelier  with  his  wife  and  two  children:  Mary  E. 
and  Catherine  M.  For  some  years  he  was  an  adherent  of  democratic 
principles,  but  of  late  years  has  been  giving  his  support  to  the  progres- 
sive party. 

Dr.  John  R.  Harrold.  Among  the  old  and  honored  residents  of 
Blackford  county,  who  by  reason  of  their  contributions  to  the  public 
welfare  have  raised  themselves  to  distinction  and  have  gained  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  their  fellows,  few  are  entitled  to  more  honorable  mention 
than  is  Dr.  John  R.  Harrold,  who  for  more  than  thirty  years  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  at  Roll.  Indiana.  He 
belongs  to  a  family  whose  members  have  long  been  prominent  in  Indiana, 
and  is  a  grandson  of  John  Harrold,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  and  came  of  good,  sturdy  old  stock  of  that  country. 
He  grew  up  in  Scotland,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  millwright,  and 
followed  that  occupation  for  some  years.  Mr.  Harrold  was  married  in 
Scotland  to  Miss  Reynolds,  who  came  of  similar  ancestry,  and  after  the 
birth  of  their  first  child,  Ithamer,  June  22,  1809,  the  family  came  to 
the  United  States.  It  is  said  that  in  1813.  after  a  rough  voyage  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  consuming  three  months  on  the  ocean,  the  little  party 
landed  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  they  sojourned  for  a  time.  Sub- 
sequently they  moved  to  Forsythe  county.  North  Carolina,  locating  on 
a  spring  or  creek,  about  seven  miles  from  what  was  then  known  as  Salem, 
now  Winston,  and  there  Mr.  Harrold  built  a  mill  by  damming  the  spring. 
This  provided  sufficient  power  to  grind  the  grain  of  the  locality,  princip- 
ally corn  and  buckwheat,  and  Mr.  Harrold  continued  to  operate  this 
mill  in  connection  with  his  200-acre  farm.  There  he  passed  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life,  as  did  his  good  wife,  both  passing  away  in  advanced 
years  a  short  time  prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  Harrold 
remained  a  Presbyterian  while  his  family  became  Methodists.  They  were 
opposed  to  slavery,  and  one  of  the  grandfather's  sons,  Franklin,  was 

Vol.  I— IS 


274  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

shot  as  a  deserter  from  the  Confederate  ranks.  Two  other  sons,  Stroud 
and  Isaac,  were  drafted  also  into  the  Confederate  ranks,  and  the  former 
died  from  the  effects  of  a  serious  wound  received  in  Pickett's  famous 
charge  at  Gettysburg,  while  Isaac  died  some  years  later  as  a  result  of 
his  war  experience. 

Ithamer  Harrold,  the  father  of  Dr.  John  R.  Harrold,  grew  up  to  the 
trade  of  hatter,  a  vocation  which  he  followed  while  living  in  his  native 
state.  A  thorough  workman,  he  was  able  to  make  a  hat  from  the  rabbit 
to  the  wearer.  He  was  married  either  in  Maryland  or  North  Carolina, 
to  Miss  Ruth  Johnston,  who  was  born  in  1811,  and  came  of  Scotch  ances- 
try and  parentage,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Johnston,  wbo  came  to  this 
country  after  his  marriage  and  lived  in  North  Carolina.  In  that  state 
both  he  and  his  worthy  wife  passed  away  when  well  advanced  in  years. 
They  were  farmers  and  slaveholders,  and  were  well-known  Presbyterians 
and  church  people,  and  belonged  to  the  family  that  gave  the  country 
Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  was  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Harrold. 

After  the  birth  of  all  their  children  with  the  exception  of  one,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harrold  came  north  to  Indiana,  making  the  journey  overland 
with  teams,  and  bringing  with  them  all  their  earthly  possessions.  At 
night  they  camped  beside  the  road,  and  in  this  humble  fashion  made 
their  way  to  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  where  they  located  in 
September,  1852,  the  father  becoming  a  tenant  farmer  on  the  John 
Jones  property,  where  he  lived  for  many  years.  Subsequently  he  located 
on  the  Turney  farm,  in  the  same  township,  and  there  passed  away  about 
a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  while  his  widow  survived  him  some  years 
and  died  at  the  home  of  her  son.  She  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  was  her  husband,  who  was  a  strong  whig 
and  later  a  republican.  In  principles  he  was  a  decided  abolitionist  and 
came  north  primarily  because  of  his  dislike  of  slavery.  The  children  of 
Ithamer  and  Ruth  (Johnston)  Harrold  were  as  follows:  Adaline,  who 
died  after  her  marriage  to  John  Beard,  in  Huntington  county,  Indiana, 
and  had  a  daughter,  Sarah,  who  married  and  is  now  also  deceased  ;  George, 
a  successful  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Wells  county,  married  Miss 
Minnich,  also  deceased,  and  left  three  children,  Isaac,  Ross  and  James, 
all  married;  Louis  P.,  who  served  through  the  Civil  War  in  Company 
E,  Seventy-fifth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  then  engaged 
in  farming,  and  at  his  death  left  a  number  of  children  by  two  marriages, 
including  Edward,  Burt  and  Floyd ;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Sylvanus  Mason,  a  farmer  and  ex-soldier,  also  deceased,  and 
had  five  sons  and  one  daughter :  Rebecca  J.,  the  widow  of  Isaac  Richards, 
living  near  Breekenridge,  Missouri,  and  has  a  son  and  two  daughters; 
Albert  H,  who  served  through  the  Civil  War  in  Company  E,  Seventy- 
fifth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  and  died  at  Nebraska  some  years  later,  leaving  five  daugh- 
ters and  a  son ;  William  A.,  a  veteran  of  the  same  organization,  still 
living  at  Warren,  where  he  is  a  mechanic,  is  married  and  has  a  son  and 
a  daughter;  John  R.,  of  this  review;  Elias,  deceased,  who  left  a  family; 
and  Emma,  the  only  one  born  in  Indiana,  married  Thomas  Faust,  a 
Wells  county  farmer,  and  has  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

Dr.  John  R.  Harrold  was  born  in  Forsythe  county,  North  Carolina, 
March  24,  1848.  He  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Wells  county,  where 
he  embarked  upon  his  career  as  a  school  teacher,  and  after  eight  terms 
of  this  vocation  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
J.  J.  Good,  of  Warren,  Indiana.  Later  he  went  to  the  Broadway  school,  at 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  where  he  was  graduated  in  medicine  in  1881, 
and  this  was  in  later  years  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  Chicago 
Polytechnic  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1905.    He  began  his  practice 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  275 

at  Roll,  then  known  as  Dundee,  in  1881,  and  has  continued  here  to  the 
present  time,  having  built  up  an  excellent  professional  business.  He 
keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  changes  and  advancements  in  his  profession, 
and  is  a  valued  member  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  the  Indi- 
ana State  .Medical  Society,  the  Indiana  District  Medical  Society  and  the 
Blackford  County  Medical  Society.  Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with 
the  Blue  Lodge  No.  6G0,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Montpelier  Lodge  No.  35,  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star.  Hartford  City,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge 
No.  347  at  Roll.  Indiana  in  which  he  is  past  chancellor  commander  and 
prominent  in  a  local  way.  lie  is  also  a  member  of  Jacob  Stahl  Post  No. 
227,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  having  served  from  18(14  to  the  close 
of  the  Civil  "War  as  a  member  of  Company  I.  138th  Regiment,  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  did  not  participate  in  any  active  engagements 
but  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  capably  performed  his  duties,  which  con- 
sisted principally  of  guarding  prisoners.  He  has  been  successful  in  a 
material  way.  and  is  the  owner  of  two  good  farms  of  eighty  acres  each 
in  Blackford  county,  and  a  sixty-eight  acre  farm  in  "Wells  county.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  examiners,  and  in  other  ways  has 
attempted  to  do  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen.  With  his  wife,  Doctor  Harrold 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Doctor  Harrold  was  married  in  Wells  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Bevington,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  township.  Wells  county,  Indiana, 
March  20,  1855,  a  daughter  of  Reason  A.  and  Catherine  (Shadle)  Beving- 
ton. natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  as  a  young  married  couple  to 
Indiana,  where  Mrs.  Bevington  died  on  a  farm  aged  fifty-two  years.  The 
father  died  at  Warren,  Indiana,  when  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  The 
following  children  have  been  born  to  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Harrold :  Austin 
T.,  born  in  1873  and  educated  in  the  public  schools,  a  farmer  of  Wash- 
ington township,  married  Hattie  Dollar,  and  has  three  children, — Iva, 
John  R.  and  Mary,  all  in  school;  Dr.  Oren  E.,  born  in  1876,  a  graduate 
of  Danville  (Indiana)  University  and  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
and  now  manager  of  the  People's  Drug  Store,  at  Marion,  Indiana,  is 
single:  Myrta,  the  wife  of  Franklin  Banter,  a  farmer  of  Washington 
township,  Blackford  county,  and  has  three  children:  Veral,  who  is 
fourteen  years  of  age,  entered  high  school  in  1914:  Harold,  who  is  twelve 
years  of  age ;  and  Oakley,  also  a  public  school  student. 

Robert  L.  Morris.  Among  the  representative  agriculturists  of  Black- 
ford county,  who  have  made  particularly  creditable  records  in  farming 
and  stock  raising,  as  well  as  in  citizenship,  is  the  subject  of  this  review, 
Robert  L.  Morris,  whose  finely-cultivated  farm  and  comfortable  residence 
are  located  in  Jackson  township,  five  miles  east  and  two  miles  south  of 
Hartford  City.  When  he  embarked  upon  his  career,  Mr.  Morris  was 
possessed  of  little  save  his  own  ambition  and  determination,  but  his 
industry  and  energetic  labor  have  brought  him  a  full  measure  of  suc- 
cess, and  today  he  stands  as  a  splendid  example  of  the  self-made  man. 

Mr.  Morris  is  a  native  son  of  Blackford  county,  having  been  born  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Harrison  township.  June  7,  1S60,  his  parents  being 
Theophilus  and  Elizabeth  (Lanning)  Morris.  It  is  thought  that  the 
ancestry  of  this  family  can  be  traced  directly  back  to  the  patriot  Robert 
Morris,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Born  at  Lancashire, 
England.  January  20,  1734,  he  came  to  America  at  an  early  age,  em- 
barked in  a  mercantile  business  at  Philadelphia,  and  rapidly  acquired 
wealth.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  he  took  a  prominent 
part  in  upholding  the  National  cause,  in  1775  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  in  1781  was  appointed  superintendent  of  finance.  He  died  at  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  May  8,  1S06. 


276        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Theophilus  Morris  was  born  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
married  to  Susanna  Gunn,  who  died,  leaving  two  daughters  now  living 
in  Blackford  county,  Indiana :  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wintz ; 
and  Nancy,  the  widow  of  Eli  Hamilton.  Mr.  Morris  was  married  in 
Blackford  county,  Indiana,  to  Elizabeth  Lanning,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living 
at  this  time :  Robert  L. ;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Oklahoma ;  Arthur,  a 
farmer  of  Blackford  county;  Lilian,  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Schmidt,  of 
Jackson  township ;  and  James,  a  resident  of  this  township.  After  com- 
ing to  Blackford  county,  Theophilus  Morris  devoted  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  became  the  possessor  of  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, also  winning  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Robert  L.  Morris  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, and  passed  his  boyhood  much  in  the  same  manner  as  other  farmers' 
boys  of  his  locality.  His  education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools, 
and  while  not  engaged  with  his  books  he  was  expected  to  assist  with 
the  work  of  the  home  place,  so  that  he  grew  to  manhood  with  an  active 
mind  and  strong  body,  well  fitting  him  for  his  struggle  with  life.  He 
remained  at  home  until  his  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  A.  Whiteacre,  of  Jay 
county,  Indiana,  and  at  that  time  started  out  for  himself,  having  little 
but  his  ambition  and  willingness  to  aid  him.  For  some  years  he  was 
a  renter  of  farming  property,  but  while  thus  engaged  thriftily  saved  his 
earnings,  so  that  he  was  eventually  able  to  purchase  a  farm  of  his  own. 
He  has  added  to  his  original  property,  and  at  this  time  has  a  fine  farm 
of  120  acres,  which  measures  up  in  every  respect  to  those  owned  by  his 
fellow  agriculturists  in  the  township.  He  is  known  as  a  man  of  progres- 
sive ideas  and  methods,  strictly  reliable  in  all  business  transactions  and  at 
all  times  ready  to  help  his  community  in  every  way.  In  political  matters 
he  is  a  democrat,  but  has  been  too  busily  engaged  with  his  own  affairs  to 
think  of  entering  the  public  arena.  Fraternally,  his  connection  is  with 
Wabasso  Tribe  No.  120,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  in  which  he  is 
past  sachem,  and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Council  of  the  state. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris,  namely : 
Vivian,  a  graduate  of  the  graded  and  Hartford  City  high  schools,  and 
now  a  popular  teacher  of  Jackson  township,  in  charge  of  Kokenham 
school  No.  2 ;  Walter,  a  graduate  of  the  graded  schools  and  now  a 
farmer  assisting  his  father ;  and  Ralph,  who  is  still  attending  school. 

Emil  A.  Schweier.  One  of  Hartford  City's  prosperous  merchants, 
Emil  A.  Schweier  came  to  America  about  twenty  years  ago  a  poor  Ger- 
man lad,  and  since  then  has  made  circumstances  fit  his  own  desires  and 
determination,  and  has  won  a  secure  position  as  a  business  man  and  as 
a  member  of  his  community. 

Born  in  Baden,  Germany,  August  12,  1876,  he  belonged  to  a  substan- 
tial family  of  the  fatherland.  His  parents  were  Philip  and  Magdalene 
(Hitler)  Schweier,  both  natives  of  the  same  Province  although  the  mother 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Buhlheim.  Agriculture  and  its  related  activi- 
ties had  been  the  vocation  of  the  family  for  generations  on  both  sides. 
Philip  and  wife  spent  their  years  in  tilling  and  managing  resources  of 
the  soil,  and  died  in  the  old  country,  Philip  in  1910  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight,  and  his  wife  in  1882  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.  Both  were  brought 
up  and  always  adhered  to  the  Catholic  faith,  and  reared  their  children 
in  the  same  belief.  Brief  mention  of  their  family  of  children  is  as  fol- 
lows: Herman,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1894,  has  for  many 
years  been  a  prosperous  merchant  tailor  of  Hartford  City,  and  has  been 
twice  married;  Franc,  who  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Germany, 
is  married  and  has  two  sons  and  four  daughters ;  Philip,  who  is  in  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        277 

hardware  business  in  Germany,  is  married  but  has  no  living  children; 
next  in  order  of  birth  is  Emil  A.;  Freda  is  the  wife  of  Anton  Hook 
lives  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  has  three  children;  Catherine  is  ;i  trained 
nurse  and  is  engaged  in  that  profession  at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Emil  A.  Sehweier  grew  up  in  the  old  country  and  received  the  usual 
practical  and  substantial  education  of  the  German  public  schools.  On 
December  2, 1892,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  embarked  on  the  steamer 
Stuttgart  at  Bremerhaven,  and  after  ten  days  of  comfortable  passage 
landed  in  New  York  city.  From  there  he  went  direct  to  Bellevue,  Ohm, 
and  engaged  himself  as  a  clerk  to  Rheinhardt  Haenslaer.  The  first 
fourteen  months  of  business  experience  were  spent  as  a  grocery  clerk, 
and  that  gave  him  an  acquaintance  with  the  English  language  and  with 
business  customs  in  America,  and  when  he  left  Mr.  Haenslaer 's  employ- 
ment on  March  28,  1894,  he  came  direct  to  Hartford  City.  Here  John  B. 
Burger  employed  him  until  March,  1898.  From  here  Mr.  Sehweier  went 
out  to  the  northwest,  was  at  Nelson  in  British  Columbia,  and  spent  some 
time  prospecting  and  in  a  somewhat  varied  experience  in  that  country. 
Returning  to  the  United  States,  after  a  tour  among  the  northwestern 
states,  he  returned  late  in  1898  and  again  resumed  employment  with 
Mr.  Burger.  Two  years  later  he  engaged  in  the  wine  and  general  liquor 
business,  arid  was  in  that  line  four  years.  In  January,  1910,  Mr. 
Sehweier  bought  the  well  known  City  Cigar  Store  from  B.  Snell,  and 
now  has  one  of  the  most  popular  places  for  supplying  tobacco  goods 
in  the  community.  His  patronage  is  extensive,  due  both  to  his  personal 
popularity  and  to  a  fine  and  well  arranged  stock. 

Mr.  Sehweier  was  married  in  Hartford  City  to  Mary  Kain,  who  was 
born  near  Fort  Recovery,  Ohio,  in  1886.  She  is  of  Irish  ancestry,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Annie  Kain,  her  father  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  her  mother  of  Ohio,  their  marriage  having  occurred  in  the  latter 
state.  Her  father  died  in  Ohio  and  her  mother  is  now  married  a  second 
time  and  lives  in  Dunkirk,  Indiana.  Mr.  Kain  was  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  while  his  wife  was  a  Protestant. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sehweier  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Margaret,  Magdale,  Agnes  and  Emil  A.,  Jr.,  all  of  whom  are  attending 
parochial  school ;  Francis  and  Josephine ;  while  James  and  Anna,  twins, 
died  in  early  childhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sehweier  worship  in  St.  John's 
Catholic  church  in  Hartford  City,  while  he  has  fraternal  affiliations  with 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur.  As  an  evidence 
of  the  prosperity  which  has  attended  Mr.  Sehweier  since  he  located  in 
Hartford  City  permanently  his  home  at  309  N.  High  street  is  one  of 
the  most  modern  and  best  appointed  residences  in  that  district  of  the 
city.  This  home  is  well  cared  for  by  the  capable  Mrs.  Sehweier  and  her 
husband  ascribes  to  her  much  of  the  credit  for  their  joint  prosperity 
and  progress  in  the  world. 

James  E.  Millikan.  A  Montpelier  business  man  whose  career  as  a 
merchant  makes  his  name  so  familiar  as  to  require  no  introduction,  James 
A.  Millikan  has  spent  all  his  life  in  eastern  Indiana,  and  his  family  has 
had  active  and  useful  relations  with  this  part  of  the  state  since  pioneer 
times. 

James  E.  Millikan  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Newcastle,  Henry  county, 
November  13,  1874,  a  son  of  Matthew  R.  and  Araminta  (Davis)  Millikan. 
His  father  was  born  near  the  city  of  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  in  the  year 
1826,  and  when  eleven  years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  Henry  county,  Indiana.  In  that  county  grandfather  William 
Millikan  reclaimed  a  farm  from  the  virgin  forest  and  lived   there  to 


278  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labor  into  declining  years.  Matthew  R.  Millikan 
grew  up  in  Henry  county  and  the  active  years  of  his  life  were  marked 
by  successful  management  of  farming  interests,  and  in  that  time  he 
made  the  old  homestead  one  of  the  model  places  in  the  county.  After 
the  success  that  came  from  business  and  the  esteem  from  his  kindly 
relationship  with  the  community,  he  passed  away  July  12,  1912.  His 
wife,  who  died  July  19,  1909,  was  a  member  of  a  prominent  pioneer 
family  of  Henry  county.  Matthew  R.  Millikan  was  strong  in  his 
allegiance  to  the  democratic  party,  and  his  religious  faith  was  that  of 
the  Baptist  church,  while  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  de- 
nomination. 

James  E.  Millikan  had  the  wholesome  environment  of  the  country 
for  his  youth,  and  has  made  his  way  to  success  largely  through  his  own 
efforts.  From  the  district  schools  he  took  up  the  practical  work  of  a 
farm,  and  in  1900  graduated  from  the  Vorhees  College  of  Indianapolis. 
The  following  two  years  were  spent  as  a  teacher,  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  in  1902  he  joined  his  brother  at  Montpelier  in  Black- 
ford county,  and  together  they  began  a  successful  enterprise  in  clothing 
and  shoes  and  men's  furnishing  goods.  "With  his  brother,  L.  D.  Millikan, 
he  conducted  the  firm  as  a  partnership  known  as  Millikan  Brothers  until 
November,  1909,  at  which  time  James  E.  Millikan  became  sole  proprietor. 
He  has  a  fine  store,  in  a  building  30x52  feet,  located  in  the  Mayer 
Block,  and  with  all  the  appointments  and  service  of  a  metropolitan 
establishment.  He  also  maintains  a  special  merchant  tailoring  depart- 
ment, and  by  careful  attention  has  made  his  shoe  department  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county.  In  the  meantime  his  success  has  been  augmented 
by  other  interests,  including  the  ownership  of  a  well  improved  farm 
of  seventy-eight  acres  in  Chester  township  of  Wells  county,  valuable  real 
estate  at  Montpelier,  including  his  own  home  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  Adams  and  Green  streets,  and  he  is  secretary  of  the  Montpelier 
Promoting  Company.  His  public  spirit  in  business  leads  him  to  support 
all  enterprises  tending  to  advance  the  welfare  of  his  home  community. 

Mr.  Millikan  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  democratic  party  as 
exemplified  by  Jefferson  and  Jackson,  and  has  never  waivered  in  his 
political  belief.  He  is  district  deputy  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  is  affil- 
iated with  the  local  lodge  of  Masons,  the  Montpelier  Tribe  of  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  belongs  to  the  lodge  of  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  Hartford  City.  On  March  6,  1904,  at  Mont- 
pelier, Mr.  Millikan  married  Miss  Gay  Fitts.  She  was  born  at  Osgood, 
in  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  was  reared  there,  and  her  education  was 
completed  in  the  college  at  Oldenburg,  in  Franklin  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Millikan  are  the  parents  of  four  children :  Dorothy,  James  K.,  Lucile 
and  Richard. 

William  S.  Russell.  The  life  of  the  late  William  S.  Russell  in  Black- 
ford county  covered  a  period  of  forty-six  years,  during  which  time,  from 
small  beginnings,  he  advanced  to  a  position  of  prominence  among  the 
agriculturists  of  his  adopted  locality.  A  man  of  energy  and  industry, 
he  made  a  success  of  his  personal  ventures,  and  as  a  public-spirited  citi- 
zen did  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  community,  and  to  contribute 
to  the  general  welfare  along  lines  of  education,  morality  and  probity. 
He  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  March  2,  1846,  and  was  a  son 
of  John  L.  and  Mariah  (Clevenger)  Russell. 

Daniel  Russell,  the  grandfather  of  William  S.  Russell,  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  in  that  state  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Lytle,  by  whom  he  had 
a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  He  was  a  pioneer  of  Wayne 
county,  passed  his  life  in  agricultural  enterprises,  and  gained  a  hand- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 


279 


some  competence  through  good  management  and  earnest  endeavor. 
Among  his  older  children  was  John  L.  Russell,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  about  the  year  1820,  and  was  there  married,  eight  of 
his  nine  children  having  that  county  as  the  plaee  of  their  nativity.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  War,  in  1863,  Mr.  Russell  came  with  his  family  to  Blackford 
county  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Washington  township,  near  Roll  (or 
Dundee),  on  which  his  youngest  child  was  born.  Like  his  father,  he  was 
a  man  of  industry  and  integrity,  and  made  a  success  in  his  ventures, 
earning  also  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  lie  died 
November  23,  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  .years,  while  Mrs.  Russell 
passed  away  eight  months  before,  when  about  the  same  age.  They  were 
lifelong  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  consistent  Christian 
people. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Wayne  county,  William  S.  Russell 
was  a  youth  of  seventeen  years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Blackford  county,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  his  father  in 
his  operations  on  the  homestead  property.  In  about  1882  he  began 
operations  on  his  own  account  in  section  36,  Washington  township,  there 
purchasing  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  subsequently  added  forty  acres,  and 
put  the  entire  property  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  was  known 
as  a  good  farmer,  following  the  various  branches  of  his  calling,  such  as 
grain  growing,  vegetable  raising,  stock  breeding  and  dairying,  and  in 
each  line  was  able  to  secure  success  because  of  his  admirable  methods 
Mini  bard  labor.  A  man  of  sterling  worth  of  character,  he  was  esteemed 
no  less  for  his  own  success  than  for  the  assistance  he  gave  to  others,  and 
his  loyalty  and  fidelity  to  engagements  gave  him  an  excellent  reputation 
as  a  business  man  and  attracted  to  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  He  was 
converted  to  the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church  as  a  youth,  and  in 
his  later  years  was  a  devout  member  of  the  church  at  Hartford  City, 
where  he  served  as  an  official  for  a  long  period.  In  political  matters  he 
supported  the  principles  of  democracy,  but  at  all  times  steadfastly  de- 
clined to  accept  political  favors,  preferring  to  remain  a  quiet,  unassuming 
tiller  of  the  soil,  and  to  aid  his  community  in  a  private  capacity. 

Mr.  Russell  was  married  November  21,  1866.  in  .Jefferson  township. 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Margaret  Stanley,  who  was  born  on  the 
old  family  homestead  in  that  township,  February  27.  1*47.  She  was 
reared  in  that  locality  and  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  proved 
a  true  wife  and  helpmeet  to  her  husband,  whom  she  assisted  materially 
in  his  rise  to  prosperity.  Mrs.  Russell  is  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  the 
homestead,  which  constituted  a  part  of  her  husband's  farm.  The  only 
brother  of  Mrs.  Russell.  Jesse  Stanley,  is  a  resident  of  Grant  county,  and 
a  sketch  of  his  career  will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mrs. 
Russell  is  a  daughter  of  Ivan  and  Mary  (Vincent)  Stanley,  the  former 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  in  Delaware.  They  were  married 
in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  and  subsequently  made  removal  to  Jefferson 
township.  Grant  county,  where  Mr.  Stanley  purchased  and  improved  a 
farm  of  160  acres,  on  which  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life, 
dying  when  past  sixty  years  of  age,  while  Mrs.  Stanley  died  when  forty- 
two  years  old.     She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell,  namely:  Melvern 
A.,  engaged  in  farming  in  the  state  of  Arkansas,  married  Nancy  B  Taite, 
who  died  and  left  six  children — Marian.  Ethel,  Goldie,  Pearl,  Clarence 
and  Thelma ;  he  married  a  second  time  but  has  no  issue ;  John,  the  owner 
of  land  in  Washington  township,  successfully  operating  120  acres,  mar- 
ried Cora  Adkinson,  of  Jackson  township ;  Cora,  who  died  single  when 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age ;  and  Lawrence,  who  passed  away  aged 
twenty  years  and  five  months.  Mrs.  Russell  and  her  sons  are  faithful 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


280  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Charles  W.  Corey,  M.  D.  Both  Blackford  and  Grant  counties  may 
well  take  pride  in  the  high  standard  maintained  by  their  representative 
physicians  and  surgeons,  and  Dr.  Corey,  who  resides  at  Hartford  City, 
the  county  seat  of  Blackford  county,  controls  a  practice  the  extent  and 
character  of  which  attest  his  professional  ability  as  well  as  his  inviolable 
hold  on  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  is  a  native  of  Grant  county 
and  in  his  chosen  vocation  he  is  well  maintaining  the  prestige  of  the 
profession  that  was  signally  dignified  and  honored  by  the  character  and 
services  of  his  father,  who  was  a  pioneer  physician  and  surgeon  of  this 
section  of  Indiana, 

The  Corey  family,  of  English  origin,  was  founded  in  New  England 
in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national  history,  and  Stephen  Corey,  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  the  more  remote  family  records  give  authentic  data  of  kin- 
ship with  Sir  Francis  Drake,  of  England,  the  greater  number  of  the 
representatives  of  the  family  in  the  agnatic  line  having  followed  the 
various  professions  and  higher  orders  of  trade.  In  the  line  have  been 
many  in  the  medical  profession,  and  this  has  held  good  in  later  genera- 
tions. Dr.  J.  Stephen  Corey,  an  uncle  of  Dr.  Charles  W.,  was  a  leading 
physician  of  Indiana  for  many  years;  a  cousin  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  Dr.  Kate  A.  Corey,  who  was  well  known  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon  and  as  a  missionary  at  Foo  Choo,  China.  Stephen  Corey  in 
his  earlier  years  followed  a  seafaring  life  for  some  time,  and  in  1828 
he  established  his  residence  at  Vincennes,  Indiana,  whence,  two  years 
later,  he  went  to  Fort  Dearborn,  Illinois,  when  this  isolated  post  was 
practically  the  mark  of  habitation  on  the  site  of  the  present  great  city 
of  Chicago.  He  finally  settled  on  the  shore  of  Flat  Rock  river  in  Rush 
county,  Indiana,  at  a  point  about  eight  miles  distant  from  the  present 
town  of  Rushville,  and  there  his  son  Lavanner,  father  of  him  to  whom 
this  sketch  is  dedicated,  was  born  in  the  year  1833.  In  the  following 
year  the  family  removed  to  Grant  county,  and  Stephen  Corey,  Sr.,  here 
entered  claim  to  a  tract  of  forest  land,  which  in  the  course  of  time  he 
reclaimed  in  large  part  to  cultivation,  the  old  homestead  now  constitut- 
ing the  fine  demesne  known  as  the  Studabaker  Stock  Farm,  in  Van 
Buren  township.  Stephen  Corey  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  were  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  this  section  of 
the  state  and  they  played  well  their  part  in  furthering  the  civic  and  ma- 
terial development  and  upbuilding  of  Grant  county.  Mr.  Corey  died 
in  1880,  venerable  in  years  and  honored  by  all  who  knew  him,  his  de- 
voted wife  having  been  summoned  to  eternal  rest  in  1872. 

Dr.  Lavanner  Corey  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Grant  county,  and 
he  prepared  himself  most  thoroughly  for  the  work  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, as  he  was  not  only  graduated  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  but  also 
completed  an  effective  post-graduate  course  in  the  celebrated  Bellevue 
Medical  College,  in  New  York  city.  He  became  one  of  the  most  loved 
and  most  successful  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Grant  county,  and  his 
ministrations  extended  also  beyond  the  limits  of  that  county.  His  skill 
and  devotion  to  his  profession  gave  him  prestige  as  one  of  the  foremost 
physicians  of  Northern  Indiana.  He  was  called  to  minister  in  many 
critical  cases,  both  in  medicine  and  surgery,  and  it  may  be  stated  that 
on  one  occasion  he  attended  a  woman  who  had  been  gored  by  a  cow  and 
whose  intestines,  while  unbroken,  had  literally  scattered  over  the  floor 
of  the  barn  in  which  the  accident  occurred.  One  less  confident  and 
courageous  woidd  have  flinched  at  the  ordeal,  but  Dr.  Corey  assem- 
bled the  intestines  of  the  poor  victim,  returned  them  to  their  proper 
position,  after  which  he  properly  closed  the  wound.  The  woman 
recovered    and    five    months    later   bore    a    child    that    was    in    normal 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  28] 

physical  condition.  This  was  an  operation  that  has  had  few  parallels 
and  the  Doctor  was  ever  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  aid  and  relieve 
those  who  were  in  suffering  or  distress,  for  lie  had  a  sympathy  that 
transcended  emotion  to  become  a  motive  for  helpfulness.  Ee  gained 
specially  high  reputation  as  a  surgeon,  and  in  this  field  was  reallj  much 
in  advance  of  his  day.  His  practice  extended  over  four  counties  and 
no  man  was  more  loved  and  revered  in  this  section  of  the  Stair  than 
was  this  zealous  and  self-abnegating  physician.  He  continued  to  reside 
on  his  fine  old  homestead  farm,  two  miles  east  of  Van  Buren,  Grant 
county,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1897,  and  which  caused  the 
entire  community  to  manifest  its  sense  of  loss  and  bereavement.  Dr. 
Corey  was  one  of  the  first  Indiana  members  of  the  American  Medical 
Association  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  and  honored  members  of  the  In- 
diana State  Medical  Society,  hi  polities  he  was  originally  a  whig  and 
later  a  republican,  and  he  was  influential  in  forming  and  directing  pub- 
lie  opinion  in  the  community  in  which  he  so  long  maintained  his  home. 
He  contracted  a  second  marriage,  by  wedding  Miss  Mary  E.  Lease,  who 
was  born  at  Marion,  this  State,  where  she  still  resides,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years.  She  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Dr.  Corey's  first  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  Mary  Whinery 
and  her  father,  Joseph  Whinery,  was  a  sterling  pioneer  of  Van  Buren 
township,  Grant  county.  Of  her  four  sons  and  four  daughters  tic  onlj 
survivor  is  Dr.  Charles  W.,  six  of  the  number  having  died  when  young 
and  Nellie  having  been  a  well  known  trained  nurse  for  a  number  id'  years 
prior  to  her  death,  which  occurred  when  she  was  forty-two  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Corey  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Van  Buren 
township.  Grant  county,  on  the  1st  of  November,  1864.  and  his  early 
education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  the  locality.  He  studied 
medicine  under  the  able  preceptorship  of  his  honored  father  and  finally 
entered  Fort  Wayne  Medical  College,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1897  and  with  the  well  earned  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  His  professional  novitiate  was  served  in  his  native  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  in  practice  until  February  17,  1899,  when 
he  removed  to  Hartford  City,  where  he  has  since  continued  his  success- 
ful professional  endeavors  and  gained  precedence  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  section  of  the  State.  For 
twenty  years  he  has  been  retained  as  a  member  of  the  staff  of  surgeons 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and  he  is  at  the  present  time 
the  oldest  employe  in  this  capacity  that  the  company  has  in  its  service 
west  of  Pittsburgh.  He  is  also  surgeon  for  the  American  Glass  Com- 
pany, a  position  he  has  retained  for  twenty-three  years,  and  he  has  been 
similarly  retained  by  the  Johnson  Glass  Company  from  the  time  its  plant 
was  established  at  Hartford  City.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  the  Indiana  State  Medical  Society  and 
the  Blackford  County  Medical  Society.  Dr.  Corey  is  affiliated  with 
both  the  York  and  Scottish  Rite  bodies  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
with  its  adjunct  organization,  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  formerly  maintained  active  identification  with 
a  number  of  the  local  organizations  of  other  fraternal  orders,  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  allegiance,  and  as  a  citizen  he  is  essentially  liberal 
and  public-spirited. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Corey  to  Miss  Jennie  Hunter,  who  was  born 
in  Champaign  county,  Indiana,  but  reared  at  Marion,  was  solemnized 
at  Marion.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  M.  and  Margaret  (Gill) 
Hunter,  her  father  being  a  representative  grain  dealer  at  Marion,  where 
his  wife  died  in  1913.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Corey  have  one  daughter,  Lucile, 
who  was  graduated  in  St.  Mary's  Academy,  at  Terre  Haute,  and  who 


282  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

remains  at  the  parental  home,  as  one  of  the  gracious  and  popular  mem- 
bers of  the  younger  social  coterie  of  Hartford  City. 

Benjamin  G.  Shinn:  The  publishers  take  pleasure  in  the  publication 
of  the  following  sketch  of  the  Shinn  family  and  of  Mr.  B.  G.  Shinn, 
who  has  rendered  such  able  assistance  in  furnishing  details  and  sugges- 
tions in  the  preparation  of  the  various  accounts  of  old  Blackford  county 
families  found  in  this  work.  As  the  Shinn  family  was  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Blackford  county,  this  sketch  will  be  found  to  throw  many 
side  lights  on  early  conditions  of  home,  social,  educational,  civic  and 
religious  affairs  from  the  beginning  of  the  decade  of  the  '40s  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

The  Shinn  family  has  been  in  the  United  States  about  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  years.  The  following  genealogical  record  is  taken  chiefly 
from  "The  History  of  the  Shinn  Family  in  Europe  and  America," 
published  in  1903  by  Josiah  H.  Shinn,  A.  M.,  a  distinguished  member 
of  the  family. 

I.  The  progenitors  of  the  family  were  John  and  Jane  Shinn,  who  were 
Quakers,  and  with  nine  unmarried  children  came  to  New  Jersey  and 
settled  in  Burlington  county  in  William  Penn's  colony  near  Philadelphia 
in  1678.  It  is  supposed  that  the  parents  of  John  Shinn  were  Clement  and 
Grace  Shinn.  John  Shinn  was  born  in  Hartford  county,  England,  in 
1632,  and  died  in  New  Jersey  in  1711. 

II.  James  Shinn,  son  of  John,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Restore 
and  Hannah  Lippincott  in  1697.  So  far  as  can  be  learned,  he  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  Clement  was  the  seventh.    James  died  in  1751. 

III.  Clement  married  Elizabeth  Webb  in  1740,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  Clement,  Jr.,  was  the  third. 

IV.  Clement,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  1746,  married  in  1774,  Ruth  Bates 
in  New  Jersey,  in  which  state  two  of  their  children  were  born,  and  a 
few  years  later  the  family  was  located  in  Harrison  county.  West  Vir- 
ginia, after  stopping  a  brief  time  at  Apple  Pie  Ridge,  some  ten  miles 
north  of  Winchester  in  Frederick  county,  Virginia.  Their  ten  children 
were:  Joseph,  born  September  23,  1775,  married  Mary  Mathis;  Moses, 
born  February  10,  1779,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Elizabeth  Kyle ;  Daniel,  born  June  10,  1781,  married  Mary  Whiteman, 
half-sister  of  Sarah  Kyle;  Hepzibah,  born  April  25.  1784,  married  a 
cousin.  Rev.  Levi  Shinn;  Clement,  born  November  24,  1786,  married  a 
relative,  Lucretia  Shinn ;  Edward,  born  in  1788,  married  Hannah  Shinn, 
a  relative ;  Reuben,  born  September  26,  1789 ;  Achsah,  born  in  1792, 
married  David  Earl;  Samuel  Jonathan,  born  October  7,  1793;  and  Eli, 
born  in  1797. 

V.  Daniel,  a  native  of  either  Frederick  or  Harrison  county,  married 
August  5,  1801,  Mary  Whiteman,  whose  family  is  noted  in  succeeding 
paragraphs.  Their  thirteen  children  were:  Noah,  born  in  1802,  mar- 
ried Ann  Fort;  Elias,  born  in  1804,  married  Henrietta  Ummensetter; 
Charity,  born  in  1806,  married  Levi  Gorrell;  Unity,  born  in  1808,  died 
in  infancy;  Henry,  born  January  31,  1810,  married  Harriet  Walker; 
Israel,  born  June  26,  1812,  married  Ann  Hood ;  Darius,  born  November 
16,  1815,  married  Rachel  L.  Turner;  Hyman  (see  below)  ;  Newman,  born 
September  22,  1819,  married  Christina  Marts;  Harrison,  born  in  1821. 
married  Mary  J.  Spencer;  Mary  Ann,  born  April  10.  1824,  married 
William  Burchard ;  Silas,  born  June  22,  1826.  married  Judith  Caroline 
Hood;  Sabra,  born  July  2,  1828.  married  Nathan  Ellsworth. 

In  1823  Daniel  and  his  family  moved  to  Tyler  county.  West  Virginia, 
settling  on  Sugar  Creek,  a  branch  of  Middle  Island  Creek.    In  May,  1830, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        283 

they  came  to  Indiana.  With  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  Daniel  con- 
structed a  flat-boat,  on  which  they  floated  down  Middle  Island  Creek  to 
the  Ohio  River,  thence  to  Cincinnati,  came  by  canal  to  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
and  from  there  wagons  conveyed  them  to  their  destination  in  Henry 
county,  three  or  four  miles  northwest  of  Knightstown.  A  little  more  than 
three  years  later  Daniel's  wife  died,  and  most  of  his  life  thereafter  was 
spent  with  several  of  his  children.  In  1852  he  went  to  Iowa  with  his 
son  Silas  and  other  relatives,  and  in  the  Autumn  of  1853  started  to 
return  to  Indiana,  but  died  at  the  home  of  his  nephew,  Hiram  Shinn, 
in  either  Knox  or  Mercer  county.  Illinois.  Daniel's  brother  Clement, 
who  moved  to  Carroll  county,  Indiana,  in  1853,  and  died  in  March,  1868, 
left  descendants,  who  are  now  found  in  Carroll,  Cass,  Howard  and 
Miami  counties. 

VI.  Hyiuan  Shinn,  eighth  child  of  Daniel  and  Mary,  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  West  Virginia,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Tyler 
county  and  later  to  Indiana.  As  a  young  man  he  worked  as  a  hired  hand 
in  the  timber,  cutting  cord  wood,  and  also  in  a  brick  yard,  being  very 
skillful  in  the  burning  of  brick  kilns.  On  December  31,  1837,  he  married 
Ann  Van  Buskirk.  Determined  to  have  a  home  of  their  own,  they  came 
to  Blackford  county  in  September,  1841,  locating  on  a  tract  which  he  had 
secured  from  the  government  three  years  before,  it  being  the  South 
half  of  the  North  East  quarter  section  of  land  in  the  county.  In  the 
midst  of  the  heavily  timbered  forest,  where  wild  deer  and  wild  turkey 
were  numerous  and  where  the  nights  were  often  made  hideous  by  the 
howling  of  wolves,  they  established  their  little  home  in  a  single  round  log 
cabin,  20x22  feet,  with  one  door  and  one  small  window,  a  puncheon  floor 
and  a  clapboard  roof  held  down  by  weighted  poles.  Water  for  domestic 
uses  was  carried  from  a  small  stream  forty  rods  distant,  across  the  line 
in  Jay  county.  By  the  incessant  labor  of  years  a  farm  was  reclaimed, 
and  it  was  the  family  home  for  forty-five  years.  In  November,  1886, 
Hyman  and  his  wife  came  to  Hartford  City,  and  there  spent  the  rest 
of  their  lives.  He  died  November  12,  1890,  and  his  wife  on  September 
14,  1891.  Their  last  resting  place  is  in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  cemetery  near 
Montpelier.  For  more  than  half  a  century  they  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  polities  Hyman  was  a  Republican. 

The  family  of  Hyman  and  wife  consisted  of  six  sons:  1.  Benjamin 
<:.  Shinn.  2.  William  Henry,  born  May  27.  1840,  died  February  13, 
1842.  3.  James  Lafayette,  born  May  13,  1843,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War  in  Company  K  of  the  Seventy-Fifth  Indiana  Regiment,  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  on  May  13,  1869,  at  Bluffton  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  McCleery,  and  they  made  their  home  in  Montpelier.  He 
became  postmaster  and  died  while  in  that  office  January  29,  1878. 
Their  three  children  were:  Charles  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years; 
Frederick  L.,  who  was  educated  at  Taylor  University,  Indiana  Univer- 
sity, Yale  University,  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  is  now  a  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  at  the  State  University  in  Eugene.  Oregon,  married 
in  1905,  Nora  G.  Laeey,  and  their  two  children  are  Helen  R.  and  Dalton 
L. ;  Marion  Pearl,  who  in  1901  married  Charles  L.  Watts  who  died  in 
1906,  and  she  now  resides  with  her  mother  in  Montpelier.  4.  John 
Marion,  born  June  22,  1845.  was  a  soldier  in  the  same  company  with 
his  brother,  and  died  April  24,  1863,  of  disease  of  the  lungs  contracted 
in  the  army.  5.  Oliver  Whitfield,  born  February  29,  1848,  married 
June  25.  1870,  Martha  Dawley.  and  had  eight  children: — Stella,  dying 
when  about  four  years  of  age;  Delia  and  Nellie,  twins;  an  infant  daugh- 
ter; Bertha;  Grace:  and  twin  son  and  daughter,  who  with  their  mother 
died  at  the  same  time,  and  all  three  were  buried  in  one  casket  in  October, 


284  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

1886.  For  his  second  wife  Oliver  W.  married  Jennie  Jenkins  on  January 
1,  1889,  and  their  eight  children  are:  Cora,  William  W.,  Hyman  H., 
Charles  W.,  Helen  G.,  Jessie  E.,  Elbert  B.  and  Chella  M.  *Of  these 
William  W.,  a  school  teacher,  is  dead,  and  all  the  other  members  of  the 
second  family  live  in  Oceana  county,  Michigan.  Of  the  four  living  chil- 
dren by  the  first  marriage,  Delia  married  Mint  Worth,  has  two  children 
and  lives  in  Wells  county,  Indiana ;  Bertha,  married  William  Bouse,  and 
has  four  living  children  and  two  deceased  and  lives  in  J  ay  county ;  Nellie, 
unmarried,  lives  in  Jay  county;  and  Grace  is  the  widow  of  William  H. 
Campbell.  6.  Thomas  Sylvester,  youngest  child  of  Hyman  and  Ann,  was 
born  December  11,  1853,  was  a  farmer  and  school  teacher,  died  August 
27,  1888,  and  on  April  28,  1875,  married  Esther  J.  Wells,  who  died 
February  16,  1887,  without  children. 

VI.  Darius  Shinn,  the  brother  next  older  than  Hyman,  came  with  his 
wife  and  oldest  child  from  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  to  Blackford  in  De- 
cember, 1841,  settling  on  land  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county. 
Darius  died  at  Montpelier  July  13,  1901,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
February  21,  1860.  Of  their  ten  children  four  are  living:  Sarah  J., 
widow  of  Jephthah  McDaniel,  of  Wells  county;  Cornelius  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  E.  Irey;  Mahala  A.,  who  married  James  F.  Dawley,  both 
Cornelius  and  Mahala  living  in  Jay  county ;  and  Charlotte  A.,  who  lives  in 
Grant  county.  The  five  deceased  children  are:  DanM  H.,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  Company  B,  Thirty-fourth  Indiana,  and  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hill ;  Silas  N.,  a  soldier  in  Company  K  of  the  Seventy- 
fifth  Indiana,  who  died  in  hospital  in  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  December, 
1862 ;  Philip  A. ;  Martha  A. ;  Mary  A.  Smith ;  and  Florence  E. 

VI.  About  1843  or  1844  two  sisters  of  Hyman,  Mary  Ann  and  Sabra, 
came  to  Blackford  county.  Mary  Ann  married  William  Burchard,  and 
of  their  family  four  children  are  living:  Harrison  J.,  in  Creston,  Iowa; 
John  M. ;  Sabra  J.  Bonge  and  Daniel  W.,  in  Hartford  City.  Sabra  Shinn 
married  Nathan  Ellsworth,  and  their  five  living  children  are :  Daniel  P., 
in  Lohrville,  Iowa  ;  Mary  E.  Drummond  in  Chicago ;  Electa  A.  Shull,  Miss 
Hannah  R.,  and  Icedora  Gibford. 

Mr.  Shinn  is  not  able  to  trace  his  ancestry  very  far  on  the  side  of 
his  paternal  grandmother.  His  great-grandfather,  Edward  Whiteman, 
was  born  in  1754  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married  and  had  quite  a 
family.  Coming  either  from  his  native  state  or  Maryland,  he  located 
in  Marion  county,  West  Virginia,  and  died  there  in  1828.  Several  of 
his  brothers  came  to  West  Virginia  about  the  same  time,  one  of  them, 
Amos,  dying  in  West  Virginia,  while  another,  named  Levi,  went  west 
in  1827,  and  still  another  was  Daniel,  who  served  as  a  captain  in  the  war 
of  1812,  went  to  Illinois  in  1829  and  died  in  1836  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four.  Daniel  Whiteman  married  Ann  Shinn,  a  sister  of  Rev.  Asa  Shinn, 
and  a  cousin  of  Daniel  Shinn.  Two  other  Whiteman  brothers,  Henry 
and  Jacob,  settled  near  Xenia,  Ohio,  in  1809. 

Edward  Whiteman  married  Elizabeth  Kyle,  widow  of  Anthony  Kyle. 
She  was  born  March  18,  1756,  and  died  near  Hartford  City,  August  24, 
1842.  Her  maiden  name  was  either  Hare  or  Cooper,  her  name  being 
Cooper  when  she  married  Kyle.  Of  the  Kyle  marriage  there  were  three 
children.  The  youngest,  Sarah,  married  Moses  Shinn,  brother  of  Daniel. 
Edward  and  Elizabeth  Whiteman  had  eight  children.  Abel  Whiteman 
married  Ruth  Bigler ;  Henry  married  her  sister,  Nancy  Bigler ;  and  Jona- 
than married  Maria  Catarina  Righter,  a  niece  of  Ruth  and  Nancy.  The 
daughters  of  the  family  married  as  follows :  Mary,  who  married  Daniel 
Shinn ;  Rachel,  who  married  Israel  Allen ;  Rebecca,  who  married  Joshua 
Allen,  brother  of  Israel ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Philip  Smell ;  and  Han- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        285 

nah.  who  married  his  brother,  Peter  Smell.  Philip  and  Peter  Smell 
were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mary  Sliinn,  wife  of  Daniel,  was  born 
May  14,  17S5,  and  died  in  November,  1833.  Edward  Whiteman  on 
coming  to  Virginia,  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  .Most,  if 
not  all.  of  the  family,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  more  remote  descend- 
ants, became  Methodists.  His  brother  Henry,  who  moved  out  to  Green 
county,  Ohio,  was  killed  by  the  railroad  cars  at  Bellefontaine  about 
1856.  Four  of  the  sons  were  Methodist  preachers;  Henry,  Jr.,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  minister  in  Ohio;  (Jeorge  C,  a  local  preacher  and 
a  pioneer  and  prominent  citizen  of  Jay  county.  Indiana,  and  also  serv- 
ing as  probate  judge  of  the  county  under  the  first  constitution  of  the 
state ;  Everett,  a  local  preacher  in  the  south  part  of  Wells  county.  ( M  her 
brothers  in  the  same  connection  were  Jacob,  who  resided  some  years  in 
Pennville.  Jay  county,  Samuel,  who  lived  there  some  years,  and  James. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  B.  G.  Shinn  was  Ann  Van  Buskirk.  The  family 
of  this  name  was  doubtless  descended  from  emigrants  who  were  natives 
of  Holland.  They  are  found  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  in 
some  places  retaining  the  original  name,  while  in  other  localities  the 
Van  has  been  dropped  leaving  the  name  Buskirk.  Ann  Van  Buskirk 's 
father  was  John,  and  little  is  known  of  him  except  that  he  had  a 
brother  named  Isaac.  John  was  probably  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  born  October  15,  1776.  He  married  Elizabeth  Welch  in  Virginia. 
He  died  about  1849,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  who  was  born  May  28, 
1776,  in  Northumberland  county,  Virginia,  died  in  1841.  During  all 
or  the  greater  portion  of  their  married  life  their  home  was  near  Pat- 
terson's Creek  in  what  was  then  the  western  portion  of  Hampshire 
county,  but  now  Mineral  county,  West  Virginia.  John  and  Elizabeth 
Van  Buskirk  had  ten  children  as  follows:  William,  born  July  14,  1803, 
married  Mary  Lovett  and  died  in  Henry  county.  Indiana,  after  a  resi- 
dence there  of  many  years:  Elijah,  born  February  8,  1805,  married 
Elizabeth  Mott,  and  lived  and  died  in  his  native  county;  a  son  that  died 
in  infancy:  Zaehariah,  born  August  18,  1808.  married  Sarah  McMinn, 
and  was  a  resident  of  Monticello,  Indiana;  Ann,  who  married  Hyman 
Shinn ;  Isaac,  born  in  August,  1813,  and  died  in  1832 ;  Benjamin,  born 
October  13,  1815,  married  Rebecca  Bailey,  and  moved  from  Henry 
county.  Indiana,  to  Missouri,  in  1852;  Susan,  born  June  5,  1817,  first 
married  a  Berkey  and  later  a  Reynolds,  and  lived  many  years  in  Monti- 
cello:  Sarah,  born  March  23,  1821,  married  Peter  Stahl,  their  home 
being  in  or  near  McConnellsville,  Ohio;  and  John,  who  went  to  Texas  and 
died  there  unmarried. 

The  following  brief  but  interesting  information  is  all  that  can  be 
found  concerning  the  Welch  connections  of  the  Shinn  family.  Isaac 
Welch  was  horn  in  1739.  and  in  1776  had  a  family  and  was  living  in 
Northumberland  county.  Virginia.  On  January  27,  1777,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  Captain  Thomas  Black- 
well's  Company  of  foot  in  the  Tenth  Virginia  Regiment.  About  Sep- 
tember. 1778,  he  was  transferred  to  .Colonel  John  Green's  Company  of 
foot  in  the  Sixth  Virginia  Regiment,  in  January.  1780.  was  transferred 
to  a  detachment  of  the  Second  Virginia  Brigade,  and  his  name  is  last 
borne  on  a  muster  roll  dated  January  28,  1780,  which  shows  expiration 
of  service  February  29.  of  that  year.  While  in  the  army  he  had  small- 
pox, and  with  another  victim  of  that  disease  was  quartered  in  a  log 
cabin  with  another  comrade  as  a  nurse.  The  theory  then  was  it  was 
certain  death  for  a  smallpox  patient  to  drink  cold  water.  One  day  the 
attendant  having  brought  a  bucket  of  water  from  the  spring  set  it  on 
the  floor  and  then  went  out;  Isaac  Welch  crawled  to  the   bucket   and 


286        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

drank  all  the  water  he  wanted.  The  other  patient,  though  extremely 
thirsty,  was  unable  to  perforin  this  act  of  insubordination.  The  sequel 
showed  that  the  companion  died,  while  Mr.  Welch  recovered.  He  was 
living  in  Hampshire  county,  West  Virginia,  in  1819,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  at  the  age  of  eighty  was  placed  on  the  pension  rolls  at 
the  rate  of  ninety-six  dollars  per  annum.  He  had  a  son  named  William 
who  lived  to  a  great  age  and  was  a  prominent  Methodist  local  preacher. 
Another  son,  named  Benjamin,  either  a  son  or  grandson  named  Dempsey ; 
a  daughter,  Elizabeth  Van  Buskirk;  a  daughter,  Rayner,  who  married 
Thomas  Hogan ;  Sarah,  who  married  Sylvester  Mott  and  was  the  mother 
of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Elijah  Van  Buskirk — completes  the  family  records 
so  far  as  known. 

VII.  With  such  a  lineage  of  ancestors  Benjamin  G.  Shinn  was  born  in 
Dublin,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  October  20,  1838,  and  in  September, 
1841,  his  parents  brought  him  to  Blackford  county.  His  childhood 
home  was  a  one-story  round  log  cabin,  with  a  large  fire-place  in  the 
west  end,  built  outside  of  the  house  about  seven  feet  high,  the  outside 
being  made  of  puncheons,  inside  of  which  the  back  wall  and  jambs  were 
made  of  dry  earth,  solidly  packed,  above  which  structure  rose  the  chim- 
ney extending  a  little  above  the  comb  of  the  roof,  made  out  of  lath 
rived  out  of  oak  bolts,  and  laid  up  in  mortar  made  of  mud  plastered 
inside  to  prevent  it  taking  fire.  The  roof  was  of  clapboards  held  in 
place  by  weight  poles,  as  nails  were  a  luxury  not  obtainable.  The  fioor 
was  of  boards  called  puncheons,  split  out  of  logs,  then  hewed  on  one  side 
and  laid  smooth  side  up  on  log  sleepers.  There  was  a  single  door  on 
the  south  side  and  a  single  window  on  the  north  with  but  one  sash 
containing  six  8x10  panes  of  glass.  This  single  room  supplied  all  the 
purposes  of  parlor,  sitting  room,  sleeping  room,  washing  room,  dining 
room  and  kitchen.  When  this  pioneer  family  began  life  there  their 
cabin  was  the  only  house  that  had  been  built  on  that  section  of  land, 
and  one  or  two  acres  of  ground  had  been  partially  cleared  off.  About 
five  months  after  they  came,  William  Henry,  the  youngest  child,  sick- 
ened and  died,  and  the  funeral  cortege  of  six  or  seven  persons  wended 
its  way  on  horseback  through  the  almost  continuous  forest  to  the  bury- 
ing ground  at  Camden  (now  Pennville)  in  Jay  county,  one  of  the  party 
carrying  the  coffin  containing  the  body  in  front  of  him  on  the  horse  for 
the  entire  distance  of  seven  or  eight  miles. 

While  a  small  boy  Mr.  Shinn  spent  many  days  alone  in  the  wild  woods 
near  the  home,  amusing  himself  by  cutting  or  hacking  down  small  bushes 
with  his  father's  ax.  During  the  winter  seasons,  when  he  was  five  or 
six  years  of  age,  he  spent  his  time  in  looking  through  the  books  of  the 
library,  which  consisted  of  a  bible,  a  Methodist  hymn  book  and  Weem's 
Life  of  Washington,  in  which  he  learned  the  letters  of  the  alphabet,  and 
was  also  employed  in  playing  with  and  taking  care  of  his  baby  brother, 
James  L.,  while  his  mother  wove  flannel,  jeans  or  linsey  cloth  on  an  old- 
fashioned  hand  loom.  As  he  grew  in  years  and  strength  his  youthful 
days  were  given  to  the  ceaseless  round  of  toil  that  attends  life  in  a  coun- 
try new  and  undeveloped  and  assisting  his  father  to  clear  away  the  heavy 
growth  of  timber  and  in  planting  and  cultivating  the  crops  among  the 
stumps  and  roots  of  newly  cleared  ground.  The  winter  after  he  was 
seven  years  old  he  attended  his  first  school  in  a  log  school  house  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  his  home,  taught  by  Oscar  B.  Boon,  a  young  and  well 
educated  Yankee  who  had  recently  come  from  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  Boon  afterwards  became  and  continued  for  many  years  the  leading 
merchant  of  Montpelier,  and  in  that  community  was  the  leading  spirit 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  287 

in  Republican  politics  and  in  the  temperance  reform.  As  Long  as  he 
lived  a  liquor  saloon  could  not  be  successfully  maintained  in  Montpelier. 

Until  his  eighteenth  year  Mr.  Shinn  attended  the  district  schools  in 
his  neighborhood  during  the  winter  seasons,  the  terms  ranging  in  length 
from  two  and  one-half  to  three  months.  In  the  winter  of  1856  57  be 
taught  his  first  term.  In  October,  18.">7,  he  entered  Liber  College  near 
Portland,  Indiana,  and  pursued  his  studies  for  a  single  term  of  sixteen 
weeks.  In  September,  1859,  he  became  a  student  of  Indiana  Asbury 
University  at  Greeneastle,  Indiana,  taking  the  classical  course.  His 
school  career  continued  there  until  the  latter  part  of  April,  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  in  a  company  made  up  largely  of  students  under  the  call 
for  soldiers  for  three  months.  The  company  went  to  Camp  .Morton  at 
Indianapolis,  remained  eighty  days,  and  the  state's  quota  having  been 
tilled  up  before  this  company  was  reached,  it  was  sent  back  to  Green- 
castle.  Mr.  Shinn  then  went  home  and  in  August  of  that  year  again 
enlisted,  .joining  Company  B  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Indiana  Infantry. 
On  the  organization  he  was  elected  second  lieutenant.  A  protracted  and 
serious  illness  compelled  him  to  resign  in  November,  and  he  went  with 
his  regiment  no  farther  than  Camp  Jo  Holt  at  Jeffersonville.  Mr.  Shinn 
returned  to  college  for  the  spring  term  of  1862,  and  that  completed  his 
career  as  a  student.  In  the  spring  of  1863  a  company  of  state  militia  was 
raised  and  organized  at  Montpelier,  known  as  the  Indiana  Rangers,  of 
which  Mr.  Shinn  was  elected  and  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  and  soon 
afterwards  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  serving  until  early  in  May,  1864. 
Then  he  made  his  third  attempt  to  enter  the  army,  this  time  recruiting 
a  squad  of  fifteen  men  which  became  a  part  of  Captain  B.  P.  Webb's 
Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry.  In  that 
regiment  he  was  orderly  sergeant,  and  the  command  was  employed  in 
guarding  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad  during  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  That  railroad  was  a  line  of  great  importance,  since  all  the 
supplies  for  General  Sherman's  army  were  transported  in  this  way.  and 
it  was  indispensable  that  the  line  should  be  protected  and  kept  open.  The 
regiment  was  called  out  for  one  hundred  days,  but  was  in  the  service 
five  months. 

Early  in  1865  Mr.  Shinn  decided  to  enter  the  legal  profession  and 
on  April  14  removed  from  the  farm  to  Bluffton.  Indiana,  and  began  study 
in  the  office  of  Hon.  Edwin  R.  "Wilson,  a  prominent  attorney  who  had 
just  completed  his  term  as  judge  of  the  judicial  circuit  embracing  a 
number  of  counties  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  state.  In  1S67  came 
his  admission  to  the  bar  before  Judge  Borden,  and  in  establishing  his 
practice  he  met  and  experienced  the  usual  difficulties  and  discourage- 
ments of  the  tyro  in  this  profession.  During  the  six  years  of  residence 
in  Bluffton  he  taught  six  terms  of  school,  and  by  this  means  and  the  prac- 
tice of  rigid  economy  on  the  part  of  himself  and  wife  managed  to  live 
and  support  his  family.  While  at  Bluffton  Mr.  Shinn  was  one  year  in 
partnership  with  Dwight  Klinck,  a  public  speaker  of  prominence  who 
had  won  an  enviable  distinction  as  a  republican  political  orator  in  the 
campaign  of  1860,  being  known  as  the  "New  York  boy."  Afterward 
for  a  period  of  two  years  Mr.  Shinn  had  as  a  partner  J.  J.  Todd,  a 
successful  attorney  of  Wells  county. 

On  coming  to  Hartford  City  in  April.  1871,  a  partnership  was 
formed  with  Michael  Frash.  which  lasted  two  years,  and  from  the  end 
of  that  time  until  1881  Mr.  Shinn  practiced  alone.  In  the  latter  year 
John  Noonan  became  his  partner,  and  they  were  associated  until  the 
close  of  1883.  when  Mr.  Noonan  located  in  Colorado.     After  an  interim 


288  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  individual  practice,  engaged  in  a  successful  business  in  the  courts 
of  Blackford  and  adjoining  counties,  Mr.  Shinn  from  July  1,  1885,  to 
December  1,  1892,  was  head  of  the  firm  of  Shinn  &  Pierce,  one  of  the 
leading  legal  combinations  in  Hartford  City  in  that  time,  both  its  mem- 
bers being  recognized  as  able  and  successful  lawyers.  Then  for  nearly 
four  years  Mr.  Shinn  was  again  alone,  and  in  1896  his  son  Eugene  M. 
Shinn  entered  the  office  as  a  partner,  and  continued  a  few  years  until 
entering  the  mail  service  in  Hartford  City.  Mr.  Shinn,  on  account  of 
the  infirmities  of  age,  has  relinquished  active  litigation  work,  but  still 
maintains  an  office  and  attends  to  probate  work,  conveyancing,  drawing 
wills,  examining  titles  and  making  abstracts  and  general  pension  work. 
He  has  no  inclination  to  take  membership  in  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Loafers.  ' 

While  a  resident  of  Bluffton  Mr.  Shinn  served  two  years  as  deputy 
collector  of  Internal  Revenue  under  Hon.  John  F.  Wildman,  who  was 
collector  for  the  old  eleventh  congressional  district.  In  1868  he  was 
drafted  to  make  the  race  on  the  republican  ticket  for  representative 
from  the  counties  of  Wells  and  Adams,  but  failed  of  election  because 
the  district  was  a  democratic  stronghold.  When  Hartford  City  had  a 
town  organization  and  government  he  served  for  a  time  by  appointment 
as  treasurer  and  afterwards  as  clerk  of  the  town,  and  for  some  years 
was  adviser  of  the  town  trustees  on  legal  matters.  From  1876  to  1879 
he  had  a  term  of  three  years  as  school  trustee  of  the  town.  When  in 
1894  the  town  became  incorporated  as  a  city,  he  was  appointed  first  city 
attorney,  and  the  duties  of  that  position  were  performed  by  him  with 
fidelity  and  care  for  four  years  and  two  months.  The  unanimous  nomi- 
nation of  his  party  was  given  him  in  1878  for  the  office  of  joint  senator 
from  the  counties  of  Grant,  Blackford  and  Jay,  but  the  greenback  ticket 
cut  in  so  heavily  on  the  republican  strength  that  he  again  suffered  defeat, 
although  leading  the  state  ticket  by  a  small  number  of  votes. 

Mr.  Shinn  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  republican  party. 
Though  a  boy  of  fifteen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  he  took  a  great  interest 
in  the  great  national  struggle  in  the  early  part  of  1854,  which  resulted 
in  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  and  the  repeal  of  the  essential 
features  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  measure.  Being  opposed  to  the 
idea  of  human  bondage  and  the  enslavement  of  men,  women  and  children, 
the  only  place  he  could  consistently  occupy  in  the  political  field  was  in 
the  republican  party.  Mr.  Shinn  is  proud  of  the  honor  of  having  twice 
voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  president.  While  always  heartily  in  ac- 
cord with  the  positive  and  leading  ideas  and  principles  of  this  political 
organization,  he  has  never  been  a  bitter  or  offensive  partisan.  He  has 
no  sympathy  with  the  narrow-minded  and  bigoted  partisanship  which 
claims  that  all  the  patriotism  and  political  virtue  in  the  country  are 
concentrated  in  any  one  political  organization.  His  qualities  as  a  safe 
and  vigilant  manager  were  recognized  by  his  associates  in  his  choice  as 
chairman  of  the  county  central  committee  in  the  campaigns  of  1876, 
1884, 18S6  and  1888,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  personal  satisfaction  that  the 
majority  adverse  to  his  party  were  regularly  reduced  during  those  years. 
In  1896  he  was  a  presidential  elector  for  the  eighth  congressional  district 
of  Indiana,  and  cast  one  of  the  fifteen  electoral  votes  of  the  state  for 
McKinley  and  Hobart. 

For  more  than  sixty  years  Mr.  Shinn  has  been  a  firm  advocate  of 
the  doctrine  of  total  abstinence  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a 
beverage,  and  has  been  in  favor  of  the  legal  prohibition  of  the  liquor 
traffic.     About  1906  he  reached  the  conclusion  that  he  had  waited  long 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        289 

enough  for  the  Republican  party  to  assume  a  position  of  at  Least  moderate 
hostility  to  the  license  system,  and  decided  thenceforward  to  make  his 
vote  and  political  aetion  a  protest  against  the  state  and  national  com- 
plicity in  the  liquor  business.  As  a  partisan  he  is  not  censorious  or 
intolerant,  but  pursues  the  line  of  conduct  dictated  by  his  conscience 
"with  malice  toward  none:  with  charity  for  all." 

For  sonic  years  past  Mr.  Shinn  has  given  some  time  and  attention  to 
the  history  of  Blackford  county  and  of  the  section  of  Indiana  of  which 
it  forms  a  part.  In  1893  be  prepared  a  compendium  of  the  bistorj  of 
Blackford  county  which  was  deposited  in  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
court  house  in  November  of  that  year.  In  the  year  1900  he  produced 
a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  county  from  its  organization  until  that 
time,  and  this  sketch,  covering  about  sixty  pages,  is  in  a  volume  entitled 
"Biographical  Memoirs  of  Blackford  County,"  published  by  the  Bowen 
Publishing  Company. 

Mr.  Shinn  was  married  in  Nottingham  township.  Wells  county,  India- 
na, October  30,  18b'2,  to  Emily  Jane  Harris,  who  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship .March  28,  ls-14.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Ann 
Harris,  the  former  a  native  of  Carroll  and  the  latter  of  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  au  infant,  and  her  father  when 
she  was  five  years  old.  She  was  reared  and  until  her  marriage  lived 
with  her  grandparents  John  and  Prudence  Dawson.  Jonathan  Harris 
was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Harris,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  married 
Asenath  Whitaker.  Jonathan,  who  was  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  twelve 
or  thirteen  children,  married  Mary  Ann  Dawson  in  Wells  county.  Of 
their  two  children.  Wellington,  died  in  infancy,  and  the  second  was 
Emily  Jane.  The  Dawson  family  is  of  Irish  descent.  Thomas  Dawson, 
born  in  Ireland,  was  determined  to  join  the  army.  He  enlisted  nine 
times.  His  father  bought  him  off  eight  times,  and  only  at  the  ninth 
attempt  was  he  allowed  to  remain.  He  came  to  America  with  the  Brit- 
ish army  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  never  returned  to  his 
native  land  and  nothing  is  known  of  bis  relatives  there.  His  two  sons, 
John  and  Robert,  it  is  believed  were  born  in  Maiyland.  John  served  a 
brief  term  in  the  army  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  with  the  American 
troops  about  Washington  when  that  city  was  captured  by  the  British. 
John  Dawson  married  for  his  first  wife  Jane  Travis,  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  ^  Wilson)  Travis.  The  four  children  born  of  this  mar- 
riage were :  Mary  Ann,  mother  of  Mrs.  Shinn ;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Hezekiah  Hopkins;  George  W.  and  Albert  H.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  John  Dawson  married  her  sister  Prudence  Travis,  and  their 
one  child,  Sarah  J.,  married  Buuyan  J.  Wells,  and  they  now  live  on 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead  of  her  parents  in  Wells  county,  where  they 
made  settlement  in  1838. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shinn  became  the  parents  of  three  children.  The 
oldest,  Orlando  Milton,  born  on  a  farm  in  Wells  county,  December  4, 
1864,  married  Annie  L.  Patterson,  daughter  of  Sidney  R.  and  Charlotte 
L.  (Case)  Patterson  in  1887.  For  several  years  he  was  employed  as 
clerk  in  a  grocery  and  dry  goods  house  and  for  a  few  years  was  a 
grocery  merchant.  In  later  years  he  has  been  employed  at  the  Hiatt 
livery,  feed  and  transfer  establishment  at  Hartford  City.  Orlando  M. 
Shinn  has  two  daughters:  Florence,  horn  March  5.  1888,  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Detroit,  Michigan;  and  Marjorie.  horn  July  23,  1890,  the  wife 
of  George  Rapp,  Jr.,  of  Hartford  City,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Charlotte  Ann  and  George  Robert.  The  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shinn  is  Elmer  Ellsworth,  born  at  Bluffton  August  26,  1866.  and  has  been 


290        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

for  more  than  twenty  years  successfully  engaged  in  the  news  and  periodi- 
cal business  and  for  several  years  past  in  the  drug  business,  being  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Shinn  &  Sowers,  with  a  store  on  the  north  side 
of  the  public  square  at  Hartford  City.  Elmer  E.  Shinn  married  Novem- 
ber 17,  1895,  Isabelle,  daughter  of  Abiram  and  Nancy  (Ward)  Johnson. 
The  youngest  son  of  Mr.  Shinn  is  Eugene  Melville,  born  at  Bluft'ton 
August  15,  1868.  After  an  education  in  the  city  schools  at  home  and 
one  year  in  De  Pauw  University,  and  subsequently  a  brief  commercial 
course  in  the  Normal  school  at  Valparaiso,  he  was  for  some  years  in 
early  life  a  news  dealer,  afterwards  held  a  clerical  position  with  the 
Mercer  Lumber  Company,  and  then  took  up  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
law  did  not  satisfy  him,  and  from  that  work  he  entered  the  mail  service 
and  was  one  of  the  first  mail  carriers  in  Hartford  City.  For  several 
years  past  he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad  Company, 
as  clerk  in  the  company's  offices  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  married  May 
30,  1897,  Miss  Elsie  May  Sprague,  daughter  of  Andrew  M.  and  Catharine 
(Bell)  Sprague.  Their  three  children  are:  Emily  Catharine,  born  April 
18,  1898 ;  Dorothy  Elizabeth,  born  July  17,  1903 ;  and  Mary  Esther,  born 
May  26,  1905. 

Mrs.  Emily  J.  Shinn  departed  this  life  April  21,  1897,  and  her 
body  now  rests  in  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  cemetery,  a  short  distance  east  of 
Hartford  City.  For  about  twenty-eight  years  she  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church,  and  was  known  and  admired  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  wherever  has  been  her  home.  Her  home  and  its  interests 
received  her  first  and  principal  attention,  and  she  nobly  aided  her 
husband  in  his  life  work,  and  not  a  little  of  the  success  he  has  achieved 
is  due  to  her  wise  counsel  and  unselfish  devotion. 

On  May  22,  1898,  Mr.  Shinn  married  in  Hartford  City  Mrs.  Louise 
Baechler,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  Baechler,  who  died  in  August, 
1890,  having  for  the  previous  two  and  a  half  years  been  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Hartford  City.  Mrs.  Shinn  is  a  woman  of  intelli- 
gence and  refinement  and  sincere  piety,  and  her  companionship  is  an 
honor  to  the  man  she  accepted  as  a  partner  in  the  journey  and  conflicts 
of  mortal  existence.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  Posey  and  Mary  Ann 
Wilson,  and  was  born  in  Somerset,  Ohio,  September  19,  1843.  John 
P.  Wilson,  who  was  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  was  the  son  of 
Zadok  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  of  Elizabeth  (Stewart) 
Wilson,  a  native  of  Maryland.  Mrs.  Shinn 's  mother,  Mary  Ann  Wilson, 
was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio.  Her  father,  Andrew  Hughes,  who  was 
a  cousin  to  Archbishop  John  Hughes,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  married 
his  first  wife  there,  who  died  after  coming  to  America.  Andrew  married 
for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Roberts,  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Shinn 
and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Shinn  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  siiK'e 
April  1,  1855.  He  has  held  positions  in  that  church  as  local  preacher, 
class  leader,  trustee  and  Sunday  school  superintendent,  and  has  repre- 
sented the  local  church  a  number  of  times  in  the  lay  electoral  conference, 
and  was  three  times  chosen  as  a  reserve  delegate  to  the  general  conference. 

He  has  forty  years'  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  local  lodge 
for  several  years  took  an  active  interest  in  the  care  and  maintenance  of 
its  beautiful  cemetery  near  the  city.  He  is  also  an  honorary  member 
of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  Mr.  Shinn  is  a 
leading  member  of  the  local  G.  A.  R.  Post,  has  served  it  for  several  years 
as  commander,  chaplain  and  adjutant,  and  has  been  three  times  chosen 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES        291 

as  a  delegate  from  the  Department  of  Indiana  to  National  Encampment. 
When  Mr.  Shinn  entered  his  Life  work  lie  determined  that  his  profes- 
sional career  should  be  characterized  by  integrity  and  honorable  deal- 
ings. As  a  counselor  he  is  careful  and  conscientious,  having  an  eye 
single  to  the  liest  interests  of  his  clients,  and  in  not  a  few  instances  he 
has,  at  the  sacrifice  of  a  fee  dissuaded  those  who  sought  his  advice  from 
embarking  in  uncertain  litigation.  Upon  the  assumption  that  a  lawyer's 
province  is  to  win  his  case  at  every  hazard  aud  regardless  of  the  methods 
employed,  large  numbers  of  persons  have  declared  that  he  was  too 
honest  to  make  a  successful  practitioner.  He  believes  that  human  eon- 
duct  should  conform  to  the  rule  that  "all  things  whatsoever  ye  would 
that  men  should  do  to  you.  do  ye  even  so  to  them."'  11  is  endeavor  is 
to  be  able  to  say  as  did  Paul,  •"herein  do  I  exercise  myself,  to  have  al- 
ways a  conscience  void  of  offense  toward  God  and  toward  men."  Mr. 
Shinn  believes  in  a  single  standard  of  virtue  and  morality,  and  in  equal 
civil  and  political  rights  for  all  mankind  and  all  womankind. 

Colonel  John  L.  McCulloch.  Valiant,  self-reliant  and  endowed 
with  great  circumspection  and  constructive  ability,  Colonel  McCulloch 
has  proved  one  of  the  most  influential  and  resourceful  powers  in  the 
civic  and  industrial  progress  of  the  city  of  Marion,  the  beautiful  and 
thriving  capital  and  metropolis  of  Grant  county.  His  character  is  the 
positive  expression  of  a  noble  and  loyal  nature  and  he  holds  by  just 
deserts  an  inviolable  place  in  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  Indiana  and  a  scion  of  a  family  whose  name  has  been 
worthily  linked  with  the  history  of  this  state  for  considerably  more 
than  half  a  century.  Through  energy,  strong  initiative  and  sterling 
integrity  of  purpose  he  has  gained  definite  precedence  as  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  affairs  in  his  native  state,  and,  further 
than  this,  he  has  been  significantly  prominent  in  connection  with  civic 
activities  representing  the  higher  ideals  in  the  scheme  of  human  thought 
and  action.  He  is  one  of  the  most  honored  Indiana  affiliates  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  the  distinction  of  having  received 
the  thirty-third  and  maximum  degree  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite,  and  he  has  done  much  to  foster  the  interests  of  the  great  fraternal 
order  in  his  state,  especially  in  his  home  city.  He  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  military  staff  of  the  governor  of  Indiana,  with  the  rank 
of  Colonel;  he  is  one  of  the  representative  bankers  of  the  state,  as 
president  of  the  Marion  National  Bank;  and  he  has  been  the  liberal 
and  progressive  citizen  to  whom  is  mainly  due  the  development  and 
upbuilding  of  a  number  of  the  most  important  industrial  enterprises 
that  contribute  to  the  commercial  precedence  and  material  and  civic 
prosperity  of  Marion.  The  foregoing  brief  statements  indicate  fully 
that  in  any  history  of  Grant  county  it  is  imperative  to  accord  definite 
tribute  to  Colonel  McCulloch,  and  thus  a  review  of  his  career  is  given 
in  this  publication,  with  all  of  appreciation  and  with  marked  satisfaction. 

Of  the  staunchest  of  Scotch  and  Swiss  lineage,  Colonel  John  Lewis 
McCulloch  has  given  evidence  of  possessing  the  sterling  traits  of  char- 
acter that  most  significantly  designate  the  races  from  which  he  is  sprung, 
and  he  takes  a  due  amount  of  pride  in  reverting  to  the  fine  old  Hoosier 
commonwealth  as  the  place  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  near  Vevay, 
Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1858,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Louisa  (Weaver)  McCulloch,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Scotland  and  the  latter  in  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  fine  families  that  early  founded  the  Swiss 


292        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

eoloiiy  in  that  comity.  The  father  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  career  to  mercantile  pursuits  and  was  long  numbered  among 
the  representative  and  influential  citizens  of  Switzerland  county,  both 
he  and  his  wife  having  continued  to  reside  at  Vevay  until  their  death. 
Of  their  ten  children  four  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 

Colonel  McCulloch  continued  to  attend  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum  of  the  high  school, 
and  this  discipline  was  supplemented  by  a  short  course  of  study  in 
Wabash  College,  at  Crawfordsville.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
put  his  scholastic  attainments  to  practical  test  and  utilization,  by  turn- 
ing his  attention  to  the  pedagogic  profession,  in  which  he  was  a  success- 
ful teacher  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county  for  two  years. 
Thereafter  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  hardware  store  at  Frankfort, 
Clinton  county,  for  one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  gained 
further  and  valuable  business  experience  by  assuming  the  position  of 
bookkeeper  for  the  Southern  Glass  Works,  in  the  city  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  where  he  remained  four  years.  He  then  went  to  the  city 
of  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  where  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  North 
Wheeling  Glass  Company,  for  which  corporation  he  later  became  gen- 
eral salesman.  After  serving  five  years  as  one  of  the  valued  attaches 
of  this  company  Mr.  McCulloch  returned  to  Indiana,  and  the  spring 
of  1888  marked  his  arrival  in  the  city  of  Marion,  where  he  became 
the  promoter  and  organizer  of  the  Marion  Fruit  Jar  &  Bottle  Com- 
pany. He  individually  held  two-thirds  of  the  stock  of  the  new  company 
and  became  its  president  and  treasurer.  Through  his  previous  expe- 
rience in  connection  with  the  glass-manufacturing  industry  he  had 
gained  substantial  knowledge  of  the  details  of  this  line  of  enterprise 
and  thus  was  well  fortified  in  the  initiating  of  the  new  manufactory  in 
Marion.  Operations  were  instituted  on  a  modest  scale,  with  an  invest- 
ment of  only  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  under  his  aggressive  and 
resourceful  administration  the  industry  rapidly  expanded  in  scope  and 
importance,  until  the  company  became  the  second  largest  fruit-jar 
manufacturers  in  the  entire  United  States,  with  branch  factories  at 
Converse  and  Fairmount,  this  state,  and  at  Coffeyville,  Kansas.  The 
discovery  of  natural  gas  in  Indiana  greatly  spurred  manufacturing  in 
this  state,  as  history  fully  records,  and  in  this  connection  the  Marion 
Fruit  Jar  &  Bottle  Company  effected  large  leases  of  gas  and  oil  land 
in  Indiana  and  other  states.  After  the  supply  of  gas  began  to  wane 
these  lands  proved  to  be  very  valuable  in  the  production  of  oil,  and 
it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  the  Marion  company  mentioned  drilled 
about  one  hundred  oil  wells  which  proved  very  profitable  in  their 
output.  In  1904  the  manufacturing  business,  which  had  grown  to 
extensive  proportions,  was  sold  to  the  only  other  company  which  had 
been  a  large  competitor.  Colonel  McCulloch  had  been  indefatigable 
in  his  labors  and  other  incidental  activities  in  connection  with  the 
great  industry  built  up  under  his  direction,  and  the  sale  of  the  business 
was  prompted  largely  by  his  desire  to  obtain  relaxation  from  the  mani- 
fold cares  and  exactions  involved.  He  sought  and  found  a  much  needed 
rest,  and  he  found  special  pleasure  and  recreation  through  two  years 
of  extensive  travel,  in  company  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  They 
not  only  visited  the  various  sections  of  the  United  States  but  also 
sojourned  in  Mexico  and  made  a  trip  around  the  world, — starting 
from  San  Francisco,  and  returning  home  by  way  of  New  York  city. 
They  visited  all  of  the  countries  of  the  Old  World  and  the  pleasures 
and  profits  gained  have  proved  of  abiding  order. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  ('(UNTIES  293 

When,  in  1905,  the  Marion  National  Bank  was  reorganized,  Colonel 
McCulloch  became  a  prominent  figure  in  the  institution,  as  the  owner 
of  one-fourth  of  its  stock,  and  one  year  after  its  incorporation  under 
the  new  regime  he  was  elected  its  president.  He  has  since  continued 
as  the  chief  executive  of  this  strong  and  representative  bank,  and  its 
interests  have  been  signally  advanced  under  his  wise  and  conservative 
direction,  the  bank  being  now  the  most  important  in  Grant  county,  in 
the  matter  of  solidity  and  extent  of  business  controlled,  even  as  ii  is  also 
one  of  the  strongest  and  most  popular  in  central  Indiana.  Colonel 
McCulloch  has  shown  special  predilection  for  and  ability  in  the  bank- 
ing business  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  representative  figures  in  con- 
nection with  financial  affairs  in  his  native  state,  the  while  he  has  a 
wide  acquaintanceship  among  the  leading'  capitalists  and  financiers  of 
the  country,  especially  those  of  Chicago  and  New  York  city.  Never 
swerving  in  the  least  from  the  highest  principles  of  integrity  and  honor, 
he  is  an  exponent  of  the  best  element  in  financial  circles,  and  his  influ- 
ence in  this  connection  has  been  both  fruitful  and  benignant.  Ee  has 
held  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  in  the  Indiana  Bankers'  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  is  president  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1913,  and 
he  is  also  a.  valued  member  of  the  American  Bankers'  Association,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  vice-president  for  Indiana. 

Deeply  appreciative  of  the  many  attractions  and  superior  advan- 
tages of  his  home  city.  Colonel  McCulloch  has  been  most  aggressive  and 
influential  in  the  furthering  of  "measures  and  enterprises  tending  to 
advance  the  civic  and  industrial  progress  and  prosperity  of  Marion, 
and  in  this  connection  his  fine  initiative  and  executive  powers  have 
come  into  effective  play.  In  the  year  1900  he  became  one  of  the  inter- 
ested principals  in  the  Marion  Paper  Company,  and  for  several  years 
past  he  has  been  the  owner  of  three-eighths  interest  in  its  capital  stock, 
and  vice  president  and  secretary  of  the  company.  This  corporation 
represents  one  of  the  most  important  and  successful  industrial  enter- 
prises in  this  part  of  the  state,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it  is  to-day 
the  largest  patron  of  the  railroads  entering  Marion,  where  it  ships  in 
and  out  a  greater  freight  tonnage  than  does  any  other  manufacturing 
concern  in  Marion.  The  company  manufactures  paper-box  board,  and 
its  trade  is  not  only  of  the  most  substantial  order  but  is  also  widely 
disseminated. 

In  politics  Colonel  McCulloch  has  been  found  arrayed  as  a  staunch 
supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party,  with  well  fortified 
opinions  concerning  matters  of  governmental  and  economic  import,  but 
he  has  been  essentially  a  business  man  and  had  no  desire  to  enter  the 
turbulent  stream  of  so-called  practical  politics,  though  one  preferment 
of  incidental  order  has  been  his,  that  of  colonel  on  the  military  staff  of 
Governor  Hanley.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  address  and  unvarying  courtesy 
and  consideration,  is  genial  and  tolerant,  and  is  by  nature  and  voluntary 
determination  a  distinct  optimist.  He  is  appreciative  of  his  steward- 
ship and  in  an  unassuming  way  has  given  ready  aid  to  those  in  affliction 
and  distress,  so  that  there  are  ample  reasons  for  his  being  held  in 
unequivocal  confidence  and  esteem  by  all  who  know  him.  He  and 
his  wife  are  active  and  liberal  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church; 
he  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and 
not  only  holds  membership  in  the  Marion  Country  Club  and  the 
Marion  Golf  Club  and  has  been  president  of  both,  but  has  also  been 
for  a  number  of  years  a  valued  member  of  the  Commercial  and  Marion 
Clubs  of  Indianapolis,  these  being  representative  organizations  of  the 
capital  of  the  state. 


294        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

In  the  Masonic  fraternity  Colonel  McCulloch  has  been  specially 
prominent  and  influential  in  his  native  state,  and  he  has  been  a  clos'e 
and  appreciative  student  of  the  history  and  teachings  of  this  time- 
honored  fraternity.  He  is  one  of  the  seventy  representatives  in  Indiana 
who  have  been  distinguished  in  receiving  the  thirty-third  and  ultimate 
degree  in  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  of  Masonry,  and  he  is 
most  active  in  the  work  of  the  various  Masonic  bodies  with  which  he 
is  affiliated,  including  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  The  beautiful  new  Masonic  Temple  in  Marion  will 
reach  completion  about  April,  1913,  and  the  large  and  noble  benefac 
tions  of  Colonel  McCulloch  in  this  connection  demand  special  mention. 
From  an  article  published  in  a  Marion  paper  at  the  time  when  decisive 
action  was  being  instituted  in  connection  with  the  proposed  Masonic 
building  are  taken  the  following  extracts,  which  are  well  worthy  of 
preservation  in  this  article: 

"The  most  prominent  Mason  in  Marion  and  one  of  the  best  known 
in  Indiana  is  Colonel  John  L.  McCulloch,  president  of  the  Marion  Na- 
tional Bank.  It  has  been  largely  through  the  untiring  efforts  of  this 
representative  citizen  and  Mason  that  the  local  Masonic  bodies  will  soon 
be  housed  in  one  of  the  finest  Masonic  homes  in  the  state.  "When  the 
movement  for  a  new  temple  was  launched,  Colonel  McCulloch,  through 
his  great  business  ability  and  Masonic  enthusiasm,  was  made  its  leading 
spirit  and  was  voted  to  the  chairmanship  of  the  building  committee,  on 
which  he  has  admirably  and  successfully  served. 

"One  of  Colonel  McCulloch 's  fondest  hopes  was  to  see  a  Masonic 
temple  in  Marion, — a  temple  that  would  be  a  credit  to  the  city  and  the 
fraternity.  To  this  end  he  contributed  liberally  and  kept  in  close 
touch  with  the  work  of  raising  finances.  "When  $16,000  was  raised  by 
the  lodge  for  building  purposes  and  it  was  realized  that  this  would  be 
insufficient  to  defray  expenses  and  that  the  lodge  would  have  to  go 
in  debt  for  the  remainder,  Colonel  McCulloch  came  forward  and  sub- 
mitted a  proposition  which  certainly  attested  his  interest  and  enthu- 
siasm. Here  is  what  he  told  his  brethren  of  Samaritan  Lodge,  No. 
105,  Free  &  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee:  '"We  already 
have  raised  $16,000  by  subscription  and  we  figure  that  we  shall  need 
$28,000  more  to  construct  the  building  as  we  want  it.  We  can,  of 
course,  borrow  the  money  to  take  care  of  the  matter,  but  I  wrould  like 
to  have  the  building  dedicated  without  indebtedness.  I  want  every 
penny  of  the  indebtedness  provided  for  before  the  last  brick  is  laid. 
"We  yet  need  about  $28,000.  I  will  give  half  the  amount  if  the  lodge 
will  take  care  of  the  remaining  half.  My  money  will  be  ready  whenever 
the  lodge  raises  its  half.'  This  generous  offer  from  Colonel  McCulloch 
was  warmly  received  by  the  lodge,  and  thus  was  assured  the  splendid 
Masonic  temple  for  Marion." 

When  the  thirty-third  degree  was  conferred  upon  Colonel  McCul- 
loch, at  Saratoga,  New  York,  the  members  of  his  home  lodge  showed 
their  appreciation  of  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  him  by  presenting 
to  him  a  beautiful  ring  emblematic  of  the  degree  which  he  had  received. 
He  is  a  valued  member  of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  in  Marion  and  is 
influential  in  the  affairs  of  each. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1883,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Colonel 
McCulloch  to  Miss  Alice  Rebecca  Wilson,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky, — 
a  young  woman  of  gracious  presence  and  distinctive  culture  and  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  distinguished  families  of  Ken- 
tucky.    She   is  a   daughter  of  Wrood   and   Elizabeth    (Muir)    "Wilson, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        295 

both  of  Scotch  lineage  and  both  members  of  families  whose  names 
have  been  prominently  and  worthily  linked  with  the  annals  of  the 
state  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  McCulloch's  parents  are  both  dead,  having 
died  in  Louisville.  Kentucky,  about  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Her 
father  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Louisville,  and  during;  the  Civil 
war  the  "Wilson  home  in  Louisville  was  the  headcpiarters  for  everything 
identified  with  the  Union  cause,  as  the  family  had  two  sons  in  the 
Union  Army.  Immediately  after  their  marriage,  which  was  celebrated 
in  the  city  of  Louisville.  Colonel  and  Mrs.  McCulloeh  removed  to  Wheel- 
ing, West  Virginia,  and  there,  in  the  year  1884,  occurred  the  birth  of 
their  only  child,  Alice  Rebecca,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  George  Alfred 
Bell,  a  prominent  manufacturer  of  Marion,  their  marriage  having  been 
solemnized  in  1910.  Mrs.  Bell  has  been  a  resident  of  Marion  from 
her  childhood  days  and  is  one  of  the  leaders  and  most  popular  factors 
in  the  representative  social  activities  of  her  home  city,  besides  being 
well  known  in  the  social  circles  of  other  cities.  She  and  her  husband 
reside  with  her  parents  and  the  beautiful  home  is  a  center  of  gracious 
and  refined  hospitality. 

Dr.  Marshall  T.  Siiively.  One  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  city 
of  Marion,  Indiana,  and  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families 
of  the  state  of  Indiana,  Dr.  Marshall  T.  Shively  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful practitioners  in  Grant  county.  He  has  lived  in  Marion  all  of 
his  life  and  his  father  was  a  physician  in  this  city  before  him,  and  he 
has  well  sustained  the  reputation  of  his  family  for  ability  and  strong 
character. 

