Delaware County, Indiana - Sidelights on Local History, 1924 (part 12 of 21)

JOHN JACOB SCHLEGEL, a farmer and landowner of Salem township, proprietor of an excellent farm in the Daleville neighborhood, is of European birth but has been a resident of this country since the days of his infancy and of Delaware county for nearly sixtyfive years. Mr. Schlegel was born in the village of Auslar in Germany, April 20, 1850, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Busch) Schlegel, both also natives of that country, whose last days were spent in this county. Henry Schlegel had served his term in the army of his native country and had become a small landowner, proprietor of a seven-acre tract adjoining his home village, which tract was subdivided into no fewer than forty-seven parcels. During the summers he was foreman of farm operations on an adjacent estate and during the winters was foreman in the village distillery. Early in the year 1852 he closed out his holdings in Germany and with his family came to the United States, landing at the port of New York on April 2 of that year. He settled in the neighborhood of Chambersburg in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where he became engaged as a teamster and tenant farmer and where he remained until in 1854 when he came with his family to Indiana, driving through in a one-horse wagon, and settled on a farm in the near vicinity of Chesterfield in Madison county. He was engaged in farming in the Chesterfield neighborhood until in July, 1860, when he bought a tract of eighty acres in the Daleville neighborhood in Salem township, this county, and in November of that year established his home on that place and proceeded to develop the same. There Henry Schlegel spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on October 27, 1872. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1900. They were the parents of six children, but two of whom now are living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Henry C. Schlegel, a former member of the board of county commissioners, now living retired at Daleville and concerning whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. John Jacob Schlegel, as will be noted by a comparison of above dates, was but two years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1852 and he was ten years of age when the family settled in Delaware county. He completed his schooling in the neighborhood schools here and from boyhood was an aid to his father in the labors _ of developing the home place. He was twenty-two years of age when his father died and for some time thereafter he carried on the operations of the farm in his mother's behalf on a rental basis. He then bought the home place, where he had established his home after his marriage, and has ever since made his home there, meanwhile having increased his land holdings there until now he is the owner of right around 200 acres of land and has a well improved farm, with two sets of buildings on it, and a comfortable home on rural route No. 2 out of Daleville. Mr. Schlegel and his wife are members of the United Brethren church and he has served as a member of the board of trustees of that congregation. He has rendered public service as supervisor in his home district. In 1874 John Jacob Schlegel married Mary Jane Richman, who was born in Salem township, daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Kauffman) Richman, pioneers of that region and concerning whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work, and he and his wife have five children, Noah E., Karl H., Maggie, Arthur F. and Leroy D., all of whom are married. Noah E. Schlegel married Sarah Clark and has one child, a son, John. Karl H. Schlegel married Stella Clark. Maggie Schlegel married Samuel Orebaugh and has three children, Merril F., Mary Catherine and Edward John. Arthur F. Schlegel has been twice married. His first wife (Blanche Bosh) died leaving one child, Mary Louise, and he then married Mrs. Carrie (Roberts) Collins and by this second marriage has one child, a son, James. Leroy D. Schlegel married Grace Harmon and has three children, Robert, Don and Elizabeth. CRAVEN PATEN KEYS, a substantial farmer and landowner of Mt. Pleasant township, now living retired at Yorktown, where he has resided for the past twenty years and more, is a native of the old Buckeye state but has been a resident of Delaware county practically all the time since the days of his infancy, this exception being a brief period during the days of his boyhood when he was pioneering with his father in Wisconsin. Mr. Keys was born in Clinton county, Ohio, April 3, 1848, and is a son of Samuel and Maria (McCulloch) Keys, both of whom also were born in Ohio, where they were married. Samuel Keys, a son of George Keys, a pioneer of central Ohio, had a younger brother, Levi Keys, who many years ago was a grocer at Middletown, down over the line in Henry county. In 1849 Samuel Keys moved with his family to Indiana and located at Muncie, where he became engaged as a freighter and trader in live stock, afterward taking up farming, and remained here until in 1868, when he moved with his family to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Richland county, that state. There he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1890. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children and as most of these married and reared families of their own the Keys connection of this family in the present generation is a con- siderable one. As will be noted by a comparison of above dates, 'Craven P. Keys was but a babe in arms when his parents located in Muncie in 1849 and he thus grew up in this county. He was about twenty years of age when the family moved to Wisconsin and he remained on the pioneer farm there only about long enough to help get the family settled in their new home when he returned to Muncie and became employed here in the then extensive timber industry, chopping cordwood and making railroad ties. Some years afterward, at the age of twenty-six, he married and started in on his own account as a farmer, renting a small tract of land in Mt. Pleasant township. He presently found himself able to buy a tract of twenty acres and thus started in as a landowning farmer. His affairs prospered and he gradually increased his land holdings until he became the owner of 245 acres in that township, which he still owns. Here Mr. Keys continued actively engaged in farming and the raising of live stock until his retirement from the general labors of the farm in 1903 and removal to Yorktown, where he bought a home and has since resided, renting his farm on which are two sets of buildings. For some time after leaving the farm Mr. Keys was engaged in the wire fence business at Yorktown but is now practically retired from the active duties of life, as he is nearing the octogenarian stage. Craven P. Keys has been twice married and has several great-grandchildren to gladden his later years. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Arminda Dragoo, who was born in this county, a daughter of the pioneer Belshazzar Dragoo, and to that union were born five children, three of whom, Anna Maud, Lillie Mae and Daisy Dell, grew to maturity and are still living. The mother of these children died in January, 1881, and in 1883 Mr. Keys married Mrs. Eleanor (Morris) Burgess, daughter of Charles and Anna (Parkison) Morris and widow of James Burgess, and to this union was born one child who died in infancy. By her first marriage Mrs. Keys is the mother of two sons, Charles Augustus and Percy Clyde Burgess, the latter of whom married Ivy Horn and has one child, Clytis. Charles Augustus Burgess, present postmaster at Yorktown, married Bertha Pugsley and has a son, Payton Burgess, who married Crystal Luce and has one child, Dwain. Anna Maud Keys has been twice married and by her first husband, Frank Connor, has a daughter, Jean, who married Frank Wynn and has a son, Frank, Jr. Following the death of Mr. Connor his widow married Dr. 8. Bush, of Cincinnati, and by this second marriage has two children, Virginia and Marion. Lillie Mae Keys married Peter Pugsley, a farmer of Mt. Pleasant township, and has two children, John and Roberta, the former of whom married Margaret Stewart and has two children, Winifred and Charles. Daisy Dell Keys married George Davis and has one child, a son, Darrell Davis.

