Grant County, Indiana
Biographies
Marshall
Smith
Marshall Smith. A lifelong residence
in Grant county and many years of business activities within its
borders has given to Marshall Smith a wide acquaintance and an enviable
reputation in these parts. He was for years prominent in the lumber
industry in this and surrounding counties, and when the scarcity of
standing timber made that no longer an attractive business, he shrewdly
turned his attention to the farming industry, in which he has since
been prosperously engaged. He has been a man to whom fortune has ever
accorded a due measure of success, and his position in the county has
long been and still is, an enviable one.
Born in Grant county, November 15,
1858, Marshall Smith is the son of George W. and Caroline (Gilpen)
Smith. The mother was a daughter of John Gilpen of Grant county, who
lived to reach the age of ninety-two years. They became the parents of
a large family of eleven children, the mother dying in 1880 and the
father in 1903. They were farming people and passed their lives in the
old familiar district in Grant county where their sons and daughters
were born and reared.
Marshall Smith was about twenty years
old when his mother died. He had lived at home up to that time, and his
educational advantages had been of the very slightest, covering not
more than a few months in all. In those early days the public school
system was not the most efficient, and especially in their home
community were school matters given but little consideration. Never of
a studious nature as a boy, Mr. Smith admits today that he paid more
attention in his school-days to devising new plans for annoying the
school-master than he ever accorded to his duties, and there are many
of his day who might well make the same confession if they would, even
as the youth of today might often do.
In 1886 Mr. Smith left the Grant
county home and came to Miami county, and in Xenia, now known as
Converse, he engaged in the lumber business, buying and selling logs,
and gradually increasing his operations until he was regarded as one of
the big dealers of the community. After a time he went to Peru and
there also began operating in timber, where he remained for about three
years, and then went to Loree, in Clay township, Miami county, where he
engaged in the sawmill business, —an industry that is never but one
step distant from the logging business. When he first identified
himself with the saw mill line he was associated with John Flowers, and
together they continued prosperously until the mill was destroyed by
tire. They were nothing daunted by that misfortune and together built
up a newer and better plant than they had previously owned, and
continued under the same firm name for about three years. Mr. Smith had
by this time begun to see the end of the lumber business in his section
of Indiana, and he began to buy up farm lands, beginning to farm some
in connection with the mill work, thus familiarizing himself with the
agricultural industry, and he has since continued in active fanning,
after with the exception of a saw mill he operates in Southeast
Missouri, having withdrawn from all other industries. He spent three
years at Winamac, then came to Pipe Creek township, adjacent to Bunker
Hill, and when he settled in Bunker Hill his first home was on the farm
adjoining his present place. His home today is one of the finest and
most modern to be found in the township, and is one of the attractive
and showy places in the district.
Mr. Smith was married in 1883 to Miss
Fannie Lawson, a daughter of Frank and Helena (Morro) Lawson. Mrs.
Smith was one of four daughters, the others being: Minnie, married to
George Smith; Maggie, the wife of Marion Retherford; and Lillie, who
married Lon Smith (not related).
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith seven children
have been born, concerning whom brief mention is made here as follows:
Edward, the eldest, married May Listen, and they have two children;
Josephine and Liston; Grover, Mabel, Shelia, Noble, Mary and Rose, are
all unmarried, and share the fine home of their parents. The family are
members of the United Brethren church in Bunker Hill, and all are
highly esteemed and honored in the community which has long represented
their home.
John L. Miller. The Miller homestead
is an eighty-acre place in Deer Creek township. It represents the
accumulated energies and the good management of John L. Miller, who is
one of the ablest crop producers and most substantial citizen of Miami
county. His career has much encouragement for young men who start
without resources, except those contained in themselves. He was a
renter for several years, prospered in every undertaking, and thriftily
turned his surplus into more land, until he found himself independent
and with better provision for the future of himself and family than
most men have at the close of a long lifetime. John L. Miller was born
in Deer Creek township of Miami county, October 5, 1867, and belongs to
a family whose residence in this county goes back for about seventy
years. His parents were Philip and Amanda (Wilson) Miller. The maternal
grandfather was John Wilson. Philip Miller came to Indiana towards the
end of the forties, and settled in Miami county years before the
building of the first railroad, when all transportation was by canal or
by wagon route, and his own toil contributed a part of the development
which has made the modern Miami county possible. During the war he
enlisted in an Indiana regiment, and went south to do service in
defense of the union, being frequently engaged in battle, and on one
occasion was wounded by a shot in the army.