Dr.  Marshall  T.  Shively  was  born  in  Marion,  Indiana,  on  the  10th 
of  July,  1849.  the  son  of  Dr.  James  S.  and  Harriet  0.  (Marshall)  Shively. 
The  latter  was  a  daughter  of  Riley  Marshall,  who  was  the  grandfather 
of  Vice-president  Thomas  R.  Marshall.  Riley  Marshall  came  to  Grant 
county  and  settled  in  1829,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  section. 
Dr.  James  S.  Shively  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  having  been  born 
on  the  8th  of  April,  1813,  at  Morgantown,  West  Virginia,  which  at 
that  time  was  part  of  Virginia.  He  came  to  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
in  1836,  his  father  having  preceded  him  and  settled  in  Rush  county, 
Indiana.  James  S.  Shively  first  taught  school  and  then  read  medicine 
at  Newcastle,  Indiana.  After  his  preparation  was  complete  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Muncie.  Indiana,  remaining  there  for 
about  a  year.  In  April,  1S36,  he  came  to  Marion  and  here  began  to 
practice  medicine.  For  fifty-four  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Marion  and  he  became  a  prominent  physician  and 
one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was  well  known  for  his 
charity  and  for  the  broad  mindedness  of  his  views  in  the  days  when  this 
was  a  rare  virtue.  In  politics  he  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  was  always  an  active  member  of  his  party.  He  served  several 
terms  in  the  lower  house  of  the  Indiana  Legislature  and  in  1886  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Shively  Medical 
Bill,  the  first  practical  medical  bill  passed  in  the  state  of  Indiana.  He 
spent  a  long  and  useful  life  in  Marion,  dying  in  1893,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  His  wife  was  also  over  eighty  years  old  when  she  died 
on  May  28,  18^9.  Six  children  were  born  to  this  couple,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Those  yet  living  are  Mrs.  Terrie  E.  Johnson  of  Marion 
and  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Motter,  of  Marion,  in  addition  to  Dr.  Shively. 

Dr.  Marshall  T.  Shively  was  educated  as  a  boy  in  the  city  of  his  birth, 
attending  the  public  schools  and  taking  private  courses.     In   1872  he 


296  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1874.  He  began  to  practice  in  Marion  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  he  has  been  in  active  practice  here  ever  since. 
He  was  in  partnership  with  his  father  for  ten  years. 

Dr.  Shively  is  an  active  Democrat  but  he  has  never  cared  to  fill 
office,  although  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  state  central  committee. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Grant  County  Medical  Society  and  of  the  Indiana 
State  Medical  Society,  and  represented  this  district  at  the  Democratic 
National  Convention  at  Baltimore  in  1912. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1876,  Dr.  Shively  was  married  to  Miss  Zamora 
Bobbs,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  J.  and  Mary  Bobbs,  of  Marion.  The  doctor 
and  his  wife  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows: 
.Janics  II.  Shively  of  Houston,  Texas;  Mary  L.,  who  has  become  the  wife 
of  Elmer  De  Poy,  of  San  Antonio,  Texas;  Senator  Bernard  B.  Shively,  of 
Marion,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  is  included  in  this  work;  Thisbe.  who 
is  the  wife  of  Raymond  E.  Page,  of  Hornell,  New  York;  Miss  Lile 
Zamora  Shively,  Miss  Dorothea  Shively  and  Miss  Naedeine  Shively,  all 
of  whom  are  living  at  home.  Mrs.  Shively  died  on  the  9th  of  January, 
1910. 

Zamora  Bobbs  Shively  was  born  June  7,  1858,  in  Phillipsburg, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  She  was  the  eldest  of  two  daughters  of 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  A.  J.  Bobbs.  On  the  seventeenth  day  of  May,  1876, 
she  married  Doctor  Marshall  T.  Shively  of  Marion,  Indiana,  and  the 
couple  lived  happily  together  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Shivelv,  January 
9th,  1910. 

There  are  many  elements  in  human  nature  that  go  to  the  molding  of 
a  genuine  lady,  a  womanly  woman.  And  of  course  every  individual  has 
his  or  her  conception  of  just  what  these  elements  are  or  what  they  should 
be.  To  say  that  Mrs.  Shively  was  a  talented  woman  is  putting  it  mildly, 
since  she  was  in  fact  in  many  respects  a  remarkable  woman.  And  one 
of  the  most  complete  proofs  of  this  fact  was,  that  she  was  at  all  times 
a  strong  defender  of  her  sex.  She  believed  that  the  sphere  of  woman 
offered  abundant  opportunities  for  the  making  of  her  position  one  of 
importance  in  the  world. 

Mrs.  Shively 's  philosophy  of  life  was  not  drawn  from  what  the  public 
or  society  thought  or  suggested,  although  she  was  one  who  ever  respected 
public  opinion.  She  believed  that  the  rule  which  guided  society  was 
too  frequently  the  rale  deduced  from  a  false  vanity  that  did  not  admit 
the  broader,  humanitarian  view.  True,  Mrs.  Shively  was  in  all  respects 
an  individual.  She  was  a  character  to  those  by  whom  she  was  well 
known.  A  woman  of  active  mind,  of  marked  originality  and  talent. 
These  God  given  powers  which  were  so  much  a  part  of  her  nature  she 
did  not  get  to  pursue  during  her  marriage  life  with  her  ardour  that  she 
might  had  she  not  had  the  care  of  a  large  and  ambitious  family  to  look 
after.  But  she  did  manage  in  her  resourceful  way,  when  her  time  was 
not  occupied  with  looking  after  the  interests  of  her  children,  for  she 
was  essentially  at  all  times  the  mother,  faithful,  devoted  and  kind,  dur- 
ing her  early  married  life  to  pursue  her  love  for  art  and  wood  carving. 
And  she  has  left  her  family  some  lasting  legacies  in  oil  and  water  color 
and  specially  designed  furniture. 

In  later  years  prior  to  her  death  Mrs.  Shively  devoted  her  time  more 
closely  to  reading  and  studying  current  questions  and  literature,  biog- 
raphy and  ancient  and  modern  history.  The  writer  can  so  well  recall 
the  rapture  with  which  she  almost  devoured  the  works  of  Swedenborg, 
Lamartine,  Josephus  and  her  constant  companion,  the  Bible,  besides 
scores  of  other  ancient  masters  of  philosophy  and  literature. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        297 

While  not  a  club  woman  in  the  common  conception  of  society,  yet 
she  did  belong  to  several  but  took  the  deepest  interest  in  her  literary  club 
work,  in  which  capacity  she  read  several  papers  on  the  "Philosophy 
of  Life  and  the  Bible  as  Applied  to  Life,"  that  revealed  to  her  auditors 
masterful  attainments.  Other  and  more  elaborate  papers  on  the  same 
subjects  were  in  the  course  of  preparation  at  her  death  and  it  is  to  be 
hiiped  that  some  of  the  family  will  in  the  near  future  put  them  in  pub- 
lication for  the  use  of  the  public. 

Mrs.  Shively  never  sought  to  be  the  leader  of  any  social  set,  although 
she  had  her  friends  and  admired  genius  and  culture  wherever  found. 
In  her  entertainments  she  was  an  original  and  a  genial  hostess.  Her 
resourceful  mind,  ready  wit  and  charming  personality  won  for  her  the 
love  and  admiration  of  many  friends.  And  while  it  is  true  that  she 
loved  life,  and  loved  her  friends,  yet  she  was  not  devoted  to  the  narrow 
confines  and  limitations  of  society.  Her's  was  a  broader  field.  She 
lived  in  a  world,  in  part  within  herself,  because  she  ever  sought  the 
ideal.  A  woman  of  keen  perception,  she  wanted  humanity  to  also  see 
the  broader  view.  She  wanted  humanity  to  know  and  understand  more 
fully  the  handiwork  of  the  great  Maker.  She  believed  that  life  was  the 
best  worth  living  that  contributed  something  to  life,  however  small  it 
might  be.  She  ever  believed  that  man  was  too  much  depending  on  self, 
that  he  was  seeking  to  solve  his  own  destinies  when  those  destinies  were 
not  his  to  control  but  belonged  to  the  God  of  Life. 

Aside  from  her  family,  her  husband  and  her  books  she  loved  most 
the  charms  of  the  external  world,  from  which  she  gleaned  so  much  joy 
and  inspiration.  Her  love  of  life  sprung  from  what  life  had  to  her 
revealed.  The  sighing  forests,  the  meandering  streams,  hills,  mountains 
and  valleys  in  their  draperies  of  green,  these  she  would  have  humanity 
know  for  in  them  she  saw  God,  to  her  they  were  the  green  pastures, 
beside  the  silent  waters  over  which  the  Master  held  sway. 

John  M.  Wallace,  Sr.  From  the  date  of  its  organization  down  to 
the  present  time  Grant  county  has  been  continuously  honored  and  bene- 
fited by  the  presence  within  her  borders  of  the  Wallace  family.  In 
the  character  of  its  individual  members  and  in  their  public  services  no 
family  in  the  county  probably  has  been  more  distinguished  and  it  is 
impossible  to  estimate  the  strength  and  diversity  of  the  influences  which 
emanate  from  such  a  family  and  affect  the  social  and  business  affairs 
of  the  county  even  to  its  most  remote  bounds. 

A  representative  in  the  present  generation  of  this  well  known  old 
family.  John  M.  Wallace,  Sr.,  has  been  for  many  years  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Marion,  in  which  city  he  was  born  May  9,  1853.  His 
parents  were  John  M.  and  Mariam  C.  (Weeks)  Wallace,  the  father 
a  native  of  Conuersville,  Indiana,  and  the  mother  of  Rutland,  Vermont. 
The  date  of  the  family  settlement  in  Grant  county  was  either  1S29  or 
1831,  so  that  the  family  was  here  in  ample  time  to  become  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  newly  organized  Grant  county.  Their  location  was  in  Marion, 
and  the  elder  John  M.  Wallace  grew  up  in  that  city,  and  entered  the 
profession  of  lawT,  in  which  he  acquired  distinction  and  success.  He  was 
at  one  time  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  of  this  county.  During  the 
Mexican  war  he  saw  service  as  captain  of  his  company,  and  during  the 
Civil  war  he  served  as  adjutant  general  of  Indiana  under  Governor 
Oliver  P.  Morton,  Indiana's  famous  war  governor.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  given  the  rank  of  colonel.  He  was  then  appointed  and 
served  for  a  time  as  paymaster  in  the  United  States  Army,  with  head- 
quarters at  Washington.  D.  C.  Col.  Wallace  was  an  uncle  of  General 
Lew  Wallace,  the  eminent  soldier,  statesman  and  author  of  Indiana. 
He  was  a  brother  of  David  Wallace  who  was  one  time  governor  of 


298  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Indiana.  Another  brother  was  governor  of  Washington  territory,  and 
secretary  of  the  state  of  Iowa.  Probably  no  better  citizen  ever  lived 
in  Marion  than  the  late  Col.  John  M.  Wallace.  He  was  first  in  every 
enterprise  that  had  for  its  object  the  advancement  of  the  community, 
and  by  his  achievements  and  character  earned  the  lasting  esteem  of  all 
who  came  within  the  circle  of  his  acquaintance.  His  death  occurred 
in  Marion  in  1866.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  himself  and  wife  two 
are  living,  one  being  L.  A.  Wallace  of  Marion,  and  the  other  John  M., 
whose  name  heads  this  article.  John  M.  Wallace  attained  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Marion,  and  on  entering  into  active 
relations  with  the  business  of  the  city,  he  became  one  of  the  owners  and 
publishers  of  the  Marion  Democrat,  a  newspaper  with  which  his  name 
was  associated  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  then  clerk  in  the  gov- 
ernment service  for  a  time,  and  about  twenty-five  years  ago  estab- 
lished the  present  music  house  which  bears  his  name  and  which  is  one 
of  the  largest  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  Tins  firm  deals  in 
all  kinds  of  musical  merchandise  and  has  a  trade  that  is  much  more  than 
local  through  the  city  or  counties. 

Mr.  Wallace  in  1872  married  Miss  Emma  L.  Todebush  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  Their  two  children  are  Mrs.  Kenton  M.  Wigger  of  Marion: 
and  John  M.  Wallace,  Jr.,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business. 
Mr.  Wallace  is  a  member  of  the  Marion  Golf  Club  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat,  one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  his  party. 

William  S.  Elliott.  Grant  county,  Indiana,  has  among  its  honored 
retired  citizens  many  men  to  whom  it  owes  much,  men  of  the  highest  type 
of  responsible  citizenship.  They  have  been  useful  to  the  community 
through  their  activities  in  business  and  agriculture,  their  public  services 
and  their  professional  achievements,  and  now,  having  stepped  somewhat 
aside  from  the  busy  paths  that  their  descendants  still  creditably  occupy, 
they  are  entitled  to  the  consideration  which  they  universally  receive. 
Among  these  men,  one  who  holds  a  prominent  place  in  his  community 
is  William  S.  Elliott,  now  living  a  retired  life  at  Fairmount,  after  many 
years  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Elliott  is  a  member  of  a  family  that  originated  in  New  England, 
but  which  for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  made  its  home  in  the 
South.  His  grandfather  was  born  near  Dobson's  Cross  Roads,  in  North 
Carolina,  about  the  year  1800,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
As  a  young  man  he  moved  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  married  to  Raehael 
Overman,  a  native  daughter  of  the  Old  Dominion  State,  and  a  member 
of  an  old  and  honored  Virginia  family,  and  as  young  married  people 
came  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  probably  about  the  year  1818,  as  their 
youngest  child  was  born  there  in  1819,  and  the  second  child,  Reuben, 
the  father  of  William  S.,  was  born  in  the  latter  part  of  1821.  In  1822 
the  family  came  on,  as  they  had  come  from  the  old  Quaker  settlement  of 
Virginia,  with  wagon  and  teams,  and  located  at  what  is  now  the  land 
and  location  of  the  present  Soldiers'  Home  in  Center  township.  Grant 
county.  Here  Mr.  Elliott  purchased  government  land,  all  wild  and 
undeveloped,  and  from  this  property  started  to  carve  out  a  home.  The 
first  family  residence  was  a  little  log  cabin  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississinewa  river,  and  there  the  grandfather  died  in  1868.  his  widow 
passing  away  at  an  advanced  age  some  years  later.  They  were  both  of 
old  Quaker  stock  and  were  themselves  well-known  and  prominent 
Quakers  of  this  settlement,  having  come  North  to  avoid  the  slave-holding 
element.  For  many  years  Mr.  Elliott  was  an  elder  in  the  Quaker 
meetings,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  head  of  his  church.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  about  one-half 
died  in  childhood,  while  the  others  grew  to  maturity,  while  three  are  still 


REUBEN  ELLIOTT  AND  WIFE 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  299 

living,  as  follows:  Isaac,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Fairmount,  Ohio; 
Elijah,  who  is  married  and  resides  with  his  family  in  Michigan;  and  a 
sister,  the  Rev.  Rachel,  wife  of  Henry  Thomas,  residing  in  Howard 
county,  Indiana,  and  a  leading  minister  of  the  Quaker  faith. 

Reuben  Elliott,  the  father  of  William  S.  Elliott,  was  reared  in  Grant 
county,  Indiana,  at  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  church  schools.  After  Ins  marriage  he  settled  down  mi 
a  part  of  the  homestead,  and  later,  in  1849,  the  father  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  from  the  government,  which  was  then  known  as  Sugar 
Creek  Settlement,  at  that  time  in  the  Indian  reservation,  but  which  later 
became  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Amboy.  This  became  the  home 
of  Reuben  Elliott,  and  here  he  resided  until  1869  or  1870,  when  he 
moved  with  his  family  to  Wabaunsee  county,  Kansas.  There  he  took  up 
a  section  of  school  land  and  broke  a  fine  farm  from  the  raw  prairie, 
developing  an  excellent  homestead,  and  planting  an  orchard  which 
became  famous  throughout  that  locality,  and  was  noted  for  its  beauty, 
being  located  on  a  plateau  which  gave  it  eminence  for  many  miles  sur- 
rounding. Reuben  Elliott,  died,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  in  1897.  while  his  wife  passed  away  there  in  1903.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  Mr.  Elliott  was  for  many  years  an  elder  in  the 
Quaker  church,  in  which  his  wife  was  a  noted  preacher.  He  was  a  stal- 
wart Abolitionist,  and  when  the  Republican  party  was  organized  he 
joined  its  forces.  His  children  were  as  follows :  William  S. ;  Elwood, 
who  died  unmarried  when  a  young  man ;  Keziah,  the  wife  of  Pleasant 
Perry,  residing  on  the  old  Elliott  homestead  in  Kansas;  Mary  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy ;  Sarah,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Hinshaw  and  lives  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  old  homestead  in  Kansas;  Viretta,  the  wife  of  Marceta 
Walton,  living  at  Sunnyside.  Washington;  Isaac  N.,  for  years  a  railroad 
conductor  and  engineer  in  Kansas,  who  died  at  the  home  of  his  brother 
William  S.,  of  injuries  received  in  a  wreck,  while  his  widow  and  children 
live  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  and  Joseph  Clarkson,  a  railroad  carpenter 
and  contractor  whose  home  is  in  Topeka,  Kansas. 

William  S.  Elliott  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Grant 
county.  Indiana,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Mess  Hall  of  the  National 
Military  Home.  January  20.  1S44.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Quaker  and  public  schools  and  the  Friends'  Academy,  and  in  reality  has 
never  ceased  studying,  as  he  has  been  a  keen  student  of  human  nature 
and  an  observer  all  of  his  life,  as  well  as  a  great  reader.  He  became  a 
pioneer  tile-maker,  the  first  in  this  section  of  the  State,  starting  in  a 
crvrtle  way  and  gradually  developing  his  business  until  he  had  produced 
the  first  steam  and  gear  machine,  this  being  later  worked  out  from  his 
method  by  Chandler  &  Taylor,  of  Indianapolis.  This  has  since  been  the 
plan  and  principle  by  which  all  of  these  machines  have  been  manufac- 
tured. In  addition.  Mr.  Elliott  early  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  in  which  he  met  with  unqualified  success,  accumulating  a  hand- 
some property  in  Center  and  Liberty  townships,  a  part  being  the  present 
city  of  Radley.  which  was  named  in  honor  of  his  wife.  There  he  has 
more  than  200  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  being  operated  by 
the  most  up-to-date  machinery  and  modern  methods. 

In  August.  1862.  Mr.  Elfiott  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Eighty-ninth 
Regiment.  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  a  private,  being  then  do1  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  He  joined  for  three  years'  service,  but  before  he 
had  been  out  five  weeks  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Confederates,  at 
Mumfordsville.  Shortly  thereafter,  he  was  paroled  and  sent  home,  and 
six  weeks  later  was  exchanged  and  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  There  he  did  post  duty  while  the  army  marched  on  to  Vicks- 
burg,  Mississippi,  but  eighteen  weeks  later,  during  which  time  Mr.  Elliott 
did  much  special  duty  of  an  important  nature,  he  was  appointed  a  non- 


300       BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

commissioned  officer.  Early  in  1864  the  regiment  was  ordered  into  the 
field  and  went  to  Vicksburg  under  General  Sherman  to  raid  all  that 
section  in  Mississippi  as  far  as  Meridian,  destroying  the  enemy's  stores, 
factories,  etc.,  and  then  returned  to  Vicksburg.  The  Eighty-ninth  was 
later  sent  to  meet  Banks,  at  Alexandria,  to  support  that  general,  but 
never  lost  its  identity  as  a  part  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  Later  the 
regiment  was  engaged  in  moving  gun-boats  and  transports  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  but  in  April,  1864,  left  the  transports  to  assist  General 
Banks  and  his  retreating  army.  The  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  allowed  him 
to  retreat  through  their  lines,  and  then  checked  the  Confederates  in  the 
Battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  where  both  sides  met  with  great  loss.  Later  the 
Union  army  retired  from  the  Red  river  country,  and  was  subsequently 
sent  North  and  West,  against  Forrest  at  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  Mississippi, 
where  that  general's  army  was  scattered.  Returning  to  Memphis,  Mr. 
Elliott's  regiment  was  sent  with  others  to  St.  Louis,  and  took  part  in 
driving  General  Price  and  his  army  out  of  Missouri,  and  then  returned 
to  St.  Louis  and  was  sent  by  transport  to  Nashville,  arriving  there  on 
the  eve  of  the  great  battle  of  Franklin.  Two  days  of  hard  fighting 
ensued,  following  which  Hood's  defeated  army  was  pursued  to  the  Ten- 
nessee river.  The  regiment  was  then  sent  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence 
via  the  gulf  route  to  Mobile,  participating  in  the  siege  of  that  city,  which 
lasted  two  weeks.  It  was  then  sent  to  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  was 
at  that  point  when  the  news  came  of  General  Lee's  surrender,  the  regi- 
ment being  then  ordered  to  Mobile,  where  the  men  were  discharged  and 
mustered  out  of  the  service,  July  26,  1S65.  Mr.  Elliott's  record  was 
that  of  a  faithful  soldier,  who  won  promotion  by  reason  of  his  bravery 
and  gallant  service. 

Returning  to  his  home  by  way  of  Indianapolis,  Mr.  Elliott  again 
engaged  in  farming  on  an  extensive  scale,  but  for  the  past  two  years 
has  made  his  home  in  Fairmount,  having  retired  somewhat  from  active 
life.  He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  common  council  for  ten  years,  being  chairman  of  the  board  for  the 
past  four  years,  an  office  which  he  still  holds.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years  he  was  made  an  elder  in  the  Quaker  church,  in  which  he  served 
for  fourteen  years  as  meeting  clerk,  and  for  six  years  as  clerk  of  the 
quarterly  meetings.  For  the  past  six  years  Mr.  Elliott  has  been  trustee 
of  the  White  Institute  of  Wabash  county,  an  institution  for  the  care  of 
poor  and  needy  children. 

In  the  fall  of  1865  Mr.  Elliott  was  married  in  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
to  Miss  Ruth  Wilson,  daughter  of  Jesse  Wilson,  a  prominent  churchman 
here,  and  she  died  eighteen  months  later  without  issue.  Mr.  Elliott's 
second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Alice  Radley,  in  Fairmount,  Indiana,  she 
born  in  England,  in  1845,  and  brought  to  this  country  as  a  child  by  her 
parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  (Bull)  Radley.  The  Radleys  have  always 
been  agricultural  people  and  Quakers,  and  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Elliott 
spent  their  lives  in  farming  in  Grant  county,  where  both  died.  Eleven 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
having  homes  and  families  of  their  own.  They  have  been  well  educated 
and  fitted  for  honorable  places  in  the  world  and  are  credits  to  their  par- 
ents and  their  community.  They  were  born  as  follows :  Wilson  R.,  born 
May  31.  1869 ;  Mary,  born  January  19,  1871 ;  Edward  E.,  born  February 
23,  1872 ;  Elizabeth  J.,  born  October  26,  1873 ;  Frederick  Charles,  born 
October  23,  1S75 ;  Stanley  P.,  born  November  1,  1877 ;  Walter  W.,  born 
February  6,  1879;  Gertrude  A.,  born  October  19,  1880;  Rebecca  Ruth, 
born  September  4,  1882;  Samuel  R.,  born  September  26,  1884;  and  Lucy 
V.,  born  September  26,  1886. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  301 

George  W.  Webster.  One  of  the  meu  of  a  past  generation  who 
helped  to  make  the  real  history  of  Grant  county  was  the  late  George  W. 
Webster.  He  came  to  this  community  at  an  early  day.  when  conditions 
were  in  a  most  primitive  state,  and  during  the  long  years  of  his  residence 
hereabouts  he  played  well  his  part  in  the  development  and  growth  of  the 
city  and  county.  To  such  men  as  he  the  count}-  owes  more  than  may 
ever  adequately  be  estimated,  and  perhaps  no  man  of  his  day  is  more 
kindly  remembered  than  is  George  W.  Webster. 

Born  at  Fairfax,  Vermont,  near  St.  Albans,  he  made  his  home  in 
that  vicinity  until  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  then  going  to  New 
Orleans,  next  to  Piqua,  Ohio,  and  finally  coming  to  Marion,  Indiana. 
Here  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  which  he  had 
learned  as  a  young  man,  and  he  built  many  houses  and  bridges  in  the 
county,  among  the  residences  which  he  constructed  being  a  dwelling 
house  for  his  father-in-law,  Dr.  McKinney,  in  1836.  Railroad  building 
was  a  branch  of  construction  work  to  which  he  gave  considerable  atten- 
tion, and  although  a  vast  amount  of  work  was  done  on  some  of  the  early 
railroads  they  were  never  completed.  Among  some  of  the  larger  edifices 
which  were  erected  by  Mr.  Webster  wTere  a  college  building  in  Chicago, 
the  court  house  in  Marion  which  gave  place  to  the  present  Grant  county 
court  house  and  the  Smithson  College  building  at  Logansport.  Through- 
out Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Indiana  are  also  to  be  found  many  bridges  of 
his  construction. 

In  his  political  faith  Mr.  Webster  was  a  Republican,  and  at  one  time 
he  served  out  an  unexpired  term  as  county  treasurer,  but  was  never  e 
man  to  seek  public  office  at  any  time.  His  death  occurred  on  the  13th 
of  February,  1S92,  at  the  fine  old  age  of  eighty  years. 

Mr.  Webster  married  Miss  Maria  J.  McKinney,  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
McKinney,  of  Miami  county,  Ohio.  She  was  born  May  12,  1816,  in 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  she  survived  her  husband  but  a  little  more  than 
a  year,  death  claiming  her  in  June,  1893.  Both  had  been  life  long 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  they  were  known  for  worthy 
Christian  people,  honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  shared  in  their 
acquaintance.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  concerning  whom 
brief  mention  is  made  here  as  follows:  William  C,  the  eldest,  is  now 
vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Marion,  and  is  a  man  of 
influence  and  high  standing  in  the  city  where  he  has  long  been  known. 
Euretta  married  Dr.  Milton  Jay,  of  Chicago.  Dr.  Elery  C.  Webster  is  a 
practicing  physician  of  Marion,  Indiana.  George  Webster,  Jr.,  was  for 
twenty-two  years  cashier  of  the  Marion  State  Bank,  but  has  recently 
retired.  More  extended  mention  of  his  life  will  be  found  on  other  pages 
of  this  historical  work.  Marietta  married  George  W.  Spencer  and  lives 
in  Chicago.  Three  other  children  of  the  family  died  in  infancy.  All 
of  the  surviving  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webster  are  occupying  places 
of  prominence  in  their  various  communities,  and  all  are  well  worthy  of 
the  esteem  and  regard  in  which  they  are  held  wherever  they  are  known. 

George  Webster,  Jr.  Before  George  Webster,  Jr.,  settled  down  to 
the  banking  business  in  real  earnest  he  tried  his  luck  at  many  and  varied 
business  enterprises,  in  all  of  which  he  realized  a  fair  degree  of  success, 
but  in  none  of  which  he  was  entirely  contented.  But  his  ten  years' 
experience  in  banking  when  he  first  launched  out  in  independent  life 
seemed  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  in  1890  he  forsook  all  other  interests, 
returned  to  Marion,  the  town  in  which  he  was  born  and  reared,  and 
identified  himself  with  the  Marion  State  Bank  as  cashier,  a  position  he 
held  for  twenty-two  years.  At  that  time  he  sold  his  banking  interests 
and  retired  from  the  business. 

Mr.  Webster  was  born  on  the  28th  of  October.  1849.  at  the  family 


302  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

home  on  the  comer  of  Fifth  and  Washington  streets,  Marion,  a  son  of 
George  W.  and  Maria  J.  (McKinney)  Webster,  both  now  deceased. 
Concerning  the  father  extended  mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work 
in  a  memorial  sketch  dedicated  to  him,  so  that  further  reference  to  the 
parents  of  Mr.  Webster  is  unnecessary  at  this  point. 

George  Webster  attended  when  a  boy  the  public  schools,  and  when 
he  was  nineteen  accepted  his  first  position — a  clerkship  in  a  grocery 
store.  It  was  thus  that  he  earned  the  money  to  pay  his  way  through  the 
Bryant  and  Stratton  Business  College  in  Chicago,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  after  pursuing  a  full  course  of  business  training  in  that 
pioneer  and  still  famous  business  institution.  Returning  to  Marion,  he 
became  deputy  county  clerk,  a  position  he  continued  to  fill  for  three 
years.  He  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  when  his  services  with  the 
county  were  ended,  but  the  venture  did  not  prove  an  attractive  one 
with  him  and  he  soon  sold  his  interest  and  went  to  Manistee,  Michigan, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  large  lumber  concern  as  bookkeeper. 
When  he  once  more  returned  to  Marion,  in  1879,  he  was  appointed 
cashier  of  Sweetzer's  Bank,  a  position  he  continued  to  fill  for  something 
like  ten  years,  and  he  then  went  to  Chicago,  becoming  interested  there 
in  the  manufacture  of  leather  goods.  For  two  and  a  half  years  he  was 
thus  occupied,  and  at  the  end  of  the  time  disposed  of  his  interests  and, 
locating  in  Wabash,  Indiana,  purchased  the  electric  light  plant,  which 
he  remodeled,  putting  the  plant  in  excellent  shape  and  continued  to 
operate  it  for  eighteen  months.  It  was  at  the  close  of  that  period  that 
he  once  more  retraced  his  steps  to  Marion,  here  buying  an  interest  in 
the  Marion  State  Bank  and  becoming  its  cashier,  a  position  he  continued 
to  fill  until  his  retirement  from  business,  in  March,  1913.  He  has  earned 
an  excellent  reputation  for  ability  in  finance  in  the  banking  circles  of 
the  state,  and  is  reckoned  among  the  most  dependable  men  of  the  city, 
and  one  whose  integrity  may  not  be  questioned. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1884,  Mr.  Webster  was  married  in  Wabash, 
Indiana,  to  Miss  Marie  Daughtery,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Daughtery, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Lawrence  B.  Webster.  Mr.  Webster  is  a  stanch 
and  active  Republican,  and  has  done  good  work  in  the  interests  of  the 
party  whenever  the  occasion  presented  itself.  The  cause  of  education  is 
one  that  has  also  had  his  special  interest,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Marion  school  board  for  nine  years,  serving  it  in  the  positions  of  presi- 
dent and  treasurer.  He  takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  the  educational 
system  of  the  city  which  is  his  home,  and  his  influence  in  connection  with 
the  moral  conditions  of  the  community  is  a  most  praiseworthy  one.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  library  board  that  was  instrumental  in  securing  for 
Marion  its  present  magnificent  library  building,  and  his  honest  endeavors 
for  the  advancement  of  the  city  has  been  felt  along  every  possible  line. 
Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Grant  Lodge, 
No.  103,  of  which  he  was  the  first  chancellor  commander  and  was  for 
five  years  grand  treasurer  for  the  state  of  Indiana.  He  is  at  the  present 
time  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Indiana  Boys'  School, 
located  at  Plainfield,  Indiana. 

James  Charles.  The  Charles  family  was  founded  in  Grant  county 
more  than  half  a  century  ago  and  its  name  has  been  most  prominently 
and  worthily  linked  with  the  progress  and  upbuilding  of  the  city  of 
Marion,  judicial  center  of  the  county.  The  late  James  Charles  was  a 
young  man  at  the  time  when  he  established  his  home  in  this  city  and 
through  ability,  close  application  and  sterling  integrity  of  purpose  he 
gained  and  long  retained  precedence  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  county,  where  his  memory  is  held  in  lasting 
honor.     Virtually  his  entire  active  career  was  devoted  to  the  milling  busi- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        303 

ness  and  he  became  one  of  the  leading  exponents  of  this  line  of  enter- 
prise in  central  Indiana.  Tie  was  a  man  of  broad  views  and  sound  judg- 
ment, vigorous  and  self-reliant.  Loyal  and  public-spirited,  and  his  strong 
individuality  combined  with  sterling  attributes  of  character  to  make 
him  well  equipped  for  leadership  in  popular  sentiment  and  action.  He 
held  various  positions  of  public  trust,  including  that  of  representative 
of  his  district  in  the  state  senate,  and  his  high  standing  in  the  com- 
munity that  long  represented  his  home  and  the  stage  of  his  activities 
renders  most  consonant  the  memorial  tribute  accorded  to  him  in  this 
history  of  Grant  county. 

James  Charles  was  born  in  Cornwall.  England,  on  the  22d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1835,  and  in  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  lines  was  a  scion  of 
the  stanchest  of  English  stock.  He  was  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  twelve  children  of  Richard  and  Mary  (Oates)  Charles.  His  father 
was  a  miller  by  trade  and  vocation  and  followed  this  occupation  in 
his  native  land  until  1854,  when  he  immigrated  with  his  family  to  the 
United  States.  He  first  located  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  but  about  one 
year  later  he  came  to  Indiana  and  established  his  residence  in  Grant 
county,  where  he  continued  to  be  identified  with  the  milling  business 
during  the  residue  of  his  active  career,  his  death  having  occurred, 
at  Marion  in  1905,  and  his  wife  having  survived  him  by  several  years. 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  land  James  Charles  received  a  good 
practical  education,  which  he  later  rounded  out  and  made  symmetrical 
through  self -discipline  and  active  association  with  men  and  affairs. 
He  learned  the  miller's  trade  under  the  effective  direction  of  his  honored 
father  and  he  anticipated  his  parents  and  other  members  of  the  family 
in  coming  to  America,  as  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1854.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  found  employment  at  his  trade  in  the  city  of  Buffalo, 
New  York,  where  he  was  thus  engaged  for  three  years.  He  then  came 
to  Indiana  and  first  located  at  Fort  Wayne,  but  in  December  of  the 
same  year  he  came  to  Grant  county  and  assumed  charge  of  the  City 
mill,  the  leading  flouring  mill  in  the  county.  He  operated  this  mill 
for  a  period  of  fourteen  years  and  then  retired  from  active  business, 
but  at  the  expiration  of  one  year  he  again  rented  the  mill,  of  which  he 
became  the  owner  in  1881.  He  made  many  improvements  in  the  prop- 
erty and  kept  the  same  up  to  a  high  standard  in  its  mechanical  equip- 
ment and  other  accessories.  He  continued  the  operation  of  the  mill 
for  many  years  and  with  marked  success,  having  retained  the  same 
in  his  possession  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  8th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1905.  From  the  time  of  their  marriage  until  their  death  he  and 
his  wife  lived  continuously  in  one  locality,  though  various  improve- 
ments were  made  upon  the  lot  and  the  house  with  the  passing  of  years. 
Mr.  Charles  was  an  aggressive  business  man,  fertile  in  expedients 
and  an  indefatigable  worker,  but.  he  did  not  hedge  himself  in  with 
the  affaire  and  exactions  of  his  business  interests,  but  stood  foremost  in 
giving  his  influence  and  tangible  co-operation  in  the  support  of  meas- 
ures and  enterprises  tending  to  advance  the  civic  and  material  wel- 
fare of  his  home  city  and  county.  He  was  identified  with  the  various 
commercial  and  general  business  organizations  formed  in  Marion  and 
wielded  large  and  beneficent  influence  in  community  affaire,  the  while 
he  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  those  who  could  appreciate 
honesty,  integrity  and  loyalty.  He  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council,  and  in  1880  further  evidence  of  popular  esteem  was 
given,  Dy  his  election  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners, 
to  which  important  post  he  was  re-elected  in  1882  and  in  which  he  advo- 
cated progressive  policies  and  labored  zealously  for  the  proper  admin- 
istration of  the  affairs  of  the  county.  His  loyalty  to  the  land  of  his 
adoption  was  of  the  most  intense  order,  and  he  was  well  fortified   in 


304        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

his  opinions  concerning  matters  of  governmental  and  economic  policy, 
his  allegiance  being  given  unequivocally  to  the  Republican  party,  as  a 
representative  of  which  he  was  finally  elected  to  the  state  senate,  in 
which  body  he  made  an  admirable  record. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  I860,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Charles 
to  Miss  Sarah  Elma  Secrist,  who  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  on  the 
26th  of  June,  1842,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  Secrist,  a  miller 
by  trade  and  vocation.  The  home  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  was 
marked  by  ideal  relations  and  associations  and  she  survived  him  by 
several  years.  She  continued  to  reside  in  the  old  homestead  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  1st  of  September,  1912,  and  her  name 
is  held  in  affectionate  memory  by  all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of 
her  gentle  and  gracious  influence.  Of  the  eleven  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  six  attained  to  maturity,  and  of  these  John  Edwin  died 
in  1887.  The  five  children  who  survive  the  parents  are  all  residents 
of  Marion.  Miss  Lulu  Charles  is  a  popular  factor  in  the  social  life 
of  her  native  city;  James  F.  is  a  representative  member  of  the  Marion 
bar  and  is  individually  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this  work;  Harry 
S.  is  employed  by  the  Marion  Light  and  Heating  Company;  Mark  E. 
is  engaged  in  general  contracting ;  and  Bessie  is  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Higbee. 

James  F.  Charles.  On  other  pages  of  this  work  is  entered  a 
memoir  to  the  late  James  Charles,  who  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
and  influential  citizens  of  Grant  county,  and  thus  it  is  not  demanded 
that  the  record  of  his  career  and  of  the  family  history  be  repeated  in 
the  following  epitome  of  the  life  of  his  son,  James  F.,  who  is  one  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  his  native  county  and  who 
is  engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of 
Marion,  judicial  center  and  metropolis  of  Grant  county. 

James  F.  Charles  was  born  in  the  city  that  is  now  his  home  and 
the  date  of  his  nativity  was  December  30,  1872.  He  received  his  early 
educational  discipline  in  the  public  schools  of  Marion  and  was  graduated 
in  the  high  school  when  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  in  1887 — a  fact  indi- 
cating his  receptiveness  and  also  his  ambition  and  appreciation.  He 
was  at  the  time  the  youngest  person  ever  graduated  in  the  Marion 
high  school.  After  leaving  school  he  gained  practical  and  valuable 
business  experience  by  entering  the  flour  mill  conducted  by  his  father, 
and  with  the  operations  and  business  management  of  the  same  he 
continued  to  be  actively  identified  until  1896,  in  the  meanwhile  show- 
ing himself  of  distinctive  business  acumen, — a  trait  evidently  inherited 
from  his  father  and  grandfather,  the  names  of  both  of  whom  have  been 
prominent  in  connection  with  industrial  activities  in  Grant  county. 

Desirous  of  fitting  himself  for  a  broader  field  of  endeavor,  Mr. 
Charles  severed  his  association  with  his  father's  business  and  was  matric- 
ulated in  the  law  department  of  the  celebrated  University  of  Michigan, 
at  Ann  Arbor.  In  this  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a  member  of 
the  class  of  1898  and  he  received  therefrom  his  well  earned  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  then  returned  to  his  native  city  and  was  forth- 
with admitted  to  the  Indiana  bar.  He  has  become  continuously  engaged 
in  the  active  practice  of  law  in  Marion  since  the  autumn  of  1S98  and 
has  gained  secure  prestige  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  resourceful 
representatives  of  the  bar  of  Grant  county.  He  has  won  success  through 
close  application  and  the  proper  utilization  of  his  admirable  powers 
as  a  strong  and  versatile  advocate  and  well  fortified  counselor.  He 
continues  a  close  student  and  is  specially  well  fortified  in  the  involved 
and  exacting  science  of  jurisprudence,  the  while  he  is  a  stickler  in  the 
observance  of  the  unwritten  ethical  code  of  his  profession,  so  that  he 
commands  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  his  confreres  at  the  bar. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNT  IKS        305 

as  does  he  also  those  of  the  general  public.  In  the  practice  of  his 
profession  he  has  had  various  partnership  alliances  but  his  law  busi- 
ness is  now  conducted  in  an  independent  way,  with  a  clientage  of 
important  and  representative  character. 

Like  his  honored  father  Mr.  Charles  has  been  unwavering  ami  zeal- 
ous in  the  support  of  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party  and  lie  is  one 
of  its  influential  representatives  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Through 
several  important  campaigns  he  served  as  vice-chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican central  committee  of  Grant  county  and  he  has  otherwise  been 
active  in  furthering  the  party  cause.  He  has  served  as  city  attorney 
of  Marion  for  the  past  ten  years,  under  three  different  administrations, 
and  his  long  retention  of  this  position  indicates  the  value  of  his  services 
and  the  estimate  placed  upon  him  in  the  community  that  has  ever  been 
his  home.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  present  Grant  County  Bar 
Association  Mr.  Charles  had  the  distinction  of  being  elected  its  first 
president,  and  he  is  one  of  its  active  and  valued  members  at  the  present 
time.  He  is  essentially  progressive  and  liberal  in  his  civic  attitude 
and  gives  his  support  to  those  undertakings  that  tend  to  conserve  the 
general  good  of  the  community.  He  is  secretary  and  a  director  of  the 
United  States  Glove  Company,  representing  one  of  the  important  indus- 
trial enterprises  of  Marion,  and  is  an  influential  member  of  the  Marion 
Civic  Assembly.  He  is  Past  Exalted  Ruler  of  the  Benevolent  &  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Connubial  responsibilities  were  assumed  by  Mr.  Charles  on  the  11th 
of  June,  1907,  when  he  wedded  Miss  Edith  M.  Esler,  who  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  the  two  children  of  this  union 
are  Robert  Franklin,  who  was  born  May  12,  1908;  and  Edwin  Esler, 
who  was  born  June  26,  1911. 

Eri  Rich.  Of  the  substantial  old  Quaker  stock  which  has  produced 
such  wealth  of  character  and  citizenship  in  Grant  county,  the  Rich  fam- 
ily has  been  among  the  worthiest  representatives.  Eri  Rich  has  spent 
his  best  years  in  this  county,  has  prospered  in  health  and  lands,  has 
reared  a  family  to  do  him  credit,  and  has  possessed  the  esteem  of  all  whose 
lives  he  has  touched  in  business  or  social  relations.  Mr.  Rich  after  a 
long  career  of  farming  has  in  recent  years  lived  in  Fairmount,  and  has 
made  a  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  fine  horses,  his  skill  in  this  direction 
having  made  him  well  known  among  stock  men  of  northeastern  Indiana. 

Eri  Rich  was  born  in  the  southern  part  of  Hamilton  county.  Indiana, 
near  Carmel,  October  12,  1840.  His  father  was  Joseph  Rich,  his  grand- 
father Peter  Rich.  Jr..  both  natives  of  Randolph  county.  North  Carolina, 
while  the  great-grandfather  was  Peter  Rich,  Sr.,  a  native  of  England. 
Peter  Rich.  Sr..  was  married  in  his  native  land,  and  came  to  America 
about  the  time  of  or  a  little  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  lived 
and  died  in  Randolph  county.  North  Carolina,  and  reached  a  good  old 
age.  His  wife  was  also, old  at  the  time  of  her  death.  They  had  a  family 
of  children,  among  whom  was  Peter.  Jr. 

Peter  Rich,  Jr..  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  North  Carolina,  about 
1776-1777.  Growing  up  in  his  native  locality  he  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon  making,  and  was  also  a  farmer.  For  many  years  he  followed  these 
pursuits  in  his  native  county.  He  married  Sarah  Sanders.  She  was  a 
Quakeress,  but  her  husband  held  to  no  church.  Born  to  their  marriage 
in  North  Carolina  were  the  following  children:  Aaron,  Joseph.  Isaac. 
Jesse,  John,  David,  and  three  daughters.  Mary.  Rebecca  and  Martha. 

Joseph  Rich,  the  third  in  the  above  named  family,  and  the  father  of 
Eri  Rich  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1811.  In  1830  or  1831.  before 
he  was  of  age,  he  bought  his  time  from  his  father  and  came  north  to 
Indiana,  locating  near  Carmel,  in  Hamilton  county,  on  eighty  acres  of 


306  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

government  land.  His  home  was  in  the  wilderness,  and  in  a  clearing 
among  the  woods  he  put  up  a  log  cabin,  cutting  the  timbers  from  the 
standing  trees.  An  interesting  fact  concerning  this  old  pioneer  of  Ham- 
ilton county  is  that  he  set  out  soon  after  locating  there  two  acres  of 
apples  and  peach  trees,  and  that  orchard  grew  and  flourished,  and  for 
many  years  was  one  of  the  best  in  all  that  part  of  Indiana.  Some  years 
after  his  own  settlement,  his  parents  and  other  members  of  the  family 
came  on  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Grant  county,  in  Pairmount  township, 
during  the  latter  forties.  Thus  the  latter  years  of  Peter  Rich  and  wife 
were  spent  in  Grant  county,  where  Peter  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  After  getting  well  started 
in  his  new  home  in  Hamilton  county,  Joseph  Rich  met  and  married 
.Miriam  Newby.  She  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  was  a  young  woman 
when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  Hamilton  county,  and  her  people 
spent  their  lives  in  that  section.  The  first  wife  of  Joseph  Rich  died  in 
Hamilton  county,  August  22, 1851.  She  was  born  January  28,  1803.  In 
1852  Joseph  Rich  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  brought  his  family  to 
Grant  county,  having  sold  his  property  in  Hamilton  county.  He  bought 
land  in  Liberty  township  and  lived  there  a  number  of  years  finally 
retiring  and  making  his  home  at  Pairmount  where  he  died  about  1896. 
After  coming  to  Grant  county  he  was  three  times  married,  but  had  no 
children.  His  first  wife  left  six  children  named  as  follows :  Sarah,  who 
married  Abner  Halloway.  who  died  in  Pairmount,  and  she  now  lives  in 
Fairmount  township,  having  a  family,  all  of  whom  are  married.  Mary, 
the  second  child,  is  the  wife  of  James  Marley,  of  Fairmont,  but  has  no 
children.  The  next  in  order  is  Eri  Rich.  Asenath  is  the  wife  of  John 
Seale,  an  Englishman,  now  living  in  California,  and  they  have  a  family 
of  children.  Jessie  S.  married  Angeline  Jenkins,  now  deceased,  and  he 
lives  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  of  Kansas  near  Baxter,  and 
has  a  family.  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Davis,  and  lives  in  Fairmount 
having  children. 

Eri  Rich  was  about  twelve  years  old  when  his  father  moved  from 
Hamilton  county  to  Grant  county.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  received  a 
substantial  education  in  the  local  schools,  and  taking  up  the  vocation  to 
which  he  had  been  trained,  he  conducted  a  place  in  the  country  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1869,  he  moved  to  Miami  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  improved  the  farm  of  sixty  acres.  That  land  was  subsequently  traded 
for  a  place  in  Grant  county,  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
acres.  In  1897,  Mr.  Rich  moved  to  Pairmount,  retiring  from  active  agri- 
culture, and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  trade  and  stock  breeding. 
For  five  years  he  was  a  feed  merchant  at  Fairmount.  Since  then  practi- 
cally all  his  work  has  been  in  the  raising  of  registered  stock.  He  owns 
several  excellent  horses,  including  the  Belgian  horse  named  Ameer,  a 
fine  Percheron  named  Minstrel,  and  also  a  fine  Belgian  named  Edmund. 
He  has  made  a  reputation  as  a  careful  breeder,  and  maintains  one  of 
the  best  stables  in  Grant  county. 

Mr.  Rich  was  married  in  Grant  county  in  1861  to  Elizabeth  A.  David- 
son. She  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  January  20, 
1841,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rena  (White)  Davidson,  who  were 
Quaker  people,  farmers,  and  natives  of  North  Carolina.  The  family 
moved  to  Indiana  about  1858,  leased  a  farm  in  Grant  county,  and  later 
in  the  same  year  the  parents  moved  to  Minnesota  where  they  died  at  a 
good  old  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
whose  names  and  careers  are  briefly  stated  as  follows:  Enos  died  when 
young;  Rena  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Ray  McHatten,  and  has  three  children, 
Grace,  Effie  and  Fred;  M.  Etta  is  the  wife  of  Micajah  Thomas,  living 
in  Fairmount,  and  their  children  are  Everett,  who  is  married.  Adelbert, 
Clarence  W.,  and  Cleo  P.,  the  youngest  being  at  home  and  all  the  chil- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        307 

dren  well  educated;  Elwood  lives  in  Huntington  county,  is  married 
and  has  three  sons,  Robert,  William  and  Ralph;  John  is  married,  and 
has  a  family  of  one  son.  Alvie,  and  two  daughters,  Lulu  and  Ethel,  and 
lives  in  Fairmount ;  Lueina  is  the  widow  of  Lewis  Thomas,  living  in  Hunt- 
ington. Indiana,  and  has  two  sons.  Eri  and  Walter;  Milton  resides  in 
Fairmount  township,  is  married  and  has  three  sons,  Doitc.  Earl 
and  Glen;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Norman  Little,  living  in  Huntington 
county,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  sons.  Orville,  Willard  and 
Virgil;  May  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Marsh,  living  in  California,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  Albert  and  Walter  Eri ;  Eunice  died  after  her  marriage 
to  Alfred  Marine,  leaving  one  son  Eri.  The  twelfth  and  youngesl  child 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich  are  both  birthright  members  of  the 
Friends  church.  Mr.  Rich  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  Republican 
voter,  but  latterly  has  supported  the  Democratic  party. 

George  A.  H.  Shideler.  One  of  the  best  known  men  in  the  state 
of  Indiana  is  George  A.  II.  Shideler.  secretary  and  general  manager 
of  the  Marion  Flint  Glass  Company,  and  practically  all  his  life  a  resi- 
dent of  Grant  county.  Few  men  in  Marion  are  so  well  known  as  he, 
and  his  is  a  familiar  ligure  to  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the 
city.  A  product  of  Grant  county,  he  was  born  in  Jonesboro,  on  Novem- 
ber 23,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  a  well  known  family  of  that  place. 

When  nine  years  of  age  Mr.  Shideler  removed  to  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  in  company  with  his  parents  and  there  he  attended  school 
until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  took  a  position  as  cash  boy  in  the 
New  York  Store,  in  that  city.  He  was  an  ambitious  youth,  and  it  was 
but  a  few  years  before  he  was  able  to  take  a  place  as  traveling  salesman 
for  a  prominent  dry  goods  house  of  the  city,  but  when  natural  gas 
was  discovered  in  Marion  in  1887  he  left  his  traveling  position  and 
came  to  Marion,  becoming  interested  as  a  stockholder  in  the  Marion 
Flint  Glass  Company,  being  elected  secretary  of  the  company.  The 
factory  has  long  been  rated  among  the  most  solidly  established  enter- 
prises in  the  city,  and  is  operated  in  accordance  with  the  most  advanced 
methods  in  vogue  today  among  glass  manufacturers. 

Mr.  Shideler  is  a  man  who  has  always  taken  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  local  and  district  politics,  and  his  public  usefulness  has  extrude, 1 
to  the  state  legislature,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1896  and  re-elected 
in  1899.  He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Control  of 
the  Reform  School  for  Boys,  located  at  Plainfield,  his  appointment 
coming  from  Governor  Mount  in  1897.  He  resigned  the  place  in  1899 
when  he  was  elected  a  second  time  to  the  legislature,  but  was  re-ap- 
pointed in  1900,  in  consequence  of  the  excellent  work  he  did  as  a  member 
of  that  board.  In  1899  he  was  tendered  the  position  of  Warden  <>f 
the  Indiana  State  Prison  at  Michigan  City,  receiving  the  appointment 
through  the  governor  and  the  board  of  managers,  and  he  accepted  the 
office,  holding  it  for  two  years,  when  he  resigned,  since  which  time  he 
has  devoted  his  entire  time  and  activities  to  the  care  of  his  many  and 
varied  private  interests.  As  warden  of  the  Indiana  State  Prison  Mr. 
Shideler  gained  a  nation  wide  reputation  and  no  penal  institution  in 
the  country  was  better  managed  than  was  that  institution  under  his 
regime.  A  man  of  broad  human  sympathies,  keen  understanding  and 
humanitarian  tendencies,  he  was  eminently  fitted  for  the  duties  of  his 
position,  and  he  was  ever  found  to  be  a  friend  to  the  unfortunate,  who 
most  needed  a  friend  and  counselor.  He  is  especially  interested  in  the 
boy  problem,  so  potent  a  one  in  the  present  day  social  scheme,  and  his 
wide  experience  in  state  criminal  institutions  has  taught  him  that  the 
secret  of  true  manhood  lies  in  controlling  the  early  tendencies  of  the 
boy  and  surrounding  him  with  every  safeguard  that  is  humanly  possible 


308  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  early  life.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  Mr.  Shideler  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  in  Grant  county  today,  and  one  who  is  most  deserving 
of  mention  in  a  historical  and  biographical  work  of  this  order. 

Mr.  Shideler  married  July  26,  1894,  Margaret  Ball,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Ball,  of  Marion.  They  have  two  boys,  Robert, 
aged  eighteen,  and  Richard,  aged  twelve. 

Marcus  M.  Kilgore.  The  Parmer's  Trust  &  Savings  Company  of 
Marion  is  one  of  the  solidest  and  most  representative  financial  institu- 
tions of  Grant  county.  Every  financial  institution  during  its  earlier 
years  acquires  estimation  and  influence  in  a  community  largely  through 
the  character  and  reputation  of  the  men  whose  names  are  most  inti- 
mately associated  with  the  undertaking.  Some  institutions  of  this  kind 
which  have  enjoyed  prosperous  careers  of  many  years  apparently  lose 
this  personal  element  in  their  composition,  and  continue  to  exist  and 
enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  public  with  apparently  little  regard  to  the 
business  managers.  But  with  a  new  banking  house  or  similar  concern, 
whose  prosperity  rests  upon  commercial  credit,  the  personal  factor  is 
always  the  indispensable  quality.  The  success  and  prosperity  of  the 
Farmer's  Trust  &  Savings  Company  of  Marion,  which  was  established 
only  a  few  years  ago,  have  been  to  a  large  degree  a  reflection  of  the 
personal  integrity  and  high  business  standing  of  its  president,  Mr. 
Marcus  M.  Kilgore.  Mr.  Kilgore  has  been  identified  with  Grant  county 
nearly  all  the  years  of  his  life,  and  is  a  plain  man  of  solid  worth,  whose 
life  and  activities  have  always  been  above  board,  and  such  as  to  stimu- 
late and  give  permanence  to  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  a  large 
community. 

Marcus  M.  Kilgore  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
June  26,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Charity  (Sislove)  Kilgore. 
His  father,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1808,  and  who  was  a 
lifelong  farmer  by  occupation,  and  the  mother,  who  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin county,  Indiana,  in  1811,  both  came  to  Grant  county  in  1852  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  this  vicinity.  His  father  died 
in  this  county  in  1896.  There  were  eight  children  in  the  family,  and 
besides  the  banker,  the  three  others  still  living  are:  Hercules  Kilgore 
of  Marion;  G.  W.  Kilgore,  of  Port  Lisbon,  Grant  county;  and  Mrs. 
Susanna  Keever,  of  Marion. 

Two  years  of  age  when  the  parents  came  to  Grant  county,  Marcus 
M.  Kilgore  was  reared  on  the  old  home  farm  in  this  county  and 
attained  most  of  his  education  by  attending  the  district  schools,  chiefly 
during  the  winter  seasons.  He  left  the  farm  when  a  young  man  and 
entered  the  merchandise  business  at  Port  Lisbon  in  this  county  and 
he  was  one  of  the  successful  merchants  of  that  town  for  twenty  years. 
From  there  he  moved  to  Converse  in  Miami  county,  and  in  that  vicinity 
was  chiefly  known  as  a  farmer.  During  his  residence  in  Miami  county, 
he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  for  the  session  of  1891  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  representative  of  the  counties  of  Cass  and  Miami.  In 
1895  Mr.  Kilgore  returned  to  Grant  county,  and  for  the  following 
seven  years  was  a  resident  upon  his  farm  and  actively  engaged  in  its 
operation.  In  1907  occurred  his  election  to  the  office  of  assessor  of 
Grant  county,  and  he  held  this  honorable  distinction  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Kilgore  since  1902  has  been  a  resident  of  Marion,  and  active  in 
business  affairs  of  this  city.  In  1910  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Farmer's  Trust  &  Savings  Company,  and  was  chosen  by  other 
members  of  the  company  to  the  office  of  president,  a  place  which  he 
has  held  ever  since.  He  is  still  engaged  in  farming  and  has  a  splendid 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Liberty  and  Green  township 
of  this  county.     Mr.  Kilgore  is  now  regarded  as  one  of  the  men  of 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  309 

substantial  means  in  Grant  county,  and  yet  looking  back  over  a  career 
of  forty  years,  it  can  truthfully  he  said  that  he  has  acquired  practically 
every  dollar  as  a  result  of  his  own  industry  and  straightforward  busi- 
ness dealings. 

July  15,  1870,  Mr.  Kilgore  married  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Lane,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Mordicai  and  Charity  (Poster)  Lane.  .Mis. 
Kilgore  died  October  IS,  1909,  and  the  three  children  left  at  her  death 
were:  Myrtle,  wife  of  Warren  C.  Pinkeman  of  Marion;  Miss  Olive 
Kilgore.  of  Marion,  and  Karl,  who  resides  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
who  married  Mary  Overman,  and  their  one  son  is  also  named  Karl.  On 
June  12.  1912,  Mr.  Kilgore  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Isabelle 
Edmundson  of  Marion.  Mrs.  Kilgore  is  a  native  of  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.  Their  home  at  501  Wabash  avenue  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  residences  of  the  city.  Fraternallv  Mr.  Kilgore  is  affiliated 
with  the  Elks'  Club  of  Marion* 

Joshua  Strange.  The  prosperity  and  advancement  of  a  community 
depends  upon  the  social  character  and  public  spirit  of  its  members.  In 
every  prosperous  town  and  country  center  will  be  found  citizens  who 
take  the  lead  and  give  their  energies  not  alone  to  their  well  being,  but 
to  the  things  that  mean  better  and  fuller  life  for  all.  Such  a  citizen 
in  Grant  county  has  Mr.  Joshua  Strange  been  recognized  for  many  years. 

As  to  his  position  in  life  and  the  work  to  which  he  has  chiefly 
devoted  himself  it  is  somewhat,  difficult  to  classify  Mr.  Strange.  A 
large  number  of  the  years  of  his  active  career  were  spent  in  farming 
and  stock  raising  on  a  large  scale  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county 
in  .Monroe  township,  but  for  a  long  time  his  name  has  been  prominently 
associated  with  business,  industrial  and  financial  organizations  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  There  is  no  question,  however,  but  that  Mr.  Strange 
represents  first  and  foremost  the  rural  interests  of  this  county.  That 
he  is  by  no  means  restricted  in  his  activities  and  sympathies,  since  he 
has  for  some  years  been  a  national  and  state  figure  in  everything  that 
pertains  to  the  development  of  the  country  and  the  welfare  of  the  rural 
residents.  With  Joshua  Strange  it  is  a  belief  like  the  gospel  that 
civilization  rests  at  bottom  on  the  wholesomeness.  the  attractiveness, 
and  the  completeness  of  life  in  the  country.  In  the  accomplishments 
of  his  long  and  useful  life,  if  he  might  be  privileged  to  express  a  signifi- 
cance for  what  he  has  done  he  would  undoubtedly  desire  that  his  life 
work  might  stand  for  something  actually  done  in  developing  country 
life  to  its  greater  efficiency  and  prosperity. 

Joshua  Strange  is  one  of  the  oldest  native  sons  of  Grant  county. 
He  was  born  in  this  county  November  18,  1844,  a  son  of  George  and 
Lydia  (Buckwall)  Strange.  His  father  was  born  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio.  November  12,  1819,  and  gave  practically  all  his  life  to  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  A  few  years  were  spent  in  partnership  with  William 
Hayes  in  the  packing  and  shipping  of  hogs.  This  enterprise  had  its 
seat  in  Grant,  county,  and  the  partners  bought  a  large  number  of  hogs 
at  10c  per  pound,  after  which  the  market  immediately  dropped  to  7c 
before  they  had  accepted  delivery  of  the  hogs.  The  partners,  however, 
stood  by  their  contract,  and  paid  the  ten  cents,  and  in  order  to  equalize 
things  they  had  to  buy  a  great  quantity  at  the  price  of  seven  cents  per 
pound.  These  transactions  occurred  about  1863.  during  the  height  of 
the  Civil  war  period.  The  late  George  Strange  came  to  Grant  county 
in  1841,  making  his  pei-manent  settlement  here  in  that  year.  Two  years 
previously  he  had  come  to  the  county  and  selected  the  site  on  which  he 
subsequently  built  his  cabin  home.  After  making  this  selection  of  his 
home  he  walked  all  the  way  back  to  Highland  county,  Ohio.  The  set- 
tlement of  George  Strange  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 


310  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  section  nine  of  Monroe  township,  that  land  having  previously  been 
entered  by  his  father  Absalom  Strange,  who  had  attained  his  grant 
from  the  government.  Absalom  Strange  had  gone  from  Ohio  to  Indiana 
to  enter  land,  going  via  Indianapolis  to  Fort  Wayne  from  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  returned  after  entering  this  land  and  where  he 
remained  until  his  death.  George  Strange  spent  most  of  the  years  of 
his  active  life  in  Monroe  township,,  where  at  one  time  he  owned  seven 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable 
energy,  and  kept  active  supervision  over  his  affairs  until  he  was  eighty 
years  of  age.  He  and  his  wife  kept  their  own  house  and  managed  their 
own  affairs  even  when  extremely  old.  In  the  fall  of  1908  Mr.  George 
Strange  was  stricken  with  heart  trouble  and  never  fully  recovered 
previous  to  his  death  which  occurred  October  1,  1909.  In  politics  he 
was  an  "old  hickory  Democrat."  For  twelve  years  he  served  as  trustee 
of  Monroe  township,  and  during  that  time  his  annual  service  to  the 
township  never  cost  the  public  to  exceed  $67.00. 

Lydia  (Buckwall)  Strange,  the  mother  of  Joshua  Strange,  was  born 
in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  September  18,  1819,  and  died  February  19, 
1910,  being  then  past  ninety  years  of  age.  Although  at  that  extreme 
age  her  death  resulted  from  a  fall  when  she  broke  her  hip.  She  was  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  from  the  Princess  Louisa  of 
the  female  side  of  the  house  of  Hapsburg.  Her  grandfather,  whose 
name  was  Ellis,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  accompanied  Wash- 
ington on  his  stormy  voyage  across  the  Delaware  River  to  surprise  the 
Hessians  at  Trenton.  The  late  George  Strange  and  wife  were  parents 
of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living. 

It  was  the  fortune,  of  which  he  is  now  proud,  of  Joshua  Strange  to 
have  been  born  under  a  primitive  old  homestead  in  the  woods  of  Monroe 
township,  in  surroundings  where  the  wolves  and  other  wild  animals 
were  more  numerous  than  domestic  cattle,  and  at  a  time  when  this 
country  was  only  a  few  years  distant  from  its  earliest  settlement.  When 
old  enough  to  attend  school  he  went  to  the  first  school  in  the  district, 
at  Arcana,  originally  called  Mouron,  and  platted  in  1852  for  a  town,  of 
which  Mr.  Strange  has  the  original  plat.  At  this  school  the  teacher 
and  his  family  lived  in  half  of  the  school  building,  only  a  slight  parti- 
tion separating  the  two  apartments.  This  school  was  taught  by  William 
Harrison.  There  are  many  novel  and  interesting  l-eminiseences  of  those 
days  which  Mr.  Strange  relates,  and  they  would  all  be  valuable  material 
for  local  history.  His  attendance  at  the  district  school  was  completed 
in  a  school  house  erected  by  the  community  and  it  is  noteworthy  that 
Mr.  Strange  now  owns  all  the  land  where  this  school  house  stood;  the 
old  site  at  the  present  is  abandoned,  and  the  school  was  supplanted  by 
a  new  frame  building  with  the  Masonic  Hall  over  the  school  rooms. 

When  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Strange  entered  the  old 
seminary  at  Marion,  where  he  was  a  student  thirty-six  days,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  attained  eighteen  months'  license  for  teaching.  His 
first  term  of  school  was  at  Griffin  school  district,  where  he  taught  two 
terms  during  the  years  of  1864-65-66.  He  also  taught  two  terms  at 
the  Number  One  school  house  in  Monroe  township.  At  the  subsequent 
examination  he  obtained  a  certificate  for  two  years,  but  declined  any 
further  solicitations  to  teach,  and  thence  forward  devoted  all  his  time 
to  stock  raising  and  farming. 

It  is  one  of  the  distinctions  of  Mr.  Strange  as  a  farmer  that  he  was 
probably  the  first  man  in  the  county  to  undertake  the  breeding  of 
thorough-bred  short-hom  cattle  on  any  commercial  basis  and  produced 
the  first  herd  of  show  cattle  in  the  county.  His  business  of  farming 
was  begun  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  twelve  of  Monroe  town- 
ship,  where  he   remained   for  two   years.     During   that  residence   he 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        311 

built  a  log  house,  and  began  housekeeping  in  a  room  eleven  by  fifteen 
feet.  Two  years  later,  having  sold  out,  he  bought  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  fifteen  in  Monroe  township,  and  this  tine  body  of  land  is  still 
among  his  possessions.  He  remained  there  until  1883,  in  which  year 
he  built  his  present  beautiful  country  home  at  the  little  village  of 
Arcana,  which  is  located  just  north  of  his  former  place  and  in  section 
ten  of  Monroe  township.  He  moved  into  the  new  home  in  January, 
188L  and  continued  his  residence  there  until  November,  1903,  at  which 
latter  date  he  moved  to  Marion,  locating  first  at  362S  South  Washington 
Street,  a  property  which  he  still  owns,  and  where  he  lived  until  he 
bought  and  built  his  present  home  at  612  South  Bronson'  Street.  Mr. 
Strange  is  a  large  land  owner  and  at  the  present  time  has  600  acres 
in  this  county. 

His  active  career  as  a  stockman  began  in  1879,  when  he  took  up 
the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  short-horn  cattle.  In  1890  tuberculosis 
appeared  in  his  herd  and  he  had  to  dispose  of  all  the  survivors.  In 
1889  he  began  the  breeding  of  pure  Shropshire  sheep,  and  continued 
in  that  industry  as  long  as  he  remained  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Strange  in  1889  became  actively  identified  with  the  gas  boom  in 
this  county.  He  was  one  among  a  number  of  associates  who  organized 
the  gas  company  and  constructed  a  pipe  line  into  the  town  of  Van 
Buren.  He  was  president  of  this  company,  the  Arcana  Gas  Company, 
and  finally  became  sole  owner  of  its  stock  and  equipment.  While  oper- 
ating iu  this  field  he  struck  the  first  oil  well  in  the  township,  and  when 
his  gas  wells  gradually  developed  into  oil  he  invented  a  separator  which 
facilitated  the  production  of  the  oil.  In  1902  the  American  Window 
Glass  Company  bought  out  all  his  holdings  and  developments  and  leased 
his  territory. 

The  flourishing  towu  of  Van  Buren  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Grant 
county,  will  always  owe  a  debt  to  Mr.  Strange  as  the  leader  in  its  early 
development.  Iu  1903  he  secured  options  on  two  different  traits  of 
land  near  the  town  and  later  bought  them  by  the  acre.  They  com- 
prised twenty  acres  within  seventy-five  feet  of  the  center  of  town,  and 
he  platted  this  land  and  sold  as  business  and  residence  lots.  Subse- 
quently he  bought  another  tract  and  influenced  the  railroad  to  build 
a  new  depot  on  his  land.  His  enterprise  made  Van  Buren  largely  what 
it  is  at  the  present  time.  His  property  there  he  sold  almost  entirely 
at  a  large  profit  during  the  days  of  rising  values,  and  after  completing 
his  sales  he  retired  largely  from  active  business  and  has  since  turned 
over  the  management  of  his  farm  to  his  son.  However,  Mr.  Strange 
has  by  no  means  given  up  his  interest  in  scientific  agriculture,  and  de- 
votes a  large  part  of  his  activities  and  energies  to  means  and  practices 
for  the  improvement  of  country  life. 

His  public  and  semi-public  services  have  been  so  numerous  and 
varied  that  it  will  be  difficult  to  enumerate  even  the  most  important  of 
them.  First  and  foremost  should  be  mentioned  his  interests  in  the 
good  road  movement.  Mr.  Strange  is  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of  the 
State  Good  Road  Association,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
National  Good  Road  Congress.  He  has  been  officially  connected  with  a 
number  of  good  road  conventions,  but  has  not  been  able  to  attend  many 
of  them.  In  1910  he  was  president  of  the  Farmers  National  Congress 
which  convened  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  before  which  he  delivered 
as  his  annual  address  a  carefully  thought  out  and  worthy  paper  on 
"Federal  Appropriation  on  Roads,  as  to  its  application  and  Work- 
able Plan."  an  article  which  in  substance  was  recently  submitted  to 
Senator  Bourne,  chairman  of  the  Congressional  Committee  on  Federal 
aid  Jo  postal  roads.     Senator  Bourne  had  requested  Mr.  Strange  's  opin- 


312        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ion  with  regard  to  a  series  of  questions  relating  to  federal  cooperation 
in  promoting  the  good  roads  movement. 

Mr.  Strange  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  since  1866. 
Fraternally  he  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Odd-Fellows  since  1890.  In 
following  out  the  varied  activities  of  this  remarkable  citizen  it  is  of 
interest  to  note  that  he  was  one  of  the  original  grangers  in  Grant  county, 
having  become  active  in  that  order  during  the  early  seventies,  lie 
was  secretary  of  the  first  grange  organized  in  the  county,  and  subse- 
quently became  master  and  later  delegate  to  the  state  grange.  He 
organized  at  Marion  the  largest  grange  with  charter  membership  in  the 
history  of  the  order.  Mr.  Strange  was  also  a  member  and  was  consti- 
tuted state  organizer  for  the  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  during  •  its 
existence.  Co-operative  movements  with  objects  for  the  extension  of 
practical  benefit  and  for  educational  ends  have  always  enlisted  the 
hearty  cooperation  of  Mr.  Strange,  and  he  has  been  identified  with  a 
number  of  minor  enterprises  of  kindred  nature. 

Politically  his  interests  and  activities  have  always  been  directed  to 
the  agrarian  movement.  In  1888  the  Democrats,  without  his  consent 
or  knowledge,  nominated  him  for  the  office  of  representative  to  the 
state  legislature.  In  1890  at  the  organization  of  the  new  People's 
party,  he  was  nominated  for  the  legislature  and  the  Democrats  refused 
to  name  a  candidate  against  him.  However,  he  was  defeated.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  State  Central  Committee  and  in  1892 
state  chairman  of  the  People's  party  with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis. 
In  the  same  year  he  was  nominated  and  received  the  largest  vote  in  the 
state  for  congress  from  the  People's  party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  at  Omaha,  being  chairman  of  the  Indiana  delega- 
tion and  a  member  of  the  platform  committee.  The  platform  drafted 
at  the  Omaha  convention  by  the  committee  of  twenty-seven,  of  whom  he 
was  one,  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  documents  in  the  history  of 
American  political  parties,  especially  since  it  is  said  to  have  furnished 
more  material  for  active  legislation  than  any  other  platform  before  or 
since.  Mr.  Strange  was  also  a  member  of  the  National  Committee  of 
the  Populist  party.  In  1894  Mr.  Strange  was  nominated  for  congress 
by  the  Peoples  party,  an  honor  which  he  declined,  and  in  the  same  year 
was  a  delegate  to  the  National  People's  party  convention  at  St.  Louis 
when  the  nominees  were  Bryan  and  Watson.  He  took  an  important 
part  in  the  deliberations  and  actions  of  that  convention.  In  1902  he 
was  given  the  honor  of  writing  and  introducing  the  first  resolutions 
covering  the  initiative  and  referendum,  that  being  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  American  party  conventions  that  such  a  resolution  was  intro 
duced,  and  actually  constituted  a  part  of  the  platform. 

In  1895  Governor  Matthews  appointed  Mr.  Strange  a  delegate  to 
the  Farmers  National  Congress  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  He  is  a  life  mem- 
ber of  that  congress  and  has  served  it  officially  for  eight  years,  four 
years  as  second  vice  president,  two  years  as  first  vice  president,  and  two 
years  as  president,  and  for  six  years  on  the  program  to  respond  to 
address.  He  was  elected  president  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina  in  1909, 
and  made  the  program  for  the  1910-1911  session. 

Mr.  Strange  is  a  member  of  the  National  Civic  Federation,  and  at 
the  meeting  in  January  1910  of  the  governors  of  the  various  states  at 
Washington  he  was  one  of  the  committee  at  large  on  resolutions.  The 
governor  of  Indiana  subsequently  appointed  him  one  of  the  executive 
council  of  the  Civic  Federation  on  uniform  legislation  of  the  state.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  State  Conservation 
Association. 

Mr.  Strange  was  on  the  program  at  the  meeting  of  December  11-12-13, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        313 

1912,  of  the  Good  Roads  Congress  at  Indianapolis,  and  was  Eor  ten 
years  president  of  the  State  Farmers  Congress.  On  the  subject  which 
in  a  general  maimer  is  covered  by  these  organizations  mentioned,  and 
on  a  great  many  other  public  questions.  Mr.  Strange  has  been  Eor  years 
a  keen  and  advanced  thinker,  and  it  is  a  special  satisfaction  that  in 
later  years  he  has  seen  many  of  the  plans  and  methods  which  he  advo- 
cated anywhere  from  twenty  to  thirty  years  ago  now  instituted  and  a 
regular  part  of  our  civic  code.  In  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  farmer, 
Mr.  Strange  is  readily  recognized  as  a  national  figure.  He  is  one  of 
the  vice  presidents  of  the  National  Citizens  League  on  currency  and 
hanking  reforms.  He  was  appointed  from  the  National  Civic  Federa- 
tion, by  its  president,  Seth  Low,  as  one  of  the  committi I'  one  liundred 

on  immigration,  and  also  on  other  committees  notably  that  on  distribu- 
tion, and  also  on  the  one  for  the  enforcement  of  the  pure  food  la  ws. 

Mr.  Strange  was  oue  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  Hie 
Grant  County  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  a  company  which 
now  carries  an  insurance  business  aggregating  three  and  a  half  million 
dollars.  He  drafted  the  hill  for  the  organization  of  the  State  Cyclone 
and  Hailstorm  Insurance  Company  of  Indiana.  For  four  years  he  was 
state  secretary  of  the  State  Farmers  Mutual  Union  Insurance  Company, 
and  at  one  time  also  represented  Indiana  in  the  National  Union  of  the 
same  company.  He  took  a  foremost  part  in  the  Farmers  Institute  of 
Indiana,  and  every  honor  and  opportunity  for  service  in  these  different 
capacities  have  come  to  him  as  a  natural  demand  for  one  equipped  and 
experienced  for  the  best  possible  service,  and  he  has  given  in  their  behalf 
a  great  deal  of  disinterestedness  and  totally  unpaid  service. 

Mr.  Strange  was  married  on  March  1,  1S66.  to  Miss  Eunice  Leonard, 
a  daughter  of  George  "W.  and  Hannah  Leonard,  who  were  natives  of 
Clinton  county.  Ohio.  Mrs.  Strange  was  born  in  Grant  county.  August. 
3,  1845.  Of  the  six  children  born  to  their  union,  only  two  now  survive, 
William  T.  Strange,  who  is  active  manager  of  the  farm  in  Monroe  town- 
ship ;  and  Dr.  Leonard  Strange,  D.  D.  S.,  who  for  the  past  three  years 
has  been  supervising  the  operation  of  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Saskatchewan,  and  is  not  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

J.  Nixon  Elliott.  Among  his  many  Quaker  friends  and  all  classes 
of  people,  Mr.  Elliott  of  Fairmount  long  enjoyed  an  esteem  of  the  quality 
such  as  is  only  paid  to  persons  of  fine  character  and  noble  lives.  He 
belongs  to  the  good  old  pioneer  stock  of  Indiana,  and  Grant  county,  as 
did  also  his  wife ;  and  in  their  own  careers  they  have  exemplified  many 
of  the  finest  attributes  of  the  substantial  Quaker  people. 

The  history  of  the  Elliott  family,  to  which  Mr.  J.  Nixon  Elliott 
belongs  goes  back  to  great-grandfather  James  Elliott  who  was  born  in 
Perquimans  county,  North  Carolina,  in  1730.  He  married  Mary  Nixon, 
and  they  lived  and  died  in  their  native  county,  farmers  by  occupation. 
and  of  the  orthodox  Fox  Quaker  sect.  All  the  Elliott  family  were  rigid 
adherents  of  the  Quaker  religion,  and  though  they  were  settled  in  the 
Carolinas  from  the  colonial  days  their  principles  of  peaceful  living  pre- 
vented them  from  taking  any  part  in  the  military  history  of  the  wars 
through  which  the  family  record  runs. 

Nixon  Elliott,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Perquimans  county,  March 
12,  1764.  He  married  Rhoda,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Parker 
Scott,  who  was  born  November  10.  1773.  Her  father  Joseph  Scott  was 
born  about  1725.  was  a  farmer,  and  Quaker  in  religion  and  lived  and 
died  in  North  Carolina.  Nixon  Elliott  and  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Job  S.,  born  October  7,  1795,  was  married  in  North  Carolina  to 
Mary   Dillon,   afterwards  came   to   Indiana,   and   both   died   in    Henry 


314        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

county;  James,  born  September  4,  1800,  was  a  soldier  through  the 
Seminole  war  and  afterwards  lived  and  died  in  Florida,  raised  a  family 
there  and  one  of  his  sons,  Nixon  Elliott,  now  lives  in  Pueblo,  Colorado: 
Elias,  father  of  J.  Nixon  Elliott,  was  born  January  12,  1803.  The 
daughter  Mary  Elliott,  born  January  20,  1807,  first  married  a  Mr.  Alber- 
son,  who  died  early  in  life  leaving  one  child,  and  then  she  married 
James  Stelling,  and  came  north  and  died  near  Greentown,  Indiana, 
leaving  no  children  by  her  second  marriage. 

Elias  Elliott,  the  father  of  J.  Nixon  Elliott,  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and 
when  a  young  man  moved  to  Guilford  county,  in  North  Carolina.  There 
he  married  Martha  Saunders,  of  Deep  River,  where  she  was  born  in  1797, 
being  six  years  older  than  her  husband.  After  their  marriage  they  began 
life  as  farmers  in  Guilford  county,  and  all  their  children  were  born  in 
that  locality.  In  1849  the  family  came  north  to  Indiana,  and  after  a 
few  months  in  Wayne  county,  moved  near  to  Ogden  in  Henry  county, 
where  they  bought  a  farm,  and  in  the  following  autumn  the  mother 
died.  Elias  Elliott  married  for  his  second  wife  Jane  Cane,  a  Quakeress 
of  North  Carolina.  They  comtinued  to  live  in  Henry  county  for  seven 
years,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Dublin,  Indiana,  where  Elias  Elliott 
died  in  1884.  He  was  survived  some  years  by  his  wife,  who  died  at 
Richmond,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Both  were  lifelong 
members  of  the  Friends  church.  By  the  second  marriage  of  Elias  Elliott, 
the  following  children  are  noted :  John  B.,  who  lives  in  Richmond,  In- 
diana, contractor  and  builder,  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter; 
Martha,  who  died  early  in  life ;  Emma,  who  died  in  childhood. 

By  his  first  marriage  Elias  Elliott  had  the  following  children:  1. 
William  S.,  died  recently  near  Greentown,  in  Howard  county,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-four.  He  was  for  many  years  a  substantial  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Havenridge,  and  they  had  a  large  family,  two  of  whom  are 
yet  living;  after  death  of  his  first  wife  William  S.  married  Avis  Irish. 
One  of  their  children  died  in  infancy,  the  two  living  are  Mrs.  Mary 
Golding  and  Charles  Elliott  of  Oregon.  2.  Patrick  H.  lived  and  died 
in  Henry  county,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  attained  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Applegate,  and  his  second 
was  Levina  Reeves.  They  had  a  family  of  children.  3.  Dr.  David  S. 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  medical 
department  of  Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  was  president  of 
the  County  Medical  Society  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Dr.  Elliott  mar- 
ried Hanna  Cobb  and  had  two  children,  both  girls,  one,  Delphina,  died 
aged  16,  Hettie  is  still  living,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Rich- 
mond, Indiana.  4.  James  Nixon  Elliott  is  the  next  in  line.  5.  Mary 
Jane  is  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Griffin,  a  farmer  of  Spiceland,  Indiana.  She 
was  first  married  to  Alfred  Hall. 

J.  Nixon  Elliott,  was  born  at  Deep  River.  Guilford  county.  North 
Carolina,  October  28,  1837.  When  he  was  eleven  years  old  the  family 
moved  to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  and  there  he  grew  up  and  received  a 
practical  training  on  a  farm,  and  also  some  early  educational  advantages 
in  the  pioneer  schools.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  south  to  Macon. 
Mississippi,  and  for  one  year  was  engaged  in  teaching  the  children  of 
the  Freedmen.  In  1864  his  brother  David  had  moved  to  Grant  county, 
and  on  J.  Nixon  Elliott's  return  from  Mississippi  he  located  in  Fair- 
mount.  He  bought  a  drug  store  at  that  place  and  continued  actively 
in  the  drug  business  for  fourteen  years.  Afterwards  he  changed  his  line 
for  dry  goods  and  was  an  active  merchant  for  a  number  of  years.  For 
a  long' time  he  has  been  retired,  and  now  lives  in  his  fine  home  at  127  E. 
Washington  street  in  Fairmount. 

In  1872  in  Fairmount  township.  Mr.  Elliott  married  Ruth  Winslow. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  315 

who  was  born  in  Fail-mount  township.  July  1.  1839.  Her  home  was 
always  in  Grant  county,  and  she  represented  old  pioneer  stock.  Her 
parents  were  Seth  and  Mary  (Hill)  Winslow,  both  natives  of  Randolph 
count}',  North  Carolina,  her  father  born  August  23.  1807,  and  her  mother 
March  2,  1802.  They  were  married  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  Seth 
Winslow 's  father  was  Joseph  Winslow.  who  married  Paulina  Pritchard, 
and  came  north  to  Indiana  in  1830.  entering  government  land  in  section 
twenty-three  of  Fairmount  township.  On  part  of  that  land  is  now 
located  the  Back  Creek  Quaker  cemetery.  There  Joseph  Winslow  and 
wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  years.  Mary  (Hill)  Winslow  was 
the  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Mary  Hill,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Granl 
county,  entering  land  in  Fairmount  township,  and  living  there  until 
their  death  at  a  good  old  age.  The  Hill  family  came  to  Grant  county 
about  1830,  and  like  the  Winslows  were  prominent  early  members  of 
the  Quaker  church.  All  the  various  members  of  these  early  families  are 
buried  in  Back  Creek  cemetery.  Seth  Winslow  was  married  in  Wayne 
county,  and  then  moved  to  Fairmount  township,  entering  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  government  land.  It  was  on  that  pioneer  farm  that 
he  and  his  wife  reared  their  family,  and  lived  and  died.  Twelve  acres 
of  the  old  Winslow  farm  is  now  the  present  beautiful  Park  cemetery  of 
Fairmount.  Seth  Winslow  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years  and  his 
wife  was  seventj'-seven  at  the  time  of  her  death.  In  their  family  were 
the  following  children:  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Caroline.  Jesse,  and  Ruth, 
who  became  Mrs.  Elliott.  She  fell  heir  to  most  of  her  father's  large 
estate  and  the  value  of  the  property  has  been  donated  to  Earlham  Co] 
lege  at  Richmond,  the  property  to  pass  to  that  institution  when  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Elliott  die.  Mr.  Elliott  is  an  active  member  of  the  local 
Quaker  church,  as  was  also  his  wife  and  in  which  he  has  been  a  member 
for  many  years.  In  church  ami  civic  affairs  he  has  always  borne  his  full 
share  of  responsibilities.  He  has  given  service  as  township  trustee,  and 
in  polities  has  been  active  in  the  Prohibition  cause.  To  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  was  born  one  child,  Metella,  who  lived  less  than 
one  year  and  was  buried  on  her  first  anniversary.  Mrs.  J.  Nixon  Elliott 
died  August  19.  1913.  and  is  buried  in  Park  cemetery,  Fairmount. 

Samuel  McClure.  In  any  account  of  the  history  of  Grant  county, 
mention  must  be  made  of  Samuel  McClure,  who  had  a  large  share  in 
shaping  the  destinies  of  this  section.  He  was  one  of  the  men  of  the 
pioneer  type,  who  were  willing  to  sacrifice  much  for  the  sake  of  the 
community,  and  who  bent  all  their  efforts  towards  building  up  the 
country  in  which  they  had  made  their  homes.  The  name  of  Samuel 
McClure  is  especially  associated  with  the  early  Indian  affairs  of  this 
region  and  no  man  did  a  more  unselfish  work  for  the  Indians  than  did 
Mr.  McClure.  In  the  memories  of  all  the  older  settlers  of  this  country 
he  is  remembered  as  a  man  of  splendid  business  ability  and  of  great 
strength  and  nobility  of  character. 

Samuel  McClure  was  descended  from  Scotch  and  English-Irish  an- 
cestors. His  great-grandfather  emigrated  from  Scotland  at  a  very  early 
day  and  settled  in  Richmond.  Virginia.  Here  a  son  was  born,  named 
Robert,  and  the  latter  about  1770.  emigrated  to  Newberry  District. 
South  Carolina.  Here  Samuel  McClure,  the  first,  was  horn  on  the 
11th  of  November.  1777.  He  grew  up  in  this  state  and  in  1804  married 
Mary  Stewart,  who  was  born  on  the  31st  of  January.  1777.  in  South 
Carolina.  In  the  same  year  in  which  they  were  married  the  young 
couple  set  forth  on  a  journey  to  Ohio,  which  was  then  the  Northwest 
territory  and  here  they  located  near  Dayton,  on  the  Little  Miami  river. 
After  living  here  for  five  years  they  removed  to  Shelby  county.  Ohio. 


316        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

where  they  remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812.  At  that 
time  Samuel  McClure  returned  to  South  Carolina  and  there  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1813.  During  his  return  trip  to  Ohio  he  and  his  team 
were  seized  and  impressed  lor  United  States  service.  They  were  taken 
to  Fort  St.  Mary's  and  there  he  assisted  in  building  the  fort  and  block- 
house, and  after  its  completion  returned  to  his  home.  In  1815  he 
settled  on  Nine  Mile  Creek,  two  miles  above  his  former  home  and  here 
he  remained  until  Christmas  Day,  1S26.  At  this  time  he  left  Ohio  and 
came  to  Indiana,  settling  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Wabash.  He 
only  remained  here  a  short  time  before  removing  to  Grant  county. 
This  was  in  1827,  and  during  this  year,  or  the  year  following,  he  built 
the  first  mill  on  the  Mississinewa  river  that  was  located  within  the  limits 
of  Grant  county,  and  this  mill  was  only  the  second  to  be  erected  in  the 
county.  He  managed  this  mill  successfully  for  some  years  and  then 
returned  to  his  former  home  in  Wabash,  where  he  died  on  the  22nd  of 
September,  1838.  His  widow  survived  him  only  a  short  time,  dying 
on  May  27,  1839. 

Samuel  and  Mary  McClure  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Samuel  McClure,  the  second,  was»born  on  the  16th  of  November, 
1807,  in  Shelby  county,  Ohio.  He  lived  with  his  father  until  he  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age  and  he  then  concluded  to  enter  the  Indian 
trade,  his  interest  in  the  Indian  tribes  scattered  throughout  his  region 
having  always  been  a  very  deep  one.  At  this  time  there  were  about 
eighteen  hundred  Indians  settled  along  the  Wabash  and  Mississinewa 
rivers  and  prospects  for  trade  among  them  were  very  good.  In  the 
spring  of  1822  he  therefore  went  to  live  with  W.  G.  and  G.  W.  Ewing, 
who  were  Indian  traders,  in  order  that  he  might  learn  the  business. 
He  remained  with  them  for  several  seasons,  but  in  the  fall  of  1828  he 
procured  a  small  stock  of  goods  with  wrhich  to  carry  on  a  winter  trade 
from  the  E  wings,  and  then,  building  two  log  cabins  on  the  banks  of 
the  Wabash,  he  started  out  in  business  for  himself.  In  one  of  his 
cabins  he  placed  his  stock  of  goods  and  made  a  trading  post  while  he 
used  the  other  as  a  place  to  cook  and  sleep  in.  Using  as  his  motto 
the  word  "Efficiency"  he  set  to  work  to  do  everything  within  his  power 
to  make  his  business  a  success,  and  with  this  in  view  struggled  over  the 
intricacies  of  the  Indian  language  and  various  dialects,  and  exerted  all 
his  powers  to  win  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  the  tribes  among  whom 
he  traded.  He  was  extremely  successful  in  both  endeavors,  after  a 
time  becoming  a  fluent  speaker  of  the  Indian  tongue,  and  everywhere 
he  went  he  obtained  the  confidence  of  the  natives.  In  the  winter  of 
1832-33  he  moved  his  post  to  a  point  three  miles  below  the  Wabash 
river,  and  located  it  on  his  father's  farm.  He  now  became  a  farmer  in 
the  summer  while  continuing  his  trading  operations  in  the  winter.  In 
1833  he  and  his  brother  Robert  cut  the  first  state  road  that  ran  through 
Wabash  county. 

It  was  in  1833  that  Samuel  McClure  was  married  to  Susannah  Fur- 
row, the  ceremony  taking  place  on  the  10th  of  January.  Mrs.  McClure 
was  a  daughter  of  James  G.  Furrow,  of  Fort  Laramie,  Ohio.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  McClure  remained  in  Wabash  county  until  February, 
1834,  when  he  removed  to  Marion,  in  Grant  county.  Here  he  rented 
store  room  from  his  father  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
trading  with  both  the  white  settlers  and  the  Indians,  but  in  particular 
carrying  on  trading  operations  with  the  Meshingomesia  band.  He  at 
this  time  had  very  little  capital  and  it  was  only  through  the  kindness 
of  Jacob  and  Abel  Furrow  that  he  was  able  to  obtain  his  first  stock  of 
goods  from  New  York  City.  These  two  men  were  merchants  in  Piqua, 
Ohio,  and  were  uncles  of  his  wife's.     It  was  shortly  after  he  had  opened 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  317 

his  store  aud  when  he  had  just  about  exhausted  his  lirst  stock  of  goods 
that  he  paid  a  visit  to  Dayton.  Ohio,  where  he  met  Mr.  Phillips,  a  whole- 
sale merchant  of  that  city,  and  from  him  obtained  another  small  stock 
of  goods.  It  was  in  this  way  that  he  struggled  Eorward,  but  after  a 
time  prosperity  began  to  come  to  him,  and  this  was  chiefly  through  his 
strict  adherence  to  the  principles  of  honesty  and  square  dealing.  In 
Indian  trading  at  that  time  there  were  untold  opportunities  to  cheal 
the  red  men.  but  Mr.  McClure  was  cast  in  a  mold  in  which  dishonesty 
was  utterly  impossible  to  his  nature.  lie  consequently  won  their  implicit 
trust  and  at  the  same  time  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  the  while 
settlers.  It  was  not  long  before  his  creditors  discovered  that  he  paid  his 
debts  promptly  and  he  was  soon  established  ou  a  solid  busiuess  b;isis.  lie 
was  engaged  in  business  along  mercantile  lines  in  the  city  of  .Marion 
from  1834  to  1880  and  during  this  time  his  business  grew  steadily  until 
he  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  this  section,  very  influential 
in  all  matters  of  public  interest. 