CARLOS H. WASSON, local agent for the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company at Daleville, is a native son of Delaware county and has lived here the greater part of his active life. Mr. Wasson was born in the village of Albany on January 20, 1871, and is a son of David and Ann (Boots) Wasson, the latter of whom, also a native of Delaware county and a member of one of the pioneer families here, passed away on March 21, 1924. She had been for many years a resident of Farmland in the neighboring county of Randolph. The late David Wasson was born in Butler county, Ohio, and was but a child when his parents came to Delaware county in 1840 and established their home here. He thus grew to manhood here, becoming a carpenter. For some time after his marriage he made his home in Albany and then moved to Farmland, where he spent the remainder of his life and where for years he served as justice of the peace. To him and his wife were born five children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Florence, wife of Edward B. Patrick, and Mayne M., wife of W. H. Watson. Carlos H. Wasson was six years of age when his parents moved to Farmland in 1877 and he had his schooling in the schools of that pleasant village. He early became interested in railroad station work and at Farmland, in the station of the Big 4 railroad, learned telegraphy and the details of station service and in due time was given, a station, his first service as agent having' been at Chesterfield. Not long afterward he was placed on "relief" duty and for some time served in this capacity, relieving agents in other stations, and then was made telegraph operator at the Brightwood station, working there and at different places until in 1893, he then being twenty-two years of age, when he secured a leave of absence and spent a year in the Richmond Business College, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then was appointed agent for the old "Bee Line" road (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad - Big 4 - now one of the trunk divisions of the great New York Central system) at Daleville and remained there for nearly ten years, or until in March, 1903, when he was transferred to the station at his old home town of Farmland. Mr. Wasson remained at Farmland a little more than a year, or until in April, 1904, when he was returned to Daleville and has ever since been serving as agent at that place, a period of twenty years of continuous service, this making him the third in point of seniority of the station agents on this division of the New York Central lines. Mr. Wasson is a past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Order of Railway Telegraphers. He is a Republican. In 1897 Carlos H. Wasson was united in marriage to Agnes Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, and he and his wife have two children, a daughter, Florence, now a registered nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital at Indianapolis, and a son, Warren Wasson.

FRANK JOHNSON, manager of the grain elevator, plant and yards of the Farmers Co-operative Company at Yorktown and a farmer and landowner of Mt. Pleasant township and former assessor of that township, is a native son of Delaware county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Johnson was born on a farm in Monroe township on January 26, 1872, and is a son of Lewis and Mary (Hoober) Johnson, both of whom were born in the neighboring county of Henry but who made their home in Delaware county after their marriage. Reared on the farm, Frank Johnson received his schooling in the district schools of his home neighborhood and remained on the farm with his father until he had attained his majority. He then spent a year working in Muncie, but found the farm more to his liking and returned to the home farm, where he remained until in 1896 when he began farming on his own account, renting his father's place. Four years later he bought a tract of sixteen acres in Mt. Pleasant township, established his home there, increased his acreage there until he now owns forty-eight acres, and continued farming, renting other fields to give him an acreage of from 100 to 160 acres, until in 1921 when he was selected as manager of the plant of: the Farmers Co-operative Company at Yorktown and has since been giving his attention to the duties of that responsible position. This co-operative institution, substantially organized among the farmers - of the Yorktown neighborhood, maintains a grain elevator in South Walnut street in Yorktown and besides taking care of the grain market also handles seeds of all kinds, coal, fencing, fertilizers and the like, buying and distributing on a mutually helpful and co-operative basis, and has established itself firmly as a useful local marketing agency in that community. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has served as assessor of his home township. He is affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men, and has been "through the chairs" in the latter lodge. Frank Johnson married Clara Parkison, a member of the pioneer