John L. Miller grew to manhood on his
father's place, early becoming familiar with all kinds of farm labor,
and receiving his education in the district school near his home. In
1889 occurred his marriage to Miss Ida Poff, a daughter of Elias and
Alice (Isler) Poff. Mr. and Mrs. Miller since their marriage have
worked hard, and have taken pains to give their children the best
possible advantages in the local schools, and also to provide them good
influences in correct habits and morals at home. Their eight children
are still within the home circle, and are named as follows: Claude P.,
Emma, Marie, Edna, Lula, Raymond, Russell and Tavola.
When Mr. Miller came into possession
of his present place of eighty acres in Deer Creek township, it was
quite well improved with buildings, but during his ownership he has
made many other improvements, and it now ranks as a first class
homestead. Mr. Miller is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men
and the Masonic Order, being a post thus familiarizing himself with the
agricultural industry, and he has since continued in active fanning,
after with the exception of a saw mill he operates in Southeast
Missouri, having withdrawn from all other industries. He spent three
years at Winamac, then came to Pipe Creek township, adjacent to Bunker
Hill, and when he settled in Bunker Hill his first home was on the farm
adjoining his present place. His home today is one of the finest and
most modern to be found in the township, and is one of the attractive
and showy places in the district.
Source: History of Miami County,
Indiana By Arthur Lawrence Bodurtha, H P Loveland
Fred
Frey
Fred Frey has been farming in Grant
county for a number of years and is well known as an enterprising and
representative citizen. He was born in Minnesota, October 19, 1864, and
is a son of Charles and Augusta (Perru) Frey, both natives of Germany.
His maternal grandfather, Christian Perru was of old Prussian stock and
lived and died in his native land. The family was founded in America by
Franz Frey, "the grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, who
was born in Switzerland and spent his early life in that country. He
came to America and located in Ohio, where he followed his trade of
wagonmaker and was engaged in general farming until his death when he
was fifty- three years of age.
His son, Charles Frey, the father of
our subject, removed from Ohio to Minnesota and located twenty miles
west of Red Wing in Goodhue county, that state. He was married in Ohio
in 1860 and his removal to Minnesota took place in the same year. In
1869 he came to Oregon and located in the John Day valley, seven miles
below the town. He served during the Civil war as a member of a
Minnesota regiment of volunteer infantry for six months and was
mustered out and honorably discharged in 1865. For many years he
operated a ranch in the John Day valley, farming and keeping a large
herd of graded stock. To these activities he later added truck
gardening and was successful in this branch of his work. He was the
father of nine children: Louisa, who married William Sproul, of
California; Fred, the subject of this review; Frank; Minnie, the
deceased wife of Ira Sproul; Ella, now Mrs. Ira Sproul. of Bear Valley.
Oregon: Edward, of Fox. Grant county; Nettie, who became the wife of
Lewis Wilson, and now resides in Washington: Carrie, the deceased wife
of Henry Workins of Mount Vernon: and Dora, the wife of Charles
McKrola, of Mount Vernon. The public schools of Oregon afforded Fred
Frey his early educational opportunities. He later came to Oregon with
his parents and pursued his studies in that state. In 1886, he
purchased an interest in the Humholdt mine on the hillside west of
Canyon City
and worked at mining for twelve
years. His holdings were productive and he was extremely successful. At
the end of twelve years he abandoned mining and took up a homestead
claim in Grant county. The circumstances which led to his gaining title
to this estate were peculiar. A local company engaged in the building
of a military road through the district had received in exchange for
their services a large grant of land. Charles Frey, the father of our
subject, purchased this property from the company. In the making out of
the papers ceding the land to the construction company it was found
that through some legal negligence the deed was void and the land still
remained in possession of the government. Upon this Mr. Frey filed his
homestead claim and is now In active operation of one of the finest
ranches in Grant county. He is an expert and efficient farmer and
conducts his enterprise along scientific and progressive lines. He has
developed his place to a remarkable extent and is known in Grant county
as a man who has done much to promote the growth and development of his
native state. In April, 1896, Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss
Lou McMillan of California. Mrs. Frey is a charming and hospitable
woman, and has been a great aid to her husband in his career.