It  was  for  his  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Indians  that  Mr.  McClure 
was  best  known  in  the  community,  for  during  all  these  years  his  activity, 
engendered  by-  his  acquaintance  with  the  Indians  during  his  early  years 
as  a  trader,  was  steadily  directed  toward  bettering  their  conditions  and 
seeing  that  they  received  fair  play.  He  early  became  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  business  affairs  of  the  Indians  of  the  surrounding 
tribes  and  in  all  transactions  which  they  had  with  the  white  people  he 
became  their  chief  counsellor.  He  had  their  implicit  confidence  and  in 
time  came  to  have  almost  entire  charge  of  the  business  relations  of  all 
the  surrounding  tribes.  They  never  had  any  occasion  to  regret  this 
trust  which  they  placed  in  him.  ever  finding  him  a  wise  and  able 
adviser.  Several  times  he  went  to  "Washington  to  intercede  with  the 
government  in  their  behalf.  Assisted  by  Mr.  Miller,  he  was  instrumental 
in  securing  the  payment  of  their  annuity  at  Peru,  Indiana,  and  in  1853, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  same  gentleman,  and  accompanied  by  a  dele- 
gation of  Miamis,  he  succeeded  in  having  a  census  taken  of  all  the  Miami 
Indians.  He  also  assisted  in  making  the  treaty  of  1854,  and  in  securing 
the  legislation  for  the  partition  of  the  Meshingomesia  reservation  in 
1873.  and  in  every  way  manifested  the  deepest  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
the  Indians. 

From  one  of  the  poorest  men  to  one  of  the  wealthiest  in  a  community 
is  no  small  rise,  and  this  is  what  Mr.  McClure  did.  He  at  one  time  owned 
over  five  hundred  acres  of  land  and  much  valuable  city  realty  in  Marion 
and  Toledo,  Ohio.  However,  many  men  become  wealthy,  and  that  is 
not  the  reason  the  citizens  of  Marion  honor  his  memory,  but  the  fact 
that  in  gaining  his  wealth  he  used  only  clean,  upright  business  methods 
and  the  good  name  winch  he  left  is  a  priceless  heritage  to  his  sons.  He 
died  in  1889  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  He  and  his  wife  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  James  M..  Mary  A..  Eliza  J..  Rosetta 
M.,  .Louis  A.,  and  Erastus  P.,  the  latter  being  elsewhere  mentioned  in 
this  volume.     Eliza  J.  and  Erastus  P.,  are  the  only  surviving  children. 

Erastus  P.  McClure.  Belonging  to  the  well  known  McClure  family 
of  Marion  and  Grant  county.  Indiana.  Erastus  P.  McClure  1ms  ably 
upheld  the  traditions  of  that  family  for  integrity  and  fair  dealing. 
He  was  born  and  has  always  lived  in  the  city  of  Marion  and  no  man  lias 
been  more  active  in  every  movement  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his 
home  city  than  has  Mr.  McClure.  He  has  been  for  many  years  one  of 
the  prominent  business  men  of  the  town  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  political  and  civic  affairs,  giving  willingly  of  both  time  and   money. 

Erastus  P.  McClure  was  born  on  the  17th  of  February,  1845,  in  the 


318        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

old  McClure  homestead,  on  the  corner  of  Adams  and  Branson  streets, 
now  located  in  the  principal  retail  business  district.  He  is  the  son  of 
Samuel  and  Susannah  (Furrow)  McClure,  who  are  mentioned  at  greater 
length  elsewhere -in  this  volume.  His  father  was  one  of  the  earliest 
and  most  prominent  residents  of  this  section  and  his  death  in  1889  was 
a  great  loss  to  the  community. 

The  Marion  public  schools  furnished  Erastus  McClure  with  his  ele- 
mentary education,  and  after  he  had  completed  the  high  school  courses 
he  entered  the  Indiana  State  University,  only  remaining  there  one  term. 
He  was  eager  to  enter  the  business  world  and  considered  the  training 
of  a  business  college  of  more  value  to  him  at  this  time  than  that  of  the 
university.  He  therefore  matriculated  at  Toledo  Commercial  College, 
where  he  remained  for  one  term.  He  then  returned  to  Marion  and  went 
into  business.  He  conducted  the  store  in  partnership  with  his  father, 
becoming  a  successful  merchant,  and  was  also  engaged  in  farming.  For 
the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  handling  and  shipping 
of  live  stock,  and  is  the  owner  of  the  farm  which  his  father  owned  and 
operated,  lying  just  east  of  the  city  of  Marion.  In  all  of  his  business 
relations  he  has  been  exceedingly  careful  to  maintain  the  honorable 
name  which  his  father  left  him  and  no  man  in  the  city  is  more  highly 
respected  than  is  E.  P.  McClure. 

His  activity  in  civic  matters  has  kept  him  niiieh  in  the  public  eye. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  park  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Marion  and 
helped  to  plan  and  lay  out  Matter  Park.  He  was  president  of  the 
Commercial  Club  in  Marion  for  many  years  and  was  a  member  of  the 
building  committee  that  had  in  charge  the  erection  of  the  Commercial 
Club  building.  In  politics  Mr.  McClure  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party  and  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  politics,  formerly  being 
very  active,  although  he  confined  his  activities  to  working  for  his 
friends,  caring  nothing  for  political  honors  for  himself.  He  was  made 
delegate  at  large  to  the  Republican  National  convention  in  1904. 

Mr.  McClure  was  married  in  November,  1867,  to  Celia  Carey,  a 
daughter  of  Simon  Carey,  who  was  a  former  jeweller  of  Marion.  Mrs. 
McClure  died  in  1906  on  the  10th  of  December,  having  become  the 
mother  of  three  children,  two  boys  who  died  in  childhood  and  one 
daughter,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Harry  Croslan,  of  Marion. 

George  W.  Smith.  Few  families  of  Grant  county,  Indiana,  are 
more  widely  or  favorably  known  than  that  of  Smith,  which  traces  its 
ancestry  back  for  generations  in  this  country,  and  numbers  among  its 
members  men  prominent  in  business  and  agriculture,  in  the  professions 
and  in  civic  life,  and  in  military  circles  from  the  time  of  the  struggle 
for  American  independence.  A  worthy  representative  of  the  name  is 
found  in  George  W.  Smith,  the  owner  of  a  farm  in  section  3,  Mill  town- 
ship, who  has  passed  his  entire  career  here  and  is  known  as  a  progres- 
sive and  public  spirited  citizen. 

The  great-grandfather  of  George  W.  Smith  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolutionary  war  enlisted  in  the  Continental 
army  and  continued  to  serve  faithfully  throughout  the  period  of  war- 
fare, being  with  General  George  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  He  died 
in  Halifax  county,  Virginia,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and 
four  years,  and  his  widow  subsequently  moved  to  Fayette  county,  Ohio, 
in  1827,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  son,  James  Smith.  Like  her  hus- 
band, she  reached  phenomenal  age,  having  reached  one  hundred  and 
seven  years  at  the  time  of  her  death,  a  short  time  previous  to  which 
she  had  walked  over  a  mile. 

James  Smith,  the  grandfather  of  George  "W.  Smith,  was  born  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  319 

1787,  in  Halifax  county,  Virginia,  was  there  reared  and  educated,  and 
when  war  was  declared  with  England  in  1812  enlisted  in  the  American 
service  and  continued  to  tight  gallantly  until  peace  was  declared.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  county  to  a  Miss  Henderson,  who  was  born 
there  about  1789,  and  after  the  birth  of  several  of  their  children  they 
left  Virginia,  in  1820,  and  moved  to  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
Smith  secured  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  military  land,  given  him 
by  the  Government  on  account  of  his  services,  and  located  near  Rattle- 
snake Creek.  There  the  first  Mrs.  Smith  died  in  1856  or  1857,  and  Mr. 
Smith  was  afterward  married  to  Miss  Anna  Tracy,  who  died  in  1890  or 
1S91.  when  seventy  years  of  age,  without  issue.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  steady 
and  industrious  farmer,  and  when  he  died,  in  1877,  his  community 
lost  one  of  its  good  citizens  and  stalwart  Democrats.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  quite  a  large  family. 

Charles  Smith,  the  father  of  George  W.  Smith,  was  born  in  Halifax 
county.  Virginia,  January  26.  1813.  and  died  at  his  home  in  Mill  town- 
ship. Grant  county,  Indiana.  March  4.  1879.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  accompanied  his  parents  In  Payette 
county.  Ohio,  from  whence,  in  1852,  he  came  to  Grant  county.  Indiana. 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  sections  2  and  3,  Mill  township,  of 
Joshua  Cannon,  twelve  acres  of  this  property  being  improved.  Here 
his  first  residence  was  a  log  cabin,  but  in  1859  he  erected  the  home  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  George  W.  Smith.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
all  of  his  life,  had  an  honorable  and  upright  career,  and  fairly  won  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellowmen.  He  was  married  in  1845,  in  Fayette 
county.  Ohio,  to  Miss  Beulah  Haines,  who  was  born  June  24.  1820,  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at  the  homestead  in  Mill  township.  March 
10.  1879,  just  six  days  after  the  death  of  her  husband.  She  was  a 
woman  of  many  excellencies  of  mind  and  heart,  and  from  girlhood 
throughout  her  life  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Smith  was  an  early  Republican,  casting  "his  vote  for  Fremont,  and  was 
always  opposed  to  slavery.  Ebenezer  Haines,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Smith,  was  born  in  Winchester  county.  Virginia,  and  his  wife's 
father  was  Captain  Berry,  who  was  in  charge  of  a  company  during  the 
Colonial  wars,  and  a  neighbor  of  General  Francis  Marion,  with  whom 
he  fought  during  the  Revolution.  Prior  to  this  he  served  as  a  captain 
under  General  Braddoek  at  Braddock's  Defeat.  Captain  Berry  was 
also  the  founder  of  Berry's  Ferry.  Virginia.  Of  the  children  of  Charles 
and  Beulah  (Haines)  Smith.  George  W.  Smith  is  the  next  to  the 
youngest.  The  others  were  as  follows :  Martha  J.,  born  December  12, 
1845.  who  became  the  wife  of  David  Lyon,  and  died  May  30,  1896.  leav- 
ing two  children ;  Mary  E..  born  in  1847,  became  the  wife  of  John  C. 
Evans,  and  died  August  16.  1910,  leaving  three  children.  Wilber, 
Chester  and  Ethel;  Samuel  N..  born  July  20,  1850,  died  April  9. 
1881,  single ;  Emma,  born  July  21,  1852.  who  became  the  wife  of  Eugene 
Swarts;  and  Alice,  born  April  IS.  1860.  who  died  July  12.  1905.  after 
her  marriage  to  "William  Stout,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Victor  L. 

George  W.  Smith  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies  April 
15,  1855.  He  received  good  educational  advantages  in  the  district  schools 
of  Ins  native  locality  and  the  Jonesbom  high  school,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift.  As  a  young 
man  he  decided  to  make  farming  his  life  work,  and  the  success  which 
has  since  attended  his  well  directed  efforts  shows  that  he  made  no  mistake 
in  his  choice  of  vocations.  A  Republican  in  his  political  views,  he  has 
not  found  time  to  enter  extensively  into  the  public  arena,  but  has  dis- 
played his  good  citizenship  by  serving  in  the  capacity  of  deputy  town- 
ship assessor  for  a  period  of  seven  years.     With  his  family  he  attends 


320  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

the  Methodist  church,  and  has  always  endeavored  to  live  up  to  its 
teachings. 

On  August  26,  1880,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Mill  township  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Hiatt,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
October  16,  1857,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  Mill  township.  The 
Hiatt  family  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  this  section.  Mrs.  Smith's 
father,  David  W.  Hiatt;  who  died  on  the  22d  of  January,  1914,  was  at 
the  time  of  his  death  the  oldest  native-born  resident  of  the  county.  He 
was  a  grandson  of  William  Hiatt  and  a  son  of  David  Hiatt,  both  born 
in  North  Carolina  (probably  in  Randolph  county)  and  members  of  an 
old  southern  family  which  belonged  to  the  Quaker  faith  for  generations. 
William  and  David  Hiatt  came  to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  in  1826,  the 
latter  entering  eighty  acres  of  land  on  the  Mississinewa  river,  section  29, 
Mill  township,  July  12th  of  that  year.  This  was  prior  to  the  organization 
of  the  county,  there  being  only  seven  other  families  within  its  borders, 
and  Mr.  Hiatt  was  forced  to  walk  to  Fort  Wayne  to  register  his  entry. 
Both  William  and  David  Hiatt  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  advanced 
years.  David  Hiatt  married  first  a  Miss  Hiatt  (no  relation),  and  after- 
ward a  Miss  Adamson,  who  also  attained  old  age.  David  W.  Hiatt,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  born  in  Mill  township,  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
November  19,  1830,  the  county  being  still  unorganized  at  that  time,  and 
with  the  exception  of  sixteen  years  spent  in  Emmetsburg,  Iowa,  has 
lived  in  Grant  county  all  of  his  life,  which  has  been  devoted  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  Although  now  more  than  eighty-three  years  of  age,  he  is 
well  preserved,  being  but  slightly  bothered  by  sight  and  hearing.  His 
political  faith  is  that  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  keeps  well  posted 
as  to  the  affairs  of  importance.  Mr.  Hiatt  was  married  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, Grant  county,  August  10,  1854,  to  Miss  Lavina  Patterson,  who  was 
born  in  Grant  county,  January  24,  1837,  and  died  in  Mill  township  May 
23,  1872,  in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  church.  They  had  two  children : 
Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  George  W.  Smith,  and  Viola,  born  August  16,  1860, 
now  the  wife  of  Elmer  Dye,  of  Deputy,  Jefferson  county,  Indiana. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  had  the  following  children :  Leo  Fred, 
born  January  24,  1882,  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Marion 
Business  College,  and  now  a  carpenter  of  St.  Lawrence,  South  Dakota, 
and  single;  Lawrence  Guy,  born  August  30,  1884,  educated  in  Mill  town- 
ship, and  now  his  father's  assistant  on  the  homestead  place;  Walter  H., 
born  September  5,  1887,  at  home;  and  Francis  Burr,  born  February  23, 
1890,  also  at  home. 

Uz  McMurtrie.  To  see  a  young,  energetic,  college  bred  man,  who 
is  making  use  of  his  education  and  working  his  theoretical  knowledge 
into  practical  experience,  must  inspire  anyone  to  a  belief  in  education 
and  in  the  practicality  of  a  university  course.  Uz  McMurtrie,  of  Marion, 
Indiana,  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  the  younger  generation  in  the 
city,  and  is  a  man  who  has  won  the  respect  of  everyone,  not  only  through 
his  unmistakable  ability,  but  also  through  his  own  well  rounded  and 
developed  character.  He  is  now  county  treasurer  of  Grant  county,  the 
youngest  county  treasurer  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  active  citizens  of  the  community,  being  always 
ready  to  take  a  hand  in  any  movement  that  may  benefit  the  city  or 
county. 

Uz  McMurtrie  was  born  on  the  12th  of  July,  1884,  at  Attica,  Indiana, 
the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Starr)  McMurtrie.  Both  of  his 
parents  were  natives  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  his  father  having  been 
born  in  Fountain  county,  and  his  mother  in  Vermillion  county.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Com- 
pany B,  135th  Indiana  Infantry.     Was  very  young  when  he  entered 


*f 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  32] 

being  one  of  the  youngest  members  in  the  company.  William  McMur- 
trie  and  his  wife  removed  to  Grant  county  in  1892,  and  here  they  have 
lived  ever  since,  he  being  now  retired  from  business.  They  have  had 
three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Uz  McMurtrie  and  Joseph 
McMurtrie,  who  is  local  manager  for  Armour  &  Company  in  Miami. 
Florida. 

Vz  McMurtrie  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Attica  and  Marion,  being  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  Marion. 
He  then  matriculated  at  Indiana  University  at  Bloomington,  where  he 
took  a  four-year  course.  He  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1908, 
receiving  an  A.  B.  degree.  He  majored  in  economics  and  social  science, 
and  one  of  the  requirements  for  a  degree  in  this  department  was  a  thesis. 
Mr.  McMurtrie  chose  for  his  subject  "The  Separation  of  the  Sources  of 
State  and  Local  Taxation,"  the  thesis  being  the  result  of  two  years' 
research  work  in  problems  of  taxation.  He  has  continued  his  work  along 
these  lines,  making  a  special  study  of  taxation  and  is  now  considered 
an  expert  in  this  subject.  While  in  the  University  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  his  class,  and  to  anyone  who  has  ever  been  a  university  student 
this  tells  a  story,  for  it  takes  a  man  with  real  executive  ability  and  great 
personal  popularity  to  win  this  office. 

Upon  returning  to  Marion  he  was  elected  deputy  county  treasurer, 
serving  under  W.  H.  Sanders.  He  went  into  office  in  1909  and  served 
during  1910,  1911.  and  1912.  In  November,  1912,  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  on  the  Republican  ticket,  taking  office  on  the  1st  of  January. 
1913,  and  his  previous  experience  in  the  duties  of  the  office  as  well  as 
his  training  and  study  along  economic  lines  have  enabled  him  to  become 
a  very  efficient  officer.  On  February  11,  1914,  Mr.  McMurtrie  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  E.  Hogin  Mrs. 
McMurtrie  is  a  member  of  one  of  Marion's  oldest  families.  She  was 
graduated  from  Wilson  College,  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  has 
studied  music  extensively,  possessing  a  voice  of  unusual  beauty.  She 
occupies  an  important  place  in  Marion  musical  circles  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  several  social  and  study  clubs. 

Mr.  McMurtrie  has  always  taken  a  prominent  part  in  social  and  fra- 
ternal affairs,  and  in  social  service  work.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  for  both  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  the 
Federated  Charities.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Country  Club  and  of  the 
Mecca  Club  of  Marion.  In  fraternal  affairs  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  being  junior  warden  of  Samaritan 
Lodge,  No.  105,  of  Marion.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  to  the  Elks.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  college  fraternity, 
and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  alma  mater  and  of  his 
fraternity. 

Anthony  B.  Rothinghouse.  Forty  years  of  residence  -and  business 
activity  gave  the  late  Anthony  B.  Rothinghouse  an  established  position 
in  the  citizenship  of  Jonesboro,  where  his  widow  and  one  son  still  live, 
the  latter  being  proprietor  of  the  finest  drug  store  of  the  city.  The  late 
Mr.  Rothinghouse  had  the  solid  virtues  of  his  German  forefathers,  was 
prospered  by  years  of  work  and  business  judgment  and  kept  himself  in 
public  spirited  relations  with  the  community  of  which  he  was  a  part. 

At  his  death  on  May  8,  1911,  the  community  lost  one  of  its  substantial 
older  citizens.  He  was  born  at  Minster,  Ohio.  June  24.  1840,  and  died 
at  the  beautiful  home  he  had  erected  on  north  Main  street  in  Jonesboro 
in  1901  He  was  of  German  parentage,  and  both  his  father  and  mother 
died  in  Ohio,  his  father  having  been  a  cooper.  The  late  Mr.  Rothing- 
house grew  up  in  Ohio,   and  after  a  somewhat  limited  education  was 


322  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

placed  under  the  direction  of  his  father  and  acquired  a  skilled  knowledge 
of  the  cooper's  trade.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Indiana,  and  at 
Anderson,  in  Madison  county,  on  July  28,  1864,  married  Miss  Ernestine 
Rozell.  She  was  born  in  this  state,  February  4,  1842,  a  daughter  of 
Hamlet  and  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Rozell,  both  natives  of  Indiana,  and  they 
were  married  near  New  Castle.  They  started  life  as  farmers,  at  first  in 
Delaware  county,  near  Yorktown,  and  afterwards  moved  to  the  city  of 
Anderson.  Mr.  Rozell  had  learned  the  trade  of  tanner,  and  continued  to 
follow  it  through  most  of  his  active  years.  ,His  death  occurred  at  Ander- 
son when  past  fifty  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  had  passed  way  some  time 
before.  They  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  before  the  mother,  and 
one,  Charles,  died  not  long  thereafter.  Those  yet  living  are  Mrs.  Roth- 
inghouse,  and  Miles  M.  Rozell,  who  is  a  widower  living  in  Anderson  and 
with  four  living  sons. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rothinghouse,  they  lived  in 
Madison  county  at  Anderson,  where  he  continued  his  trade  as  a  cooper. 
In  1869  they  located  in  Jonesboro,  and  in  1871  bought  their  first  home 
at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Third  Streets.  That  was  a  frame  house  of 
modest  proportions  and  comforts,  and  about  thirty  years  later  as  a  visible 
expression  of  the  generous  prosperity  which  had  resulted  from  his  labors, 
Mr.  Rothinghouse  built  the  substantial  eleven  room  brick  home,  where 
his  widow  now  resides  in  comfort  and  plenty.  The  late  Mr.  Rothing- 
house followed  his  trade  a  time  in  Jonesboro,  but  eventually  entered  the 
drug  store  of  his  son  Charles,  and  finally  took  up  the  profession  of 
pharmacy  and  was  connected  with  the  business  until  he  retired.  The  late 
Mr.  Rothinghouse  was  an  active  Republican,  much  interested  in  the  suc- 
cess of  his  party  and  held  several  local  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Jonesboro  Lodge  of  Masons  and  a  popular  member  of  the  local  post  of 
the  Grand  Army.  His  membership  in  that  order  followed  upon  a  service 
for  some  time  in  the  Union  army.  He  worshipped  in  the  Catholic  faith, 
while  Mrs.  Rothinghouse  is  a  Presbyterian. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rothinghouse  had  three  children :  Fred,  who  is  a  drug- 
gist at  Gas  City,  and  is  married;  Albert,  who  married  and  lived  in  Gas 
City,  was  killed  March  4,  1900,  while  performing  service  as  a  member 
of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  engaged  in  extinguishing  a  fire  at  the 
Gas  City  pottery,  his  death  resulting  from  a  falling  wall ;  and  Charles, 
who  is  still  a  resident  of  Jonesboro,  and  the  druggist  above  mentioned. 

Charles  Rothinghouse  was  born  at  Anderson,  Indiana,  May  30,  1865, 
and  has  lived  in  Jonesboro  since  1868.  When  he  was  twelve  years  of  age 
he  received  his  first  experience  in  a  drug  store,  and  has  followed  the 
business  with  such  success  as  to  place  him  in  the  first  rank  of  Grant 
county  druggists.  For  a  time  he  was  associated  with  his  brother  Fred, 
but  the  latter  since  1892  has  managed  the  Gas  City  store.  The  Rexall 
Store  of  Mr.  Rothinghouse  has  been  established  at  its  present  location 
since  1896,  and  he  and  his  father  were  previously  in  business  on  Fourth 
Street.  The  Rothinghouse  Block  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  brick 
business  structures  of  the  town,  and  Mr.  Rothinghouse  occupies  a  portion 
of  it  for  his  business.  It  is  a  large  and  commodious  store,  and  its  store 
furnishings  are  the  best  to  be  found  in  any  similar  establishment  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Rothinghouse  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Rexall  Store  Cor- 
poration, and  stands  in  the  tenth  place  of  the  United  States  for  sales  in 
towns  of  its  population  of  Jonesboro,  and  thirteenth  in  amount  of  sales  for 
any  store  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  regardless  of  population.  Mr.  Roth- 
inghouse believes  in  selling  staple  and  guaranteed  goods,  and  his  suc- 
cess is  largely  due  to  that  policy.  Mr.  Rothinghouse  married  Miss  Carrie 
Livengood,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Porter,  who  died 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  323 

at  the  age  of  two  ami  a  half  years;  and  Ernest,  bora  in  L889,  educated  at 
Notre  Dame,  and  in  a  school  of  pharmacy  at  New  Orleans,  and  since 
1909  has  been  in  business  with  his  father  as  a  registered  pharmacist. 

John  W.  Montgomery.     As  a  business  man  John  \V.  Montgomery 

is  one  of  the  best  known  in  Fairmount.  He  is  a  skillful  worker  in  marble 
and  granite,  and  does  a  large  business  as  a  dealer  in  monuments  at  that 
city.  His  family  reeord  connects  him  with  some  of  the  oldest  nanus  in 
the  history  of  Grant  county. 

The  monument  business  of  which  Mr.  Montgomery  is  now  at  the  head 
was  established  at  Fairmount  in  1868  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Hollingsworth,  who 
retired  in  1891,  and  this  is  one  of  the  oldest  concerns  with  a 
continuous  history  in  the  town.  Mr.  Hollingsworth  was  succeeded 
by  Kelsay  Brothers,  who  conducted  the  business  from  1893  to  1902. 
In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Montgomery  and  William  Dye  bought  the 
good  will  and  stock  and  the  only  important  change  occurred  in 
1910,  and  when  J.  H.  Buchannan  bought  the  interests  of  Mr. 
Dye.  Since  that  time  the  firm  has  been  known  as  Montgomery  <& 
Buchanan,  and  they  have  the  best  plant  of  its  kind  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  Their  stock  comprises  the  finest  grade  of  American  granite, 
selected  chiefly  from  the  quarries  at  Quincy,  Massachusetts,  and  Barre, 
Vermont.  They  also  have  different  kinds  of  foreign  granite  and  marble. 
Mr.  Buchanan  attends  to  the  selling  end  of  the  business,  while  Mr. 
Montgomery'  is  the  expert  in  the  cutting  department.  He  learned  his 
trade  both  in  the  cutting  of  granite  and  marble  when  a  young  man,  and 
developed  special  skill  in  lettering  and  scroll  work.  He  was  employed 
by  Mr.  Hollingsworth,  the  founder  of  the  business,  and  after  a  three 
years'  apprenticeship  continued  with  his  employer  and  later  with  the 
Kelsay  Brothers  until  he  and  his  associate  bought  out  the  establishment 
on  January  1,  1902. 

John  Vf.  Montgomery  was  born  in  Fairmount,  December  4,  1S59,  and 
has  always  lived  in  this  part  of  the  county,  having  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  and  going  from  school  almost  immediately 
into  the  trade  in  which  he  has  been  so  successful.  Mr.  Montgomery  is 
the  son  of  Dennis  and  Maria  (Hollingsworth)  Montgomery.  Dennis 
Montgomery  was  born  in  Grant  county,  January  31,  1836,  and  now 
lives  with  his  son  John  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-seven  years, 
though  he  is  still  a  hale  and  hearty  man.  He  took  up  during  his  youth 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  throughout  his  active  career  followed  that 
vocation  and  from  his  work  was  enabled  to  provide  liberally  for  his 
children.  At  the  present  time  he  finds  attractive  employment  for  his 
aged  years  in  growing  and  developing  all  kinds  of  flowers  about  the 
home.  The  mother  died  in  October,  1888.  She  was  born  in  1840.  Her 
religious  connection  was  with  the  United  Brethren  church,  while  the 
father  was  a  Congregationalist,  while  in  politics  he  was  a  Prohibitionist. 

The  family  history  goes  back  to  the  great-grandfather,  John  Mont- 
gomery, who  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  from  which  state  early 
in  the  nineteenth  century  he  moved  to  Indiana,  being  an  old  man  at 
the  time.  He  died  when  past  eighty  years  of  age,  in  Vigo  county.  He 
was  of  Scotch  parents  and  ancestry.  The  father,  James  Montgomery, 
a  native  of  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  in 
1809,  was  a  boy  when  the  family  moved  to  Vigo  county,  Indiana.  There 
he  grew  to  manhood,  and  soon  afterward  moved  to  Grant  county,  among 
the  pioneers.  In  Grant  county  he  married  Hannah,  a  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  Anna  (Morris)  Thomas.  The  Thomases  were  among  the 
very  first  pioneers  of  Grant  county,  entered  their  land  from  the  govern- 


324  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ment  and  lived  here  until  their  death,  Solomon  Thomas  when  past  eighty- 
years  of  age,  while  his  wife  died  in  middle  life. 

James  Montgomery  and  wife  after  their  marriage  found  a  tract  of 
new  and  unimproved  land  and  cut  out  a  home  for  themselves  from  the 
greenwoods.  There  James  Montgomery  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five  years,  leaving  five  children.  His  widow  married  for  her  second 
husband  Jehu  Moore,  and  when  they  died  there  were  two  sons  by  the 
second  marriage.  The  Montgomery's  through  three  generations  of  resi- 
dence in  Grant  county  have  always  been  recognized  as  among  the  very 
best  people. 

Dennis  Montgomery,  father  of  John  W.,  was  the  first  son  and  second 
child  in  the  father's  family  of  five  children,  and  the  only  one  still  living. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  John  and  Solomon  Montgomery,  enlisted  in  the 
one  hundred  and  first  Indiana  regiment  of  infantry  as  privates  in  Fred 
Cartwright's  company,  and  both  died  of  the  measles  at  Murfreesboro  in 
1S62.  Their  bodies  now  are  buried  side  by  side  in  the  National  cemetery 
at  Murfreesboro.  In  the  family  of  Dennis  Montgomery  and  wife  were 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Of  these  Leora  died  in  1865,  Estella  in 
1871,  Elmer  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  and  one  infant  died  in 
1887.  Ella  died  after  her  marriage  to  R.  A.  McCoy.  Her  death  occurred 
in  Pennsylvania  in  October,  1912,  and  her  husband  lives  in  that  state 
with  two  daughters,  Belma  and  Laura.  A  brother  of  John  W.  Mont- 
gomery is  George  W.  Montgomery,  a  glass  worker  at  Bellaire,  Ohio,  where 
he  has  his  home  and  is  married.    ■ 

John  W.  Montgomery  was  married  in  Fairmount,  December  26,  1886 
to  Ida  Hall.  She  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  December  29, 
1867.  Her  parents  died  at  their  old  home  in  Madison  county.  They 
were  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Hopes)  Hall,  and  left  five  children  at 
their  death.  Mrs.  Montgomery's  brother  John  is  still  living.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Montgomery  became  the  parents  of  one  child,  Leonard  E.,  who  was 
born  December  28,  1888,  was  educated  in  the  city  high  schools,  and 
is  now  in  the  jewelry  business  at  Summittville  in  Madison  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Montgomery  and  son  are  all  active  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  and  the  father  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  trustee 
and  the  son  as  church  clerk. 

Barclay  Johnson.  There  are  three  generations  of  the  Johnson 
family  whose  residence  connect  them  with  the  state  of  Indiana  of  the 
noted  Rich  Square  Quaker  community,  they  originated  in  Virginia,  and 
have  lived  in  Indiana  almost  as  long  as  Indiana  has  been  a  state.  Bar- 
clay Johnson,  living  retired  at  Fairmount,  first  established  a  home  in 
Grant  county  forty  years  ago.  As  farmers,  teachers,  and  loyal  adherents 
of  their  church,  the  Johnson  folk  have  lived  wholesome,  normal  lives, 
of  moderate  prosperity,  of  contented  lots,  and  of  high  usefulness  as 
units  in  the  community. 

The  grandfather  of  Barclay  Johnson  was  Laban  N.  Johnson,  born 
in  Isle  of  Wight  county,  Virginia,  where  he  lived  and  died.  A  hatter 
by  trade,  he  also  owned  a  grist  mill,  and  his  enterprise  was  a  valuable 
factor  in  the  community.  His  death  occurred  in  middle  life,  and  he 
left  a  widow  and  six  children.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Cook, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  part  of  Virginia.  The  families  on  both  sides 
had  long  been  plantation  owners  and  slave  holders,  but  all  their  slaves 
were  free  previous  to  1800.  In  1817  Mrs.  Sarah  Johnson,  with  her  four 
sons  and  one  daughter,  left  the  community  of  Rich  Square — one  of  the 
early  Quaker  churches  of  Virginia — and  in  company  with  several  other 
families  made  the  journey  with  wagon  and  team  to  Henry  county 
Indiana.     It  was  a  trip  lasting  for  some  seven  or  eight  weeks,  and  these 


BLACKFORD  AND  (.KANT  COUNTIES  325 

immigrants  became  prominent  in  the  then  wilderness  of  Indiana.  The 
heads  of  the  different  families  composing  the  company  of  immigrants  were 
Samuel  B.  Binford,  Elwood  Stanley,  Elisha  Johnson,  a  kinsman  of  Sarah 
Johnson.  James  Butler,  who  became  the  head  of  the  new  Quaker  church, 
known  also  as  Rich  Square,  in  Franklin  township,  Henry  county.  That 
Henry  county  church  was  one  of  the  first  in  that  vicinity  and  the  build- 
ing was  constructed  of  logs.  The  home  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Johnson  was 
very  near  the  church  building,  and  she  was  one  of  its  first  members. 
She  was  in  many  ways  a  remarkable  pioneer  woman,  and  many  tradi- 
tions survive  among  her  descendants  as  to  her  character  and  activity. 
She  brought  along  with  her  from  Virginia,  an  old  Dutch  oven  and  a 
kettle  for  her  cooking.  The  different  members  of  the  little  colony 
entered  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land 
for  each  family,  and  they  all  hewed  their  homes  out  of  the  green  woods. 
The  influence  of  that  original  settlement  has  remained  to  this  day  in 
Franklin  township  of  Henry  county,  and  the  essential  institution  is 
the  fine  Quaker  church,  the  third  building  since  the  founding  of  the 
colony,  and  one  that  is  commodious,  comfortable,  and  of  the  best  type 
of  modern  architecture.  The  Rich  Square  Quakers  were  also  note- 
worthy for  their  efforts  in  promoting  and  maintaining  educational  facili- 
ties of  a  high  order,  and  the  little  colony  in  Henry  county  was  the  first 
to  establish  a  high  school  in  that  county.  Some  of  the  descendants  of 
that  colony  later  moved  on  to  southern  Iowa,  and  there  started  a  third 
church,  also  known  as  the  Rich  Square  church.  All  of  these  Rich  Square 
churches,  located  in  different  sections  of  the  south  and  middle  west, 
have  been  prosperous,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  each  one  and  directly  sup- 
ported by  the  church  people  will  be  found  institutious  of  higher  educa- 
tion, either  public  schools  or  academies.  Mrs.  Sarah  Johnson,  with  the 
aid  of  her  children,  improved  her  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Henry  county, 
and  some  years  later  moved  to  Clinton  county,  in  this  state,  where  she 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  the  Indian  Reserve.  There  she 
again  took  up  the  pioneer  task  of  making  a  home,  and  there  she  lived 
until  her  death,  when  probably  more  than  eighty  years  of  age.  Both 
she  and  her  husband  were  birthright  Quakers.  The  following  were  the 
children  of  Laban  and  Sarah  Johnson :  1.  Eliza  C,  late  in  life  married 
James  Butler,  who  was  the  head  of  the  Henry  County  church,  and  who 
had  been  previously  married.  The  husband  died  in  Howard  county, 
and  Eliza  married  Allen  Middleton.  She  died  at  Barclay  Johnson's 
home  in  Grant  county,  Indiana.  2.  Joel  was  the  father  of  Barclay 
Johnson,  and  is  mentioned  in  a  following  paragraph.  3.  Rev.  Robert 
Johnson  was  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  pastor  of  the  Tipton  County 
Reserved  Friend  Meetings,  and  died  there,  leaving  a  large  family  of 
children.  He  also  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  -4.  Elijah 
T.  died  when  past  seventy  years  of  age.  a  bachelor.  He  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a  merchant  at  Russiaville,  Indiana.  During  his  younger 
years  he  lost  his  sweetheart  by  death,  and  after  that  led  a  more  or  less 
nomadic  existence,  working  as  an  Indian  trader  in  northern  Michigan 
for  a  long  time,  and  also  in  the  far  west.  5.  Ansalem  became  the  owner 
of  his  mother's  old  Henry  county  farm,  and  there  lived  and  died  when 
well  up  in  years.  He  left  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  who  still  own  the 
old  homestead. 

Joel  Johnson  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1804,  and  was  about  thirteen 
years  of  age  when  the  family  migrated  to  Henry  county,  Indiana.  Some 
years  later  he  married  Elizabeth  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Henry  county 
in  1810,  and  grew  up  there.  After  their  marriage.  Joel  and  wife  engaged 
in  farming  on  land  they  had  secured  in  its  raw  condition,  and  there 
continued  to  live  many  years.     They  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty 


326  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

acres  of  well  improved  and  valuable  farm  lands,  with  good  buildings 
and  both  comfortable  and  profitable  surroundings.  The  father  died  there 
in  1872,  and  the  old  estate  still  remains  in  the  family  possession.  His 
widow  died  December  2,  1878.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Davis, 
at  one  time  a  very  prominent  citizen  of  Spiceland  township  in  Henry 
county.  Joel  Johnson  was  a  trustee  of  his  Quaker  church,  and  for 
some  years  a  trustee  of  White's  Institute  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana. 
The  children  of  Joel  and  Elizabeth  Johnson  are  mentioned  as  follows: 
Lydia  A.  Johnson,  the  first  born  child,  went  to  Earlham  College  one 
year,  then  taught  two  years.  She  later  married  Benjamin  H.  Binford, 
of  Hancock  county,  Indiana,  a  very  successful  man  financially,  but  who 
was  killed  by  a  fast  train  while  on  his  way  home  from  a  directors' 
meeting  of  the  Morristown,  Indiana,  bank,  of  which  he  was  a  director. 
His  widow  still  resides  on  the  large  Hancock  county.  Indiana,  farm. 
Sarah  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  Barclay  Johnson  is  next  in  order. 
Martia  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  John  lives  on  and  owns  his 
father's  old  Henry  county  homestead,  is  a  widower  and  has  one  son, 
Myrton  L.,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children.  Mary  died  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years.  Elijah  is  living  on  a  farm  in  Henry  county,  is 
married  and  has  six  living  children.  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  C. 
Cogill,  the  most  prominent  tile  manufacturer  of  Indiana,  and  also  noted 
for  his  sugar  plantation  holdings  in  Texas.  Her  first  husband  was 
T.  J.  Nixon,  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  Inez.  Emily  married 
Gurney  Lindley,  and  left  two  children. 

Mr.  Barclay  Johnson  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  on  his 
father's  farm,  September  12,  1843.  He  was  educated  at  the  Rich  Square 
Seminary,  and  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  qualified  and  began  a  long 
career  as  a  teacher.  He  spent  about  fifteen  years  in  educational  work, 
and  made  a  success  of  that  as  he  has  of  practically  everything  else  to 
which  he  has  put  his  hand.  In  1874,  he  moved  to  Grant  county,  seven 
years  after  his  marriage  and  first  lived  on  a  farm  in  Franklin  township, 
and  then  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  continued  to  be 
his  home  until  1885.  He  then  moved  to  Fairmount  township,  where  he 
became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  fine  land,  with 
excellent  improvements  in  buildings  and  other  facilities,  which  improve- 
ments he  and  his  wife  made.  He  conducted  that  place  very  successfully 
until  1899,  and  in  that  year  gave  up  farming  in  order  to  accept  a 
commission  to  become  president  of  Southland  College,  in  Arkansas,  an 
institution  maintained  for  the  education  of  colored  people.  In  1903  he 
returned  to  his  farm  in  Grant  county,  and  in  1906  went  west  to  Palo 
Alto,  California,  where  his  children  were  then  in  school.  Since  1908 
he  has  lived  retired  in  Fairmount,  his  home  being  at  410  N.  Vine  Street. 

In  Franklin  township  of  Henry  county,  in  1871,  Mr.  Johnson  mar- 
ried Miss  Sylvia  A.  Lindley.  She  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Indiana, 
April  10,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Osmond  and  Achsa  (Wilson)  Lindley, 
both  natives  of  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  and  of  Quaker  stock. 
Both  her  father  and  mother  had  come  when  young  with  their  respective 
families  to  Indiana,  and  they  first  became  acquainted  while  attending 
Earlham  College  in  Richmond,  that  acquaintance  ripening  into  love  and 
matrimony.  They  were  married  in  the  Quaker  church.  The  widow  of 
Osmond  Lindley  is  still  living,  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Wood, 
in  Fairmount,  being  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  of  a  strong  mind, 
though  feeble  in  body,  and  zealous  in  church  membership.  No  one  in 
the  vicinity  has  a  clearer  mind  and  is  better  informed  over  a  long 
course  of  years  through  which  she  has  observed  and  participated  in  life. 
She  is  the  mother  of  E.  C.  Lindley,  solicitor  for  the  Great  Northern 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIKS        :;^7 

Railway  Company.     Of  her  twelve  children   the   majority   have  been 

prominent  in  business  and  the  professions. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  been  born  ten  children.  Three  of 
these  died  young,  mentioned  as  follows:  Ernest  V.,  who  was  educated  at 
Fairmount  Academy,  and  was  a  teacher.  He  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six 
years.  He  had  previously  married  Bertha  Coggshall,  and  left  two  chil- 
dren, Zora  and  Yavon.  The  other  two  deceased  children  of  Mr.  ami  Mrs. 
Barclay  Johnson  are  Earl,  who  died  as  an  infant,  and  Myra,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  living  children  are  mentioned  as  follows : 
1.  Elizabeth,  who  was  educated  at  the  Fairmount  Academy,  is  the  wife 
of  Walter  W.  Rush,  a  farmer  in  Fairmount  township ;  they  have  three 
children.  Loreta  Olive,  Isadore  Alice  and  Dorothy  Elizabeth.  2.  Clay- 
ton B.,  a  graduate  of  the  Fairmount  Academy,  and  also  trained  in  a 
business  school,  is  now  bookkeeper  with  the  Fairmount  Glass  Company  of 
Indianapolis.  He  married  Emma  Rau  and  their  children  are  Lucile, 
Walter  L.  and  Ruth  A.  3.  M.  Alice  was  educated  in  the  Fairmount. 
Academy,  University  of  Illinois  at  Champaign,  and  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Weeks,  the  noted  poultryman  of  Palo  Alto,  California.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  son,  Thomas  Barclay  Weeks.  4.  Annette  J.  graduated 
from  the  Fainnount  Academy  and  Earlham  College,  where  she  won  the 
scholarship  to  Bryn  Mawr  College  and  spent  one  year  at  Bryn  Mawr; 
she  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Calvin  C.  Rush,  of  Portage.  Pennsylvania,  and 
has  one  daughter,  Sylvia  Louise,  and  one  son,  Norman  J.  5.  Alfred 
lives  in  California,  is  in  the  produce,  feed  and  nursery  business.  He 
married  Edna  M.  Winslow,  who  died  July  3.  1913.  and  left  two  children, 
Helen  Jean  and  Joe  Webster.  6.  Professor  William  Johnson  was  for 
three  years  prior  to  fall  of  1913,  professor  of  seience  at  the  Pacific  College 
at  Xewburg,  Oregon.  He  is  now  attending  the  University  of  California 
to  gain  his  Master 's  degree.  He  graduated  from  the  Fairmount  Academy, 
and  Earlham  College  and  married  Ethel  Henderson,  they  being  without 
children.  7.  Geneva  graduated  from  the  Academy  and  is  in  the  junior 
year  at  Earlham  College,  being  also  well  trained  in  music.  Ernest  V.  and 
Elizabeth  Johnson,  two  oldest  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barclay  Johnson, 
started  to  school  the  same  day,  graduated  from  Fairmount  Academy  the 
same  day,  and  both  began  to  teaeh  in  Grant  county  schools  the  same  day. 
Both  taught  school  three  years  and  both  were  married  about  the  same 
time,  Ernest  being  married  the  evening  before  the  day  on  which  liis 
sister  Elizabeth  was  married.  Clayton,  Alice.  Annette  and  William 
were  all  teachers.  The  Johnson  family  are  all  closely  identified  with  the 
activities  of  the  Friends  church,  and  Mrs.  Johnson  is  an  elder  in  her 
meeting. 

Herbert  Marion  Elliott.  "The  Children's  Friend"  would  be  a 
title  which  would  more  nearly  signify  the  relations  of  Mr.  Elliott  to  the 
community  of  his  home  children  than  any  other  which  might  be  discov- 
ered.  Mr.  Elliott  professionally  is  a  lawyer,  has  been  identified  with 
the  bar  for  thirty  years,  twenty  years  of  which  have  been  spent  in 
Marion.  Though  successful  as  a  lawyer,  his  name  and  career  will  be 
longest  appreciated  and  honored  not  so  much  for  his  prominence  in 
the  courts  and  business  affairs  as  for  his  thoroughly  disinterested  and 
efficient  service  in  the  realm  of  practical  philanthropy.  The  city  of 
Marion  is  fortunate  in  the  possession  of  such  a  man.  The  upbuilding  of 
a  wholesome  city  is  not  due  to  the  industries  alone,  nor  to  the  banks  alone, 
nor  to  tin'  varied  mercantile  enterprises,  but  to  the  composite  activities 
which  are  always  found  associated  in  any  large  center  of  population. 
Among  these  varied  human  activities,  certainly  the  work  of  the  philan- 
thropist  must   appear  larger   and    more   important   with   every   passing 


328        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

decade,  and  it  is  with  such  work  that  Mr.  Elliott's  name  should  be 
prominently  identified  in  the  history  of  Grant  county. 

Herbert  Marion  Elliott  was  born  at  Holly,  Michigan,  September  15, 
1853.  His  parents  were  Marcus  Delos  and  Emily  A.  (Seely)  Elliott, 
the  father  a  native  of  New  York  and  his  mother  also  from  the  same 
state.  The  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  served  as  a  member  of  the  Michi- 
gan legislature  in  1877 -78  from  Oakland  county.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  had  been  captain  of  Company  H,  an  artillery  company  of  the  Eighth 
Michigan  Battery  light  artillery.  After  the  war  he  continued  as  a 
farmer  and  in  several  minor  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  Michi- 
gan until  his  death  which  came  to  him  September  5,  1905.  The  mother 
passed  away  in  March,  1895.  The  Marion  lawyer  is  the  oldest  of  four 
children,  the  others  being  Addie  E.  Zellner,  of  Fenton,  Michigan;  George 
M.,  of  Tacoma,  Washington ;  and  John  D.,  of  Minneapolis.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  married  Louise  Piatt,  and  their  one 
child  is  Marian  H.  Elliott  of  Holly,  Michigan.  The  parents  also  had  a 
foster-daughter,  Mrs.  Cora  Bell  Howes,  now  of  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Elliott  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  from  an  early  age 
learned  to  depend  upon  his  own  efforts  for  his  promotion  in  life.  At 
Holly  he  attained  a  common  school  education  and  also  attended  the  high 
school  in  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan.  His  career  began  as  a  school  teacher, 
a  vocation  which  he  followed  for  nine  years.  Subsequently  he  engaged 
in  farming  in  Oakland  county,  and  continued  that  in  connection  with 
his  teaching  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  teaching  during 
the  winter  season  and  carrying  on  farm  operations  during  the  summer. 
On  leaving  the  farm  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  first  at  Holly,  then 
at  Davisburg  and  then  at  Detroit.  He  was  in  this  line  of  business  for 
about  four  years,  until  about  1882.  During  the  years  while  he  was 
teaching  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  at  Pontiac,  and  also  at  Holly  and 
at  St.  Johns,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  January  4,  1884,  at  St. 
Johns,  Michigan.  Immediately  afterwards  he  began  private  practice 
at  AuSable  and  Oscoda,  Michigan.  In  1890  he  opened  an  office  in 
Detroit,  and  conducted  the  law  business  at  Oscoda  and  Detroit  until 
April,  1893,  at  which  time  he  moved  his  home  to  Marion,  Indiana,  which 
has  since  been  his  permanent  home. 

On  September  4,  1878,  Mr.  Elliott  married  Miss  Ella  E.  McLean  of 
Clio,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Elliott  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  Michigan. 
Their  two  children  are  Harry  McLean,  now  of  Los  Angeles,  and  Merle 
Dee,  at  home.  During  his  residence  in  Michigan,  Mr.  Elliott  served  as 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Iosco  county  two  terms,  and  was  circuit  court 
commissioner  for  two  terms  for  the  same  county.  For  two  terms  at 
Oscoda  he  was  secretary  of  the  board  of  education. 

Since  coming  to  Marion  Mr.  Elliott's  connections  with  public  and 
benevolent  enterprise  have  been  almost  too  numerous  to  mention.  He 
has  for  two  and  a  half  years  been  secretary  of  the  Marion  Federation  of 
Charities ;  for  four  years  was  probation  officer  for  Grant  county ;  for 
six  years  was  president  of  the  board  of  children 's  guardians ;  and  is  now 
secretary  of  the  Grant  County  Hospital  Association.  He  helped  organize 
the  Marion  Law  Institute,  a  corporation  which  now  owns  the  bar  library 
valued  at  $5,000  and  Mr.  Elliott  was.  its  first  librarian.  He  was  for 
five  years  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  was  chairman  of  the  building 
committee  until  after  the  plans  for  the  present  building  had  been 
adopted.  He  was  also  president  of  the  building  committee  which  financed 
and  built  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Marion,  easily  the  finest  church 
edifice  in  this  city.  For  thirteen  years  Mr.  Elliott  was  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  George  Elliott  in  the  law  business  at  Marion,  and 
during  that  time  they  organized  and  established  the  Marion  Planing  Mill 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  329 

Company,  and  the  Marion  Insurance  Exchange.  The  Latter  has  since 
gone  into  what  is  known  as  the  Marion  Title  &  Loan  Company.  The 
brothers  also  organized  a  number  of  other  enterprises,  which,  during  the 
past  two  decades  have  been  important  in  the  aggregate  commercial  activi- 
ties of  this  city.  Fraternally  Mr.  Elliott  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Order,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  having  been  superin 
tendenl  of  the  Sunday  school  for  eighl  years  and  a  memher  of  the  Ses- 
sion for  twelve  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Progressive  Republican,  but  in 
later  years  has  taken  no  prominent  part  in  political  affairs.  Child 
saving  and  home  finding  for  waifs  have  constituted  a  large  pari  of  Mr. 
Elliott's  benevolent  work  during  recent  years.  Tie  has  without  any 
ostentation  and  on  his  private  initiative  found  homes  for  more  that! 
fifty  children,  and  these  benevolences  have  been  performed  without  any 
supervision  from  any  of  the  public  charities.  As  a  result  of  his  efforts 
in  this  direction  some  of  the  children  for  whom  he  has  provide.!  com- 
fortable homes  will  eventually  inherit  from  five  to  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars cadi  from  their  foster  parents.  It  is  in  no  idle  spirit  nor  from  an 
abnormal  trait  of  character  that  .Mr.  Elliott  has  engaged  in  his  philan- 
thropic work  of  child  saving.  He  is  a  broad-minded  man  in  every 
respect,  is  devoted  to  the  cause  of  social  amelioration  in  all  its  aspects 
and  from  a  busy  professional  career  has  devoted  all  the  time  and  means 
that  he  could  spare  for  the  practical  work  of  child  philanthropy.  As 
secretary  of  Federation  of  Charities,  he  was  the  first  man  in  Indiana  to 
adopt  the  plan  of  using  the  vacant  lots  in  a  city  for  raising  crops  by 
and  for  the  poor.  Mr.  Elliott  is  a  recognized  authority  in  his  branch 
of  philanthropy  and  has  written  a  great  deal  concerning  progressive 
charities  and  uplift  work  in  general.  One  special  article  on  the  workings 
of  jail  prisoners  for  the  benefit  of  their  families  was  heavily  indorsed  at 
a  recent  session  of  the  National  Prison  Reform  Board. 

Charles  M.  Leach.  Seventy  years  ago  Grant  county  was  still  largely 
wilderness.  The  settlers  during  the  forties  found  a  few  village  communi- 
ties, numerous  clearings  and  tilled  fields,  and  some  roads,  but  still  the 
burdens  rested  upon  most  newcomers  of  cutting  down  countless  trees, 
uprooting  the  stumps  and  brush,  and  starting  cultivation  where  never 
before  had  been  the  civilized  activities  of  white  men.  That  was  the 
portion  of  the  Leach  family  when  it  first  became  identified  with  this 
county,  and  as  its  members  did  their  share  of  pioneer  toil,  so  a  later  gen- 
eration enjoyed  the  fruits  of  later  and  better  days,  and  carried  forward 
the  same  thrift  and  independence  which  have  always  characterized  the 
name. 

The  Leaches  are  of  Scotch  Irish  ancestry.  Grandfather  William  Leach 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1795,  grew  up  in  his  native  commonwealth,  and 
when  a  young  man  moved  to  Ohio.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Sarah 
Harrison,  of  a  good  family,  related  to  the  family  which  produced  the 
president  of  that  name.  Their  marriage  occurred  about  1815.  A  short 
time  before  1820  they  moved  west  to  Franklin  county.  Indiana,  and  were 
pioneers  in  that  vicinity.  Grandfather  Leach  secured  a  tract  of  govern- 
ment land,  consisting  of  eighty  acres,  and  went  to  work  to  improve  it. 
During  the  thirties  he  left  his  wife  and  some  of  his  children  on  the 
Franklin  county  farm,  and  with  his  son  Edmund,  father  of  Charles  M. 
Leach,  and  a  daughter  Rachael.  came  to  Grant  county,  and  entered  prob- 
ably half  a  section  or  more  of  land  in  Fairmount  township.  His  wife  and 
other  children  joined  him  in  a  year  or  so.  and  the  family  thus  reunited 
continued  to  prosper  and  to  lend  their  labors  to  the  development  of  Grant 
county.  William  Leach  and  his  wife  remained  in  this  county  until  their 
death.     The  grandfather  died  in  1851.  and  his  widow  survived  about 


330        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

fifteen  years.  She  was  past  seventy  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death. 
Religiously  they  were  of  the  old-school  Baptist  faith,  while  William 
Leach  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  The  children  of  this  family  were: 
1.  Rachael,  married  and  had  a  family.  2.  Easom,  married,  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  died  in  Grant  county,  and  was  the  father  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  maturity.  3.  John  was  married  twice,  and  after  a 
successful  career  as  a  farmer  left  several  children.  4.  Edmund  is  men- 
tioned in  the  following  paragraphs.  5.  Jane  married  a  farmer  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  children.  6.  Mary,  better  known  as  Polly,  was  mar- 
ried three  times,  and  there  were    children    by  two    of    the    husbands. 

7.  Martha  married  and  died  when  her  family  of  children  were  small. 

8.  Wesley  died  early  in  life.  Excepting  the  last,  all  these  children  were 
each  given  eighty  acres  of  land. 

Edmund  Leach  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  in  June,  1821. 
He  was  about  grown  when  his  father  brought  him  to  Fairmount  township, 
and  as  he  was  a  good  axman,  he  assisted  in  clearing  off  the  trees  from  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead.  He  assisted  in  clearing  off  the  land  where  the 
village  of  Fowlertown  now  stands.  All  the  country  was  then  new.  and  in 
the  forests  were  to  be  found  great  abundance  of  game,  which  afforded 
a  source  of  meat  supply.  William  Leach  and  his  sou  Edmund  were  ex- 
cellent riflemen,  and  proficient  sportsmen,  especially  Edmund,  who  had  a 
great  local  reputation  in  that  direction.  Edmund  Leach  married  in 
Grant  county  Miss  Emily  Brewer.  She  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1825, 
a  daughter  of  Stephen  Brewer,  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  in  Fairmount 
township.  Stephen  Brewer  reared  a  large  family  and  was  nearly  one 
hundred  years  of  age  when  he  died.  After  his  marriage  Edmund  Leach 
began  making  a  home  for  himself  on  a  farm  in  Grant  county,  living  there 
until  1864.  He  then  moved  to  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  where  he  bought 
large  tracts  of  land,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  July  12,  1901.  His 
first  wife  died  in  Sullivan  county  in  1866  soon  after  they  moved  there 
while  in  middle  life,  and  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children.  For  his 
second  wife  Edmund  Leach  married  Mrs.  Sarah  (Bailey)  Martin.  She 
had  eight  children,  so  that  Edmund  Leach  was  the  father  of  twenty  chil- 
dren in  all.  The  second  wife  lives  now  in  the  state  of  Nebraska.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church,  while  Edmund  was  a 
Democratic  voter. 

Charles  M.  Leach,  long  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  southern 
Grant  county,  and  now  living  retired  at  Fairmount,  was  born  in  this 
county  in  Fairmount  township,  December  6,  1846.  He  grew  up  a  farm 
boy,  got  a  country  school  education,  and  when  still  little  more  than  a  boy 
moved  to  Sullivan  county.  In  1872,  before  his  marriage  he  returned  to 
one  of  his  father's  farms  in  Grant  county.  Through  his  own  energy 
and  thrifty  management  he  has  become  one  of  the  most  successful  men 
in  this  section.  He  owns  in  one  body  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  acres 
of  land  in  sections  three  and  thirty-four,  and  also  owns  thirty-one  acres 
in  section  thirty-four  almost  adjoining  the  other  farm.  All  his  land  is 
thoroughly  cultivated  and  excellently  improved  with  a  large  and  com- 
fortable house,  good  barns,  silo,  and  the  stock  is  of  the  highest  grade. 
Mr.  Leach  is  still  interested  in  the  stock  business,  but  the  farm  is  con- 
ducted by  his  son.  He  also  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  acres  of 
land  in  Madison  county,  some  real  estate,  including  a  good  home,  in  Fair- 
mount,  consisting  of  twenty-three  acres,  a  part  of  which  lies  within  the 
corporation  limits. 

In  Fairmount  township  Mr.  Leach  married  Malissa  J.  Caskey,  who 
was  born  in  Rush  county,  Indiana,  October  18,  1848.  She  was  reared  in 
her  native  county,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Eliza  (Hite)  Caskey.    Her  father  was  a  native  of  Vir- 


■^^n41^itt^ejt^iu^ 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  331 

ginia,  while  her  mother  was  born  in  Rush  county,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried. The  Caskeys  were  substantial  farming  people,  and  in  187]  moved 
from  Rush  county  to  Grant  county,  later  went  out  to  Kansas  in  1879,  and 
lived  in  Reno  county  until  their  death.  Her  father  was  eighty  four  j  ears 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was  bo#rn  in  June,  1821.  Her  mother 
passed  away  in  1900  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  The  Caskey  family 
belonged  to  the  Christian  church,  and  Mr.  Caskey  was  a  Democrat.  Of 
their  six  children  three  are  yet  living,  and  all  are  married  and  have 
children  of  their  own. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  I.E. 
Claud,  was  born  June  16,  1873,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Delaware  county. 
Indiana,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Elsie  Dickinson  has  one  child,  (leu. 
2.  Delia  died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  3.  William  0.  is  a  farmer  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Fairmount  township,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Nellie 
Jones  has  Adelbert,  Kenneth,  Robert  and  Hazel.  4.  Addie  is  unmarried, 
lives  at  home  with  her  parents  and  is  a  bright  young  woman,  a  graduate 
of  the  Faii-mount  Academy.  5.  Minnie  died  at  the  age  of  one  year.  6. 
Bertha  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Robert,  thrifty  farming  people  in  Fairmount 
township,  and  their  children  are  Pauline,  Harry  aud  Ruby.  7.  Ivy  is 
the  wife  of  Leo  Underwood,  a  farmer  in  Fairmount  township,  and  their 
child  is  named  Charlie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  are  members  of  the  Primi- 
tive Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 

He  also  owns  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  215  acres  of  farm  land. 
all  improved.  His  oldest  son  lives  on  one  hundred  and  five  acres  of 
that  land.  In  all  he  owns  six  hundred  and  forty-nine  acres.  All  his 
prosperity  has  been  worthily  won,  and  as  an  intelligent  public-spirited 
citizen  he  has  long  filled  a  useful  place  in  his  community. 

Edgar  M.  Baldwin.  The  writing  of  a  history  of  Fairmount  and 
vicinity  without  mention  of  the  part  played  by  the  Baldwin  family  since 
the  pioneer  beginning  of  that  community  would  be  as  imperfect  as  a 
certain  play  without  its  titular  hero.  The  Baldwins  were  at  Fairmount 
before  there  was  a  town,  and  through  three  generations  their  substantial 
and  worthy  citizenship  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  development 
of  this  locality.  A  fact  of  pioneer  history  which  has  often  been  little 
mentioned  is  that  the  first  settlers  of  any  community,  through  their  lead- 
ership, their  relations  in  family  or  friendly  ties,  with  later  comers,  and 
through  their  public  spirit  in  guarding  the  moral  integrity  of  the  com- 
munity often  exercise  a  farreaching  and  invaluable  influence  on  the  social 
and  economic  welfare.  An  excellent  illustration  of  these  influences  de- 
rived from  the  first  settlers  is  afforded  by  the  Baldwin  family  and  their 
connection  at  Fairmount.  They  were  all  the  thrifty  and  substantial 
stock  of  Quakers  who  have  been  so  prominent  in  Grant  county,  and  the 
many  fine  characteristics  of  this  simple  people  has  been  exemplified  in  a 
high  degree  through  those  bearing  the  Baldwin  name. 

The  detailed  history  of  the  Baldwin  family  would  be  too  long  for  pub- 
lication in  this  work.  The  ancestry  might  be  traced  back  to  an  early 
era  when  there  were  three  Baldwins  kings,  known  in  numerical  order  as 
Baldwin  I,  Baldwin  II,  and  Baldwin  III.  However,  the  regal  progenitors 
of  the  family  will  be  disregarded  at  the  present  time,  and  this  brief  article 
will  begin  with  the  establishment  of  the  name  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of 
America.  The  family  in  England  was  Welsh  in  origin.  The  story  is 
authenticated  that  three  brothers  of  the  name  left  their  native  shores  and 
reached  the  colonial  division  of  America,  one  settling  in  New  England, 
another  in  Pennsylvania,  and  another  in  the  Carolinas.  Of  the  New 
England  branch,  there  have  been  a  great  many  descendants.  One  of 
them  is  the  present  Governor  Simeon  Baldwin,  of  Connecticut,   while 


332        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Judge  Daniel  P.  Baldwin,  at  one  time  attorney-general  of  Indiana,  and 
who  died  at  Logansport,  belonged  to  the  same  branch.  The  brother  who 
located  in  Pennsylvania  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Baldwins  who  established 
and  conducted  the  great  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  at  Philadelphia. 
There  was  also  Governor  Baldwin,  of  Georgia,  but  to  which  branch  he 
belonged  is  not  known.  The  Grant  County  Baldwins  are  descended  from 
the  ancestor  who  settled  in  North  Carolina.  Only  a  little  information  is 
available  concerning  the  early  generations,  but  it  is  known  that  they  were 
all  Quakers,  were  chiefly  farmers  by  occupation,  and  there  is  a  steady 
record  of  thrifty,  industrious  people  of  good  moral  qualities,  and  high 
average  of  thrift  and  prosperity.  In  this  line  was  Daniel  Baldwin,  Sr., 
great-grandfather  of  Edgar  M.  Baldwin.  He  was  born  in  Guilford 
county,  North  Carolina,  and  married  Mary  Benbow,  of  North  Carolina. 
They  lived  and  died  in  their  native  state,  and  were  good,  honest  and  plain 
people,  rigid  adherents  of  the  Friends  church. 

In  their  family  of  children  were :  Daniel  Baldwin,  Jr.,  born  in  Guil- 
ford county,  North  Carolina,  December  10,  1789.  He  married  Christian 
Wilcuts,  who  was  born  November  11,  1793.  They  were  married  in  1812, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  with  wagons  and  ox  teams,  they  accomplished 
the  long  and  tedious  journey  across  the  mountains  and  through  the  Ohio 
Valley  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  They  found  a  home  in  the  Quaker 
settlement  near  Richmond,  where  they  entered  government  land.  Their 
home  continued  in  Wayne  county  until  1833,  and  it  was  in  that  county 
that  all  their  children  were  born.  Daniel  Baldwin  in  1833  brought  his 
family  to  Grant  county.  He  had  prospected  in  this  locality  in  the  pre- 
vious year  and  had  purchased  a  piece  of  land  and  a  partly  finished  log 
cabin  located  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Main  and  Eighth  Street,  in 
Fairmount.  The  village  plat  had  not  yet  been  laid  out,  and  there  were 
very  few  settlers  in  all  this  township.  The  cabin  had  been  started  by 
John  Benbow,  who  was  an  early  land  speculator.  Into  the  cabin  Daniel 
Baldwin  moved  his  family,  and  afterwards  completed  and  improved  the 
house  for  a  comfortable  dwelling.  That  old  cabin  had  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  house  in  the  present  corporation  limits  of  Fairmount. 
Daniel  Baldwin,  Jr.,  added  to  his  possessions  here  until  he  owned  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  The  north  side  of  Fairmount  covers  a 
part  of  this  land,  and  some  of  the  property  is  still  owned  in  the  family, 
the  widow  of  Robert  Bogue,  grandson  of  Daniel  Baldwin,  Jr.,  having  title 
to  a  portion  of  the  original  tract.  It  was  in  Fairmount  that  Daniel  Bald- 
win, Jr.,  spent  his  last  years,  and  died  October  9,  1845.  His  wife  died 
October  28,  1848.  They  took  a  prominent  part  in  establishing  the  first 
Quaker  church  at  Fairmount,  and  were  people  of  the  finest  pioneer  type. 
They  were  quiet,  God-fearing,  neighbor-loving  people,  of  retiring  disposi- 
tion, but  enjoyed  hosts  of  friends.  They  lay  buried  side  by  side  for 
about  sixty  years  in  the  Friends  Buck  Creek  burying  ground,  until 
August,  1910,  when  their  descendants  removed  their  bodies  to  the  Park 
cemetery  near  Fairmount,  and  the  same  old  headstones  mark  their  final 
resting  place. 

The  large  family  of  children  of  Daniel  Baldwin.  Jr.,  and  wife  are 
mentioned  as  follows:  1.  Thomas,  born  April  26,  1813,  was  married  and 
reared  a  large  family.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  belonged  to 
the  Friends  church.  *  2.  Millie,  born  December  1,  1814,  married  Barnabas 
Bogue,  reared  a  large  family,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  also  a 
Friend.  3.  Elias,  born  August  26,  1816,  was  a  farmer,  and  by  his  first 
marriage  had  two  sons,  and  then  married  Hannah  Mills,  whose  one  child 
died  in  infancy.  4.  Joseph  W.,  born  January  13,  1818,  lived  and  died 
in  Grant  county  as  a  farmer.  He  married  Jane,  a  daughter  of  David 
Stansfield.    Her  father  was  the  founder  of  the  south  half  of  Fairmount, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  333 

Joseph  W.  Baldwin  was  the  first  merchant  of  Pairmount,  and  conducted 
a  store  there  from  1848  to  18b0,  and  gave  the  name  to  the  presenl  town 
of  Fairmount.    He  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  arc  yet  living.     5. 

David,  born  November  6,  1819,  lived  and  died  in  (I rant  eountj  as  a  farmer. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Coleman,  but  had  no  children  of  Ids  own.  How- 
ever, they  adopted  Dr.  J.  W.  Patterson,  now  a  physician  of  Pairmount. 
David  and  wife  were  Methodists  in  religion,  his  wife  having  been  reared 
in  that  church.  6.  Daniel,  Jr.,  born  November  3,  1821,  died  during  in- 
fancy in  Wayne  county.  7.  Jonathan,  born  September  30,  L823,  was 
a  successful  and  prominent  man  in  Grant  county,  and  died  here  many 
years  ago.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  A.  Dillon,  who  left  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  By  his  second  union  he  became  the  husband 
of  Mrs.  Emeline  (Tharp)  Hockett,  who  had  two  children  by  her  first 
marriage  but  none  by  her  second.  8.  Mary,  born  December  21,  1825, 
married  Dr.  Philip  Patterson,  the  first  practicing  physician  of  Fairmount. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  while 
Dr.  Patterson  married  the  second  time,  and  had  one  daughter  by  that 
marriage.  9.  Micah,  born  May  26,  182S,  is  spoken  of  more  at  length  in 
a  following  paragraph.  10.  Huldah,  born  April  14,  1830,  married  John 
Bradford,  who  died  in  Illinois,  at  Momence,  six  years  ago.  His  widow 
with  her  only  daughter  still  lives  at  Momence.  11.  Rachael,  died  in  the 
prime  of  life,  forty  years  ago,  the  wife  of  James  R.  Smith,  and  was  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  having  two  sets  of  twins,  and  five  of  these  children 
are  yet  living.  All  of  the  above  children  of  Daniel  Baldwin.  Jr.,  were 
born  in  Wayne  county,  and  those  who  have  died  all  passed  away  in  this 
state. 

Micah  Baldwin  was  in  his  fifth  year  when  his  parents  came  to  Fair- 
mount.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  later  learned  the  trade  of  tanner, 
an  occupation  which  he  was  destined  to  follow  a  number  of  years.  In 
1859,  with  Daniel  Ridgeway,  he  started  the  second  tannery  at  Fairmount. 
Later  he  became  associated  with  his  brother-indaw,  J.  R.  Smith,  in  the 
same  industry.  In  1877.  Micah  Baldwin  gave  up  the  tanning  trade,  and 
became  a  dealer  in  meats.  While  conducting  a  tannery  he  had  also 
handled  and  made  custom  shoes  and  harness,  and  his  last  years  were 
spent  as  a  custom  maker  of  shoes  and  as  a  repairer.  He  worked  iu  that 
line  to  within  six  weeks  of  his  death.  He  died  March  13,  1893.  From 
boyhood  on  through  all  his  life  he  was  a  firm  adherent  of  the  Quaker 
faith,  and  lived  up  to  the  high  principles  of  that  sect. 

On  April  24,  1850,  Micah  Baldwin  married  Miss  Sarah  Morris,  whose 
name  introduces  another  familiar  family  in  Grant  county.  She  was 
born  near  Fountain  City,  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  December  3,  1830, 
and  was  about  one  year  old  when  her  parents  moved  to  Grant  county. 
Her  parents  were  Nathan  and  Miriam  Benbow  Morris.  Her  father  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  and  her  mother  in  North  Carolina,  and  they  met 
and  married  after  being  brought,  when  young,  to  Wayne  county.  Indiana. 
In  Grant  county  they  took  up  government  land,  all  of  it  new.  and  improved 
a  good  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  That  continued  to 
be  their  home  for  over  twenty  years,  when  Mr.  Morris  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Marshall  county,  Iowa.  Five  years  later  he  moved  to  Kansas,  and  lived 
in  that  state,  chiefly  at  Burr  Oak.  in  Jewell  county,  until  his  death  in 
1881.  He  was  born  in  the  fall  of  1808,  so  that  he  was  seventy-three  years 
of  age  when  he  died.  Nathan  Morris,  from  the  time  of  his  young  man- 
hood, was  one  of  the  most  zealous  ministers  of  the  Quaker  church.  He 
preached  and  worked  for  his  denomination  and  for  the  good  of  humanity. 
year  after  year,  and  never  with  a  cent  of  remuneration.  Equal  to  his 
zeal  for  the  ministry,  was  his  splendid  charities,  and  it  is  said  that  no  one 
ever  left  his  door  empty-handed.  With  all  his  liberality  he  prospered,  and 


334  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

nowhere  was  there  ever  a  better  illustration  of  a  common  truth,  that 
those  who  are  most  generous  in  their  charity  are  often  the  most  blest  in 
their  material  fortunes.  The  tirst  wife  of  Nathan  Morris  died  at  her  home 
in  Grant  county  during  his  forty-third  year,  leaving  a  large  family.  He 
then  married  Abigail  Peacock,  whose  maiden  name  was  Baldwin,  and 
who  was  also  the  mother  of  a  large  family.  Nathan  Morris,  by  his  two 
wives  was  the  father  of  twenty-two  children,  fifteen  by  his  first  wife  and 
seven  by  the  second.  Of  this  large  family,  Mrs.  Micah  Baldwin  is  one 
of  the  four  yet  living,  and  the  oldest  of  the  twenty-two  children.  She  is 
now  in  her  eighty-third  year  and  is  as  alert  and  bright  mentally  as  many 
women  twenty  years  younger.  In  many  ways  she  has  had  a  remarkable 
history.  She  survived  from  a  time  when  conditions  and  environments 
were  almost  totally  different  from  those  that  now  obtain.  When  she  was 
a  girl  she  learned  all  the  housewifery  arts  which  were  considered  so 
necessary  in  pioneer  days.  She  was  a  skillful  weaver,  and  has  woven 
hundreds  of  yards  of  flax  and  wool  cloth.  In  the  early  days  she  made 
all  her  clothing  from  her  own  weaving,  and  practiced  all  the  domestic 
arts  which  are  familiarly  associated  with  the  pioneer  women.  In  one  day 
she  spun  and  reeled  thirty  "cuts"  of  wool,  more  than  any  one  who  com- 
peted with  her  had  been  able  to  do.  All  her  life  long  she  has  been  devoted 
to  the  Quaker  church,  and  for  many  years  did  home  missionary  work. 
She  now  has  her  home  in  Pairmount,  at  the  same  residence  where  she  has 
lived  for  half  a  century.  This  residence  is  a  land  mark  in  Fairaiount,  and 
was  for  many  years  occupied  by  her  husband,  Micah  Baldwin.  The  chil- 
dren of  Micah  Baldwin  and  wife  were  as  follows :  1.  Nathan,  born  June 
14,  1851,  has  never  married,  is  an  educated  man,  and  since  he  was  four- 
teen years  of  age  has  been  a  victim  of  paralysis,  having  his  home  with 
his  mother  and  brother  in  Fairmont.  2.  Daniel,  third  of  the  name  was 
born  December  5, 1853,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa.  He  mar- 
ried Lyde  Bogue,  and  has  one  son,  C.  Gordon,  now  eighteen  years  old. 
3.  Lucy,  born  April,  1856,  died  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  4. 
Orlando,  born  March  7,  1858,  is  a  barber  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 
5.  Millie,  born  August  1,  1860,  married  Henry  Delcamp,  a  resident  of 
Chicago.  They  are  the  parents  of  Earl  and  Nettie.  6.  Benjamin,  born 
December  12,  1862,  was  accidentally  drowned  when  eighteen  months  old. 
7.  Edgar  M.,  born  April  2, 1866,  whose  individual  career  is  given  in  detail 
in  the  following  paragraph.  8.  Mary  E.,  born  August  26,  1868,  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  M.  Hollingsworth,  a  shoe  merchant  at  Fairmount.  They 
have  children,  Leo,  Kenneth,  and  Charles  E.  9.  Charles,  born  October 
21,  1871,  is  unmarried,  and  is  a  printer  with  a  home  in  Seattle, 
Washington. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Edgar  M.  Baldwin  has  been  one  of  the  most 
influential  citizens  of  Grant  county,  and  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Fairmount  News  wields  a  large  and  beneficent  influence  over  his  locality. 
His  early  years  were  spent  in  Fairmount,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  in  1877,  when  only  eleven,  years  old,  made  his  start  in  the 
printing  trade.  He  did  all  the  duties  required  of  an  apprentice,  stood 
at  the  case,  and  learned  to  set  type,  was  employed  in  the  Fairmount  News 
office,  and  developed  an  exceptional  skill  as  a  .journeyman  printer.  Like 
most  of  the  men  of  his  profession  he  has  travelled  about  the  country  a 
great  deal,  and  has  worked  in  the  composing  rooms  of  some  of  the  largest 
dailies  and  printing  establishments  in  the  country.  He  was  at  New 
Vienna,  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  at  Indianapolis,  worked  on  the  old  Chicago 
Herald,  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  spent  two  years  in  New  York  City  in 
a  law  printing  house,  once  more  had  employment  at  Philadelphia,  and  also 
at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  did  work  in  the  city  of  Washington,  then  came 
west  to  Cincinnati,  and  Indianapolis  and  Chicago,  and  in  1885  returned  to 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        335 

his  old  home  al  Fairmount,  Here  he  bought  the  planl  of  the  Fail-mount 
News  from  Charles  Stout,  and  conducted  thai   paper  for  threi    years 

Selling  out  he  went  to  western  Kansas  and  for  a  few  months  ran  the 
Ellis  Headlight.  In  1890,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  appointed  to  a  position  in 
the  government  printing  office  at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  spent  four 

and  a  half  years,  during  which  time  he  was  employed  on  many  of  the 
large  jobs  in  that  printery,  the  greatest  establishment  of  its  kind  in 
America.  From  Washington  he  once  more  came  to  Fairmount.  With 
the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war  in  1898,  Eour  days  alter  the 
declaration  of  war.  on  April  26,  he  joined  Company  A.,  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixtieth  Indiana  Infantry.  This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Indian- 
apolis, and  was  mobilized  at  Chickamauga.  The  regimenl  was  finallj 
assigned  to  duty  with  the  army  of  invasion  in  Porto  Rico,  but  when  the 
regiment  left  for  the  front  Mr.  Baldwin  was  in  the  hospital.  A  few 
days  later  he  got  out  and  joined  the  Fifth  Illinois  Regiment,  going  with 
thai  command  to  Newport  News.  Va.  However,  the  peace  protocol  was 
signed  while  the  regiment  was  on  the  way.  The  command  was  later  trans- 
ferred to  the  army  of  occupation  and  seut  to  Matanzas  Province,  Cuba. 
The  regiment  was  returned  to  Savannah.  Georgia,  and   was  discharged 

there,  April  26,  1899,  just  a  year  after  his  enlistment.     Tin mmander 

of  the  regiment  with  which  he  went  to  Cuba  was  George  \V.  Gunder. 
Returning  to  his  Indiana  home.  Mr.  Baldwin  then  spent  some  time  as  a 
traveling  salesman.  After  four  years  he  returned  to  Fairmount  and 
again  took  over  the  Fairmount  News  in  1908.  Since  then  the  Fairmount 
\<  WS  has  been  issued  under  his  management,  and  is  one  of  the  most  influ- 
ential and  best  edited  papers  of  Grant  county.  The  Nt  ws  is  issued  to  its 
subscribers  on  Monday  and  Thursday  of  each  week.  The  subscription 
list  comprises  the  best  people  in  the  south  half  of  Grant  county,  and  the 
paper  circulates  to  many  quarters  of  the  state.  The  office  of  the  Nt  ws 
is  unusually  well  equipped,  not  only  for  periodical  publication,  but  with 
a  complete  job  plant  for  catalogue  and  other  high  class  printing. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  August  23,  1887.  to  Myra  Rush,  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  Nixon  and  Louisa  Rush,  a  family  whose  record  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  publication.  Mrs.  Baldwin  was  born  near  Fairmount,  July 
4,  1865.  She  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  graduate  of  the  Fair- 
mount  Academy  with  the  class  of  1S87.  For  a  number  of  years  she  has 
been  the  proficient  city  editor  of  the  Fairmount  News.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  son.  Mark,  born  June  8,  1889,  a  graduate  of  the  Fairmount 
Academy  with  the  class  of  1909.  and  just  twenty-two  years  after  his 
mother,  and  a  graduate  with  the  class  of  1912  from  Earlham  College,  at 
Richmond,  Indiana.  He  is  now  in  the  U.  S.  Soil  Survey  of  the  Atrii- 
eultural  Department,  having  charge  of  a  squad  with  headquarters  in 
Iowa.  Mr.  Baldwin  and  his  family  are  active  workers  and  members  of 
the  Friends  church. 

Mr.  Baldwin  has  been  almost  too  busy  for  participation  in  public- 
affairs,  but  has  frequently  been  honored  with  marks  of  esteem  from  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  was  endorsing  clerk  in  the  Indiana  State  Senate 
during  the  session  of  1908-09.  He  was  the  nominee  in  the  Republican 
caucus  for  assistant  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  during  the  fol- 
lowing session.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Republican  Editorial  Associa- 
tion of  Indiana,  and  was  also  treasurer  of  the  Grant  County  Central  I  !om 
mittee.  In  1912.  he  enlisted  his  support  in  behalf  of  the  Progressive 
party,  and  at  Peru,  on  September  11,  was  nominated  for  congress  in  the 
Eleventh  Congressional  district  on  the  Progressive  ticket.  He  made  an 
exceptionally  strong  campaign,  received  votes  from  both  the  old  parties, 
and  the  campaign,  while  not  resulting  in  his  election,  was  a  most  gratify- 
ing tribute  to  his  personal  popularity. 


336  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Alvin  B.  Scott.  The  large  manufacturing  industries  which  were 
created  as  a  result  of  the  natural  gas  boom  in  Grant  county  and  other 
sections  of  Indiana  have,  as  a  matter  of  course,  developed  some  exceptional 
men  of  industry  and  ability,  and  some  of  the  present  leaders  in  local 
business  and  manufacturing  circles  were  boys  in  Grant  county  when 
natural  gas  was  hrst  found  under  its  surface. 

Prominent  in  this  class  of  citizenship  is  Alvin  B.  Scott,  secretary  and 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  Bell  Bottle  Company  at  Fairmount. 
He  has  held  that  position  three  years  throughout  the  period  of  its  present 
management.  He  was  formerly  associated  with  Mr.  Borrey  and  Mr. 
Cleveland  while  they  were  at  the  head  of  the  Bell  Bottle  Company.  In 
May,  1910,  Mr.  Scott  took  over  the  plant,  forming  a  fifty  thousand  dollar 
corporation,  but  retaining  the  old  name  of  the  Bell  Bottle  Company. 
James  Luther  of  Terre  Haute,  is  president,  Irvin  Scott,  a  brother  of  Alvin 
B.  is  vice  president,  while  Alvin  B.  Scott  is  secretary  and  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  The  board  of  directors,  three  in  number  comprise  the 
three  officers  just  named.  The  Bell  Bottle  Company  operate  .a  very 
important  industry,  one  that  produces  a  large  amount  of  wealth  every 
year,  and  affords  employment  to  about  four  hundred  people.  Their  out- 
put averages  three  carloads  of  bottles  every  day,  and  the  plant  is  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  bottles  of  all  kinds  used  in  the  com- 
mercial trade.  The  plant  has  one  sixteen-ring  tank  furnace,  and  first 
class  equipment  and  efficiency  are  watchwords  throughout  the  business. 
Mr.  Scott  has  the  entire  plant  under  his  personal  management,  and  has 
been  very  successful  in  distributing  the  product,  which  is  sold  and  shipped 
to  every  part  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Scott  may  be  said  to  have  never  known  any  other  occupation  than 
glass  manufacture.  He  is  familiar  with  every  department  and  knows  the 
manufacturing  end  equally  as  well  as  the  sales  and  distribution  part.  He 
first  began  with  the  Dillon  Glass  Company  in  the  clerical  department  in 
1890.  He  soon  after  decided  that  his  prospect  for  advancement  would  be 
better  through  the  practical  side  of  the  business  and  he  accordingly  learned 
the  trade  of  glass  blower  and  worked  up  through  every  department.  In 
1895  he  became  associated  with  the  Model  Glass  Company  of  Summitsville, 
in  Madison  county,  and  is  president  of  that  concern,  having  the  active 
management  of  both  plants  for  two  years  until  he  had  to  withdraw  on 
account  of  overstrain  through  the  heavy  responsibilities  laid  upon  him. 

Alvin  B.  Scott  was  born  in  Fairmount  township  of  Grant  county, 
March  27,  1868.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Fairmount  Academy  with 
the  class  of  1889,  and  found  his  first  work  as  a  clerk.  Mr.  Scott  is  a 
grandson  of  Stephen  Scott,  a  West  Virginian,  who  was  an  early  settler 
in  Wayne  county,  where  he  married  and  afterwards  moved  to  Grant 
county,  and  died  in  the  latter  locality.  The  father  of  Alvin  B.  Scott 
is  Levi  Scott,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  for  many  years  a  banker  in  Fair- 
mount.  In  1893  the  elder  Scott  suffered  from  the  financial  panic  and 
afterwards  retired  from  business  and  moved  to  California,  where  he  now 
lives.  He  has  his  second  wife,  first  wife  having  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years.  The  first  wife,  and  the  mother  of  Alvin  B.  Scott,  was  Emily 
Davis,  a  daughter  of  George  Davis,  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  in 
Grant  county. 

Alvin  B.  Scott  was  married  in  Fail-mount  township  to  Emily  Luther 
a  daughter  of  Ivy  and  Sarah  (Stewart)  Luther,  both  of  whom  are  living 
and  ai-e  substantial  farmers  in  this  section  of  the  county.  The  Luthers 
are  active  members  of  the  Friends  church,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  belong 
to  the  same  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Scott  is  a  Republican.  Their  four 
children  are  mentioned  as  follows:  Merle,  a  graduate  of  the  Fairmount 
Academy,  for  one  year  a  student  in  the  Cidver  Military  Academy,  and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  337 

in  1913,  a  graduate  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  the  State 
University  of  Bloomington ;  Mary  E.,  who  is  now  attending  the  Pair- 
mount  Academy;  Sedrick  Levi  and  .Martin  Ivy.  both  of  whom  arc  in  the 
schools. 

John  Flanagan.  The  Flanagan  family,  prominently  represented  by 
John  Flanagan,  proprietor  of  the  largest  dry  goods  and  clothing  estab- 
lishment at  Fairmount.  has  been  identified  with  Grant  county  upwards 
of  fifty  years.    The  family  record  is  one  of  much  interest,  and  illustrates 

the  possibilities  which  America  presents  to  energetic,  ambitious  people 
of  foreign  birth.  The  Flanagans  came  from  Ireland,  and  were  of  very 
poor  though  most  respectable  condition.  The  ancestry  had  lived  in 
county  Mayo.  Ireland,  for  many  years,  and  was  of  staunch  Irish  Catholic 
stock.  The  grandparents  of  John  Flanagan  lived  and  died  in  thai  vicin- 
ity, and  were  quite  old  when  their  lives  came  to  an  end.  The  children 
in  their  family  who  came  to  America  were  as  follows:  1.  James,  men- 
tioned in  following  paragraph.  2.  Martin  came  when  a  young  man  to 
America  and  married  Cecelia  Morley,  and  they  lived  and  died  on  a  farm 
in  Fairmount  township.  His  death  occurred  a  few  years  ago.  when  he 
was  about  eighty  years  of  age.  He  started  out  in  very  humble  circum- 
stances and  practically  all  his  material  accumulations  were  made  after 
he  had  passed  the  age  of  fifty-five,  and  his  later  years  were  spent  in 
very  prosperous  surroundings.  His  widow  died  a  few  years  ago  in  Fair- 
mount,  at  advanced  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  left  a  family  of  children.  3.  Sarah  was  a  young  woman  when  she 
came  to  America  and  married  in  Richmond.  Indiana,  Michael  Welsh. 
The  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  at  Richmond  and  left  a  family  of 
children. 

James  Flanagan,  father  of  John  Flanagan,  the  Fairmount  merchant, 
was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  about  1820.  Growing  up  on  a  little 
farm,  he  had  absolutely  no  opportunities  for  education,  though  he  learned 
thoroughly  the  lessons  of  industry  and  they  proved  very  valuable  to 
him  in  his  later  career.  Before  leaving  his  native  isle,  he  married  Mary 
Morley.  who  came  of  good  Irish  stock,  and  of  people  long  noted  for  their 
honesty  and  integrity.  "While  they  lived  in  Ireland,  two  children  were 
born  to  them.  Leaving  the  older,  they  set  out  with  the  baby  about  1848, 
taking  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  which  after  a  voyage  of  nine  weeks 
landed  them  in  New  Orleans.  While  aboard  ship,  the  father  and  baby 
were  stricken  with  ship-fever,  and  the  infant  died. 

With  the  aid  of  some  charitable  friends  at  New  Orleans,  the  father 
and  mother  continued  their  journey  up  the  Mississippi  River  as  far 
as  Cincinnati.  There  James  Flanagan  found  employment  on  t he  Cin- 
cinnati. Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railway.  That  work  ultimately  brought 
him  into  west  central  Ohio,  where  at  Westville.  he  left  the  railroad  serv- 
ice and  began  farming.  He  thus  continued  until  1865.  when  he  moved 
from  Preble  county  to  Indiana.  Prior  to  coming  to  Indiana,  he  had 
rented  land  at  New  Paris.  Ohio,  spending  a  few  seasons  on  three  different 
farms.  After  coming  to  Indiana,  he  rented  a  farm  east  of  Fairmount, 
and  later  bought  eighty  acres  in  Fairmount  township  adjoining  the  farm 
he  had  rented.  There  he  continued  to  live  until  his  death  when  about 
sixty  years  of  age.  An  industrious,  hard  working,  honest  and  upright 
man.  he  stood  in  the  high  esteem  of  all  his  neighbors,  and  through  his 
liberal  provisions  for  his  growing  family  may  properly  be  said  to  have 
been  fairly  successful.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  Catholic 
in  religious  affiliation.  Some  years  after  his  death  his  widow  came  to 
the  city  of  Fairmount  and  made  her  home  with  John  Flanagan,  where 
she  died  in  1906.  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 


338        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

The  children  of  James  Flanagan  and  wife  are  mentioned  as  follows: 
1.  Mary,  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  with  an  uncle  and  aunt, 
and  was  married  in  Grant  county,  to  Patrick  Kine,  both  of  whom  are 
now  living  in  the  state  of  Oregon.  They  have  no  children.  2.  The 
second  child  was  the  baby,  who  died  at  New  Orleans,  shortly  after  the 
family  landed.  3.  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Newton  J.  Wells,  a  retired 
farmer  at  Fairmount,  and  an  ex-soldier  of  Company  C  in  the  eighty -nine 
Indiana  regiment  during  the  war.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  married.  4.  Martin,  now  deceased, 
was  married  and  left  two  sons,  his  widow  residing  in  Marion.  5.  The 
fifth  child  was  John  Flanagan,  mentioned  hereinafter.  6.  Thomas  died 
after  his  marriage,  and  his  widow  now  lives  in  Fairmount,  being  the 
mother  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  7.  James  died  when  a  young 
man  of  great  promise,  being  a  teacher  at  the  time  of  his  death.  P.  Sarah 
A.  became  the  wife  of  Albert  Kimes,  a  farmer,  and  died  a  fe  v  years 
ago,  leaving  a  son  and  daughter. 