Parkison family of this county, and he and his wife have five children, Adrian, Martin, Carroll, Everett and Helen. Martin Johnson married Georgia Williams and has one child, a son, Donald Eugene Johnson.

SIGEL HANCOCK, a former farmer and landowner of Mt. Pleasant township, later and for some years engaged as a contractor in road construction work and now engaged in the coal business at Yorktown, was born in Mt. Pleasant township, a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, and has lived there all his life. Mr. Hancock was born on November 26, 1861, and is a son of Pollard 5S. and Sarah Jane (Jones) Hancock, the former of whom, a farmer and school teacher, died in 1875 and the latter, in 1882. Sigel Hancock was thirteen years of age when his father died. He completed his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood and then helped look after the affairs of the farm in his mother's behalf, remaining with her until her death when he was twenty years of age. He inherited the farm, a small place, and after his marriage established his home there, later adding to the place until he had eighty acres. This he presently sold and then bought another farm, where he made his home until his retirement from the farm and removal to Yorktown, where he became engaged in the mercantile business. About five years later he sold his store and became engaged in contracting, road construction and cement work, and was thus engaged for seven or eight years, or until in 1920 when he turned his attention to the coal business and has since been thus engaged, with a well equipped plant and yards at Yorktown, where he makes his home, he and his family residing in West Smith street. Mr. Hancock is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are members of the Christian church and are Republicans. In 1883 Sigel Hancock was united in marriage to Mary E. Humphries, daughter of Ishum Humphries and a member of one of the pioneer families of Delaware county, and they have four children, Homer V., Victor H., Hattie L. and Lottie H., the latter of whom married Farada Kautzman and hasi one child, a son, Byron J. Kautzman. Hattie L. Hancock married Chester Walker and has three children, Margaret, Leona and Vera. Homer Hancock, former principal of the Garfield school at Muncie and treasurer of the Pontiac Packing Company, married Leona Smith and has two sons, Frederick and Thomas. Victor H. Hancock, general manager of the Pontiac Packing Company, is a graduate of Purdue University and a veteran of the World war. He married Mabel Kirby and has one child, a daughter, Mary Ruth. During the time of the World war he served with the Engineers and was overseas for sixteen months, including service in the Army of Occupation, and for sixty-one days was under shell fire.