Source: The Centennial History of
Oregon, 1811-1912 By Joseph Gaston
Judge
John Brownlee
Was judge of the Cass circuit court
at the October term, 1854, having been appointed to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Hon. John U. Pettit. He was a lawyer of
fair ability and made a creditable judge. He resided in Grant county.
Judge
John M. Wallace
Was a native of Franklin county,
Indiana, and was elected from the eleventh judicial district, which at
that time included Cass county. His first service in this county began
April 16, 1854, and he served one full term of six years. He ranked
high both as a lawyer and judge. As a man he was gentlemanly in manners
and of easy address. He served with credit in the Mexican war and was
commissioned colonel of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry in the Civil war
and later became paymaster in the regular army. He died in Grant
county, Indiana, some years ago.
Source: History of Cass County
Indiana By Jehu Z. Powell, Lewis Publishing Company
Alfred Hogston has made a commendable
record in two professions, education and the law. For the past two
years he
has been building up an influential
connection as a lawyer at Marion, and prior to that for ten years gave
most of his time to school work. At the general election in 1918 he was
elected a state senator from Grant County on the republican ticket.
He is a son of one of the old and
substantial farmer citizens of Grant County, James I. Hogston. James I.
Hogston was born in Randolph County, Indiana, February 10, 1850, only
son of his father's second marriage to Mary Lacy. James' father was
Alfred Hogston, a native of Iredell County, North Carolina. When he was
three years old his parents settled in Wayne County, Indiana, being a
part of that migration which came in large numbers from some of the
Quaker colonies of Western North Carolina to the old Quaker settlement
in Wayne County, Indiana. Alfred Hogston spent most of his active
career as a farmer in Randolph County. James I. Hogston grew to manhood
on his father's farm, attended district schools during the winter and
by attendance at summer normal schools qualified for teaching, though
he never followed that profession. He has been a successful farmer for
forty years, beginning with practically only the labor of his own
hands. November 30, 1878, he married Rebecca A. Mann, a native of
Randolph County. They started fanning as renters, lived for a time in
both Randolph and Adams counties, but in 1882 moved to Franklin
Township of Grant County. James I. Hogston has developed one of the
large farms of that township. He and his wife had six children,
including: Alfred; Anderson, deceased ; Adaline, wife of John A.
Patterson ; Myrtle, who married Earl Cabe; and Richard, who married
Bertha Babb.
Alfred Hogston
completed his higher education in the
Indiana State University, from which he received his A. B. degree in
1914 and his degree in law in 1916. Since his admission to the bar he
has acquired a good general practice at Marion.
April 11, 1903, he married Miss Verna
Jacqua, of Grant County, daughter of Caleb F. and Emma (Small) Jacqua.
Her father has been a farmer and machinist. Mr. and Mrs. Hogston have
two children, Frederick Landis and Lyndall Lenore.
Mr., Hogston is a republican voter,
is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Elks, and while in
university was a member of the Gamma Eta Gamma fraternity.
Source: Indiana and Indianans By
Jacob Piatt Dunn, General William Harrison Kemper, George William
Harrison Kemper
Dillard,
Artis
Artis, Dlllard, municipal contractor;
born tn Howard Co., Ind.. Dec. 24. 1868; son of Thomas and Ester (Hall)
Artis; public school education; married Manerva Ward, of Indianapolis.
June 22. 1910. Began as janitor of court house, Marion, Ind., 1900;
later accepted private contracts trimming trees, laying sod and making
lawns, this work led to contracts for digging cellars, sewer and cement
work, street building, and finally municipal contracting; had cement
contract connected with (100.000 residence of J. W. Wilson, the First
Baptist Church .and number others: finished contracts on tar via roads
amounting to 840,000 in 1914; president Grant Security & Loan Co.,
Gill Coal & Supply Co., Marlon. Was vice-president Grant County
Republican Central Committee, 1904. African Methodist. Former president
Marion Negro Business League; member Odd
Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights
of Tabor. Address: 1818 S. Boots St., Marion, Ind.