John  Flanagan  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  August  10,  1853, 
and  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Grant  county. 
Here  he  completed  his  education  begun  in  the  country  schools,  and  for 
a  short  time  attended  a  normal  school.  During  four  years  of  his  early 
manhood,  he  spent  his  winters  as  a  teacher,  while  he  followed  farming 
during  the  summer  seasons.  Practically  all  his  business  career  has  been 
devoted  to  merchandising.  During  the  winter  of  1878-79,  Mr.  Flanagan 
was  engaged  in  teaching,  and  on  April  1,  1879,  became  associated  with 
E.  N.  Oakley,  and  they  worked  together  as  partners  in  a  mercantile  es- 
tablishment for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Flanagan 
sold  out  his  interests.  For  some  years,  the  firm  of  Henley  &  Nixon  had 
been  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Fairmount,  and  in  April,  1882, 
Mr.  Flanagan  and  this  firm  of  Henley  &  Nixon  took  over  a  grain  elevator 
at  Summittville,  Indiana,  under  the  name  of  Flanagan  &  Company, 
Mr.  Flanagan  conducting  the  elevator  at  Summittville  for  one  year.  The 
same  firm  of  Flanagan  &  Company,  consisting  of  John  Flanagan  and 
Henley  &  Nixon  bought  the  stock  of  goods  valued  at  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars, located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Washington  Streets  in  Fairmount. 
Mr.  Flanagan  owned  one  half,  and  Henley  &  Nixon  owned  the  other  half 
of  this  store.  However  Henley  &  Nixon  continued  as  grain  dealers  in 
Fairmount,  for  a  number  of  years,  but  Mr.  Flanagan  was  not  in  the 
grain  business  after  the  first  year,  and  devoted  all  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  mercantile  establishment.  The  business  was  conducted  as  Flanagan 
&  Company  from  May,  1S83  to  1888,  when  the  title  was  changed  to  Flan- 
agan &  Henley,  the  latter  having  bought  Mr.  Nixon's  interest.  In  1889 
the  partners  bought  the  building,  a  large  substantial  brick  structure. 
In  June,  1893,  Mr.  Flanagan  bought  out  all  the  interests  of  Mr.  Henley 
and  has  since  been  sole  proprietor.  He  is  a  merchant  who  thoroughly 
understands  the  wants  of  the  people  in  this  section  of  the  county,  has 
given  close  attention  to  the  business,  and  his  success  has  followed  as  a 
matter  of  course.  Besides  his  mercantile  interests,  he  owns  a  large 
amount  of  land  comprising  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Orange 
county,  one  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Grant  county,  and  another  of 
fifty-six  acres  in  the  same  county.  This  land  is  all  well  improved  with 
good  buildings,  and  in  his  farming  operations  he  keeps  up  the  quality 
of  his  soil,  but  feeding  all  the  grain  crops  to  his  stock. 

Mr.  Flanagan  has  served  as  member  of  the  Fairmount  school  board 
six  years,  being  president  all  that  time.  His  politics  is  Republican.  In 
religion  he  did  not  accept  the  church  of  his  parents  and  ancestors,  and 
has  never  become  a  member  of  any  church,  though  he  attends  the 
Quaker  Church  of  Fairmount,  and  is  generous  in  his  contributions  to 
all  religions  and  charities. 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES  339 

Mr.  Flanagan  was  married  in  Fairniount  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Window. 
She  was  born  near  Fairniount,  March  8,  I860,  was  educated  here  and 
belongs  to  an  old  Quaker  family,  being  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Emiley 
(Henley)  Winslow.  Both  her  parents  are  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Flanagan  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  reared  a  foster  daughter, 
named  Gertrude  "Winslow,  who  died  unmarried. 

Mr.  Flanagan  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Fairniount  State 
Bank,  and  held  the  office  of  president  seven  years.  He  was  also  a 
director  and  secretary  of  the  Fairniount  Mining  Company,  a  company 
which  put  down  some  of  the  productive  wells  in  the  oil  and  gas  districts 
of  Indiana.  For  many  years  Mr.  Flanagan  has  been  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  Grant  county.  He  has  never  held  any  political 
office  except  as  president  of  the  Fairniount  school  board,  but  has  always 
been  a  leader  in  matters  pertaining  to  his  town  and  county's  progress. 
He  was  president  during  the  entire  life  of  the  Fairmouut  Commercial 
Club,  an  organization  no  longer  in  existence.  He  helped  organize  and 
was  president  for  several  years  of  the  Fairniount  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  was  for  several  years  president  of  the  Tri-County  Fair 
Association. 

Nathan  D.  Cox.  The  following  sketch  contains  the  important  facts 
in  the  life  and  family  records  of  a  Grant  county  citizen  whose  name  has 
always  stood  for  all  that  is  honest  and  of  good  report  in  this  community 
for  successful  thrift  and  business  integrity,  for  a  position  which  all  must 
respect.  The  Cox  family  have  been  Indiana  residents  since  pioneer  days, 
the  early  generation  having  made  homes  out  of  the  wilderness,  and  later 
descendants  bore  a  worthy  part  as  soldiers  and  as  citizens.  Nathan  D. 
Cox  has  for  many  years  been  sexton  and  caretaker  of  the  beautiful  Park 
Cemetery  of  Fairmont.  Previous  to  that  he  was  a  successful  farmer  in 
this  part  of  the  county,  and  none  would  deny  that  the  comforts  and  bless- 
ings of  good  children  now  surrounding  himself  and  wife  were  merited 
rewards  to  worthy  and  well  spent  lives. 

Nathan  D.  Cox  was  born  in  Grant  county,  in  Liberty  township,  Sep- 
tember 5,  18-16.  His  grandfather,  Joshua  Cox,  a  native  of  Randolph 
county,  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  about  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
years  ago,  was  of  a  Quaker  family,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  married  in 
his  native  state,  Miss  Rachael  Cox,  who  was  no  relative  though  of  the  same 
name.  She  also  belongs  to  the  Quaker  religion.  In  1830,  with  their  chil- 
dren, these  pioneers  embarked  their  household  goods,  and  other  movables 
in  wagons  drawn  by  ox  teams,  and  by  many  days  of  alternate  driving  and 
camping  along  the  way  finally  reached  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Morgan 
county.  There  Joshua  Cox  and  wife  died  some  years  after  their  settle- 
ment, and  it  is  believed  that  they  were  not  more  than  fifty  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  their  death. 

Of  a  family  of  Joshua  Cox  was  William  Cox,  father  of  the  Fairniount 
citizen.  He  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  November  9, 
1824,  and  was  six  years  old  when  he  accompanied  the  family  on  its  migra- 
tion to  Indiana.  Growing  upon  the  home  farm  in  Morgan  county,  he 
came  to  Grant  county  before  his  marriage.  In  this  county  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  in  1S45,  he  married  Elizabeth  Wilson.  The  Wilson  family 
has  played  a  worthy  part  in  Grant  County  history.  Elizabeth  Wilson 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  about  1824  or  1825.  and  was  a  small  child 
when  brought  to  Grant  county  by  her  parents,  John  and  Mary,  better 
known  as  Polly,  (Winslow)  Wilson.  The  Wilson  family  located  on  gov- 
ernment land,  improved  a  farm  out  of  the  wilderness,  and  there  the  par- 
ents spent  their  final  years,  dying  at  a  good  old  age.  They  were  of  the 
Quaker  Faith,  were  most  estimable  people,  and  in  their  children  incul- 
cated the  virtues  of  honor  and  thrift  and  simple  living,  which  had  been 


340        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

characteristic  of  Quaker  people  for  generations.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  sons  and  six  daughters. 

After  his  marriage  William  Cox  began  life  iu  Liberty  township.  For 
some  years  he  rented  and  worked  on  others'  farm  and  with  his  accumula- 
tions finally  bought  land  for  himself  in  Fail-mount  township.  Some  years 
later  he  sold  out  and  bought  a  farm  in  Liberty  township,  and  it  was  on 
that  homestead  that  he  and  his  wife  died.  His  death  occurred  in  1901, 
and  she  died  five  months  later  in  the  same  year,  being  seventy-four  years  of 
age.  He  was  originally  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  William 
Cox  had  married  outside  of  his  Quaker  church,  and  when  called  upon  in 
a  public  meeting  of  the  Quakers  to  express  his  sorrow  for  his  act,  he 
refused,  and  was  accordingly  dismissed  from  the  congregation.  He  and 
his  wife  then  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodist,  and  died  in  that  faith.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  voter,  and  later  a  Republican.  However,  he 
at  the  time  maintained  a  rigid  adhei  v/ice  to  the  temperance  cause,  and  did 
all  in  his  power  to  uphold  prohibition  principles,  irrespective  of  the  larger 
party  lines.  There  were  seven  sons  and  six  daughters  in  the  family  of 
William  Cox  and  wife.  All*  the  sons  are  still  living,  are  married,  and  with 
the  exception  of  one,  have  their  homes  in  Indiana.  Two  of  the  six 
daughters  are  deceased,  while  the  others  are  all  married  and  have  homes 
of  their  own. 

Mr.  Nathan  D.  Cox,  the  oldest  of  the  family,  came  to  manhood  in  Lib- 
erty township.  He  was  still  a  boy  when  the  war  between  the  states  broke 
out,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  on  October  7,  1864,  volunteered  in  Com- 
pany A  of  the  Thirty-Third  Indiana  Infantry.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  discharged,  after  having  seen  considerable  active  service.  He 
fought  at  the  great  battle  at  Nashville,  in  the  closing  months  of  1864,  but 
escaped  unhurt.  On  starting  out  for  himself  he  became  a  farmer,  and  in 
1890  left  the  farm  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Fail-mount.  In  the  same 
year  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Park  Cemetery,  and  has  now 
held  that  position  and  given  most  efficient  service  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  The  Park  Cemetery  is  a  matter  of  much  pride  to  the  residents 
of  Fairmont,  comprising  twelve  acres  of  beautifully  laid  out  and  improved 
grounds,  and  the  cemetery  was  incorporated  in  May,  1889.  Up  to  the 
present  writing  the  interments  in  the  cemetery  number  over  1,500  and 
nearly  all  these  additions  to  the  city  of  the  dead  have  been  while 
Mr.  Cox  was  superintendent.  Mr.  Cox  owns  some  tine  residence  property 
in  Fairmount,  and  has  been  well  prospered  through  his  long  career. 

For  many  years  he  has  been  a  strong  Prohibitionist  in  politics,  and 
he  exemplifies  his  principles  not  only  in  abstaining  from  all  spirituous 
liquors,  but  has  never  used  tobacco  in  any  form. 

On  June  6,  1869,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Cox  with  Miss 
Jennie  Fisher.  She  was  born  in  Clinton,  Ohio,  March  12,  1848,  and  was 
a  young  girl  when  her  parents  Asa  and  Susan  (Horsman)  Fisher,  came 
to  Delaware  county,  Indiana.  Both  her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
were  married  in  Clinton  county,  and  settled  in  Delaware  county  about 
1855.  They  bought  a  farm  near  Bethel,  where  they  lived  until  their 
death.  Mrs.  Fisher  died  during  the  war,  while  her  husband  passed  away 
some  years  later.  Both  were  in  middle  life  at  the  final  summons.  They 
were  active  members  of  the  Christian  church.  One  son,  Andy  Fisher  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Thirty-Sixth  Indiana  Regiment,  was  badly  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  loins, 
and  he  lay  for  three  days  and  three  nights  on  the  battle  field.  Finally 
he  was  cared  for  by  a  Confederate  soldier,  and  then  sent  home,  and 
largely  owing  to  exposure  as  a  soldier  died  from  tuberculosis.  He  was 
unmarried.  Mrs.  Cox  is  the  only  one  of  the  ten  children  in  her  parents' 
family  now  living. 

The  five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  are  mentioned  as  follows :  Nora 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  341 

is  the  wife  of  David  Gregg,  of  Fairmont,  and  their  children  are  :  Edw aid, 
who  is  a  teacher;  William,  who  has  received  an  excellent  education,  and 
Dewey.  Cora,  the  second  in  the  family,  is  the  wife  of  Clinton  Haisley, 
who  is  with  the  Rubber  Company  of  Jonesboro.  They  have  two  children, 
Chester  and  Etha,  both  of  whom  have  been  provided  with  good  advantages 
in  the  public  schools  and  the  Fairmount  Academy.  The  daughter  Flora, 
died  in  infancy,  and  the  next  child,  also  named  Flora,  died  when  young. 
The  lifth  and  youngest  child,  William,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 

-Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  have  for  forty-live  years  been  active  members  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  Mrs.  Cox  has  given  a  quarter  century  of 
work  as  a  Sunday  school  teacher,  while  her  husband  has  been  a  class 
leader  for  several  years  in  his  local  church,  later  held  the  same  position 
six  years  more,  and  for  many  years  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day School. 

Robert  A.  Morris.  Among  any  community's  most  important  inter- 
ests are  those  which  deal  with  its  financial  affairs,  for  financial  stability 
must  be  the  foundation  stone  upon  which  all  great  enterprises  are  erected. 
The  men  who  control  and  conserve  the  money  of  corporation  or  country, 
or  of  private  individual,  must  of  necessity  possess  many  qualities  not 
requisite  in  the  ordinary  citizen,  and  among  these,  high  commercial  in- 
tegrity, poise,  judgment,  exceptional  financial  ability  and  foresight  may 
be  mentioned.  They  must  possess  the  public  confidence,  for  often  through 
their  wisdom,  sagacity  and  foresight  panics  that  have  threatened  the 
government  have  been  averted.  A  citizen  whose  entire  training  has  been 
along  the  line  of  finance,  and  who  has  been  prominently  connected  with 
the  banking  interests  of  Grant  county  for  a  number  of  years,  is  Robert  A. 
Morris,  president  of  the  Fairmount  State  Bank. 

Mr.  Morris  comes  of  old  Southern  stock,  his  paternal  great-grandfather 
having  been  born  in  North  Carolina  of  Welsh  and  Scotch  parentage.  The 
family  came  to  the  American  Colonies  prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  belonged  to  the  Hicks  Quaker  stock,  Mr.  Morris  him- 
self being  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  married  in  North 
Carolina,  and  in  1823  came  north  with  the  Quakers  who  left  the  South 
because  of  their  opposition  to  the  practice  of  slavery  prevalent  in  the  Old 
North  State,  making  a  settlement  near  Richmond,  Indiana,  where  they 
became  pioneers.  Mr.  Morris  was  a  miller  by  vocation  and  established 
one  of  the  first  mills  in  Wayne  county,  continuing  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  his  career  there  and  dying  in  advanced  years,  as  did  also  his  wife. 
Among  their  children  was  George  Morris,  the  grandfather  of  Robert  A. 
Morris. 

George  Morris  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  North  Carolina,  and  was 
still  a  small  boy  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  in  their  journey  over- 
land to  the  wilderness  of  Indiana.  He  grew  up  to  sturdy  manhood,  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  followed  farming  for  some  time,  but 
subsequently  became  an  early  merchant  near  Richmond.  He  wras  mar- 
ried in  that  city  to  Miss  Rhoda  Frampton.  who  was  born  a  Quakeress  and 
a  member  of  an  old  Maryland  family  of  Friends.  Mr.  Morris  passed  away 
near  Richmond  when  but  thirty-six  years  of  age,  while  his  wife  survived 
him  for  a  long  period,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 

The  second  son  and  child  of  the  five  children  of  his  parents,  Aaron" 
Morris,  the  father  of  Robert  A.  Morris,  was  born  near  Richmond,  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  November  21,  1834.  There  he  was  educated,  reared  and 
spent  his  entire  life,  and  there  his  death  occurred  February  15.  1907.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  are  all  still  living,  are  married,  and  have  homes  of 
their  own.  In  his  youth  Aaron  Morris  learned  the  trade  of  wagon-maker 
and  this  he  followed  with  a  reasonable  amount  of  success  until  1865,  when 
he  was  married.     At  that  time  he  became  one  of  the  organizers  and  part- 


342        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ners  of  the  Hoosier  Drill  Company,  of  which  he  continued  as  manager 
and  a  director  until  1876,  when  he  disposed  of  interests  and  became  an 
official  member  of  a  reaper  and  mower  concern.  With  this  venture  he 
continued  until  1888,  when  he  embarked  in  the  banking  business,  at  Pen- 
dleton, Indiana,  where  he  became  the  founder  of  the  Pendleton 
Banking  Company.  Of  this  institution  he  became  president,  and  so 
remained  for  a  number  of  years,  and  it  is  still  in  the  family  name,  being 
now  conducted  by  William  P.  Morris,  a  son  of  its  founder.  In  1902  Mr. 
Morris  came  to  Pairmount,  Indiana,  and  here  established  the  Pairmount 
State  Bank,  with  which  he  was  connected  in  an  official  capacity  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Morris  was  an  excellent  business  man  and  finan- 
cier, and  was  widely  known  in  banking  circles,  especially  in  Wayne, 
Grant  and  Madison  counties.  He  bore  a  high  reputation  for  business 
integrity  and  honorable  dealing,  and  in  his  private  life  was  known  to  be 
a  man  of  the  utmost  probity.  He  was  a  stanch  Republican  throughout  his 
life,  but  was  content  with  his  business  interests  and  never  sought  personal 
preferment  as  a  candidate.  Throughout  his  life  he  was  a  (Quaker,  and 
lived  up  to  the  teachings  of  his  faith.  While  residing  in  Wayne  county, 
near  Pendleton,  Mr.  Morris  was  married  in  1865,  to  Miss  Martha  Thomas, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Madison  county,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Louis  and  Percilla  (Moore)  Thomas,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came 
from  Philadelphia  and  Chester  county  in  that  state  at  an  early  date, 
and  located  in  Madison  county.  There  they  spent  their  lives  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  in  the  community  in  which  there  were  so  many  members 
of  the  Friends  church,  to  which  faith  they  belonged.  Mrs.  Aaron  Morris 
was  one  of  a  large  family,  the  most  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  she  still 
survives  her  husband  and  makes  her  home  in  Madison  county,  being 
seventy-five  years  of  age.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Aaron  Morris,  namely :  William  F.,  manager  of  the  State  Bank  of  Pendle- 
ton, who  married  Lyle  Zeublin  and  has  two  daughters — Mildred  and 
Eleanor;  Luella,  who  is  the  wife  of  Elwood  Burchell,  of  Port  Chester, 
New  York,  a  manufacturer  of  bolts  and  nuts,  who  has  three  sons — Rich- 
ard, Morris  and  Robert;  Robert  A.;  and  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Frederick  Lantz,  a  merchant  of  Pendleton,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Deborah. 

Robert  A.  Morris  was  born  near  Richmond,  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
May  16,  1877.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Rich- 
mond, following  which  he  attended  Earlham  College,  and  then  embarked 
in  the  banking  business  with  his  father  at  Pendleton.  There  he  remained 
from  1895  until  1902,  when,  having  thoroughly  mastered  the  details  of 
banking,  he  came  to  Fail-mount  to  take  charge  of  the  Fairmount  State 
Bank,  and  of  this  he  has  since  had  control.  This  institution  has  a  capital 
and  surplus  of  $32,000,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial 
financial  houses  of  Grant  county.  Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Morris 
it  has  enjoyed  a  steady  and  continued  growth,  and  has  gained  the  complete 
confidence  of  the  public. 

In  1908  Mr.  Morris  was  married  in  Fairmount  to  Miss  Artie  Suman, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Fairmount,  where  her  people  were 
early  settlers.  They  are  now  residents  of  North  Dakota,  where  they  are 
engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  have  one  son:  William  S., 
'  born  January  2, 1913.  In  his  political  preferences  Mr.  Morris  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

Eli  J.  Cox.  A  native  son  of  Grant  county,  who  is  well  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Fairmount.  Eli  J.  Cox  has  not  confined  his  activities  to  the 
Hoosier  State,  but  is  widely  known  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  especi- 
ally in  Florida,  where  he  is  the  owner  of  extensive  orange  groves.  He  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and  is  descended  from  one  of  two  brothers,  Joseph 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        343 

and  Samuel  Cox,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  prior  to  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  settling  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  identified  with  the 
Fox  Quakers.  One  of  these  brothers  subsequently  moved  to  North  Caro- 
lina and  established  a  home  among  the  Quakers  of  Randolph  county,  and 
from  him  Eli  J.  Cox  is  directly  descended. 

Joshua  Cox,  the  grandfather  of  Eli  Cox,  was  born  in  North  Carolina 
between  the  years  1790  and  1795.  He  grew  up  there  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  was  united  in  marriage  with  a  Miss  Rachael  Cox,  no  doubt  a 
distant  relative.  At  the  time  the  Quakers  who  were  opposed  to  slavery 
began  their  migration  north,  about  1834,  Joshua  Cox  left  North  Carolina 
with  his  wife  and  children  and  located  in  the  Quaker  settlement  in  Morgan 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of  undeveloped  land  from  the 
government  and  settled  down  to  make  a  home.  There  he  died  not  long 
afterward,  when  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  while  his  widow  survived  him 
for  many  years.  They  were  Quakers  all  of  their  lives  and  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  were 
married  and  had  families. 

The  third  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents'  six  children,  William  Cox 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1824.  and  was  still  a  lad  when  he  accom- 
panied them  in  their  migration  to  Morgan  county,  Indiana.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  came  to  Grant  county.  Indiana,  and  when  not  yet 
twenty -one  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  1826  in 
Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  and  was  a  child  when  she  accompanied 
her  parents.  John  and  Mary  R.  (Winslow)  Wilson,  to  Grant  county.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Wilson)  Cox  was  reared  a  Quakeress,  but  before  marriage 
joined  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  her  husband,  refusing  to  declare 
himself  sorry  for  his  act,  was  excommunicated  by  the  church  and  a  few 
years  later  they  both  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church,  in  the  faith 
of  which  they  died.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Cox 
located  on  a  farm  in  Fairmount  township,  but  subsequently  moved  to 
another  tract  in  Liberty  township,  on  the  Little  Ridge  road,  two  and 
one-half  miles  southwest  from  Fairmount.  There  Mr.  Cox's  death  oc- 
curred in  January,  1901,  while  his  wife  followed  him  to  the  grave  on 
June  12th  of  the  same  year.  They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children, 
as  follows:  Nathan  D.,  of  Fairmount,  who  is  married  and  has  children, 
grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild ;  Abigail,  who  married  first 
Jonathan  Bogue.  by  whom  she  had  a  large  family,  and  married  second 
Josiah  Winslow,  and  lives  in  Fairmount;  John  W.,  a  farmer  near  Fair- 
mount,  who  is  married  and  has  five  children;  Mary  R.,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Oliver  Haisley,  a  carpenter  of  Fairmount,  and  has  two  married  chil- 
dren; Eli  J.,  subject  of  this  review;  Milton  T.,  a  fruit  grower  near 
Fairmount,  who  is  married  and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters,  the  latter 
being  married;  Zimri  E.,  a  Colorado  ranchman,  who  is  married  and  has 
two  sons,  both  civil  engineers  and  graduates  of  the  College  of  Mining,  at 
Golden,  Colorado ;  Eliza  Ann,  who  married  William  Shields,  now  of 
California,  and  died  leaving  three  sons ;  Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Powell, 
a  farmer  of  Grant  county,  and  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter  at  home ; 
Elizabeth  C.  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Seale.  of  Fairmount,  who  has  one  son  and 
one  daughter:  William  V.,  a  farmer  of  Fairmount  township,  who  has 
one  adopted  daughter ;  Mica jah  T.,  who  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter ; 
and  Margaret  E.,  twin  of  Micajah  T..  who  died  after  her  marriage  to 
William  T.  Cammack,  now  in  the  West,  by  whom  she  had  one  son  and 
one  daughter. 

Eli  J.  Cox  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Grant  county.  Indiana, 
January  6.  1853,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  country  schools. 
Subsequently  he  became  a  student  in  the  Marion  (Indiana)  Normal 
school,  and  after  a  few  terms  at  this  institution  he  became  a  teacher 
and  for  seven  years  was  engaged  in  educational  work  in  the  Grant  county 


344  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

schools.  In  1881  he  went  to  the  western  part  of  Missouri,  where  for 
one  year  he  was  engaged  in  hay  buying  business,  and  in  the  following  year 
went  to  Florida,  where  he  embarked  in  the  orange  grove  enterprise.  In 
this  he  met'with  almost  instantaneous  success,  and  through  good  manage- 
ment and  shrewd  business  foresight  •  increased  his  holdings  from  time 
to  time  until  he  owned  large  interests  in  orange  groves.  He  bought  and 
sold  this  kind  of  land,  established  a  packing  house,  and  bought  and 
shipped  oranges  extensively.  His  brand  was  well  known  in  the  eastern 
markets.  With  others,  he  was  caught  in  the  great  "freeze"  of  the  year 
1895,  but  managed  to  recuperate  his  losses  and  to  regain  a  part  of  his 
groves,  and  now  owns  and  operates  two  very  valuable  orange  properties. 
He  has  large  land  holdings  in  Florida,  and  also  owns  valuable  tracts  in 
Texas,  near  the  city  of  Houston.  He  is  at  this  time  an  active  member 
of  the  Florida  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  is  widely' known  as  an 
expert  in  the  orange  industry.  Mr.  Cox  has  been  an  extensive  traveler, 
having  visited  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union,  as  well  as  various  points 
in  Canada  and  Mexico.  He  maintains  a  handsome  home  in  Fairmount 
and  here  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  affects  the  material  welfare 
of  the  city  or  its  people.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Cox  is  a  Republican 
but  he  has  cared  little  for  the  struggles  of  the  political  arena. 

Mr.  Cox  was  married  in  Grant  county,  to  a  Miss  Ballenger,  and 
to  this  union  there  was  born  one  daughter  who  died  in  infancy. 
His  second  marriage  occurred  in  1904,  in  Fairmount,  Indiana,  to  Mrs.  Ora 
D.  (Luse)  Osborn,  who  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Indiana,  March  2, 
•1869.  She  came  to  Fairmount  in  1882,  with  her  parents,  "Walter  S.  and 
Elmira  C.  (Coffin)  Luse,  natives  of  Hancock  county.  Her  father  was 
for  a  number  of  years  a  successful  agriculturist  and  tile  manufacturer 
of  Liberty  township,  Grant  county,  but  in  1892  retired  from  active  life, 
and  he  and  his  wife  now  make  their  home  in  Fairmount.  He  was  a 
pioneer  in  the  manufacture  of  tile  and  brick  in  Indiana,  engaging  therein 
as  early  as  1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  have  no  children.  Her  former 
husband,  Jesse  Osborn,  died  some  years  ago,  when  still  a  young  man. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  are  members  of  the  Friends  church. 

John  R.  Browne  was  born  October  17,  1876,  in  Van  Buren  town- 
ship of  Grant  county,  a  son  of  William  L.  and  Martha  E.  (Kirkpatrick) 
Browne.  The  maternal  grandfather,  William  M.  Kirkpatrick,  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Van  Buren  township,  Grant  county.  The  father  was  a 
lawyer  and  for  many  years  practiced  his  profession  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska, 
where  he  died  in  1908.  The  mother  now  lives  at  Landersville  in  this 
county.  There  were  two  children  in  the  family,  and  Mr.  Browne's 
brother  is  Frank  D.  Browne,  a  substantial  farmer  near  Huntington. 
Indiana. 

John  R.  Browne  spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  on  a  farm, 
and  during  that  time  attained  a  common  school  and  part  of  a  high  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  teaching,  which  occupation 
he  continued  for  six  years.  Many  of  the  nights  and  a  large  part  of  his 
vacation  periods,  whiie  a  teacher,  were  spent  in  reading  law  both  at  home 
and  with  Mr.  O.  L.  Cline,  and  later  with  Paulus  &  Cline.  In  1898  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  begun  the  practice  on  March  1,  1899,  with 
Mr.  J.  F.  Charles,  as  a  partner.  This  partnership  was  continued  as 
Charles  &  Browne  until  December  1, 1902,  at  which  time  Hiram  Brownlee 
became  the  head  of  the  new  firm  of  Brownlee,  Charles  &  Browne.  This 
firm  continued  until  May  6,  1903,  at  which  date,  Mr.  Charles  retired. 
Brownlee  &  Browne  then  continued  together  until  November  1st,  1907. 
at  which  time,  the  partnership  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Mr. 
Browne  was  then  engaged  in  practice  alone  until  March  23,  1908,  at 


BLACKFORD  AND  GEANT  COUNTIES  345 

which  time  the  present  partnership  with  Gus  S.  Condo  was  formed  under 
the  firm  name  of  Condo  &  Browne.  They  practice  in  all  the  local,  state 
and  federal  courts,  both  having  been  admitted  to  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  at   Washington.  D.  ('..  on  December  2nd,  1912. 

On  May  17,  1899,  Mr.  Browne  married  Miss  Grace  Riley,  of  Van 
Buren,  Grant  county.  Mrs.  Browne  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  a 
daughter  of  James  E.  and  Sarah  E.  Riley,  a  well  known  family  here. 
The  three  children  born  of  their  marriage  are  named  as  follows:  Miriam, 
aged  eleven;  Edward  J.,  aged     ten.  and  Ruth,  aged  eight. 

Mr.  Browne  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Marion  Country 
Club;  also  of  the  Elks  Club,  and  is  now  Exalted  Ruler  of  Marion  Lodge 
No.  195,  B.  P.  O.  Elks.     In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 

William  II.  Wiley.  With  impregnable  place  in  popular  confidence 
and  esteem.  .Mr.  Wiley  has  not  only  attained  to  prominence  as  one  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  his  native  county  but  he  also 
is  known  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  progressive  citizens  of  .Marion, 
the  judicial  center  of  Grant  county,  and  has  put  forth  splendid  service 
in  the  furtherance  of  its  civic  and  material  progress  and  prosperity.  He 
is  an  interested  principal  in  important  industrial  activities  in  his  home 
city  and  is  still  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  general  practice 
of  law.  in  which  his  status  is  that  of  a  man  of  high  technical  attainments 
and  distinctive  practical  ability  in  the  applying  of  his  knowledge,  as 
is  evident  from  the  many  decisive  victories  he  has  won  in  connection  with 
important  litigations  in  the  various  courts.  Further  interest  attaches  to 
his  career  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a  scion  of  a  family  whose 
name  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  Graut  county  for  more 
than  half  a  century. 

William  H.  Wiley  was  born  at  Jonesboro,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1S61,  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Margaret  H. 
i  Home)  Wiley,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  near  Piqua,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  a  member  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  near  Vevay,  Switzerland  county, 
Indiana,  her  parents  having  been  early  settlers  in  the  stanch  colony 
there  founded  in  the  pioneer  epoch  of  the  state's  history.  George  W. 
Wiley  was  a  successful  contractor  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active 
business  career  and  established  his  home  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  about 
1858,  here  passing  the  residue  of  his  long  aud  useful  life  and  ever  com- 
mandhig  unqualified  popular  esteem.  He  was  summoned  to  eternal 
rest,  at  Jonesboro,  this  county,  on  the  2Sth  of  April,  1900,  one  of  the 
well-known  and  highly  honored  pioneer  citizens  of  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Margaret  H.  (Home)  Wiley,  died  on  the  15th 
of  July,  1880.  Of  their  children  two  sons  and  three  daughters  are 
now  living. 

The  village  schools  of  Jonesboro  afforded  to  William  H.  Wiley  his 
early  educational  advantages,  and  this  discipline  was  supplemented  by 
an  effective  course  of  study  in  the  Marion  Normal  School.  He  applied 
himself  with  characteristic  diligence  and  ambition  and  before  he  had 
attained  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  proved  himself  eligible  for  peda- 
gogic honors,  as  he  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools,  his  initial  venture 
having  been  in  a  district  school.  He  proved  a  successful  and  popular 
instructor  and  continued  to  devote  himself  to  pedagogic  work  for  four 
and  one-half  years,  during  two  of  which  he  held  incumbencies  in  the 
schools  of  Delaware  county,  his  remaining  service  having  been  in  Grant 
county,  where  he  taught  for  a  time  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  of 
Jonesboro.  He  early  began  the  technical  reading  through  which  he 
effectively  equipped  himself  for  the  legal  profession,  but  his  energies- 
have  likewise  been  directed  along  divers  other  lines. 


346  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1884,  a  few  weeks  prior  to  his  twenty-third 
birthday  anniversary,  Mr.  Wiley  established  his  residence  in  the  city  of 
Marion,  where  he  engaged  in  the  abstract  business,  in  which  he  became 
associated  in  a  partnership  with  Addison  M.  Baldwin  and  William  H. 
Irvine.  Later  he  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Irvine,  and  Mr.  Baldwin 
was  succeeded  by  Joseph  W.  Stout.  The  firm  of  Wiley  &  Stout  con- 
tinued the  prosperous  abstract  enterprise  until  about  1890,  when  Mr. 
Stout  sold  his  interest  to  Pearl  Bogue,  whereupon  the  firm  name  was 
changed  to  Wiley  &  Bogue,  this  alliance  continuing  until  1893. 

Having  directed  his  legal  studies  with  much  energy  and  under  effec- 
tive preceptorship  for  a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Wiley  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  1899.  The  same  year  he  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Marion,  where  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  William  J.  Houck  and  Charles  M.  Ratcliffe.  The  firm  built  up  a 
substantial  and  representative  practice  and  the  alliance  continued  until 
1904,  when  Mr.  Houck  retired  from  the  firm,  after  which  the  business 
was  continued  under  the  title  of  Wiley  &  Ratcliffe  for  one  and  one-half 
years,  with  a  general  insurance  business  maintained  in  connection  with 
that  of  the  law.  After  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Ratcliffe  the  business  was 
individually  continued  by  Mr.  Wiley  until  1907,  in  December  of  which 
year  he  removed  to  Decatur,  the  judicial  center  of  Adams  county,  where 
he  became  an  executive  of  the  Cappock  Motor  Car  Company.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  still  retained  his  law  office  in  Marion,  and  to  this  city  he 
returned  in  January,  1909,  since  which  time  he  has  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  besides  giving  close  attention  to  his  other  and 
varied  interests. 

Fully  appreciative  of  the  advantages  and  attractions  of  the  city  of 
Marion,  Mr.  Wiley,  having  as  his  associate  Thad  Butler  of  Marion  and 
Geo.  L.  Mason  of  New  York,  initiated  the  work  of  exploiting  its  claims 
in  an  effective  and  productive  way,  his  initial  efforts  along  this  line  hav- 
ing been  instituted  in  1889,  and  his  labors  having  been  most  vigorous, 
circumspect  and  effective.  Within  the  next  few  years  he  did  much  to 
aid  in  the  securing  of  manufacturing  industries  to  the  city,  and  he  was 
specially  influential  in  the  enlisting  of  the  requisite  capitalistic  support. 
He  was  aggressive  and  versatile  in  his  endeavors,  as  may  be  realized 
when  it  is  stated  that  he  arranged  for  and  brought  to  successful  comple- 
tion a  number  of  special  excursions  to  Marion,  from  Buffalo  and  other 
points  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  his  work  in  this  con- 
nection being  projected  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  Marion  to  public 
attention  and  thus  promoting  its  civic  and  material  development  and 
progress.  Prominent  among  the  important  industrial  concerns  which 
he  aided  in  securing  to  Marion  may  be  noted  the  Marion  Malleable  Iron 
Works,  which  now  gives  employment  to  fully  one  thousand  men ;  and 
the  Hoosier  Stove  Company,  the  Central  Foundry  Company,  the  Western 
Drop  Forge  Company,  and  the  Spencer  Table  Company.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Canton  Glass  Company,  the  plant  and  head- 
quarters of  which  are  at  Marion,  and  he  is  at  the  present  time  a  member 
of  its  directorate.  He  also  gave  timely  and  effective  aid  in  the  raising 
of  the  fund  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  promotion  of  manu- 
facturing enterprises  in  Marion.  He  was  one  of  the  foremost  promoters 
and  an  active  organizer  of  the  Marion  Commercial  Club,  of  which  he 
has  served  consecutively  as  secretary,  save  during  the  one  year  of  his 
residence    at    Decatur. 

Mr.  Wiley  is  a  man  of  broad  and  well  fortified  views  concerning  mat- 
ters of  economic  and  governmental  polity  and  accords  unwavering  al- 
legiance to  the  Democratic  party,  of  whose  principles  and  policies  he 
has  proved  a  most  effective  advocate.    He  has  been  an  active  and  efficient 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        :347 

worker  in  behalf  of  the  part}-  cause  and  in  1906  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  representative  of  his  district  in  the  state  senate.  He  made 
a  spirited  canvass  throughout  the  district,  which  was  strongly  Republican, 
and  while  he  failed  of  election,  as  he  had  anticipated,  he  gained  a  rep- 
resentative support  at  the  polls  and  reduced  the  normal  majority  of  the 
Republican  party,  with  the  result  that  his  defeat  was  compassed  by  only 
one  hundred  and  eighty-four  votes.  Mr.  "Wiley  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  their  home  city  and  he  is  serving  as  a 
member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 

The  10th  of  April,  1884,  recorded  the  solemnization  of  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Wiley  to  Miss  Millie  J.  Bogue.  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
Bogue,  of  Fairmount,  Grant  county,  and  she  is  a  most  popular  factor 
in  connection  with  the  leading  social  activities  of  her  home  city.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wiley  have  had  two  children, — Forrest,  who  died  in  1898,  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years,  and  William  Einmett,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1913  at  the  Culver  Military  Academy,  winning  the  scholarship 
medal  which  carried  with  it  a  scholarship  in  the  University  of  Chicago, 
where  he  will  pursue  his  studies. 

Jason  B.  Smith.  For  a  number  of  years  Jason  B.  Smith  has  been 
a  well  known  resident  of  Grant  county,  having  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  gas  development  during  the  decade  of  the  eighties.  His  head- 
quarters during  his  operations  in  that  field  were  at  Fairmount,  but 
finally  failing  health  compelled  him  to  go  south  and  he  lived  for  some 
years  out  of  the  county.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Seytha  Dobbins,  who 
died  January  15,  1908,  leaving  the  following  children :  Charles  H.,  who 
resides  in  the  state  of  Washington  ;  Harry  D.,  who  died  as  a  young  man ; 
Bernie,  who  resides  in  the  state  of  Oregon ;  Roy,  also  residing  in  Oregon ; 
Willis,  residing  in  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  Clyde,  also  residing  in  Atlanta,  and 
Clare,  residing  in  Fitzgerald.  Georgia.  After  his  return  from  Fitzgerald, 
Georgia,  where  he  had  been  operating  a  saw  mill,  Mr.  Smith  was  mar- 
ried in  March,  1911,  to  Mrs.  Rachael  Lewis,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Wright.  She  was  the  widow  of  Leander  L.  Lewis,  a  late  resident  of 
Fairmount  township.  Mr,.  Smith  since  his  marriage  has  successfully 
operated  the  large  estate  of  his  wife  in  Fairmount  township,  and  both 
are  actively  interested  in  many  affairs  in  that  locality,  giving  much 
attention  and  assistance  to  those  things  which  make  for  progress  and  a 
better  social  and  moral  condition  of  community  life. 

Jason  B.  Smith  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August  7,  1845,  and  was 
quite  young  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Rush  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  reared  and  well  educated.  After  some  years  the  family 
moved  to  Decatur  county,  in  this  state.  Mr,  Smith  is  the  son  of  David 
B.  and  Malinda  (Phillips)  Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  of  a  line  of  prosperous  and  intelligent  people.  Mr.  Smith  moved 
to  Pennsylvania  when  a  young  man,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss 
Phillips,  a  native  of  that  state  and  several  years  after  their  marriage 
they  set  out  and  established  a  new  home  in  Indiana.  They  made  the 
journey  west  by  way  of  the  Allegany  river  and  the  Ohio  river,  as  far 
as  Cincinnati,  from  which  city  a  large  wagon  drawn  by  six  horses 
carried  them  to  Rush  county.  In  Richland  township  of  that  county, 
they  started  life  in  almost  a  new  country,  and  finally  moved  to  Fugit 
township  in  Decatur  county,  where  David  Smith  improved  a  substantial 
homestead.  Later  he  retired  to  Rushville,  where  his  wife  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two.  David  B.  Smith  spent  his  last  years  with  a 
daughter  in  Connersville,  in  Fayette  county,  where  his  death  occurred 


348        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

at  the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  and  his  wife  were 
active  members  and  workers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with 
which  denomination  many  years  of  their  lives  had  been  spent.  He  was 
also  a  strong  abolitionist,  and  before  the  war  his  home  was  a  station  on 
the  underground  railway,  and  many  a  time  he  assisted  the  escape  of  a 
negro  fleeing  from  the  south  for  the  Canadian  boundary.  After  the 
war  he  was  a  Republican. 

Jason  B.  Smith  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  on  the  Union  side, 
having  enlisted  when  a  boy  in  Company  B  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-third  Indiana  Regiment.  His  services  continued  until  the  close 
of  hostilities,  and  though  unwounded  he  met  with  much  exposure  and 
hardships  of  army  life. 

Jason  B.  Smith  is  one  of  three  living  children.  A  sister,  Emma,  is 
the  wife  of  John  Carpenter,  and  lives  in  Rushville,  having  two  sons, 
Clarence  and  Jesse.  A  brother,  Prank,  is  unmarried,  and  is  following 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder  at  his  home  in  Rushville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  no  children  by  their  marriage,  nor  was 
she  the  mother  of  any  children  by  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Lewis.  They 
are  both  active  in  the  Christian  church  of  Fairmount  City,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mrs.  Smith  is  the  daughter  of  John  Wright,  who  was  married  in 
Fairfield  township  of  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  February  14,  1861,  to 
Celia  Glidwell.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  November  10, 
1832,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Smith,  September  29, 
1912.  The  Glidwells  were  a  well  known  southern  family,  and  they  still 
hold  an  annual  reunion,  Mrs.  Smith  being  secretary  of  the  family 
association. 

Leander  Lewis,  the  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  born  in  Barthol- 
omew county,  Indiana,  May  30,  1859,  and  died  at  Anderson,  June  2, 
1906,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Armistead  and 
Elizabeth  (Carter)  Lewis,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  a 
son  of  Michael  Lewis.  Michael  Lewis  lost  his  first  wife  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  later  married  again  and  came  north  about  the  middle  of  the 
decade  of  the  thirties  to  Bartholomew  county,  settling  at  Old  St.  Louis, 
when  the  county  was  in  its  pioneer  state  of  development.  There  Michael 
Lewis  lived  and  died,  attaining  the  age  of  almost  four  score.  He  was 
four  times  married  after  coming  to  Indiana,  and  had  children  hy  all  his 
five  wives.  Armistead  was  the  only  child  who  lived  in  the  immediate 
family  of  his  father  and  mother,  and  grew  up  in  Bartholomew  county, 
where  his  father  had  accumulated  a  large  property  as  a  farmer  and 
business  man.  Armistead  Lewis  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Bartholomew  county,  having  made  it  almost 
entirely  by  his  own  labor  and  having  cleared  and  placed  it  in  cultivation 
from  an  area  of  stumps  and  woods.  He  also  owned  and  operated  a  saw 
mill.  He  is  now  living  retired  at  Columbus,  Indiana,  and  was  eighty 
years  of  age  on  January  13,  1913.  His  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Carter,  died 
at  Hope,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  She  was  an  old-school 
Baptist  in  religion,  while  Armistead  Lewis  has  long  been  prominent  in 
the  Methodist  church,  having  helped  to  build  one  of  the  early  churches 
of  that  denomination  at  St.  Louis  in  Bartholomew  county. 

Leander  Lewis,  who  was  the  oldest  of  three  children,  grew  up  in  his 
native  county,  had  a  substantial  education  and  during  his  early  years 
followed  his  career  as  a  farmer  and  sawmill  man,  working  with  his 
father.  He  was  married  in  Brookville,  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Rachael  Wright,  who  was  born  and  reared  there,  and  was  well 
educated,  having  served  at  different  times  as  a  supply  teacher,. 

Rachael  Wright,  who  is  now  Mrs.  J.  B.  Smith,  as  already  stated,  was 


HIRAM     A.  JUNKS 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        349 

a  daughter  of  John  Wright,  and  a  granddaughter  of  William  Wright, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Laneastershire,  near  Manchester,  England. 
William  Wright,  her  grandfather,  was  born  February,  6,  178(5.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Bartsley,  both  being  of  old  English  families.  In 
1820  the  family  took  passage  for  America,  in  a  sailing  vessel  that  was 
seventy-five  days  on  the  high  seas.  After  landing  they  came  up  the 
Hudson  River,  and  by  the  Erie  Canal  and  through  the  great  lakes, 
finally  reaching  Dayton,  Ohio.  Mr.  William  Wright  followed  the  trade 
of  hatter,  in  England  and  worked  at  the  same  line  in  Dayton.  On 
coming  to  that  city  he  had  six  hundred  dollars  in  cash.  With  much 
faith  in  his  fellowmen,  owing  to  his  own  scrupulous  integrity,  he 
loaned  all  that  money  to  a  man  without  taking  a  note  and  lost  it  all. 
Although  thus  deprived  of  his  capital  he  set  about  undiscouraged  and 
soon  earned  two  hundred  dollars  at  his  trade.  In  1825,  he  moved  to 
Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  that  section.  Later  his  holdings 
were  increased  by  another  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  eventually 
a  large  and  commodious  brick  house  was  erected  on  his  land,  the 
brick  having  been  made  from  clay  dug  and  burned  on  his  own  farm. 
It  was  in  that  home  that  he  died  April  12,  1854,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  there  August  25,  1863.  They  were  Church  of  England  people  for 
many  years,  but  owing  to  the  absence  of  a  church  of  that  denomination 
in  their  community  they  worshipped  for  convenience  in  the  Presbyterian 
society.  Their  bodies  now  rest  side  by  side  in  the  Brookville  cemetery. 
They  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  up  and 
married  and  had  families  except  one.  These  children  were :  James, 
born  in  England,  October  18,  1810,  and  lived  in  Fairfield  township  of 
Franklin  county,  and  married  Agnes  Templeton,  having  one  son, 
William.  Ann  married  Dr.  George  Berry,  a  prominent  physician,  and 
for  more  than  half  a  century  lived  in  one  home  in  Brookville,  Ind., 
leaving  three  children.  The  next  child  in  order  was  John  Wright, 
father  of  Mrs.  Smith.  The  fourth  was  Elizabeth,  who  married  William 
Butler,  and  she  died,  aged  55.  Hannah,  born  in  Ohio  June  1,  1821, 
married  William  Butler,  her  sister's  former  husband.  Sarah,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  November  9,  1823,  and  died  after  her  marriage  to  Andrew 
Shirk,  and  had  eight  children.  Mary  was  born  in  Indiana,  March  12, 
183C>,  and  married  Elbert  Shirk,  and  left  three  living  children.  William, 
Jr.,  was  born  in  Indiana,  July  21,  1828,  and  married  Permelia  Wynn, 
and  they  died  in  Bartholomew  county,  leaving  three  children. 

John  Wright,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  born  August  15,  1815, 
and  died  January  11, 1875. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jason  B.  Smith  own  and  reside  on  "The  Clover  Crest" 
farm,  a  fine  country  estate  of  225  a-cres,  lying  one  mile  southwest  of 
Fowlerton  in  Fairmount  township.  Mrs.  Smith  moved  to  this  farm  in 
1884,  with  her  parents,  and  with  the  exception  of  seven  years,  which 
she  lived  in  Fairmount,  had  resided  here  ever  since.  She  worked  very 
hard  on  this  place  and  helped  to  clear  it.  They  do  general  farming  and 
have  a  fine  silo  with  100  ton  capacity  which  they  erected  in  1911. 

Hiram  A.  Jones.  One  of  the  fine  old  pioneer  citizens  of  Grant 
county  was  the  late  Hiram  A.  Jones,  who  died  at  his  home  in  Section 
24  of  Fairmount  township  on  March  31,  1908.  He  was  born  on  the 
old  Jones  farm  in  the  same  township,  on  October  17,  1843.  The  date 
of  his  birth  indicates  the  early  settlement  of  the  family  in  this  county. 
Mr.  Jones  was  long  a  successful  farmer,  held  a  high  position  in  the 
esteem  of  his  community,  and  besides  providing  liberally  for  his 
immediate  household  was  always  helpful  and  liberal  in  his  relations 
to  the  general  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  locality. 


350        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  Grant  county  was  Grandfather  Ellis 
Jones,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  it  is  believed  that  he  came  to  this 
county  with  his  family  from  Ohio,  and  after  arriving  did  the  pioneer 
work  of  establishing  a  home,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age  in  Jefferson 
township.  The  parents  of  the  late  II.  A.  Jones  were  Joseph  and 
Catherine  (McConnick)  Jones.  They  were  probably  married  in  Ohio, 
and  then  moved  to  Grant  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fairmount 
township.  There  they  continued  their  useful  career  until  death. 
Joseph  Jones  was  born  April  15,  1811,  and  died  September  15,  1856. 
His  wife  was  bom  January  4,  1816,  and  died  December  4,  1889.  They 
were  people  of  the  highest  character,  and  were  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  The  Methodist  religion  was  characteristic  of  all 
generations  of  the  family,  while  in  politics  the  male  representatives 
first  supported  the  AVliig  ticket  and  later  the  Republican  cause.  In  the 
family  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  Jones,  Hiram  A.  was  the  second  among 
five  sons.  They  were  George ;  Burton,  who  lived  in  Marion,  and  was 
first  married  to  Jane  Duling,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter  Minnie  A., 
and  afterwards  married  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  Sina  Duling,  and  their 
children  are  Edith  and  Ralph.  Robert  L.  Jones  was  a  former  sheriff  of 
Grant  county,  and  was  killed  by  a  prisoner,  while  performing  his  duties. 
He  married  Louisa  Gadden,  who  lived  in  Marion  and  has  two  sons, 
Clinton  and  Paul.  The  youngest  son  was  Joseph  A.,  who  died  after 
his  marriage  to  Malinda  Whitson,  a  sister  of  R.  L.  Whitson,  editor  of 
this  Grant  County  History. 

Hiram  A.  Jones  was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Fairmount  township, 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent  in  the  army  during  the  Civil 
war.  He  served  three  years  in  Co.  C.  89th  Indiana  Vol.  Infantry  during 
the  Civil  war  and  had  his  right  eye  shot  out  in  battle.  After  his 
education  in  the  local  schools,  he  found  farming  to  be  his  best  vocation 
in  life,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death  followed  the  industry  with 
thrift  and  energy,  and  steadily  prospered.  In  1874  he  bought  a  fine 
farm  of  eighty  acres  of  well  improved  land,  and  kept  increasing  his 
estate  by  judicious  investment  until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
four  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  all  good  land  and  divided  into  six 
different  farms.  These  farms  all  lay  in  Fairmount  township,  excepting 
eighty  acres  in  AVashington  township  of  Delaware  county,  and  all  of 
them  were  well  improved  with  farm  buildings,  except  one.  The  home 
place  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Jones,  -is  an  unusually  attractive  rural 
home,  and  the  house  sits  in  the  midst  of  well  kept  grounds,  and  a  large 
red  barn  is  itself  an  evidence  of  the  prosperity  which  has  always  been 
a  feature  of  this  homestead.  The  late  Mr,  Jones  was  very  domestic  in 
his  tastes,  and  lived  entirely  for  his  family. 

He  was  married  in  Jefferson  township  on  April  21,  1867,  to  Miss 
Anna  Hardy.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Jefferson  township  January  28, 
1844.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  vicinity  and  proved  herself 
a  most  competent  wife  and  mother,  having  done  her  share  in  the 
creation  of  the  prosperity  which  has  been  described  and  having  given 
careful  attention  to  the  rearing  and  training  of  her  children.  She  now 
occupies  the  old  homestead  where  she  and  her  husband  located  nearly 
forty  years  ago.  Her  parents  were  "Walter  and  Jane  (Dowden)  Hardy, 
both  natives  of  Ohio.  Her  father  was  born  August  27,  1820,  and  her 
mother  May  4,  1821.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Grant  county, 
March  26,  1843.  They  began  their  careers  as  farmers  in  Jefferson 
township,  and  to  begin  with  had  a  tract  of  almost  raw  land.  They  made 
it  a  highly  improved  and  well  cultivated  farmstead,  and  there  spent  all 
their  active  lives.  Her  father  died  in  1887  and  her  mother  on  May  9, 
1860,    They  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church  and  in  politics  he  was 


BLACKFORD  AND  CHANT  COUNTIES        351 

Republican.  The  Hardy  children  were:  Anna.  Mrs.  Jones;  Henry,  who 
died  in  infancy;  David,  who  died  after  his  marriage  to  Mollie  Moore, 
who  is  still  living  with  her  t\w>  children;  Noah,  who  died  after  his 
marriage  in  Jefferson  township,  and  left  a  family;  Celina,  who  died 
young;  Elizabeth,  who  died  after  her  marriage  to  Joseph  Boey  without 
children ;  Lewis,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Jefferson  township, 
and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters ;  George,  a  resident  of  Indianapolis, 
and  the  father  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

To  the  marriage  of  Hiram  A.  Jones  and  wife  were  born  eight 
children,  whose  names  and  brief  mention  of  whose  careers  are  as  fol- 
lows: 1.  Charles  P.  educated  in  the  common  schools,  is  a  farmer  in 
Fairmount  township,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Nora  Foster,  has  five 
children,  Harry.  Wilbur,  Myrtle,  Emerson  and  Albert.  2.  Nettie  -I.  is 
the  wife  of  Elwood  Rich,  a  farmer  in  Huntington  county,  and  has  three 
sons,  Robert.  William  and  Ralph.  3.  George  C.  is  a  farmer  in  Delaware 
county,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Clara  Haynes  has  three  children,  Inez, 
Everel t .  and  Francis.  4.  Delia  S..  who  is  a  well  educated  young  woman, 
has  given  all  her  love  and  affection  to  her  parents,  has  for  a  number  of 
years  had  charge  of  the  home  and  lives  with  her  mother.  5.  Dolly  C.  is 
"the  wife  of  Wick  Leach,  a  son  of  Charles  Leach,  a  Grant  county  family, 
whose  history  will  be  found  on  other  pages.  Wick  Leach  and  wife 
lived  in  Fairmount  township,  and  have  children,  Hazel.  Adelbert, 
Kenneth  and  Robert.  6.  Arthur  O.,  is  a  farmer  on  his  grandfather's 
farm,  in  Fairmount  township.  He  married  Tura  Skinner,  and  their 
children  are  Ray  and  Vera.  7.  Emma  E.  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Needier, 
a  farmer  in  Jefferson  township  and  trustee  of  that  township.  Their 
children  are  Joseph  and  Harvey.  Robert  L.,  a  farmer  in  Fairmount 
township  married  Lena  Neal,  and  has  a  son  Ralph.  Mrs.  Jones  and 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Methodist  faith. 

James  Allen  Stretch,  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Marion,  was 
born  in  Salem  County,  New  Jersey,  July  15,  1817.  He  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Richmond.  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  1823.  and  from  Rich- 
mond to  Henry  county  in  1835,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm.  He  was 
married  July  18,  1838,  to  Jane  Adlissa  Stephenson,  and  lived  in  Henry 
county  until  1843.  when  he  purchased  a  stock  of  dry  goods  and  moved 
the  goods  to  Marion  in  wagons  and  opened  a  dry  goods  store  on  the 
East  side  of  the  Public  Square.  The  family  first  lived  in  a  frame  build- 
ing standing  on  the  corner  of  Adams  and  Third  Streets,  and  after  some 
time  moved  to  the  homestead  on  the  east  side  of  Adams  Street  between 
Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets,  now  609  South  Adams  Street.  He  sold  his 
dry  goods  store  after  sometime  in  that  business,  and  studied  law; 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  held  for 
many  years  in  addition  to  his  business  as  attorney.  He  also  became 
interested  in  politics  and  was  nominated  by  the  Republicans  for  Clerk 
of  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  State  ticket,  but  the  Democrats  were  sue 
cessful  in  carrying  the  State. 

During  the  Civil  War.  he  entered  the  service  of  the  government  in 
1862  and  was  Captain  of  Company  A,  Fifth  Indiana  Cavalry.  This 
Company  was  on  duty  in  Grant  and  Blackford  counties  for  a  short 
time  due  to  the  activity  of  the  "Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle."  He 
served  with  his  regiment  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  being  engaged  in 
several  skirmishes,  until  December,  1863,  when  on  account  of  sickness 
he  resigned.  He  returned  to  Marion  and  after  an  illness  of  several 
months,  recovered  partially  and  endeavored  to  attend  to  business;  was 
elected  Magistrate  again,  but  never  entirely  regained  his  health  which 
he  lost  through  hard  service  and  exposure  while  in  the  volunteer  army. 


352  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

He  died  in  Marion,  June  22,  1880,  and  was  buried  in  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Cemetery.  His  wife  and  six  children,  four  daughters  and  two 
sons,  survived  him.  Mrs.  Stretch  died  in  Marion,  November  6,  1907,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-one  years,  having  been  a  resident  of  Marion  sixty-four 
years,  where  she  was  respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  her. 

Three  of  the  six  children  are  living,  two  being  residents  of  Marion. 
Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Luther  McLane,  for  a  short  time  after  her  marriage 
lived  near  Somerset,  afterward  moving  to  Rochester,  Minnesota,  where 
the  family  lived  for  many  years.  They  now  have  their  home  near  Los 
Angeles,  California. 

Linnie,  widow  of  the  late  B.  A.  Haines,  and  Miss  Victoria  still  reside 
in  Marion. 

James  Quincy  was  born  in  Marion,  attending  the  Marion  Academy, 
and  read  law  in  his  father's  office  and  later  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace.     He  died  in  1894  at  his  home  here. 

Mary  A.  came  with  her  parents  to  Marion  and  attended  the  early 
schools  here  and  the  Marion  Academy.  She  married  James  M.  Pugh 
and  lived  on  a  farm  near  Mt.  Olive  in  Pleasant  Township,  where  she 
died  in  1906. 

John  F.  came  with  his  parents  to  Marion  in  1843,  attending  the  early 
schools  here  and  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point  in  1862,  graduating  in  1866.  He  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  Tenth  Infantry  and  served  on  frontier  duty  at  Ft.  Aber- 
crombie,  Dakota  (since  abandoned),  here  commanding  a  detachment  of 
mounted  infantry.  He  was  appointed  Regimental  Adjutant  in  1867.  He 
served  on  Mexican  frontier  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  as  Assistant  Adjutant 
General  of  the  District  of  the  Rio  Grande,  1867  to  1871.  On  duty  at 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point  as  tactical  officer  1871  to  '76.  Again  he 
served  on  Frontier  duty  in  Texas  in  command  of  Ft.  Griffin  and  in  charge 
of  the  Lipan  Indians.  Afterward  serving  as  adjutant  again  and  being 
stationed  at  Detroit,  in  1884  he  was  promoted  Captain  on  duty  in 
New  Mexico,  and  was  with  company  on  Geronimo  Indian  Campaign  in 
Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  During  1889  to  1894  he  served  as  instructor 
in  U.  S.  Infantry  and  Cavalry  schools  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 
Served  at  Chicago  with  company  during  riots  in  1894,  guarding  Postal 
cars.  On  duty  with  company  at  Fort  Reno,  Oklahoma,  1894  to  1898, 
and  went  with  Regiment  to  Cuba  in  1898.  Commanded  company  in 
hattle  of  Santiago,  July  1,  1898,  and  subsequent  fighting  about  Santiago. 
In  command  of  battalion  Tenth  Infantry  after  return  to  this  country. 
Promoted  Major  Eighth  Infantry  and  joined  that  regiment  in  Havana, 
Cuba.  On  duty  as  disbursing  officer  of  the  Island,  1899  and  1900.  Left 
Cuba  for  duty  with  Eighth  Infantry  in  Philippine  Islands  and  com- 
manded regiment  in  Provinces  of  Batangas  and  Laguna  until  1901. 
Promoted  Lieutenant  Colonel  Twenty-eighth  Infantry,  joined  that  regi- 
ment in  United  States  and  returned  to  Philippines.  Promoted  to  Colonel 
of  Twenty-seventh  Infantry,  1902,  then  in  the  Islands.  In  June  of  that 
year,  he  asked  for  and  received  his  retirement  after  forty  years  in  the 
service  of  the  government.  He  returned  to  Marion  where  he  lived, 
renewing  old  acquaintances,  until  his  death  on  August  7,  1913.  He  was 
buried  beside  his  father  and  mother  in  the  family  plot  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Cemetery. 

William  J.  Houck.  As  Lincoln  once  said  relative  to  his  own  par- 
entage and  youth,  the  conditions  which  compassed  the  early  years  of 
William  Jackson  Houck  were  those  implied  in  the  "short  and  simple 
annals  of  the  poor,"  but  he  had  the  will  to  do  and  to  dare  and  has  thus 
proved  himself  able  to  overcome   obstacles,    master   circumstances   and 


BLACKFORD  AND  ORANT  COUNTIES        353 

push  his  way  forward  to  the  goal  of  worthy  and  distinctive  success,  as 
is  evident  when  it  is  stated  that  he  is  numbered  among  the  able  and 
representative  members  of  the  bar  of  Grant  County,  where  he  has  main- 
tained his  home  since  his  childhood  days  and  where  he  has  measured 
fully  to  the  demands  of  the  metewand  of  popular  confidence  and 
esteem.  He  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of 
Marion,  the  county  seat,  and  has  not  only  achieved  pronounced  success 
and  precedence  in  his  chosen  profession  but  also  is  known  as  a  pro- 
gressive, liberal  and  influential  citizen.  He  has  passed  the  half-century 
mark  and  has. made  the  years  count  for  good  in  all  the  relations  of  his 
life,  his  accomplishment  standing  the  more  to  his  honor  because  it  has 
represented  entirely  the  concrete  results  of  his  own  energy,  determination 
and  ability. 

Mr.  Houck  was  born  in  Jay  county,  Indiana,  and  the  place  of  his 
nativity  was  a  primative  log  cabin  of  the  type  common  to  the  pioneer 
era,  his  parents  and  other  kins-folk  having  been  in  the  poorest  of  finan- 
cial circumstances,  so  that  early  felt  the  lash  of  necessity,  which  quick- 
ened his  ambition  and  vitalized  his  mental  and  physical  powers.  He 
was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living  except  one.  The  parents,  Samuel  B.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Iiams)  Houck.  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  the  respective  families 
settled  in  the  pioneer  days.  Samuel  B.  Boyd  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
that  state,  and  his  wife  was  born  near  Sandusky,  Erie  county.  After 
coming  to  Indiana  Samuel  Houck  followed  the  vocation  of  teamster,  in 
Jay  county,  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  the  autumn 
of  1864.  he  came  with  his  family  to  Grant  county  and  established  his 
home  in  Marion.  He  followed  teaming  and  other  modest  vocations  and 
the  financial  returns  for  his  labors  were  barely  adequate  to  make  pro- 
vision for  the  necessities  of  his  family.  He  was  a  man  of  integrity  and 
industry  and  while  his  career  was  not  marked  by  dramatic  incidents  or 
great  temporal  success  he  lived  up  to  his  possibilities  under  existing 
conditions  and  thus  merited  and  received  the  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 
He  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  at  Jonesboro,  this  county,  where  he 
died  in  1908,  at  a  venerable  age,  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  having 
passed  to  the  life  eternal  two  years  previously. 

William  J.  Houck  is  indebted  for  his  early  educational  discipline 
to  the  public  schools  of  Marion  and  Jonesboro,  this  county,  and  in  se- 
curing a  more  liberal  education  he  had  the  definite  spur  of  personal 
desire  and  ambition,  so  that  he  depended  upon  his  own  exertions  in 
defraying  the  expenses  of  his  collegiate  course.  "When  but  fifteen  years 
of  age  he  began  teaching  in  the  district  schools,  and  that  he  does  not 
place  a  specially  high  estimate  upon  his  scholastic  ability  at  the  time 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  states  that  he  "kept  rather  than  taught 
school."  Experience  proved  effective,  however,  and  he  made  good  the 
handicap,  with  the  result  that  he  was  successful  in  the  pedagogic  pro- 
fession, through  the  medium  of  which  he  paid  his  college  expenses.  He 
finally  entered  Ridgeville  College,  at  Ridgeville,  Randolph  county,  an 
institution  that  has  now  passed  out  of  existence,  and  in  the  same  he 
was  graduated  in  June,  1880,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science  (et 
seq.  M.  S.).  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Houck  passed  two  years  as  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  and  simultaneously 
he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  Cincinnati  Law  School,  his  ambition  being 
one  of  action  and  definite  purpose.  After  completing  the  prescribed 
course  in  the  law  school  Mr.  Houck  returned  to  Indiana  and  entered 
the  office  of  Judge  Haines,  of  Portland.  Jay  county,  and  there  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  the  year  1880.  He  forthwith 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  shortly  afterward,  in 


354  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

June,  1S81,  he  was  deflected  from  the  same,  as  he  was  elected  superin- 
tendent of  schools  for  Jay  county,  the  place  of  his  birth.  Thus  was 
shown  forth  conclusively  that  he  was  not  like  the  prophet  and  without 
honor  in  his  owu  country.  He  gave  an  effective  administration,  did 
much  to  systematize  and  advance  the  work  of  the  schools  of  the  county 
and  the  popular  estimate  placed  upon  his  services  was  manifest  in  his 
re-election  in  1883  and  again  in  1885,  so  that  he  served  three  successive 
terms,  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  of  which  the  county  board  of  trustees, 
failed  to  elect  a  successor,  with  the  result  that  he  continued  the  incum-" 
bent  about  six  months  after  the  close  of  his  regular  term  and  then  re- 
signed the  office. 

Resuming  the  active  practice  of  law  at  Portland,  Jay  county,  Mr. 
Houck  there  remained  until  September,  1889,  when  he  purchased  the 
weekly  newspaper  known  as  the  Marion  Democrat  and  returned  to  the 
county  seat  of  Grant  county.  He  removed  the  plant  of  his  paper  to 
new  quarters  and  in  its  first  issue  under  his  regime  he  changed  its  title 
to  the  Marion  Leader.  He  successfully  continued  as  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  Leader  until  the  autumn  of  1895,  and  brought  the  paper  up  to  a 
high  standard  in  its  editorial  and  news  departments  and  as  an  exponent 
of  local  interests.  It  is  still  published  under  the  name  which  he  con- 
ferred and  is  one  of  the  influential  papers  of  this  section  of  the  state. 
After  his  retirement  from  the  field  of  journalism  Mr.  Houck  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  entire 
time  and  attention  and  in  connection  with  which  he  has  become  one  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  Grant  county,  and  of  the 
state,  with  a  large  and  important  clientage  and  with  the  highest  reputa- 
tion for  ability  and  resourcefulness  as  a  trial  lawyer  and  conservative 
counselor. 

Mr.  Houck,  as  may  well  be  imagined  in  connection  with  a  man  of 
his  character  and  experience,  is  staunchly  fortified  in  his  opinions  con- 
cerning matters  of  public  polity,  both  in  a  local  and  general  sense,  and  he 
has  long  been  one  of  the  influential  figures  in  the  councils  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  central  Indiana.  In  1886  he  lacked  only  eleven  votes  of 
being  nominated  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state, 
and  two  years  later  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  representative 
of  his  district  in  the  state  senate,  said  district  comprising  Grant  and 
Madison  counties,  his  defeat  being  compassed  by  normal  political  ex- 
igencies, for  the  district  had  at  that  time  a  decisive  Republican  ma- 
jority. In  1900  at  the  Democratic  convention  for  the  Eleventh  con- 
gressional district  Mr.  Houck,  against  his  own  volition  and  desire,  was 
virtually  compelled  to  accept  nomination  for  congress.  His  defeat  was 
a  foregone  conclusion,  but  he  made  a  spirited  and  effective  campaign 
through  his  district  and  succeeded  in  reducing  the  majority  of  his  op- 
ponent 3,000  votes,  though  the  district  had  a  normal  Republican  majority 
of  eight  thousand.  Mr.  Houck  is  a  most  vigorous  and  convincing  po- 
litical speaker  and  his  services  have  been  enlisted  by  his  party  in  various 
campaigns  in  the  state,  though  he  has  permitted  nothing  to  deflect  him 
from  his  profession  and  the  demands  of  his  large  and  representative 
practice.  As  a  citizen  he  shows  a  vital  and  helpful  interest  in  all  that 
touches  the  welfare  of  his  home  city,  county  and  state  and  his  influence 
and  aid  are  given  to  worthy  enterprises  and  measures  projected  for 
their  good,  as  well  as  that  of  humanity  in  general.  He  has  unqualified 
affection  for  his  native  state  and  deep  appreciation  of  the  sturdy  pioneers 
who  laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  vipon  which  has  been  reared  the 
great  superstructure  of  advanced  civilization  and  prosperity.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        355 

Uu  the  21st  of  June,  1881,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Houck 
to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Slirack,  who  was  horn  and  reared  at  Dunkirk,  Jay 
county,  this  state,  where  her  husband  taught  school  for  two  years.  She 
presides  most  graciously  over  the  attractive  home  in  Marion  and  the  same 
is  a  center  of  generous  hospitality.  .Mrs.  Houck  is  the  only  child  of 
James  H.  and  Nancy  R.  Shrack,  who  are  now  living  in  the  same  home 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck  where  they  have  always  lived  as  one  family. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck  have  no  children. 

Edgar  L.  Goldthwait.  As  one  of  the  old  families  of  Grant  county 
there  are  numerous  references  to  the  Goldthwaits  in  the  historical  vol- 
ume of  the  Centennial  History  and  also  the  sketches  of  the  other 
branches  of  that  family,  so  prominently  identified  with  the  business 
and  civic  life  of  the  community.  The  following  is  a  brief  outline  of 
the  ancestry  and  career  of  Edgar  Louis  Goldthwait,  who  has  been  best 
known  in  Grant  county  as  an  editor  and  publisher. 

The  founder  of  his  family  in  the  United  States  was  Thomas  Gold- 
thwait, who  was  born  at  Goldthwaite,  Yorkshire,  "West  Riding,  in 
1610,  and  emigrated  to  Salem,  Massachusetts,  in  1628.  He  died  March 
1,  1683.  This  first  ancestor  married  Rachael  Leach  of  Salem.  Prom 
this  ancestor  the  line  is  traced  as  follows:  Samuel,  son  of  Thomas, 
was  born  in  1637  and  died  in  1714,  and  lived  his  life  at  Salem.  Samuel, 
son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  1668  and  died  in  1748,  and  also  spent  his  life 
in  Salem.  Thomas,  of  Petersham,  Massachusetts,  born  1738,  served  all 
through  the  Revolutionary  war,  after  several  years'  service  in  the  French- 
Indian  wars.  Thomas,  a  son  of  the  latter,  lived  from  1768  to  1829,  his 
birthplace  having  been  Long  Meadow.  Massachusetts.  In  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  he  married  Mary  Crawford,  who  lived  from  1785  to  1847. 
When  a  widow  with  seven  children  she  emigrated  to  Marion,  Indiana,  in 
1836. 

The  father  of  Edgar  L.  Goldthwait  was  Oliver  Goldthwait,  who 
was  born  in  1812  and  died  in  1872.  He  was  married  April  11,  1847,  to 
Marilla  Ellen  Eward,  who  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Kentucky,  September 
22,  1830,  and  died  December  31,  1862.  Oliver  Goldthwait  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  a  man  of  high  moral  character,  was  liberally  edu- 
cated, and  was  devoted  to  his  church.  His  wife,  Ellen,  was  a  diligent 
student,  an  omnivorous  reader,  and  especially  charming  in  conver- 
sational ability.  Her  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Kentucky,  and  of  Scotch  stock. 

Edgar  L.  Goldthwait  was  born  in  Grant  county,  August  7,  1850. 
When  twelve  years  of  age  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  printer's 
trade,  and  was  connected  with  that  trade  and  the  business  of  publish- 
ing and  editorial  work  for  forty  years.  Mr.  Goldthwait  is  especially 
remembered  for  his  long  connection  of  sixteen  years  as  editor  of  the 
Marion  Chronicle.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
his  church  is  the  Congregational. 

In  December,  1886,  Mr.  Goldthwait  married  Candace  Zombro.  She 
was  born  in  Urbana,  Ohio,  February  19,  1860,  a  daughter  of  John 
Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Brown)  Zombro.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goldthwait  are 
the  parents  of  a  fine  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
and  whose  names  and  dates  of  births  are  as  follows :  Mary  Agnes, 
October  21,  18S7:  George  Edgar,  October  18,  1889;  Margaret,' January 
15,  1892;  James  Sweetser,  March  27,  1894;  John  Louis,  March  19, 
1896;  Rebecca,  March  7,  1898;  Robert  Stuart,  March  30,  1900;  and 
Marilla  Ellen,  June  11,  1905.  Mr.  Goldthwait  is  of  the  eighth  genera- 
tion of  the  family  in  this  country. 


356  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Kenton  Ruley  Wiggeb.  While  the  name  Wigger  has  been  in  the 
Marion  business  directory  so  long  that  it  is  a  household  word  in  Grant 
county,  and  is  as  familiar  to  the  trade  as  any  landmark  about  the  public 
square,  the  original  Wigger  business  house  was  located  in  Jonesboro. 
It  was  in  1852  that  Harman  Wigger  came  with  his  uncle,  Aaron  Abel, 
from  Germany,  and  in  1859  he  established  the  business  in  Jonesboro 
that  has  always  been  associated  with  the  Wigger  family  name  in  Grant 
county. 

When  Mr.  Wigger  concluded  to  remain  in  America  his  parents  fol- 
lowed him  two  years  later,  aud  located  at  Union  City,  where  they  ended 
their  days  although  some  of  the  relatives  still  live  there.  When  Harman 
Wigger  was  prospecting  for  a  location  he  chose  Jonesboro  rather  than 
Marion  because  of  the  Whiteneck  tanyard  located  there,  and  William 
Whiteneck  offered  special  inducements  to  him.  He  was  a  saddler  and 
harness  maker,  and  Mr.  Whiteneck  wanted  a  home  market  for  the  output 
of  his  tannery.  Mr.  Wigger  could  have  leather  at  any  time  and  in  any 
quantity,  and  for  twenty-four  years  he  continued  the  saddle  and  harness 
business  in  Jonesboro,  where  he  accumulated  both  town  and  farm  prop- 
erty, and  where  he  was  married  and  raised  up  his  family. 

One  year  after  coming  to  Jonesboro  Mr.  Wigger  married  Mary  Jane 
Whitson,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Nora  A.  W.  Tucker,  was  born  to 
them.  Mrs.  Wigger  did  not  live  long  and  later  he  married  Sarah  Jane 
Ruley,  whe  became  the  mother  of  Kenton  Ruley  Wigger,  named  at  the 
beginning  of  this  Wigger  family  sketch.  After  the  death  of  his  second 
wife,  Mr.  Wigger  married  her  sister,  Eliza  M.  Ruley.  The  daughter, 
Nora,  married  Henry  Tucker,  of  Mt.  Clemens,  Michigan,  and  on  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  returned  to  the  home  of  her  father.  Kenton 
R.  Wigger  married  Miriam  A.  Wallace  (see  Wallace  family)  and  one 
daughter,  Miriam  Louise,  was  born  to  them.  Harman  Wigger  married 
three  times  and  all  were  Jonesboro  women.  The  first  wife  is  mentioned 
in  the  Whitson  family  sketch,  and  all  that  remain  of  the  Ruley  family 
from  which  Kenton  Ruley  Wigger  is  descended  are  Mrs.  Margaret  Ruley 
Willnian  of  Jonesboro  and  Mrs.  Mary  Ruley  Weddington  of  Indianapolis. 

When  Burtney  W.  Ruley  came  from  Virginia  he  located  on  a  farm 
in  Mill,  and  after  serving  the  county  as  treasurer  (see  chapter  on  Civil 
Government)  he  returned  from  Marion  to  this  farm,  where  he  built 
a  farm  home  very  unusual  in  that  day — a  typical  Virginia  manor  in 
Grant  county.  This  old  homestead  is  now  owned  by  Henry  Wise  and 
the  house  still  stands  there — back  from  the  road,  although  built  along 
the  old  Indianapolis  and  Ft.  Wayne  State  road  crossing  the  Mississinewa 
at  Ink's  ford,  but  finally  the  roads  were  placed  on  section  lines  and 
the  house  was  near  the  center  of  the  farm— and  there  are  people  living 
who  still  remember  it  as  the  Ruley  farm,  although  the  Ruley  family 
had  retired  to  Jonesboro  (Gas  City  was  not  then  on  the  map),  and  the 
Ruley  homestead  in  town  was  on  the  site  of  the  Rothinghouse  drug 
store — a  well  remembered  landmark  of  the  town. 

Harman  Wigger  was  successful  as  a  harness  dealer,  and  after  a  few 
years  Marion  business  men  invited  him  to  change  his  location  and  open 
a  harness  store  in  Marion.  The  Whiteneck  tannery  served  his  purpose 
well,  and  he  regarded  Jonesboro  as  a  better  town  and  along  in  the 
sixties  there  was  frequent  agitation  of  changing  the  location  of  the 
county  seat — Jonesboro  nearer  the  center  of  Grant  county.  Instead  of 
moving  to  Marion  then,  Mr.  Wigger  induced  a  younger  brother,  J.  H. 
Wigger,  to  open  such  a  store  in  1864,  and  he  helped  him  establish  a 
business  that,  with  changed  conditions — notably,  the  building  of  the 
Marion  and  Liberty  (Strawtown)  pike,  made  the  Marion  store  more 
profitable  than  the  stand  in  Jonesboro.    The  Whiteneck  tannery  burned 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        357 

and  finally  Harman  Wigger  removed  his  family  to  Marion  in  1883, 
although  only  a  nominal  business  relation  existed  between  him  and  his 
brother,  J.  H.  Wigger.  He  invested  in  rental  property,  and  after  the 
death  of  J.  H.  Wigger  in  1896,  the  Wigger  Buggy  and  Harness  company 
of  which  K.  R.  Wigger  is  now  the  head  came  into  existence.  For  half 
a  century  the  name  Wigger  has  been  in  the  Marion  business  directory. 

J.  H.  Wigger  accumulated  considerable  property  and  he  had  a 
happy  family,  but  Mrs.  Josie  Swartz  and  Paul  Wigger  died  soon  after 
the  death  of  their  father  and  a  few  years  later  Miss  Pauline  Wigger 
died,  and  upon  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  (Ruth  Griffin),  the 
Wigger  estate  went  to  relatives.  "The  earth  is  a  stage,"  although  some 
of  the  players  have  but  short  time  iu  which  to  act  their  parts.  J.  H.  Wig- 
ger's  time  in  Grant  county  was  from  1864  to  1896,  and  his  family  is 
now  extinct.  John  Wigger  of  Washington  township  is  a  brother,  and 
Harman  Wigger,  who  was  the  first  of  the  family  in  Grant  county,  is 
now  the  senior  Wigger  in  America.  He  was  born  August  31,  1836,  in 
Germany.  While  J.  H.  Wigger  was  the  first  of  "Wigger  on  the  Square." 
in  Marion  the  Wigger  Buggy  and  Harness  Company  rounds  out  the  first 
half  century  of  the  Wigger  harness  trade  in  Marion. 

While  Harman  Wigger  is  the  senior  Wigger  in  this  country,  lie  is 
also  the  senior  in  the  Whitson-Ruley  family  relationship.  Changes  have 
come  to  the  Wigger  family  circle  as  to  the  rest  of  the  world.  While 
Grandmother  Wigger  lived  and  frequently  visited  in  Grant  county,  the 
German  language  was  spoken  in  the  family,  but  now  German  is  seldom 
spoken — the  Wigger  family  thoroughly  American,  and  the  younger  gen- 
eration not  knowing  the  German  tongue.  Mr.  Wigger's  immediate  fam- 
ily circle  is  his  daughter  and  the  family  of  his  son,  K.  R.  Wigger. 
Mention  of  the  name  Wigger  suggests  the  business  Harman  Wigger 
established  in  the  county  in  1859 — more  than  half  a  century  ago.  When 
he  first  handled  leather  in  Jonesboro  the  demands  of  the  trade  were 
simple  and  he  manufactured  everything,  and  today  the  Wigger  Buggy 
and  Harness  Company  makes  a  specialty  of  hand  made  harness.  A 
large  force  of  men  is  employed  and  Wigger  made  harness  is  in  great 
demand  among  Wigger  patrons  in  Grant  county.  While  the  automobile 
trade  is  a  later  feature  of  the  Wigger  business  aud  up  to  date  features 
are  everywhere  in  evidence  in  the  store,  the  name:  "Wigger  Buggy  and 
Harness  Company"  indicates  that  the  company  adheres  to  the  old  line — 
caters  to  the  trade  that  has  always  had  its  headquarters  at  the  Wigger 
store. 

The  name  Wigger  has  been  advertised  as  widely  as  any  business  or 
firm  name  in  Grant  county,  and  the  future  policy  is  to  maintain  the 
excellent  business  reputation.  The  Wigger  Buggy  and  Harness  Company 
initiated  the  plan  of  sending  out  wagon  loads  of  buggies  for  sale  among 
farmers,  but  more  recently  its  policy  is  to  invite  all  patrons  to  the  "Wig- 
ger on  the  Square"  store  where  a  complete  line  of  luggage  articles, 
trunks,  suit  cases  and  valises  and  all  kind  of  robes  and  blankets,  as 
well  as  buggies,  carriages,  harness  and  automobiles  and  accessories  are 
to  be  found  in  stock,  and  a  courteous  floor  service  is  extended  to  all. 
While  Mr.  Wigger  maintains  close  oversight  of  his  business,  he  is  sur- 
rounded with  competent  salesmen  and  the  Wigger  Buggy  and  Harness 
Company  enjoys  splendid  patronage. 

Edmund  Clark  Leach.  On  section  three  of  Fairmount  township 
is  the  home  of  Edmund  Clark  Leach.  Two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
some  of  the  finest  land  to  be  found  in  southern  Grant  county  are  the 
basis  of  his  industry  as  a  farmer  and  stockman,  and  by  his  success  he 
stands  in  the  very  front  rank  of  producers  of  agricultural  crops.     His 


358        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

judgment  in  farming  matters  is  regarded  as 'almost  infallible,  and 
everything  about  his  place  attests  the  progressive  and  prosperous 
business  man.  From  a  considerable  distance  his  home  can  be  recognized 
by  its  large  white  house,  red  barn,  and  silo,  and  the  condition  of  the 
fields  and  the  fences  is  a  further  evidence  of  his  ability.  Mr.  Leach 
grows  crops  that  average  sixty  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre,  forty  bushels 
of  wheat  and  other  grains  in  proportion,  and  everything  grown  on 
the  place  is  fed  to  his  cattle  and  hogs.  The  Leach  family  has  been 
identified  with  this  section  of  Indiana,  since  pioneer  times,  and  orig- 
inally came  from  the  old  commonwealth  of  Virginia. 

Great-grandfather  Rev.  Eaton  Leach  was  born  in  Virginia,  not 
long  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  married  in  that 
state.  Most  of  their  children  were  born  in  Virginia,  and  those  whose 
names  are  remembered  were:  "William  Archibald,  Reuben,  James  H., 
Mattie,  Rebecca.  Early  in  the  year  1800  the  family  came  over  the 
Mountains  to  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  where  they  were  among  the 
very  earliest  settlers  in  what  was  then  northwest  territory.  Indiana 
did  not  become  an  individual  territory  for  several  years  later,  and  did 
not  become  a  state  until  1816.  Eaton  Leach  entered  land  from  the 
government,  and  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  Franklin 
county.  He  was  a  life-long  member  of  the  primitive  Baptist  church,  in 
which  faith  he  was  a  preacher,  and  he  was  a  man  who  exercised  great 
influence  and  did  much  for  the  good  of  his  community.  His  wife  was 
of  the  old  school  Presbyterian  church.  All  his  children  mentioned 
above,  with  the  exception  of  Rebecca  lived  to  be  married,  and  all  had 
children  of  their  own. 

William  Leach,  grandfather  of  the  Fairmount  township  farmer,  was 
the  oldest,  and  was  born  in  Virginia,  about  1790.  He  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  war  of  1812,  his  participation  as  a  soldier  of  that  war 
being  one  of  the  features  in  the  family  history  of  which  his  descendants 
may  well  be  proud.  In  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  William  Leach 
married  Miss  Sarah  or  Sallie  Harrison,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  of  the 
old  Ohio  family  of  that  name.  All  the  children  of  William  Leach  and 
wife  were  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  then  in  the  early 
thirties,  they  moved  to  Fairmount  township  in  Grant  county.  Thus 
nearly  eighty  years  have  passed  since  the  Leach  name  first  became 
identified  with  Grant  county,  and  its  members  have  all  been  effective 
and  honorable  citizens  of  their  respective  communities.  William  Leach 
took  up  land  from  the  government  and  eventually  acquired  by  purchase 
eight  tracts  of  eighty  acres  each,  giving  to  each  one  of  his  eight 
children,  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  On  the  old  homestead  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  throughout  the  rest  of  his  days,  and  died  about  1848, 
when  less  than  sixty  years  of  age.  His  widow  survived  until  a  good 
old  age.  The  first  Primitive  Baptist  church  organization  was  formed 
in  the  home  of  William  Leach,  and  he  was  one  of  the  officials  and  active 
workers  in  that  society.  In  politics  his  support  was  always  given  to 
the  Democratic  party,  and  he  was  in  many  ways  an  honored  and 
respected  citizen.  The  eight  children  of  William  Leach  and  wife  were 
as  follows:  Rachael,  Esom,  John,  Edmund,  Jane,  Mary  (Polly),  Martha 
A.,  and  William  Jasper.  The  last  named  died  young,  while  all  the 
others  married  and  now  have  descendants  living  in  this  and  other 
parts  of  the  country. 

Esom  Leach,  the  oldest  son  and  second  child,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Indiana,  and  after  coming  to  Grant  county  became  owner  of 
half  a  section  or  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  the  township 
of  Fairmount.  There  his  death  occurred  January  17,  1893.  His  wife, 
who  survived  him  some  years  was  Lucinda  Corn,  born  in  Kentucky, 


0^d/£>^.  94t'AWvio 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  359 

and  spending  part  of  her  girlhood  in  Rush  county,  being  still  young 
when  her  family  moved  to  Grant  county.  She  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  when  married  to  Esom  Leach.  Their  career  began  in  a  very  humble 
home,  and  by  their  industry  and  good  management  they  provided  well 
for  their  children  and  spent  their  own  years  in  comfort  and  prosperity. 
Lucinda  Corn  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Corn,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
who  came  from  Kentucky  to  Rush  county,  and  later  to  Grant  county, 
where  he  died  when  a  very  old  man. 

Mr.  Edmund  Clark  Leach  is  one  of  thirteen  children,  all  of  whom 
married  and  had  families,  and  eight  sons  and  two  daughters  are  still 
living.  The  fifth  in  this  large  family,  Mr.  Leach  was  born  in  Fairmount 
township,  May  26,  1S19,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  locality, 
and  has  always  followed  farming  with  such  success  as  few  of  his 
neighbors  have  attained. 

Mr.  Leach  first  married  Frances  Caskey,  who  died  without  children. 
His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Mann,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
but  was  reared  in  Grant  county,  and  died  in  Fairmount  in  1S85.  She 
left  a  son,  William  H.,  who  married  Myrtle  Payne,  who  died  leaving 
three  children,  Harold.  Bernice.  and  Clarkson  P.  The  present  wife  of 
Mr.  Leach  was  Miss  Zibbie  Glass,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Harrison)  Glass.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  Rush  county,  but  in 
early  womanhood  came  to  Grant  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Ethel,  Myrtle,  Elizabeth.  Hattie, 
Carnetia,  George,  Wilnia,  and  Wilnier.  The  three  oldest  children  are 
all  graduates  of  the  Fairmount  Academy,  and  Miss  Myrtle  is  now  a 
special  supply  teacher.  Hattie  is  a  student  in  the  Academy  as  is  also 
her  sister  Carnetia,  while  the  three  youngest  are  in  the  grade  schools. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  are  workers  in  the  Primitive  Baptist  church  at 
Fowlerton,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Jason  Willson.  The  city  of  Marion,  Indiana,  has  been  rarely  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  citizen  whose  death  removed  from  the  com- 
munity such  an  important  factor  in  its  affairs  as  did  that  of  the  late 
Jason  Willson.  For  more  than  a  half  a  century  the  directing  head  of 
the  banking  firm  of  Jason  Willson  &  Company,  his  connection  with 
financial  affairs  was  of  such  an  extensive  nature  as  to  give  him  un- 
questioned prestige  among  Indiana  bankers,  while  as  a  citizen  and  in 
private  life  he  ever  maintained  a  reputation  as  a  man  of  the  highest 
principles  and  strictest  integrity.  Mr.  Willson  was  born  at  Greenwich, 
New  York,  November  23,  1826,  and  was  one  of  the  twelve  children  of 
Osborn  and  Susan   (Clapp)   Willson. 

Osborn  Willson  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1793,  and  belonged  to  an 
early  family  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  whose  early  spirit  of  inde- 
pendence carried  them  valiantly  into  the  ranks  of  the  Continental  army 
during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  Scotch- 
Irish  and  his  maternal  ancestors  were  of  Scotch  birth,  the  McCrackens', 
to  which  family  his  mother  belonged,  coming  from  Scotland  and  settling 
in  New  England  during  Colonial  days.  Her  grandfather,  Col.  David 
McCracken,  sacrificed  an  arm  in  the  cause  of  American  Independence, 
while  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Jason  Willson.  Isaac  Clapp,  and  the 
latter 's  brother,  also  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  In  early  life 
Osborn  Willson  removed  to  Washington  county.  New  York,  where  he 
was  married  to  Susan  Clapp,  born  at  Salem,  in  that  county,  in  1799, 
of  Welsh  descent.  This  happy  union  lasted  for  sixty-three  years,  and 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity 
and  occupied  honorable  and  honored  positions  in  life.  At  the  Golden 
Wedding   Anniversary    of   this   couple   hundreds   of   their   descendants 


360  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

and  friends  gathered  to  do  them  honor,  and  this  occasion  was  duplicated 
when  they  had  passed  sixty-two  years  of  married  life.  Not  long  after 
the  latter  event,  Mrs.  Willson  passed  away,  in  August,  1875,  while  her 
husband  survived  her  five  years,  his  death  removing  from  his  community 
a  man  who  had  fairly  won  the  highest  respect  of  all  who  had  known  him. 

Born  in  the  same  house  in  which  his  eleven  brothers  and  sisters  had 
first  seen  the  light  of  day,  Jason  Willson  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth 
on  the  home  farm,  in  the  meantime  securing  a  thorough  education  in 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  embarked  upon  a 
career  of  his  own,  adopting  the  profession  of  educator,  in  which  all  of 
his  parents'  children  were  engaged  at  one  time  or  another.  For  eight 
years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  during  the  winter  months,  while  in 
the  summer  he  followed  the  vocation  of  farming,  but  his  youthful  ambi- 
tion to  better  himself  in  life  made  him  dissatisfied  with  the  small  wages 
and  meagre  opportunities  offered  in  his  calling  and  eventually  he  re- 
linquished it  to  become  a  traveling  photographer.  From  1853  to  1859 
he  was  engaged  in  making  daguerreotypes  in  various  parts  of  the  East, 
West  and  South,  and  while  thus  engaged,  in  the  year  1859,  came  to 
Muncie,  Indiana.  Constantly  on  the  lookout  for  a  more  profitable  busi- 
ness, he  recognized  the  opportunity  for  the  establishment  of  a  grocery 
business  in  Muncie,  and  continued  to  conduct  this  with  remarkable 
success,   for  some  two  years. 