RAY V. SOWERS, president and general manager of the M. H. Tyler Manufacturing Company of Muncie and a veteran of the World war, was born at Portland, in the neighboring county of Jay, December 13, 1890, and is a son of Thomas M. and Rebecca. J. (Longwith) Sowers, the latter of whom also was born in Indiana and who are now living at Union City, Ind. Thomas M. Sowers was born in Ohio. For some time after his marriage he made his home in Portland and then moved to Decatur, Ind., later moving to Lima, Ohio, where he resided until he moved to Union City, where he is now engaged as foreman in the plant of the Backstay Leather and Machine Company. He and his wife have three children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Nellie Marie, and a brother, James L. Sowers, the latter of whom also is associated with the work of the M. H. Tyler Manufacturing Company. Ray V. Sowers was graduated from the high school at Union City and then took a business course in a commercial school at Muncie, working his way through school. In August, 1910, he became employed in the plant of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company at Muncie and remained with that concern until November, 1917, when he entered the national army for service in the World war and was assigned to Camp Taylor, where he served until he was mustered out as a second lieutenant of field artillery in January, 1919, the war then being over. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Sowers returned to Muncie and became employed in the plant of the Warner Gear Company, where he remained until in April, 1920, when he went to Indianapolis. Not long afterward, however, he returned to Muncie and in that same year became head of the corporation which took over the affairs and plant of the M. H. Tyler Manufacturing Company at Muncie and has since been president of that company and general manager of its affairs, his brother, James L. Sowers, being the advertising manager. This company, with offices and plant at Second and Mulberry streets, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of a household specialty known as Tyler's Ideal Fibre Cutter. This "Handiest Tool in the Kitchen" carries the seal of approval of Good Housekeeping Institute. It is a kitchen utensil with adjustable blades, and is readily converted into a meat tenderer, mince knife, cleaver, ice tool, fish scaler, nut crumbler, pot and pan scraper, and a multitude of other things. Under the direction of Mr. Sowers the business of this concern has been greatly increased during the past few years, now having no fewer than 1,000 houseto-house specialty salesmen in the field, daily extending the market for its products. As of January 1, 1924, the officers of the company were: President, Ray V. Sowers; vice-president, H. L. Oliver; secretary, J. L. Sowers; treasurer, W. H. Patterson. Ray V. Sowers is a member of the local post of the American Legion, has served as first vice commander of that patriotic organization and is now a member of the executive committee of the same. He is the present president of the Dynamo Club, the young men's organization of the Muncie Chamber of Commerce, and is also a member of the local Rotary Club. On June 2, 1920, Ray V. Sowers was united in marriage to Florence Oliver, of Muncie, daughter of H. L. Oliver, president of the Delaware Trucking Company, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Evelyn. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers are members of the First Presbyterian church and Mr. Sowers is the treasurer of that congregation. He and his family reside at 32114 West Charles street. . EDWARD T. SHARP, proprietor of a well improved farm on the Middletown pike in the Progress neighborhood, part of his farm lying in Salem township and part in Monroe township, and who formerly and for years was engaged in the grain business at Progress, proprietor of the elevator there, is a native son of Delaware county, a member of one of the real pioneer families here, and has lived here all his life. Mr. Sharp was born on a farm in Harrison township, August 22, 1860, and is a son of William and Destamona (Banks) Sharp, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Moffett) Banks, who were among the pioneers of this county. The late William Sharp was born down over the line in Henry county, April 6, 1829, and was but a child in arms when his parents, Edward and Anna (Thompson) Sharp, came up into Delaware county and established their home on a woodland farm in Salem township. Edward Sharp was a Virginian, born in 1801, a son of William Sharp, the latter of whom also was one of the original land entrants in this county. Upon coming to Indiana, Edward Sharp for some time made his home in Henry county and then became attracted to the lands lying north in Delaware county. He entered a tract in section 22 of Salem township, the date of this entry being November 15, 1831, and in the following spring moved up here with his family and established his home on that woodland tract and pro- (24) ceeded to make a farm out of the place. There he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1854. His widow survived him until in 1878 and both are buried in the Sharp cemetery. Reared on the home farm in Salem township, William Sharp became a practical farmer and followed that vocation all his life. He married at the age of twenty years and for some time thereafter was engaged in farming in Washington township, later moving to Harrison township, where he remained until in 1861 when he moved back to Salem township, bought a farm of eighty acres there, a part of the old Tomlinson place, and established his permanent home, gradually increasing his land holdings until he became the owner of 300 acres in Salem and Monroe townships. He early took an interest in the raising of good live stock and particularly in the breeding of fine horses did much to raise the standards of horse flesh hereabout. He continued actively interested in farm development until his retirement and his death occurred on July 11, 1928, he then being in his ninety-fifth year. William Sharp was twice married. On December 1, 1849, he married Destamona Banks, to whom reference has been made above, who died in October, 1860, leaving four small children, the subject of this sketch being but an infant. Another child, a son, Perry E., died at the age of eleven months. The other children were another son, Sanford I. Sharp, and two daughters, Mary and Anna. In 1862, following his return to Salem township, William Sharp married Margaret Carmichael, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Mansfield) Carmichael, pioneers of this county who had come over here from Ohio in 1832. This latter union was without issue. Reared on the home farm in Salem township, Edward T. Sharp received his schooling in the Moffet school house (district No. 8) and from the days of his boyhood was an active aid in the development of the farm. Following the completion of the Central Indiana railroad twenty years and more ago Mr. Sharp erected a grain elevator at Progress, a station established on that road in the vicinity of the Sharp home, on the township line, and became engaged there in the grain business, a line he followed for about ten years, at the end of which time he sold his elevator and since then has devoted all his attention to the farm. Mr. Sharp is the owner of a well kept place of 187 acres and in addition to his general farming gives proper attention to the raising of live stock. He is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cowan. In 1885 Edward T. Sharp married Emma Runyon, daughter of Noah and Lydia Runyon, of Salem township, and he and his wife have one child, a son, Webb R. Sharp, who was graduated from the Cowan high school and is now a railway mail clerk, running between Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are Republicans and are members of the Christian church of which Mr. Sharp's father was for many years a deacon.