Source: Who's Who Of The Colored
Race, by Frank Lincoln Mather, Detroit, 1915 - Transcribed by C. Anthony
Colonel John L. McCulloch
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 character 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 colony in that county. 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 Crawrordsville. At the age of nineteen years he put his
scholastic attainments to practical test and utilization, by turning
his attention to the pedagogic profession, in which he was a successful
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 general
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 Company. He
individually held two-thirds of the stock of the new company and became
its president and treasurer. Through his previous experience 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
investment 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 manifold 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.
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 it is
also one of the strongest and most popular in central Indiana. Colonel
McCulloch has shown special predilection for and ability in the banking
business and is known as one of the representative figures in
connection 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 influence in this connection has been both fruitful and benignant.
He has held many positions of honor and trust in the Indiana Bankers'
Association, 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 advantages 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 interested
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
enterprises 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
stewardship 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 wiio 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.
In the Masonic fraternity Colonel McCulloch has been specially
prominent and influential in his native state, and he has been a close
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 benefao 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 National
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 submitted a
proposition which certainly attested his interest and enthusiasm. 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 would 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 MeCulloch 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 McCulloch, 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
Kentucky. She is a daughter of Wood and Elizabeth (Muir) Wilson, 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 headquarters 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. McCulloch removed to Wheeling, 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
refilled hospitality.
Dr. Marshall T. Shively
Dr.
Marshall T. Shively. 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 successful
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, 1836, 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, 1889. 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
entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, from which institution
he was graduated in 1874. He began to practice in Marion in partnership
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: James H.
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 rule 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 uot occupied with
looking after the interests of her children, for she was essentially at
all times the mother, faithful, devoted and kind, during 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,
biography 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.
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
hoped that some of the family will in the near future put them in
publication 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
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 Connersville, Indiana, and the mother of Rutland, Vermont. The date
of the family settlement in Grant county was either 1829 or 1831, so
that the family was here in ample time to become charter members 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 law, 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 headquarters 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 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 govemment service for a time,
and about twenty-five years ago established the present music house
which bears his name and which is one of the largest establishments of
the kind in the state. This 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
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 Dobsou'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 Rachael
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 lather
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 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 his marriage he settled down on
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 surrounding.
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
stalwart 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, 1844. He received his education in the Quaker and
public schools and the Friends' Academy, and in reality haa 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 crude 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
manufactured. In addition, Mr. Elliott early turned his attention to
agricultural pursuits, in which he met with unqualified success,
accumulating a handsome 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. Elliott enlisted in Company C, Eighty-ninth
Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private, being then not
nineteen years of age. He joined for three years' service, but before
he had l>een 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 Vicksburg, Mississippi, but eighteen weeks later, during which time
Mr. Elliott did much special duty of an important nature, he was
appointed a noncommissioned 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, ia,-tories, etc., and then returned to Vicksburg. The
Eighty-ninth was later sent to meet Banks, at Alexandria, to support
that general, but nerer 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- oss/ppi 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 Tennessee 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 regiment being then ordered to
Mobile, where the men were discharged and mustered out of the service,
July 26, 1865. 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 parents 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, 1875; 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.
George W. Webster
George
W. Webster. One of the men 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 county 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. McKiuney, in 1836. Railroad building
was a branch of construction work to which he gave considerable
attention, 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 were 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. Throughout 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 a man
to seek public office at any time. His death occurred on the 13th of
February, 1892, 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 home
on the corner 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
president 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
James Charles was born in Cornwall, England, on the 22d of December,
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 property and kept the
same up to a high standard in its mechanical equipment 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 December, 1905. From the time
of their marriage until their death he and his wife lived continuously
in one locality, though various improvements 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 affairs and exactions of his business
interests, but stood foremost in giving his influence and tangible
co-operation in the support of measures and enterprises tending to
advance the civic and material welfare 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 affairs, 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, by 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 advocated progressive policies
and labored zealously for the proper administration 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 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, 1860, 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 sou, 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 indicating 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
showing 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
matriculated 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
forthwith admitted to the Indiana bar. He has become continuously
engaged in the active practice of law in Marion since the autumn of
1898 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, as does he also those of the general public. In
the practice of his profession he has had various partnership alliances
but his law business is now conducted in an independent way, with a
clientage of important and representative character.