It  was  while  a  resident  of  that  city,  September  19.  1860,  that  Mr. 
Willson  was  married  to  Miss  Sabrina  Wolfe,  the  estimable  daughter  of 
Adam  Wolfe,  the  pioneer  banker  and  merchant  of  Muncie,  and  this 
union  was  the  means  of  causing  Mr.  Willson  to  embark  upon  the  career 
in  which  he  was  to  gain  such  high  distinction  and  so  great  a  success. 
From  young  manhood  it  had  been  his  ambition  to  become  a  banker,  and 
when  he  had  confided  his  aspirations  to  his  father-in-law,  the  elder  man, 
with  rare  foresight,  recognized  in  him  the  qualities  which  go  to  make  for 
success  in  the  field  of  finance.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Wolfe  proposed  that 
they  enter  the  banking  business  as  partners,  and  shortly  thereafter,  hav- 
ing secured  some  experience  in  the  house  of  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Will- 
son  came  to  Marion  and  became  the  founder  of  the  firm  of  Jason  Willson 
&  Company.  When  the  Exchange  Bank  threw  open  its  doors  to  the 
public.  January  8,  1862,  there  was  not  a  railroad  nor  a  mile  of  gravel 
road  in  Grant  county,  and  the  only  sidewalks  in  the  embryo  city  consisted 
of  a  few  stones  embedded  in  the  grounds  surrounding  the  Court  House. 
Although  the  enterprise  was  a  success  from  the  very  start,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  for  three  years  and  four  months  following  its  inception  Mr. 
Willson  carried  on  all'  the  work  of  the  bank,  from  sweeping  the  floor  to 
discharging  the  duties  of  clerk,  bookkeeper,  cashier,  president  and  board 
of  directors.  At  the  time  he  disposed  of  his  interests  therein,  the  bank 
required  the  services  of  no  less  than  six  active  and  experienced  men, 
and  had  ten  corresponding  banks  located  in  New  York,  Cincinnati, 
Indianapolis,  Chicago,  Toledo  and  Cleveland,  and  a  perusal  of  the 
record  of  the  institution  shows  that  the  accounts  with  these  banks  were 
at  no  time  overdrawn.  Mr.  Wolfe  continued  as  a  partner  in  the  bank 
until  his  death,  March  20,  1892,  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years,  and 
after  his  demise  Mr.  Willson  was  associated  in  business  with  his  sons, 
Fred  W.  and  Albert  J.  Willson.  In  1883  Mr.  Willson  erected  the  Bank 
block,  at  that  time  the  best  in  the  city,  and  his  residence,  built  in  1896, 
was  the  largest,  handsomest,  most  substantial  and  modern  in  the  city 
for  years.  At  the  time  of  his  retirement,  about  ten  years  prior  to  his 
death,  he  sold  his  interests  in  the  bank,  which  then  became  known  as 
the  Marion  National,  and  continued  to  live  retired  until  his  death,  March 
10,   1913.     Mr.   Willson   gained   his  position  in   the   world  of  finance 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  361 

through  no  happy  chance  or  adventitious  circumstance,  but  by  years 
of  most  devoted  attention  to  the  routine  of  the  business,  by  an  exacting 
knowledge  of  its  principles,  and  after  the  most  thorough  test  of  his 
firmness,  sagacity  and  integrity.  He  was  a  Democrat,  in  politics,  but 
of  the  kind  that  seeks  the  establishment  of  the  right  principles  of 
government  rather  than  the  acquisition  of  the  honors  of  office.  Essen- 
tially and  pre-eminently  a  banker,  he  left  to  others  the  task  of  public 
service,  although  the  earnestness  of  his  citizenship  was  never  doubted, 
and  in  numerous  ways  he  advanced  the  interests  of  Marion  and  its 
people.  The  members  of  the  family  have  always  been  connected  with 
the  Episcopal  church. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willson :  Grace,  who  died 
in  1879,  in  her  seventeenth  year;  Fred  W.,  a  graduate  of  Racine  College, 
of  Racine,  Wisconsin,  and  now  a  resident  of  Marion,  Indiana;  and 
Albert  J.,  a  graduate  of  Yale  University,  and  now  a  resident  of  Marion. 
The  golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willson  was  celebrated  at  Muncie, 
Indiana,  in  1910,  and  many  of  the  people  who  were  at  their  first  wedding 
were  there  in  attendance.  This  golden  wedding  was  given  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  G.  Balls  at  Muncie,  Indiana. 

On  March  11,  1913,  the  various  banks  of  Marion  passed  the  following 
set  of  resolutions: 

"  Whereas,  those  who  are  still  actively  associated  with  the  banks  of 
Marion  and  Grant  county  are  conscious  and  appreciative  of  the  record  of 
the  nestor  of  the  banking  business  in  this  city  and  county.  For  more 
than  a  generation,  Jason  Willson  set  the  standard  of  correct  business 
principles  in  this  community  from  1862  thenceforward,  without  the 
record  of  an  unkind  act  or  a  blot  upon  his  name,  as  a  loyal  and  valuable 
citizen  and  banker.     It  is  therefore 

"Resolved,  by  those  who  succeed  him  in  different  interests,  represent- 
ing his  pioneer  enterprise  of  a  half  century  ago,  that  they  certify  to 
his  high  conception  and  loyalty  to  his  duties  as  a  banker  and  his  obliga- 
tions as  a  common  citizen.  The  confidence  of  the  people,  and  of  the 
public,  were  never  betrayed ;  what  was  entrusted  to  him  was  ever  faith- 
fully guarded.  He  was  ever  faithful  and  loyal  to  the  confidences  that 
were  entrusted  to  his  watchfulness  and  care. 

1 "  Resolved,  That  the  banking  institutions  of  Marion  close  on  Wednes- 
day afternoon  at  1  o'clock  for  the  day  in  honor  of  his  memory.  Marion 
National  Bank.  First  National  Bank.  Marion  State  Bank,  Grant  Trust  & 
Savings  Company.  Farmers  Trust  and  Savings  Company." 

Mr.  Willson  was  exceptionally  successful  in  a  material  way  as  was 
evidenced  by  his  will,  which  was  filed  for  probate  after  his  death  with 
the  county  clerk.  Very  brief  and  concise,  it  was  nevertheless  very 
thorough,  covering  all  points  in  the  business-like  manner  which  would' 
be  expected  of  a  man  of  Mr.  Willson 's  ability.  The  first  item  provided 
for  the  payment  of  all  just  debts,  including  the  funeral  expenses.  Item 
two  bequeathed  to  his  wife,  in  fee  simple,  the  magnificent  residence 
property  at  Ninth  and  Washington  streets,  together  with  all  the  furni- 
ture and  household  goods  of  every  description.  The  third  and  final  item 
provided  that  all  other  property  of  the  deceased,  both  real  and  personal, 
and  the  residue  therefrom,  should  become  the  property  of  the  widow 
and  two  sons,  to  be  held  in  equal  shares. 

It  will  not  be  inappropriate  to  close  this  all  too  inadequate  review 
of  the  career  of  this  distinguished  citizen  with  a  quotation  from  a  local 
newspaper,  which  in  describing  his  funeral  said  in  part  as  follows:  "'The 
last  rites  over  the  body  of  Jason  Willson.  Marion's  oldest  banker,  and 
reputed  to  have  been  for  the  last  ten  years  the  oldest  living  banker  in 
Indiana,  were  conducted  with  impressive  solemnity  at  2  o'clock,  Wednes- 


362  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

day  afternoon  (March  12,  1913).  Services  were  held  at  the  residence, 
908  South  Washington  street,  with  Rev.  F.  B.  B.  Johnston,  rector  of 
Gethsemane  Episcopal  church,  in  charge.  Following  the  ceremony  the 
body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  cemetery.  The  funeral  was  very 
largely  attended.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Willson  filled  the'  residence 
Wednesday  afternoon.  A  large  number  of  beautiful  floral  tributes  were 
given  by  friends.  Out  of  respect  for  Mr.  Willson  all  banks  in  the  city 
closed  their  doors  at  1  o'clock  Wednesday  afternoon  for  the  remainder 
of  the  day,  and  bankers  attended  the  funeral,  as  did  many  business 
men  of  the  city. ' ' 

Solomon  Duling.  In  the  annals  of  early  settlement  in  Grant  county 
one  of  the  names  first  to  be  mentioned  is  that  of  the  Duling  family, 
which  for  upwards  of  seventy  years  has  been  identified  with  Fairmount 
township.  Solomon  Duling,  above  named,  was  born  a  few  years  after 
the  settlement  of  the  family  in  this  county,  and  has  thus  Jived  prac- 
tically all  his  life  in  his  native  community.  The  Duling  name  throughout 
his  residence  in  Grant  county  has  always  been  associated  with  solid 
worth  and  an  industry  which  brings  credit  to  the  possessor  and  has 
helped  to  create  the  resources  and  wealth  of  the  community. 

The  Duling  family  has  always  been  more  or  less  on  the  frontier, 
struggling  against  the  hardships  of  the  wilderness,  and  making  homes 
first  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  and  then  in  different  sections  of  the  middle 
west.  First  to  be  mentioned  in  the  family  history  is  William  Duling, 
great-grandfather  of  Solomon.  He  spent  all  his  life  in  Virginia,  where 
he  was  a  farmer.  One  of  the  sons  of  AVilliam  was  Edmund  Duling,  Sr., 
grandfather  of  Solomon,  and  the  next  in  line  of  descent  was  Edmund 
Duling,  Jr.  The  senior  Edward  moved  from  Virginia,  early  in  the 
nineteenth  century  and  made  settlement  in  Coshocton,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  when  past  seventy  years  of  age.  He  married,  probably  in  Virginia, 
Mary  Dean,  He  had  a  large  family  of  13  children,  all  of  whom  lived 
so  that  it  was  possible  for  the  entire  group  to  be  seated  at  one  time 
about  the  same  family  table.  Edmund  Duling,  Sr.,  was  a  prosperous 
farmer,  a  man  of  substance  for  his  time,  and  was  especially  prominent 
in  the  Methodist  church.  His  home  was,  in  fact,  a  center  for  Methodist 
activities  in  that  part  of  Ohio.  Many  meetings  were  held  in  his  barn, 
and  every  itinerant  minister  who  went  through  the  country  stopped 
and  was  fed  and  lodged  in  the  Duling  home.  It  was  one  of  the  old- 
fashioned  log  houses,  so  frequent  at  that  time  in  Ohio,  but  its  hospitality 
was  unlimited,  and  it  was  often  filled  from  cellar  to  garret  with  visitors 
and  worshipers  who  came  from  a  distance,  all  of  them  partaking  of  the 
generous  provisions  afforded  by  the  Duling  household.  Previous  to  the 
immigration  of  the  family  from  Virginia,  they  had  all  been  slave  holders 
and  planters,  but  the  slaves  were  freed  many  years  before  the  war. 

Edmund  Duling,  Jr.,  father  of  Solomon  Duling,  and  founder  of  the 
family  fortunes  in  Grant  county,  was  the  third  son  in  a  very  large 
family  of  children.  He  with  two  brothers,  Solomon  and  Thomas, 
became  settlers  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  all  of  them  improved 
excellent  farm  estates,  were  successful  agriculturists,  and  became  heads 
of  families.  The  three  brothers  are  now  deceased  and  also  their  wives. 
Edmund  Duling,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  April  9,  1817,. 
He  grew  up  in  his  native  locality,  was  a  farmer  boy,  and  received  a 
meagre  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  time.  He  married  Eliza 
Ann  Hubert,  who  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  In  the  spring 
of  1845  Edmund  Duling,  Jr.,  and  his  brother  Thomas  rode  horseback 
from  Coshocton  to  Fairmount,  erected  their  log  cabin,  returned  to  Ohio 
for  their  families  and  moved  out  that  fall.    There  Edmund  Duling,  Jr., 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  363 

made  a  clearing  in  the  midst  of  the  tall  trees,  and  probably  with  the 
help  of  some  of  his  neighbors  hewed  out  the  timbers  from  which  were 
built  a  log  cabin,  eighteen  by  twenty  feet  in  dimensions  and  comprising 
only  one  room.  The  roof  of  this  rude  house  was  the  old-fashioned 
clapboards,  bound  down  with  shakes,  as  they  were  called.  The  single 
door  swung  on  wooden  hinges.  Wooden  pins  supplied  the  fastenings 
where  needed,  although  the  tongue  and  groove  were  the  chief  methods 
by  which  the  timbers  were  fastened  together.  However,  the  home  had 
one  distinction,  and  that  was  a  lumber  tioor.  Among  the  articles  of 
kitchen  furniture  which  the  family  brought  into  Grant  county,  was 
one  of  the  old  bake-ovens,  and  that  interesting  utensil  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Solomon  Duling.  It  is  a  relic  interesting  in  itself,  and 
especially  so  from  the  family  associations,  since  practically  all  the 
bread  consumed  in  the  household  was  made  by  the  good  housewife 
and  baked  in  that  oven,  which  was  heated  either  in  the  fireplace  or  on 
coals  spread  out  of  doors.  The  pioneer  housewife  also  had  her  spinning 
wheel,  and  from  the  flax  and  wool  spun  the  yarn  and  made  the  clothes 
for  all  the  members  of  the  family.  Eventually  Edmund  Duling  and 
wife  improved  an  excellent  farm,  and  replaced  the  old  log  cabin  with  a 
good  frame  house  standing  near  what  is  now  known  as  the  Eighth  Street 
Road.  There  they  lived,  labored,  reared  their  children  and  finally 
passed  to  their  reward. 

Edmund  Duling  died  in  1901,  when  within  a  few  months  of  being 
eighty-four  years  of  age.  His  wife  had  passed  away  some  twelve  or 
thirteen  years  previously.  She  was  born  in  1818,  and  though  reared  in 
the  Presbyterian  faith,  afterwards  became  a  Protestant  Methodist,  and 
both  she  and  her  husband  died  in  that  faith.  He  was  first  a  "Whig  and 
later  a  Republican  in  politics. 

The  five  children  of  Edmund  Duling,  Jr.,  and  wife  are  mentioned 
as  follows:  Maria  died  after  her  marriage  to  Joshua  Hollingsworth, 
her  death  occurring  in  1908.  The  husband  is  still  living.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  children,  Edmund  and  Lena.  Asa,  the  second  born 
is  deceased  and  left  a  family  of  two  sons,  Frank  and  Yerlie.  Mary  J. 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  next  among  the  children  is  Solomon. 
Emily,  who  married  Asbury  Crabb,  who  is  still  living,  died  soon  after 
the  birth  of  her  only  daughter  Emma,  who  is  now  married  and  has  three 
children,  Lulu.  Ethel,  and  Alva. 

Mr.  Solomon  Duling  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Fairmount 
township,  December  1,  1850.  He  was  reared  there,  and  still  owns  half 
of  the  eighty  acres  which  made  up  the  old  home  place.  His  career  has 
been  that  of  a  substantial  farmer,  and  with  the  passing  of  years  he  has 
brought  his  land  into  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement. 
Solomon  Duling  in  1881  married  Miss  Alice  Wright.  She  was  born  in 
Plainfield,  Hendricks  county,  Indiana,  January  26,  1861.  "When  she  was 
a  young  girl  her  parents,  Joseph  R.  and  Deborah  (Dicker)  Wright 
moved  to  Grant  county.  Both  her  parents  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  were  married,  and  then  came  to  Indiana.  Her 
father  Joseph  Wright,  now  lives  in  Fairmount  city,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six.  He  is  a  veteran  of  the  Sixty-third  Indiana  Infantry  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  his  home  has  been  in  Grant  county  since  1869.  His 
wife  died  here  about  five  years  ago,  when  about  seventy  years  of  age. 
The  Wright  family  were  for  a  number  of  years  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  but  later  joined  the  Methodist  Protestant,  and  finally 
became  Dunkards.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duling  have  been 
born  no  children,  but  in  the  kindness  of  their  hearts  they  have  adopted 
and  reared  two  foster  daughters.  One,  a  niece,  is  now  Mrs.  Emma  Rich. 
The  other  is  Mrs.  Verna  Rogers,  and  has  one  son,  Orville  D.  Rogers, 


364  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

their  home  being  in  New  Castle,  Indiana.  Mr,,  and  Mrs.  Duling  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
Republican. 

Frank  "Wilson.  The  Wilson  family,  of  whom  Frank  Wilson  of  Fair- 
mount  township  is  one  of  several  members  to  be  found  within  the 
limits  of  Grant  county,  has  an  appropriate  place  among  the  list  of 
pioneers  in  this  part  of  Indiana,  and  their  home  has  been  here  for  more 
than  seventy  years.  As  farmers,  stock  raisers,  public  spirited  citizens, 
moral  and  religious  men  and  women,  they  have  been  wholesome  factors 
in  the  life  of  the  community  throughout  all  these  decades. 

The  originator  of  the  family  in  America  was  Grandfather  Thomas 
Wilson.  Born  in  Ireland,  he  was  of  Scotch-Irish  and  Protestant 
ancestry.  He  married  Anna  Mackey,  and  immediately  after  their 
marriage  they  embarked  on  a  vessel  which  brought  them  to  the  United 
States  and  they  settled  in  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia.  That  county  of 
old  "Virginia  continued  to  be  their  home  until  their  death.  Thomas 
Wilson  died  about  middle  life,  while  his  widow  lived  a  good  many  years 
afterwards,  and  died  on  the  old  Virginia  homestead  when  about  eighty- 
nine.  Farming  was  their  occupation,  and  their  church  was  the 
Presbyterian  Society  at  Collierstown  in  Virginia.  They  had  a  family 
of  a  number  of  sons  and  daughters,  and  the  sons  are  mentioned  as 
follows:  Thomas,  Jr.,  lived  and  died  in  Grant  county,  was  a  farmer, 
and  left  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  John  Mc.,  also  a 
farmer,  died  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county,  leaving  a  large 
family.  The  next  in  order  of  age  among  the  sons  was  James  S., 
mentioned  in  the  following  paragraph.  Robert  K.,  died  on  the  old 
Rockbridge  county  farm  in  Virginia,  and  left  a  widow  but  no  children. 
Samuel  G.,  lived  in  the  same  county  of  Virginia,  was  never  married, 
and  held  an  influential  station  in  his  community  serving  as  justice  of 
the  peace  for  some  time. 

James  S.  Wilson  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia,  January 
13,  1813.  There  he  grew  up,  had  an  education  in  the  old  field  schools 
of  his  native  commonwealth,  and  when  ready  for  the  serious  occupations 
of  life  took  up  farming.  When  he  was  a  young  man  of  about  twenty- 
five,  in  1838,  he  rode  all  the  way  on  horseback  from  Virginia  to  Grant 
county,  Indiana.  Here,  with  his  brother  Thomas,  Jr.,  he  took  up  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land  on  section  four  in  Mill 
township.  While  the  country  had  been  organized  seven  or  eight  years 
much  of  its  landscape  was  still  as  nature  had  made  it,  and  these  brothers 
started  out  on  their  pioneer  enterprise  in  the  midst  of  the  green  woods. 
They  did  a  good  deal  of  work  in  development,  and  later  sold  the  land 
to  Isaac  Rouse.  James  S.  WTilson  then  moved  to  Fairmount  township, 
and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  almost  new  land,  from  John 
McCormick,  who  had  entered  it  from  the  government.  It  was  on  that 
farm  that  James  WTilson  spent  the  rest  of  his  years  engaged  in  the  epiiet 
vocation  of  farming,  and  in  his  duties  to  family  and  friends.  His 
death  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-one  years  oi  age.  He  was  a  loyal 
Democrat,  and  at  one  time  served  as  township  trustee.  His  church 
was  the  Presbyterian.  Some  time  after  he  had  bought  and  occupied 
the  Fairmount  township  farm  he  married  Evaline  Morgan,  of  Mason 
county,  Kentucky.  WThen  she  was  a  girl  her  parents  moved  to  Piqua, 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  lived  there  for  some  years.  Her  father,  Perry 
Morgan  there  married  a  second  wife  and  moved  out  to  Iowa,  while  the 
children  of  his  first  wife  came  to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  with  his 
relatives.  Mrs.  James  S.  W'ilson  died  in  Grant  county  in  1874  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years  and  two  months.    She  was  also  a  Presbyterian, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GEANT  COUNTIES  365 

and  became  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  These  children 
are  noted  as  follows:  1.  Henry  P.,  who  died  in  young  manhood  after 
he  had  married  Lyda  Roush,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Roush.  She  then 
married  a  second  time,  William  Schaefer  becoming  her  husband,  ami 
she  had  one  daughter,  Bertha,  by  her  first  marriage.  2.  Eugene  N.,  a 
retired  farmer  living  at  Jonesboro,  married  Mary  A.  Templin,  and  their 
children  are  Albert,  Marcus  L.,  George  G.,  and  Ira.  3.  Talitha  died 
young.  4.  James  Mc.  died  unmarried  and  was  educated  at  DePauw 
University  at  Greencastle  and  was  an  attorney  at  Marion.  5.  Frank 
and  Eva  were  twins,  and  the  latter  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two. 

Mr.  Frank  Wilson,  whose  name  has  been  placed  at  the  head  of  this 
article  was  born  on  the  old  Fairmount  township  homestead  of  his  father 
on  July  25,  1S57.  Growing  up  on  that  farm,  he  now  owns  the  estate, 
having  secured  through  deed  from  his  father  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres.  lie  is  a  practical  and  business-like  farmer,  and  knows  how  to 
make  Grant  county  soil  produce  abundantly.  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  aires  of  his  land  are  under  cultivation,  and  the  fields  produce  large 
quantities  of  oats,  corn,  wheat  and  hay,  and  his  cattle  and  hogs  consume 
practically  all  the  products.  Thus  he  has  conserved  the  fertility  of  his 
land,  and  his  farm  is  now  in  a  better  condition  agriculturally  speaking 
than  when  he  received  it  from  his  father.  With  the  fruits  of  his 
success  after  many  years  of  continuous  labors  he  is  now  living  semi- 
retired,  spending  his  winters  in  his  home  at  Jonesboro,  while  during 
the  summer  he  stays  on  the  farm  and  manages  its  activities. 

In  Fairmount  township,  Mr.  Wilson  was  married  to  Lou  Wilson, 
who  was  born  at  Hardin,  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  April  15,  1861.  When 
she  was  six  years  old  she  came  to  Mill  township  in  Grant  county,  with 
her  parents,  Theodore  and  Margaret  (Caldwell)  Wilson.  Her  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  having  come  to  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  after 
their  marriage,  and  their  children  were  born  in  Ohio.  Still  later  they 
moved  to  Grant  county,  and  became  substantial  farmers  in  Mill  town- 
ship, but  after  some  years  retired  to  Jonesboro.  Theodore  Wilson  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  and  his  wife  when  sixty-two.  They  were 
Presbyterians,  and  left  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  All 
but  one  are  married,  and  three  of  them  have  children  of  their  own. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson.  Wade  H.,  born 
September  15,  1889,  was  educated  in  the  Marion  high  school,  and  now 
conducts  his  father's  farm.  He  married  Edith  Kuntz,  of  Peru,  Indiana, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  L.,  born  September  25,  1912.  The 
other  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  was  Eva,  who  died  when  only 
eleven  weeks  old.  Mr.  Wilson  with  his  wife  and  son  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  and  his  son  are  Democrats  in  politics. 

Mrs.  Maud  Howard  Gaines.  In  a  list  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
any  comrnunity  today,  mention  is  made  of  women  as  well  as  men,  for 
whether  they  are  actively  in  the  business  world  or  not,  the  high  position 
of  woman  as  a  factor  in  civilization  is  being  recognized  as  it  has  never 
been  before.  Therefore  in  any  account  of  those  who  have  played  a  part 
in  the  history  of  Grant  county,  Indiana,  Mrs.  Maud  Howard  Gaines 
should  have  a  place.  Mrs.  Gaines  comes  of  one  of  the  oldest  families, 
not  only  in  Grant  county,  but  in  the  United  States,  a  family  noted  for 
its  patriotism  and  sincere  devotion  to  the  country.  She  has  lived  in 
Marion  for  many  years  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  many  phases  of 
the  city's  activities. 

Mrs.  Gaines  was  born  in  1866,  the  eldest  of  the  five  children  born  to 
John  A.  and  Susan  (Kirkpatrick)  Howard.     John  A.  Howard  was  born 


366        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  Ohio  in  1836,  a  son  of  Maurice  and  Matilda  (Sabin)  Howard.  Matilda 
Sabin  was  the  granddaughter  of  Elijah  Sabin,  who  had  been  a  commis- 
sioned officer  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  other  ancestors  who 
fought  in  this  war  give  Mrs.  Gaines  the  right  to  be  proud  of  her  family 
and  the  record  they  made  in  this  memorable  struggle.  Coming  further 
down  in  her  ancestry,  her  own  father  left  a  splendid  record  for  military 
service.  The  records  in  the  Adjutant  General's  office  in  the  War  De- 
partment at  Washington  show  that  John  A.  Howard  was  enrolled  on 
April  23,  1861,  as  a  private  in  Company  "I."  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry, 
that  he  served  one  year  and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service 
as  a  private,  together  with  the  whole  company  on  the  15th  of  May,  1862. 
In  speaking  of  the  experience  of  this  year  Captain  Howard  said  that  the 
whole  regiment  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  one  year  of  such  hardships 
as  they  had  endured  was  enough.  But  after  they  had  once  more  become 
private  citizens  Lincoln  asked  them  to  visit  their  homes  and  then  return 
and  help  him  out  and  there  was  not  a  hand  that  was  not  raised  in 
response  to  this  plea.  On  the  22nd  of  October,  1862,  therefore,  Captain 
Howard  returned  to  the  service,  this  time  with  a  commission  as  first 
lieutenant  in  Company  "C,"  Fifty-fourth  Infantry.  He  served  in  this 
capacity  until  December  8,  1863,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  It  was  only  a  short  time 
until  he  re-enlisted,  this  time  at  Marion,  on  the  7th  of  February,  1865. 
He  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  same  day  as  a  private  in  Company 
"G,"  of  the  One-Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Indiana  Infantry  to  serve 
one  year.  A  few  days  later,  on  the  22nd  of  February,  1865,  he  was 
commissioned  captain  of  this  company  and  served  as  such  until  his  final 
honorable  discharge  from  the  service  on  the  4th  of  September,  1865,  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky.  This  long  record  of  military  service  as  shown 
by  the  official  documents  in  the  war  department  at  Washington  is  one 
which  Mrs.  Gaines  treasures  greatly,  being  proud  not  only  of  the  actual 
service  rendered  to  her  country  but  also  of  the  spirit  of  patriotism  and 
self-sacrifice  shown  by  her  father.  Maurice  Howard,  Mrs.  Gaines'  grand- 
father and  father  of  John  A.  Howard,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  enlisted  in  the  New  York  troops,  serving  most  of  his  time  around 
and  near  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Captain  Howard  took  part  in  some  of  the  most  important  engage- 
ments of  the  Civil  war,  among  them  being;  Antietam,  Arkansas  Post, 
Raymond,  Thompson  Hills,  Black  River,  Champion  Hills,  Chickasaw 
Bluffs,  Vicksburg,  and  Jackson,  Mississippi,  being  wounded  at  the  latter 
battle.  Captain  Howard  always  wears  an  American  flag  as  a  buttoniere, 
and  he  is  a  regular  attendant  at  the  camp  fires  of  the  General  Shunk  post 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  although  it  is  saddening  to  see  his 
old  comrades  at  arms  rapidly  diminishing  in  numbers.  In  slavery  days 
the  Howard  homestead  was  one  of  the  stations  of  the  underground  rail- 
way, and  as  a  young  boy  Captain  Howard  conducted  many  negroes  from 
the  shelter  of  his  own  home  to  the  next  friendly  resting  place,  his  father 
remaining  behind  on  guard.  Later  when  the  temperance  question  came 
before  the  attention  of  the  people  he  was  an  active  advocate  of  that  side 
of  the  question  which  had  the  protection  of  the  family  and  the  home  at 
heart.  Captain  Howard  married  Susan  Kirkpatrick,  who  was  born  in 
Grant  county,  Indiana,  in  1847,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Carrothers)  Kirkpatrick,  and  they  spent  many  years  on  a  farm  near 
Marion.  Several  years  ago,  however,  Captain  Howard  retired  from 
active  life  and  they  now  make  their  home  in  Marion,  their  daughter 
Mrs.  Gaines  living  with  them. 

Mrs.  Gaines,  or  Miss  Maud  Howard,  as  she  was  before  her  marriage, 
was  in  the  first  graduating  class  from  the  district  schools  of  Washing- 


o^v^ 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  367 

ton  township,  this  being  in  1881,  and  when  she  was  only  sixteen  she 
taught  her  first  winter  school  at  Salem,  Indiana,  having  many  pupils 
who  were  older  than  she  was  herself.  Mrs.  Gaines  has  two  brothers, 
Maurice  and  Harry  Howard,  and  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Helen  Howard  "Will- 
iams and  Miss  Mary  Margaret  Howard.  It  was  when  Miss  .Maud  Howard 
was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  on  the  22ud  of  November,  1888,  that  she 
was  married  to  Edmund  Morton  Gaines.  Mr.  Gaines,  who  was  also  born 
in  1866,  was  one  of  eight  children  born  to  Oliver  and  Mary  Jane  I  Brad- 
ford)  Gaines. 

Both  the  Howard  and  Gaines  families  were  pioneers  in  Grant  county, 
and  had  lived  side  by  side  as  neighbors  and  friends  for  three  generations. 
The  Howards  came  from  New  York,  the  Bradfords  and  Gaines  from 
Virginia,  and  the  Kirkpatricks  from  Ohio.  Oliver  Gaines  is  the  son  of 
Edmund  P.  and  Polly  (Bond)  Gaines,  and  his  wife,  who  is  now  deceased, 
was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Scnell)  Bradford.  The  grand- 
parents in  both  the  Howard  and  Gaines  familes  had  come  to  Indiana  as 
emigrants,  but  the  parents  were  all  born  in  the  community.  The  link- 
ing together  of  the  interests  of  the  two  families  by  the  marriage  in  the 
third  generation,  only  drew  closer  together  those  who  had  always  been 
close  friends. 

Edmund  Morton  Gaines  was  christened  Edmund  because  there  had 
always  been  an  Edmund  in  the  family  since  the  house  of  Gaines  was 
established  in  America  more  than  four  hundred  years  ago,  and  the  name 
of  Morton  was  given  in  honor  of  Indiana's  war  governor.  He  and  his 
wife  had  twenty  years  of  perfect  wedded  happiness  before  he  was  taken 
from  her,  his  death  occurring  on  the  6th  of  January,  1909.  Mr.  Gaines 
was  always  active  in  church  and  fraternal  affairs.  Although  he  came  of 
Quaker  ancestry  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Marion,  and  for  several  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  official  board.  He  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  lodge 
emblem  is  engraved  on  the  stone  that  marks  his  grave. 

Mrs.  Gaines  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  takes  special  pleasure  in  the  work  of  the  so- 
ciety. She  is  a  member  of  the  Marion  Central  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  of  which  an  aunt,  Mrs.  Mary  Howard  Williams,  was  an 
early  member — in  fact,  the  union  really  grew  out  of  the  crusade  of  which 
Mrs.  Williams  was  a  leader.  Mrs.  Gaines  has  always  been  an  interested  stu- 
dent of  history  and  is  a  member  of  the  Thursday  Historical  Club,  and  of 
the  Grant  County  Historical  Society.  She  is  the  historian  of  her  native 
township  in  this  Centennial  history.  Mrs.  Gaines  is  every  inch  a  patriot 
herself,  her  love  for  the  flag  being  instilled  into  her  from  babyhood,  and 
inherited  from  her  ancestors,  and  since  all  heroes  are  not  necessarily 
those  who  face  the  guns  of  an  enemy  on  the  battlefield,  but  are  all  those 
who  do  their  part  in  the  battle  of  life  quietly  and  bravely,  she  is  cer- 
tainly in  line  for  recognition.  Mrs.  Gaines  is  a  member  of  the  General 
Francis  Marion  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  having 
traced  her  lineal  Revolutionary  descent  through  her  paternal  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  Matilda  (Sabin)  Howard,  although  she  had  other  ancestral 
lines  just  as  clearly  defined. 

Charles  H.  Terrell.  A  man  of  fine  intellectual  attainments  and 
marked  executive  ability,  Mr.  Terrell  is  eminently  qualified  for  the  im- 
portant office  of  which  he  is  the  able  and  popular  incumbent,  that  of 
superintendent  of  schools  for  Grant  county.  His  administration  has 
been  marked  by  circumspection,  indefatigable  energy  and  careful  discrim- 
ination, and  the  beneficent  results  of  the  same  are  definitely  manifest  in 
the  high  standard  of  the  public  schools  of  the  county,  which  has  the 


368        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

distinction  of  possessing  a  greater  number  of  commissioned  high  schools 
than  any  other  county  in  the  state.  Mr.  Terrell  has  had  varied  and 
practical  experience  in  the  field  of  educational  work  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  representative  factors  in  the  pedagogic  profession  in  his 
native  state,  the  while  his  sterling  character,  effective  services  and  genial 
personality  have  gained  to  him  inviolable  hold  upon  popular  confidence 
and  esteem.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Grant  county  since  his  boyhood 
days  and  is  one  of  its  loyal  and  progressive  citizens. 

Mr.  Terrell  was  born  in  the  city  of  Kokomo,  Indiana,  on  the  3d  of 
November,  1879,  and  he  is  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Myers)  Ter- 
rell, both  of  whom  were  born  in  Decatur  county,  this  state,  a  fact  that 
indicates  that  the  respective  families  were  founded  in  Indiana  in  the 
pioneer  era  of  its  history.  George  Terrell,  who  was  a  mechanic  by  voca- 
tion, died  in  1881,  when  the  subject  of  this  review  was  but  two  years 
old,  and  the  devoted  mother  passed  to  the  life  eternal  in  1891,  so  that 
Charles  H.  Terrell  was  doubly  orphaned  when  a  lad  of  about  twelve  years. 

He  whose  name  initiates  this  article  gained  his  rudimentary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Decatur  and  Grant  counties,  to  which 
latter  he  came  on  the  22d  of  February,  1892,  a  short  time  after  the 
death  of  his  devoted  mother,  he  being  the  only  child  of  this  union.  At 
Gas  City,  this  county,  he  was  graduated  in  the  high  school  as  a  member  of 
the  class  of  1899,  after  which  he  pursued  his  higher  academic  studies 
in  turn  in  Taylor  University,  at  Upland,  and  the  University  of  Indiana, 
at  Bloomington.  In  the  latter  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1910  and  received  the  well  earned  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts.  Mr.  Terrell  initiated  his  pedagogic  career  in  the  autumn  of 
1900,  and  after  teaching  successfully  in  the  country  schools  of  Grant 
county  for  a  period  of  four  years  he  became  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Jonesboro,  this  county,  where  he  was  thus  engaged  for  four 
years,  1905-9,  and  where  he  held  during  the  last  two  years  the  position 
of  principal  of  the  high  school,  in  connection  with  which  his  entire  period 
of  service  was  given.  In  1910-11  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  department 
of  history  in  the  high  school  in  the  city  of  Marion,  where  he  maintains 
his  official  headquarters,  and  on  the  5th  of  June,  1911,  there  came  high 
recognition  of  his  character  and  ability,  in  that  he  was  elected  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  for  a  term  of  four  years.  His  administration 
has  in  every  way  justified  his  selection  for  this  important  and  responsible 
post,  and  through  his  mature  judgment  and  earnest  efforts  much  has 
been  done  to  unify  the  work  and  advance  the  standard  of  all  departments 
of  public-school  work  in  Grant  county,  even  the  most  obscure  and  diminu- 
tive of  the  district  schools  having  received  careful  attention  from  him, 
the  while  he  has  effectively  supervised  the  work  of  the  more  advanced 
grades  of  work,  including  that  of  the  high  schools.  As  a  man  of  scholar- 
ship and  administrative  ability  he  has  shown  himself  essentially  broad- 
minded  and  progressive,  and  within  his  regime  in  his  present  office  he  has 
instituted  many  improvements  in  service  and  a  number  of  wise  innova- 
tions. He  has  warmly  and  ably  advocated  the  teaching  of  scientific 
and  practical  agriculture  in  connection  with  the  other  phases  of  public- 
school  work,  has  earnestly  labored  to  advance  the  standard  of  scholar- 
ship on  the  part  of  teachers,  and  has  advised  the  consolidation  of  schools 
in  country  districts  wherever  this  policy  has  tended  to  improve  standards 
and  service.  It  may  again  be  noted  that  the  county  has  nine  commis- 
sioned high  schools,  and  that  in  this  provision  it  takes  precedence  of  all 
counties  in  the  state.  Mr.  Terrell  is  essentially  an  enthusiast  in  his 
chosen  profession,  is  alert,  practical  and  ambitious,  with  naught  of  the 
proclivities  of  the  visionary  or  day-dreamer,  and  the  most  effective 
voucher  for  his  ability  is  that  given  in  the  results  of  his  work  as  a 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        ;J69 

teacher  and  as  an  official.  He  holds  from  the  state  a  life  certificate  as 
a  teacher,  the  same  having  been  granted  to  him  in  1910,  and  ><(  the 
thirty-nine  persons  who  received  stale  licenses  in  that  year  be  stood 
second  in  the  examination.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Phi  Delta  Kappa 
fraternity  of  the  University  of  Indiana  and  this  implies  no  slight  distinc- 
tion, as  the  organization  is  maintained  as  a  means  for  educational  advance- 
ment and  eligibility  for  membership  being  predicated  from  the  scholastic 
status,  rather  than  from  the  fictitious  standard  maintained  in  various 
other  college  fraternities. 

Mr.  Terrell  is  not  only  a  valued  and  popular  factor  in  connection  with 
educational  activities  in  his  native  state  but  is  also  a  well  fortified  and 
zealous  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Democratic 
party  stands  sponsor.  He  has  served  with  effectiveness  as  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  executive  committee  of  Grant  county  and  has  been 
otherwise  influential  in  connection  with  party  affairs.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Jonesboro  Lodge,  No.  109,  Free  &  Accepted  Masons,  at  Jonesboro, 
where  he  also  holds  membership  in  Jonesboro  Lodge,  No.  102,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  besides  which  he  is  identified  with  the  Benevolent  Crew  of  Nep- 
tune in  the  city  of  Marion.  His  name  remains  on  the  list  of  eligible 
bachelors  and  it  may  consistently  be  said  that  this  fact  in  no  way  mili- 
tates against  his  unqualified  popularity  in  the  social  circles  of  his 
home  county,  where  his  circle  of  friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his 
acquaintances. 

John  L.  Rigsbee.  Although  the  Rigsbee  family  represented  by  Mr. 
John  L.  Rigsbee  of  Fairmount.  has  been  identified  with  Grant  county 
only  a  few  years,  there  are  many  characteristics  aud  incidents  in  the 
family  history  which  make  the  family  "bone  and  sinew"  with  the  bulk 
of  Grant  county  citizenship.  They  all  came  from  Randolph  county, 
North  Carolina,  the  source  of  so  many  of  Grant  county's  early  settlers; 
they  have  been  identified  with  the  Quaker  and  the  Wesleyan  churches, 
and  the  first  generation  were  pioneers  in  this  section  of  Indiana.  The 
grandfather  of  John  L.  Rigsbee  was  John  Rigsbee,  born  in  Guilford 
county,  North  Carolina,  aud  of  English  ancestry.  In  his  native  county 
he  married  Lydia  Worth,  also  of  English  stock,  and  a  native  of  the  same 
county.  In  that  old  state  and  county  were  born  their  three  sons.  Martin, 
Madison  and  Zimri.  When  these  sons  were  children  the  family  started 
north.  With  several  horses  to  draw  their  old  wagons,  they  came  along 
the  roads  leading  from  the  Atlantic  slope  over  the  Allegany  Mountains, 
and  across  the  valleys  and  prairies,  camping  by  night  at  the  roadside,  and 
finally  after  six  weeks  of  tedious  following  the  trail,  they  arrived  in 
Wayne  county.  Indiana.  One  incident  of  the  journey  which  is  remem- 
bered by  the  descendants  is  that  one  evening,  after  camp  had  been 
pitched,  a  large  ram  butted  one  of  the  horses  in  the  head,  and  the 
torse  was  instantly  killed.  Their  first  location  was  on  a  farm  at  Col- 
lege Corners  in  Wayne  county,  where  they  remained  to  raise  two  crops. 
From  there  they  moved  to  Posey  township  in  Rush  county,  where  Grand- 
father Rigsbee  purchased  eighty  acres  of  slightly  improved  land,  with 
a  characteristic  habitation  of  logs.  There  they  lived  and  gradually 
prospered,  and  a  number  of  years  later  a  substantial  frame  house  was 
built.  That  house  is  still  standing,  and  the  farm  is  owned  by  his 
descendants.  John  and  Lydia  Rigsbee  lived  on  that  farm  in  Rush 
county  until  their  death.  The  former  passed  away  in  1855.  when  past 
middle  life,  having  been  born  about  1795.  The  death  of  his  widow 
occurred  nearly  twenty  years  later  in  1873.  She  was  a  strong  and 
energetic  woman,  and  at  her  husband's  death  there  were  many  obliga- 
tions which  she  bravely  met.  paying  off  all  the  old  bills  and  rearing  her 


370  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

three  sons.  Of  these  sons,  Zimrie  was  a  soldier  in  the  Fifty-Second 
Indiana  Regiment  during  the  Civil  war,  returned  home  without  wounds, 
but  died  a  few  years  later  from  the  severe  exposure  of  army  life.  The 
son  Madison  was  a  farmer,  spent  all  his  active  career  in  Rush  county, 
where  he  married,  and  of  their  union  two  children  are  living,  each  of 
whom  has  a  household  of  children,  and  all  live  in  Rush  county. 

Martin  Rigsbee,  the  father  of  John  L.,  was  born  in  Guilford  county, 
North  Carolina,  December  24,  1818,  and  was  a  boy  when  the  family 
made  its  long  journey  north  to  Indiana.  Growing  up  in  Rush  county, 
he  finally  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  old  homestead,  and  by  his 
energy  and  thrift  added  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  making  two 
hundred  and  forty  altogether.  In  1860  the  home  was  improved  by  the 
erection  of  a  large  barn,  and  a  large  two-story  eight-room  house  was 
the  residence  he  occupied  until  his  death,  December  29.  1908.  At  that 
time  he  was  ninety  years  and  five  days  old.  Martin  Rigsbee  was  a  man 
of  small  but  wiry  stature,  and  his  energy  and  zest  for  living  continued 
until  the  last  two  years  of  his  life.  He  passed  away  in  the  faith  of  the 
Quaker  church.  In  Rush  county,  Lucinda  Barnard  became  his  wife. 
She  was  born  in  Guilford  county,  North  Carolina  in  1824,  and  when  a 
girl  of  six  years,  her  parents  came  north  to  Posey  township  in  Rush 
county.  John  and  Betsey  Barnard,  her  parents,  were  substantial  farm- 
ers, and  lived  and  died  in  Rash  county,  the  former  about  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  the  latter  a  good  many  years  afterwards.  They  were 
both  members  of  the  Friends  church.  Of  their  several  children  all  are 
now  deceased  but  one,  Phoebe  Folger,  who  lives  in  Rush  county  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five.  She  married,  but  has  no  issue.  Lucinda  Rigsbee, 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  in  1892.  Later  her  husband,  when  more 
than  seventy-five  years  of  age,  went  out  to  Nebraska  and  married  a 
woman  who  had  once  been  a  neighbor,  Mrs.  Adeline  Leonard  whose 
maiden  name  was  Folger.  She  was  at  that  time  sixty  years  of  age,  and 
she  survived  her  husband,  passing  away  in  March,  1894,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four.  John  L.  Rigsbee  was  one  of  four  children.  Alveron 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  on  the  old  farm  in  Rush  county.  He 
married  Clara  Swain,  who  is  living  with  a  son,  Albert  W.,  in  Rush 
county.  Florella  F.  is  the  widow  of  H.  C.  Pitts,  who  died  in  Shelby 
county,  where  she  now  lives  on  the  old  farm  with  her  two  children, 
Lois  and  Wendell  W.  Adrian  now  lives  on  a  farm  in  Posey  town- 
ship of  Rush  county.  His  first  wife  was.  Alice  Powell,  who  died  leaving 
one  daughter,  Lula.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Maude  Miller,  and 
there  is  one  daughter,  Iva. 

The  second  in  this  family,  John  L.  Rigsbee  was  born  in  Rush  county, 
March  26,  1857.  Reared  on  the  homestead,  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  his  life  was  spent  on  the  old  John  Rigsbee  farm,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  until  he  moved  to  Grant  county  in  August,  1909.  His 
first  settlement  was  in  Liberty  township,  where  he  bought  the  Harmon 
Buller  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  also  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  the  Gaddis  Farm,  having  his  home  on  the  latter,  and 
both  were  in  section  twenty -five.  Later  his  estate  was  sold  at  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  dollars  an  acre,  and  he  then  bought  ninety  acres  of 
Hezekiah  Miller,  in  the  same  township.  In  September,  1912,  Mr.  Rigsbee 
moved  into  FairnKrant  City,  buying  a  nice  home  near  the  Academy 
grounds  at  the  comer  of  Eighth  and  Rush  Streets. 

Mr.  Rigsbee  in  1880  married  in  Rush  county,  Miss  Clara  F.  Hester, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Shelby  county.  Her  birth  occurred  Decem- 
ber 24,  1860,  and  her  parents  were  John  and  Emeline  (Linville)  Hester, 
natives  of  Guilford  county,  North  Carolina,  who  at  quite  an  early  day 
settled  in  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  which  was  their  home  throughout  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  371 

rest  of  their  days.  John  Hester  for  his  first  wife,  married  Mildred 
Cruze,  who  died  in  Shelby  county,  leaving  six  children.  By  his  second 
marriage,  there  were  four  children,  namely:  Rev.  Jacob,  who  lives  in 
Rush  county,  a  farmer,  and  has  six  children.  Rev.  Franklin,  who  lives 
in  Jewel  county,  Kansas,  is  married  and  has  six  children :  Jasper,  whose 
home  is  in  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  and  he  has  a  family ;  and  Clara  F., 
wife  of  Mr.  Rigsbee.  Both  Jacob  and  Franklin  Hester  have  been  for 
man}'  years  preachers  in  the  Wesleyan  church. 

The  children  of  Mi-,  and  Mrs.  John  L.  Rigsbee  are  mentioned  as 
follows:  Earl  C,  is  a  conductor  on  the  Union  Traction  Lines,  is  married 
and  has  three  children,  Marvin,  Wilma  and  John  Walter;  Otto  H. 
married  Harriet,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  H.  T.  Hawkins,  and  has  two  children, 
Lavelda  and  Clarice ;  Otto  H.  is  on  the  John  L.  Rigsbee  farm  in  Liberty 
township.  Wilbem  is  in  the  motor  works  at  Marion,  and  is  studying 
for  the  ministry  of  the  Wesleyan  church.  He  married  Mary  Cox,  and 
has  one  daughter,  Lucile.  Opal  E.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Sewell  Baker,  a 
prominent  minister  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  at  Marion.  Sid- 
ney T.,  a  student  of  dentistry  in  Indianapolis,  married  Nellie  Allen,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Edith.  Mary  is  now  living  at  home  and  attending 
high  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rigsbee  and  members  of  their  family  are  com- 
municants of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  is  a  trustee 
and  superintendent  of  the  Fairmount  Camp  Meeting  Grounds,  near 
Fairmount  City. 

William  W.  McFeeley,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road at  Marion,  is  a  son  of  Alfred  and  Sarah  (Worthington)  McFeeley, 
residents  of  Marion,  Indiana,  and  among  the  most  popular  and  prom- 
inent people  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Alfred  McFeeley,  the  head  of  the  family  in  this  state  and  in  Grant 
county,  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  on  August  31,  1836,  and  he 
came  from  Union  City  to  Marion  in  187L  since  which  time  he  has  been 
a  continuous  resident  of  this  city.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  miller,  a 
business  with  which  many  of  his  name  had  been  identified  in  prevous 
years,  operating  flouring  mills  throughout  the  country,  and  when  he  first 
located  in  Marion  he  was  connected  officially  with  the  old  mill  in  Ceme- 
tery Boulevard  that  was  long  known  as  the  McFeeley  mill.  He  and  a 
brother,  Thomas  McFeeley,  first  owned  the  mill,  and  they  later  sold  it 
to  an  uncle,  one  Joseph  McFeeley,  who  thereafter  operated  it  for  many 
a  year.  During  a  heavy  storm  on  one  Fourth  of  July,  the  mill  was  moved 
from  its  foundations  by  the  wind,  ard  from  that  time  on  as  long  as  a 
stone  stood  there,  it  was  known  as  the  McFeeley  Cyclone  Mill,  for  many 
years  constituting  a  land  mark  along  the  way  to  the  Marion  I.  0.  0.  F. 
cemetery. 

When  R.  L.  Jones  was  killed  by  a  horsethief  soon  after  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  county  sheriff  for  Grant  county  in  the  year  1888,  Mr. 
McFeeley  received  the  appointment  to  the  vacancy  thus  created,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  frequently  been  prominent  in  public  life  in  the 
county.  He  was  for  several  years  the  trustee  of  Center  township  before 
the  Associated  Charities  had  in  charge  the  relief  activities  of  the  city  of 
Marion,  and  he  handled  alone  and  unaided  the  local  charities,  in  addition 
to  school  and  other  township  business  of  important  character.  The 
trustees  of  Center  township  were  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  indigent 
of  Marion,  and  it  was  a  duty  that  other  township  trustees  knew  little  or 
nothing  about,  most  of  the  responsibility  falling  upon  Mr.  McFeeley. 

For  many  years  Mr.  McFeeley,  usually  known  as  "Squire"  Mc- 
Feeley, has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Center  township,  and  he  has 
in  that  time   established  a  reputation  as  the   "marrying  squire,"  his 


372  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

record  down  to  date  accrediting  him  with  three  hundred  and  forty-four 
marriages.  He  ever  has  a  pleasant  word  for  the  bride,  and  points  out 
with  pride  the  fact  that  the  nuptial  knots  he  ties  are  not  immediately 
severed  in  the  divorce  courts.  He  is  of  the  opinion,  however,  that  when 
the  Indiana  legislature  sees  fit  to  enact  a  law  permitting  a  justice  of 
the  peace  to  untie  the  marriage  knot,  he  will  have  quite  as  much  business 
at  the  other  end  of  the  line,  for  he  maintains  that  divorce  is  as  much  in 
demand  as  marriage  in  these  later  days. 

Squire  McFeeley  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  as  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Fortieth  Ohio  Regiment  for  three  years,  after 
which  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fifty-first  Ohio,  and  his  total  services 
amounted  to  four  full  years.  Owing  to  his  advanced  age  and  the  length 
of  his  service,  he  is  now  on  the  pension  lists  as  a  one  dollar  a  day 
pensioner,  which,  in  connection  with  the  revenue  that  comes  to  him  in 
his  capacity  as  the  "marrying  justice,"  permits  him  to  pass  his  declin- 
ing days  in  ample  comfort.  He  visited  Fort  Recovery,  Ohio,  on  July 
1,  1913,  where  a  $25,000  monument  was  unveiled  in  honor  of  General 
St.  Clair,  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  years  after  the  battle  he  fought 
with  the  Indians  at  that  point,  and  although  a  full  century  has  passed 
by  since  the  battle  of  Mississinewa,  the  Squire  believes  the  Grant  county 
battle  field  will  in  time  be  designated  with  a  similar  monument.  He  is 
familiar  with  the  entire  course  of  the  Mississinewa,  having  been  reared 
at  the  "spreads"  in  Mississinewa  township,  in  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
where  the  river  has  its  headwaters,  and  where  for  miles  it  is  little  more 
than  a  swamp  drain. 

Mr.  McFeeley  is  one  who  enjoys  a  story  well  told,  and  few  there  are 
in  these  parts  who  can  tell  more  apropos  tales  than  he,  all  of  them  sug- 
gested by  something  in  the  circumstances  of  the  moment,  and  always 
right  to  the  point  and  glimmering  with  sparkle  and  brightness.  Thus 
is  it  that  the  bride  and  groom  are  always  started  cheerily  upon  their 
way — a  fact  that  seems  to  insure  him  of  ample  future  patronage. 

William  W.  McFeeley  is  one  of  the  three  children  of  his  parents — one 
of  them,  Otto  H.  McFeeley,  being  a  resident  of  Oak  Park,  Chicago, 
and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Gertrude  Landauer,  a  resident  of  Marion.  On 
December  11,  1905,  Mr.  McFeeley  was  married  to  Miss  Ethel  Morehead, 
who  died  on  September  12,  1908.  She  was  a  daughter  of  O.  H.  P. 
Morehead  and  a  granddaughter  of  William  Morehead,  who  was  among 
the  last  veterans  of  the  Mexican  war.  The  Morehead  family  have  in  recent 
years  moved  to  Tennessee,  after  long  years  of  continued  residence  in 
Grant  county.  Mr.  McFeeley,  since  the  death  of  his  young  wife,  has 
taken  up  his  residence  with  his  aged  parents,  and  there  has  continued 
to  make  his  home  as  in  earlier  years. 

William  T.  Wright.  One  of  the  prominent  factors  in  the  agri- 
culture and  live  stock  industry  of  southern  Grant  county  is  William  T. 
Wright,  who  is  perhaps  best  known  over  a  wide  section  of  country  for 
his  success  in  the  breeding  and  handling  of  mules.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  carried  on  a  large  business  in  this  line,  and  has  a  farm 
well  adapted  with  facilities  and  improvements  for  this  work.  His  home 
is  in  section  thirty-five  of  Fairmount  township,  and  he  has  lived  there 
for  the  past  twelve  years.  His  stock  and  feed  barn  stands  two  stories 
high,  is  painted  white,  and  can  be  seen  for  several  miles  around.  Its 
foundation  dimensions  are  sixty  by  sixty-two  feet,  and  its  capacity  is 
sixty  tons  of  hay,  nine  head  of  horses  and  thirty  head  of  mules,  fifteen 
hundred  bushels  of  corn,  and  two  thousand  bushels  of  small  grain. 
Nearby  is  a  commodious  and  well  furnished  nine-room  residence,  also 
painted  white.     Both  the  barn  and  dwelling  were  erected  in  1906,  and 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        373 

all  the  improvements  were  placed  on  the  farm  by  Mr.  Wright  during  his 
management,  Mr.  Wright  owns  one  hundred  acres,  and  seven  acres  of 
this  is  in  timberland.  The  place  is  especially  adapted  to  the  raising  of 
wheat,  but  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  his  mules,  Mr.  Wright  has  most 
of  it  in  meadow,  hay  and  clover.  Mr.  Wright's  farm  is  a  part  of  his 
father's  estate  of  three  hundred  acres,  and  has  been  in  the  possession  of 
the  Wright  family  since  the  decade  of  the  seventies. 

William  T.  Wright  was  born  December  1,  1866,  in  Franklin  county, 
in  the  town  of  Brookville,  near  the  home  of  Lew  Wallace.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Celia  (Glidwell)  Wright.  His  father,  a  native  of  Man- 
chester, England,  was  three  years  old  when  the  Wrights  came  to  the 
United  States  and  was  reared  partly  in  Ohio  and  partly  in  Indiana. 
His  death  occurred  in  Franklin  county  in  1S76  at  the  age  of  fifty-four. 
His  occupation  throughout  his  active  career  was  that  of  farming.  He 
was  married  in  Franklin  to  Miss  Glidwell,  who  was  born  in  Indiana, 
of  German  ancestry.  Her  death  occurred  in  1912,  when  she  was  seventy 
years  of  age,  having  been  born  in  1S32.  Both  parents  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  William  T.  Wright  was  one  of  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  still  living.  His  brother,  Frank  A.,  is  married  and  is 
a  miller  and  farmer  in  Franklin  county.  The  sister  is  Mrs.  Jason  B. 
Smith,  a  sketch  of  whose  family  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

William  T.  Wright  was  reared  and  educated  in  Franklin  county, 
and  his  home  was  there  until  1901,  at  which  time  he  took  possession  of 
his  present  place.  In  his  native  community  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Hester  May  McCowen,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and 
reared  and  educated  there.  Her  parents,  John  aud  Mary  (Cole)  Mc- 
Cowen, were  bom  in  Franklin  county,  being  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
and  farmers  by  occupation.  Her  father  was  seventy  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  death. 

Seven  children  had  been  born  to  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright,  as  follows:  W.  Ralph,  now  twenty-two  years  of  age,  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Fairmount  high  school,  and  has  charge  of  a  grain  elevator  at 
Laurel,  Indiana ;  Frances  W.,  aged  nineteen,  graduated  from  the  Fair- 
mount  high  school  in  the  class  of  1911 ;  Mary  C,  is  a  student  in  the 
Fairmount  high  school;  Helen  Gould  is  in  the  grade  schools;  Floyd  E. 
is  in  the  third  grade  of  the  district  school;  and  the  two  youngest  are 
Howard  M.  and  Keith.  In  politics  Mr.  Wright  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket. 

Y.  F.  White.  In  November.  1912,  the  people  of  Grant  county  chose 
for  the  office  of  sheriff  a  citizen  whose  fitness  for  such  responsibility  and 
honor  is  unquestioned  and  exceptional.  Sheriff  White  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Grant  county  most  of  his  life,  has  been  a  practical  and  success- 
ful farmer,  and  has  always  been  noted  for  his  honesty  and  efficiency  in 
every  undertaking  with  which  his  name  has  been  connected. 

Y.  F.  Wliite  was  born  February  4,  1867,  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  a 
son  of  Levi  and  Carrie  (Boras)  White.  The  father,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  during  the  Civil  war  served 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Union.  From  Pennsylvania  he  moved  into  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  ten  years,  and  then  came  to  Indiana  when  his  son  Y.  F.  was 
six  years  of  age,  locating  in  Monroe  township,  Grant  county.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  transferred  his  residence  into  Washington  township,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  which  remained  his  own  home  for  many  years,  and  was 
the  place  where  the  children  grew  to  manhood.  About  eight  years  before 
his  death  the  father  moved  into  Marion,  where  he  died  in  1908.  The 
mother  passed  away  in  the  same  year.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
sons,  who  are  all  living  and  named  as  follows:  Curtis  A.  Wliite  of 
Marion ;   Y.  F. ;   William  E.  of  Marion  ;   Frank  L.,  and  owner  of  a  farm 


374  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  Van  Buren  township  in  this  county;  and  John  I.,  on  the  old  home 
farm.  Mr.  Y.  F.  White  was  born  on  the  farm,  remained  a  farmer  prac- 
tically all  his  career,  being  still  engaged  in  that  occupation,  though  he 
has  for  four  years  resided  in  Marion.  His  early  education  was  attained 
in  the  district  schools  and  was  completed  at  the  Marion  Normal  College. 
"When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  left  the  home  farm  and  spent  the  next 
three  years  on  another  place  owned  bjr  his  father  in  Van  Buren  township. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  his  industry  and  good  management  had  enabled 
him  to  begin  business  on  his  own  account,  and  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Huntington  county,  close  to  the  Grant  county  line.  That  remained  his 
place  of  residence  and  activities  until  his  removal  to  Marion  four  years 
ago.  He  lived  in  Texas  with  his  family,  in  the  winter  of  1909,  but  then 
returned  and  opened  a  real  estate  office  in  Marion. 

An  influential  Democrat  in  this  county  for  many  years,  Mr.  White 
was  nominated  on  May  11,  1912,  for  the  office  of  sheriff,  made  a  success- 
ful campaign  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  on  January  1,  1913. 
Mr.  White  still  retains  ownership  of  a  farm  in  Washington  township,  and 
the  old  home  place  in  Huntington  county.  In  1889  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Ridenour,  daughter  of  Solomon  Ridenour  of  Hocking  county, 
Ohio.  The  two  children  born  to  their  marriage  are  Boyd  C.  and  Blanche 
White,  both  at  home.  Fraternally  Mr.  White  is  affiliated  with  the  Loyal 
Order  of  Moose  and  the  Elks  Lodge,  and  he  and  his  family  worship  in 
the  United  Brethren  church. 

Harmon  Buller.  Raudolph  county,  North  Carolina,  the  source  of 
so  many  early  settlers  in  Grant  county,  was  the  place  of  origin  of  the 
Buller  family,  the  first  members  of  which  came  to  Grant  county  eighty- 
five  years  ago,  among  the  earliest  pioneers,  and  three  years  before  the 
county  was  organized.  In  the  third  generation  of  the  family  is  Harmon, 
for  so  many  years  prominent  as  a  farmer  and  stockman  in  Fairmount 
township  and  the  owner  of  a  splendid  rural  estate  just  outside  the  city 
of  Fairmount.  His  fellow  citizens  have  paid  him  many  tributes  for  his 
thrift  and  excellent  judgment  in  business  affairs,  and  he  has  been 
remarkably  successful  in  stock  trading  and  dealing.  Mr.  Buller  is  a 
man  of  the  energetic,  nervous  temperament,  always  active  in  mind  and 
body,  and  has  been  a  forceful  leader  in  every  undertaking  whether  on 
his  own  initiative  or  in  community  matters. 

His  grandfather  Buller  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North 
Carolina,  and  spent  all  his  life  in  that  state  as  a  farmer,  his  death 
occurring  when  quite  old.  The  grandfather  married  Mary,  better 
known  as  Polly,  Leonard,  also  of  North  Carolina.  After  her  husband 
died,  with  her  family  of  two  sons  and  three  daughters  she  came  over- 
land by  wagon  and  team  across  the  long  distance  intervening  between 
North  Carolina  and  Indiana,  This  journey  was  made  in  1833,  and  she 
located  on  section  twenty-eight  in  Fairmount  township  of  Grant  county. 
The  land  was  altogether  new,  in  the  state  of  primeval  wilderness, 
though  it  had  been  entered  a  year  or  two  before  by  other  parties. 
Mrs.  Buller  after  several  years  of  residence  in  Grant  county  married 
Job  David  of  North  Carolina.  Later  they  moved  to  a  small  farm  in 
Liberty  township,  where  they  both  died.  Mrs.  Buller  reached  a  good 
old  age,  and  in  many  ways  was  one  of  the  remarkable  pioneer  women. 
She  was  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  in  religion,  and  brought  up  her  children 
in  that  faith.  She  survived  her  second  husband  by  several  years.  Of 
her  five  children,  all  grew  up  and  married  and  were  farming  people. 

Lindsay  Buller,  father  of  Harmon  Buller,  was  a  young  man  when  his 
mother  moved  to  Grant  county.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1815, 
and  on  reaching  maturity  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  twenty- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  375 

five  in  Liberty  township.  There  he  did  well  as  a  farmer,  and  after  a 
long  and  honorable  career  .died  in  1895  at  the  home  of  his  son  H.  P. 
Buller.  lie  was  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  and  a  Republican  in  politics. 
Lindsay  Buller  married  Miss  Polly  Lytle,  who  was  born  in  Randolph 
county,  North  Carolina,  in  1814,  and  was  a  girl  when  she  came  with  her 
father  to  Grant  county,  locating  in  Liberty  township.  Her  father  there 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  that  continued  to  be  the  Lytle  home- 
stead for  many  years.  Later  her  father  and  a  second  wife  moved  out  to 
Missouri  where  they  died.  Mrs.  Polly  Buller  died  in  1863,  while  her 
son  Harmon  was  away  tight ing  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union. 

Harmon  Buller  was  born  on  his  father's  old  farm  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, February  23,  1844.  There  he  grew  up,  attended  the  district 
schools  such  as  were  maintained  in  the  rural  communities  of  that  time, 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  Company  G  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Indiana  Infantry  as  a  private.  With  that 
regiment  he  served  during  1863  and  1864,  nearly  a  full  year.  He  was 
in  some  of  the  hardest  campaigns  of  the  war  and  saw  much  fighting  and 
many  marches,  but  went  through  service  without  injury,  was  never 
confined  a  day  in  a  hospital,  and  escaped  capture.  On  his  discharge 
from  the  army  he  returned  to  Grant  county,  and  soon  after  acquired 
his  first  land  in  Liberty  township.  He  improved  his  place  with  good 
buildings,  and  lived  there  until  he  sold  out  in  the  fall  of  1875.  In 
that  year  he  moved  to  Fairmount  township,  aud  bought  eighty  acres 
of  fine  land,  just  outside  the  corporation  limits  of  the  city.  By  his 
thrift  and  enterprise  he  gradually  extended  his  landed  possessions 
and  at  the  present  time  owns  two  hundred  acres  in  one  bod}-.  This  is 
improved  with  a  commodious  brick  dwelling  house  besides  excellent 
barn  buildings  of  all  descriptions.  The  keynote  of  his  success  has  been 
energy,  combined  with  a  certain  talent  for  managing  soil  and  in 
handling  and  dealing  in  live  stock. 

In  Fairmount  City  Mr.  Buller  married  Mary  Little,  who  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  iu  1840,  and  came  to  Grant  county  with  her  parents. 
She  died  in  Fairmount,  in  1904,  the  mother  of  three  children.  The 
son  John  E.  is  now  a  prosperous  young  farmer,  is  the  owner  of  eighty 
acres  of  land  near  Faii'mount,  and  married  Salina  Arnett.  They  have 
one  son,  Carmen  A.  Charles  L.,  the  second  son,  is  a  substantial  farmer 
in  Fairmount  township,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
men.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Bertha  Ploek,  who  died  leaving  one 
child,  Harmon.  Jr.  His  present  wife  is  Anna  Yarber.  Mr.  Buller  and 
sons  are  Republican  voters. 

John  W.  Himelick.  The  Himelick  family  has  been  identified  with 
Grant  county  for  about  forty  years,  and  John  W.  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  life  here,  being  remembered  for  his  work  as  a  teacher,  during  his 
early  manhood  and  is  now  one  of  the  exceedingly  prosperous  and  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  section  one  in  Fairmount  township.  His  ability 
as  a  stock  raiser,  is  recognized  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  community, 
and  many  of  his  fine  shorthorns  have  won  ribbons  in  the  live  stock 
shows. 

The  ancestry  is  German,  and  the  name  was  first  established  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  that  state  John  Himelick,  great-grandfather  of  the 
Fairmount  township  stock  raiser,  located  towards  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  where  he  lived  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  died  when 
an  old  man.  His  marriage  probably  occurred  in  Pennsylvania.  There 
were  three  sons:  Joseph,  George  and  John,  Jr.,  all  of  whom  moved 
west  and  found  homes  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  where  they  were 
married.  John.  Jr.,  lived  his  last  years  in  Jennings  county,  Indiana, 


376  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

where  he  died  and  left  a  family.  George,  some  years  after  his  marriage 
moved  out  to  Kansas,  and  his  home  for  a  number  "of  years  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Leavenworth,  where  he  died.  Some  of  his  children  are  still 
living. 

Joseph  Himelick,  grandfather  of  John  W.  was  married  in  Franklin 
county  to  Mary  Curry,  of  a  pioneer  family,  either  in  Franklin  county 
or  Union  county.  After  their  marriage  their  home  was  for  some  years 
in  Franklin  county,  where  all  their  children  were  born.  Their  son 
John,  father  of  John  W.,  was  married  about  the  time  the  family  moved 
to  Washington  township  in  Madison  county,  where  Joseph  Himelick 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  near  the  corporation  of  Summitville, 
developed  a  good  farm  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  days  there.  His  death 
occurred  about  1S80,  and  he  was  born  in  1815.  His  widow  is  still  living, 
a  venerable  old  lady  of  ninety-one,  having  been  born  in  1822.  Her  home 
is  in  Summitville.  She  has  been  almost  a  lifelong  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  denomination  her  husband  was  also  a 
member.    In  politics  he  supported  the  Democratic  party. 

John  Himelick,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  December 
25,  1840,  and  moved  to  Madison  county  about  the  close  of  the  war. 
Some  years  later,  in  1875,  he  came  to  Grant  county,  and  bought  one 
hundred  and  five  acres  in  section  fourteen  of  Fairmount  township.  That 
farm  was  later  sold,  and  another  bought  in  Mill  township  near  Jones- 
boro,  where  his  last  days  were  spent,  and  his  death  occurred  July  12, 
1906.  His  widow  now  makes  her  home  in  Summitville  in  Madison 
county.  Before  her  marriage  she  was  Mary  C.  Morris,  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Indiana,  September  28,  1844.  Her  parents  were  Nicholas  and 
Elizabeth  (Ringer)  Morris,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  her 
mother  of  pure  German  stock.  Her  parents  were  married  in  Franklin 
county,  Indiana,  later  moving  to  Madison  county,  where  they  died  after 
a  long  and  happy  married  companionship  of  nearly  sixty  years.  Both 
were  seventy-five  years  of  age,  and  their  deaths  occurred  within  two 
weeks  of  each  other.  John  and  Mary  Himelick  had  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  among  whom  John  "W.  was  fifth  in  order  of 
birth.  George,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county 
married  Lydia,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Wise,  and  has  six  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Joseph,  a  farmer  in  Madison  county,  married  Ella  Webster, 
and  has  three  sons.  Elizabeth,  who  died  when  twenty-six  years  old 
was  the  wife  of  the  late  Ulysses  Horner,  and  had  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  Robert  is  a  teacher  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  and  his 
children  are  Frances  and  Jesse.  The  next  is  John  W.  Himelick.  Olive, 
is  the  wife  of  Virgil  Duling,  a  farmer  in  Fairmount  township  and  has  a 
daughter,  Mary.  Maude  is  the  wife  of  William  D.  Moss,  of  Marion. 
Orville,  who  lives  at  Upland,  married  Nancy  Ruley,  and  their  children 
are  Louise,  John,  Paul  and  Elizabeth.  Earl,  who  is  a  glass  worker  at 
Jonesboro,  married  Dora  Nelson,  and  has  three  children,  Lucile,  Ray- 
mond, and  Robert. 

John  W.  Himelick  was  born  in  Madison  county,  April  27,  1872.  His 
education  began  in  the  public  schools,  was  continued  in  the  Fairmount 
Academy,  with  a  course  in  the  Danville  Normal  College  and  at  De  Pauw 
University.  With  this  liberal  equipment  he  devoted  ten  years  of  his 
young  life  to  teaching  and  there  are  hundreds  of  his  pupils  who  still 
recall  his  work  and  influence  in  kindly  memories.  Nearly  all  his  work 
as  a  teacher  was  done  in  Jefferson  and  Fairmount  townships.  Prom 
teaching  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  is  now  the  possessor 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  land  in  section  one  of  Fairmount 
township.  His  specialty  is  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  shorthorn 
cattle,  and  his  animals  when  exhibited  have  taken  a  number  of  blue 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        377 

ribbons.  His  farm  lias  many  improvements,  and  among  those  that 
attract  the  eye  is  a  splendid  stock  and  grain  barn  painted  red,  and  a 
large  white  house,  containing  twelve  rooms,  and  comfortably  and 
tastefully  furnished.  Mr.  liimelick  married  Miss  Sarah  Lorena 
Richards,  a  native  of  Jefferson  township  in  this  county.  Her  parents 
were  L.  G.  and  Mary  E.  Craw  Kichards,  both  natives  of  Indiana  and 
married  in  Grant  county.  Mrs.  Kichards  died  in  Jefferson  township  in 
1S93  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  Mr.  Richards  married  the  second  time,  and 
now  lives  on  his  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  October  20,  1913,  being 
his  eightieth  birthday.  The  Kichards  family  are  members  of  the 
Primitive  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Richards  is  a  Democrat. 
Mrs.  Himelick  has  two  brothers,  William  and  Leman,  both  of  whom  are 
married  and  have  chddren,  and  one  of  his  sisters  is  Lucina,  wife  of  R.  C. 
Nottingham,  with  children,  and  another  sister  Molly  died  after  her  mar- 
riage to  Frank  H.  Kirkwood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Himelick,  who  have  no 
children  of  their  own,  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church, 
and  his  politics  is  described  as  Independent  Democratic. 

Amos  Arthur  Holloway.  In  Grant  county,  as  in  many  other  sec- 
tions of  the  middle  west,  the  day  of  the  big  farm  and  the  loose  farming 
methods  have  almost  passed.  Farming  is  now  both  a  practical  and 
scientitie  business,  and  many  of  the  most  successful  are  pursuing  it 
according  to  the  intensive  methods,  making'  one  acre  grow  what  the  old- 
fashioned  husbandmen  produced  on  two  or  three  acres.  One  of  the 
prosperous  little  estates  which  well  illustrates  this  principle  is  the  farm 
of  Mr.  Holloway  in  Fairmount  township  on  section  twenty-seven.  His 
acreage  is  only  forty-two  and  a  half.  About  ten  acres  of  this  is  in 
native  timber,  and  orchards,  while  the  rest  is  highly  cultivated  soil.  His 
crops  are  of  a  general  nature,  principally  com,  but  also  oats  and  other 
grains.  An  orchard  of  three  acres  in  apples,  with  other  fruits  produces 
a  considerable  share  of  his  annual  revenue.  Nearly  all  the  grain  pro- 
duced on  his  farm  is  fed  to  his  hogs,  and  he  keeps  some  other  stock. 
Mr.  Holloway  is  a  young  and  progressive  farmer  citizen  of  Grant 
county,  and  his  early  prosperity  is  an  indication  of  what  many  years 
will  bring  him  in  the  future. 

Amos  A.  Holloway  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies 
on  December  10,  1882.  With  the  exception  of  two  years  his  entire 
career  has  been  spent  in  this  one  locality.  His  parents  were  Abner  and 
Sarah  (Rich)  Holloway,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  both  of  whom  were 
almost  children  when  their  respective  parents  moved  to  Indiana.  They 
married  at  Fairmount,  and  established  their  first  home  in  this  county. 

For  a  number  of  years  their  residence  was  in  Monroe  township,  after 
which  they  came  to  Fairmount  township,  bought  and  owned  a  large 
tract  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  There  the  father  passed  away 
April  2,  1903,  when  more  than  seventy  years  of  age.  His  church  was 
the  Friends,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  His  widow  now  lives 
with  her  children,  and  is  a  Quaker,  and  over  seventy-three  years  of  age. 
There  were  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  eight  of  wiiom  are  living,  and 
all  are  married  and  have  children,  being  well  settled  and  self-sustaining. 

Mr.  Holloway,  the  youngest  of  the  children,  was  married  in  Monroe 
township,  in  1904  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Fleming,  who  was  born  in  Monroe 
township,  May  28,  1885.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Susanna 
(Hollis)  Fleming,  who  are  now  living  in  Monroe  township,  and  both 
natives  of  Indiana,  and  married  in  Grant  county.  The  Fleming  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mrs.  Holloway  is  the  second  of 
three  children.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway  have  been  born  six  children : 
Willard  A.,  aged  eight  years;  George,  who  was  killed  while  playing  on 


378  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

the  railway  tracks  by  a  passenger  train  on  October  5,  1908,  at  the  age 
of  two  years;  Clyde  L.,  aged  six  years;  Ruth  D.,  aged  four;  Anna  L., 
aged  two;  and  Charles,  now  a  few  months  old.  Mr.  Holloway  is  a 
Quaker,  while  his  wife  adheres  to  the  Methodist  church,  and  his  politics 
is  Republican. 

George  M.  Coon.  For  two  terms  prosecuting  attorney  of  Grant 
county  Mr.  Coon  is  a  capable  young  lawyer  of  Marion,  has  been  identified 
with  the  local  bar  for  fourteen  years,  and  since  beginning  his  active  career 
has  been  very  prominent  both  in  politics  and  social  circles  in  this  county, 
which  is  his  native  home. 

The  Coon  family  has  been  identified  with  Grant  county  for  three  gen- 
erations, and  has  always  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  citizenship. 
The  origin  of  the  Coon  family  is  traced  back  to  the  German  fatherland, 
and  was  established  in  Virginia,  where  men  of  the  name  were  prominent 
as  business  men  and  citizens. 

In  the  early  industrial  history  of  Marion,  special  distinction  attaches 
to  the  members  of  the  Coon  family  in  this  county,  Jacob  Coon  being  the 
grandfather  of  George  M.  Born  in  Botecourt  county,  Virginia,  he 
came  over  the  Alleganies  and  first  located  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and 
then  in  1842  came  to  Grant  county,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land 
now  included  in  the  city  of  Marion.  He  was  a  brick-maker  by  trade, 
and  he  has  the  credit  of  having  put  up  the  first  kiln  and  manufactured 
the  first  kiln  for  brick  in  Grant  county.  It  is  said  that  he  burned  the 
brick  used  in  nearly  all  the  stores  and  residences  of  that  material  in 
Marion.  For  some  years  he  was  a  successful  manufacturer  of  brick,  and 
was  succeeded  in  the  business  by  his  son  Michael.  Jacob  Coon  married 
Melinda  Wall,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Botecourt  county,  Virginia.  They 
became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  the  oldest  dying  in  infancy,  and  the 
others  named  as  follows:  Michael,  now  deceased;  Andrew,  deceased, 
a  former  resident  of  Brooklyn,  Iowa;  Benjamin,  who  died  as  a  soldier 
of  the  Union  at  Sandy  Hook,  Maryland,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six ;  Thomas, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty ;  Elizabeth,  Martha,  Mary,  Susellen,  all 
now  deceased;  George  Williams,  mentioned  below,  who  lives  on  a  farm 
in  Washington  township.  Jacob  Coon,  father  of  this  large  family,  died 
in  his  seventy-second  year,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1851. 

George  W.  Coon,  father  of  the  county's  prosecuting  attorney,  was 
born  in  Washington  township  of  this  county,  January  8,  1844.  When 
he  was  seven  years  of  age  his  mother  died,  and  three  years  later  he  went 
to  make  his  home  with  William  Middleton,  in  Center  township,  where  he 
remained  until  he  joined  the  Union  forces.  When  he  was  about  eighteen 
years  old  he  enlisted  and  was  assigned  to  Company  I  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighteenth  Indiana  Infantry.  His  enlistment  was  for  six 
months,  but  after  being  honorably  discharged  from  that  service  he  re- 
enlisted  in  August,  1864.  in  Company  K  of  the  Fortieth  Indiana  Infan- 
try. He  was  with  his  company  in  the  battles  of  Spring  Hill,  Franklin, 
and  Nashville,  among  the  greatest  and  most  important  engagements  of 
the  war,  and  the  Fortieth  Indiana  Regiment  won  many  laurels  in  these 
battles.  At  Franklin  he  was  struck  with  a  piece  of  shell  and  captured. 
His  captors  then  ordered  him  to  the  rear,  but  instead  of  obeying  he  went 
in  the  direction  of  the  Federal  forces  and  regained  the  ranks  of  his  regi- 
ment, in  time  to  take  a  gun  and  assist  in  the  captue  of  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  rebels.  For  some  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  George  W. 
Coon  was  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Marion,  and  built  a  barn 
which  occupied  the  present  site  of  the  Leader-Tribune  Building.  He 
was  successfully  identified  with  this  enterprise  for  twenty-five  years.  In 
January,  1883,  he  moved  out  to  his  farm  in  Washington  township,  where 
he  still   resides. 


J^i^T^t^rzn^^ 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  379 

Mr.  George  W.  Coon  was  married  August  30.  18G8,  to  Amanda  J. 
Marshall,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Mary  A.  (Robertsj  Marshall.  The 
late  John  D.  Marshall  was  for  more  than  half  a  century  intimately  assoc- 
iated with  the  business  and  civic  interests  of  Grant  county,  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Indiana  State  Senate  in  1S62-63,  and  his  vote  was  the 
deciding  factor  in  the  election  of  Thomas  A.  Hendricks  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  The  five  children  of  George  W.  Coon  and  wife  are  named 
as  follows :  Stella  and  Mannie,  who  died  in  infancy ;  John  W.,  a  resident 
of  Marion;  Lillian  E.,  wife  of  John  W.  Hayes,  whose  farm  is  five  miles 
from  Marion;   and  George  M. 

Born  in  the  city  of  Marion,  April  20,  1874,  when  quite  young  George 
M.  Coon  accompanied  the  family  to  the  country  and  received  his  early 
education  altogether  in  the  country  schools.  He  subsequently  was  a 
student  in  the  Marion  high  school  for  three  years  and  took  a  general  and 
business  course  at  the  Marion  Normal  College.  For  some  time  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  then  in  1897  began  the  study  of  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1899.  On  September  15,  1899, 
he  received  appointment  as  deputy  prosecuting  attorney,  and  filled  the 
office  for  three  years.  After  an  interval  of  private  practice  he  was 
again  made  deputy  prosecutor  in  January,  1906,  and  gave  two  years 
service.  For  eight  years  Mr.  Coon  served  as  Republican  Precinct  Com- 
mitteeman.  In  November,  1908,  he  was  elected  as  Republican  candidate 
to  the  otfice  of  prosecuting  attorney  and  was  reelected  in  1910. 

On  November  26,  1902,  he  married  Samantha  A.  Leach,  daughter 
of  James  Leach  of  Ohio.  In  fraternal  affairs.  Mr.  Coon  is  very  prominent. 
He  is  [>ast  chancellor  of  Grant  Lodge  No.  103  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana.  He  was  presiding  chan- 
cellor commander  of  Grant  Lodge  when  this  organization  acquired  its 
beautiful  new  home  in  South  Adams  Street.  Mr.  Coon  became  a  Knight 
of  Pythias  March  11,  1901,  and  has  never  missed  a  session  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  since  leaving  the  office  of  chancellor  commander.  He  has  assisted 
in  conferring  rank  in  every  lodge  in  Grant  county,  and  in  many  lodges 
over  the  state.  His  other  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  in  Aerie  No.  227,  and  in  1908  represented  his  organiza- 
tion of  Eagles  at  Seattle,  Washington,  which  is  the  home  of  Aerie  No.  1 
of  the  Eagles.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Elks  Lodge  No.  195  at 
Marion,  with  the  Benevolent  Crew  of  Neptune  No.  1,  beiug  a  charter 
member  of  this  lodge.  He  has  membership  in  the  Dramatic  Order  of 
Khorassan  at  Marion,  and  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  the 
Marion  Country  Club. 

John  H.  Casket.  The  Caskey  family  have  lived  in  Grant  county 
since  before  the  Civil  war.  All  of  its  members  have  been  substantial 
fanners  and  John  H.  Caskey,  whose  early  career  was  divided  between 
school  teaching  and  tilling  the  soil  now  owns  a  comfortable  estate  in 
sections  26,  27  and  34  in  Fairmount  township. 

His  grandfather,  John  Caskey,  was  born  near  the  Natural  Bridge 
in  Rockbridge  county,  "Virginia,  between  1792  and  1795,  of  Virginia 
parents,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  A  brother  of  John  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Mexican  war.  In  Virginia  John  Caskey  married  a  Miss  Greenlee. 
His  death  occurred  as  a  result  of  accident  while  he  was  in  the  prime  of 
life.  In  crossing  the  James  River,  with  a  flatboat  loaded  with  flour,  the 
boat  was  overturned,  and  though  an  expert  swimmer  he  got  tangled  in 
his  overcoat,  and  was  overwhelmed  by  the  water.  His  widow  died 
some  years  later,  though  still  a  comparatively  young  woman.  There 
were  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  James,  who  was  ;i  traveling  dentist 
by  profession,  died  in  middle  life,  while  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war; 


380  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Samuel,  who  died  in  Greeusburg,  Indiana,  left  a  family  of  children; 
David  is  mentioned  in  the  next  paragraph;  Mary,  who  died  in  Rush 
county,  leaving  a  family  of  children,  was  the  wife  of  George  D.  Glass, 
whose  death  occurred  in  Tipton,  Indiana. 

David  Caskey,  who  was  born  on  the  old  farm  in  Virginia,  July  23, 
1821,  grew  up  and  was  very  well  educated  for  his  time.  Before  his 
marriage,  he  came  north  during  the  forties  to  Rush  county,  Indiana, 
bought  some  land  in  Richland  township,  and  a  few  years  later  during 
the  decade  of  the  fifties  moved  to  Grant  county.  His  purchase  of  land 
was  made  in  Fairmouut  township,  where  the  rest  of  his  years  were  spent, 
until  his  death  on  June  2,  1905,  when  nearly  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
His  was  a  career  of  substantial  achievement  and  deserving  of  the  high 
esteem  which  was  paid  him  by  his  neighbors.  The  family  religion 
had  always  been  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  but  later  in  life,  David 
Caskey  joined  the  Christian  church,  and  was  comforted  by  that  faith 
in  his  last  days.  His  politics  was  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  Rush 
county  he  married  Eliza  Hite,  who  was  born  there,  and  her  parents  were 
from  Rockbridge,  Virginia.  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Lowrey)  Hite  were 
married  in  Rush  county  in  an  early  day,  and  lived  and  died  on  their 
farm  in  Richland  township,  being  quite  old  before  death  came  to  them. 
Jacob  Hite  was  for  forty  years  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  only  two  of 
his  decisions  were  ever  reversed.  Both  were  honored  and  upright  people, 
and  Mrs.  Hite  belonged  to  the  Christian  church.  The  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Eliza  Caskey  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Eliza  Cas- 
key died  in  Kansas  in  March,  1901,  and  was  a  devout  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  Her  children  were:  1.  John  H.  2.  Melissa,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  M.  Leach,  whose  family  history  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  3.  Frances  died  after  her  marriage  to  E.  C. 
Leach,  and  left  no  children.  4.  William,  who  lived  a  few  years  in 
California,  later  moved  to  Kansas,  where  he  died  without  issue.  5. 
James  was  accidentally  killed  in  Hutchinson,  Kansas,  and  left  five  chil- 
dren. 6.  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  L.  A.  Danton,  of  Waterloo,  Iowa,  and 
has  one  son. 

John  H.  Caskey  was  born  in  Rush  county,  Indiana,  February  19, 
1847,  and  was  still  a  child  when  the  family  moved  to  Grant  county. 
Grant  county  has  therefore  been  his  home  practically  all  his  life.  His 
education  was  much  better  than  that  received  by  the  average  young  man 
of  his  time.  From  the  public  schools  he  entered  the  academy  at  Rich- 
land, Indiana,  and  with  this  equipment  spent  a  part  of  the  fifteen  years 
in  teaching.  During  each  succeeding  winter,  he  was  master  of  a  school, 
while  the  summers  were  spent  in  farming.  Later  all  his  attention  and 
energies  were  given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  at  the  present  time 
his  proprietorship  extends  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well 
improved  and  excellently  managed  land  in  Fairmount  township.  Be- 
sides his  general  operations  as  a  farmer,  his  chief  feature  of  his  business 
is  a  dairy,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  kept  a  good  herd  of  cows, 
and  runs  this  branch  of  his  business  very  profitably. 

Mr.  Caskey  is  well  known  for  his  participation  in  public  affairs,  and 
during  1882-84  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Grant  county.  As  a  Demo- 
crat he  has  long  been  active,  and  for  sixteen  years  was  Democratic  com- 
mitteeman of  his  township. 

In  Rush  county  in  1873  Mr.  Caskey  married  Miss  Eliza  Scott,  who 
was  born  in  that  county  in  1851.  Her  death  occurred  in  her  native 
county  while  she  was  visiting  there  in  1877.  The  two  children  by  that 
marriage  were:  Ina,  wife  of  David  Whybrew.  and  their  children  are 
Flossie,  Bessie,  Alice.  Lola  and  John ;  Bessie  died  after  her  marriage  to 
Jacob  Corn,  and  left  one  son,  Leonard.     In  Reno  county,  Kansas,  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        38l 

1880,  Mr.  Caskey  married  Miss  M.  E.  Atkins,  who  was  born  in  Hunts- 
ville,  Mississippi,  September  9,  1860.  When  she  was  thirteen  years  of 
age  her  parents  S.  J.  and  Virginia  (Curtis)  Atkins,  moved  to  Kansas 
and  lived  there  from  1873  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Atkins  twenty-two 
years  ago.  For  the  past  five  years,  Mr.  Atkins  has  made  his  home  in 
Los  Angeles,  California,  and  is  now  seventy-six  years  of  age.  The 
Atkins  family  are  communicants  of  the  Christian  church,  and  his 
membership  has  been  in  the  church  since  1866,  and  for  fifty-years  he 
has  been  prominent  in  Masonic  circles. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caskey  are  mentioned  as  follows : 
1.  Lew,  born  in  1881,  is  now  rural  mail  carrier  on  route  number  twenty- 
two  out  of  Fairniount ;  he  married  Clara  Stephens,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Myrtle  and  Ruth.  2.  William,  whose  home  is  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  married  Gertrude  Cummings,  and  their  children  are  Helen, 
William  and  Margaret.  3.  Clyde,  a  young  unmarried  man,  lives  at  home 
and  assists  with  the  management  of  the  farm.  4.  Gus  died  at  the  age  of 
two  months.  5.  Florence  was  graduated  in  1907  from  the  Fairniount 
high  school,  is  a  devoted  student  of  music,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
organist  in  the  Christian  church  at  Fairmount.  6.  John,  also  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school,  is  now  a  junior  in  the  Ohio  State 
University,  being  a  member  of  the  class  of  1915.  7.  Nettie  F.,  aged 
eighteen,  a  studious  and  earnest  girl,  in  the  high  school  class  of  1915, 
has  for  several  years  been  a  local  heroine  in  Gi-ant  county.  On  March 
19,  1910,  she  performed  an  act  which  is  proof,  not  only  of  personal 
courage,  but  of  that  extreme  unselfishness  which  is  the  highest  attribute 
of  character.  Her  niece,  a  little  child  of  three  years,  had  wandered 
away  from  home,  getting  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  tracks  nearby, 
and  was  more  than  half  a  mile  away  before  she  was  missed.  With 
complete  unconsciousness  of  danger,  she  was  walking  between  the 
rails  of  the  road,  when  Miss  Caskey  happened  to  observe  her. 
A  fast  passenger  train  was  approaching  and  could  be  heard  in 
the  distance.  Getting  out  on  the  track,  and  pursued  by  the  ever 
nearing  train,  Miss  Caskey  new  on  wings  of  fear  for  the  child,  but 
without  a  thought  of  self,  and  finally  breathless  and  almost  at  the  end 
of  her  strength  she  gathered  the  child  in  her  arms  and  swept  her  off 
the  track  just  as  the  engine  flashed  by.  Hardly  the  margin  of  a  second 
separated  her  from  the  awful  death  which  threatened  both.  The 
engineer,  a  Mr.  Pardee  who  was  a  veteran  railroad  man  of  eighteen 
years'  service  failed  to  see  the  small  child,  and  stated  that  he  expected 
Miss  Caskey  to  leave  the  rails  at  every  moment,  and  remove  herself 
from  the  danger.  When  he  finally  discovered  the  baby  ahead  he 
reversed  the  engine  and  applied  the  brakes,  and  this  very  brief  pause 
was  probably  just  sufficient  to  enable  the  girl  to  get  out  of  the  way  in 
safety.  For  her  bravery  Miss  Caskey  received  from  the  McNeil  Under- 
writers Association,  a  beautifully  inscribed  and  embossed  medal,  made 
from  one  hundred  dollars  worth  of  pure  gold.  In  recognition  of  her 
brave  and  unselfish  act  there  was  also  given  her  a  bronze  medal  from 
the  government  with  a  letter  from  President  Taft,  The  engineer,  Mr. 
Pardee,  stated  afterwards,  considering  all  the  circumstances,  that  it 
was  the  bravest  act  he  had  ever  witnessed  or  read  of.  8.  Minnie  D. 
lives  at  home,  and  is  a  member  of  the  high  school  class  of  1915.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Caskey  and  all  the  children  are  active  in  church  work,  and 
belong  to  the  Christian  denomination  in  Fairmount.  In  polities  Mr. 
Caskey  is  a  Democrat. 