RUDIE M. JORDAN, one of Yorktown's well established merchants, proprietor of a well stocked general store there, is a native of the Old Dominion but has been a resident of Indiana and of Delaware county since the days of his infancy. Mr. Jordan was born on a farm in Shenandoah county, Virginia, May 17, 1885, and is a son of John and Fannie (Hammond) Jordan, both also natives of Virginia, who in the spring of 1886 came to Indiana with their family and located in Salem township, this county. John Jordan was a farmer and for some time after coming to this county farmed on a rented farm in Salem township. He then bought a tract of twenty-eight acres in Mt. Pleasant township, established his home on that place and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on December 5, 1920. He and his wife had two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Jo Jordan. Rudie M. Jordan grew up to the life of the farm in this county and received his public schooling in the schools at Cross Roads and at Daleville, supplementing this by a course in the old normal school at Muncie. For three years thereafter he was engaged in farming in Salem township and then he sold out and took a course in the Muncie Business College, after which he was for eighteen months employed with the Warner Gear Company, going thence to _ the office of the Indiana Steel Wire Company at Muncie, where for seven years he was engaged as a bookkeeper. He then became en-. gaged in the mercantile business at Yorktown, in association with his brother Jo, a partnership which continued for nine months, at the end of which time his brother sold his interest in the store to R. D. Pence, thus creating a new partnership. This partnership continued about a year and then Mr. Jordan bought Mr. Pence's interest in the store and has since been carrying on the business alone, carrying a genera] line of merchandise and an ample stock for the needs of the local trade. Mr. Jordan is a Republican. He is a past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has attained to the Patriarchs Militant degree in that body. He also is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. Rudie M. Jordan married Sarah Agnes Kiger, daughter of the Rev. A. G. Kiger, and he and his wife have two children, a son, John K., and a daughter, Emily, the latter named for her maternal grandmother. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and during the time of the creation of the Centenary Fund of that church Mr. Jordan was the treasurer of the local congregation's fund in that behalf. .

OLIVER J. CAMPBELL, head of the Oliver J. Campbell Candy Company of Muncie and for years actively identified with the commercial interests of that city, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Muncie for more than thirty years or since the days of his boyhood. Mr. Campbell was born at Bridgeport in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1876, and is a son of John and Mary (Davis) Campbell, who in 1898, during the height of the natural gas "boom" here, became residents of Muncie. Oliver J. Campbell was thus seventeen years of age when he came to Muncie in 1893. He had received his schooling at Bridgport and upon coming to Muncie took service with the local plant of the United States Steel Corporation. He later became engaged in the drug business and in 1915 helped to organized the Campbell Ice Cream and Milk Company, an enterprise which has developed into its present considerable proportions, with plant at 1500 South Walnut street. In the meantime Mr. Campbell had been developing a wholesale candy business which gave much promise and he presently disposed of his interest in the ice cream company and gave his attention to the manufacture of candy, establishing the Oliver J. Campbell Candy Company, which he ever since has directed and which has succeeded in building up an important enterprise along that line, with a well equipped factory at 718 South Walnut street, the products of this plant having earned a well deserved popularity throughout a wide trade area, the distribution of the Campbell sweets thus doing much to help carry far the fame and name of "Greater Muncie." In 1914 Mr. Campbell built the Campbell Auditorium at Muncie, a building 135 by 80 feet in general dimension and with a seating capacity of 3,500 persons. He is a Knight of Pythias and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Oliver J. Campbell married Amelia B. Meeks, of Muncie, and has a son, Robert J. Campbell, who is associated with him in the candy business. Mrs. Camp- . bell is a member of one of Muncie's pioneer families, a daughter of James W. and Louisa C. (Hummell) Meeks, the latter of whom was born at Connersville, Ind., daughter of Joseph and Mary Hummell. James W. Meeks was born in Muncie in 1849, a son of Robert Meeks, a pioneer furniture manufacturer and undertaker of whom further and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this work.

Oliver

FERDINAND PERL, proprietor of what is regarded as the leading general store at Yorktown and formerly and for years engaged _in the live stock trade in that town, is a European by birth but has been a resident of this country and of Delaware county since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Perl was born in the Kingdom of Belgium on March 4, 1863, and was there reared, receiving his schooling in the schools of his native place and for awhile being engaged - there in the buying of cattle. Determining then that America was a place of better opportunity than seemed to be awaiting him in his _home country he came to the United States and presently made his . way out into Indiana and found employment as a farm hand in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, going to work at a wage of $138 a month. For about three years Mr. Perl continued working at farm labor and then he bought a horse and wagon, paying $10 for the former and $8 for the latter, and started out as a countryside huckster, buying butter, eggs and poultry. He continued this line for several years, doing well at it, and then with the wide acquaintance thus acquired he extended his business and became engaged in the buying and selling of hogs and cattle and also started a meat market at Yorktown, and was thus engaged until in 1918, when he bought the old established general store of L. D. Overmire at Yorktown and has since been engaged in the general mercantile business, this store being well stocked and admirably equipped for the needs of the local trade, including as well a meat market. Mr. Perl is a member of the Catholic church. He married Lena Verhulst, who was born in the Kingdom of Holland and who came to this country with her parents when eighteen years of age.