Like his honored father Mr. Charles has been, unwavering and zealous in
the support of the cause of the Republican party and he is one ta of
its influential representatives in this section of the state. Through
several important campaigns he served as vice-chairman of the
Republican 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 industrial enterprises of Marion, and is an influential
member of the Marion Civic Assembly. He is Past Exalted Ruler of the
Benevolent & Protective 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.
Eli Rich
Eri Rich was born in the southern part of Hamilton county, Indiana,
near Carmel, October 12, 1840. His father was Joseph Rich, his grand-
fatber 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
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
Hamilton 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 Fairmount
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 Fairmount 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 Fairmount, 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 Fairmount, retiring from active agriculture, and has
since devoted his time to trade and stock breeding. For five years he
was a feed merchant at Fairmount. Since then practically 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. Davidson.
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 F., the youngest being at home and all the children 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;
Lucina is the widow of Lewis Thomas, living in Huntington, Indiana, and
has two sons, Eri and Walter; Milton resides in Fairmount township, is
married and has three sons, Doite, 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 youngest 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
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 enterprises 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 extended
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-appointed
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 of 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
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 Farmer's Trust & Savings Company of Marion,
is one of the solidest and most representative financial institutions
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 intimately
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
stimulate 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 Franklin 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 Democratic ticket,
representative of the counlies 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. Tn 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 substantial means in Grant county, and
yet looking back over a career of forty years, it can truthfully be
said that he has acquired practically 1912, of the Good Roads Congress
at Indianapolis, and was for ten years president of the State Farmers
Congress. On the subject which in a general manner is covered by these
organizations mentioned, and - on a great many other public questions,
Mr. Strange has been for 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 advocated 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 banking reforms. He was appointed from
the National Civic Federation, by its president, Seth Low, as one of
the committee of one hundred on immigration, and also on other
committees notably that on distribution, and also on the one for the
enforcement of the pure food laws.
Mr. Strange was married on March 1, 1866, 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 township; 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.
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
prevented 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 children : Job S-,
born October 7, 1795, was married in North Carolina to Mary Dillon,
afterwards came to Indiana, and both died in Henry 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 eomtinued 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, Indiana, 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 married
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
married Hanna Cobb and had two children, both girls, one, Delphina,
died aged 16, Hettie is still living, a teacher in the public schools
of Richmond, 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, who
was born, in Fairmount township, July 1, 1839. Her home was always in
Grant county, and she represented old pioneer stock. Her parents were
Seth knd Mary (Hill) Winslow, both natives of Randolph county, 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 Grant 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 seventy-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 College 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 and civic affairs
he has always borne his full share of responsibilities. He has given
service as township trustee, and in politics 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 was descended from Scotch and English-Irish ancestors.
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 born 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, 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 for
United States service. They were taken to Fort St. Mary's and there he
assisted in building the fort and blockhouse, 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, 1826.
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 onlv a short time, dving 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 which to carry on a winter trade from the Ewings,
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 Furrow, 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 his store and when he had
just about exhausted his first stock of goods that he paid a visit to
Dayton, Ohio, where he met Mr. Phillips, a wholesale merchant of that
city, and from him obtained another small stock of goods. It was in
this way that he struggled forward, 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 cheat the red men, but Mr.
McClure was cast in a mold in which dishonesty was utterly impossible
to his nature. He consequently won their implicit trust and at the same
time the confidence and friendship of the white settlers. It was not
long before his creditors discovered that he paid his debts promptly
and he was soon established on a solid business basis. He 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 acquainted 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 delegation 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 which 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 has 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 has 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 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 elementary
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 much 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.
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 warfare,
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 husband,
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 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 fight 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 Rattlesnake
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 1891,
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
township, Grant county, Indiana, March 4,1879. He was reared and
educated in the county of his nativity, and accompanied his parents to
Fayette 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 Braddock 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, leaving 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 18, 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 his native locality and the Jonesboro 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 displayed his good citizenship by serving in the
capacity of deputy township assessor for a period of seven years. With
his family he attends 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 afterward 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 agricultural 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 township, 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 Palmer 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
township, and now his father's assistant on the homestead place; Walter
H., born September 5, 18S7, at home; and Francis Burr, born February
23, 1890, also at home.
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, Company B, 135th
Indiana Infantry. Was very young when he entered 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.