William  (Wick)  0.  Leach.  There  are  many  families  of  Grant 
county  who  have  lived  here  through  three  generations. — the  first  having 


382  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

come  as  pioneers,  the  second  having  carried  on  the  development  through 
the  later  decades  of  the  last  century,  and  the  third  now  bearing  the 
heat  and  burdens  of  the  day,  but  under  conditions  far  more  pleasant 
than  those  surrounding  their  predecessors.  With  fewer  obstacles  to 
contend  with,  this  third  generation  is  in  many  cases  showing  all  the 
greater  progressiveness  and  enterprise  and  is  wresting  crops  from  the 
land  which  would  have  astonished  their  grandfathers.  It  is  to  this 
modern  generation  that  Wick  0.  Leach  belongs,  and  his  name  in 
Fairmount  township  suggests  farming  on  a  big  and  profitable  scale, 
along  lines  of  the  maximum  productiveness  consistent  with  the  proper 
conservation  of  the  resources  of  the  soil  for  the  future  yield. 

Mr.  Leach  is  cooperating  with  his  father  in  the  management  of  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  situated  in  sections  three  and 
thirty-four  of  Fairmount  township.  That  is  acknowledged  as  one  of  the 
best  country  estates  in  the  township.  To  a  great  many  people  it  is 
familiar  under  the  name  of  Maple  Grove  farm.  Some  of  its  more 
conspicuous  improvements  are  two  large  red  barns,  one  of  them  a 
stock  barn,  and  the  other  for  the  storage  of  grain  chiefly.  A  ninety- 
ton  silo  is  a  further  evidence  that  farming  on  the  Leach  homestead  is 
conducted  according  to  modern  principles.  One  of  the  barns  has 
ground  dimensions  of  thirty-six  by  forty-two  feet,  and  the  other  thirty- 
eight  by  sixty-two  feet.  Mr.  Leach  allows  very  little  land  to  go  to 
waste,  and  practically  every  bushel  of  grain  produced  on  the  farm  is 
fed  to  his  stock.  A  fine  drove  of  red  Duroc  swine  is  one  of  the  sources 
from  which  he  gets  his  annual  revenues,  and  he  also  keeps  a  good 
dairy  herd  of  ten  Jersey  cows.  His  horses  are  both  Percheron,  Norman 
and  Belgians.  Mr.  Leach  believes  in  the  rotation  method  of  cropping. 
His  wheat  is  nearly  thirty  bushels  to  the  acre,  his  oats  about  forty 
bushels,  and  his  corn  yield  is  on  the  average  of  about  sixty  bushels. 
Other  crops  which  are  a  part  of  his  rotation  scheme  are  alfalfa  and 
clover,  and  at  the  present  writing  he  has  twelve  acres  in  alfalfa  and 
twenty  in  clover.  Mr.  Leach  has  managed  this  estate  for  four  years  on 
his  own  account,  and  is  one  of  the  young  men  who  are  proving  that  it 
pays  to  stay  on  the  farm. 

Wick  0.  Leach  has  lived  in  Grant  county  all  his  life,  and  was  born 
on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  October  25,  1879.  He  is  the  son  of  Charles 
M.  Leach,  a  grandson  of  Edmond  Leach,  and  a  great-grandson  of 
William  Leach,  all  of  a  family  which  has  been  identified  with  Grant 
county  from  jDioneer  times,  and  the  careers  of  these  older  members  are 
described  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Wick  0.  Leach  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Fairmount  township,  getting  a  public  school  training.  He 
attended  Grant  school  No.  3,  which  is  located  on  his  farm.  When  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  on  October  25,  1902,  he  married  in 
Jonesboro,  Miss  Dolly  C.  Jones.  Miss  Jones  was  born  in  Fairmount 
township,  June  25,  1876,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  A.  and  Annie  (Hardy) 
Jones  both  natives  of  Jefferson  township  in  Grant  county.  The  Jones 
family  is  likewise  of  pioneer  Grant  county  stock,  and  its  records  are 
found  written  on  other  pages.  Mrs.  Leach  was  educated  at  the  old 
Liberty  school,  district  No.  7. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  have  the  following  children :  Hazel  M.,  born 
June  14,  1903,  and  now  in  school;  Hiram  A.,  born  December  14,  1907; 
Charles  Kenneth,  born  December  5,  1909 ;  and  Robert  0.  born  October 
30,  1911.  Mr.  Leach  has  membership  in  the  Baptist  church,  while  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Salem  Methodist  Protestant  Society.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat. 

Alexander  M.  Deeren.  This  name  bespeaks  a  large  family  relation- 
ship with  pioneer  settlers  in  eastern  Indiana,  chiefly  in  Delaware,  Madi- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GEANT  COUNTIES  383 

son  and  Grant  counties.  The  Deeren,  Van  Meter  and  Suman  families  had 
their  share  in  pioneer  things,  agriculture  has  been  their  chief  vocation, 
and  an  examination  of  the  records  show  them  to  have  been  staunch  de- 
fenders of  their  country,  upholders  of  morality  and  religion,  and  people 
of  intrinsic  neighborliness  and  usefulness. 

The  late  Alexander  M.  Deeren,  who  died  July  3,  1S96,  was  born  in 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  April  14,  1839.  He  grew  up  in  his  native  lo- 
cality, and  when  a  young  man  enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regiment  for  three 
months'  service  in  the  Civil  war.  At  the  end  of  his  service  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  and  then  returned  to  Ohio.  Some  time  later  he 
moved  to  Grant  county,  and  followed  the  occupations  of  school  teaching, 
clerking  in  a  store,  and  farming. 

He  was  first  married  in  Jefferson  townsbip  of  Grant  county  to  Melissa 
Brown,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that  township,  coming  of  a  family 
of  early  settlers.  She  died  about  five  years  after  her  marriage,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five,  leaving  three  children,  Minnie,  Annie,  and  Martha  E. 
Minnie  and  Annie  are  twins.  Both  married  and  now  live  in  Jefferson 
township.  Minnie  married  Charles  Curtis,  a  farmer,  and  they  have  one 
son  and  a  daughter.  Martha  E.  was  one  year  old  when  her  mother  died, 
and  she  was  l-eared  by  her  stepmother,  Mrs.  Deeren,  and  has  never 
married. 

In  Fairmount  township,  on  March  26,  1876,  Mr.  Deeren  married 
Mrs.  Naomi  L.  Suman,  nee  Van  Meter.  Mrs.  Deeren  was  born  in  Dela- 
ware county,  Indiana,  July  11.  1838,  was  reared  there,  and  for  her  first 
husband  was  married  on  November  1, 1859,  to  Absalom  Suman.  Absalom 
Suman 's  father  was  born  in  Maryland,  was  a  young  man  when  he  came 
west  to  Indiana,  and  lived  in  both  Madison  and  Delaware  counties. 
Absalom  Suman  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana.  The  Suman 
family  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  that  section.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Suman  lived  in  Madison  and  Delaware  counties  on 
a  farm  until  March  3,  1864,  when  they  came  to  Grant  county  and  bought 
one  hundred  aci-es  of  land  in  Section  thirty-six  of  Fairmount  township. 
Their  land  adjoined  the  present  village  of  Fowlerton.  It  was  on  that 
farm  that  Mr.  Suman  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  A  hard  worker, 
he  made  many  improvements,  and  prospered  steadily.  His  death  oc- 
curred January  24,  1874.  and  he  was  born  December  10,  1838.  His 
church  was  the  Methodist  Protestant.  Absalom  Suman  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Van  Meter)  Suman,  natives  of  Maryland  and  Ohio 
respectively.  John  Suman  was  an  early  settler  in  Madison  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  entered  land  from  the  government,  getting  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  acres  on  White  River,  for  his  homestead,  and 
two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  farther  up  the  river  in  Delaware  county, 
north  of  the  village  of  Daleville.  On  the  Delaware  county  land,  he  erected 
a  large  flour  and  saw  mill,  and  that  enterprise  was  just  well  started  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  then  past  sixty  years  of  age.  His  widow 
married  for  a  second  time  Dazzell  Neely.  and  they  lived  together  until 
his  death.  She  later  went  out  to  California,  where  her  death  occurred 
when  past  ninety  years  of  age.  They  had  no  children  by  the  Neely 
marriage. 

Mrs.  Alexander  M.  Deeren  is  the  daughter  of  "William  and  Elizabeth 
(Bell)  Van  Meter.  The  annals  of  Delaware  county  show  the  name  of 
Van  Meter  first  in  the  list  of  pioneer  settlers,  and  there  are  many  repre- 
sentatives of  the  name  still  to  be  found  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
William  Van  Meter  was  born  in  Ohio.  December  28.  1798.  while  his  wife 
was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky.  March  8.  1799.  and  when  a 
girl  moved  to  Fayette  county.  Indiana,  where  she  was  married  June  1, 
1820.     In  1825  William  Van  Meter  and  wife  moved  to  Mt.  Pleasant  town- 


384  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

ship  in  Delaware  county,  and  there  secured  about  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  from  the  government.  Their  third  child,  Mary,  was  bom  March  8, 
1825,  and  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  white  child  born  in  Mt. 
Pleasant  township.  William  Van  Meter  was  a  rugged  and  industrious 
pioneer,  and  during  his  lifetime  acquired  substantial  property  and  was 
a  man  of  striking  influence  and  usefulness  to  his  community.  He  died 
October  10,  1861,  while  his  wife  passed  away  March  16,  1864.  The  home 
farm  was  undivided  until  1874,  when  Mrs.  Deeren  sold  eighty-three  acres 
inherited  by  her,  and  came  to  Grant  county.  The  Van  Meter  family 
were  early  and  active  members  and  organizers  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Delaware  county,  and  William  Van  Meter  was  an  elder  in  the  society 
for  twenty-five  years,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  early  life  he  was 
a  Whig  in  politics.  The  ancestry  was  Holland  Dutch.  The  records  of 
Delaware  county  show  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  highest  standing,  and 
frequently  honored  with  places  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  was 
always  a  leader  in  local  matters,  was  one  of  the  early  county  clerks,  dur- 
ing the  decade  of  the  thirties,  represented  his  county  in  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  left  a  name  long  to  be  honored  by  his  descendants. 

William  Van  Meter  and  wife  had  nine  children,  two,  John  and  Wil- 
liam Josephus,  dying  in  infancy.  Joseph  M.  died  unmarried  at  the  age 
of  thirty-two.  Mary  died  after  her  marriage  to  Abraham  Pugsley, 
leaving  no  children.  Dr.  Milton  was  a  physician  at  Gaston,  and  died  in 
1868,  leaving  a  widow  and  a  daughter  Helen,  who  is  now  married.  Isaac 
N.  died  November  22,  1852,  leaving  a  widow  and  a  child  that  died  in 
infancy.  Henry  H.,  a  farmer,  died  October  12,  1861,  the  day  following 
his  father's  death,  and  left  one  daughter,  who  is  still  living.  Naomi  L. 
is  Mrs.  Deeren.  Oliver  H.  died  and  left  three  sons ;  for  some  years  he 
was  a  government  surveyor  and  land  looker  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deeren  became  the  parents  of  one  son,  Hugh  Deeren. 
He  was  born  June  26,  1877,  was  educated  in  the  public  school,  and  is 
now  active  manager  of  his  mother's  farm,  a  young  and  progressive  citi- 
zen. He  married  Miss  Nora  White,  of  Pairmount  township,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Naomi  Letha,  born  September  26, 
1900,  and  now  in  the  sixth  grade  of  school  No.  7  at  Fowlerton ;  Wilson 
Alexander,  born  October  10,  1901,  also  in  the  sixth  grade  of  the  Fowler- 
ton school ;  Artie  Mary,  born  May  14,  1904,  in  the  second  grade  of  school. 
Mrs.  Deeren  by  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Suman  had  three  children.  Of 
these  William  Van  died  in  infancy;  John  N.,  born  September  11, 
1862,  is  a  gas  and  oil  well  man  in  Texas,  has  a  son,  James  M. ;  Harry  P. 
Suman,  born  March  17, 1865,  is  an  extensive  rancher  in  North  Dakota,  his 
place  being  forty  miles  from  Fargo,  and  has  two  children,  Artie  S.,  the 
wife  of  Robert  A.  Morris,  whose  home  is  in  Grant  county,  and  whose 
sketch  will  be  found  on  other  pages,  and  Ida,  who  lives  at  home.  Mrs. 
Deeren  and  family  are  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church  of 
Fowlertown,  and  her  late  husband  was  an  active  worker  in  the  same 
denomination. 

John  Wilhelm.  Nearly  seventy  years  of  residence  has  served  to 
identify  the  Wilhelm  family  with  Grant  county,  where  they  located  in 
time  to  take  their  share  in  the  pioneer  labors,  and  where  they  have  been 
land  owners,  successful  farmers,  and  public  spirited  citizens. 

The  ancestral  stock  is  German,  and  John  Wilhelm 's  grandparents 
lived  and  died  in  Russia  near  the  German  borders,  as  peasant  farmers. 
Grandfather  Wilhelm  was  twice  married,  and  had  children  by  both 
wives.  Two  sons  of  his  first  wife  were  captured  during  the  invasion 
by  Napoleon  and  forced  to  join  the  French  army,  going  with  the  Emperor 
to  Moscow,  and  later  serving  at  Waterloo,  in  1815.     One  of  these  sons 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  385 

was  killed  in  that  decisive  battle,  and  the  other  was  wounded  and  died 
six  weeks  later  as  a  result  of  both  wounds  and  exposure. 

Frederick  Wilhelm.  father  of  John  Wilhelm,  was  born  November 
17.  1812.  and  was  still  young  when  his  father  died.  At  the  age  of  about 
sixteen  or  seventeen,  in  order  to  avoid  being  impressed  into  the  army, 
he  left  home  and  took  service  at  Bremen,  Germany,  as  a  steward  in  a 
hospital,  a  work  which  he  followed  for  seven  years.  When  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age.  Frederick  Wilhelm  was  married  in  Bremen  to 
Margaret  Dunker,  of  that  city,  where  she  was  born  in  1813.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  they  moved  to  Russia,  built  a  small  home,  and  became 
dissatisfied,  sold  out.  and  at  Bremerhaven  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel  which  in  eleven  weeks  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  landed 
them  in  the  United  States.  During  their  passage,  their  first  child  Eliza- 
beth, was  born.  She  died  in  1855.  After  landing  in  Baltimore,  Fred- 
crick  Wilhelm  found  employment  with  a  slave  holding  planter  named 
Pecksley,  aud  spent  four  years  in  superintending  a  portion  of  his 
slaves.  "While  at  Baltimore,  Frederick,  the  second  child,  was  born. 
He  is  now  a  farmer  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county.  Frederick 
Wilhelm.  Sr..  had  great  favor  with  his  employer,  and  it  was  with  great 
regrel  on  both  sides  that  he  finally  decided  to  leave  Baltimore  and 
move  west.  Coming  to  Indiana  to  get  a  new  start  in  life,  Frederick 
Wilhelm  in  1S45  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Grant  county.  This  land 
had  a  few  improvements,  but  of  very  primitive  nature,  comprising  a 
log  cabin  which  had  been  put  together  without  a  single  nail,  and  had 
tlie  typical  old  puncheon  floor,  and  other  furnishings.  Frederick  Wil- 
helm after  arriving  in  Grant  comity,  not  only  employed  his  time  indus- 
triously in  improving  his  land,  but  spent  practically  all  the  winter 
months  and  such  other  times  as  he  could  get  free  farm  labor  in  driving 
a  team  for  a  Cincinnati  firm,  engaged  in  hauling  produce  from  that 
city  of  Lake  Michigan  ports.  That  was  before  the  days  of  the  rail- 
road, and  overland  transportation  was  practically  the  only  means  where 
canals  and  through  water  routes  did  not  exist.  For  that  work  he  got 
a  dollar  a  day  and  boarded  himself.  It  required  six  weeks  to  make 
the  round  trip  between  Cincinnati  and  Lake  Michigan.  It  was  by  tins 
work  that  he  eventually  saved  enough  to  pay  up  on  his  first  forty  acres 
of  land.  A  representative  of  that  sturdy  German  stock  that  has  been 
so  prominent  in  the  development  of  the  new  world,  Frederick  Wilhelm 
went  steadily  forward  year  after  year,  and  eventually  increased  his 
possessions  to  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  All  that  estate  is  now 
owned  severally  by  his  sons.  His  death  occurred  on  the  Grant  county 
homestead,  October  1.  1868,  and  his  wife  survived  him  many  years 
until  November  4.  1906.  She  was  reared  a  Lutheran  and  he  joined  the 
same  church  in  Germany.  However,  after  they  located  on  section  six- 
teen in  Jefferson  township,  he  joined  the  Shiloh  M.  E.  church.  In 
polities  the  father  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  John  Wilhelm  was  born  after  his  parents  came  to  Grant  county, 
on  July  28,  1846.  Other  children  subsequently  born  to  his  parents 
were :  Cyrus,  who  died  after  his  marriage ;  Margaret,  who  married 
Michael  Crow,  and  both  are  deceased;  Noah,  a  well  known  cattle  shipper 
and  dealer  at  Upland,  and  unmarried ;  and  David,  died  aged  3  years. 
John  Wilhelm  was  reared  on  the  farm,  a  portion  of  which  he  subse- 
quently owned,  and  he  now  occupies  it  as  his  homestead,  and  besides 
owns  sixty-five  acres  in  Highland  county,  Ohio.  As  a  general  farmer 
and  stock  raiser,  his  successes  have  been  above  the  average,  and  he  has 
done  a  great  deal  to  improve  his  property.  Among  the  improvements 
which  have  added  value  and  increased  the  productiveness  of  his  place 
was  the  sinking  of  thirteen  wells  about  the  farm. 


386        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

In  Monroe  township  of  Grant  county,  on  April  1,  1871,  Mr.  Wil- 
helm  married  Nancy  D.  Jenkins.  She  was  born  in  Monroe  township, 
August  10,  1845,  a  daughter  of  Israel  and  Lydia  (Driggens)  Jenkins. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah 
( Gothroup )  Jenkins,  the  former  Welsh  and  the  latter  of  English  parent- 
age. Jacob  Jenkins  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  after 
a  career  as  a  farmer.  He  and  his  wife  were  of  old  Quaker  stock,  and 
adhered  to  that  faith  during  their  lives.  Israel  Jenkins  was  married 
in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Driggens,  a  daughter  of  Robt.  and 
Sarah  Driggens,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  South  Carolina,  but 
spent  their  later  years  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  they  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Quaker  church.  Mrs.  Wilhelm  has  proved  herself  a  most 
capable  wife  and  mother,  and  has  contributed  at  least  an  equal  share 
in  creating  the  family  prosperity.  Of  the  children  born  to  their  mar- 
riage there  is  one  now  living:  Amanda,  born  January  14,  1873,  is 
the  wife  of  Everett  Nelson,  and  they  own  and  occupy  sixty  acres  of 
the  Wilhelm  estate.  They  in  turn  have  a  son,  Chester,  who  was  born 
August  20,  1896,  and  is  a  student  in  the  Upland  high  school;  two 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
helm lost  a  son,  William  R.,  at  the  age  of  two  months.  The  religious 
faith  of  Mr.  Wilhelm  is  that  of  the  United  Brethren,  while  his  wife 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  For  the  past  eighteen  years 
Mr.  Wilhelm  has  cast  his  support  in  favor  of  the  Prohibition  party. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  own  140  acres  in  Jefferson  township,  Grant 
county,  Ohio,  also  own  65  acres  in  Highland  county,  Ohio. 

William  Henry  Morrish.  There  is  no  small  number  of  high-grade, 
prosperous  farms  in  Grant  county,  places  which  for  several  generations 
having  been  paying  generous  revenue  to  their  owners.  But  this  is  not 
saying  that  all  such  farms  are  keyed  up  to  the  highest  degree  of  produc- 
tiveness and  profit.  Even  a  poorly  managed  farm  will  often  pay  a 
profit,  but  only  the  best  will  show  such  annual  returns  as  a  live  store  or 
factory  will  yield.  To  see  farming  at  its  best — scientific  and  practical 
management,  maximum  per-acre  yield,  and  profit  not  without  comfort — 
one  needs  only  to  visit  the  Morrish  place  in  Fairmount  township  on 
section  twenty-two.  Mr.  Morrish  is  one  of  the  most  practical  and  scien- 
tific farmers  in  the  state,  and  has  demonstrated  that  an  eighty-acre  farm, 
properly  managed,  is  sufficient  for  one  family  to  accumulate  a  substantial 
fortune.  His  example  also  proves  that  profitable  farming  must  be  con- 
ducted as  any  other  business.  < 

Devon  county,  England,  long  noted  for  its  agricultural  products  and 
thrifty  people,  is  the  birthplace  of  William  Henry  Morrish,  the  date  of 
his  birth  being  April  17,  1853.  The  family  has  long  been  established 
in  England,  and  his  parents,  John  and  Catherine  (Cole)  Morrish,  were 
born,  reared  and  married,  and  spent  all  their  lives  in  Devon  county.  A 
large  number  of  the  family  were  sea-faring  men,  especially  in  the  coast- 
wise traffic.  Grandfather  Morrish  was  lost  at  sea  while  pusuing  his  regular 
vocation.  After  that  calamity,  his  son  John  quit  the  sea,  and  became 
a  farmer,  spending  the  rest  of  his  life  in  Devon  county.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  wife  was  born  two  years  after  his  birth, 
and  died  just  two  years  after  his  death.  They  were  good,  upright  people 
and  members  of  the  established  church.  They  had  seven  daughters 
and  three  sons,  and  of  those  five  grew  up  and  all  but  one  were  married, 
several  being  yet  residents  in  England. 

William  Henry  Morrish,  the  only  one  of  the  family  to  make  his 
permanent  home  in  the  United  States,  was  ten  years  old  when  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way.     After  working  at  different  occupations,  at  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GKANT  COUNTIES        387 

age  of  twenty,  in  the  spring  of  1873,  he  came  across  the  ocean  on  the 
good  ship  Peruvian,  from  Liverpool,  and  reached  his  majority  while  on 
the  voyage.  The  trip  consumed  only  ten  days,  which  was  very  quick 
time  for  that  day.  The  ship  landed  him  at  Quebec,  Canada,  and  after 
passing  the  summer  there,  came  to  Indiana,  and  spent  three  years  work- 
ing in  this  state.  He  then  returned  by  way  of  Quebec  to  England, 
where  he  lived  for  six  years.  For  two  years  he  remained  at  his  old  home 
in  Devon  county,  and  for  four  years  was  near  London.  He  acquired 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business  by  working  at  gardening  and 
horticulture. 

While  at  London,  Mr.  Morrish  married  Elizabeth  Tucker,  a  native  of 
Buckinghamshire,  and  of  old  English  ancestry.  Her  parents  died  in 
England  before  she  was  married.  In  18S3  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrish  again 
set  out  for  America,  landing  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  first  day  of 
April  that  year.  From  there  they  came  to  Fairmount,  in  Grant  county, 
and  started  out  as  renters,  taking  the  Harmon  Buller  place.  It  was  as 
renters  that  they  got  their  start  and  firmly  established  themselves  on 
the  firm  basis  of  prosperity.  Later  Mr.  Morrish  bought  eighty  acres  of 
first-class  farm  laud  in  section  twenty-two  of  Fairmount  township.  He 
has  not  only  paid  for  his  land  out  of  the  products  of  his  management 
and  labor,  but  has  improved  the  farm  until  it  could  hardly  be  recognized 
as  the  same  place  which  first  came  under  his  control.  He  has  erected 
a  splendid  bam,  painted  yellow,  a  large  eighty-five  ton  silo  stands  beside 
it,  and  his  dwelling  house  neatly  painted  white,  provides  not  only  shelter 
but  many  of  the  modern  conveniences  and  comforts  of  living.  The 
home  is  in  the  midst  of  a  veritable  bower  of  trees,  not  only  shade  trees, 
but  almost  every  kind  of  fruit  grown  in  this  part  of  the  country.  There 
are  trees  of  apple,  pear,  peach,  and  other  fruits,  besides  many  small 
fruits,  including  blackberries,  strawberries,  raspberries,  and  an  abun- 
dance of  grapes,  besides  a  large  truck  garden.  His  caltalpa  grove  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  entire  country.  Mr.  Morrish  grows  large  crops  of 
oats,  wheat,  corn,  and  keeps  the  stock  necessary  to  consume  all  the  farm 
products.  There  is  no  waste  either  in  material  cr  energy-  about  the 
Morrish  farm.  The  feed  for  the  stock  is  weighed  out  carefully,  and  the 
stock  are  weighed  regularly  every  month,  so  that  he  knows  all  the  time 
just  where  he  stands  in  the  matter  of  value  of  stock  on  hand.  There  is 
no  merchant  in  Grant  county  who  keeps  closer  in  touch  with  his  stock 
than  Mr.  Morrish  does  of  his  farm  investment,  and  his  inventory  sheets 
are  models  of  thrifty,  up-to-date  farming.  A  feature  of  his  farm  which 
is  of  special  interest,  is  the  generous  use  of  concrete,  in  the  construction 
of  the  barns,  the  silo,  and  feed  pens.  Mr.  Morrish  understands  the  fact 
that  live  stock  do  not  thrive  where  they  are  in  physical  discomfort,  and 
also  that  mud  is  a  prime  source  of  waste  and  extravagance  in  farm  man- 
agement. His  stock  therefore  feed  and  rest  on  beds  of  clean,  smooth  con- 
crete, and  as  a  result  not  a  pound  of  food  goes  to  waste,  and  every  ounce 
of  manure  is  saved  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  soil.  Out  in  the  fields  the 
same  evidences  of  thrifty  management  are  found,  and  his  corn  yield  is 
over  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre,  oats  likewise  yield  large  crops,  and  he  gets 
about  forty  bushels  of  wheat  from  every  acre  sown. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrish  are  as  follows:  1.  John 
Edward,  is  a  successful  farmer  in  Fairmount  township,  married  Vida 
Mittank,  and  has  one  son  Ernest.  2.  Archer  is  now  a  dairy  farmer  at 
Lake  Geneva,  Wisconsin,  and  is  unmarried.  3.  Charles  William  mar- 
ried Nola  Benson,  of  Pleasant  township,  and  they  reside  on  the  home 
place.  4.  Ralph,  like  the  others  is  a  well  educated  young  man,  having 
attended  the  Fairmount  Academy,  and  remains  at  home  assisting  his 
father.     Mr.  Morrish  and  sons  are  Republican  voters. 


388        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

William  Foster  Davis.  On  section  twenty-eight  of  Fairmount 
township,  adjoining  the  corporation  limits  of  the  little  city,  is  situated 
the  well  improved  farm  and  snug  homestead  of  William  Foster  Davis, 
a  citizen  whose  entire  life  has  been  passed  within  the  limits  of  Grant 
county,  and  who  as  a  farmer  has  given  an  excellent  account  of  his 
energy,  and  has  displayed  much  public  spirit  in  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  in  the  third  generation  of  the  Davis  family  in  Grant 
county,  and  his  grandfather  located  here  about  eighty  years  ago,  when 
all  the  country  was  new  and  when  civilization  was  first  getting  a  firm 
foothold  in  this  region.  His  grandfather  Harvey  Davis  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Grant  county.  Harvey  Davis  was  born  in 
Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  and  the  family  for  a  number  of 
generations  have  lived  in  that  state,  and  were  of  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist religious  faith.  Harvey  Davis  was  born  about  1804,  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  first  married  in  his  native  locality.  About  1833  he  and 
his  wife  and  children  came  north  after  the  fire  of  that  time.  There 
was  not  a  railroad  of  any  importance  in  the  entire  country  and  wagon 
trail,  canal,  river  highways  and  pack-trains,  were  the  chief  modes  of 
transportation,  in  every  portion  of  the  country.  It  is  noteworthy  that 
a  larger  part  of  the  early  settlers  of  Grant  county  located  in 
religious  groups  or  colonies,  of  which  the  Quakers  were,  of  course,  the 
most  numerous.  The  Davis  family  were  part  of  the  Wesleyan  Back 
Creek  community  in  Liberty  township.  They  settled  in  the  midst  of 
the  green  woods  on  the  range  line  road,  and  there  the  grandfather 
cleared  out  a  space,  erected  a  log  cabin  with  the  aid  of  his  neighbors, 
and  planted  his  first  crop  among  the  stock.  His  labors  eventually 
resulted  in  the  clearing  up  of  more  than  one  hundred  acres,  and  he 
was  in  his  time  a  prosperous  and  substantial  farmer.  His  first  wife 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Liberty  township  in  1867.  In  that  year 
smallpox  was  epidemic  in  Grant  county,  and  she  fell  a  victim  to  that 
dread  disease.  She  was  then  about  fifty  years  of  age.  Her  husband 
married  for  his  second  wife  a  Miss  Smithson,  and  for  a  good  many  years 
afterwards  lived  on  the  Smithson  farm  in  Fairmount  township.  Quite 
late  in  life  he  retired  to  the  city  of  Fairmount,  and  there  died  about 
twenty-five  years  ago,  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-five.  His  second 
wife  died  some  four  or  five  years  later,  and  was  then  nearly  four  score 
years  of  age.  Both  were  Wesleyan  Methodists,  while  the  grandfather 
was  probably  a  Whig  in  his  early  voting  days,  and  later  a  Republican. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  up  and  married  and  all  had  children.  Those  still 
living  of  this  family  are :  Henry  Davis,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  following 
paragraph ;  Foster  Davis,  for  many  years  a  well  known  lawyer  in  Marion, 
and  a  farmer  soldier  of  he  Civil  war  now  living  retired  with  his  family 
at  Marion;  Harvey,  Jr.,  the  younger  of  the  living  sons  went  through  the 
war  as  a  Union  soldier,  lost  his  wife  some  years  ago,  but  still  has  living 
children,  and  lives  in  the  National  Soldiers  Home  at  Marion. 

Dr.  Henry  Davis,  the  father,  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  and  is 
now  seventy-four  years  of  age.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm  and  acquired 
the  art  and  practiced  veterinary  surgery.  He  is  now  living  in  Fair- 
mount  City,  but  owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  section 
thirty-one  of  that  township,  and  was  an  active  agriculturist  until  about 
thirty  years  ago.  Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Fairmount,  he  has 
devoted  most  of  his  time  to  veterinary  work.  He  is  now  seventy-four 
years  of  age,  and  still  is  smart  and  active.  He  was  married  in  Madison 
county  to  Sarah  Ann  Jones,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  when 
a  small  girl  was  brought  to  Madison  county,  Indiana.  Her  parents 
lived  and  died  in  Boone  township  of  that  county,  where  her  father  as  a 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  389 

pioneer,  improved  a  good  farm.  The  Jones  family  were  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  reared  five  children,  of  whom  one.  Samuel  Jones, 
is  now  living  on  a  farm  in  Boone  township,  and  is  a  bachelor.  Mrs. 
Henry  Davis  died  February  16,  1911,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  She 
and  her  husband  were  communicants  of  the  Wesleyan  faith,  while  he 
has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics.  The  children  of  Henry 
Davis  and  wife  are  mentioned  thus:  William  Foster;  Julia  Ann,  and 
Charles,  both  of  whom  died  young;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  George  L. 
Mittauk,  a  farmer  in  Fairmount  township,  and  has  four  children,  one 
son  and  three  daughters;  Lydia,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen;  John  lives 
on  his  father's  farm,  in  section  thirty-one  of  Fairmount  township,  and 
by  his  marriage  to  Darl  Hastings,  daughter  of  Robert  Hastings,  has 
one  son  and  one  daughter  living,  while  they  have  lost  one  son  and  a 
daughter. 

William  Foster  Davis  was  born  June  16,  1860.  His  early  schooling 
was  acquired  in  Liberty  and  Fairmount  township,  and  early  in  life 
he  made  choice  of  vocations  as  a  farmer.  As  a  result  of  hard  work 
and  steadily  thrifty  management,  he  and  his  wife  have  found  prosperity, 
and  now  own  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  twenty-eight,  close  to  the 
corporation  line  of  Fairmount  city.  Among  the  farms  in  this  vicinity 
the  Davis  estate  compares  favorably  with  any.  and  has  many  evidences 
of  progressive  management.  In  the  midst  of  trees  stands  the  com- 
fortable farm  dwelling,  while  a  good  barn  shelters  the  grain  and  stock, 
and  all  the  buildings  are  made  attractive  with  paint  and  cleanly 
surroundings. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  March  17,  1881.  to  Amanda  Mittank,  who 
was  born  in  Fairmount  township,  August  19,  1860.  Her  training  and 
education  were  received  in  this  county,  which  has  been  her  home  all 
her  life.  Her  parents  are  Michael  and  Eliza  J.  Diekerson  Mittank. 
Her  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  while  her  mother  was  born  in 
Indiana,  and  they  were  married  in  Grant  county  Her  father  has  for 
many  years  been  a  resident  of  Grant  county,  has  been  a  thrifty  farmer, 
and  is  now  living  retired  in  Fairmount  City  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  The  mother  died  in  187S  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  To  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  were  born  four  children.  Leroy  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years,  while  Robert  died  when  three  years  of  age;  Belle, 
born  May  30,  1888,  was  graduated  from  the  Fairmount  high  school  in 
1910,  and  now  lives  at  home ;  Clarkson.  born  August  7.  1890.  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  public  schools  and  his  father's  able  assistant  on  the  farm. 
The  children  attend  the  Methodist  Sunday  school. 

Daniel  B.  Johnson.  The  quiet  pursuits  of  fanning  have  been  the 
life  occupation  of  Daniel  B.  Johnson,  and  his  is  one  of  the  attractive 
and  valuable  farms  of  Fairmount  township.  His  home  is  on  section 
two,  close  to  the  Madison  county  line,  and  his  postoffice  is  Summitville 
in  the  latter  county.  Mr.  Johnson  is  of  an  old  North  Carolina  family, 
and  represents  the  fourth  generation  of  its  residence  in  the  state  of 
Indiana. 

His  great-grandfather  Reuben  Johnson,  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
was  married  there,  and  after  the  birth  of  his  children,  Daniel,  Joseph. 
William,  Charles  and  Ann  Jeanette.  left  the  south  and  with  wagons  and 
teams  migrated  across  the  mountains  and  over  the  great  middle  plains 
to  eastern  Indiana,  arriving  in  Nettle  Creek  township  of  Randolph 
county,  he  selected  a  home  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  the  wil- 
derness, built  a  log  house  of  hewed  logs  from  the  poplar  timber,  and 
there  he  and  his  wife  lived  until  death  came  to  them  at  a  good  old  age. 


390  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

They  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  old-school  Baptist  faith  in  that 
vicinity,  and  did  much  to  organize  the  church  of  that  denomination. 
Prom  the  early  days  the  Johnson  family  has  been  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

Daniel  Johnson,  grandfather  of  Daniel  B.,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  about  one  hundred  years  ago.  His  early  youth  was  spent 
partly  in  his  native  state  and  partly  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  and 
when  ready  to  start  out  on  his  own  account  he  acquired  some  land 
adjoining  the  old  homestead.  His  brothers,  Joseph  and  William,  did 
the  same,  and  altogether  the  Johnsons  occupied  a  full  section  of  land 
in  Nettle  Creek  township.  The  death  of  Daniel  Johnson  occurred  on 
his  farm,  when  he  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  His  brother  William 
was  past  ninety,  and  Joseph  also  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  The  other 
brothers  and  sister  owned  land  and  lived  in  Nettle  Creek  township. 
Daniel  Johnson  married  Elizabeth  Bookout,  who  came  from  Virginia, 
and  who  died  on  the  homestead  in  Nettle  Creek  township  when  an  old 
woman.  They  were  both  members  of  the  old-school  Baptist  faith,  and 
Daniel  was  a  Democrat. 

Of  their  children,  Reuben  was  the  oldest,  and  was  born  in  1837. 
His  death  occurred  in  Fairmount  City,  May  9,  1900.  In  1871  his 
home  was  established  in  Madison  comity,  where  he  lived  on  eighty  acres 
in  Van  Buren  township  until  his  retirement.  After  that  his  residence 
was  in  Fairmount  City  from  1892  until  his  death.  Reuben  Johnson 
married  Sarah  Hastings,  who  now  lives  at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and 
Adams  Street  in  Fairmount,  and  was  seventy-six  years  of  age  on  July 
4,  1913.  Her  father  Carter  Hasting  was  from  Randolph  county,  North 
Carolina,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Fairmount  township,  where 
he  entered  land  direct  from  the  government,  near  the  corporation 
limits.  His  home  continued  there  until  his  death.  Carter  Hastings 
was  a  man  much  above  the  average  in  material  prosperity  and  in  his  in- 
fluence and  character,  was  active  in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  his 
wife  was  also  a  communicant  of  the  same  faith.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Row  of  North  Carolina,  and  she  preceded  her  husband  in 
death,  though  she  was  likewise  quite  an  old  woman.  Of  the  children 
of  Reuben  and  Sarah  Johnson,  those  besides  Daniel  B.  are  mentioned 
as  follows:  Sophronia,  whose  home  is  in  California,  has  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  William  Lewis  of  Fairmount 
township,  a  farmer  and  shoemaker  and  has  two  sons.  Robert  lives  in 
Van  Buren  township  of  Madison  county,  where  he  is  a  farmer,  and  by 
his  marriage  to  Amelia  Beck,  has  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Martha 
is  the  wife  of  Alva  Thorn,  a  farmer  in  Van  Buren  township  of  Madison 
county,  and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Amanda  is  the  wife  of 
Wilson  T.  Leach,  a  farmer  in  Madison  county,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Nancy  Ann,  who  died  in  1907,  was  the  wife  of  John  Duncan,  of  Fair- 
mount,  and  of  her  three  sons  and  two  daughters  all  are  now  dead  except 
one  son. 

Daniel  B.  Johnson  was  born  in  Fairmount  township  December  15, 

1857.  His  education  was  that  afforded  by  the  public  schools,  and  his 
active  career  has  been  entirely  spent  as  a  farmer.  His  present  estate 
on  section  two  comprises  forty  acres,  and  has  the  first  class  improvements 
which  are  so  characteristic  of  the  better  Grant  county  farms.  His 
crops  are  those  staple  to  Grant  county,  and  all  his  grain  is  fed  to  stock 
raised  on  the  place.  A  good  red  barn  and  a  comfortable  house  are 
features  which  indicate  the  progressive  character  of  the  proprietor. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  Fairmount  township  in  1879,  to  Miss 
Mellicent  Hiatt,  who  was  born  in  Fairmount  township,   February  7, 

1858.  Reared  and  educated  in  this  locality,  since  her  marriage  she  has 


■Hft 


f 


^ 


W.     C.     NOTTINGHAM     AND    WIFE 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        391 

proved  an  excellent  helpmate  and  has  done  much  to  forward  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  family,  at  the  same  time  devoting  herself  with  motherly 
care  and  intelligence  to  the  rearing  of  her  children.  Her  parents  were 
Elias  and  Hannah  (Hunt)  Hiatt,  natives  of  Henry  county.  Indiana. 
where  they  were  married.  Elias  Hiatt  came  to  Grant  county  in  the 
early  forties  and  entered  government  land  two  miles  south  of  Fair- 
mount,  where  his  first  home  was  a  log  cabin,  later  replaced  with  the 
good  frame  house,  and  still  later  with  a  brick  home.  The  last  residence 
was  completed  about  fifteen  years  ago.  Although  feeble,  Elias  Hiatt 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  His  wife  is  now  seventy-four 
years  of  age,  and  is  hale  and  hearty.  They  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  or  Dunkard  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children-. 
Dessie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Brook  Roberts,  of  Fairmount.  a  retired  farmer, 
who  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Madison  county.  Oliver  N. 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Willard  C.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Indian- 
apolis Veterinary  College,  and  is  now  practicing  at  Summitville.  in 
Madison  county;  he  married  Myrtle  Jones,  and  has  a  son  Wilford. 
Estella  lives  at  home  and  is  unmarried.  Hannah  died  unmarried  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two.  Walter  lives  at  home,  and  is  just  entering  upon 
a  vigorous  young  manhood. 

Warrex  Clark  Nottingham.  Now  living  retired  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship at  Matthews,  on  that  portion  known  as  ''Old  Town."  Warren  Clark 
Nottingham  has  had  a  long  and  active  career  as  a  farmer  and  business 
man.  and  is  now  serving  as  deputy  township  assessor. 

His  grandfather,  James  Nottingham,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  of  good  old  English  stock,  the  family  originally  having  had 
its  seat  in  Nottingham,  England,  for  many  years,  hence  the  name 
which  followed  the  family.  James  Nottingham  was  born  in  1811,  and 
when  six  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  out  to  Indiana,  and  located 
about  1817  near  the  present  city  of  Muncie.  James  Nottingham  grew 
up  at  Muncie,  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  and  was  four  times 
married.  His  first  wife,  a  Miss  Russell,  was  born  near  Muncie.  Indiana, 
about  1812,  and  died  there  in  the  prime  of  life.  She  left  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  namely:  Chaplain;  Julia  Ann,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Simon  Clark;  one  daughter  that  died,  aged  twelve  years;  and 
a  son.  Owen  P.  James  Nottingham  for  his  second  wife  married  a  Miss 
Carmine,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  and  who  died 
when  still' a  young  woman,  leaving  one  son.  Thomas,  who  died  after  being 
twice  married,  leaving  children  by  both  wives.  James  Nottingham,  for 
his  third  wife,  married  a  Delaware  county  girl,  whose  name  is  now 
forgotten,  and  she  survived  only  a  brief  while.  The  fourth  wife  was 
Mrs.  Sarah  Litler,  whose  maiden  name  was  Heal.  She  was  the  mother 
of  five  children  by  a  former  marriage.  James  Nottingham,  after  marry- 
ing his  fourth  wife,  moved  to  Grant  county  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson 
township.  Some  years  later  he  sold  the  sixty  acres  he  owned  in  Jeffer- 
son township  and  bought  a  house  and  land  near  Jonesboro,  in  Mill 
township.  There  James  Nottingham  died  in  1885,  being  survived  by 
his  wife  a  few  years. 

She  was  about  seventy  years  of  age  when  her  death  occurred.  There 
were  four  children  by  the  last  union,  namely :  David,  who-  is  married 
and  has  children  and  lives  in  Lansing,  Michigan;  Caroline,  who  died 
after  her  marriage  to  Frank  Stout,  and  left  one  child;  Catherine,  the 
widow  of  a  Mr.  O'Connor,  living  at  Indianapolis;  and  Leota,  wife 
of  Earl  Jay  of  Gas  City,  Indiana,  and  the  mother  of  three  daughters. 
Nottingham  and  all  his  wives  were  active  members  of  the  Meth- 


392  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

odist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  During 
the  war  he  served  an  office  similar  to  that  of  provost  marshal,  and  his 
duties  were  principally  connected  with  the  making  of  the  draft  and  the 
serving  of  notice  upon  those  whose  services  were  thus  selected  for  the 
army. 

Owen  P.  Nottingham,  father  of  "Warren  C,  was  born  October  18, 
1833,  at  the  present  city  of  Muncie,  which  at  that  time  was  known  as 
Munsytown.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Muncie,  and  when  a  boy  he 
began  learning  the  trade  of  harness  maker.  One  of  his  youthful  duties 
was  the  driving  of  a  hack  for  passengers  and  mail  between  Muncie 
and  Marion,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  The  roads  were  unspeakably 
bad,  and  the  low,  swampy  places  were  what  were  known  as  Corduroy, 
being  built  of  logs  laid  close  together  at  right  angles  to  the  main  line 
of  travel.  He  carried  with  him  a  convenient  rail  to  pry  his  wagon 
out  of  the  worst  holes.  A  four-horse  team  pulled  his  wagon  over 
this  distance.  This  travel  between  Muncie  and  Marion  made  him  famil- 
iar with  Grant  county,  and  in  early  manhood  he  settled  in  Jefferson 
township.  In  that  township  on  February  24,  1853,  he  married  Mary 
A.  Couch,  who  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  June  1,  1832.  When 
she  was  four  years  of  age,  her  grandfather,  Sam'l  Todd,  brought  the 
family  to  Jefferson  township,  locating  there  in  1836.  Other  children 
in  the  family  were  Samuel  and  Tamma.  Jefferson  township  was  prac- 
tically an  unbroken  wilderness  when  the  Todd  family  located  there, 
and  Sam'l  Todd  entered  some  land  on  Todd  creek,  where  he  had  his 
homestead  and  where  the  family  grew  up  and  remained  until  starting 
out  in  life  for  themselves. 

After  his  marriage  Owen  P.  Nottingham  bought  a  farm  in  Jefferson 
township  and  continued  to  cultivate  his  land  there  until  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  war.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  Regi- 
ment, and  in  the  rank  of  corporal  and  later  as  a  teamster,  contributed 
his  faithful  services  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  During  the 
Siege  of  Vicksburg  he  drove  an  ammunition  wagon  and  had  many  nar- 
row escapes,  losing  three  mules  while  driving  his  wagon  under  the 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  in  some  of  the  most  exposed  parts  of  the  fields. 
His  service  as  a  soldier  continued  for  about  eighteen  months,  and  at 
his  honorable  discharge  he  returned  home  and  sold  the  forty  acres 
which  he  had  previously  bought  and  then  acquired  what  is  known  as 
the  Todd  farm  of  one  hundred  acres.  In  1865  Mr.  Nottingham  sold 
out  his  land  in  Grant  county  and  moved  out  to  Southeastern  Kansas, 
to  the  Cherokee  Nation  of  Indians,  in  what  is  now  Cherokee  county, 
Kansas.  There  he  took  up  a  claim  of  land  and  occupied  it  until  1868. 
In  that  year  his  residence  was  moved  to  Cedar  "county,  Missouri,  where 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In  1870  he  sold  out  his  western 
property  and  returned  to  Grant  county,  and  finally  located  on  a  farm  in 
Jefferson  township  where  he  lived  until  his  death  on  January  26, 
1906.  His  wife  died  in  Grant  county,  October  10,  1883.  He  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  Miss  Hannah  Simons  becoming  his  second  wife.  She 
still  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  though  without  children  of  her  own, 
adopted  a  son,  Fred,  when  he  was  a  small  child,  and  Fred  is  now 
married  and  lives  with  Ms  foster  mother. 

Owen  P.  Nottingham  by  his  first  wife  had  ten  children,  mentioned  as 
follows:  Warren  C. ;  Rufus  C,  who  has  been  twice  married,  and  has 
children  by  each  wife,  and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township ; 
James  S.,  who  lives  on  a  farm  in  Spencer  county,  Indiana,  is  married  and 
has  one  daughter;  Ellen  T.,  wife  of  Aaron  Kearstead,  a  farmer  of 
Jonesboro,  and  the  father  of  eight  children;  Athalia  0.,  who  lives  in 
Clark  county,  and  has  a  family  by  her  late  husband,  Fremont  Heal,  who 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  393 

was  killed  by  a  gas  explosion ;  the  sixth  child  died  in  infancy  ;  Benjamin 
S.,  a  farmer  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  has  a  large  family 
of  children;  Sarah  E..  and  Julia,  twins,  the  former  a  widow  living 
iu  Jonesboro,  with  four  children,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Parr,  living  in  Illinois;  and  William  D.,  a  veterinary  surgeon  at 
Fowlerton.  Indiana,  and  the  father  of  a  family. 

Warren  Clark  Nottingham  was  born  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant 
county.  November  20,  1853.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  his  native 
township,  and  while  assisting  in  the  labor  of  the  home  farm  he  also  had 
the  advantages  of  the  home  school.  After  reaching  his  majority  he 
bought  some  land,  and  at  the  present  time,  as  a  result  of  years  of  suc- 
cessful management  and  industry,  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  farm  land  in  Jefferson  township.  It  is  improved  with  a  comfortable 
dwelling  house,  and  a  large  red  barn  and  other  outbuilding  testify 
to  the  thrift  and  management  of  the  estate.  For  the  past  seven  years 
Mr.  Nottingham  has  given  little  active  attention  to  the  management 
of  his  farm  and  has  lived  in  Matthews,  or  that  part  of  it  called  Old  Town. 

In  1874  Mr.  Nottingham  was  first  married  in  Jefferson  township 
to  Miss  Ruth  A.  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  August 
7.  1851.  Her  death  occurred  at  the  old  home  farm,  June  2,  1905.  Her 
children  were :  Mary  Berniee,  wife  of  John  Gadbury.  a  farmer  in 
Licking  township  of  Blackford  county.  Indiana,  and  their  five  children 
are  Ernest.  Ross,  Floyd,  Gale  and  Harold.  Harmon  J.,  the  second 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nottingham,  is  on  his  father's  farm  and  by  his 
marriage  to  Rosiphene  Walker,  has  the  following  children :  Cecil  A., 
Lester  E..  Ethel  M..  and  Clair.  Clella,  the  third  of  the  family,  is 
the  wife  of  Wilson  Leach,  a  farmer  in  Jefferson  township.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Crystal,  Ruth,  deceased ;  Berniee  and  Mozelle.  Besides 
these  three  children  still  living.  Preston  died  in  infancy,  and  Guy 
and  Glenn,  twins,  also  died  in  childhood. 

On  March  6,  1907,  Mr.  Nottingham  married  for  his  second  wife, 
Mrs.  Sidney  C.  Brown,  widow  of  John  L.  Brown.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Haines,  and  she  was  born  in  Monroe  township  of  Grant  county, 
November  13.  1858.  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and 
first  married  in  Jefferson  township.  Her  husband.  Mr.  Brown,  was 
a  resident  here  for  many  years  and  a  farmer,  his  life  coming  to 
an  end  on  May  11,  1904.  The  Brown  children  were:  Emory  L., 
and  Virgil  H.,  both  well  educated  and  living  at  home,  and  three 
children  that  died  in  childhood.  Mrs.  Nottingham  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Imes)  Haines.  Nathan  Haines  was  born 
in  Ohio,  October  25.  1813,  and  died  in  Kansas  in  1886.  Nathan  Haines 
was  a  son  of  Ebenezer,  who  was  born  in  1799  and  died  in  1850.  and  he 
in  turn  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Haines,  born  either  in  Virginia  or  Penn- 
sylvania. A  brother  of  Joseph  was  Vincent,  who  was  poisoned  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  by  drinking  water,  into  which  some  Hessian 
soldier  had  poured  poison.  Joseph  Haines  spent  his  life  as  a  Virginia 
planter  and  farmer,  having  located  in  that  colony  in  1770.  Ebenezer 
Haines  came  west  on  reaching  manhood,  and  in  1803  settled  in  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  living  and  prospering  there  until  the  close  of 
his  years.  Nathan  Haines  was  three  times  married  and  had  children 
by  each  wife.  His  last  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  lines, 
was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Nottingham.  Nathan  Haines  spent  his  last 
years  in  Cloud  county.  Kansas,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 
His  widow  afterwards  returned  to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  and  died 
there  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  They  were  active  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  four  of  their  seven  children  are  still  living.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nottingham  are  working  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


394  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

church  and  Mr.  Nottingham  is  a  vigorous  exponent  of  the  Democratic 
doctrines  in  politics.  He  is  now  serving  his  fifth  year  as  deputy 
of  Jefferson  township. 


Jesse  C.  Holloway.  Representing  a  young  generation  of  a 
family  which  has  been  identified  with  Grant  county  for  many  years, 
Jesse  C.  Holloway  has  for  fourteen  years  successfully  raised  the  product 
of  the  soil  on  his  farm  in  section  twenty-sis  of  Pair  mount  township. 
His  farm  contains  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  is 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Farming  with  Mr.  Holloway  is  a  prac- 
tical business  matter,  and  his  methods  are  such  as  to  insure  the  con- 
tinuous fertility  and  value  of  his  estate.  He  never  raises  more  than  two 
successive  crops  of  corn  on  the  same  ground.  His  rotation  changes  his 
land  from  clover  to  corn,  then  to  oats,  then  to  wheat,  and  then  back  to 
clover.  His  home  has  been  on  this  land  since  1899,  and  his  improve- 
ments in  buildings  are  of  the  very  best. 

Mr.  Holloway  has  lived  in  Grant  county  all  his  life,  and  was  born 
in  Monroe  township,  January  23,  1876.  The  family  history  has  been 
told  on  other  pages  and  will  be  briefly  summarized  at  this  place.  Three 
brothers  of  the  name  left  England  during  the  colonial  days,  and  one 
of  them  located  in  North  Carolina.  Of  Quaker  stock,  the  family  in 
subsequent  generations  have  always  been  devoted  to  that  church.  First 
to  be  mentioned  among  the  descendants  of  the  first  settler  is  Abner 
Holloway,  who  married  Elizabeth  Stanley,  and  they  both  lived  and 
died  in  North  Carolina,  where  they  were  farmers  and  upright  people. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children.  Of  these  Jesse  was  born  about 
1805,  and  in  his  home  state  he  married  Eleanor  Hinshaw,  who  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  in  1810.  After  their  marriage  they  settled  on  a 
farm,  where  the  wife  gained  great  reputation  throughout  a  large  com- 
munity as  a  midwife  and  doctor.  Their  home  was  later  moved  to  Ohio. 
Jesse  and  Eleanor  Holloway  were  the  parents  of  nine  children.  Second 
among  these  was  Abner,  who  was  born  December  6,  1830,  in  Clinton 
county,  Ohio.  When  he  was  a  child  the  family  moved  to  Fairmount 
township  in  Grant  county.  Here  in  the  Friends  church  and  with  the 
Quaker  ceremony,  on  May  15,  1854,  Abner  Holloway  married  Sarah 
Rich,  who  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  October  7,  1837,  and  was 
a  child  when  she  came  to  Grant  county.  The  history  of  the  Rich  family 
is  told  on  other  pages  of  this  Grant  county  history.  Abner  Holloway 
and  wife  began  their  careers  in  Monroe  township,  and  in  1882  moved 
to  Fairmount  township.  Abner  died  April  1,  1903,  and  his  widow  is 
still  living.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  Jesse 
C.  was  the  eighth. 

Mr.  Jesse  C.  Holloway  was  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Fairmount  township,  where  he  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  the  local 
schools.  His  early  environment  was  a  farm  and  when  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself  he  settled  upon  that  vocation  and  has  made  a  success  of  it. 

In  the  house  where  he  now  lives,  Mr.  Holloway  was  married  in  1898 
to  Miss  Lillie  M.  Corn,  who  was  born  in  Jonesboro,  July  25,  1878.  Her 
parents  are  John  G.  and  Rebecca  (Ice)  Corn,  who  are  still  living. 
They  were  born  in  Indiana  and  were  married  in  Madison  county,  where 
they  had  their  home  for  many  years,  later  moving  to  Fairmount  town- 
ship  in  this  county.  Mr.  Corn  has  combined  the  vocation  of  carpenter 
with  farming  and  also  runs  a  threshing  outfit  during  each  harvest  sea- 
son. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway  are  the  parents  of  five  children :  R.  Ger- 
trude, born  July  17,  1899,  and  now  attending  school;  Dwight  C,  born 
September  4,  1901,  and  in  school  at  Fowlerton ;  John  H..  born  February 
19,  1904,  also  in  school ;  Hazel  E.,  born  May  18,  1908 ;  and  S.  Pauline, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        395 

bom  March  8,  1912.     In  politics  Mr.  Holloway  is  a  Prohibitionist  and 
he  and  his  wife  worship  in  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

Alpheus  Hamlin  Shields.  The  Shields  family  has  lived  in  Grant 
county  for  fifty  years.  Its  members  have  as  a  rule  been  practical  farm- 
ers, men  of  energy  and  thrift,  good  managers,  and  agreeable  and  useful 
in  all  their  relations  with  the  community.  Mr.  Alpheus  H.  Shields  has 
for  more  than  thirty  years  been  succeeding  as  a  farmer  in  Pairmount 
township,  his  home  being  in  section  thirty-two  on  the  rural  route  No. 
21  out  of  Fairmount. 

His  grandparents  were  George  and  Ann  Shields,  both  natives  of 
Virginia,  and  probably  of  old  families  in  that  old  commonwealth.  From 
Virginia  after  their  marriage  they  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days.  Grandfather  Shields 
was  probably  only  a  few  years  past  middle  age  when  he  died,  but  his 
wife  survived  until  she  was  ninety  years  of  age".  They  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  In  their  family  were  one  son  and  four  daugh- 
ters, all  the  latter  growing  up,  marrying  and  having  families  of  their 
own. 

John  M.  Shields,  the  only  son  was  born  January  24,  1819,  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  on  May  16,  1841,  mar- 
ried Martha  Connell.  She  was  bom  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
April  10,  1818,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Nancy  Connell,  all  of  whom 
came  to  Clinton  county.  The  Connell  family  belonged  to  the  Friends 
Church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Baker  of  the  Methodist  faith,  married  John  M. 
Shields  and  wife.  Both  the  Shields  and  the  Connell  families  it  should 
be  noted,  were  of  Scotch-Irish  stock.  All  the  children,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  of  John  M.  Shields  and  wife  were  born  in  Clinton  county. 
Later,  in  1862,  they  moved  to  Indiana,  where  the  father  bought  two 
hundred  and  ninety-two  acres  in  section  five  of  Fairmount  township. 
After  improving  his  land,  and  gaining  a  comfortable  competence  for 
himself  during  his  declining  years,  besides  providing  well  for  his  chil- 
dren, he  and  his  wife  about  1872,  moved  to  a  farm  near  Fairmount 
city,  and  there  both  spent  their  last  years.  The  mother  died  September 
20,  1888.  Their  church  was  the  Methodist,  though  later  they  joined  the 
Friends  church  and  it  was  in  that  faith  that  both  passed  away.  John 
M.  Shields  was  a  Republican  in  polities.  The  children  of  John  M. 
Shields  and  wife  were :  Louisa,  who  married  Joseph  Pool,  a  farmer  of 
Fairmount  township,  and  their  children  are  John  and  Nettie;  George, 
who  now  lives  in  Fairmount  city,  married  Ida  Persnet,  and  has  three 
children,  Ethel,  Charles  and  Frank.  The  third  is  Alpheus  H.  Shields; 
William,  whose  home  is  now  in  the  state  of  California,  married  Lydia 
Cox.  and  their  children  are  Trenton,  Edward  and  Everett. 

Alpheus  Hamlin  Shields  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  May 
28,  1852.  Since  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  home  has  been  within  two 
miles  of  Fairmount  city.  His  education  was  acquired  partly  in  the 
schools  of  Ohio,-  and  partly  in  Fairmount  township,  and  since  he 
reached  his  majority  his  energies  have  been  closely  devoted  to  farming. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  the  owner  of  a  place  of  seventy  acres  of  fine 
land  in  section  thirty-one,  and  besides  that  operates  fifty  acres  in 
another  tract.  Farming  is  a  successful  business  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
Shields,  and  as  a  grower  of  the  staple  crops,  there  has  seldom  been  a 
year  when  he  has  not  added  at  least  a  little  to  his  prosperity.  He  and  his 
wife  reside  in  a  very  comfortable  home,  and  there  are  good  barns  and 
improvements  all  about  the  place. 

His  first  marriage  occurred  in  Fairmount  township  on  Christmas 
Day  of  1880,  when  Mattie  E.  Neal  became  his  wife.     She  was  born  in 


396  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Grant  county,  February  15,  1863,  and  died  at  their  home  in  September, 
1893.  Her  parents  were  Eli  and  Sophia  (Lamb)  Neal,  who  came  to 
Grant  county  from  Ohio,  and  were  married  in  this  county.  They  were 
farmers,  members  of  the  Friends  Church  and  Wesleyan  Methodist  faith 
respectively,  and  their  home  was  in  Fairmount  township  until  death. 
To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Shields  and  Miss  Neal  were  born  four  children : 
Estella  S.  is  the  wife  of  Otto  Harris,  a  farmer  in  Delaware  county,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Lillian;  Thad  J.  is  unmarried  and  lives  at 
home;  Claude  W.,  died  in  childhood:  Edith  J.  is  the  wife  of  Claude 
Kitterman,  their  home  being  in  Blackford  county,  on  a  farm,  and  their 
one  child  is  Dorothy  B. 

On  August  6,  1894,  at  Summitville,  in  Madison  county,  Mr.  Shields 
married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Atkinson,  whose  maiden  name  was  Painter.  She 
was  born  on  the  old  Painter  homestead  in  Madison  county,  February  19, 
1868,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there.  Her  parents  were  Silas  P. 
and  Dorcas  C.  (Heritage)  Painter.  Her  father,  born  in  Henry  county, 
Indiana,  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Madison  county  with  his 
son,  and  will  be  seventy-eight  years  of  age  on  December  4,  1913.  Mrs. 
Shields '  mother  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Painter 
began  life  in  Madison  county  near  Summitville,  where  by  their  united 
industries  they  acquired  a  fine  home  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on 
which  all  the  children  were  reared.  Mrs.  Painter  died  January  3,  1906, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  The  Painter  family  were  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  church.  Silas  P.  Painter  was  a  son  of  George  W.  and 
Keziah  (Perry)  Painter,  who  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Madi- 
son county,  where  they  died.  Mrs.  Shields  by  her  first  marriage  to 
Robert  H.  Atkinson,  who  was  born  in  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  and  died 
April  16,  1891,  had  the  following  children :  Lottie  V.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years ;  J.  P.  Lester,  who  married  Hazel  Lamb,  lives  in  Sum- 
mitville, and  has  no  children ;  Bertie  M.,  who  lives  at  the  Shields  home 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shields  have  the  following  children  of  their  own.-  Alva, 
who  died  in  infancy ;  Ina  L.,  born  June  6,  1908 ;  and  Silas  H,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1911.  The  religious  affiliation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shields  is  with 
the  Baptist  church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  regular  Republican  voter. 

James  A.  Hubert.  Those  interested  in  the  pioneer  relics  of  Grant 
county  will  not  find  them  all,  nor  the  most  interesting,  in  the  collection  of 
the  Grant  County  Historical  Association.  The  students  of  the  past  in 
seeking  out  the  curious  would  make  no  more  profitable  journey  than  to 
the  homestead  of  James  A.  Hubert  in  Fairmount  township.  Mr.  Hubert 
has  himself  lived  in  Grant  county  for  sixty  years,  and  has  for  many 
years  carefully  guarded  and  cherished  the  old  Clark  homestead,  built  by 
his  Grandfather  Clark  in  the  pioneer  days,  and  it  is  on  the  land  originally 
comprising  the  Clark  farm  that  Mr.  Hubert  has  lived  for  a  long  period 
of  years.  Within  the  old  home,  standing  in  the  same  yard  on  which 
Mr.  Hubert's  modern  residence  is  located,  are  to  be  found  many  choice 
and  rare  mementoes  of  the  past,  and  about  the  old  home  center  many 
associations  not  only  of  a  family  nature,  but  also  significant  of  the  past 
in  this  county.  In  the  following  paragraphs  space  is  given  to  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  Hubert  family,  and  also  of  the  Clark  generation,  and  to 
as  much  of  the  activities  of  these  people  as  can  properly  be  compressed 
within  the  limits  of  one  short  chapter  of  family  history. 

First  to  be  mentioned  in  this  article  is  the  late  Rev.  John  Hubert, 
one  of  the  finest  characters  of  the  old  times  in  Grant  county.  Some 
interesting  material  concerning  the  life  of  this  noble  minister  and  patriot 
is  contained  in  a  eulogy  delivered  by  Rev.  W.  T.  Arnold  at  the  funeral 
of  Rev.  Hubert,  and  what  follows  is  largely  an  abstract  from  that  oration. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        397 

John  Hubert  was  born  at  Cambridge,  Guernsey,  Ohio,  March  30,  1825. 
His  father  and  mother  came  to  this  country  from  France  and  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Ohio,  and  both  died  when  the  son  was  young,  so  that  little  is 
known  of  their  history.  When  John  Hubert  was  three  years  old  he  lost 
his  father,  and  the  boy  was  then  bound  out  to  learn  the  hatter's  trade. 
He  continued  at  this  trade  until  the  Mexican  war  broke  out,  when  he 
responded  to  the  call  of  duty  and  served  one  year.  After  returning  he 
located  at  Sweetser,  in  Grant  county,  taking  a  tract  of  land  thai  was 
given  him  by  the  government.  He  built  a  small  cabin  on  this  land,  which 
was  not  only  used  for  living  purpose,  but  was  also  used  to  hold  church 
services  in,  the  people  coming  from  miles  around  to  attend  the  services. 
It  was  in  that  cabin  that  he  was  converted  under  the  preaching  of 
Brother  Bradshaw,  and  was  the  only  person  on  that  charge  converted 
in  that  year.  He  had  been  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  but  hence- 
forth was  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Methodist  denomination.  Later 
he  was  licensed  to  exhort  and  later  as  a  local  preacher.  He  became  very 
effective  in  this  work,  and  held  many  revivals  in  which  scores  of  souls 
were  converted.  He  loved  to  preach  and  sing  the  old-time  songs.  He 
was  instrumental  in  building  two  churches  near  and  in  Sweetser.  a  town 
which  was  located  on  his  farm.  He  donated  the  ground  for  these 
churches,  and  gave  liberally  of  his  money  toward  their  erection.  After 
leaving  Sweetser  he  moved  to  the  farm  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
For  the  second  time  during  his  life  he  felt  the  call  of  duty  to  go  to  the 
Civil  war  and  enlisted  in  Company  C  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  Regi- 
ment. "While  in  the  war  he  was  wounded  through  the  foot  by  a  gun 
shot  in  the  battle  of  Vieksburg.  He  served  fifteen  months  in  this  un- 
pleasant struggle. 

The  noble  Christian  life  of  Rev.  John  Hubert  came  to  a  peaceful 
close  on  Thursday  afternoon,  January  21,  1904.  From  his  life  and  its 
work  his  eulogist  drew  some  inspiring  lessons,  and  in  these  he  called 
attention  to  Mr.  Hubert's  loyalty  to  God.  And  in  his  loyalty  he  com- 
bined a  complete  absence  from  pretension  and  hypocrisy.  In  addition 
to  his  loyalty  came  second  his  patriotism,  and  none  excelled  him  in  his 
devotion  to  his  country  and  her  Hag.  The  third  point  brought  out  in 
the  eulogy  was  his  Christian  patience,  and  it  was  said  that  the  longer 
he  lived  the  more  patient  and  kindly  he  became,  so  that  his  last  years 
passed  in  weakness  and  suffering,  were  never  a  burden  upon  those  who 
cheerfully  and  gladly  cared  for  him.  In  the  words  of  Rev.  Arnold  he 
could  say  as  did  the  Apostle  Paul  at  the  close  of  his  life:  "I  am  now 
ready  to  be  offered,  for  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  kept  the  faith,  henceforth  there  is  a  crown 
of  righteousness  laid  up  for  me." 

On  July  4,  1849,  Rev.  John  Hubert  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Caroline  E.  Clark.  Their  marriage  was  solemnized  under  the  roof  of 
her  father's  old  home,  a  log  house  with  clapboards,  still  standing  on 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Hubert.  Caroline  F.  Clark  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania, 
September  12.  1826,  and  was  brought  to  Fairmount  township  in  Grant 
county,  a  child  of  eleven  years  in  1837.  Her  parents  were  James  and 
Sarah  E.  (Simons)  Clark.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Captain  Simons, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  thus  introducing  another  military 
ancestor  in  the  family  relationship  of  Mr.  James  A.  Hubert.  Sarah  E. 
Simons  was  born  March  16,  1796,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  her 
husband  was  bom  February  10,  1794.  They  were  married  in  that  state 
on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  James  Clark  began  his  career 
as  a  lumber  rafter,  which  hardy  occupation  he  combined  with  the  more 
peaceful  pursuits  of  farming.  In  1837  he  and  his  family  came  west, 
spending  one  season  in  Ohio,  and  then  on  to  Grant  county.     He  bought 


398        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

one  hundred  and  eight  acres  in  section  twelve  of  Fairmount  township, 
purchasing  the  land  from  John  Dilley  and  paying  ten  dollars  an  acre. 
There  he  lived  and  died  and  improved  a  home,  and  at  his  death  in  1876 
was  owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres.  Turning  aside  for  a 
moment  from  following  out  the  family  history,  attention  will  be  given 
to  that  old  Clark  home,  now  owned  by  James  A.  Hubert.  The  house  was 
erected  about  eighty-five  years  ago,  and  was  built  of  logs,  as  a  frame 
work.  Later  Mr.  Clark  covered  those  logs  with  weatherboards,  and  the 
entire  structure  is  still  in  good  repair.  The  logs  were  hewed  on  the 
farm,  and  the  boards  were  also  sawed  there.  The  lime  for  the  plaster 
and  mortar  for  filling  in  the  chinks  and  making  the  plaster  was  burned 
from  lime  rock  which  was  obtained  on  the  farm.  That  was  a  pioneer 
species  of  manufacturing  such  as  perhaps  few  are  now  familiar  with. 
The  limestone  was  piled  upon  huge  heaps  of  logs,  and  then  the  entire 
pile  was  fired  and  in  the  intense  heat  thus  generated,  the  rock  was 
reduced  to  lime.  The  timber  entering  into  the  construction  of  that  old 
home  was  of  walnut,  poplar,  and  white  oak,  and  of  the  very  finest  grade, 
all  of  the  trees  being  cut  from  the  farm.  This  wood  is  still  well  preserved, 
and  the  entire  house  is  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  substantial  char- 
acter of  pioneer  housebuilding.  It  is  due  to  the  care  and  veneration  of 
Mr.  Hubert  for  the  past  that  this  home  is  so  well  preserved.  Among 
the  articles  of  old-time  household  furniture  still  kept  there  is  a  very  old 
spinning  wheel  once  used  by  his  Grandmother  Clark.  There  is  also  her 
teapot  of  a  special  pattern  engraved  with  the  United  States  emblem,  a 
shield  and  eagle  and  thirteen  stars.  There  are  two  articles,  implements 
used  by  his  Grandfather  Clark,  one  being  a  hand-made  frow  and  the 
other  a  lath  hatchet.  On  this  old  homestead  and  in  the  old  home,  Grand- 
father James  Clark  died  in  1878,  while  his  wife  died  in  1884.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  in  politics  he  was 
first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  There  were  ten  Clark  children. 
James  Clark,  Jr.,  now  lives  in  Fairmount  City.  One  of  the  daughters, 
Mrs.  John  0.  Havens,  lives  in  Fowlerton,  Grant  county,  and  was  ninety- 
three  years  of  age  on  the  twenty-third  of  February,  1913. 

To*  the  marriage  of  Rev.  John  Hubert  and  Caroline  F.  Clark  were 
born  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Daniel,  James,  William, 
Granville,  and  Rinta.  William  died  at  the  age  of  seven,  and  Rinta,  when 
eleven  years  of  age.  Daniel  now  lives  as  a  retired  farmer  in  Jonesboro, 
and  has  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Granville  is  a  fruit  farmer  in  the 
state  of  California,  and  has  three  daughters  and  one  son.  The  mothei 
of  this  family,  Mrs.  Caroline  Hubert  was  a  splendid  Christian  woman 
and  always  a  great  help  to  her  husband  in  all  his  undertakings.  Her 
death  occurred  September  4,  1895. 

James  A.  Hubert  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  Pleasant  township  of 
Grant  county,  where  he  lived  until  1877.  Since  that  time  his  home 
has  been  on  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  in  Fairmount 
township,  a  portion  of  the  estate  owned  by  his  Grandfather  Clark.  As 
already  stated,  he  has  a  beautiful  new  home,  an  attractive  dwelling  house, 
white  with  dark  trimmings,  and  in  the  rear  stands  a  fine  red  barn.  He 
has  prospered  as  a  farmer,  is  a  man  of  vigorous  enterprise  in  every 
undertaking,  and  has  well  upheld  the  substantial  traditions  of  his 
family. 

In  Grant  county,  on  October  19,  1882,  Mr.  Hubert  married  Anto- 
nette  Hamilton.  She  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  December 
26.  1858,  and  was  a  baby  when  brought  to  Grant  county.  Her  parents 
John  M.  and  Ann  S.  (Hooper)  Hamilton,  were  both  natives  of  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  her  father  born  in  1826  and  her  mother  in  1827.  In  that 
county  they  were  married,  came  to  Indiana  in  1858,  and  after  a  year  in 
Delaware  county,  moved  to  Green  township  of  Grant  county.     John  M. 


J'-  ■ 'S-41 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  399 

Hamilton  had  a  farm,  and  also  contributed  to  the  industrial  resources 
of  the  county  by  operating  a  shingle  factory.  His  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 1,  1877,  in  Green  township.  His  wife  died  there  February  13, 
1872.  The  Hamilton  family  were  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
Mr.  Hamilton  was  in  politics  a  Democrat.  There  were  eleven  children 
of  the  Hamilton  name,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters.  One  son  and 
two  daughters  are  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubert  became  the  parents  of  three  children.  Lodesta 
A.,  born  January  28.  1884,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Eli  Carter,  who  lives  near  Jonesboro.  They  have  one  son  Hubert 
W.,  born  November  17,  1910.  Evaline  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
months,  while  John  H.  died  at  the  age  of  one  year  and  twenty-three 
days.  The  wife  and  mother,  Mrs.  James  A.  Hubert,  met  a  sad  and 
untimely  death  on  September  30.  1913,  when  the  carriage  in  which  she 
was  driving  was  struck  by  a  fast  train  at  the  railroad  crossing  at  Jones- 
boro, and  she  was  instantly  killed.  During  her  residence  in  this  com- 
munity she  grew  in  honor  and  esteem  and  her  memory  will  be  revered 
by  the  many  friends  which  she  drew  about  her.  Mr.  Hubert  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  and  he  is  a  Republican 
in  politics. 

Daniel  Marine.  No  family  in  Grant  county  stands  higher  in 
the  scale  of  intelligence  and  culture  than  that  of  Daniel  Marine  and 
wife,  whose  beautiful  country  home  is  in  section  eight  of  Jefferson 
township.  They  are  people  who  both  come  from  pioneer  stock,  have 
lived  long  and  experienced  deeply  of  life,  have  done  much  more  than 
make  a  home  and  pile  up  material  prosperity  for  their  later  years, 
for  at  the  same  time  they  have  looked  well  to  those  things  which  are 
of  the  higher  and  better  life,  and  have  gained  a  great  amount  of  the 
respect  and  affection  which  are  among  the  best  rewards  of  living. 

Concerning  the  name  a  family  tradition  runs  that  it  gets  its  origin 
from  some  early  disaster  by  sea.  in  which  either  some  of  the  family 
were  lost  at  sea,  or  were  saved  from  a  storm,  an  incident  which  created 
a  permanent  name  for  all  subsequent  generations.  Daniel  Marine's 
grandfather  was  Jonathan  Marine,  born  near  Fayetteville,  North  Caro- 
lina, about  1780.  Of  good  old  southern  stock,  and  of  Quaker  faith 
he  married  a  Quakeress,  Hannah  Moorman,  of  North  Carolina.  During 
their  residence  in  North  Carolina,  most  of  their  children  were  born, 
and  in  1813  the  grandparents  moved  north  and  found  a  home  in 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  so  many  of  their  Quaker  brethren 
had  preceded  them.  They  located  near  Fountain  City  in  that  county, 
where  Jonathan  Marine  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five.  His  widow 
survived  many  years,  and  also  died  in  that  county.  Their  children 
were:  John,  William  (Billy),  Jonathan  J.,  and  Asa,  and  also  several 
daughters. 

Asa  Marine  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  August  3,  1803,  was  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Wayne  county,  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and 
was  married  near  Fountain  City  to  Lydia  Huff,  who  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  about  1808.  Her  father,  Jesse  Huff,  moved  with 
his  family  to  Wayne  county  at  a  very  early  date.  That  was  years 
before  railroads  were  built,  and  the  Huffs  and  also  the  Marines  accom- 
plished this  long  journey  between  the  Atlantic  Coast  and  'the  Middle 
West  with  wagons  and  teams.  Jesse  Huff  and  wife  were  Quakers 
and  spent  their  lives  in  Wayne  county.  After  his  marriage,  Asa 
Marine  continued  to  live  in  Wayne  county,  until  1842,  when  he  moved 
to  Grant  county.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  in  Fairmont,  township, 
and  later  he  located  in  Jefferson,  where  in  time  he  became  the  owner 


400        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

of  a  large  estate  of  four  hundred  acres.  His  land  was  regarded  and 
still  is  considered  to  be  the  finest  in  quality  and  general  fertility  in 
the  northern  section  of  the  township.  Its  situation  is  along  the  west 
side  of  the  Mississenwa  River.  Many  years  were  busily  employed  by 
him  in  the  development  of  that  estate,  and  with  the  improvements 
which  he  introduced  it  became  an  ideal  farm.  Among  the  ways  in 
which  he  increased  its  value  and  made  it  attractive  not  only  for  farming 
purposes,  but  also  as  a  home  was  the  pretentious  brick  house,  containing 
ten  rooms,  and  basement,  which  he  had  constructed  in  1860.  At  that 
time  there  were  few  residences  in  the  county  that  equalled  it  in  size 
and  equipment  and  furnishings.  The  interest  in  the  old  homestead 
is  increased  by  the  fact  that  it  was  mainly  a  home  product.  The  lumber 
that  entered  into  its  construction  originally  grew  in  trees  on  the  farm 
and  was  cut  and  sawed  on  the  place,  the  brick  was  dug  and  burned 
in  kilns  on  the  land,  and  a  limestone  quarry  in  the  same  vicinity  fur- 
nished the  rock  which  was  burned  for  the  lime.  However,  the  feature 
which  gave  it  special  distinction  and  set  it  off  as  an  aristocratic  dwelling 
far  in  advance  of  those  in  Grant  county  at  that  time,  were  the  imported 
French  glass  windows,  which  were  both  rare  and  somewhat  costly. 
Asa  Marine  continued  to  live  in  that  home  and  supervise  his  large 
interests  until  his  death  in  February,  1S76.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
some  years  previously  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Both  were 
birthright  Quakers.  The  children  of  Asa  and  wife  were:  Keziah,  who 
died  young;  Mary  A.,  who,  after  her  marriage  to  John  Wise,  died, 
leaving  a  son  and  daughter,  also  now  deceased;  Julia,  who  married 
James  Ballenger,  and  both  are  deceased,  leaving  several  children ;  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  Jacob  Wise,  a  well  known  farmer  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship; and  Daniel. 

Daniel  Marine,  whose  family  relations  have  thus  been  sketched, 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  near  Fountain  City,  March  1,  1841.  When 
he  was  eighteen  months  old  his  parents  moved  to  Grant  county.  Here 
he  grew  to  manhood,  had  his  early  training  in  the  country  schools,  was 
trained  under  the  supervision  of  his  father  in  the  management  of 
the  farm,  and  has  always  been  identified  with  the  old  place,  having  a 
portion  of  the  homestead  as  his  present  farm,  including  the  old  brick 
residence  previously  described,  and  which  is  now  one  of  the  interesting 
landmarks  in  that  section  of  the  county.  It  is  still  in  a  good  state  of 
repair,  and  a  comfortable  dwelling  for  the  Marine  family,  whose  asso- 
ciations and  early  memories  all  go  back  and  center  about  that  delightful 
old  home.  Besides  the  dwelling,  Mr.  Marine  in  his  time  has  improved 
and  built  several  new  farm  buildings,  and  keeps  his  place  up  to  the 
highest  state  of  efficiency  as  a  model  stock  and  grain  farm.  He  raises 
and  feeds  a  large  number  of  high  grade  live  stock. 

Mr.  Marine  was  just  at  the  entrance  to  young  manhood  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  in  Company  I, 
101st  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  served  until  close  of  the  war,  was 
discharged  June  24,  1865,  near  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Daniel  Marine 
belonged  to  the  14th  Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas  and 
later  under  Gen.  Jeff  C.  Davis.  He  participated  in  thirty  or  more 
battles  and  engagements  but  was  never  injured  or  captured.  He  was 
very  sick,  however,  for  seven  months,  practically  all  this  time  being 
in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  While  he  was  in  the  hospital  his 
regiment  participated  in  their  fiercest  battle,  that  of  Chickamauga,  where 
the  regiment  was  practically  cut  to  pieces.  Daniel  Marine  was  with 
his  regiment  at  the  Siege  of  Atlanta  and  went  with  Sherman  on  his 
historic  March  to  the  Sea  and  during  that  march  there  wasn't  a  day  for 
four  months  that  they  did  not  hear  the  firing  of  cannon,  being  practi- 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  403 

cally  under  fire  all  that  time.  He  was  with  Sherman's  Army,  near 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  when  General  Johnson  surrendered  to  General 
Sherman.  Mr.  Marine  reached  home  from  the  war  July  2,  1865.  Ilis 
public  service  did  not  cease  with  his  return  from  the  army,  and  he  lias 
always  manifested  an  intelligent  and  progressive  interest  in  the  Local 
welfare.  His  politics  is  Republican,  and  for  nineteen  years  be  served 
as  assessor,  and  trustee  for  four  years,  and  at  the  present  time  is  chair- 
man of  the  advisory  township  board. 

In  Monroe  township  of  this  county.  Mr.  Marine  married  Miss  Mary 
E.  Wright,  who  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio.  October  29,  1846. 
Mrs.  Marine  has  well  upheld  her  responsibilities  of  motherhood  and  as 
a  homemaker,  and  is  one  of  the  best  loved  women  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Her  grandparents,  Samuel  and  Jane  (Taylor)  Wright,  were 
early  settlers  of  Preble  county,  Ohio.  Samuel  Wright,  born  in  Ireland, 
came  with  a  brother  when  a  young  man  to  America,  located  first  in 
Greenbrier  county,  in  Western  Virginia,  and  after  his  marriage  Samuel 
moved  to  Pennsylvania,  and  finally  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years;  his  wife  was  seventy  when  she  passed 
away  and  both  were  Presbyterians.  Robert  Wright,  father  of  Mrs. 
Marine,  was  born  in  Preble  county.  Ohio.  January  15.  1816,  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  was  married  to  Catherine  Price,  who  was  born  in  Preble 
county  in  1813,  and  died  November  28,  1885,  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Cook)  Price.  Robert  Wright  and  wife  lived  in  Preble  county 
until  1849,  then  came  to  Grant  county,  buying  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Monroe  township,  which  was  their  home  until  they  retired  to  the  village 
of  Upland,  where  Robert  Wright  died  February  13,  1895,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine,  having  been  born  in  1816.  His  wife  was  born  in  the 
same  year  and  died  November  28,  1885.  They  were  both  Quakers  in 
religion. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marine  are  mentioned  as  fol- 
lows :  Charles  0.,  born  December  16,  1S6S,  and  died  November  14,  1899, 
married  Carrie  Shaw,  who  is  living  and  has  a  son  Glenn  M.,  who  mar- 
rier  Nora  Kiser,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ortha  E.  Flora  C.  was  born 
March  11.  1870,  and  died  May  7,  1890.  leaving  one  child,  now  Mrs. 
Epha  A.  Miller,  who  has  two  children,  Leota  and  Grace  Etta.  Henry 
C,  born  March  6.  1876,  and  now  employed  with  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
at  Beech  Grove.  Indiana.  He  married  Blanche  Bole,  and  their  two 
children.  Delight  and  Lewis,  are  both  in  school.  Minnie  A.,  born  August 
7.  1879.  educated  in  the  grade  schools,  married  William  Bragg  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  Grant  county,  and  they  have  one  child.  Earl,  born 
October  7,  1896.  and  a  member  of  the  Upland  high  school  class  of  1914. 
Arthur  L.,  born  April  29,  1S82,  educated  at  Upland,  and  in  the  Val- 
paraiso Normal  College  and  an  Indianapolis  business  college,  has  for 
a  number  of  years  been  identified  with  banking  and  the  loan  business 
and  now  has  his  home  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  He  married  Josephine 
Heland  of  Marion,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Dorothy.  Gladys  C, 
graduated  from  the  grade  schools  in  1903,  and  from  the  Upland  high 
school  in  1907.  from  the  State  University  at  Bloomington  in  1913,  and 
for  four  years  taught  school  in  Jefferson  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marine  are  both  active  members  of  the  Friends  church. 

Axvnsr  J.  Wilson.  Grant  county,  Indiana,  is  in  a  large  degree  agri- 
cultural, but  its  flourishing  towns  and  villages,  its  large  and  prosperous 
manufactories,  its  modern  educational  institutions,  prove  that  a  vigorous 
life  underlies  every  activity,  although  here,  as  in  every  section  of  the 
world,  dependence  is  necessarily  placed  upon  the  products  of  the  land 
and  the  labor  of  those  who  develop  it.     No  matter  how  men  may  toil,  or 


402        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

how  much  they  may  achieve  in  any  direction,  they  must  all  be  fed,  and 
it  is  the  agriculturist,  in  the  background,  who  provides  for  the  survival 
of  mankind.  Happily  there  are,  in  Grant  county,  contented  owners  of 
land  who  intelligently  and  willingly  carry  on  the  peaceful  pursuits  of 
tilling  the  soil  and,  although  they  do  not  seek  such  a  term  of  approbation, 
are,  nevertheless,  benefactors  of  the  race.  They  are  often  men  of  wide  in- 
formation on  many  subjects,  usually  are  qualified  for  offices  of  public 
service,  for  the  proper  cultivation  of  the  soil  and  a  realization  of  its 
utmost  yield,  requires  knowledge  on  many  subjects.  The  vital  questions 
in  farming  are  national.  They  concern  the  safeguarding  of  fertility ; 
the  increasing  of  yields  of  crops  and  the  production  of  animals;  the 
reduction  of  costs  of  production ;  the  elimination  of  wastes  in  marketing ; 
cooperation  to  guard  the  farmer 's  interests  and  increase  his  profits ;  the 
improvement  of  his  home  and  community  for  bis  family.  It  is  not 
always  the  owner  of  extensive  tracts  who  is  the  most  successful  farmer, 
as  is  attested  by  the  career  of  Alvin  J.  Wilson,  of  section  twenty-three, 
Pairmount  township,  who,  upon  a  tract  of  fifty  acres,  is  producing  crops 
far  in  advance  in  size  and  quality  to  those  of  many  of  bis  fellow-citizens 
in  the  county  who  have  double  his  amount  of  land.  Mr.  Wilson  has 
mastered  his  vocation  in  every  particular,  and  as  one  of  the  men  who  are 
developing  the  best  interests  of  his  community,  he  is  eminently  deserv- 
ing of  extended  mention  in  a  work  of  this  nature. 

Alvin  J.  Wilson  is  of  Scotch-English  ancestry.  His  grandfather, 
John  Wilson,  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  about  the 
year  1795,  and  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Quakers,  early  engaging  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  his  native  county  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  (Polly)  Winslow,  who  was  also  born  in  that  county, 
about  the  year  1800,  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Friends'  Church. 
After  the  birth  of  all  of  their  children,  between  the  years  1836  and  1838 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  left  their  home  in  the  Old  North  State,  and  emi- 
grated with  teams  and  wagons,  in  true  pioneer  style,  to  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  there  settling  temporarily  in  the  Quaker  settlement  in  the 
vicinity  of  Richmond.  Some  years  later  they  came  on  to  Grant  county, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  section  six,  the  south  part  of  Pairmount  township. 
After  taking  up  and  improving  a  farm  from  the  virgin  soil,  they  lived  on 
that  farm  many  years,  then  disposed  of  their  property  and  moved  to 
Fairmount,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  father 
passing  away  when  about  seventy  years  of  age,  about  the  time  of  the  close 
of  the  Civil  War,  while  his  widow  survived  him  some  years  and  was  past 
seventy  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  They  became  the 
parents  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
and  became  the  heads  of  families,  and  all  now  deceased  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Samuel,  who  is  now  aged  more  than  seventy  years.  All  of  the 
children  were  birthright  Quakers. 

Of  the  ten  children  of  John  and  Mary  (Winslow)  Wilson,  Nathan 
D.  Wilson,  the  father  of  Alvin  J.  Wilson,  was  the  second  child  and  was 
born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  in  1818.  He  was  a  young  man 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana  and  resided  at  home  until 
after  the  family  came  to  Grant  county.  He  was  married  in  Fairmount 
township  to  Miss  Mary  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North 
Carolina,  in  1822,  and  who  came  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  as  a  child 
with  her  parents,  Aaron  and  Nancy  Hill.  After  living  in  Wayne  county 
for  some  years  the  Hill  family  came  to  Grant  county  and  located  on  new 
land  on  the  Jonesboro  and  Fairmount  turnpike,  and  there  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hill  passed  away  when  well  advanced  in  years.  They  were  devout 
Quakers  throughout  their  lives,  and  attended  meetings  at  all  times 
indicated  by  that  faith,  at  all  hazards  and  at  any  sacrifice.    They  were 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  403 

the  parents  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  all  grew  to  be  aged 
people,  although  only  one  child  still  survives,  Nathan  Hill,  who  lives  in 
Mill  township,  is  married  and  has  a  large  family. 

After  his  marriage,  Nathan  Wilson  embarked  in  agricultural  pursuits 
on  his  own  account,  on  a  farm  on  Fairmount  township,  a  part  of  which 
lay  within  the  city  limits  of  Fairmount.  while  a  part  lay  just  outside. 
There  through  years  of  industry,  perseverance  and  good  management, 
he  was  successful  in  developing  a  handsome  and  valuable  farm  from  the 
green  woods,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  February.  1881,  he  was 
known  as  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  community.  His  widow 
survived  him  for  many  years  and  died  November  21,  1909,  at  the  home 
of  her  son,  Alvin  J.  Wilson,  having  attained  to  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  Both  birthright  Quakers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson 
were  ever  active  in  the  work  of  their  faith,  and  both  became  early  elders 
in  the  Fairmount  Friends'  Church.  Before  and  during  the  war  between 
the  States,  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  stalwart  anti-slavery  man,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  his  home  was  an  important  station  in  the  so-called  Underground 
Railroad,  which  assisted  fugitive  slaves  on  their  way  to  the  North  and 
freedom.  A  Republican  in  political  matters,  he  took  an  active  and  influ- 
ential part  in  township  affairs,  although  he  never  cared  for  public  office. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  became  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
of  whom  all  grew  to  maturity  with  the  exception  of  one  daughter  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  the  other  daughters  all  passing  away  after 
marriage.  Four  of  the  sons  are  still  living,  namely :  Joseph,  a  prominent 
retired  merchant  of  Newburg,  Oregon,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
children ;  Henry,  a  sheep  grower  and  wool  dealer  of  Big  Sandy,  Montana, 
who  has  also  been  married  but  whose  wife  is  now  deceased ;  Alvin  J. ; 
and  Thomas,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Formosa  Spirit,  of  Formosa, 
Kansas,  who  is  married  and  has  a  family. 