JOHN B. BALDWIN, a veteran carpenter and building contractor at Muncie, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state practically all his life, a resident of Muncie for more than thirty years. Mr. Baldwin was born in the neighboring county of Henry on July 4, 1852, a son of Sanford and Sarah (Mills) Baldwin, the latter of whom, a native of Wayne county, this state, died in Iowa in 1861. Sanford Baldwin, a veteran of the Civil war, was a North Carolinian by birth, who became a civil engineer. During the time of the Civil war he served as a soldier of the Union and upon the completion of that service enlisted for service in the navy and was for a number of years thus in service, during this time becoming acquainted with all the chief ports of the world. After leaving the navy he followed his profession as a civil engineer. John B. Baldwin was about nine years of age when his mother died and he was cared for during the remain- der of his childhood by kinsfolk, for about four years making his home in Michigan and then with his maternal uncle in Wayne county, this state, his schooling thus being completed in the schools of that county... He remained on the farm with his uncle until he had attained his majority and then, in 1873, took up the carpenter's trade and it was not long until he had become an expert builder. He followed this vocation in Wayne county for fifteen years or more and then established his home in Muncie. It was on April 4, 1890, about the time the gas "boom" was well under way here, that Mr. Baldwin located in Muncie and he ever since has made his home here, engaged in building, for the past ten years or more doing contract work on his own account, and has done well. In 1890, while living in Wayne county, John B. Baldwin was united in marriage to May Elizabeth Venard, who was born in Fountain City, that county, and who died in Muncie in 1894, leaving four children, Ozro, Lewis, Mae and Ruth. Mr. Baldwin is a Republican. He resides at 2009 West Jackson street.

JAMES MONROE SILVERS, M. D., a practicing physician at Muncie, is a native Hoosier and has resided in this state all his life - save one year in Kentucky when a child. Doctor Silvers first saw daylight at Brinkley, Randolph county, on the morning of January 5, 1873. He was the sixth child in order of birth of a family of nine children born to James M. and Malenda E. Silvers. Soon after the birth of "Jimmy," as he was commonly called, his parents moved onto a farm near Mosier's Corner in Randolph county. It was at this place that the doctor attended his first term of school. Before the next term of school commenced his parents had moved to New Mt. Pleasant in Jay county. It was here that the doctor spent his childhood days and received his common school education. His father was a farmer and thresherman and owned and operated a saw mill and a grist mill at New Mt. Pleasant. Needless to say the parents of Doctor Silvers always found plenty of work to keep their children occupied. Upon graduating from the common schools, Doctor Silvers taught his first term of school at Nottingham, in Wells county. The following spring he attended school at the Portland Normal College (now extinct). For six years Doctor Silvers taught school during the winter, attended school during the spring and operated a threshing machine outfit during the summer and fall. He attended the Congregational College (now extinct) at Ridgeville, Ind., when it was an institution of national reputation and its grades accepted for full credit by any college in the United States. The doctor taught his last term of school in the East Ward of Portland, Ind., in 1889-1890. In the fall of 1900 Doctor Silvers entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1904 - - on April 22. After graduation he remained at New Mt. Pleasant until fall, when he opened an office at Muncie in Rev. Langdon's Prohibition Flat, south of the railroad. Two weeks afterward he took Dr. Shadday's place at Westchester in Jay county. After two years at Westchester, he went to Powers, in that same county, and six months later to Ridgeville, where he remained but a few months, at the end of which time he and Charley Arbaugh of Portland came to Muncie and opened a sanitarium in the Geiger block on West Charles street. One year later he returned to Ridgeville and continued in active practice there for three years, from 1907 to 1910, when he sold his residence and office to Dr. J. M. Wallace and bought an eighty-acre farm near Vandalia, in Owen county, Indiana. Six months later he sold his farm and moved to Hartford City, Ind., where he practiced for two years, and then sold - out to Dr. Charles F. Sexauer. He then came to Muncie and opened an office on Macedonia avenue. He remained here only six months when he located at Albany, at which place he remained in active practice for four years. In the spring of 1918 he sold his residence at Albany and bought the residence where he now lives at 412 South Franklin street, Muncie. During the six years that Doctor Silvers has been in practice at Muncie he has built up a large and lucrative practice and is doing well. On Christmas Day in the year 1897 Dr. J. M. Silvers was united in marriage to Luella E. Collins, daughter of Joseph and Ellen Collins, of Jay county, Indiana. To this union two children were born, Gertrude Modjeska in 1900 and Joseph Chester in 1902. Both children were born during the college days of Doctor Silvers. Gertrude Modjeska Silvers was united in marriage to Archie Middleton on March 3, 1921. They have one child, a son, William Monroe, who was born on June 6, 1922. Joseph Chester Silvers, the son of Doctor and Mrs. Silvers, is a medical student at Indianapolis, in his sophomore year in the medical department of Indiana State University. Doctor Silvers has written more than one hundred excellent poems, of which he has never permitted more than four or five to be published. He is also a gifted speaker and won the prize in an inter-collegiate oratorical contest. More than twenty years ago Doctor Silvers frequently lectured in different pulpits throughout the state. Doctor and Mrs. Silvers and their two children are members of the High Street Methodist Episcopal church of Muncie. The doctor is also a member of the Muncie Eagle lodge and surgeon for the Republic Iron and Steel Company.