Uz 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 president 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
married 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 member
of several social and study clubs.
Mr. McMurtrie has always taken a prominent part in social and fraternal
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 aifairs 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.
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. Rothinghouse
grew up in Ohio, and after a somewhat limited education was 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
Anderson 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. Rothinghouse, 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.
Rothinghouse 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 success 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 druggist
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 horn 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 Corporation, 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. Rothinghouse believes in selling staple
and guaranteed goods, and his success is largely due to that policy.
Mr. Rothinghouse married Miss Carrie Livengood, and they are the
parents of two children. Porter, who died at the age of two and a half
years; and Ernest, born in 1889, 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.
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 W. Montgomery was born in Fairmount, December 4, 1859, and has
always lived in this part of the county, having received his education
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 Montgomery,
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 government 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 Montgomerys through three generations of residence 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 1862. 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.
Montgomery 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 Congregational church and the father
served for a number of years as trustee and the son as church clerk.
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 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 building 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 traditions 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 noteworthy for their efforts in
promoting and maintaining educational facilities 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 supported by
the church people will be found institutions of higher education,
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 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 improvements 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 married 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
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
children, Zora and Yavon. The other two deceased children of Mr. and
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.
Clayton 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
Fairmount 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 science at the Pacific College at Newburg,
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 teach 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 his 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 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 Michigan
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 Michigan 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 Penton, 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 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 activities of this city. Fraternally Mr. Elliott is
affiliated with the Masonic Order, and is a member of the Presbyterian
church, having been superintendent of the Sunday school for eight years
and a member of the Session 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 part of Mr. Elliott's benevolent work during recent
years. He has without any ostentation and on his private initiative
found homes for more than 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 provided comfortable homes will eventually
inherit from five to twenty thousand dollars each from their foster
parents. It is in no idle spirit nor from an abnormal trait of
character that Mr. Elliott has engaged in bis philanthropic 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.
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 government 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 probably 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
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 polities. The children of this family
were: 1. Rachael, married and had a family. 2. Easom. married, was a
successful farmer, died in Grant county, and was the father of thirteen
children who grew to maturity. 3. John was married twice, and after a
successful career as a farmer left several children. 4. Edmund is
mentioned in the following paragraphs. 5. Jane married a farmer and
they reared a family of children. 6. Mary, better known as Polly, was
married 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 son Edmund were
excellent 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
children 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
comfortable 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 conducted 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 daughter of David
and Eliza (Hite) Caskey. Her father was a native of Virginia, while her
mother was born in Rush county, where they were
married. The Caskeys were substantial farming people, and in 1871 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
years of age at the time of his death, and was born 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: 1. 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, Cleo. 2.
Della 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 Fairmount 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 and 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 Primitive
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.
The detailed history of the Baldwin family would be too long for
publication 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
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 w,ere: Daniel Baldwin, Jr., born in
Guilford county, North Carolina, December 10, J.789. He married
Christian Wilcuts, who was bor n 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 previous 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 Rdbert Bogue, grandson of Daniel
Baldwin, Jr., having title to a portion of the original tract. It was
in Fairmount that Daniel Baldwin, 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 disposition, 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.
Joseph \V. Baldwin was the first merchant of Fairmount, and conducted a
store there from 1848 to 1860, and gave the name to the present town of
Fairmount. He had eight children, four of whom are yet living. 5.
David, born November 6,1819, lived and died in Grant county as a
farmer. He married Elizabeth Coleman, but had no children of his own.
However, they adopted Dr. J. W. Patterson, now a physician of
Fairmount. David and wife were Methodists in religion, his wife having
been reared in that church. 6. Daniel, Jr., born November 3, 1821, died
during infancy in Wayne county. 7. Jonathan, born September 30, 1823,
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, 1828, 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.