Alvin  J.  Wilson  was  born  November  20,  1859.  in  Grant  county, 
Indiana,  and  was  educated  in  the  local  schools.  In  his  boyhood  he 
divided  his  time  between  attendance  at  school  and  assisting  his  father 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  thus  receiving  early  training  in  agricul- 
tural  pursuits  which  has  been  of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  his  subse- 
quent operations.  He  has  always  devoted  himself  to  the  tilling  of  the 
soil,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  fifty  acres  of  fine  land  in  section  twenty- 
three.  Fairmount  township.  On  this  he  has  erected  a  modern  residence, 
painted  drab,  a  substantial  barn,  well-built  silo  and  other  buildings, 
all  substantial  in  character  and  pleasing  in  architectural  design.  Mr. 
Wilson  does  his  own  work  and  does  it  well,  and  although  he  has  but  fifty 
acres  under  cultivation,  he  produces  crops  that  will  compare  favorably 
with  those  of  any  agriculturist  of  his  township.  He  raises  corn,  oats, 
clover  and  alfalfa,  and  finds  a  ready  market  for  his  product.  He  has  also 
been  successful  in  his  stock  raising  ventures,  and  his  cattle  are  well-fed, 
sleek  and  content.  All  in  all.  his  property  has  a  most  pleasing  and  pros- 
perous appearance,  and  Mr.  Wilson  is  to  be  congratulated  for  what  he 
has  accomplished  by  his  conscientious  endeavors. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married  in  Fairmount  township,  to  Miss  Margaret  R. 
Neal,  who  was  born  at  Marion,  Indiana,  January  5, 1857,  and  there  reared 
and  educated,  daughter  of  William  Neal.  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  an  early 
settler  of  Grant  county.  He  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  at  Marion, 
where  he  was  a  well  known  educator  and  county  official,  serving  for 
some  years  as  surveyor  and  auditor,  and  also  well  known  as  a  historian, 
having  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  compilation  of  a  county  atlas  and 
county  history  in  1896.  He  died  when  past  seventy  years  of  age.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  there  have  been  born  two  sons :  Chester  W..  who  was 
born  October  21,  1880;  and  Clyde  N..  born  February  5.  1883.     Chester 


404        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

W.  "Wilson  was  educated  in  the  city  schools  of  Fairmount,  Fairraount 
Academy  aiid  Purdue  University,  and  after  his  graduation  from  the 
latter  institution,  served  one  year  as  mechanical  engineer  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  Panama  Canal.  He  is  now  chief  mechanical  engineer 
of  construction  work  for  the  Guggenheims,  with  his  home  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah.  Mr.  Wilson  married  Ava  Armstrong,  of  Indiana,  and  they 
have  had  two  sons :  Leroy,  aged  five  years ;  and  Frank,  who  is  three  years 
old.  Clyde  N.  "Wilson  was  given  good  educational  advantages,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  work  of  an  educational  nature,  being  at  this  time  prin- 
cipal and  manager  of  the  "Wisconsin  Business  College,  at  Manitowoc, 
"Wisconsin.  He  married  Miss  Ila  Jacobs,  and  they  have  two  sons,  "Walter 
T.,  who  is  five  years  of  age ;  and  Richard,  aged  three  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Wilson  and  their  children  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Quaker  faith,  and  for  fourteen  years  Mr.  Wilson  served  as  church 
treasurer.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  has  been 
honored  by  election  public  office,  having  served  as  township  trustee 
from  1904  to  1908.  Everywhere  he  is  known  as  a  man  of  the  utmost 
integrity,  and  his  many  excellencies  of  heart  and  mind  have  drawn  about 
him  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Clinton  Winslow.  The  owner  of  a  Grant  county  farm  like  that  of 
Clinton  Winslow  in  Fairmount  township  is  an  enviable  citizen.  Meas- 
ured by  modern  American  standards,  he  is  not  a  rich  man,  but  what  he 
has  he  has  won  by  commendable  industry  and  efficient  management,  and 
his  prosperity  is  of  that  substantial  quality  which  suffers  little  fluctua- 
tion. His  has  been  a  consistently  honorable  and  productive  career  and 
there  is  no  apology  for  his  past  nor  ill  omen  for  his  future. 

Clinton  Winslow  was  born  in  Fairmount  township  of  Grant  county, 
June  1,  1869.  He  is  a  son  of  Nixon  Winslow  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas 
Winslow,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Randolph  county,  North  Caro- 
lina. Grandfather  Thomas  Wfilson  was  born  about  1800,  and  came  of  a 
long  line  of  Quaker  ancestors.  The  family  had  been  founded  in  America 
during  the  early  colonial  period,  three  brothers  having  found  their  way 
across  the  seas,  and  one  locating  in  New  England,  another  in  New  York, 
and  another  in  the  south,  from  the  last  of  whom  descended  the  present 
branch  of  the  family.  The  prevailing  occupation  among  nearly  all  the 
male  members  was  farming.  Thomas  Winslow  grew  up  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  first  married  a  native  of  his  home  county,  who  died  leaving 
four  children.  For  his  second  wife,  Thomas  Winslow  married  Martha 
Bogue,  who  was  born  August  3,  1805,  and  was  one  of  four  daughters  of 
a  very  prominent  family  of  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  and  subse- 
quently of  Grant  and  adjoining  counties  in  Indiana.  All  those  four 
daughters  were  married ;  Mary  married  Phineas  Henly ;  Martha  married 
Thomas  Winslow ;  Elizabeth  married  Iredell  Rush ;  and  Ann  W.  married 
Matthew  Winslow.  All  these  came  north  and  all  became  residents  of 
Grant  county,  where  they  died  and  left  large  families.  Thomas  AVinslow 
and  wife  with  two  or  three  children  about  1836  accomplished  the  long 
migration  to  Grant  county,  Indiana,  making  the  trip  entirely  overland 
and  with  wagons  and  teams,  they  located  on  new  land  in  Fairmount  town- 
ship. During  their  residence  they  owned  two  or  three  different  farms, 
and  died  on  what  is  now  the  Jess  Bogue  farm  in  Fairmount  township. 
His  death  occurred  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-five,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1868,  and  was  also  quite  old.  They  were  prominent 
people  in  the  Friends  church. 

The  children  of  Thomas  Winslow  and  wife  were :  1.  Nixon,  who  is 
mentioned  in  the  following  paragraph,  was  the  father  of  Clinton  Winslow. 
2.  John,  died  after  his  marriage,  leaving  a  family,  and  was  a  farmer 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  405 

in  Mill  township.  3.  Nancy  was  twice  married,  first  to  Jesse  Reese,  and 
second  to  John  Jennings,  having-  a  daughter  and  a  son  by  her  first  mar- 
riage. 4.  Penina  was  also  twice  married,  her  first  husband  being  Joel 
B.  White,  and  her  second  a  Mr.  Johnson  Baugh.  She  had  no  children  by 
either  husband.  5.  Carroll  died  in  infancy,  and  his  body  was  conveyed 
to  the  cemetery  on  horseback.  6.  David  died  after  his  marriage  to 
Nancy  Harris,  who  now  lives  in  Jonesboro.  without  children. 

Nixon  Winslow  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  June 
28,  1831.  He  was  five  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to  Indiana,  and 
he  continued  to  make  his  home  in  Grant  county  until  his  death  in  Pair- 
mount  City,  May  23,  1910.  His  last  days  were  spent  at  his  home  on  east 
Washington  Street,  in  a  commodious  brick  house,  which  was  in  many 
ways  a  monument  to  his  industry  and  enterprise.  He  had  burned  the 
brick  on  the  same  lot  which  was  the  building  site,  and  had  constructed 
the  house  under  his  own  direct  supervision  and  partly  with  his  own  labor. 
He  occupied  the  old  home  for  forty  years,  and  it  is  still  standing,  a  fine, 
substantial  landmark.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
and  also  did  a  large  business  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  stock.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  belonged  to  the  Friends  church,  being 
a  trustee  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Nixon  Winslow  was  married  in  Mill 
township  to  Miss  Cynthia  Ann  Jay.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Miami  county, 
Indiana,  and  she  was  a  young  girl  when  her  parents  Dennis  J.  and  wife 
came  to  Grant  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jay  died  in  Mill  township  when 
quite  old.  Considerable  interesting  history  might  be  written  about  the 
Jay  family  during  its  residence  in  Grant  county.  Their  home  was  one  of 
the  stations  on  the  famous  underground  railway  of  the  ante-bellum 
days,  and  many  a  night  Mr.  Jay  spent  in  driving  a  wagon  carrying  a 
fugitive  on  north  towards  the  Canadian  boundary. 

Mrs.  Nixon  Winslow  is  still  living,  and  celebrated  her  eighty-first 
birthday  on  May  5,  1913.  Her  home  is  on  East  First  Street  in  Fair- 
mount,  and  she  is  a  hale  and  hearty  and  venerable  old  lady.  The  chil- 
dren of  Nixon  Winslow  and  wife  are :  Levina,  the  wife  of  John  Kelsay, 
of  Fainnount  township ;  Webster  Jay,  who  is  a  retired  farmer  in  Fair- 
mount,  is  married  and  has  a  family;  Mary  E.,  who  lives  at  home  with 
her  mother  and  is  unmarried  ;  Thomas  Denney,  a  farmer  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, and  the  father  of  three  children:  Ansel,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Fair- 
mount  township  and  has  two  sons:  and  Clinton. 

Clinton  Winslow  was  reared  and  educated  in  Grant  county,  and  has 
always  been  identified  with  this  locality  as  a  prosperous  farmer.  He 
owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  highry  improved  land,  has  it  devel- 
oped with  excellent  buildings,  with  good  fences,  and  all  in  the  highest 
state  of  cultivation.  One  of  the  features  of  the  farm  establishment 
which  shows  his  progressive  enterprise  is  a  silo,  holding  a  hundred  tons 
of  ensilage.  All  that  he  raises  on  his  farm  is  fed  to  his  stock,  and  he 
grows  general  crops  in  proper  rotation,  oats,  wheat,  corn,  clover,  and  hay. 
Mr.  Winslow  recently  retired  from  his  farm  to  a  home  in  Fairmount 
city.     He  is  a  regular  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party  in  politics. 

In  1904,  in  Fairmount.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Myrtle  E. 
Ellis,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  Ohio,  October  3,  1870,  and  was 
one  year  of  age  when  she  came  to  Mill  township  in  Grant  county.  Her 
parents  were  James  M.  and  Louisa  Moon  Ellis.  They  made  their  home 
in  Mill  township  until  their  death.  They  were  of  the  orthodox  Quaker 
faith.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winslow  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Mary 
Evelyn,  on  August  24,  1896.  She  received  a  public  school  education, 
and  is  now  a  .junior  in  the  Fairmount  Academy.  Mr.  Winslow  and  wife 
and  daughter  are  all  adherents  of  the  Quaker  church. 


406  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

John  C.  Devine.  By  a  career  devoted  to  agriculture  through  a 
period  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  John  C.  Devine  has  prospered  steadily 
and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  thrifty  and  substantial  men  in 
Fairmount  township.  His  is  a  family  record  of  unusual  interest,  and 
shows  through  the  various  generations  a  steady  adherence  to  morality 
and  integrity  and  much  accomplishments  in  a  material  way.  The  home 
of  Mr.  Devine  is  in  section  seventeen  of  Fairmount  township,  his  post- 
office  being  at  Jonesboro. 

John  C.  Devine  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  September  2,  1864, 
a  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Duncan)  Devine.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Drucilla  (Pemberton)  Duncan,  natives  of  the 
state  of  Ohio.  Drucilla  Duncan  died  in  Ohio,  while  the  husband  passed 
away  in  Clay  county,  Indiana.  Their  only  child  was  Mrs.  Devine,  and 
both  parents  died  young.  Richard  Duncan  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Duncan, 
a  native  of  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  who  moved  north  to  Ohio, 
locating  on  a  farm  on  the  Stillwater  river  in  Miami  county.  There 
he  lived  and  reared  his  family,  and  himself  and  his  connections  were  of 
the  Quaker  faith. 

Michael  Devine,  the  father  of  John  C,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when,  with  his  brother,  Thomas,  and  his  sister, 
Mary,  he  came  to  the  United  States.  After  a  short  time  spent  with  an 
aunt  in  New  York  City,  he  worked  his  way  out  to  Ohio,  until  he  arrived 
in  Miami  county.  He  was  a  stone  and  brick  mason  by  trade,  and  through 
that  work  got  his  start.  Some  time  after  reaching  Miami  county  he 
married  and  then  began  life  as  a  farmer.  To  his  marriage  were  born 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  While  these  children  wei-e  all  young  their 
mother  was  accidentally  burned  to  death  while  working  about  a  maple 
sugar  camp.  She  was  then  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  it  was  a  great 
loss  to  her  children  that  she  was  taken  away  from  them  just  at  a  time 
when  she  could  best  serve  them  and  rear  them  to  useful  lives.  Her 
husband,  Michael  Devine,  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Deborah 
Sheets,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hover.  Her  husband  died  in  the  Civil 
war.  Michael  Devine  served  a  short  time  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
came  out  of  service  without  injury.  He  and  his  second  wife  moved  to 
Arkansas,  and  finally  located  near  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Devine 
died  in  October,  1893,  when  passed  sixty  years  of  age.  There  were  no 
chddren  by  the  second  marriage.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  the 
first  union,  the  following  are  mentioned :  Rhoda  J.,  the  wife  of  Lansing 
Harrison,  a  farmer  near  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  and  their  children  number 
two.  Margaret  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  James  Hart,  now  living  at  Riceville, 
Iowa,  and  they  have  four  children.  The  next  is  John  C.  Devine.  Wil- 
liam H.  Devine  resides  near  Ida  Grove  in  Iowa,  is  a  farmer,  and  has 
three  daughters.  John  C.  Devine  grew  up  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  mother  he  went  to  live  with  Isaiah  and  Rachel 
Pemberton,  relatives  of  his  mother.  He  had  a  fair  education,  and  early 
in  life  moved  to  Indiana,  and  became  identified  with  Fairmount  town- 
ship of  Grant  county.  There  he  married  Miss  Laura  M.  Loy,  who  was 
born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  December  20,  1866.  Her  early  educa- 
tion was  received  in  Grant  county  from  the  time  she  was  ten  years  of 
age.  Her  parents  were  William  and  Elizabeth  (Lloyd)  Loy,  her  father 
a  native  of  Henry  county,  and  her  mother  of  Madison  county,  Indiana, 
their  marriage  being  celebrated  in  the  latter  county.  Both  her  parents 
are  still  living,  and  have  their  home  in  Fairmount  township.  Her  father, 
William  Loy,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  serving  one  year  as  a 
private  in  Company  E  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Seventh  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  saw  much  actual  fighting  while  at  the  front.  There 
were  eleven  children  in  the  Loy  family,  three  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
and  all  are  living    and  married  except  one. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  407 

Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devine  have  worked  hard  and 
cooperated  in  every  way  to  establish  a  home  and  provide  for  the  com- 
forts of  themselves  and  children.  They  have  succeeded  remarkably 
well  and  now  possess  a  beautiful  place  of  seventy-five  acres,  all  well 
improved  and  with  excellent  barns  and  facilities  for  modern  farming 
of  all  kinds. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devine  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
William  M.  was  born  April  10,  18S5,  was  educated  in  the  Back  Creek 
Public  Schools,  and  now  lives  at  Roy,  Montana.  He  married  Nettie 
Highley,  and  their  children  are  Eveline  L.,  and  Mildred  L.,  while  Vera 
L.,  the  oldest,  died  as  an  infant.  Herbert  M.,  the  second  in  the  family, 
was  born  March  10,  1887,  in  Holt  county,  Nebraska,  where  his  parents 
lived  for  two  years,  was  educated  in  the  Back  Creek  school  in  Grant 
county,  Indiana,  married  Elva  Adkinson,  has  one  child,  Ella  Louise, 
and  all  the  family  reside  at  Roy,  Montana.  Rachael  Elizabeth,  who  was 
born  February  i0,  1889,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Pennington,  living  in 
Fairmount  City;  their  children  are  Velma  M.,  and  Charles  B.  Wilson 
E.  Devine  was  born  March  6,  1893,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  now  lives  in  Montana.  Doris  R.,  was  born  October  15,  1899,  and  lives 
at  home  and  attends  the  public  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devine  have  always 
been  church  workers  and  are  members  of  the  Back  Creek  Friends  Meet- 
ing.    Mr.  Devine  is  in  politics  a  Prohibitionist. 

William  F.  Kxote.  A  resident  of  Grant  county  for  sixty- five  years, 
Mr.  Knote  was  about  six  years  old  when  the  family  took  up  its  residence 
in  this  county.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  this  vicinity,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  one  of  the  old  log  school  houses,  was  a  loyal  and  efficient  soldier 
of  the  union  during  the  war,  and  since  his  military  career  came  home 
and  made  himself  a  successful  factor  in  agriculture,  establishing  a 
fine  farm  home  in  Green  township,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a 
well  spent  career  at  his  home  in  Swayzee.  He  still  owns  farm  property 
in  Grant  county,  and  along  with  his  business  accomplishments  has  also 
done  his  share  of  public  service. 

William  F.  Knote  comes  from  Rush  county,  a  county  which  fur- 
nished so  many  sterling  citizens  to  Grant  county.  He  was  born  there 
November  27,  1S42,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Brooks)  Knote.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  They 
were  married  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  in  1848  settled  in  Grant 
county,  where  the  father  entered  land  direct  from  the  government  in 
Green  township.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers,  and  his  labors  served  to 
make  Green  township  a  better  place  for  white  men  to  live.  Both  par- 
ents were  active  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  the  father  was 
for  many  years  an  elder  in  his  congregation,  having  been  appointed  to 
that  office  upon  the  organization  of  the  church  and  remained  an  elder 
until  his  death.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  family,  and  three 
are  now  living,  with  William  F.  as  the  oldest.  George  Knote  is  a 
retired  farmer  at  Swayzee  and  Benjamin  F.  Knote  is  a  carpenter  and 
contractor  whose  home  is  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Soon  after  the  family  was  established  in  Grant  county  William  F. 
Knote  began  attending  the  log  school  house  situated  nearest  to  the 
family  home.  It  was  a  rude  structure,  with  its  slab  benches  and  primi- 
tive facilities  for  educational  work.  He  continued  to  attend  school, 
and  to  work  on  the  home  farm  in  Grant  county,  until  he  was  about 
nineteen  years  old.  In  the  meantime  the  great  Civil  war  made  all  usual 
occupations  and  vocations  seem  trivial,  and  the  flower  of  the  young 
manhood  in  both  north  and  south  were  being  drawn  into  the  army. 
Young  Knote  with   equal  patriotism  left  school,   the   farm  and  home, 


408  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

and  on  August  21,  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  H  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
First  Indiana  Infantry.  As  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland 
he  served  until  his  final  discharge  on  June  25,  1865,  after  the  conclu- 
sion of  war.  He  was  twice  wounded,  the  first  time  at  Milton,  Tennessee, 
and  later  at  Buzzard's  Roost,  in  Georgia,  during  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
He  began  as  corporal  in  his  company,  and  six  months  later  was  made 
sergeant,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Returning  to  Green  township  he  began  his  career  as  a  renter.  later 
bought  land  and  finally  became  owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  the  fine  soil  of  Green  township.  His  own  labors  were  chiefly  respon- 
sible for  making  this  a  highly  improved  farm,  and  from  it  he  provided 
liberally  for  himself  and  family. 

In  1865,  soon  after  returning  from  the  army,  Mr.  Knote  married 
Mary  Arhart.  Mrs.  Knote  died  November  14,  1911.  Eva,  the  oldest 
child  of  William  P.  and  Mary  Arhart  Knote,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Grant  county,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  S.  D.  Morrison  of  Green  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  have  two  children.  Glen  and  Lloyd ;  Glen 
married  Lora  Kelly  and  they  have  one  child,  Wilma  Morrison,  who  is  a 
great-granddaughter  of  William  F.  Knote. 

Rena,  the  second  child  of  William  F.  and  Mary  Arhart  Knote,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Read  of 
Upland,  Indiana.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Carl,  Mary 
and  Helen. 

On  October  10,  1912,  Mr.  Knote  married  Mary  Pennington.  Mrs. 
Knote  was  reared  in  Southern  Indiana. 

In  1898  Mr.  Knote  transferred  his  residence  to  Marion,  Indiana,  and 
has  since  not  been  actively  identified  with  farming.  His  home  in  Marion 
was  at  Gallatin  and  Sixteenth  streets.  In  January,  1910,  he  left  the 
county  seat,  and  moved  to  Swayzee,  where  he  built  an  attractive  frame 
residence  on  Main  street,  and  has  a  modern  home  in  which  to  spend 
his  declining  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  is 
serving  as  a  deacon  in  that  denomination.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to 
Swayzee  Lodge  No.  625,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  taken  a  very  active  part  in 
Grand  Amry  circles,  his  present  membership  being  with  Edmund  Lenox 
Post  No.  408.  He  has  served  the  post  as  commander  for  four  terms, 
and  was  commander  of  the  General  Shunk  Post  at  Marion  for  one  term. 
In  politics  a  Democrat,  he  gave  one  term  of  service  as  trustee  of  Green 
township  from  1887.  He  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  party  in 
this  section  of  Grant  county  for  a  number  of  years. 

William  F.  Bell.  A  long  lifetime  varied  by  many  unusual  expe- 
riences, has  been  that  of  William  F.  Bell,  one  of  the  most  esteemed  old 
residents  of  Fairmount  township.  Mr.  Bell  has  lived  in  Grant  county 
thirty-two  years.  He  came  to  Indiana  about  the  time  of  the  Civil  war, 
having  lived  in  Henry  county  for  sixteen  years,  from  1865  to  1881,  and 
then  came  to  Grant  county.  As  the  following  article  will  show,  he  and 
his  wife  made  their  start  in  this  state  with  practically  nothing  except 
their  own  energies,  and  with  the  passing  of  years  their  thrift  and  in- 
dustry enabled  them  to  accumulate  more  than  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, while  at  the  same  time  they  grew  in  the  honor  and  esteem  of 
their  wide  acquaintance. 

William  F.  Bell  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1832.  He  grew  up  as  a  farmer  boy,  was  married  when  a  young 
man,  and  was  the  father  of  two  children  when  the  war  broke  out.  His 
early  training  had  been  that  of  the  Quaker  religion.  Both  by  religious 
principles  and  moral  conviction  he  was  opposed  to  the  principles  of  the 
south.     However,  the  south  needed  every  one  of  its  sons  to  fight  in 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  409 

behalf  of  the  Confederacy,  and  he  had  to  accept  one  of  two  alternatives, 
either  enlist  as  a  private  soldier  or  take  employment  at  a  soldier's  wages 
in  the  salt  works  in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  He  accepted  the 
latter  as  the  less  of  two  evils,  and  remained  at  the  salt  works  for  two 
years.  When  the  Union  army  captured  the  works,  he  was  then  con- 
scripted into  the  active  service  of  the  southern  army.  He  refused  to 
carry  arms  and  was  swung  up  by  his  thumbs  to  a  tree,  and  hung  three 
hours  before  his  spirit  was  so  broken  that  he  submitted  to  pick  up  his 
gun  and  go  along  in  the  ranks.  However,  he  had  firmly  resolved  that 
he  would  not  serve  long  aud  would  take  the  first  opportunity  to  escape. 
Three  weeks  later,  when  the  army  was  six  miles  south  of  Petersburg, 
at  a  place  locally  known  as  Yellow  House,  the  opportunity  came.  His 
comrade  in  this  adventure  was  Henry  Stewart,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Ivy 
Luther  of  Grant  county,  and  the  incident  is  also  related  in  another 
sketch  to  be  found  in  this  publication  concerning  the  family  of  Ivy 
Luther.  These  two  Quakers  were  on  picket  duty,  and  their  line  of  guard 
was  only  a  few  hundred  yards  away  from  the  pickets  of  Grant's  army, 
which  lay  opposite  the  Confederate  forces.  Bell  and  Stewart  received 
permission  to  go  into  the  pine  woods  and  gather  some  fire  wood,  and 
took  this  means  in  making  their  escape.  Running  across  the  ground 
separating  the  two  lines  of  the  army,  they  were  received  within  the  picket 
lines  of  the  Union  forces,  and  were  permitted  to  go  under  guard  to 'the 
Union  headquarters.  They  were  also  allowed  the  happy  privilege  of 
obtaining  all  they  wanted  to  eat  from  the  commissary,  and  since  rebel 
rations  had  been  extremely  short,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  feed  them- 
selves liberally.  They  were  given  the  privilege  of  going  wherever  they 
liked,  and  in  a  short  time  both  Bell  and  Stewart  found  their  way  to 
Indiana.  The  day  of  their  escape  was  December  11,  186-1,  only  a  few 
months  before  the  close  of  the  war,  and  they  soon  afterwards  arrived  at 
Indianapolis.  From  there  they  went  to  Knightstown  in  Henry  county, 
and  there  Mr.  Bell  worked  on  a  farm  until  the  war  was  over.  Going 
back  to  his  native  county  in  North  Carolina,  he  rejoined  his  wife  and 
three  children,  and  then  returned  to  Henry  county,  where  he  spent 
four  years  as  a  renter.  At  this  time  Mr.  Bell  and  wife  were  actually 
poverty  stricken,  and  it  is  nothing  to  their  discredit  to  say  that  when 
they  reached  Indiana,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  they  possessed  nothing 
except  what  they  carried  on  their  backs  and  in  their  hands.  That  early 
period  of  privation  has  long  since  been  forgotten  in  their  steady  pi-os- 
perity.  but  it  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  entire  family  during  their 
fifth  year  in  Indiana  and  the  first  year  after  buying  their  own  farm 
expended  only  one  dollar  in  actual  cash,  and  most  of  that  was  spent 
for  sugar.  All  the  other  sources  of  their  scanty  living  were  raised 
on  the  farm.  To  his  wife  Mr.  Bell  gives  great  credit  for  their  successful 
escape  from  that  early  period  of  hardship,  and  by  effective  management 
they  were  at  the  end  of  four  years  able  to  buy  some  land  in  Henry 
county,  and  lived  twelve  years  on  their  own  farm.  Selling  out  their 
Henry  county  farm  they  moved  to  Grant  county  in  the  fall  of  1881, 
and  Mr.  Bell  then  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  thirty-one  of  Fairmount 
township,  where  he  has  ever  since  had  his  home.  Much  of  that  land  was 
still  uncleared,  and  he  employed  his  industry  in  improving  it  and  mak- 
ing a  comfortable  home.  From  timber  growing  upon  the  farm  was 
manufactured  the  timber  with  which  Mr.  Bell  put  up  a  fine  home  of 
eight  rooms,  and  also  a  barn,  built  in  the  best  modern  style,  and  another 
feature  of  the  place  which  shows  the  progressive  methods  used  at  the 
Bell  homestead  is  a  silo  with  eighty  tons'  capacity.  Mr.  Bell  for  many 
years  has  been  a  successful  grower  of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  has  considerable 
land  in  meadow,  and  his  crops  in  quantity  and  quality  will  compare 
favorably  with  those  produced  anywhere  in  this  county. 


410        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Mr.  Bell  was  married  in  his  native  vicinity  to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Fergu- 
son. She  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  April  30,  1830, 
and  through  her  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Boone,  is  a  descendant 
of  the  famous  Daniel  Boone.  She  was  a  woman  of  unusual  capability, 
as  will  be  understood  from  what  has  been  said  in  preceding  paragraphs. 
Daring  the  war,  while  her  husband  was  an  unwilling  soldier  in  the 
Confederate  army,  she  lived  with  her  children  and  managed  to  pro- 
vide for  their  wants,  and  on  moving  to  Indiana  at  once  proved  a 
worthy  helpmate  in  establishing  a  home  and  prosperity.  She  died 
at  her  home  in  Fairmount  township,  January  15,  1910,  being  within 
a  month  of  her  eightieth  birthday.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell 
are :  James  M.,  who  was  born  March  14,  1859,  in  North  Carolina,  and 
all  his  life  has  lived  at  home  and  has  been  associated  with  his  father. 
He  has  combined  the  two  occupations  of  farming  and  carpenter  work. 
Mr.  James  M.  Bell  is  a  well  known  and  influential  citizen  in  Fairmount 
township,  for  the  past  two  years  has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  Fair- 
mount  academy,  and  for  three  years  previous  to  that  was  a  member  and 
secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Academy.  James  M.  Bell 
married  Miss  Etta  Harvey,  who  was  reared  and  partly  educated  in 
Indianapolis.  Their  children  are :  Mildred  0.,  and  Edna.  Mildred  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Fairmount  Academy,  while  Edna  is  a  member  of 
the  Fairmount  eighth  grade  class  of  1914. 

Mary,  the  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell,  is  the  wife  of  Alvin 
Free,  a  farmer  in  Liberty  township.  Their  children  are  Iva  J.,  Webster 
and  Edison.  Iva  J.  Free  is  highly  educated,  having  taken  courses  in 
several  schools  and  colleges,  and  is  now  a  teacher  at  Kalamazoo, 
Michigan. 

Sadie  Ellen,  the  third  child,  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Hiram  Harvey,  a 
successful  farmer  of  Liberty  township,  and  for  a  number  of  years  a 
preacher  in  the  Friends  clmreh  of  that  township.  Rev.  Harvey  is  now 
custodian  of  the  Fairmount  Academy  endowment  fund.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harvey  have  one  son,  Russel  Terry,  who  is  married  and  lives  at  home 
with  his  parents.  The  fourth  child  is  Julia  lone,  wife  of  Elwood  S. 
Townsend,  a  house  painter  and  decorator  of  Marion.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Ida  and  Inez. 

Mr.  Bell  and  members  of  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  Friends 
church,  and  in  politics  he  supports  the  Prohibition  cause  as  championed 
by  St.  John. 

John  W.  Cox.  For  thirty-five  years  John  W.  Cox  has  prospered  as 
a  farmer  and  lived  a  resident  of  section  thirty  in  Fairmount  township. 
He  owns  a  delightful  country  home,  and  his  prosperity  is  nearly  alto- 
gether the  result  of  his  careful  planning  and  industrious  labors,  con- 
tinued through  a  long  succession  of  years. 

John  W.  Cox  belongs  to  an  old  Quaker  family  of  that  name,  orig- 
inally from  North  Carolina.  In  the  generation  including  his  own  grand- 
father were  some  four  or  five  of  the  name,  who,  after  their  marriage  in 
North  Carolina,  came  north  and  found  homes  in  Indiana,  most  of  them 
in  Grant  county.  His  grandfather  was  Joshua  Cox,  and  besides  Joshua 
several  grand-uncles  and  grand-aunts  came  to  Indiana,  named  as  fol- 
lows: Mincher,  Samuel,  William  and  Julia.  These  different  members 
of  the  Cox  family  became  prominent  in  their  respective  communities, 
and  all  were  of  the  Friends  church.  Joshua  Cox  and  his  wife,  Rachael 
Cox,  came  to  Indiana  in  1830  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
in  Morgan  county,  where  they  reared  their  children.  These  children 
are  named  as  follows:  Uriah,  who  married  and  moved  out  to  Richland, 
Iowa,  where  he  died,  leaving  children,  Joshua,  John,  Hannah,  Enoch 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  411 

and  Rachael;  Edith  and  her  husband  also  died  in  Iowa,  and  left  a  family 
of  children;  the  next  in  order  of  birth  was  William  Cox,  father  of 
John  W. ;  Nathan  married  Malinda  Overaian,  and  had  children,  Syl- 
vester, Seth,  Isaiah  and  Rachael ;  J.  Zimri  Cox  married,  had  a  family 
of  five  children,  and  he  and  his  wife  died  in  the  same  year.  Hannah, 
the  widow  of  Amos  Hiatt,  lives  at  her  home  in  Iowa,  and  has  a  family 
of  children. 

William  Cox,  father  of  John  W.,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1824, 
and  was  six  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Morgan  county. 
When  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  visited  his  uncle's  family  in 
Grant  county,  and  while  there  met  Miss  Betsey  Wilson,  who  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  in  1826,  a  daughter  of  John  Wilson,  who  settled  in 
Fairmount  township  of  Grant  county  in  1836.  Miss  Wilson  was  the 
acknowledged  belle  of  the  countryside,  and  among  those  attracted  by 
her  beauty  and  character  was  William  Cox,  who  in  the  brief  time  of 
his  visit  laid  successful  siege  to  her  heart  and  soon  afterwards  married 
her.  They  began  life  in  a  log  cabin  in  Liberty  township,  situated  ten 
miles  from  any  other  settlement,  and  had  a  lonely  time  of  it  for  several 
years.  They  prospered,  and  finally  moved  to  another  farm  in  Liberty 
township,  where  William  Cox  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  first-class  land,  and  in  1873  built  the  old  family  homestead,  a  fine 
brick  house,  at  that  time  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 
William  Cox  died  there  January  25,  1901,  and  his  beloved  wife  followed 
him  a  few  months  later  on  June  12.  William  Cox  married  outside 
of  the  Quaker  church  in  which  he  had  been  reared  and  was  put  of  the 
church,  because  of  his  refusal  to  express  sorrow  for  his  act,  and  he 
and  his  wife  afterwards  became  charter  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist church,  in  which  faith  they  both  died. 

The  children  of  William  Cox  and  wife  were:  Nathan  R.,  Abigail, 
John  W.,  Mary,  Eli  J.,  Milton  T.,  Zimri  E.,  Eliza  Ann,  now  deceased; 
Sarah  Ellen,  Elizabeth  Clementine,  William  Valentine  and  Micajah  T. 
and  Emma,  twins,  the  latter  being  deceased.  All  these  children  were 
married  and  had  families,  and  all  became  substantial  and  self-support- 
ing men  and  women.  Every  son  has  always  been  free  from  any  bad 
habits  and  all  married  good  wives,  while  the  daughters  found  good 
husbands. 

John  W.  Cox,  who  was  born  in  Liberty  township  of  Grant  county, 
August  4,  1849,  was  reared  in  a  good  home,  and  well  educated.  For 
some  years  he  taught  school,  and  finally  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture, and  for  many  years  has  enjoyed  a  place  of  prosperity  and 
esteem  in  his  community.  He  owns  a  fine  farm,  not  extensive  in  acreage, 
but  highly  improved  and  cultivated  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is  more 
productive  than  many  larger  places.  It  comprises  forty-four  acres, 
and  lies  just  outside  the  limits  of  Fairmount  city.  There  is  not  a  foot 
of  the  land  which  is  not  drained,  and  put  to  profitable  production,  and 
it  is  this  elimination  of  waste  that  has  been  a  large  factor  of  Mr.  Cox  as 
a  farmer.  His  largest  and  best  crop  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
tomatoes,  some  years  having  had  as  many  as  seventeen  acres  in  that 
crop,  while  his  yearly  average  has  been  about  twelve  acres.  By  long 
experience  he  has  learned  how  to  grow  and  care  for  this  large  produc- 
tion, and  gets  big  revenues  from  all  he  raises.  In  the  midst  of  the  fruit 
and  shade  trees  which  surround  his  grounds  sets  a  fine  white  house,  siir- 
rounded  with  new  barns  and  a  forty-five  ton  silo.  This  place  has  been 
his  home  since  1878,  and  in  location  and  value  it  is  one  of  the  best 
in   Fairmount  township. 

In  Washington  township,  of  Grant  county,  in  1874.  Mr.  Cox  married 
Miss  Josephine   Culberson,   who   was  born   in   Guernsey   county.    Ohio, 


412  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

February  23,  1853.  When  she  was  a  child  her  parents  moved  to  Wash- 
ington township  in  Grant  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Margaret  (Stiles)  Culberson,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  who  located  in  Grant 
county  before  the  war.  Her  father  died  on  his  farm  a  few  years  later, 
leaving  a  widow  and  five  children.  Mrs.  Culberson  did  more  than  a 
mother's  part  by  her  children,  remained  at  home  on  the  farm,  managed 
its  operation  and  at  the  same  time  kept  her  little  flock  about  her  until 
they  were  grown  and  had  started  lives  on  their  own  account.  She  then 
came  to  live  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Cox,  and  died  in  their  home  in 
1910,  when  ninety-two  years  of  age.  She  was  a  good  mother,  and  her 
influence  and  devotion  were  such  that  they  will  always  be  remembered 
by  her  children  and  descendants. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Cox  are  mentioned  as  follows : 

1.  Martin  E.,  who  was  educated  at  Fairmount,  was  for  some  years  a 
music  dealer  in  that  city  and  is  now  in  the  west.  2.  Burl  W.,  went  to 
Cuba  during  the  Spanish-American  war  with  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixtieth  Indiana  Regiment,  serving  until  his  honorable  discharge.  He 
is  now  in  business  at  Alexandria,  in  Madison  county.  He  married 
Gladys  Edwards.  3.  Eli  W.,  is  an  agent  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine 
Company,  lives  in  Fairmount,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Gertrude  Riblin 
has  two  children,  Paul  and  Emmett.  4.  Ollie  W.,  is  a  farmer  and  also 
operates  a  hay  press  at  Fairmount.  He  married  Lora  Clifford,  and 
their  one  daughter  is  Bernice.  5.  Myrtle  L.  is  the  wife  of  George  P. 
Atkinson,  living  with  Mr.  Cox  on  the  home  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox 
are  members  of  the  Back  Creek  Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  Formerly 
a  Republican  voter,  Mr.  Cox  now  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Prohibition 
cause. 

William  Sheeon.  Of  that  goodly  company  of  Grant  county 
octogenarians  whose  names  are  noted  in  this  history,  one  who  is  now 
nearing  the  close  of  his  eighth  decade  is  named  at  the  opening  of  this 
paragraph.  William  Sheron's  has  been  a  life  that  is  significant  in  its 
very  duration.  Like  the  oak  silently  growing  the  forest,  it  has  been 
strong  and  useful  without  the  conspicuous  eventfulness  of  many  less 
serviceable  careers.  In  the  quiet  performance  of  the  homely  simple 
duties  that  come  within  the  scope  of  every  one  he  has  won  the  respect  of 
a  community,  the  veneration  of  children  and  grandchildren,  and  has 
walked  upright  in  the  fear  of  God. 

William  Sheron  was  born  April  3,  1826,  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Matilda  (Havener)  Sheron.  The  father  was 
born  March  10, 1804,  and  the  mother  September  16,  1808,  her  birthplace 
having  been  near  Harpers  Ferry  in  Virginia.  The  father  was  by 
occupation  a  farmer  and  a  cooper.  When  his  son  was  a  baby  he  moved 
to  Perry  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  and  where  he  made 
money  enough  to  enter  forty  acres  of  government  land.  Later  he  sold 
that  and  immigrated  to  Indiana,  locating  on  a  farm,  which  he  bought 
near  Fox  Station  in  Grant  county.  He  continued  to  live  there  many 
years,  finally  selling  out  and  moving  into  the  city  of  Marion,  where  he 
became  owner  of  several  valuable  properties.  His  death  occurred  in 
Marion,  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  the  mother  has  been  dead  about 
thirty-five  years.  In  religion,  the  father  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  and  Matilda  Havener  were  married  in  1824,  and 
they  have  ten  children. 

The  family  record  of  children  and  births  are  as  follows :  William, 
born  April  3,  1826 ;  Mary  Ann,  now  deceased,  born  November  19,  1827 ; 
James,  deceased,  born  October  10,  1S29 ;  Sidney,  deceased,  born  October 

2,  1831 ;  Rachael,  born  September  17,  1833,  and  the  wife  of  George  Poff 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        413 

of  Marion;  Barney,  born  in  November,  1835,  and  living  in  Marion; 
Sarah,  deceased,  born  July  22,  1837 ;  Nancy,  born  January  1,  1841,  the 
widow  of  Alexander  Moorehead;  John,  deceased,  born  July  23,  1847; 
and  Matilda,  deceased,  born  February  8,  1850. 

The  Sheron  family  is  of  English  origin,  on  the  paternal  side,  and 
German  on  the  maternal.  The  grandfather  on  the  mother's  side  was 
Dominick,  and  the  paternal  grandfather  was  Andrew  Sheron.  Grand- 
mother Havener's  maiden  name  was  Martha  Upton,  and  Grandmother 
Sheron  was  Nancy  Stephens. 

William  Sheron  went  out  into  the  world  when  eighteen  years  old. 
In  Ohio  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  with  the  man  under 
whom  he  had  worked  he  went  out  to  Illinois,  locating  in  the  old  town 
of  Nauvoo,  a  place  later  famous  for  its  Mormon  settlement.  While 
working  at  his  trade  in  that  town,  he  married  on  July  2,  1848,  Miss 
Prudence  A.  Giffords,  who  was  born  December  22,  1827.  Mr.  Sheron 
lived  in  Nauvoo  for  about  two  years,  then  moved  to  Wapello.  Louisa 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  continued  his  trade  and  remained  for  ten  or 
twelve  years.  From  there  he  came  back  east  locating  in  Grant  county, 
near  Fox  Station.  A  little  later,  during  the  period  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  about  the  close  he  enlisted  as  a  substitute  in  Company  K  of  the 
Fortieth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  in  service  in  time  to  participate  in 
the  Battle  of  Nashville.  Tennessee.  After  the  war,  he  returned  to  Grant 
county,  and  resumed  his  regular  trade.  From  his  father,  whose  coming 
to  Grant  county  has  already  been  noted,  he  bought  a  small  piece  of  land, 
and  was  both  a  shoemaker  and  farmer  for  some  time.  Later  by  trading 
and  by  good  management,  he  acquired  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Monroe  township,  and  finally  sold  and  invested  the  proceeds  in 
Marion  real  estate,  since  which  time  his  home  has  been  in  the  county 
seat.  Mr.  Sharon  is  the  owner  of  several  fine  pieces  of  property  in 
Marion,  and  is  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Sheron  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of 
thirteen  children,  whose  names  and  other  pertinent  facts  of  birth  are 
mentioned  as  follows:  Albert  F.,  born  November  19,  1849,  and  died 
the  same  dav ;  Joseph  A.,  born  September  30,  1851,  and  a  resident  of 
Illinois ;  George,  born  October  14,  1843,  died  March  26,  1854 ;  Edward 
and  Edwin,  twins,  born  March  4, 1855,  the  former  dying  October  2. 1856, 
and  the  latter  October  23.  1855 ;  Elizabeth,  born  February  6,  1857,  now 
living  with  her  father;  John,  born  May  5,  1859,  a  resident  of  Marion; 
Matilda,  born  February  3.  1861,  also  in  Marion ;  Lydia,  born  November 
28.  1S62,  whose  home  is  in  Marion:  Laura  J.,  born  October  21,  1864, 
living  in  Sims;  Thomas,  born  June  17,  1S67,  a  resident  in  Grant  county; 
and  William  E.,  born  October  28.  1869,  died  March  S,  1881.  Mrs. 
Sheron,  the  mother  died  on  the  12th  of  August,  1879.  . 

William  Sheron  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Marion. 
He  was  the  first  janitor  in  the  first  Methodist  church,  assuming  the  posi- 
tion just  after  the  church  was  built,  and  continuing  therein  for  ten  years. 
He  also  served  many  years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  and 
for  several  years  was  class  leader.  He  has  always  been  a  great  worker 
in  the  Methodist  church.  His  only  fraternal  connection  is  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  On  his  eighty-fourth  birthday,  a 
particularly  pleasing  tribute  was  paid  to  him  in  a  shower  of  post  cards, 
on  which  occasion  he  received  more  than  two  hundred  and  thirty-five 
cards.  On  his  attaining  his  eightieth  year,  his  children  presented  him 
with  a  fine  easy  chair.  Mr.  Sheron  is  a  man  who  thinks  a  great  deal 
of  his  children,  of  whom  he  has  eight  still  living,  and  all  of  them  are 
in  good  homes  and  substantially  placed  in  life.  On  Christmas  day, 
1912,  Mr.  Sheron  gave  to  each  of  these  eight  children  a  beautiful  bible, 
each  one  inscribed  with  the  following  original  poem: 


414        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

"There  are  treasures  sublime 
In  this  book  divine 
That  you  never  can  find 
Outside  of  its  lines. 

"This  book  from  your  youth 
You  were  taught  to  revere 
And  I  hope  in  old  age 
It  will  always  be  dear. 

"Your  mother  was  a  reader 
And  she  loved  the  old  book ; 
To  her  it  was  a  blessing 
"When  in  it  she  looked. 

"Read  it,  please  read  it, 
Your  father's  last  will. 
Your  mother's  in  heaven 
But  your  father's  here  still." 


Mark  Needler.  Born  in  Jefferson  township  seventy-eight  years  ago, 
Mark  Needier  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  native  son  of  that 
township.  For  nearly  fourscore  years  his  home  has  been  in  this  one 
locality,  and  he  has  both  witnessed  and  participated  as  a  factor  in  the 
development  of  the  country  and  in  the  long  fight  against  the  wilderness. 
Much  of  the  land  contained  within  his  present  country  homestead  on 
section  twenty-six  of  Jefferson  township  was  first  turned  over  to  the 
sunlight  with  his  own  hands  guiding  the  plow.  He  represents  an  hon- 
ored family  of  pioneers,  and  is  himself  one  of  the  most  esteemed  of  the 
older  Grant  county  citizens. 

His  grandfather  George  Needier  was  born  in  Virginia  and  of  old 
Virginia  stock.  He  married  Sarah  Luck  of  the  same  state.  Some  years 
later,  from  Virginia  they  migrated  to  Guersney  county,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  came  to  Indiana.  On  the  journey  from  Ohio  out  to  Indiana, 
Grandmother  Needier  died  and  was  buried  in  Ohio.  George  Needier 
with  other  members  of  the  family  came  on  to  Grant  county  and  entered 
land  from  the  government.  For  some  reason  or  other  this  land  was 
not  taxed  for  the  first  ten  years,  and  when  the  first  tax  was  laid  on 
these  four  hundred  acres,  which  had  been  located  by  the  family  in  1834, 
it  amounted  to  three  dollars  or  two  coon  skins.  George  Needier  and 
his  sons  started  actively  upon  the  work  of  improvement  and  he  died 
on  the  old  homestead  where  he  settled  in  1834,  when  at  a  good  old  age. 
The  question  has  often  been  asked  as  to  how  long  the  old-fashion  of 
male  customs,  the  knee  breeches  and  high  stockings,  continued  into  the 
last  century,  and  the  query  is  partly  answered  in  the  case  of  grand- 
father George  Needier,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  who  persisted 
in  wearing  that  style  of  clothing,  and  in  many  other  ways  was  distin- 
guished as  an  old  Virginia  gentleman.  He  knew  nearly  everybody  in 
the  country  for  miles  around,  and  was  equally  well  known  and  esteemed 
by  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children, 
including  James,  father  of  Mark  Needier.  James  was  the  second  of 
six  sons,  all  of  whom  came  to  Indiana,  and  he  himself  was  born  in 
Virginia,  but  was  married  in  Ohio,  and  from  that  state  came  to  Grant 
county  in  1834.  In  Ohio  he  married  Rebecca  Ward,  who  was  the 
mother  of  his  children.  Four  of  these  children,  Sarah,  Eliza  J.,  George 
and  John  were  born  in  Ohio.     James  Needier  on  coming  to  Indiana, 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  415 

entered  four  hundred  acres  on  his  own  account,  and  lived  then-  and 
developed  a  splendid  farm.  The  first  home  and  probably  the  one  in 
which  -Mark  Needier  was  born  was  a  log  cabin  built  in  the  crude  fashion, 
with  round  logs,  a  mud  and  stick  chimney,  the  roof  being  of  clapboards, 
held  down  with  small  logs  or  poles.  James  Needier  and  wife  worked 
hard,  and  though  they  lived  in  the  wilderness  for  many  years  they 
gradually  prospered  and  did  well  by  their  descendants.  All  their  chil- 
dren we're  reared  to  maturity  except  one.  James  Needier  died  in  his 
eighty-fourth  vear,  about  1894.  and  his  wife  passed  away  twenty-five 
years*  before  his  death.  She  was  a  Methodist  and  he  a  Presbyterian. 
Of  their  children  born  after  they  came  to  Grant  county,  Mark  was  the 
first,  and  the  others  were:  Mary  Ann;  James;  Sarah  E.  (II),  Joseph, 
Melissa.  Rebecca,  and  "William  F.  All  these  children  married  and  had 
families  except  Mary  A.  and  Sarah  E..  the  former  of  whom  died  at 
the  age  of  eight  years  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  There  are 
four  sons  and  two  daughters  still  living. 

Mark  Needier  was  born  in  Jefferson  township  of  Grant  county.  No- 
vember IT.  1835.  Grant  county  had  been  organized  with  a  separate 
government  only  four  years  at  the  time  of  his  birth,  and  within  his  life- 
time have  occurred  practically  every  improvement  and  every  important 
advance  towards  the  civilized  conveniences  which  Grant  county  people 
now  enjoy  in  such  profusion.  Mr.  Needier  grew  up  on  a  farm,  had  an 
education  in  one  of  the  old-fashioned  school  houses,  and  has  always 
followed  the  vocation  to  which  he  was  trained,  and  his  thrifty  nature 
and  commendable  industry  have  enabled  him  to  lay  up  an  ample  com- 
petence for  his  declining  years.  At  the  present  time  he  owns  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  all  of  which  he  has  improved  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  acres,  and  he  was  the  first  to  strike  a  plow  into  the  soil. 
All  the  buildings  are  a  result  of  his  planning  and  management,  and  for 
forty  years  this  place  has  been  his  home.  A  Democrat  in  polities  he 
follows  the  Democratic  faith,  but  has  never  sought  any  office  or  any 
honors  from  his  party.  Mr.  Needier  was  married  at  Jefferson  township, 
to  Mary  E.  Secrest,  who  was  born  May  31,  1845,  and  has  always  lived 
in  this  township.  She  has  been  one  of  the  best  of  wives  and  mothers, 
and  is  a  fine  type  of  Grant  county  womanhood.  Her  parents  were 
Abraham  and  Mary  (Fischel)  Secrest.  both  natives  of  Virginia.  They 
were  married  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Grant  county  in 
the  decade  of  the  thirties,  where  Abraham  Secrest  got  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  government  and  also  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  which  had  been  previously  settled.  He  did  a  large 
portion  of  the  clearing  and  improving  of  both  quarter  sections,  and 
was  a  man  who  left  many  evidences  of  his  industry  and  fine  manage- 
ment as  a  farmer  and  business  man.  He  and  his  wife  lived  in  Jeffer- 
son township  until  their  death.  Their  first  home  was  built  of  round 
logs,  which  in  a  short  time  was  replaced  by  a  house  of  hewed  logs,  and 
that  finally  by  a  substantial  frame  house,  where  they  lived  for  many 
years.  In  that  old  home  he  died  in  1S90  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  They  were  prominent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  this  part  of  Indiana, 
and  the  first  society  in  the  neighborhood  held  its  meetings  for  some 
time  in  the  Secrest  residence,  and  also  in  the  neighboring  school  houses. 
Abraham  Secrest  voted  the  Democratic  ticket  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  finally  turned  Republican.  Of  their  three  children  still  living, 
besides  Mrs.  Needier,  there  are  William  Kyle,  whose  home  is  in  Jefferson 
township,  and  who  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters;  and  Sarah  A., 
the  widow  of  Joseph  Reasoner.  who  lives  with  her  daughter  Mary  in 
California.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needier  have  had  no  children  of  their  own. 


416  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

but  have  opened  the  doors  of  their  home  and  have  bestowed  a  wealth 
of  affection  on  three  adopted  children.  The  first  of  these  was  Carrie 
Smiley,  whom  they  educated  and  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Oliver  Reasoner, 
living  in  Oklahoma  City,  and  they  have  one  son  Philip.  The  second 
child  was  Philota  Kirkpatrick,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
The  third  was  Charley  Nickerson,  whose  home  is  in  Princeton,  Indiana, 
and  who  has  three  children,  Amanda,  Violet,  and  Mark.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Needier  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  faith. 

Augustin  Kem.  Among  the  native  sons  of  Indiana  who  make  their 
home  in  Marion,  is  Augustin  Kem.  Mr.  Kem  belongs  to  that  class  of 
men  who  have  made  the  central  states  the  great  stronghold  of  power 
and  stability  which  they  have  become.  This  generation  of  men,  most  of 
whom  came  with  their  parents  across  the  mountains  and  settled  in  this 
region  when  it  was  backwoods  country,  have  clung  to  the  sturdy  virtues 
and  firm  principles  of  their  New  England  and  Virginian  ancestors. 
Living  in  an  agricultural  section  they  retained  the  qualities  which  made 
it  possible  for  a  handful  of  Colonial  soldiers  to  conquer  Great  Britain's 
armies,  longer  perhaps  than  the  people  of  any  other  section,  and  Mr. 
Kem  is  a  typical  example  of  this  type. 

Augustin  Kem  was  born  in  "Wayne  county,  Indiana  in  the  country 
between  Centerville  and  Richmond,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1842.  His 
father  was  John  Kem  and  his  mother  was  Ann  (Russell)  Kem.  The 
Kem  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  although  the  Russells  were 
probably  English  also,  it  is  not  definitely  known  just  where  they 
originated  in  the  mother  country.  The  ancestors  of  both  families, 
however,  came  to  this  country  during  the  days  when  the  New  England 
colonies  were  being  settled.  The  Kerns  settled  in  Virginia  where  they 
lived  until  1829  when  they  emigrated  to  Indiana. 

It  was  on  the  3rd  of  October,  1853,  that  Augustin  Kem  came  with 
his  parents  into  Grant  county.  He  was  one  of  seven  children  and  the 
whole  family  occupied  a  log  cabin  of  one  room,  the  only  other  building 
on  the  place  being  a  smoke  house.  Two  acres  were  cleared  land  and 
the  rest  of  the  farm  was  virgin  forest,  alive  with  coon,  opossum,  grey 
squirrel,  wild  turkey,  a  few  deer  and  an  occasional  wolf  It  was  a  hard 
struggle  with  the  forces  of  the  wilderness  and  every  foot  won  from  the 
forest  was  a  glorious  victory  for  civilization.  Loneliness  and  hard  work 
was  the  portion  of  every  frontier  family  but  at  least  they  were  in  no 
danger  of  starvation  with  the  woods  full  of  game.  In  the  winter  of 
1854  after  a  snowfall  of  thirty  inches  John  Kem  and  a  neighbor  while 
out  hunting  came  across  a  track  in  the  snow  which  looked  like  a  bear 
track.  Even  at  this  date  bears  were  extremely  scarce  in  this  section 
and  they  set  forth  in  great  excitement  to  capture  this  specimen.  They 
followed  the  tracks  for  some  time  and  finally  the  object  of  their  hunt 
took  refuge  in  a  hollow  tree  of  considerable  height.  The  only  thing  to 
do  was  to  chop  the  tree  down  but  this  was  no  great  feat  for  the  two 
sturdy  backwoodsmen  and  soon  the  tree  came  crashing  down.  With 
guns  ready  to  fire  the  two  men  approached  the  place  where  a  scuffling 
told  them  their  quarry  was  and  to  their  chagrin  they  discovered  the 
supposed  bear  to  be  only  a  porcupine.  Mr.  Kem,  our  subject,  who  saw 
it  after  they  brought  it  home,  says  this  is  the  nearest  he  ever  came  to 
seeing  a  wild  bear  in  Grant  county. 

Augustin  Kem  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  helping  to  cultivate 
the  cleared  land  and  each  year  aiding  in  driving  the  forest  farther  back. 
He  obtained  what  little  education  he  could  from  the  backwoods  school, 
during  the  long  winters  when  it  was  too  cold  to  work.  This  was  his 
life  until  1861  when  the  news  of  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter  set  the 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        417 

country  afire  with  patriotism  and  the  determination  to  keep  the  Union 
undivided  if  it  took  every  man  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  Grant 
county  went  wild  and  when  the  call  for  the  three  months'  volunteers 
was  issued  almost  every  able  bodied  man  in  the  county  hastened  to 
offer  his  services.  There  was  not  room  for  so  many,  however,  and  the 
ranks  were  quickly  tilled,  leaving  many  disappointed  would-be  soldiers. 
Then  came  an  idle  spell  when  the  only  thought  in  the  minds  of  every 
man  was  what  was  transpiring  at  the  front  and  news  was  the  best 
selling  commodity  of  the  day.  Patriotism  remained  at  fever  heat  and 
when  the  call  was  issued  for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  there 
was  a  rush  to  enlist,  every  man  being  afraid  that  all  the  places  would 
be  filled  before  he  reached  the  recruiting  station.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  Augustin  Kern  enlisted.  He  went  into  the  service  on  the  5th  of 
September,  1861,  in  Company  "F"  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment  of 
Indiana  Infantry,  in  a  three  years'  term  of  enlistment.  He  only  served 
two  years  and  three  months,  however,  being  discharged  on  account  of 
failing  health  at  New  Iberia,  Louisiana.  He  returned  home  sadly 
incapacitated  by  ill  health  but  after  a  few  months'  rest  he  was  able  to 
return  to  active  life  again.  For  a  few  months  he  attended  school,  being 
ambitious  to  complete  the  education  which  the  war  had  interrupted. 
He  then  became  a  school  master  for  a  time  and  then  an  event  occurred 
which  changed  his  whole  life.  As  Mr.  Kem  himself  phrases  it,  "there 
came  a  little,  bewitching,  black-eyed  Holman  girl," — Lauretta  Holman 
the  daughter  of  Nicholas  D.  Holman  and  Minerva  (Massey)  Holman. 
Mr.  Kem  and  Lauretta  Holman  were  married  on  the  26th  of  September, 
l!>6S.  Mrs.  Kem  is  of  Puritan  ancestry  but  her  parents  came  to  Indiana 
from  North  Carolina  and  Kentucky.  She  was  born  in  Grant  county, 
Indiana,  on  June  21,  1850.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kem  have  had  a  long  and 
happy  married  life  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children, 
Oren  E.  and  Anna  M.  They  have  seven  grandchildren,  as  follows: 
Edith  I.  and  Carter  0.  Kem,  and  Lowell  K.,  Kenneth  G.,  Lawrence  A., 
Oren  Robert,  and  Augustin  Donald  Morrow. 

Until  within  the  past  ten  years  Augustin  Kem  and  his  wife  have 
lived  on  their  farm,  but  ten  years  ago  he  retired  from  the  active  life 
of  the  farm  and  came  into  Marion  to  live,  making  his  home  here  since 
that  time.  In  religious  matters  all  of  the  family  have  been  Methodists 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Kem  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party. 
Mr.  Kem  served  from  1905  to  1907  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and 
for  the  past  three  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Marion  Board  of  Park 
Commissioners.  He  is  a  member  of  Gen.  Shunck  Post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R., 
of  which  he  is  Past  Commander.  He  is  also  a  Mason,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

Whisler  Family.  Since  the  year  1838  the  Whisler  Family  has  been 
identified  with  Marion  and  Grant  county.  In  this  time  five  generations 
of  the  family  have  lived  in  Marion,  and  during  all  this  time  the  name 
has  been  associated  with  industry  and  integrity  in  business  relations 
and  with  the  worthiest  qualities  of  citizenship  and  personal  character. 

For  manj'  years  Jacob  Whisler,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Marion, 
was  the  village  inn  keeper  at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania.  His  inn 
was  called  the  Whisler  House.  It  was  a  well  known  place  and  a  landmark 
at  that  time.  One  of  the  features  which  made  it  attractive  to  travelers 
was  its  immense  stone  barn. 

Jacob  Whisler  in  1838  sold  out  this  business  and  came  overland  to 
Mai-ion  with  his  family,  arriving  in  the  springtime  when  the  roads  were 
very  bad.  and  horses  had  to  be  hitched  tandem  to  pull  the  wagons 
through  miring  ways.    After  a  long  and  laborious  journey  they  reached 


418        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

their  destination  and  settled  two  miles  east  of  Marion.  Jacob  Whisler 
was  born  in  1776,  the  year  of  American  Independence,  and  died  in  1S63, 
aged  87.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  Mundobaugh.  In 
the  family  were  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Jacob  Whisler,  son  of  Jacob  Whisler,  and  representing  the  second 
generation  in  Marion,  was  born  1817,  learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade, 
carrying  it  on  many  years.  He  was  the  first  Democrat  elected  to  any 
office  in  Grant  county,  being  elected  County  Treasurer  in  1854.  Leaving 
the  office  at  the  end  of  his  term,  he  ran  a  general  store  until  1864  when  he 
retired.  His  wife  was  a  Marion  girl,  Weltha  A.  Horton,  born  1818. 
They  lived  many  years  on  Adams  street  just  north  of  Fifth,  and  later 
at  the  old  homestead  in  North  Marion.  Jacob  Whisler  died  in  1875,  and 
his  wife  in  1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters; 
Mary  married  John  Fitzgerald,  and  Martha  married  Ed  Weaver. 

Leroy  M.  Whisler,  the  son  of  the  family  last  named,  was  born 
October  23,  1844,  in  Marion.  He  married  Matilda  M.  McKinney, 
daughter  of  Fielding  S.  McKinney,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
the  county.  Roy  Whisler,  as  he  always  was  called,  followed  the  tin 
and  hardware  business,  succeeding  his  father,  but  since  1900  has  lived 
a  retired  life.  For  the  last  15  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whisler  have  spent 
the  winters  in  Florida. 

The  fourth  generation  of  the  Whisler  family  in  Marion  includes  the 
three  sons  of  Leroy  M.  Whisler  and  wife.  The  oldest  Jasper  L.  Whisler, 
born  August  30,  1871,  is  a  watchmaker  and  jeweler  by  trade,  and  has  a 
jewelry  store  on  the  north  side  of  the  square  for  20  years.  There  are 
probably  very  few  persons  who  have  a  larger  personal  acquaintance  in 
Marion  and  the  surrounding  country  than  he  has.  His  wife  was  Viola 
M.  Cramer;  they  have  one  daughter,  Margaret,  born  December  1,  1896. 

Ralph  P.  Whisler,  the  second  son,  is  a  contractor,  and  located  at 
Richmond,  Ind.  He  married  Mirriam  Hiatt;  they  have  one  son,  Leroy 
Whisler.  Jacob  Whisler,  the  youngest  son  of  Leroy  M.  Whisler  and 
wife,  is  a  traveling  man.  He  has  been  with  the  National  Cash  Register 
Company  for  many  years,  generally  traveling  in  the  west.  Leroy,  the 
son  of  Ralph  and  Margaret  Whisler,  daughter  of  Jasper  Whisler 
represent  the  fifth  generation  of  the  Whislers. 

There  are  still  in  existence  several  very  dear  keepsakes  of  the 
original  Jacob  Whisler.  Among  these  is  the  very  fine  old  wall  sweep 
clock,  nine  feet  high,  and  in  perfect  preservation.  It  is  still  ticking  in 
the  home  of  Jasper  L.  (Jap)  Whisler.  The  clock  was  brought  overland 
from  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  in  1838  by  Jacob  Whisler.  Several  old  pewter 
plates  are  among  the  family  relics,  and  are  tenderly  handled  for 
precious  associations. 

Rev.  Hikam  Harvey.  No  history  of  old  Grant  county  families  would 
be  complete  without  some  space  devoted  to  the  Harvey  family.  It  has 
lived  in  this  county  sixty-five  years.  A  beautiful  farmstead  on  section 
thirty-four  of  Liberty  township  is  occupied  by  Rev.  Hiram  Harvey,  and 
the  same  land  was  cleared  and  cultivated  by  his  grandfather  and  father 
successively.  Rev.  Harvey's  farm  comprises  ninety  acres  and  in  every 
attribute  and  impi-ovement,  is  a  farm  of  the  highest  class,  and  one 
that  might  well  serve  as  a  model  of  progressive  Grant  county  agricul- 
ture. Some  of  the  conspicuous  features  about  this  place  are  a  com- 
modious and  comfortable  white  house,  with  a  correspondingly  white 
barn,  and  flanking  the  farm  buildings  is  a  large  silo  with  eighty  tons 
capacity.  In  section  thirty-five  of  the  same  township,  Mr.  Harvey  owns 
another  tract  of  sixty  acres.  All  this  land  is  cultivated  up  to  the  very 
highest  efficiency,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  is  as  great  now  as  it  was 


BLACKFORD  AND  CKANT  COi'XTIKS  419 

seventy  years  ago,  and  the  annual  product  represents  a  neat  sum  in 
the  regular  income  of  the  owner.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a  man  of  large  and 
wholesome  character,  with  strong  spiritual  tendencies.  He  is  trustee 
of  the  endowment  fund  of  the  Fairmount  Academy,  a  fund  now  amount- 
ing to  more  than  twenty-two  thousand  dollars.  He  is  also  Evangelist 
superintendent  of  the  'Quaker  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  his  wife  is 
Sunday  school  superintendent  of  that  meeting. 

The  history  of  the  Harvey  family  begins  with  five  brothers  who 
came  from  North  Carolina  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  years  ago.  One  of  these  brothers  was  Eli  Harvey,  great- 
grandfather of  Rev.  Hiram  Harvey.  When  a  young  married  man  he 
brought  his  family  to  Ohio,  and  at  that  time  his  sou  William,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  child.  William  Harvey  was  born  about  1789,  grew 
up  on  the  family  home  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  in  that  locality  Eli 
and  wife  died.  They  were  staunch  members  of  the  Quaker  church,  and 
industrious  and  quiet  living  farmers.  William  Harvey  grew  up  in 
Clinton  county,  took  up  farming  as  his  vocation,  and  married  Ruth 
Hadley.  Later  they  moved  to  Indiana,  and  became  early  settlers  in 
Morgan  county,  near  Moorsville.  In  Morgan  county  were  some  of  their 
children  born,  including  Jehu  Harvey,  born  in  1833.  In  1848  William 
Harvey  and  wife  and  family  came  to  Grant  county,  and  secured  land 
which  was  almost  new  and  largely  unbroken  in  section  thirty -four  of 
Liberty  township.  The  industry  of  William  Harvey  was  largely 
responsible  for  the  improvement  and  clearing  of  this  land,  and  though 
the  family  first  lived  in  one  of  the  typical  log  cabins  that  habitation 
was  later  replaced  by  a  good  house  and  many  other  improvements 
testified  to  the  sturdy  and  ambitious  character  of  the  Harvey  race. 
William  Harvey  died  when  ninety-four  year  of  age,  and  was  preceded 
by  his  wife  many  years  before,  her  death  occurring  sometime  between 
1850  and  1852.  Both  were  birthright  Quakers,  and  belonged  to  the 
Little  Ridge  church.  The  family  of  nine  sons  and  three  daughters  of 
William  Harvey  and  wife  are  mentioned  as  follows :  David,  Jonathan, 
William,  Eli,  Mahlon,  Jehu.  Sidney,  Alvin,  Hiram,  Sallie,  Rebecca,  and 
Mary.  Of  the  sons  Alvin  and  Hiram  died,  the  former  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of  seven.  All  the  others  grew  up 
and  were  married  and  had  families.  The  daughters,  with  the  exception 
of  one,  had  children. 

Jehu  Harvey,  the  father,  was  as  already  stated,  born  in  1833,  and 
was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Grant  county.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  after  reaching  manhood  he 
married  Rebecca  Reader,  a  daughter  of  Spencer  and  Julia  (Cox) 
Reader.  The  Readers  are  a  family  of  prominent  old  settlers  of  Liberty 
township,  and  are  mentioned  in  other  parts  of  this  volume.  Jehu 
Harvey  and  wife  located  on  a  farm  in  Liberty  township,  and  owned  and 
operated  it  successfully  for  some  years,  gradually  acquiring  other  lands 
and  improving  them.  His  death  occurred  in  1875  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  son  Hiram  in  section  thirty-four.  For  some  years 
he  had  been  in  poor  health.  His  widow  still  lives,  is  hale  and 
hearty  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Both  parents  were  birthright 
Quakers,  and  worshipped  at  the  Little  Ridge  church.  Mrs.  Harvey  has 
for  years  been  an  elder  in  the  Friends  church.  The  politics  of  Jehu 
Harvey  was  Republican. 

Nine  children  were  the  fruit  of  the  union  of  Jehu  Harvey  and  wife, 
and  are  mentioned  as  follows :  1.  Hirani.  2.  Edwin  is  a  farmer,  was 
twice  married,  lives  in  Liberty  township,  and  there  is  one  living  child 
by  each  wife.  3.  William  R.  lives  on  a  farm  in  section  thirty-four  of 
Liberty  township.    4.  Cynthia,  died  when  a  young  woman  of  seventeen 


420  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

years.  5.  Ellen  married  Amiziah  Beason,  a  merchant,  now  in  business 
in  the  Province  of  Saskatchewan,  Canada,  and  has  four  children. 
6.  Julia,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  7.  Mary,  married  Hiram  Jarrett, 
a  farmer  in  Hancock  county,  Indiana,  and  has  two  living  children. 
8.  Mina,  was  the  eighth  child.  9.  Alice,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
unmarried. 

Rev.  Hiram  Harvey,  who  was  the  oldest  son  and  the  first  child 
in  order  of  birth,  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  April  1,  1863.  His 
home  has  been  here  all  his  life,  and  he  now  owns  and  occupies  a  farm 
cultivated  by  both  his  father  and  grandfather.  His  early  education 
was  better  than  ordinary,  since  he  had  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools,  and  later  three  years  in  the  county  normal  and  one  year  in 
the  state  normal.  When  a  little  passed  twenty  years  of  age  he  began 
teaching,  his  first  school  being  the  Marks  school  district  number  four 
in  Sims  township.  After  three  winters  of  teaching  he  took  up  his 
regular  vocation  as  a  farmer.  In  1899  his  comfortable  dwelling  was 
destroyed  by  fire  and  was  at  once  replaced  with  the  present  modern 
residence,  one  of  the  most  attractive  in  Liberty  township.  Mr.  Harvey 
believes  in  the  rotary  principal  of  growing  crops,  and  his  land  is 
divided  into  convenient  fields  and  successively  cropped  with  oats,  corn, 
wheat,  alfalfa,  and  other  staple  crops  of  Grant  county.  His  stock 
consists  principally  of  the  Red  Durock  swine,  and  practically  all  the 
grain  and  forage  products  of  the  farm  are  fed  to  the  stock. 

Mr.  Harvey  was  married  in  Fairmount  township  to  Miss  Sara  E., 
usually  called  Sadie,  Bell,  a  daughter  of  William  Bell,  of  a  prominent 
family  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Harvey  was  born  in 
Randolph  county,  North  Carolina,  March  17,  1864.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Indiana,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Alva,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  four  and  a  half  years;  and  Russell  T.,  now  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  the  husband  of  May  Woodruff,  and  they  live  on  the  farm 
with  Mr.  Harvey.  Mr.  Harvey  was  for  many  years  an  elder  in  the 
Friends  Society,  and  for  the  past  six  years  has  been  a  minister  of  the 
Friends  Church.  Mrs.  Harvey  is  an  elder  in  that  society.  Practically 
ever  since  he  cast  his  first  vote,  Mr.  Harvey  has  supported  the  Prohibi- 
tion cause. 

Alva  L.  Horner.  Jefferson  township's  prosperous  farmers  and 
leading  citizens  include  Alva  L.  Horner,  whose  home  is  on  section 
fourteen  of  that  township,  with  Upland  as  his  post  office.  During  a 
residence  there  of  more  than  twenty  years,  Mr.  Horner  has  given  an 
illustration  of  what  can  be  done  in  making  a  farm  a  business  enterprise, 
and  his  estate,  known  as  Greenview  Farm,  is  one  of  the  best  in  agricul- 
tural community. 

Mr.  Horner  comes  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ancestry,  on  his  father's 
side,  his  grandfather  Andrew  Horner  having  been  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
In  Virginia,  he  married  Nacy  Walker,  born  in  that  old  commonwealth, 
and  after  their  marriage  they  lived  in  Pennsylvania  for  several  years. 
Andrew  Horner  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  operated  flour  mills  in 
Pennsylvania  and  elsewhere.  After  two  children  were  born  to  them 
in  Pennsylvania,  they  moved  to  Ohio,  during  the  twenties,  and  in 
Miami  county  of  that  state  was  born  on  April  20.  1834,  David  Horner, 
father  of  Alva  L.  In  ]  852  the  family  moved  to  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
locating  on  a  partly  improved  farm  in  section  twenty-three  of  Jefferson 
township.  That  was  the  home  of  Andrew  Horner  until  his  death.  He 
passed  away  when  he  was  sixty  years  of  age,  and  a  few  years  after  the 
Civil  war.  '  His  wife  died  some  twenty  years  later,  when  eighty-six 
years  old.  They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  David 
and  Andrew  were  Republicans  in  politics. 


3 


3 


■I    -***» 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        421 

David  Horner  was  eighteen  years  old  when  the  family  moved  to 
Grant  county,  and  not.  long  afterwards  he  went  further  west  to  Bureau 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  farming,  for  an  uncle  James 
Walker.  At  the  age  of  twenty-eight  and  still  unmarried  he  returned 
to  Grant  county,  and  in  section  twenty-three  of  Jefferson  township, 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  comprising  forty  acres.  He  was  a  man 
of  enterprise,  was  a  hard  worker,  and  used  good  business  judgment  in 
increasing  his  property,  and  to  the  first  purchase  added  forty  acres,  then 
eighty  acres,  followed  by  seventy  acres,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned  in  the  aggregate  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  fine  Grant 
county  real  estate.  Nearly  all  that  land  was  well  improved,  and  had 
two  sets  of  farm  buildings.  David  Horner  died  at  Upland  July  1,  1908, 
having  lived  in  the  village  the  last  six  years  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  but  never  affiliated  with  any  church. 

David  Horner  was  married  in  Jefferson  township  to  Miss  Mary 
McPherren,  who  was  born  in  Grant  county,  in  Jefferson  township,  June 
6,  1839,  and  now  lives  at  Upland,  a  well  preserved  old  lady,  seventy- 
four  years  of  age.  Her  father,  James  McPherren,  came  from  Ohio  to 
Grant  county,  and  entered  land  from  the  government,  but  later  sold 
out  and  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  lived  until  his  wife's  death,  and 
then  came  back  to  Grant  county,  and  died  here  when  about  four  score 
years  of  age.  For  a  number  of  years  he  followed  his  trade  of  black- 
smith, and  kept  a  shop  on  his  farm,  and  attended  to  the  wants  of  his 
community  in  that.  line.  James  McPherren  was  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  a  Presbyterian  in  faith.  He  and  five  of  his  sons,  named  John,  Calvin, 
Martin,  Jesse,  and  George,  were  all  soldiers  in  Illinois  regiments  during 
the  war,  and  George  was  killed  in  the  first  battle  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged.  All  the  others  lived  and  returned  safely  with  the  excep- 
tion of  slight  wounds  and  are  still  living.  Alva  L.  Horner,  the  oldest 
of  his  father's  family,  has  the  following  brothers  and  sisters  living: 
I.  Elzora,  who  is  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead,  and  has  one  son  and 
one  daughter ;  Anna,  who  married  James  A.  Wilson,  a  farmer  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  and  is  the  mother  of  a  son  and  a  daughter;  Harry  L. 
was  educated  in  Taylor  University  at  Upland,  and  the  State  University 
at  Bloomington,  taking  other  special  courses  in  Normal  School,  and  is 
new  instructor  in  mathematics  in  the  Chicago  public  schools,  and  is 
married  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter  living.  The  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  Arzie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years ;  James,  who  died 
after  his  marriage;  Lydia  Roberta,  who  died  after  her  marriage  to 
Charles  Pugh,  and  left  one  daughter. 

Alva  L.  Horner  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, March  21,  1862,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  lived  at  home  and 
assisted  his  father  in  managing  the  estate  and  contributing  his  labor  to 
the  support  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family  until  he  was  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  preparing  for  an 
independent  career,  and  had  bought  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section 
fourteen.  Since  taking  possession  of  that  place  he  has  developed  it  into 
a  profitable  and  beautiful  homestead.  In  addition  to  his  farm  of  sixty 
acres  he  also  owns  forty  acres  of  the  old  homestead.  His  residence 
is  a  comfortable  building,  standing  in  the  midst  of  trees,  and  painted 
white,  and  his  barn  is  on  a  foundation  thirty  by  forty-four  feet,  and 
built  on  modern  principles  of  barn  architecture.  He  keeps  good  grade 
of  stock,  and  his  farm  is  getting  better  every  year. 

Mr.  Horner  was  married  in  Mercer  county.  Illinois,  to  Nellie  Sharer. 
She  was  born  in  Mercer  county.  Illinois,  February  20,  1875,  and  lived 
there  until  her  marriage.  Her  parents  were  George  Adam  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Morgan)  Sharer.    Her  father  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  New 


422  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

York,  April  17,  1828,  and  died  September  6,  1892.  Her  mother  was 
born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  20,  1842,  and  died 
June  27,  1900.  They  were  married  near  Alexis,  Illinois,  and  lived  as 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  Mercer  county,  until  their  death.  They 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  Mr.  Sharer  was  a  Repub- 
lican. Of  their  ten  children,  five  are  still  living,  and  Mr.  Sharer  had 
three  children  by  his  previous  marriage  to  Sarah  Whitten,  who  died 
in  the  prime  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horner  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  one  of 
whom  died  unnamed.  The  survivor  is  Willard  Sharer  Horner,  born 
July  17,  1902,  and  now  in  the  Matthews  grade  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Horner  attend  the  Shiloh  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  vote 
is  usually  cast  in  the  Republican  interest. 

Horace  N.  Tbueblood.  One  of  the  definite  and  undeniably  success- 
ful enterprises  of  Marion  is  the  Marion  Steam  Laundry,  established 
here  in  April,  1895,  by  him  whose  name  introduces  this  brief  sketch. 
Mr.  Trueblood's  rise  in  the  laundry  business  has  been  steady,  and  has 
come  from  a  beginning,  modest  in  the  extreme,  but  well  conducted  and 
prosperous  since  its  inception.  The  force  of  workers  in  the  laundry  has 
grown  from  six  to  thirty-nine,  and  every  phase  of  the  work  has 
advanced  in  accordance.  The  record  of  the  place  is  all  sufficient  to 
firmly  establish  Mr.  Trueblood  among  the  successful  and  capable 
business  men  of  the  city,  and  his  position  is  one  that  he  amply  deserves. 
Horace  N.  Trueblood  was  born  on  December  21,  1861,  near  New 
London,  Howard  county,  Indiana,  on  the  farm  home  of  his  parents, 
who  were  William  and  Ruth  E.  (Dixon)  Trueblood,  both  natives  of 
North  Carolina.  The  mother  was  a  granddaughter  of  Jonathan 
Lindley,  who  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  established  the  site 
for  the  Indiana  State  University  at  Bloomington,  receiving  his  appoint- 
ment to  that  commission  by  President  Madison.  He  was  in  his  day  a 
wealthy  man  and  one  of  exceeding  great  prominence  in  his  part  of  the 
state. 

Horace  N.  Trueblood  comes  of  fine  old  Quaker  stock,  both  on  the 
paternal  and  maternal  sides,  and  the  instincts  and  training  of  the 
faith  have  in  a  measure  guided  his  life  in  its  devious  paths  and  have 
had  much  to  do  with  the  shaping  of  his  career.  The  public  schools  of 
Kokomo,  whither  the  family  removed  when  he  was  but  a  small  boy, 
provided  him  with  his  education  chiefly,  and  after  finishing  his  schooling 
he  was  for  some  years  identified  with  the  shoe  business  in  the  city.  In 
April,  1895,  when  he  was  thirty-four  years  old,  he  came  to  Marion,  and 
here,  casting  about  for  a  suitable  business  opening  for  an  ambitious 
and  hardworking  man,  he  chanced  upon  a  small  and  then  unsuccessful 
laundry  business,  the  same  having  been  established  in  the  city  by  Ira 
Gage  some  six  months  previous.  The  place  was  known  as  the  Marion 
Steam  Laundry,  and  when  Mr.  Trueblood  came  into  ownership  of  the 
plant,  he  continued  its  operation  under  the  name  by  which  the  public 
had  already  come  to  be  more  or  less  familiar  with  it.  The  successive 
growth  and  development  of  the  laundry  to  its  present  flourishing  state 
would  require  more  space  than  is  available  at  this  point,  but  it  will 
suffice  to  say  that  the  laundry  today  is  one  of  the  best  equipped,  best 
managed  and  best  operated  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  city  and 
county.  The  plant  is  thoroughly  modern,  with  the  most  approved  and 
intricate  machinery  for  the  minimizing  of  labor  and  the  producing  of 
high  class  work,  and  every  facility  known  to  the  laundry  business  is 
here  employed.  The  phenomenal  growth  of  the  business  has  been  in 
accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  manager  and  owner,  and  the  laundry 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        423 

has  a  reputation  for  fine  work  and  quick  service  that  is  one  of  its  most 
valuable  assets. 

Mr.  Trueblood  was  married  on  October  1.  1889,  to  .Miss  Anna  M. 
Willette,  the  daughter  of  Peter  Willette,  who  pioneered  to  I  lalifornia  in 
1849  in  quest  of  gold  and  fortune.  To  them  were  born  four  children, 
namely:  Fred  W.,  now  twenty-three  years  old.  and  a  graduate  from 
the  Indiana  State  University  at  Bloomington;  Ruth  A.,  now  nineteen 
years  old,  is  a  student  at  Purdue  University,  in  Lafayette,  Indiana, 
where  she  is  in  pursuit  of  a  higher  knowledge  of  domestic  science; 
Mark  Sherwin,  aged  thirteen,  and  Horace  Dixon,  now  seven  years  old, 
complete  the  family  roster,  and  are  spending  their  days  in  school, 
preparatory  to  useful  existences  in  the  world  in  future  days. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  True- 
blood  is  fraternally  identified  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his  political  tendencies  are  those 
of  a  Republican,  although  he  is  in  no  sense  a  politician,  and  has  never 
held  public  office  in  all  the  years  of  his  career  thus  far.  His  civic  record 
for  usefulness  and  loyalty  is  a  fine  one,  and  his  citizenship  is  one  of  the 
highest  order,  and  of  which  the  community  may  well  be  proud. 

Frank  Mullen.  Among  the  young  business  men  of  Grant  county 
who  have  made  prominent  places  for  themselves  in  their  various  com- 
munities as  enterprising  and  progressive  operators,  one  may  be 
especially  mentioned  in  this  connection, — Frank  Mullen,  one  time 
teacher  and  farmer,  but  since  1911  prominently  identified  with  the  real 
estate  business  in  Marion.  During  the  years  when  he  was  occupied 
with  farming  activities,  he  held  a  most  prominent  place  in  Washington 
township,  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  more  influential  and 
successful  men  of  his  community.  His  record  in  his  later  business 
venture  is  none  the  less  creditable,  and  he  rightly  enjoys  the  esteem 
and  high  regard  of  all  who  share  in  his  acquaintance. 

Born  on  June  22,  1872,  on  the  farm  home  of  the  family  in  Grant 
county,  Frank  Mullen  is  the  son  of  John  and  Cassie  (Miller)  Mullen. 
The  father  claims  the  state  of  Ohio  as  his  native  place  and  the  mother 
is  an  Indianian.  They  are  farming  people  who  yet  make  their  home 
in  Franklin  township,  where  they  have  long  enjoyed  the  comforts  of 
quiet  country  life.  Three  children  were  born  to  them.  One  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen,  and  besides  the  subject  they  have  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Lulu  McFarland. 

Frank  Mullen  was  born'  on  the  home  farm,  as  has  been  stated 
previously,  and  his  early  education  was  found  in  the  public  schools. 
His  parents  were  people  who  recognized  the  worth  of  an  education,  and 
gave  to  their  son  every  possible  advantage  along  lines  of  training. 
His  two  years  at  Fairmount  Academy  were  followed  by  two  years  in  the 
Marion  Normal  College,  where  he  received  an  excellent  preparation 
for  the  work  of  teaching,  in  which  he  was  for  four  years  engaged  after 
he  finished  his  college  work.  His  educational  work  was  carried  on  in 
Grant  county,  in  Washington  township  for  the  most  part,  but  he  began 
to  feel  the  call  of  the  soil  after  a  few  years  of  his  pedagogic  life,  and 
consequently  returned  to  the  farm  and  thereafter  gave  his  mind  and 
muscle  to  the  work  of  that  enterprise,  continuing  successfully  until 
November,  1911,  when  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Marion, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Westfall  &  Mullen.  They  have  since  carried  on 
a  thriving  business  in  real  estate,  and  are  reckoned  with  the  most 
successful  of  that  class  of  business  men  in  Marion. 

During  the  years  when  Mr.  Mullen  was  occupied  with  his  farm  in 
Huntington  county,  he  was  serving  much  of  the  time  as  trustee  of 


424  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

"Wayne  township,  and  he  bore  the  distinction  in  those  days  of  being 
the  youngest  trustee  in  service  in  the  entire  state.  He  is  a  man  who 
has  ever  displayed  a  generous  minded  interest  in  the  civic  and  political 
affairs  of  his  community,  and  his  support  has  always  been  given  to 
worthy  enterprises  and  movements  that  might  be  promulgated  in  his 
town  and  county. 

Progressive  and  energetic,  his  influence  is  one  that  will  ever  make 
itself  felt  wherever  he  may  be  found.  He  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Prohibition  party  and  upholds  its  principles  and  doctrines  on  all 
occasions.  With  his  wife,  he  has  membership  in  the  Baptist  church, 
and  he  is  fraternally  identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

On  November  7,  1896,  Mr.  Mullen  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Smith, 
the  daughter  of  George  Smith,  long  a  resident  of  Washington  township, 
where  Mrs.  Mullen  was  reared,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  sons, 
Everett  and  Arthur. 

George  L.  Clupper.  One  of  the  most  gratifying  phases  in  the 
history  of  Grant  county  is  that  afforded  in  the  fact  that  so  appreciable 
a  percentage  of  its  honored  and  representative  citizens  and  leading  men 
of  affairs  can  claim  the  fine  old  Hoosier  state  as  the  place  of  their 
nativity,  and  this  distinction  applies  to  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
paragraph,  and  who  is  well  and  favorably  known  as  one  of  the  prom- 
inent figures  in  the  business  activities  of  the  city  of  Marion,  where  he 
holds  the  responsible  post  of  manager  of  the  Marion  Loan  Company. 

Mr.  Clupper  was  born  on  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Treaty,  Wabash 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  24th  of  September,  1882,  and  his  prestige  as  one 
of  the  representative  business  men  of  the  younger  generation  in  Grant 
county  has  been  essentially  the  result  of  his  own  ability  and  well 
ordered  endeavors.  He  is  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Maria  (Putnam)  Clupper, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  in  Wabash 
county,  Indiana,  where  her  parents  were  sterling  pioneer  settlers. 
Lewis  Clupper  has  given  his  active  life  almost  exclusively  to  the  great 
industry  of  agriculture,  in  connection  with  which  he  has  won  success 
worthy  of  the  name.  He  and  his  wife  still  reside  in  Wabash  county,  on 
an  attractive  homestead  near  the  city  of  Wabash,  and  after  years  of 
earnest  and  fruitful  effort  he  is  now  virtually  retired.  Of  the  three 
children  George  L.,  of  this  review,  was  the  first  in  order  of  birth  ;  Harley 
G.  has  active  supervision  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  in  Wabash  county; 
and  Hugh  E.  is  a  resident  of  Brown  county,  this  state. 

George  L.  Clupper  gained  his  early  experience  in  connection  with 
the  environment,  influences  and  labors  of  the  home  farm  and  his 
educational  advantages  were  those  afforded  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
neighboring  village  of  Treaty.  After  leaving  school  he  entered  upon 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  in  which  he  became  a 
skilled  artisan.  After  working  at  his  trade  in  the  employ  of  others 
for  three  years  he  devoted  two  years  to  independent  work  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  with  headquarters  at  Treaty.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  in  that  city  and  after  continuing 
this  enterprise  for  three  years  he  came  to  Marion,  the  judicial  center 
and  metropolis  of  Grant  county,  where  he  was  employed  about  six 
months  in  the  Marion  Grey  Iron  Foundry.  For  eighteen  months  there- 
after he  was  a  salesman  in  Creviston's  market,  and  on  the  31st  of  July, 
1910,  he  assumed  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  Marion  Loan  Company, 
with  which  substantial  and  well  conducted  business  he  has  since  been 
identified  in  this  capacity.  He  is  a  capable,  reliable  and  progressive 
business  man  and  is  a  citizen  of  utmost  loyalty  and  of  the  highest  ideals 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  425 

and  principles,  so  that  he  merits  and  commands  the  unequivocal  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 

In  politics  Mr.  Clupper  is  found  arrayed  as  a  staunch  supporter  of 
the  cause  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  been  and  continues 
specially  active  and  zealous  in  connection  with  religious  affairs,  as  an 
influential  and  valued  member  of  the  Central  Christian  church  in  his 
home  city.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  workers  in  this  church,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  elder,  as  well  as  that  of  trustee.  He  has 
been  specially  prominent  in  connection  with  Sunday  school  work  and 
in  the  furtherance  of  the  same  has  been  called  upon  to  deliver  addresses 
in  many  cities  and  villages  of  his  native  state,  besides  which  he  is  at 
the  present  time  president  of  the  Grant  County  Sunday  School  Associa- 
tion. He  is  affiliated  with  the  Marion  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  most  popular  factors  in  the  social  activities 
of  the  community. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  1905,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Clupper  to  Miss  Ethel  Whitlock,  daughter  of  Ira  and  Rebecca  Whitlock, 
who  are  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  this  county,  where 
the  father  owns  and  resides  upon  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  in 
Richland  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clupper  have  two  fine  little  sons, 
Forrest  L.  and  Ira  L. 

In  a  retrospective  way  it  may  be  noted  that  the  father  of  Mr. 
Clupper  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Union  of  the  Civil  war,  as  were 
also  three  of  his  brothers,  and  all  of  the  number  are  still  living,  honored 
veterans  of  the  great  conflict  through  which  the  integrity  of  the  nation 
was  perpetuated.  Joseph  Putnam,  maternal  grandfather  of  him  to 
whom  this  sketch  is  dedicated,  likewise  tendered  his  services  in  defense 
of  the  Union,  as  a  member  of  an  Indiana  regiment,  and  he  sacrificed  his 
life  on  the  field  of  battle. 

Louis  L.  Needler.  Bearing  one  of  the  old  and  substantial  family 
names  of  Grant  county,  Louis  L.  Needier  has  well  upheld  the  tradi- 
tions of  the  family,  is  applying  in  the  manner  of  his  generation  advanced 
principles  to  his  main  business  as  a  farmer,  is  a  man  of  broad  outlook 
and  both  practical  and  theoretical  education,  and  while  successful  in 
his  private  affairs  does  not  neglect  the  public  interests,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  in  his  fifth  year  as  township  trustee  of  Jefferson  town- 
ship. Mr.  Needier  was  elected  trustee  for  the  regular  term  of  four 
years  but  while  he  was  serving  that  term  the  state  legislature  passed 
a  law  extending  the  term  of  office  of  all  trustees  then  in  office,  to  six 
years,  simply  adding  two  additional  years  to  the  terms  of  those  who 
were  in  office  at  that  time,  but  still  continuing  the  term  as  four  years. 
That  explains  how  Mr.  Needier  happens  to  be  on  his  sixth  year  in  office 
now,  although  he  was  only  elected  for  a  four-year  term.  Jefferson  citi- 
zens are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  excellent  administration  which 
he  has  given  to  the  important  matters  entrusted  by  Indiana  laws  to 
a  township  trustee,  especially  the  local  schools.  Mr.  Needier  is  just 
the  man  who  by  training,  by  native  breadth  of  mind,  and  by  education 
realizes  the  needs  of  a  twentieth  century  school,  and  has  done  much  to 
improve  educational  facilities  and  also  methods  of  instructions  in  this 
township,  which  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other  section  of  its 
size  and  wealth  in  eastern  Indiana.  Mr.  Needier  has  fifteen  teachers 
under  his  control,  and  eleven  first-class  brick  schools  in  the  township. 
At  the  present  writing,  a  large  two-room  modern  brick  schoolhouse  is 
being  constructed  to  accommodate  districts.  Besides  these  schools  just 
enumerated  there  is  the  separate  school  system  of  the  village  of  Upland. 
Mr.  Needier  is  the  better  able  to  appreciate  the  needs  of  the  local  schools, 


426        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

from  the  fact  that  he  taught  for  two  years  before  his  election  to  the 
office  of  trustee.  He  graduated  from  the  Upland  high  school  in  the 
class  of  1904. 