BURL W. HARDESTY, operator of the Hardesty Trucking Company, 121 North Mulberry street, Muncie, was born on a farm on the Burlington pike, about four miles from Muncie, July. 12, 1889, and is a son of William S. and Loretta (Hawk) Hardesty, the latter of whom also was born in this county and who in 1891 was burned to death by an explosion of natural gas in her home. William S. Hardesty, who is now living at Winchester, was born in Ohio and was but a child when he came to Indiana with his parents, Samuel Hardesty and wife, the family settling on a farm in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood in Perry township, this county. Samuel Hardesty, a veteran of the Civil war, also was a minister of the gospel and was widely known in his generation as a preacher in that neighborhood. William S. Hardesty grew to manhood on the home farm in Perry township and became a farmer on his own account, for several years making his home in the neighboring county of Randolph. In 1919 he retired from the farm and moved to Muncie, where he remained until in October, 1923, when he moved to Winchester. Some time after the tragic death of his first wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, he married Martha Howell, a daughter of Nathan Howell and to this union was born one child, Delma. Reared on the farm Burl W. Hardesty completed his schooling in Center high school in Perry township and until his marriage continued farming in association with his father. He then made his home at Lynn, over in Randolph county, and there became engaged in a trucking and general transfer business, starting with a team and wagon. For seven years he continued in business at that place and then in 1919 became located at Muncie, where he since has been carrying on his trucking and transfer business, with a well equipped establishment on North Mulberry street. Mr. Hardesty started in business in Muncie with one motor truck and a one-horse wagon and has since expanded his business until now he is operating 7 motor trucks, ranging in capacity up to three and a half tons, and has besides ample storage quarters for the accommodation of his trade. On December 24, 1909, Burl W. Hardesty was united in marriage to Vernice Priddy, who also was born in this county, daughter of Anson and Jane (Turner) Priddy, and he and his wife have one child, a daughter, Christine. The Hardestys reside at 222 East Gilbert street. Mr. Hardesty is a member of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose.

Burl W. Hardesty

JOSIAH MINER CROMER, a progressive young farmer of Salem township, residing on the old Cromer homestead farm in the Cross Roads neighborhood in that township, was born in the city of Chicago on December 3, 1894, and is a son of the Rev. Jeremiah Clinton and May (Miner) Cromer, now living at Ft. Wayne, Ind., and the latter of whom was born at New Haven, Conn. The Rev. Jeremiah Clinton Cromer was born on the farm on which his son Josiah now is living and is a son of Josiah Cromer, who was one of the pioneers of the Cross Roads neighborhood, as is set out elsewhere in this work. He early turned his attention to study in preparation for . the gospel ministry and after a course in Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, entered Princeton University, from which he was graduated. He then entered the theological school of Yale University and following his graduation there entered the ministry of the Congregational church. For a year he was in charge of a church in New Hampshire and then took charge of the Congregational church at Ft. Wayne, Ind., going thence to Chicago and in turn to Owasso, Mich.; St. Louis, Mo.; Wellington, Ohio, and Vermillion, S. D., from which latter place he returned to Ft. Wayne and has since been living retired at that place. He and his wife have four children, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Edna, Mary and Ruth. Due to his father's ministerial itineracy, Josiah Miner Cromer's boyhood schooling was divided between the schools of St. Louis, Wellington (Ohio) and Vermillion, S. D. Upon completing the course in the high school at Vermillion he entered the South Dakota State University and after two years of study there entered Princeton University, where he spent a year and then entered the Agricultural school of Purdue University in preparation to taking up the life of a practical farmer. In 1917 he came to Delaware county and began the operation of his father's farm of eighty acres in the Cross Roads neighborhood, a part of the old Cromer home farm, and has since been thus engaged, also directing the operations of a farm of fifty-three acres down over the line in Henry county, making his home on the Cromer place on rural mail route No. 1 out of Middletown. Mr. Cromer is a member of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Middletown. In 1918 Josiah Miner Cromer was united in marriage to Nettie Agnes - Walker, daughter of Samuel Walker, of Middletown, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Martha Lois. Mr. and Mrs. Cromer are Republicans and are members of the English Lutheran church, of which Mr. Cromer's paternal grandparents, Josiah Cromer and wife, were charter members. Mr. Cromer is a teacher in the Sunday school of that congregation. He is a member of the college fraternity Beta Theta Pi.