Raehael, 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-in-law, 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 in 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
manhood, 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 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 first 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 competed 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 Fairmount, at
the same residence where she has lived for half a century. This
residence is a land mark in Fairmount, and was for many years occupied
by her husband, Micah Baldwin. The children 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 fourteen 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 married 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, I860, 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 Neivs 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 his old home at Fairmount. Here he bought the plant of the Fairmount
News from Charles Stout, and conducted that paper for three 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, four days after the
declaration of war, on April 26, he joined Company A, of the One
Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Infantry. This regiment rendezvoused at
Indianapolis, and was mobilized at Chickamauga. The regiment was
finally 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 that command to Newport News, Va. However, the peace protocol was
signed while the regiment was on the way. The command was later
transferred to the army of occupation and sent to Matanzas Province,
Cuba. The regiment was returned to Savannah, Georgia, and was
discharged there, April 26, 1899, just a year after his enlistment. The
commander of the regiment with which he went to Cuba was George W.
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 1903. Since then the Fairmount
News has been issued under his management, and is one of the most
influential and best edited papers of Grant county. The News 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 News 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
elsewhere 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 1887. For a number of years
she has been the proficient city editor of the Fairmount Netvs. 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 Agricultural 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 citiziens. 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
following session. He was treasurer of the Republican Editorial
Association of Indiana, and was also treasurer of the Grant County
Central Committee. 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 gratifying- tribute to his personal popularity.
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 first 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 output averages three carloads of bottles every
day, and the plant is exclusively devoted to the manufacture of bottles
of all kinds used in the commercial 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 Fairmount township to Emily Luther, a
daughter of Ivy and Sarah (Stewart) Luther, both of whom are living and
are 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 Culver Military Academy, and
in 1913, a graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the State
University of Bloomington; Mary E., who is now attending the Fair-
mount Academy; Sedrick Levi and Martin Ivy, both of whom are in the
schools.
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 the Cincinnati,
Hamilton & Dayton Railway. That work ultimately brought him into
west central Ohio, where at Westville, he left the railroad service 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 polities, 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.
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. 8. Sarah A. became
the wife of Albert Kimes, a farmer, and died a feT 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 establishment 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 dollars,
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. 1883 to 1888, when the title was changed to
Flanagan & 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 Ire 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.
Mr. Flanagan was married in Fairmount to Miss Sarah E. Winslow. She was
born near Fairmount. March 8, 1860. 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 Fairmount State Bank, and
held the office of president seven years. He was also a director and
secretary of the Fairmount 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 Fairmount 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 Fairmount Commercial Club, an
organization no longer in existence. He helped organize and was
president for several years of the Fairmount Building & Loan
Association, and was for several years president of the Tri-County Fair
Association.
Nathan D. Cox was born in Grant county, in Liberty township, September
5, 1846. 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
children, 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
settlement, 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 Fairmount
citizen. He was born in Randolph county. North Carolina, November 9,
1824. and was six years old when he accompanied the family on its
migration 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 1845, 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 government land,
improved a farm out of the wilderness, and there the parents spent
their final years, dying at a good old age. They were of the Quaker
Faith, were most estimable people, and in their children inculcated the
virtues of honor and thrift and simple living, which had been
characteristic of Quaker people for generations. They were the parents
of seven sons and six daughters.
After his marriage William Cox began life in Liberty township. For some
years he rented and worked on others' farm and with his accumulations
finally bought land for himself in Fairmount 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 Liberty
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 Company
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 Fairmount. 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 fine 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 is
the wife of David Gregg, of Fairmont, and their children are: Edward,
who is a teacher; William, who has received an excellent education, and
Dewey. Copa, 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 Etna, 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 fifth and youngest child, William, died at the age of fourteen.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox have for forty-five 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 Sunday
School.
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
Revolutionary War, and belonged to the Hicks Quaker stock, Mr. Morris
himself 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, contimiing 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
overland 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 was married
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 partners 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 Pendleton, 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 F. Morris, a son of its founder.
In 1902 Mr. Morris came to Fairmount, Indiana, and here established the
Fairmount 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 financier, 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 agricultural 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 Pendleton, 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—Richard. 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 Richmond,
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 Fairmount 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 Republican.
Joshua Cox, the grandfather of Eli Cox, was born in North Carolina
between the years 1790 and 1795. He grew up there to agricultural
pursuits, and was united in marriage with a Miss Rachael Cox, no doubt
a distant relative. At the time the Quakers whp 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 parents 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
accompanied 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 occurred
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
children; 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; Micajah 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 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
management 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 .veal's 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 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 l>egan teaching, which
occupation he continued for six years. Many of the nights and a large
part of his vacation periods, while a teacher, were spent in reading
law both at home and with Mr. 0. 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. has served consecutively as secretary,
save during the one year of hia residence at Decatur.