Louis  L.  Needier  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  April  19,  1884, 
and  was  reared  in  that  township.  When  he  was  a  baby  his  mother  died 
and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hineline,  a  sister  of  his  mother,  took  him  at  the  age 
of  ten  days  and  he  was  raised  by  Obed  T.  and  Mary  A.  Hineline  as  their 
own  child,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  and  family  now  live.  He  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  district  school,  later  attending  the  Upland 
High  School.  During  1906-07,  he  spent  some  time  in  Purdue  University 
as  a  student  of  scientific  farming,  and  is  still  a  student  and  observer 
in  the  practical  laboratory  of  his  farm.  He  manages  and  controls  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  a  part  of  which  he  owns,  and  he  and  his 
wife  also  own  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Blackford  county. 

Mr.  Needier  comes  of  an  old  family,  his  grandfather  having  been 
James  Needier,  and  his  father  Joseph  Needier,  both  of  whom  present 
honored  names  in  the  history  of  Grant  county,  and  more  will  be  found 
about  them  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Grandfather  Needier  died  in  Grant 
county,  and  Joseph  Needier  is  still  living  one  of  the  successful  farmers 
of  Jefferson  township,  where  he  has  spent  all  his  life.  Joseph  Needier 
married  Nancy  J.  Owings,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana, 
October  14,  1844,  and  died  at  her  home  on  April  29,  1884,  when  her  son 
Louis  L.  was  ten  days  old.  She  left  four  children,  Augustus,  the  oldest, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Orlando  C,  the  second  child,  is  a 
farmer  in  Jefferson  township ;  Lacy  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Osborn,  a  farmer 
of  Blackford  county,  Indiana. 

Louis  L.  Needier  was  married  September  4,  1908,  to  Emma  E.  Jones, 
who  was  born  April  13.  1884,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Pair- 
mount  township.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hiram  A.  Jones,  whose 
career  is  sketched  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needier 
have  two  children :  Joseph  Hiram,  born  September  10,  1909 ;  and  Harvey 
Burton,  born  April  21,  1912.  Mr.  Needier  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Blue  Lodge  at  Matthews. 

John  A.  Frazier.  Among  the  public  officials  of  Center  township, 
in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  is  John  A.  Prazier,  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  able  men  who  have  ever  served  the  township.  As  trustee  he  has 
faithfully  discharged  his  duties,  carrying  out  the  work  of  his  office 
with  the  same  careful  attention  to  details  which  made  him  a  successful 
farmer.  He  has  lived  in  this  vicinity  all  of  his  life  and  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  country,  having  always  taken  an  active  part  in  public 
affairs. 

John  A.  Prazier  is  the  fifth  child  of  Alexander  and  Jane  (Prazier) 
Frazier.  Alexander  Prazier  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  his 
wife  was  a  native  of  Highland  county,  in  the  same  state.  Alexander 
Frazier  came  to  Grant  county  in  1835,  locating  on  sections  No.  2  and 
No.  11,  in  Center  township.  Here  he  proceeded  to  clear  a  farm  and 
here  he  lived  all  of  his  life,  dying  on  April  10,  18S8.  His  wife  died  in 
1893.  They  had  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  Pharaba, 
the  eldest  daughter,  is  the  widow  of  John  M.  Smith,  of  Marion ;  Aaron, 
the  eldest  son.  died  in  Kansas  about  fifteen  years  ago ;  Mary  died  sixteen 
years  ago ;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Phillips,  of  Marion ;  John  A.  is 
the  next ;  Elisha  died  in  infancy ;  Elizabeth  died  in  her  young  woman- 
hood, a  victim  of  diphtheria;  Mary  lives  in  Oklahoma;  Eli  is  also  a 
resident  of  Oklahoma,  and  Albert  died  five  years  ago. 

John  A.  Prazier  was  born  on  the  home  farm,  three  miles  east  of 
Marion,  on  the  17th  of  August,  1849,  and  he  lived  on  that  same  farm 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  427 

until  ten  years  ago,  or  during  a  period  of  fifty-five  years.  Over  half  a 
century  in  one  place  is  a  record  worthy  of  our  cousins  across  the  water 
in  England.  John  A.  Frazier  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  county  and  for  ten  weeks  attended  a  private  school  in 
Marion.  After  completing  his  education  he  taught  school  for  a  time  in 
Grant  county,  in  Monroe  and  Center  townships.  He  then  went  to 
farming  and"  after  his  father's  death,  when  the  latter 's  farms  were 
divided,  a  part  of  the  old  home  place  fell  to  his  share.  He  operated 
this  farm  of  fifty-three  acres  until  1909  when  he  removed  to  Marion, 
where  he  has  lived  since  that  time. 

It  was  in  the  Fall  of  1908  that  Mr.  Frazier  was  elected  township 
trustee  of  Center  township  and  he  went  into  office  on  January  1,  1909. 
He  was  a  constable  of  Van  Buren  township  for  a  few  years  during  a 
six  year  residence  in  the  latter  township,  and  for  fifteen  years  he  was 
deputy  assessor  of  Center  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party  and  has  served  as  precinct  committeeman.  In  religious  matters 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Friends  church. 

Mr.  Frazier  was  married  in  June,  1875,  to  Miss  Margaret  Lugar, 
who  was  born  in  Monroe  township.  Grant  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Elizabeth  Lugar.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  Two  of  these  children  died  in  infancy 
and  Willie  was  only  a  child  when  he  died.  The  others  are  John,  who 
now  lives  in  section  11,  Center  township ;  Gertrude,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Wendell  Phillips,  of  Washington  township;  Pharaba,  who  married 
George  Blinn  and  lives  eight  miles  northeast  of  Marion ;  Silas,  who  is  a 
student  in  high  school,  and  Helen,  who  is  also  a  pupil  in  the  high  school 
of  Marion. 

Lewis  S.  Mvrks.  Holding  secure  poise  as  one  of  the  vigorous,  re- 
sourceful and  representative  business  men  of  Grant  county,  and  exempli- 
fying distinctive  civic  loyalty  and  progressiveness,  Mr.  Marks  is  a  man 
who  commands  unequivocal  confidence  and  esteem  in  the  community  and 
is  associated  with  one  of  the  most  important  and  substantial  of  the  retail 
business  concerns  of  the  thriving  city  of  Marion,  metropolis  and  judicial 
center  of  the  county.  He  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Blumenthal  & 
Company,  the  large  and  admirably  equipped  mercantile  establishment 
which  controls  a  trade  that  is  far  reaching  and  of  representative  order. 
The  progressive  policies  of  the  firm  are  in  harmony  with  the  best  and 
most  modern  methods,  and  fair  and  honorable  dealings  have  given  to 
Blumenthal  a  reputation  that  constitutes  its  best  commercial  asset. 

Mr.  Marks  claims  the  old  Empire  state  of  the  Union  as  the  place  of 
his  nativity  and  though  he  is  most  loyal  thereto  and  most  appreciative  of 
its  manifold  attractions,  he  finds  satisfaction  in  having  given  fealty  to 
Indiana,  in  which  commonwealth  he  has  found  ample  scope  for  the  attain- 
ing of  large  and  worthy  success.  Mr.  Marks  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Rochester,  New  York,  on  the  12th  of  February,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Simon  and  Hannah  (Cockenthal)  Marks,  both  natives  of  Germany.  Mr. 
Marks  gained  his  early  educational  discipline  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city,  where  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  high  school, 
and  he  admirably  fortified  himself  for  active  life  by  completing  the  com- 
mercial course  in  the  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College  in  Rochester. 
On  the  4th  of  April,  1877,  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Marks 
came  to  Marion,  Indiana,  and  here  he  forthwith  assumed  a  clerical  posi- 
tion in  the  mercantile  establishment  of  Blumenthal  &  Company.  Energy, 
ability,  discrimination  and  courtesy  gained  to  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  employers  and  the  good  will  of  patrons,  so  that  he  won 
steady  and  substantial  advancement.     This  is  signifieantlv  shown  in  the 


428  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

fact  that  on  the  first  of  January,  1880,  about  three  years  after  coming  to 
Marion,  he  was  admitted  to  the  firm  of  which  he  is  now  the  senior 
partner  and  with  the  affairs  of  which  he  has  been  closely  and  worthily 
identified  during  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in  the  fair  capital 
city  of  Grant  county.  He  has  proved  specially  versatile  and  resource- 
ful in  the  executive  control  and  general  management  of  the  extensive 
enterprise  and  its  pronounced  success  has  been  signally  furthered 
through  his  well  directed  endeavors.  He  has  insistently  followed  high 
business  ideals  as  well  as  progressive  methods,  and  of  these  the  local 
public  has  been  duly  appreciative.  In  a  personal  way  his  success  is 
most  gratifying  to  contemplate,  and  he  well  merits  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  in  the  city  which  has  been  the  stage  of  his  fruitful 
activities  from  the  initiation  of  his  business  career. 

In  the  midst  of  the  cares  and  exactions  of  a  signally  alert  and  suc- 
cessful business  career  Mr.  Marks  has  not  become  self-centered  or  selfish, 
but  he  has  been,  on  the  contrary,  significantly  liberal  and  public-spirited 
in  his  civic  attitude,  ever  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  encourage  and 
support  measures  and  enterprises  projected  for  the  general  good  of  the 
community.  He  is  specially  interested  in  the  work  and  affairs  of  the 
public  schools  of  his  adopted  city  and  that  he  is  a  valued  factor  in  the 
directing  of  the  same  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  is  at  the  present  time 
president  of  the  board  of  education  of  Marion.  His  nature  and  view- 
point are  such  that  he  has  no  desire  to  enter  the  turmoil  of  practical 
politics,  though  he  accords  a  stanch  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  his  home  city  he  is  a  popular  member  of  the  lodges  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  Marks  is  one  of  ideal  relations  and  Mrs.  Marks 
is  popular  in  connection  with  the  social  affairs  of  the  community.  On 
the  22d  of  October,  1890,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Marks  to 
Miss  Mattie  Straus,  of  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  and  the  three 
children  of  this  union  are  Seymour,  Miriam  and  Walter. 

Captain  John  W.  Miles,  the  quartermaster  of  the  National  Home 
for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers  at  Marion,  Indiana,  is  a  man  highly 
respected  throughout  the  community.  Captain  Miles  is  a  native  of 
the  city  of  Marion,  and  was  in  business  in  this  community  for  many 
years.  His  record  during  the  Civil  war  is  an  enviable  one,  and  that 
in  his  work  he  should  now  be  associated  with  his  old  comrades  in 
arms  seems  peculiarly  appropriate.  Captain  Miles  as  a  business  man 
was  widely  known  for  his  honesty  and  integrity  and,  as  quartermaster 
of  the  large  institution  above  mentioned,  he  has  won  the  approbation 
of  the  soldiers  and  the  authorities  alike. 

Captain  John  W.  Miles  was  born  in  Marion,  Indiana,  on  tht  6th  of 
December,  1842,  the  son  of  William  C.  and  Mary  J.  (Moore)  Miles. 
William  C.  Miles  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Virginia  and  his  wife  was 
from  Ohio.  He  came  to  Marion  in  1836,  being  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 
He  was  elected  treasurer  of  Grant  county  in  1858  for  a  term  of  two 
years  and  in  1862  was  again  elected  to  that  office  for  two  years.  After 
this  public  service  Mr.  Miles  went  into  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in 
Marion,  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  old  Christian  church,  and  in  the  fraternal  world  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  died  in 
1887,  his  wife  having  died  many  years  before  in  March,  1849,  when 
John  W.  Miles  was  only  five  years  of  age.  Of  the  five  children  born  to 
William  C.  Miles  and  his  wife,  only  two  are  now  living,  the  captain  and 
his  sister,  Mrs.  Sue  Miller,  of  Marion.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
William  C.  Miles  married  again,  his  wife  being  Miss  Rebecca  Pierce. 


MRS.  JOHN  DULING 


JOHN  DULING 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  429 

They  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  Ada  Miles  and  Joseph  M. 
Miles,  both  of  whom  reside  in  Marion. 

Captain  Miles  received  his  education  in  the  old  Marion  Academy 
which  became  defunct  soon  after  the  Civil  war  began.  In  December, 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Indiana  Infantry, 
serving  as  second  lieutenant  until  September,  1865.  After  the  war 
Captain  Miles  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  boot  and  shoe  bus- 
iness in  Marion  and  it  was  while  he  was  thus  engaged  that  he  was  elected 
to  serve  as  deputy  county  auditor.  He  held  this  office  from  1867  to 
1870,  and  then  he  removed  to  Logansport,  Indiana,  where  he  lived  for 
a  year,  being  district  cashier  for  a  sewing  machine  company.  He  then 
returned  to  Marion  and  entered  the  bank  of  Jason  Willson  and  Company. 
For  fifteen  years  he  was  employed  in  this  financial  institution  and  then 
his  election  as  county  auditor  on  the  Republican  ticket  caused  him  to 
leave  the  bank.     He  took  office  in  1887  and  served  until  1891. 

After  leaving  the  auditor's  office  Captain  Miles  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  bicycles  and  later  in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  It  was  in 
1901  that  he  came  to  the  National  Home  for  Volunteer  Disabled  Sol- 
diers as  chief  clerk  in  the  quartermaster's  office  and  in  1906  he  himself 
was  made  quartermaster  of  this  large  institution. 

Captain  Miles  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  since  January  1.  1865,  and  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the 
Masonic  bodies  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  the  Chapter  and  the  Commandery. 
He  was  High  Priest  of  Marion  Chapter,  No.  55,  for  seven  years.  In 
religious  matters,  Captain  Miles  is  an  active  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  being  a  deacon  in  that  body. 

In  1S66.  Captain  Miles  was  married  to  Miss  Hallie  Wolf,  a  daughter 
of  Conrad  Wolf  of  Grant  county,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Wilbur  R.  Miles  and  Mrs.  B.  C.  Brimacombe,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Brimbacombe,  of  Marion. 

John  Duling.  The  name  Duling  has  been  identified  with  Grant 
county  for  more  than  seventy  years.  The  pioneer  was  a  farmer  and 
minister,  and  belonged  to  that  hardy  type  of  settlers,  whose  spiritual 
zeal  was  equal  to  his  fortitude  in  enduring  the  hardships  of  the  frontier. 
The  Mr.  John  Duling  named  above  is  now  living  retired  on  a  beautiful 
country  estate  in  section  nineteen  of  Jefferson  township,  and  after  many 
years  of  toil  and  successful  management  is  able  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
prosperity,  and  the  regard  of  his  community.  John  Duling 's  grand- 
father was  Edmund  Duling,  born  in  Virginia,  and  of  an  old  Virginia 
line  of  ancestry.  He  was  married  in  his  home  state,  and  later  moved 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Coshocton  county.  There  his  years  were  spent  as 
a  farmer,  and  his  death  came  when  about  eighty  years  of  age.  His 
wife,  it  is  believed,  died  some  years  previously.  They  were  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  had  a  large  family.  Of 
their  children,  Rev.  Solomon  Duling,  father  of  John,  was  one  of  the 
oldest,  and  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  in  1813.  Growing  up 
on  a  farm,  he  was  trained  in  the  school  of  pioneer  hardships,  and  early 
manifested  inclinations  for  the  hard  manual  labor  of  the  frontier,  and 
also  for  the  spiritual  activities  of  the  church.  He  became  an  early 
convert  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  faith,  and  after  he  was  married, 
and  moved  to  Indiana,  he  began  the  active  work  of  the  itinerant  preacher. 
In  Coshocton  county,  Solomon  Duling  married  Jane  Hubert,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio,  about  1815.  Two  children  were  born  to  their  marriage 
in  Ohio,  Daniel  and  Edmund.  Then  about  1841-42,  Solomon  Duling 
brought  his  little  household  to  Grant  county,  and  on  Barren  Creek  in 
Jefferson  township,  acquired  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  midst  of  the 


430  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

woods,  and  he  erected  his  log  cabin  home,  started  the  work  of  clearing, 
grubbing,  fencing,  cultivating  the  constantly  expanding  tract  of  free 
ground,  and  by  close  economj7,  by  living  on  the  wild  game  which  was 
then  so  plentiful,  he  prospered  steadily,  and  his  name  is  one  which 
deserves  lasting  remembrance,  in  his  section  of  Grant  county.  The 
most  noteworthy  feature  of  his  life,  was  his  church  work.  He  was 
early  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  faith,  and  from 
that  time  forward  led  in  the  work  of  organization  and  all  church  activi- 
ties. He  organized  many  churches  throughout  this  section  of  Indiana, 
and  labored  in  behalf  of  religion  all  the  years.  Many  sacrifices  of  his 
private  interests  were  made  in  behalf  of  his  church,  and  there  was  no 
obstacle  which  woidd  prevent  his  attending  to  his  church  duties,  if  it 
was  humanly  possible.  He  went  over  the  worst  of  roads,  swam  the 
rivers,  and  he  and  his  big  bay  horse  were  seen  going  and  coming  in  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  in  many  remote  districts.  Often  in  crossing 
the  streams,  his  feet  would  be  frozen  fast  in  the  stirrups.  Thus  he 
labored  for  the  spiritual  upbuilding  of  his  community,  and  at  the  same 
time  his  thrift  and  industrious  management  of  home,  enabled  him  to 
accumulate  a  generous  prosperity.  He  had  come  to  Indiana  with  only 
one  hundred  dollars  and  most  of  that  was  paid  at  the  Fort  Wayne  Land 
office  for  the  purchase  of  his  eighty  acres  of  land.  From  that  start 
his  success  grew,  until  at  one  time  his  possessions  aggregated  nearly 
one  thousand  acres  of  land.  After  a  long  and  useful  life,  in  the  esteem 
of  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  Rev.  Solomon  Duling  died  in  1871.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  president  of  the  Indiana  State  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  his  labors  were  earnestly  directed 
towards  preventing  a  division  of  the  church  on  the  issue  which  split  so 
many  other  church  denominations  of  America.  However,  the  division 
occurred,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  and  those  of  many  others  of  like 
persuasion.  Solomon  Duling  for  a  number  of  years  served  as  trustee 
of  his  township.  During  the  war  he  was  strongly  for  the  Union,  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  sent  three  of  his  sons,  Edmund,  Elijah,  and 
Joel,  to  the  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  All  these  sons  gave 
excellent  account  of  themselves  as  efficient  and  faithful  soldiers,  and 
served  in  Indiana  regiments.  Edmund  was  seriously  wounded  in  the 
knee  by  a  rebel  bullet  at  Vicksburg,  and  died  of  lockjaw  while  being 
transferred  to  the  hospital.  The  other  sons,  although  also  actively 
engaged  on  many  fields  of  battle  and  in  many  campaigns  returned  home 
and  Elijah  was  killed  in  1880  in  a  railroad  wreck  in  Ohio.  Joel  died 
on  the  old  homestead  at  Jefferson  township  in  1910. 

Of  the  eleven  children  in  the  family  John  Duling  and  his  sister 
Sina  M.,  the  wife  of  Bertney  R.  Jones,  of  Marion,  are  the  only  ones 
still  living.  John  Duling  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Jefferson 
township,  December  8,  1846.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  decade  pre- 
vious to  the  Civil  war,  and  his  recollections  cover  a  great  variety  of 
changes  and  developments  in  Grant  county.  As  a  boy  he  attended  the 
district  schools,  was  trained  to  work,  grew  up  in  the  atmosphere  of 
culture  and  religion  which  pervaded  the  Duling  home,  and  since  attain- 
ing manhood  has  steadily  prospered  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  His 
possessions,  most  of  which  represent  his  individual  capability  and  busi- 
ness judgment,  are  measured  by  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  excellently 
improved,  and  rated  at  a  high  value  on  the  assessment  rolls,  all  located 
in  section  nineteen  of  Jefferson  township. 

In  his  home  township  in  1873,  John  Duling  married  Miss  Lydia 
Ann  Stout.  She  was  born  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  January  10,  1854,  was 
five  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Peru,  Indiana,  and  in  1869 
came  to  Grant  county,  where  she  was  married  four  years  later.     Her 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        4:51 

parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  B.  Hinks  Stout  were  horn,  the  father 
in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  September  6,  1828,  and  the  mother  in  Fulton 
county,  Ohio,  September  10,  1833.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  and 
after  settling  in  Grant  county  Mrs.  Stout  died  April  19,  1875,  at  the 
birth  of  her  last  son.  John.  Mr.  Stout  was  again  married,  moved  into 
Jay  county,  Indiana,  where  he  died  in  November,  1908,  being  then 
seventy-nine  years  of  age.  His  widow  still  lives.  There  were  no  chil- 
dren by  the  second  marriage,  while  Mrs.  Duling  was  one  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living,  all  married  and  have 
families  of  their  own.  William  Stout  was  a  practical  mechanic,  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  a  number  of  years,  was  also  a  railroad  man,  and 
after  locating  in  Jay  county  became  a  fanner.  He  and  his  wife  were 
Methodist,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duling  are  mentioned  as  follows:  1. 
Minnie  B.  is  the  wife  of  T.  Burr  Wilson,  and  they  reside  on  Mr.  Duling's 
farm.  Their  two  children  are  Alfred  Garr  and  Robert.  2.  Capitola 
May  is  the  wife  of  William  Reasoner,  and  their  home  is  on  a  farm  in 
Blackford  county.  Their  children  are :  Clifford,  Paul,  Opal,  Lloyd, 
Howard,  Arthur,  and  Ruth.  3.  Solomon  Arthur  is  a  graduate  of  the 
State  University,  was  a  teacher  for  four  years,  then  studied  law,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  practice  in  the  state  of  Oklahoma.     He  is  unmarried. 

4.  Pearle  Blanche  is  the  wife  of  Clayton  Seerist,  and  their  home  is  in 
Santa  Barbara,  California.     Their  children  are  Robert  D.  and  Walter. 

5.  Earl  William  is  a  farmer  near  Indianapolis,  and  by  his  marriage 
to  May  Salmon  of  Fowlerton  has  two  children,  Byron  M.  and  Meredith  E. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duling  are  active  members  of  the  Fowlerton  Methodist 
Protestant  church.  Mr.  Duling  has  served  as  trustee  of  that  church  and 
is  at  the  present  time  a  member  of  the  township  advisory  board,  and 
in  politics  is  a  stanch  Republican. 

James  0.  Hinds.  In  Green  township  seven  miles  north  of  Elwood 
is  the  home  of  James  0.  Hinds.  Mr.  Hinds  and  family  have  lived  in  this 
county  nearly  thirty  years.  When  he  and  his  wife  were  married  and 
took  up  the  task  of  winning  a  home  for  themselves,  their  start  was  on  a 
rented  farm.  Much  can  be  accomplished  by  youth  and  energy,  when 
guided  by  worthy  ambition,  and  now  the  Hinds  family  have  a  comfortable 
home,  an  improved  estate,  which  measures  up  to  the  high  values  set  on 
Grant  county  land,  and  among  other  good  things  which  they  enjoy  they 
drive  to  town  in  a.  late  model  Buick  automobile.  When  they  made  their 
start  they  were  satisfied  with  a  farm  wagon  as  their  vehicle  of  travel. 

James  0.  Hinds  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  June  22,  1850, 
a  son  of  E.  A.  and  Emily  (Hopkins)  Hinds,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Ohio,  came  to  Indiana,  and  located  in  Fayette  county.  Later  the  parents 
moved  to  Rush  county,  Indiana,  and  still  later  in  life  to  Tipton  county, 
which  continued  to  be  the  home  of  the  father  until  his  death  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  There  were  five  children  in  the 
family  and  two  are  now  living.  The  brother  of  Mr.  Hinds,  William  E. 
Hinds,  a  retired  farmer  of  Elwood.  Two  of  the  others  lived  to  have 
families  of  their  own,  and  one  sister  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 

James  0.  Hinds  lived  in  Fayette  county  for  a  few  years,  and  in  Rush 
county  grew  up  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education.  He 
remained  at  home  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  and 
when  he  started  out  for  himself,  as  a  growing  boy,  it  was  in  the  humblest 
capacity  of  farm  laborer  at  eight  dollars  a  month.  Then  in  1871  he 
married  Miss  Annetta  Barger,  of  Johnson  county,  Indiana.  She  was 
reared  in  Rush  county,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Mrs. 
Hinds  is  a  daughter  of  George  W.  Barger  and  Sarah  F.  Helms,  the 


432  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

former  a  native  of  Blacksburg,  Virginia,  and  the  latter  was  born  near 
Muscatine,  Iowa. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinds  lived  in  Rush  county  a  short 
time,  later  in  Johnson  county,  where  he  was  a  renter  then  returned  to 
Rush  county,  and  again  spent  some  time  in  Johnson  county.  In  the 
meantime  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hinds  died,  and  they  sold  their  interest  in 
the  estate  for  one  thousand  dollars,  a  capital  which  gave  them  a  good 
start,  and  about  which  they  have  accumulated  their  present  generous 
prosperity.  In  1884  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinds  moved  to  Grant  county,  locating 
in  Green  township  on  the  estate  where  they  still  have  their  home. 

To  their  marriage  were  born  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living,  namely :  Lee  Hinds,  who  is  married,  is  a  preacher  in  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  church,  and  also  a  farmer  of  Huntington  county ;  William 
Franklin,  married,  lives  in  Green  township,  is  a  preacher  in  Holiness 
Christian  Church;  Charles  E.  is  married  and  lives  in  Madison  county; 
James  A.,  has  a  family  of  his  own  and  is  a  resident  of  Green  township ; 
Thomas  D.,  has  his  home  in  Madison  county;  Nola  B.,  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Noble  of  Madison  county ;  Locia  F.,  is  the  wife  of  Joel  Butner  of 
Tipton  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Hinds  gives  his  support  to  the  Prohibitionist  cause, 
and  is  always  ready  to  support  any  movement  for  the  improvement  and 
welfare  of  his  community.  His  home  farm  is  under  splendid  cultivation, 
and  he  and  his  family  not  only  have  a  delightful  homestead  but  all  the 
facilities  for  business  like  farming,  can  be  found  about  their  estate,  and 
they  conduct  the  farm  as  a  profitable  enterprise  in  the  same  way  that  a 
manufacturer  would  run  his  factory. 

Luther  S.  Harbison.  Now  enjoying  prosperity  and  the  esteem  of 
friends  and  neighbors,  at  a  comfortable  country  estate  on  section  two 
of  Fairmount  township,  Luther  S.  Harrison  is  one  of  the  older  native 
sons  of  Grant  county,  was  born  here  during  the  later  pioneer  epoch, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  old-time  log  school  houses,  which  some 
fifty  years  ago  were  so  common  throughout  this  part  of  the  state.  His 
life  has  been  led  along  lines  of  industry,  thrift  and  honesty,  and 
practically  every  one  in  Fairmount  townships  knows,  and  has  a  word  of 
kindly  regard  for  Luther  S.  Harrison. 

His  grandfather,  John  Harrison  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  while  there  his  death  occurred  in  the 
prime  of  life  as  the  result  of  an  accident.  In  endeavoring  to  rescue  his 
son,  John,  Jr.,  from  underneath  a  falling  tree,  he  was  stricken  down 
and  killed.  This  branch  of  the  Harrison  family  is  thought  to  be  related 
more  or  less  closely  with  the  family  which  produced  "William  Henry 
Harrison,  president  of  the  United  States  during  the  forties.  John 
Harrison  had  three  children:  John,  Jr.,  Sarah,  who  married  William 
Leach,  and  lived  and  died  in  Grant  county,  both  of  them  passing  away 
in  advanced  age,  and  after  acquiring  a  large  estate  in  Fairmount 
township. 

Louis  Harrison,  father  of  Luther  S.  was  born  in  Ohio  between  the 
years  1808  and  1810.  During  the  Mexican  AVar  he  served  in  Captain 
Ramsey's  Company  from  Indiana,  then  reenlisted  to  drive  pack  horses 
in  the  same  war,  and  on  his  return  from  the  war  settled  and  lived  for  a 
time  in  Franklin  county,  whither  he  had  first  settled  with  some  kinsmen 
from  Ohio  a  number  of  years  before.  When  he  was  still  young  he 
moved  to  Grant  county,  and  his  first  home  in  this  vicinity  was  built 
of  split  rails,  and  was  little  more  than  a  shed,  covered  with  bark.  That 
house  stood  on  land  now  occupied  by  his  son  Luther.  After  a  little  while 
the  rail  hut  was  replaced  with  a  good  log  house.    Louis  Harrison  owned 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  433 

one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  attained  directly  from  the  govern- 
ment, and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  its  clearing  and  cultivation.  He 
died  in  October,  1860.  His  church  was  the  Methodist,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat.  About  1841,  he  was  married  in  Fairmount  township 
of  Grant  county  to  Elizabeth  Searls,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1814  or  1815,  coming  of  Kentucky  parents  aud  family.  She  was  a 
young  woman  when  she  came  to  Grant  county,  and  a  few  years  later  her 
parents  left  Indiana,  and  lived  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Louis  Harrison  survived  her  husband  many  years  and  received  a 
pension  for  her  husband's  services  in  the  Mexican  war.  Her  death 
occurred  in  February,  1897,  and  she  was  likewise  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  Of  their  five  children  three  grew  up.  John  Harrison 
died  in  1901,  and  his  son  Lawrence  is  now  living  in  Henry  county.  The 
daughter  Rachael  is  the  wife  of  Henry  DeShaun  of  Fairmount  town- 
ship. 

Luther  S.  Harrison,  second  in  age  of  the  three  children,  just 
mentioned,  was  born  in  Fairmount  township  of  Grant  county,  January 
13,  1845.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  and  his 
schooling  was  obtained  by  attendance  at  a  log  cabin  school.  The  light 
was  admitted  to  the  rooms  through  greased  paper  windows,  and  all 
the  facilities  of  that  primitive  temple  of  learning  were  exceedingly 
crude,  while  the  instruction  itself  was  confined  largely  to  the  three 
R's.  After  reaching  manhood  he  bought  some  land  from  his  father, 
gradually  acquiring  more  until  his  place  amounted  to  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres.  This  is  now  one  of  the  fine  country  estates  of  Fairmount 
township,  nearly  all  of  it  under  cultivation,  and  its  buildings  are  of  the 
very  best  comprising  a  large  red  barn  and  a  comfortable  white  house. 
He  is  a  general  farmer,  growing  large  crops  of  grain  and  forage,  and 
feeds  all  the  farm  products  to  his  hogs,  horses  and  cattle.  In  cattle 
his  specialty  is  the  short-horn  breed. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  first  married  in  Fairmount  township  to  Miss  Sarah 
Richards,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  township  in  1863.  She  died  in 
the  prime  of  life  from  lung  trouble,  and  left  two  children :  Louis,  born 
August  12,  1890,  lives  at  home ;  Bessie,  is  the  wife  of  Urshel  Kimes,  a 
farmer  in  Jefferson  township,  and  they  have  one  son,  Thomas.  In  1897, 
Mr.  Harrison  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Emma  Leach,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ailes.  She  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
and  is  the  widow  of  George  Leach,  who  was  killed  in  a  saw-mill 
boiler  explosion.  Her  children  by  Mr.  Leach  were :  Rev.  Perry  B. 
Leach,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  church,  living  south  of  Indianapolis, 
and  having  one  son  and  one  daughter:  Lulu  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Mittank, 
employed  in  the  post  office  at  Marion,  and  they  have  three  children ; 
Arthur,  aged  twenty-five  lives  at  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison. 
Mr,  and  Mrs.  Harrison  are  members  of  no  church,  and  in  politics  he  is 
an  Independent  Democrat. 

Riley  Cbanford.  With  the  happiness  which  comes  from  the  posses- 
sion of  a  good  home  aud  with  a  retrospect  over  a  long  and  varied  suc- 
cession of  years,  Mr.  Cranford  resides  on  section  fourteen  of  Fair- 
mount  township,  on  the  rural  mail  route  number  sixteen  out  of  Jones- 
boro.  His  residence  in  Grant  county  goes  back  about  thirty  years  and 
he  is  especially  loyal  to  this  county,  because  here  he  has  won  his  real 
prosperity  and  enjoyed  many  of  the  pleasantest  associations  of  his  life. 

Riley  Cranford  was  born  in  Randolph  county.  North  Carolina,  De- 
cember 13,  1836,  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Naomi  (Riley)  Cranford.  Leonard 
Cranford  was  a  son  of  Kidd  Cranford,  who  married  a  Miss  Hull,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  where  they  lived  and  died. 


434        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

farmers  by  occupation,  and  Methodists  in  religion.  So  far  as  known 
no  members  of  the  family  ever  held  a  slave,  and  there  was  a  disposition 
on  the  part  of  the  early  members  to  oppose  the  institution  of  slavery. 
Leonard  Cranford  and  wife  followed  farming  all  their  lives  and  the 
former  died  in  his  native  county  about  1870  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 
His  wife  had  died  there  when  thirty-live  years  of  age.  After  her  death 
Leonard  Cranford  married  Lucy  Nelson,  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
She  survived  her  husband  some  years  and  died  aged  seventy-four.  By 
the  second  marriage  there  was  one  daughter,  who  is  now  married  and  has 
a  large  family.  Riley  Cranford  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  sons,  besides  Riley  were: 
Harris,  Elsevan,  and  Nixon,  while  the  daughters  were  Adaline,  and 
Mary.  The  sons  Elsevan  and  Nixon  were  forced  into  the  Confederate 
army,  and  the  latter  was  killed  in  battle,  while  the  former  was  in  one 
engagement  so  severely  wounded  that  he  died  soon  afterwards.  Both 
were  unmarried. 

Riley  Cranford  grew  up  in  his  native  county,  and  in  1860  was  mar- 
ried there.  In  1863  he  was  threatened  with  the  same  enforced  enlist- 
ment which  had  taken  his  two  brothers  away  to  the  front,  and  as  he  was 
strongly  opposed  to  the  war  in  principles,  left  the  country  with  William 
Moffitt,  and  by  careful  management  they  succeeded  in  getting  across  the 
lines  into  the  north,  crossing  the  Potomac  River  and  finding  refuge  in 
Pennsylvania,  among  a  Quaker  settlement.  There  they  were  made  to 
feel  at  home,  and  were  given  work.  In  Pennsylvania,  Riley  Cranford 
worked  for  one  year,  and  then  came  west  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
and  later  moved  to  Henry  county  in  the  same  state.  In  1882  he  moved 
to  Grant  county,  and  made  a  beginning  of  his  prosperity  by  the  pur- 
chase of  forty  acres  of  land.  This  was  increased  subsequently  by  twenty  - 
twTo  acres  more,  and  by  his  thrift  and  energy  the  entire  farm  is  highly 
developed  and  very  profitable.  His  principal  crops  are  corn,  wheat, 
timothy,  clover,  and  practically  all  his  grain  is  fed  on  the  place  so  that 
he  maintains  the  fertility  of  the  soil  year  after  year.  His  homestead 
is  comfortable  both  to  the  outward  view  and  as  to  its  interior  furnish- 
ings.   There'is  a  good  white  house  and  a  red  barn  completes  the  picture. 

Mr.  Cranford  was  married  in  his  native  county,  in  1860  to  Miss  Laura 
A.  Bingham.  She  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  August  22,  1836. 
After  her  husband  was  forced  to  leave  the  country  and  go  north,  she 
remained  at  the  old  home  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he  returned  and 
they  then  moved  out  to  Indiana.  Her  parents  were  William  and  Mary 
(Lafferty)  Bingham,  who  were  born  and  spent  all  their  lives  in  Ran- 
dolph county.  They  were  farmers  by  occupation,  and  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cranford  are  as  fol- 
lows. 1.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James  Griffin,  their  home  is  in  Marion, 
and  they  lost  their  only  child,  Burr,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  2.  Julia 
is  the  wife  of  William  Smith,  living  in  Marion,  and  their  children  are 
Goldy,  Delight,  and  Minnie.  3.  William  is  now  employed  in  a  factory 
at  Gas  City,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cranford  are  Methodists,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

John  E.  Kibbet.  One  of  the  historical  farms  of  Grant  county  is 
the  Kibbey  homestead  in  section  thirty-three  of  Jefferson  township. 
In  the  early  days  the  Muncie  Pike,  which  passes  in  front  of  the  door, 
was  a  much  traveled  thoroughfare,  and  throughout  all  the  months  of 
the  year  was  thronged  from  morning  until  night  with  wagons  and 
vehicles  of  all  descriptions.  The  place  was  then  occupied  by  a  man 
named  Crawford,  who  conducted  the  old  house  as  a  tavern  or  inn,  and 
the  name  assigned  to  it  was  one  taken  from  revolutionary  and  colonial 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  435 

annals,  and  was  "Black  Horse  Tavern."  For  the  past  forty  years  or 
more  the  old  place  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  Kibbey  family, 
and  it  was  successively  the  farm  enterprise  of  Jonah  Kibbey  and  then 
of  his  son,  the  late  John  B.  Kibbey.  Mrs.  John  E.  Kibbey  and  her 
children  now  reside  there  in  comfort  and  plenty,  and  are  among  the 
popular  people  of  Jefferson  township. 

The  late  John  E.  Kibbey  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  May 
25,  1850,  and  was  fifty-four  years  of  age  when  death  took  him  from  his 
activities  in  Jefferson  township,  on  August  24,  1904.  His  parents  were 
Jonah  and  Rebecca  (Garrison)  Kibbey,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where 
they  were  married.  Jonah  Kibbey  was  a  son  of  Ephraim  Kibbey,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  aud  prosperous  farmers  and  prominent  citizens  of 
Clinton  county,  Ohio.  He  died  there  in  old  age,  and  owned  a  large 
amount  of  land.  His  son,  Jonah  Kibbey,  was  also  a  well-to-do  farmer 
in  Clinton  county,  and  about  1870  sold  out  his  possessions  there  and 
moved  to  Indiana.  In  Jefferson  township  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  lying  in  sections  thirty-two  and  thirty-three,  and  there  con- 
tinued his  prosperous  career  until  his  death  in  1892.  At  that  time  he 
was  an  old  man,  and  his  years  had  been  fruitful  in  both  material 
circumstances  and  the  finer  things  of  character  and  influence.  He  was 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  in  religion  was  not  an  active  churchman, 
though  a  man  who  believed  in  the  best  features  of  religious  life.  His 
wife,  Rebecca,  preceded  him  in  death  several  years.  There  were  four 
sons  and  two  daughters  in  the  family,  and  all  of  them  married  and  had 
children.  Paul,  of  Liberty  township ;  Mrs.  Florence  Hinckley,  of 
Fairmount  City;  and  Mrs.  Ellen  "Wright,  of  North  Dakota,  are  the 
children  still  living. 

John  E.  Kibbey  was  educated  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Grant  county. 
Here  he  lived  and  learned  the  lessons  of  industry  and  thrift,  was  well 
trained  in  principles  of  honest  dealing,  and  chose  farming  as  his  regu- 
lar vocation.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  he  became  owner  of  this  old 
homestead,  and  afterwards  built  a  fine  red  barn  and  other  out  build- 
ings which  are  such  conspicuous  and  valuable  features  of  the  estate. 
The  creek  which  waters  the  farm  still  bears  the  name  of  John  Craw- 
ford, the  original  owner  of  the  land  and  proprietor  of  the  old  Black 
Horse  Tavern.  John  E.  Kibbey  was  a  man  who  took  an  active  part 
in  local  matters,  was  an  intelligent  and  public  spirited  character,  and 
held  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors.  Fraternally  he  was 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  had  held  chairs  in 
these  different  fraternities.     In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

On  January  1,  1873,  in  Jefferson  township,  John  E.  Kibbey  married 
Olive  Carter.  Mrs.  Kibbey  who  survives  her  husband  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  having  been  born  in  a  log  cabin  home  in  Jefferson  township. 
The  date  of  her  birth  was  December  19,  1852,  and  she  was  reared  and 
has  always  considered  Jefferson  township  her  home.  Though  a  com- 
paratively young  woman,  she  has  within  the  scope  of  her  early  expe- 
rience, many  pioneer  facts,  and  when  a  young  girl  she  did  many  tasks 
of  the  old-fashioned  housekeeper,  such  as  spinning  yarn,  etc.  Her  par- 
ents were  Ira  J.  and  Eliza  Ann  (Corn)  Carter.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  March  15,  1822,  and  died  March  21.  1899,  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  of  Grant  county.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Rush  county, 
Indiana.  June  5,  1825,  and  is  still  living,  quite  active,  although  neces- 
sarily feeling  the  weight  of  eighty-six  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter 
were  married  in  1845,  in  Rush  county,  and  in  that  same  year  began  their 
married  life  in  Jefferson  township,  of  Grant  county,  locating  on  new 


436  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

land,  and  after  a  few  years  established  their  home  on  another  place  in 
the  same  township.  They  lived  long  and  active  and  useful  lives,  were 
Methodists  in  religion  and  Mr.  Carter  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  E.  Kibbey  are  mentioned 
as  follows:  Clarence  A.,  who  lives  in  Marion,  and  married  Mary  Bar- 
ley; Everet  A.,  who  now  owns  and  occupies  a  part  of  the  homestead, 
and  by  his  marriage  to  Sarah  C.  Throckmorton  has  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Lloyd  T.,  Eva  L.,  Paul  K.  and  Mary  0. ;  Ira  E.,  who  lives  on 
his  mother's  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  married  Maud  Carmin,  and 
has  two  children,  Everett  L.  and  Opal  A. ;  Charles  P.,  who  now  runs 
the  home  farm  for  his  mother,  is  unmarried;  Rowland  C,  who  is  un- 
married and  is  in  the  oil  fields  of  California;  Cora  A.,  who  is  a  success- 
ful teacher  in  Matthews;  Bessie  A.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Clinton  J., 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years ;  John  R.  is  a  senior  in  the  Matthews  high 
school,  and  Carrie  E.,  a  junior  student  in  the  high  school.  Mrs.  Kib- 
bey and  daughters  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Ben  0.  Phillips.  Chief  of  police  of  the  Marion  police  department 
since  1909,  the  record  of  Mr.  Phillips  is  one  that  has  been  a  matter  of 
much  commendation  and  praise  among  the  local  citizens.  He  has  been 
commended  for  the  manner  in  which  he  has  enforced  the  law,  without 
partiality  or  favoritism,  and  in  all  his  duties  has  performed  his  work 
with  a  quiet  efficiency  which  means  a  great  deal  to  the  welfare  and 
moral  safe-guarding  of  a  city.  Marion,  under  Chief  Phillips,  has  been 
regarded  as  the  inferior  of  no  Indiana  city  in  its  police  department. 

Ben  0.  Phillips  was  born  October  31,  1871,  near  Newport,  Kentucky, 
a  son  of  George  and  Jane  (Hulley)  Phillips,  the  father  a  native  of 
Germany.  He  came  to  America  when  a  young  man  and  located  in 
Kentucky.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper,  but  spent  most  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer,  and  is  now  living  at  Madison,  Indiana,  to  which  city  he  removed 
many  years  ago.  During  the  Civil  war  he  fought  for  the  cause  of  the 
Union  in  his  adopted  land.  The  mother  passed  away  about  thirteen 
years  ago.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  named  as  follows:  Robert  Phillips, 
who  lives  near  Madison ;  Ben  0. ;  Edward,  of  Madison ;  Thomas,  of 
Marion;  William,  of  Madison;  Otto  and  Bert,  twins,  and  living  in 
Madison ;  Ida,  wife  of  Dennis  Hines,  of  Madison ;  Bertha  Cline,  of 
Madison;  and  George  Phillips,  of  Indianapolis. 

Mr.  Ben  0.  Phillips  received  his  early  education  at  Newport  and  at 
Madison,  chiefly  in  the  latter  city,  and  began  his  career  as  a  farmer, 
working  on  a  farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  came 
to  Indianapolis,  and  spent  several  years  in  a  bicycle  factory  there.  In 
1895  similar  employment  in  the  Halliday  bicycle  factory  at  Marion 
brought  him  to  this  city,  where  he  has  had  his  home  ever  since.  After 
several  years  in  the  bicycle  shops,  in  1892,  he  entered  the  police  service 
as  a  patrolman,  and  in  time  was  appointed  captain,  and  then  two  years 
later,  in  1909,  was  made  chief  of  police. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  married  March  29,  1893,  to  Oliva  Butter.  They 
had  been  school  companions  together  in  Madison,  and  their  friendship 
was  continued  into  later  life,  until  their  marriage  at  Indianapolis.  The 
five  children  of  their  union  are:  Irene,  Velma,  Prank,  Edith,  Benjamin. 
Mr.  Phillips  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Crew  of  Neptune,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Elkanah  Hulley.  For  a  long  period  of  years  the  name  of  Hulley 
has  been  associated  with  Grant  county  life  and  affairs.  In  the  follow- 
ing  sketch    are   contained    the    essential    facts   in   the    career   of   Mr. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COl  Ml  lis  437 

Elkanah  Hulley  and  also  many  related  items  of  family  history  and  local 
associations,  so  that  the  article  becomes  a  brief  but  valuable  cbapter 
in  this  centennial  history. 

While  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  Marion  since  May  29,  1871,  Elkanah 
Hulley  is  a  native  of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana.  His  childhood  and 
early  manhood  were  passed  in  the  vicinity  of  Vevay,  and  although  the 
•"Hoosier  Schoolmaster"  was  published  the  year  he  left  Switzerland 
county,  Mr.  Hulley  is  very  familiar  with  scenes  described  in  the  story. 
The  Hulley  and  Eggleston  families  were  acquainted  there.  None  of 
Mr.  Hulley 's  immediate  relatives  have  had  permanent  residence  in 
Marion,  although  two  brothers  and  a  sister  have  lived  temporarily  in 
Grant  county.  He  was  very  much  interested  in  the  Centennial  Home- 
coming week  at  Vevay,  at  which  point  settlement  was  made  in  1813, 
and  all  exiles  were  invited  to  meet  again. 

When  Mr.  Hulley  came  to  Marion  it  was  to  work  in  the  foundry  and 
machine  shop  operated  by  his  uncle,  Samuel  Hulley,  and  his  cousin, 
Joseph  Hulley.  While  he  was  connected  with  the  foundry  he  was  on 
the  payroll,  rented  a  half  interest  and  later  owned  a  half  interest  in  it, 
but  when  Grant  county  industrial  affairs  were  revolutionized  in  1887, 
by  the  discovery  of  natural  gas,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  foundry  and 
became  extension  superintendent  of  the  Citizens'  Gas  Company.  He 
operated  a  stone  quarry  and  crusher  on  the  Draper-Williams  land  for 
a  year  and  a  half,  but  his  public  work  has  been  as  superintendent  of 
the  Marion  Municipal  Water  Plant  described  in  the  special  chapter  on 
water  systems  of  the  county. 

Elected  to  a  vacancy  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term  of  six  months 
on  the  Marion  school  board,  Mr.  Hulley  was  seven  times  reelected  and 
served  as  school  trustee  at  a  very  important  time  when  the  city  was 
increasing  rapidly  in  population  and  business  ability  was  required  at 
the  hands  of  the  board — an  increased  school  population  and  not  enough 
school  buildings  for  the  requirement.  While  the  Central  building  on 
the  site  of  the  old  seminary  is  opposite  his  home  on  Adams  street,  the 
prevailing  opinion  that  Mr.  Hulley  was  instrumental  in  securing  the 
town  clock  is  a  mistake.  He  was  at  the  time  opposed  to  it,  but  it  was 
placed  there  as  a  result  of  petition  by  tax  payers,  and  the  city  council 
ordered  the  school  board  to  include  the  clock  in  the  plans  of  the  build- 
ing. He  is  now  very  glad  the  only  town  clock  is  there.  The  regret  of 
the  citizens  is  that  there  are  not  other  town  clocks  scattered  about  in 
the  different  localities. 

Samuel  and  Hannah  Hulley  were  a  well  known  family  in  the  early 
history  of  Marion,  and  the  late  Joseph  Hulley  and  his  family  are  all  of 
the  name  immediately  identified  with  local  history  aside  from  Elkanah 
Hulley.  On  March  20, 1873,  Elkanah  Hulley  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda 
Jane  Neal,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  J.  and  Elizabeth  Brownlee  Neal. 
Mrs.  Hulley  has  spent  her  entire  life  in  Marion.  Her  parents  were 
contemporary  with  the  early  families,  and  her  father  was  in  the  galaxy 
of  old-time  Marion  business  men  once  known  to  everybody.  Mrs.  Hulley 
has  two  living  brothers,  Charles  E.,  and  Rev.  Tom  C.  Neal,  while  Dr. 
James  C.  Neal,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  was  the  Neal-Brownlee  family 
historian.  Her  sisters  were:  Mrs.  Kate  Condo  and  Miss  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Neal. 

The  three  sons  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulley  are :  Lewis  S.  Hulley, 
who  married  Miss  Mabel  Heiehert,  and  their  children  are  Philip  H., 
Katherine,  and  Elkanah;  the  second  son  is  Ernest  N.  Hulley,  who 
married  Miss  Estella  Oliver,  and  their  children  are  Oliver  S.  and  Cath- 
erine Lorain  Hulley ;  the  third  son  is  Dr.  Edwin  S.  Hulley,  who  married 
Miss  Margaret  Anderson,  and  their  children  are:     Joanna  Jane,  and 


438        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Margaret  Frances  Hulley.  Lewis  S.  Hulley  lives  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  Ernest  N.  Hulley  in  Allegan,  Michigan,  while  Dr.  E.  S.  Hulley 
lives  in  Marion. 

The  Hulley  family  belongs  to  the  First  Methodist  Church  in  Marion, 
and  for  forty  years  Mr.  Hulley  has  been  chief  usher  there.  He  was  for 
years  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  has  been  church  trustee 
for  many  years.  The  Neal  family  is  all  musical,  and  Mrs.  Hulley  and 
her  sons  are  all  singers  in  demand  at  all  times.  Mrs.  Hulley 's  voice 
has  been  heard  in  song  at  funerals  where  she  hardly  knew  the  family, 
but  in  calling  together  a  quartet  for  such  occasions,  when  an  alto  voice 
is  lacking,  all  musical  committees  seem  to  know  that  they  may  depend 
upon  her.  The  Hulley  home  is  near  the  Hulley  church,  and  Sundays 
rarely  pass  without  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulley  in  the  congregation  there. 
Few  Marion  families  are  more  intimately  associated  with  all  the  affairs 
of  the  community. 

William  Hillsamer.  The  Hillsamer  and  related  families  have  been 
identified  with  Grant  county  since  the  first  decade  of  its  organization. 
The  various  members  have  been  as  a  rule  farmers  and  always  good  citi- 
zens, and  have  borne  the  responsibilities  of  life  with  exceptional  integrity 
and  beneficent  service. 

William  Hillsamer,  so  well  known  in  business  and  civic  affairs  in 
Marion  county,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township  in  Grant 
county,  now  known  as  the  James  Charles  farm,  on  July  8,  1867.  His 
parents  were  Mark  and  Edith  (Woolman)  Hillsamer.  Edith  Woolman 
was  born  in  Marion  in  1836,  the  Woolmans  being  one  of  the  first  families 
to  locate  in  the  city  of  Marion.  Mark  Hillsamer  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  August  15,  1835,  and  was  a  son  of  David  and  Caroline 
(Gage)  Hillsamer. 

David  Hillsamer,  the  grandfather,  and  the  original  founder  of  the 
family  in  Grant  county,  brought  his  family  to  Monroe  township  in  1841, 
but  after  eighteen  months  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Washington  township.  The  purchase  price  was  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars. The  deed  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  William  Hillsamer 
in  Marion,  is  a  very  interesting  document,  not  only  for  its  age,  it  date 
being  December  8,  1841,  but  particularly  because  the  name  of  Robert 
Marshall,  the  grandfather  of  Vice-president  Marshall  of  the  United 
States  was  signed  to  the  document  as  its  writer.  Since  the  date  of  that 
deed  the  land  has  been  in  the  Hillsamer  family  down  to  the  present 
time.  David  Hillsamer  lived  on  that  farm  until  his  death  in  1877,  when 
he  was  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1810. 
His  wife  died  many  years  earlier. 

Mark  Hillsamer,  whose  birth  has  already  been  mentioned  was  seven 
years  old  when  the  family  came  to  Grant  county.  He  spent  all  his 
career  as  a  farmer  and  owned  a  place  adjoining  that  of  his  father  in 
Washington  township,  where  he  lived  until  he  removed  just  a  few  years 
before  his  death  to  229  N.  Washington  Street  in  the  city  of  Marion. 
There  his  death  occurred  October  12,  1909.  He  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church  in  Marion.  His  widow  is  still  living, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Louisa  Martin  in  Wash- 
ington township.  There  were  ten  children  in  the  family  of  the  parents, 
nine  of  them  now  living,  namely:  Lucy  H,  wife  of  Robert  Thompson, 
of  Marion;  Louise  E.,  wife  of  Stephen  Martin,  on  a  farm  in  Washington 
township ;  Marion  F.,  who  owns  and  occupies  the  old  homestead ;  Miss 
Jennie,  of  Marion;  Morton,  of  Marion;  William;  Mary  D.,  wife  of 
Charles  Oglesby,  a  farmer  in  Washington  township ;  Walter,  who  owns 
and  farms  the  old  estate  of  his  grandfather  in  Washington  township ; 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES        439 

Harve,  who  was  killed  in  a  railroad  wreck  at  Logansport ;  and  Charles, 
who  has  his  home  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township. 

William  Hillsamer,  having  been  born  on  a  farm,  and  educated  in 
the  district  schools,  spent  his  youth  in  the  occupation  of  the  country,  and 
remained  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-two.  He  then  went 
into  the  meat  business  in  Marion,  and  has  continued  in  this  line  of 
trade  ever  since.  For  some  time  he  had  a  market  up  town,  but  for 
the  past  eighteen  years  has  been  at  his  present  location  on  North  Wash- 
ington Street.  He  began  business  in  1888.  He  is  both  a  wholesale  and 
retail  dealer  in  meats.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  automobile  business.  On  North  Washington  Street  he  owns  a 
concrete  block,  one  half  of  which  is  given  up  to  his  meat  market  and 
the  other  half  to  his  automobile  salesroom.  Among  the  other  progres- 
sions which  his  business  management  has  acquired,  and  which  helps  to 
constitute  him  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  Grant  county,  is  a  sixty- 
acre  farm  just  at  the  edge  of  the  city  limits  and  half  a  mile  from  the 
business  center,  and  he  also  is  interested  in  other  affairs. 

On  September  6,  1S93,  Mr.  Hillsamer  married  Mamie  E.  Hedrick, 
daughter  of  J.  G.  and  Mary  (Hoover)  Hedrick,  of  Bunker  Hill,  Miami 
county.  Their  son  Glen  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business.  The 
son  Roy  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  Mr.  Hillsamer  is  a  member  of 
the  Marion  board  of  park  commissioners,  and  is  now  serving  his  third 
year  as  secretary  of  the  board.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  cast 
his  first  vote,  and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  Crew  of 
Neptunes  in  Marion.     Mrs.  Hillsamer  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church. 

Frederick  Wilhelm.  Prominent  among  the  agriculturists  of  Grant 
county  stands  Frederick  Wilhelm,  a  sterling  citizen  of  Jefferson  town- 
ship, who  is  deserving  of  a  tribute  to  his  worth.  At  all  times  a  most 
true  and  loyal  citizen,  faithful  to  the  best  interests  of  his  country  whether 
in  peace  or  in  war.  he  is  honored  and  highly  respected  by  all  who 
have  his  acquaintance.  More  than  sixty-five  years  have  passed  since 
he  located  here,  and  he  has  always  had  deeply  at  heart  the  well-being 
and  improvement  of  his  adopted  state,  and  has  used  his  influence  wher- 
ever possible  for  the  promotion  of  industries  and  institutions  calculated 
to  be  of  lasting  benefit  to  this  section.  Mr.  Wilhelm  was  born  at  West- 
minster, Carroll  county,  Maryland,  March  6.  1844,  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Margaret  (Duncus)  Wilhelm.  and  a  member  of  an  old  Prussian 
family  which  is  reviewed  elsewhere  in  this  work,  in  the  sketch  of  John 
Wilhelm. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Wilhelm  was  born  in  Prussia.  December  5.  1^12, 
and  there  his  parents  spent  their  lives.  He  grew  up  in  his  native  place, 
received  ordinary  educational  advantages,  for  some  time  followed  the 
vocation  of  farmer,  and  finally  learned  the  trade  of  stone  mason.  As 
such  he  went  to  Bremen  and  Havre,  Germany,  and  at  the  latter  place 
was  married  to  Margaret  Duncus,  who  was  born  in  Bremen.  September 
5,  1813.  She  was  of  pure  German  ancestry  and  was  a  lady  of  many 
attainments  and  excellent  education.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilhelm  went  to  Russia  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  returned  to 
Bremen,  from  whence  they  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  ''Elizabeth" 
for  the  United  States,  a  journey  that  consumed  sixteen  weeks.  During 
this  trip  their  oldest  child,  a  daughter,  was  born  and  was  named  after 
the  ship  on  which  they  were  traveling.  After  landing  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  the  father  secured  employment  with  a  Maryland  planter,  and 
for  some  years  worked  not  far  from  the  capital,  but  in  1847  turned  bis 
face  toward  the  West  and  brought  his  family,  including  his  three- 
vear-old  son  Frederick,  down  the  river  to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 


440  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

thence  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  from  there,  in  a  one-horse  wagon  to 
Indianapolis,  Indiana.  Subsequently  the  family  moved  to  Delaware 
county,  and  during  the  next  year  Mr.  Wilhelm  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land  on  school  section  No.  16,  in  Jefferson  township,  Grant  county. 
Establishing  their  home  in  a  little  log  cabin,  these  brave  and  sturdy 
pioneers  started  to  clear  and  improve  their  property,  and  as  the  years 
passed  erected  a  good  house  and  substantial  outbuildings  and  increased 
their  possessions  until  they  had  between  300  and  400  acres.  There  the 
father  died  October  1,  1868.  The  mother,  who  survived  him  for  a  long 
period,  come  to  Upland,  Indiana,  in  her  later  years,  and  here  passed 
away  November  5,  1905,  being  a  little  past  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  Before  coming  to  the  United  States  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but  here  early  joined  the  Shiloh 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  throughout  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  continued  to  support  its  movements  liberally.  Mr.  Wilhelm  was 
a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  was  a  stanch  Union  man,  and  lived 
to  see  the  cause  he  considered  just  triumph.  Of  the  children  of  the 
Wilhelms,  Frederick,  John  and  Noah  still  survive.  Their  sister,  Eliza- 
beth, died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  in  Jefferson  township,  and  a  brother, 
David,  died  when  three  years  of  age. 

Frederick  Wilhelm  has  been  a  resident  of  Grant  county  from  the 
time  he  reached  his  fourth  year.  Here  he  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools,  during  the  securing  of  which  he  assisted  his  father 
and  brothers  in  the  work  of  the  homestead,  and  it  was  but  natural  that 
he  should  adopt  the  vocation  of  farmer,  which  he  has  followed  through- 
out his  life.  In  1873  he  sold  the  forty  acres  which  he  had  purchased 
from  his  father  on  section  16,  and  bought  his  present  home  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  15,  then  partly  improved  with  a  log  cabin.  Later  he 
built  his  present  eight-room  house,  with  basement,  painted  white,  a 
structure  which  would  grace  any  property,  and  in  1888  erected  a  sub- 
stantial barn.  His  other  improvements  are  modern  in  character,  and 
his  land  is  now  nearly  all  under  cultivation,  yielding  him  handsome 
returns  for  the  labor  he  expends  upon  it.  He  has  ever  been  known  to 
be  honorable  in  business  transactions,  and  has  won  his  success  through 
no  chicanery.  Earnest,  persistent  effort  has  overcome  the  obstacles 
that  have  arisen  in  his  path,  and  he  bears  well  the  American  title  of 
self-made  man. 

While  still  residing  with  his  parents,  Mr.  Wilhelm  enlisted  August 
8,  1862,  in  Company  C,  Eighty-ninth  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  Union  service  July  19,  1865. 
Between  these  dates  he  took  part  in  some  of  the  most  sanguine  battles 
of  the  great  Civil  war,  his  first  important  engagement  being  at  Mum- 
fordville,  Kentucky,  where  he  really  received  his  baptism  of  fire,  On 
September  15,  16  and  17,  1862,  occurred  the  battle  of  Mumfordville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  September  17,  the  entire  regiment  was  captured.  The  same 
day  the  regiment  was  paroled  and  on  October  1,  1862,  it  reached 
Indianapolis  where  they  were  all  furloughed  home  for  twenty-seven  days, 
then  on  October  27,  1862,  the  regiment  all  met  again  at  Indianapolis 
where  they  were  in  a  parole  camp  until  December  5,  1862,  when  the  regi- 
ment joined  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  then  under  Gen.  Sherman, 
later  under  Gen.  Grant.  Following  this  he  participated  with  that  hard- 
fighting  organization  in  the  battles  under  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  of  the 
Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  and  throughout  the  Red  river  campaign  and 
up  and  down  the  Mississippi  under  General  Banks.  His  engagements 
toward  the  close  of  his  service  included  Tupelo,  Nashville,  Yellow  Bayou 
and  Mobile,  and  after  the  latter  he  received  his  honorable  discharge, 
having  made  a  record  for  bravery  and  faithfulness  to  duty  of  which  any 
man  might  well  be  proud. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  441 

Mr.  Wilhelm  was  married  November  5,  1868,  in  Jefferson  township, 
to  Miss  Jane  Crow,  who  was  born  in  Washington  township.  Delaware 
county,  Indiana.  September  5,  1844,  and  there  reared  and  educated, 
coming  to  Grant  county  in  1864.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Johnson)  Crow,  the  former  born  in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1813,  and  the  latter  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1816. 
They  were  married  in  the  latter  county  and  came  at  once  to  Delaware 
county,  Indiana,  starting  their  married  life  on  a  farm  in  Washington 
township,  which  had  been  entered  from  the  Government  in  1835  by  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Crow.  After  making  a  number  of  improvements.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Crow  came  to  Grant  county  and  located  in  Jefferson  township, 
and  here  the  mother  died  in  1887.  and  the  father,  July  19,  1891,  both  in 
the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  they  had  been  lifelong 
members.  To.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  there  were  born  the  following 
children :  Nora  E.,  who  became,  the  wife  of  Willis  Miller,  of  Anderson. 
Indiana,  and  has  one  son,  Ralph,  attending  school;  John  R.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Dobson,  Blaine  county.  Montana,  who  married  Druzie  Winchell. 
of  Marion.  Indiana,  and  has  four  children  living,  Aline,  Lewis,  Fred- 
erick and  Paul,  all  living  at  home,  also  one  child,  Hester,  who  died  aged 
two  years;  Minnie  M..  who  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  William  C.  Asay, 
pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Sharpsville,  Tipton  county, 
Indiana,  and  has  two  children,  Frederick  Waldo  Asay  and  Wendell 
Wilhelm  Asay;  B.  Harley.  a  farmer  of  Union  township,  Delaware 
county,  Indiana,  who  married  Gertrude  Keever  and  has  a  daughter, 
Opal;  Bertha  L.,  a  graduate  of  Taylor  University  of  Upland,  and  now 
a  teacher  in  the  Frankton  schools,  Madison  county;  Alta,  the  wife  of 
John  Webster,  of  Jay  county,  now  living  at  Othello,  Adams  county, 
state  of  Washington,  who  has  one  daughter,  Lueile;  and  Charles,  now 
engaged  in  operating  his  father's  land,  who  married  Grace  Randolph, 
of  Upland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  are  consistent  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Matthews.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
not  cared  for  public  affairs  except  as  they  affect  the  interests  of  his 
community.  He  has  a  firm  hold  on  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-townsmen,  due  not  less  to  an  irreproachable  life  than  to  a  recog- 
nition of  his  many  sterling  traits  of  character. 

J.  Clarence  Care,  one  of  the  most  active  young  business 
men  in  the  city  of  Marion,  Indiana,  is  a  prominent  figure  in 
the  real  estate  world  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  of  that  type 
of  modern  business  men  who  are  firm  believers  in  the  practicality  of 
progressive  methods  of  doing  business  and  who  are  not  afraid  of  inno- 
vations. Although  of  Southern  birth  and  parentage,  Mr.  Carr  shows 
none  of  the  traits  commonly  associated  with  the  easy  going  Southerner. 
He  is  active  and  energetic  and  although  still  a  young  man  he  has  made 
a  reputation  as  a  business  man  of  ability. 

J.  Clarence  Carr  was  born  on  the  21st  of  December,  1871,  in  Isle  of 
Wight  county,  Virginia.  He  is  the  son  of  Solomon  J.  and  Mary 
("Vaughn)  Carr,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Virginia.  On  both  his 
father's  and  mother's  side  his  ancestors  came  to  Virginia  in  the  early 
days  of  the  country  from  England.  Solomon  J.  Carr  was  a  large  land 
owner  and  a  contractor  in  Virginia,  and  he  died  in  that  state  in  1875. 
Mrs.  Carr  lived  until  1903.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living.  These  are  Darius  W.  Carr  of  "Windsor,  Vir- 
ginia; Claudius  L.  Carr,  of  Lewisburg,  West  Virginia;  and  J.  Clarence 
Carr. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  J.  Clarence  Carr  were  entirely  spent 
within  the  bounds  of  his  native  state.     He  received  his  earlier  education 


442        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

in  the  common  schools  of  the  state  and  later  spent  two  years  in  a  military 
academy  at  Suffolk,  Virginia.  He  began  his  business  career  as  a  shoe 
salesman  for  his  brother  at  Newport  News,  Virginia,  and  later  went  to 
Norfolk,  where  he  managed  a  shoe  store  for  another  brother.  He  re- 
mained here  for  two  years  and  then  he  engaged  in  the  management  of 
a  merchandise  brokerage  office  in  the  same  city.  After  two  years  in 
this  line  he  determined  to  come  further  west  and  so  in  1896  he  came 
to  Marion,  Indiana.  Here  he  first  engaged  in  the  merchandise  brokerage 
business,  but  after  a  year  of  this  he  decided  there  was  a  greater  opening 
in  the  real  estate  field  and  so  became  engaged  in  real  estate,  insurance 
and  first  mortgage  real-estate  loans.  He  has  built  up  a  flourishing 
business  and  in  addition  has  established  a  fine  reputation  for  fair  and 
upright  dealing,  a  fact  that  is  constantly  increasing  the  volume  of  his 


Mr.  Carr  was  married  on  the  31st  of  December,  1893,  to  Miss  Carrie 
E.  Jones,  of  Norfolk,  Virginia.  She  is  the  daughter  of  the  Reverend 
C.  J.  Jones,  D.  D.,  who  for  two  years  was  the  pastor  of  the  Christian 
Temple  in  Marion.  He  died  in  1907.  Mrs.  Carr  is  a  woman  of  culture 
and  education  and  she  and  her  husband  are  very  popular  in  the  social 
world  of  Marion. 

Mr.  Carr  is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  being  one  of  the  stewards  is  very  much  interested  in  Sunday 
School  work,  being  secretary  of  tha  body.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics and  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  of  the  Ben  Hurs. 

Samuel  "Woods.  One  of  the  oldest  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Grant 
county,  Indiana,  is  Samuel  "Woods,  who  came  to  Grant  county  in  1859. 
He  is  well  known  and  highly  respected  throughout  the  county,  and 
although  he  is  now  retired  from  active  business  and  is  also  almost  totally 
blind,  yet  he  takes  just  as  keen  an  interest  in  the  events  that  occur  in 
the  outside  world  and  in  matters  of  local  interest  as  he  ever  did.  He 
served  his  country  faithfully  in  the  days  of  the  Civil  war,  and  the  hard 
working  and  upright  life  that  he  has  always  led  surely  entitles  him  to 
the  respect  and  friendship  which  is  so  generously  accorded  him  through- 
out the  county. 

Samuel  Woods  was  born  on  the  22d  of  February,  1837,  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  John  Woods,  who  was  also  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  but  what  his  mother's  name  was  Mr.  Woods  does  not 
know,  for  she  died  when  he  was  but  a  babe  in  arms.  John  Woods 
earned  his  living  in  a  number  of  ways.  He  taught  school  at  one  time 
and  at  another  conducted  a  hotel,  and  for  some  time  was  a  superintendent 
of  construction  on  the  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  canal. 

Samuel  Woods  lived  in  Pennsylvania  until  he  was  twenty-two  years 
of  age  and  then  he  came  to  Grant  county,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
It  was  only  a  few  years  after  he  had  settled  in  Grant  county  that  the 
Civil  war  came  to  a  head  and  Samuel  Woods  enlisted  as  a  member  of 
Company  "H,"  Eighth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  During  his  mili- 
tary service  he  suffered  a  terrible  misfortune  in  having  his  eyes  burned 
so  badly  that  now  he  is  scarcely  able  to  see. 

For  eighteen  years  Mr.  "Woods  worked  at  his  trade  of  wagonmaker 
in  Marion,  but  when  his  eyes  became  so  affected  that  he  could  not  see 
clearly  enough  to  continue  in  his  trade  he  took  up  teaming  and  worked 
at  that  for  some  time.  He  has  now  retired  from  business  and  makes 
his  home  with  his  adopted  daughter,  Mrs.  Washburn. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Woods  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  and  has  always  been  a  loyal  and  active  member  of 
this  ancient  fraternity.     He  joined  the  order  in  1863  when  he  was  home 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  443 

from  the  front  on  a  furlough  and  he  is  consequently  one  of  the  oldest 
Masons  in  the  county  in  point  of  membership.  In  his  religious  beliefs 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Friends  church,  having  been  affiliated  with  this 
church  for  thirty  years. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1868,  Mr.  "Woods  was  married  to  Harriet 
M.  Malott,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Grant  county.  She  died  on 
July  29,  1911.  They  had  no  children,  but  they  adopted  a  daughter, 
Maud  May  Hollingsworth,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Effie  Washburn,  of  Marion. 

Jesse  T.  Bradford.  The  Bradford  family,  of  which  Jesse  T.  Brad- 
ford, now  retired,  is  the  head,  has  long  been  prominent  in  Grant  county, 
having  been  established  here  since  October,  1843.  Thus  seventy  years 
of  identity  with  the  county  has  given  a  wide  acquaintance  to  the  family 
in  these  parts,  and  each  succeeding  year  has  added  its  quota  to  the  well 
established  position  of  the  family  in  honor  and  esteem  in  which  it  is 
held  by  the  public.  Seventy  years  on  the  farm  is  the  honorable  record 
of  Jesse  Bradford,  but  his  residence  in  Marion  dates  back  only  to  the 
year  1906,  when  he  retired  from  active  life  and  settled  down  to  the 
peace  and  quiet  of  a  retired  life  in  the  city. 

Jesse  T.  Bradford  was  born  on  January  20,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Chell)  Bradford.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
West  Virginia,  born  in  that  state  in  1783,  and  the  mother  also  was  a 
Virginian  by  birth.  In  1843  George  Bradford  came  to  this  county, 
having  been  a  visitor  to  Indiana  some  two  years  previous,  when  he 
bought  a  piece  of  land  and  made  ready  in  some  measure  to  transplant 
his  Virginia  family  to  Indiana  soil.  His  farm  was  a  quarter  section  in 
Washington  township,  and  here  the  family  settled,  making  their  home 
for  some  years.  In  1855  the  senior  Bradford  died,  after  having  passed 
twelve  years  in  his  new  home.  The  Bradford  family  is  one  of  English 
stock,  while  the  Chells  are  of  German  ancestry.  John  Bradford,  the 
father  of  George,  who  established  the  family  in  Indiana,  came  from 
England  where  he  was  born,  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  they  settled 
in  Hardy  county,  now  called  Grant  county,  Virginia.  George  Brad- 
ford was  twice  married.  He  first  married  Mary  Stingley  and  to  them 
were  born  four  sons,  namely:  John,  George,  Leonard  and  Daniel,  none 
of  whom  are  alive  today.  The  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Chell.  the 
mother  of  Jesse  Bradford.  Sixteen  children  were  born  to  this  latter 
union,  concerning  whom  brief  mention  is  made  here  as  follows:  Rachel, 
who  married  John  McNamara,  is  now  deceased;  Isaac,  Henry,  Moses, 
Casper,  Joseph,  and  William  R.  are  all  deceased;  Catherine,  who  married 
David  Schuff,  is  living  in  Washington  township,  and  is  about  eighty -five 
years  old,  as  is  her  husband ;  Rebecca  married  George  W.  Camblin  and 
lives  at  Falls  City,  Nebraska;  Mary  J.  is  dead;  Elizabeth  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  Amos  Harlan,  of  Huntington  county,  Indiana ;  Jesse  T  ,  of  this 
review ;  the  remaining  four,  whose  names  are  not  available  at  this  point, 
died  in  infancy. 

Jesse  T.  Bradford  was  not  what  might  have  been  called  an  educated 
man,  his  schooling  being  represented  by  sixty-five  days  attendance  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  home  community.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-five,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  a  place  of  his  own. 
a  quarter  mile  distant  from  the  home  place,  located  on  section  fifteen, 
in  Washington  township,  and  there  he  lived  for  forty-seven  years.  He 
still  owns  a  share  in  the  old  home  farm  in  section  sixteen,  but  it  is  long 
since  he  took  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Bradford,  like  his  father,  lias  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Lucy  J.  Gaines,  who  was  reared  in  Washington  township, 
Grant  county,  and  to  their  union,  which  was  solemnized  on  November 


444  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

4,  1860,  were  born  four  sons:  Elmer,  deceased;  Walter  J.,  of  Marion; 
Oscar  C,  of  whom  mention  is  made  at  length  in  another  Bradford 
sketch  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and  another  child,  who  died 
in  infancy.  On  the  fifth  day  of  March,  1874,  the  wife  and  mother 
passed  away,  and  on  April  11,  1875,  Mr.  Bradford  married  Angeline 
Silvers,  who  bore  him  five  children.  One  of  the  number  died  in  infancy 
and  the  others  were:  Prank  S.,  now  living  on  the  home  farm;  Clarence 
W.,  an  attorney  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin;  Ernest  B.,  of  Laporte, 
Indiana;  and  Clinton  B.,  a  resident  of  Grant  county. 

Mr.  Bradford  was  for  many  years  a  stanch  Republican  in  his 
political  faith,  but  he  later  embraced  Prohibition,  although  his  support, 
in  the  main,  is  given  to  the  man  he  regards  most  fitted  for  service, 
regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  is  one  of  the  honored  and  honorable 
men  of  the  county,  and  his  position  has  long  been  a  prominent  one  in 
his  community  and  wherever  he  is  known. 

Oscar  P.  Bradford.  A  native  of  the  town  of  which  he  is  now  acting 
trustee,  and  a  young  business  man  of  ability,  is  Oscar  C.  Bradford,  who 
was  born  December  18,  1869,  in  Washington  township,  Grant  county. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jesse  T.  and  Lucy  J.  (Gaines)  Bradford,  and  it  may  be 
mentioned  here  that  the  Bradford  family  is  one  of  the  best  known  fam- 
ilies in  Grant  county  today,  being  mentioned  at  greater  length  in  the 
sketch  of  Jesse  T.  Bradford,  preceding  this  brief  review. 

Oscar  C.  Bradford  was  born  on  the  home  farm  in  Grant  county  and 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  community  schools,  later  supple- 
menting this  elementary  training  by  a  good  practical  education  in  other 
schools.  He  finished  a  thorough  course  of  study  in  the  Indianapolis 
Business  College  in  1896,  and  then  spent  a  year  at  DePauw  University, 
in  Greencastle,  Indiana.  In  1890  the  young  man  began  teaching,  and 
from  then  until  1895  he  spent  the  summer  months  in  study  at  the 
Marion  Normal  College,  his  teaching  being  carried  on  during  the  winter 


In  1900  he  removed  to  Warren,  Indiana,  and  was  there  employed  as  a 
bookkeeper  for  a  well  known  hardware  firm  in  that  place,  some  little 
time  later  becoming  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Warren  Machine  Com- 
pany, a  corporation,  of  which  he  was  a  director.  He  was  with  this  firm, 
whose  business  was  the  manufacturing  of  oil  well  machinery  and  repairs, 
for  three  years,  and  in  1904  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  making 
the  hardware  and  implement  business  as  the  object  of  his  interest.  He 
located  at  521-23  North  Washington  street,  in  Marion,  Indiana,  and 
continued  for  three  years,  when  the  business  was  organized  into  a  close 
corporation,  the  stock  being  held  by  himself,  his  father  and  his  brother. 
It  has  since  continued  in  a  successful  and  enterprising  manner,  and  the 
business  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  solid  enterprises  of  the  city. 

In  1908  Mr.  Bradford  was  elected  a  trustee  of  Washington  town- 
ship, and  he  still  holds  that  office.  He  is  a  prominent  Democrat  and 
was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee  of  Grant  county 
during  the  presidential  campaign  of  1912,  and  the  results  of  the  election 
were  the  most  victorious  ever  experienced  by  the  Democrats  of  this 
section. 

Mr.  Bradford  was  married  on  June  17,  1899,  to  Ethel  O.  Stevens,  the 
daughter  of  Harrison  and  Sarah  (Beach)  Stevens,  another  pioneer 
family  of  Grant  county,  and  highly  esteemed  wherever  they  are  known. 
Mrs.  Bradford  was  born  in  Pleasant  township,  Grant  county,  and  there 
reared.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradford,  two 
of  whom,  Ruth  M.  and  George  R.,  are  living.  The  second  born,  Doris  A., 
died  in  1906  at  the  age  of  five  years. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  ISAIAH  DAWSON. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  145 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradford  are  highly  regarded  in  their  home  com- 
munity and  have  a  part  in  the  best  social  activities  of  the  place. 

Isaiah  Dawsox.     The  Dawson  name  has  been  .prominently  identified 

with  the  townships  of  Pleasant  and  Jefferson  since  pioneer  days,  and 
Isaiah  Dawson  has  spent  all  his  life  since  his  marriage  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  is  a  progressive  farmer  on  section  thirty-six.  where  he  culti- 
vates a  tine  homestead  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  and  facilities 
of  modern  farm  life. 

The  Dawsons  came  from  North  Carolina,  were  first  settled  in  Wayne 
county,  Indiana.  The  grandfather  of  Isaiah  was  William  Dawson,  who 
was  born  either  in  North  Carolina  or  Virginia,  and  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Wayne  county,  Indiaua.  He  had  married  back  east  Miss 
Tabitha  Simons.  His  death  occurred  in  Wayne  county  when  about 
middle  life.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
but  very  little  is  known  of  him  or  his  ancestors.  His  wife  survived  him 
a  good  many  years,  came  to  Grant  county,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Nathan  Dawson  in  Pleasant  township  in  1873,  when  eighty-four 
years  of  age.  She  was  an  old-time  Methodist,  and  much  loved  and 
respected  for  her  fine  qualities  of  heart  and  mind.  The  following  are 
the  children  in  her  home  circle:  Thomas,  William,  Garrison,  Henry, 
Nathan,  John,  Sarah  Jane,  and  Margaret,  all  of  whom  married  and  all 
lived  to  be  good  old  people  and  had  families.  William,  Garrison  and 
Thomas  each  served  three  years  in  Indiana  regiments  during  the  war, 
and  came  home  without  serious  injury. 

Nathan  Dawson,  father  of  Isaiah,  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
and  died  at  his  home  in  Old  Town  or  New  Cumberland,  near  the  little 
city  of  Matthews,  July  17,  1896.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  fairly  success- 
ful, a  man  of  good  influence  and  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighborhood. 
A  short  time  after  his  marriage  he  located  in  Grant  county,  entering 
eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  government  in  Pleasant  township  near 
Jalapa,  and  the  first  home  was  a  log  cabin,  with  a  puncheon  floor,  and 
much  of  the  furniture  was  made  with  his  own  hands.  He  remained 
there  until  1872.  when  he  went  west  to  Iowa,  spending  two  and  a  half 
years  there  and  a  similar  time  in  Kansas,  then  returning  to  Grant  county 
and  buying  one  hundred  acres  not  far  from  the  original  home  which  he 
had  secured  from  the  government.  In  that  homestead  he  died  in  the 
fall  of  1882,  at  the  age  of  about  72  years.  His  wife  was  Actious  Owings, 
and  she  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  was  brought  when  a 
child  to  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  where  she  grew  up.  Her  father,  Rich- 
ard Owings,  died  in  Delaware  county.  Of  his  children,  Richard  Lemon 
Owings  was  a  pioneer  in  the  great  west  and  was  associated  with  the 
historic  character  Kit  Carson  for  about  fifteen  years  in  all  the  wild 
ventures  and  undertakings  of  that  historic  figure.  Nathan  Dawson  after 
the  death  of  his  wife  retired  to  New  Cumberland  and  lived  with  his  son 
Dr.  C.  F.  Dawson,  a  practicing  physician  there,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  very  suddenly  when  he  was  seventy-two  years  of  age.  He  was 
a  strong  Republican,  and  though  a  man  of  little  education  had  an  excel- 
lent influence  and  stood  high  in  his  community.  For  two  years,  during 
the  war,  he  served  as  a  Union  soldier,  in  two  different  Indiana  regiments. 
His  church  membership  was  with  the  Christian  denomination.  Isaiah 
was  the  first  son  and  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  others 
being  mentioned  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  Ohio,  after  her 
marriage,  and  her  three  children  are  all  married ;  Emaline  died  in 
Grant  county  after  her  marriage,  leaving  three  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  established  in  homes  of  their  own;  Isaiah,  who  was  next  in  order  of 
birth;    Dr.  C.  F.  Dawson,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Eclectic  School  of 


446        BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

Medicine,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a  practicing  physician  at 
Matthews,  and  is  now  living  with  his  second  wife,  having  had  three  chil- 
dren by  his  first  marriage ;  Henry  now  lives  on  a  farm  near  Marion,  is  a 
widower,  and  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter ;  Mollie  is  the  wife  of  Joel 
Veach,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Pulaski  county,  and  has  three  living  children. 

Isaiah  Dawson  was  born  on  his  father's  old  homestead  in  Pleasant 
township  of  Grant  county,  October  13,  1853.  Since  his  marriage  he  has 
been  identified  with  Jefferson  township,  where  his  hard-working  industry 
and  good  citizenship  have  placed  him  in  the  ranks  of  the  most  progres- 
sive people  in  that  vicinity.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  and  all  but  fifteen  acres  of  timberland  is  under  the 
plow.  A  big  red  barn  is  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the  place,  and  in  1900 
Mr.  Dawson  built  the  large  dwelling  which  shelters  himself  and  family. 

In  Jefferson  township,  thirty-seven  years  ago,  Mr.  Dawson  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Needier,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  she  and  her  hus- 
band now  live,  in  1849.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James  Needier,  and  the 
Needier  family  are  long  residents  of  Grant  county,  and  are  mentioned 
on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  have  lost  two 
children  in  early  childhood,  and  those  living  are :  Pearl  A.,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Jefferson  township,  and  now  is  active  man- 
ager of  his  father's  farm.  He  married  Ella  Huntzinger  and  they  have 
a  daughter,  Mary  Rebecca.  Henry  Ovid  now  lives  at  home  with  his 
parents,  and  is  unmarried.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  are  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  his  politics  is  Republican. 

Charles  E.  Worrell.  "Ambition  has  no  rest,"  said  Bulwer-Lytton, 
and  there  are  but  few  who  are  unable  to  cite  instances  that  would  seem 
to  bear  out  the  statement  of  the  man.  Twenty-four  years  of  con- 
tinuous service  as  chief  engineer  of  the  National  Military  Home  at 
Marion  on  the  part  of  Charles  E.  Worrell,  during  which  he  has  not  once 
relieved  the  tedium  of  his  daily  task  by  availing  himself  of  the  annual 
thirty  day  vacation  that  is  accorded  to  men,  indicate  something  of  the 
untiring  spirit  of  the  man — of  the  energy  and  ambition  that  carries 
him  forward  from  day  to  day  with  no  thought  of  rest  from  toil,  or  in 
self-seeking  of  whatever  nature.  He  has  gone  on  with  the  duties  of 
his  position  from  season  to  season,  year  in  and  out,  and  under  his 
regime  as  chief  engineer  the  National  Military  Home  has  advanced  from 
a  farm  to  one  of  the  finest  and  most  extensive  in  America,  housing,  as  it 
does,  1600  men,  and  caring  for  them  in  the  most  approved  methods. 
Mr.  Worrell  is  in  full  charge  of  all  mechanical  appliances,  power  house, 
cold  storage  house  and  other  similar  appurtenances  of  the  Home,  and 
since  he  has  been  in  the  service,  the  forty-five  buildings  that  adorn  the 
grounds  today  have  been  built  and  brought  into  use.  His  work  has  been 
far  reaching  in  its  very  nature,  calling  forth  every  quality  of  ability 
that  a  man  in  such  a  position  might  ever  be  required  to  apply,  and 
Mr.  Worrell  has  never  failed  in  the  application  of  his  judgment  as  an 
engineer,  nor  has  his  enviable  record  as  a  man  ever  been  impugned  in 
any  quarter. 

Mr.  Worrell  was  born  in  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  on  October 
14,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  N.  and  Abbie  Ann  (Hulley)  Worrell,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  people  of  English  descent  and  parentage. 
The  father  was  a  stonemason  and  he  came  to  Switzerland  county  from 
Pennsylvania  in  1847,  locating  in  Marion  as  late  as  in  1901,  there  making 
his  last  home  with  his  son,  and  dying  in  his  home  in  1905.  The  mother 
passed  away  ere  the  family  exodus  from  Switzerland  county,  death 
claiming  her  in  1893.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  three 
of  the  number  living  today.    Besides  the  subject  there  are  William  H. 


BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES  447 

Worrell,  who  lives  on  the  old  home  place,  and  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Morgan,  of 
Switzerland  county,   Indiana. 

Charles  E.  Worrell  received  his  education  in  the  high  school  in  the 
town  of  Vevay  in  Switzerland  county,  and  also  attended  Moorefield 
Academy.  He  was  eighteen  years  old  when  he  finished  his  schooling  and 
applied  himself  diligently,  as  he  has  done  all  things,  to  the  business 
of  learning  the  machinist's  trade,  and  for  ten  years  thereafter  he  was 
identified  with  that  work.  He  then  began  to  interest  himself  in  the 
natural  gas  business,  and  he  helped  to  drill  the  first  gas  well  in  Grant 
county.  This  well,  located  at  Fourteenth  and  Bools  street,  in  Marion, 
was  drilled  in  1887,  and  being  a  complete  success,  may  be  said,  without 
fear  of  contradiction,  to  have  started  the  gas  industry  that  eventually 
came  to  be  a  gas  boom,  and  waxed  strong  throughout  this  part  of  the 
state. 

Mr.  Worrell,  however,  did  not  long  continue  to  be  indentified  with 
the  newly  fledged  industry,  aud  on  October  1,  1889,  he  came  to  Marion 
as  chief  engineer  for  the  National  Military  Home.  Here  he  has  been 
stationed  ever  since,  and  he  is  on  the  records  as  the  oldest  man  in  the 
service  of  the  Home  today.  His  duties  are  of  a  manifold  nature,  embrac- 
ing the  actual  control  of  the  entire  plant  in  its  operation.  An  expert 
mechanical  engineer,  he  is  qualified  to  manage  every  branch  of  the  oper- 
ating service,  and  drainage,  sewerage,  hot  water,  gas,  steam,  etc.,  all 
come  under  his  direct  supervision.  That  his  work  has  been  well  up  to 
standard,  and  above  it  for  the  most  part,  is  well  evidenced  in  his  long 
continued  control  of  the  work,  and  every  confidence  is  felt  in  his  ability 
and  integrity  by  the  officials  of  the  institution. 

Mr.  Worrell  was  married  on  October  24,  1884,  to  Miss  Belle  Hough, 
the  daughter  of  William  A.  and  Mary  Hough,  of  Winchester,  Randolph 
county,  Indiana.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them, — Inez,  Mabel, 
Helen  and  Elwood. 

A  Democrat,  Mr.  Worrell  takes  a  praiseworthy  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  party,  though  he  is  in  no  sense  a  politician,  and  his  fraternal 
affiliations  are  confined  to  his  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  wuth  which  he  has  been  identified  since  1880. 

Harry  Miller,  M.  D.  Among  the  highly  respected  members  of 
the  medical  profession  in  Grant  county,  Indiana,  is  Harry  Miller,  M.  D. 
He  is  chief  surgeon  at  the  National  Military  Home  in  Marion,  and  is 
widely  known  for  his  conscientious  and  able  service  in  this  position.  It 
is  a  post  that  requires  not  only  surgical  and  medical  skill  of  the  highest 
order,  but  also  no  small  amount  of  executive  ability,  and  Dr.  Miller 
has  been  an  extremely  efficient  and  successful  executive. 

Harry  Miller  was  born  on  the  3rd  of  August,  1S67,  in  Shelby  county, 
Indiana,  the  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  J.  (Robinson)  Miller,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Shelby  county,  Indiana.  John  H.  Miller  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Seventy-ninth  Indiana  Regiment  during  the  Civil  war  and 
is  now  living  in  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  his  wife  being  deceased. 

Dr.  Miller  grew  up  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  attending  school  at 
Morristown  until  he  was  ready  to  take  his  medical  education.  He  then 
entered  the  Indiana  Medical  College  and  was  graduated  from  this  insti- 
tution with  the  class  of  1891.  During  the  same  year,  on  the  30th  of  May, 
he  entered  the  National  Military  Home  in  Marion  as  an  interne.  Here 
he  remained  as  an  interne  for  eighteen  months,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  was  made  first  assistant  surgeon  to  Dr.  Kimball,  who  was  at  that 
time  chief  surgeon.  When  Dr.  Kimball  died  in  1904,  Dr.  Miller  was 
made  chief  surgeon,  aud  has  remained  in  this  office  ever  since.  He  has 
a  staff  of  four  assistants  and  the  care  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers. 


448  BLACKFORD  AND  GRANT  COUNTIES 

so  his  time  is  completely  filled  with  his  professional  duties.  He  has, 
however,  time  for  a  little  recreation  which  he  finds  chiefly  as  a  member 
of  the  Marion  Golf  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  being  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  and  he  also  belongs 
to  the  Sons  of  Veterans. 

Dr.  Miller  was  married  on  the  1st  of  January,  1900,  to  Adelaide  Smith, 
of  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  and  they  have  no  children. 


!*■£■*     N.   MANCH6STER 
(,    '  ■>■  ■' WDIANA