The 10th of April, 1884, recorded the solemnization of the marriage of
Mr. Wiley to ftliss 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 Emmett, 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 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 barge 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 Pugit 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 at the very advanced age of
eighty-nine years. Pie 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, Frank, 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 Pairmount 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, 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 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, 1786. 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, 1836, 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 acres, 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.
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 H. A. Jones were Joseph and Catherine
(McCormick) 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 born 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 Whig
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 Washington 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. Ilcr 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
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 two 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 follows: 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 J. 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, Everett, and Francis. 4. Della 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 0., 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 Needler, 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.
He died in Marion, June 22, 1880, and was buried in the Odd Fellows'
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.
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 AVest
Point in 1862, graduating in 1866. He was commissioned Second
Lieutenant 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 AYest 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 battle 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 commanded regiment in
Provinces of Batangas and Laguna until 1901. Promoted Lieutenant
Colonel Twenty-eighth Infantry, joined that regiment 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. 0. 0.
F. Cemetery.
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
financial circumstances, so that early felt the lash of necessity,
which quickened 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 parenfs, 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 provision
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 tp 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
securing 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
profession 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
June, 1881, he was deflected from the same, as he was elected
superintendent 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 own 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 incumbent about six months after the close of his regular
term and then resigned 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 a"nd news departments and as an exponent of local
interests. It is still published under the name which he conferred 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 reputation
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
concerning 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 Democratic 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 exigencies, for the district had at that time a
decisive Republican majority. In 1900 at the Democratic convention for
the Eleventh congressional 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 opponent 3,000 votes, though the district had a normal
Republican majority of eight thousand. Mr. Houck is a most vigorous and
convincing political 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 upon 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.
On the 21st of June, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Houck to
Miss Eliza C. Shrack, who was born 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.
The founder of his family in the United States was Thomas Goldthwait,
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. From 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 carpenter by trade,
a man of high moral character, was liberally educated, and was devoted
to his church. His wife, Ellen, was a diligent student, an omnivorous
reader, and especially charming in conversational 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 publishing 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 polities he has always been a Republican, and his church
is the Congregational.
In December, 1886, Mr. Goldthwait married Candaee 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, 1887;
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 generation of the family in this
country.
When Mr. Wigger concluded to remain in America his parents followed him
two years later, and 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 property, 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 Willman 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 and finally Harman Wigger
removed his family to Marion in 1883, although only a nominal business
relation existed between him and his brother, J. fl. 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 in which to act their parts. J. H. Wigger'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, he 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
generation not knowing the German tongue. Mr. Wigger's immediate family
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 and 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 surrounded with competent salesmen and the Wigger Buggy
and Harness Company enjoys splendid patronage.
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. lie 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, 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, 1849, 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 1885. 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, Wilma, and
Wilmer. 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.
Osborn Willson was born in Vermont, in 1793, and belonged to an early
family of the Green Mountain State, whose early spirit of independence
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 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
lirst 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 ambition
to better himself in life made him dissatisfied with the small wages
and meagre opportunities offered in his calling and eventually he
relinquished 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
business, 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. P'rom
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,
having 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 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. Essentially 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
residence 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,
representing 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 obligations as a common citizen. The confidence of the people,
and of the public, were never betrayed; what was entrusted to him was
ever faithfully guarded. He was ever faithful and loyal to the
confidences that were entrusted to his watchfulness and care.
'' Resolved, That the banking institutions of Marion close on Wednesday
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
furniture 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, Wednesday 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.''
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 William 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 Avent 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., 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
floor. 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 Verlie. 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 Pennsylvania, 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, 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.
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 Me., 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. Wilson 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 Wilson spent the rest of his years engaged in the quiet
vocation of farming, and in his duties to family and friends. iHis
death occurred when he was eighty-one years of 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. When 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. .Wilson died in Grant county in 1874 at the age of fifty-four
years and two months. She was also a Presbyterian, 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, and 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, 1857. Growing up on that farm, he now owns the estate,
having secured through deed from his father one hundred and ninety
acres. He is a practical and business-like farmer, and knows how to
make Grant county soil produce abundantly. One hundred and fifty- four
acres 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 township, 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.