MILTON HAMILTON, one of Hamilton township's substantial farmers and landowners, now living practically retired at his home on the Granville pike, rural mail route No. 3 out of Muncie, is a member of one of the real pioneer families of Delaware county, the Hamiltons having been represented here since settlement days. Mr. Hamilton was born on a farm in Center township on January 38, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Mary Jane (Coe) Hamilton, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Henry, a daughter of William and Harriet Coe, who were among the pioneers of that county. Henry Hamilton was born in Monongalia county, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1820, and was a son of Stephen and Ann (McBee) Hamilton, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Maryland, and who were the parents of eight children. In 1880 Stephen Hamilton came with his family to Delaware county and entered 240 acres of land from the government in section 35 of Center township, along the Granville road, and there made his home, in time coming to be the owner of 400 acres of land and regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of the county. In 1849 Stephen Hamilton and two of his sons, Stephen and Archibald, joined the party of gold seekers which left this county for the California gold fields and were gone for something more than two years. The elder Stephen Hamilton died on May 17, 1872. His wife died on December 11, 1868. Their eight children were Alvin, Washington, Henry, Selina, Mary A., Thomas, Stephen and Archibald, and the Hamilton connection of this family in the present generation is a considerable one. Henry Hamilton grew up in this county and as a young man went to Henry county, Illinois, and took over a tract of government land and made a farm out of it. After his marriage he disposed of that place and returned to Delaware county and in association with his brother Archibald became engaged in farming the old home place and in general land development, the brothers eventually becoming the owners of more than 1,000 acres of land in this county, a general partnership that was maintained until in 1868, or for a period of sixteen years. In the division Henry Hamilton retained among his holdings the place on which his son Milton is now living on the Granville pike in Hamilton township, where he made his home, his other holdings giving him around 800 acres of land. He died on March 17, 1884, and his widow survived him less than two years, her death occurring in January, 1886. They had four sons, all of whom are still living save one, William Henry, familiarly known as Harry, who died at the age of thirty-two years, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Millard Filmore and Carl Elmus Hamilton, who have for many years made their home in the state of Washington. Milton Hamilton also had some years of experience in the West. When twenty years of age he went to California and spent several years prospecting around in the gold fields. He then entered a homestead tract of a half section of land in the then Washington Territory, proved up on the same and remained there until in 1884 when, following the death of his father, he returned home. In the division of the estate following his mother's death two years later he received the home place in Hamilton township and has ever since made his home there, His original holdings there have meantime been Increased until now he has a well improved farm of 400 acres. Mr. Hamilton is a York Rite (Knights Templar) Mason and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are Republicans. At Puget Sound, Wash., December 8, 1885, Milton Hamilton was united in marriage to Hattie C. McArdle, a daughter of John and Harriet McArdle, and to this union one son, Henry C. (deceased), and three daughters were born, Hazel, Louise and Mary, all of whom are married. Hazel Hamilton married Harry Padgett and has two children, Harriet and Barbara. Louise Hamilton married Dudley Williston and has two children, Mary Jane and Bess Ann, and Mary Hamilton married Charles Berry, and has one child, Charles Milton Berry.

DR. O. ARNOLD TUCKER, a veteran of the World war with an officer's commission and a practicing physician at Daleville for the past fifteen years, was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Madison, August 28, 1885, and in 1905 was graduated from the Anderson high school. In the fall of that same year he was matriculated at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis and in June, 1909, was graduated from that institution. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Tucker opened an office for the practice of medicine at Daleville and has ever since been engaged in practice there with the exception of the period he spent in the army during the time of this country's participation in the World war. On April 29, 1917, the month in which the United States declared war, Doctor Tucker enlisted his services in behalf of the army and on June 1 following was commissioned a first lieutenant. On August 11 following he entered upon active service at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and presently was trans- ferred to Camp Grant and attached to the 311th Sanitary Train of the 86th Division. Not long afterward he was detailed to Camp Pike on detached service with the 311th Engineers and later was transferred to the Western Reserve Hospital at Cleveland, where he was on special duty until transferred to the 87th Division at Camp Pike. Upon the completion of that detail he was returned to detached service and given charge of the S. A. T. C. Hospital at Valparaiso (Ind.) University, where he also examined recruits. On October 7, 1918, Lieutenant Tucker was promoted to the rank of captain and on November 29, 1918, the war then being over, he was assigned to Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, as an instructor and was thus in service until his honorable discharge on December 23, 1918. Upon the completion of his military service Captain Tucker returned to Daleville, resumed his practice there and has since been thus engaged. Dr. 0. Arnold Tucker married Lillian Olcott Russell and has one child, a daughter, . Jeanne.

P. E. JORDAN, secretary of the City Ice and Cold Storage Company of Muncie, has been connected with that concern for nearly twenty years and is thus widely known in the refrigeration trade throughout this section of the state. Mr. Jordan was born in Delaware county, August 9, 1878, and is a son of Wylie and Elizabeth (Cain) Jordan, the latter of whom was born in North Carolina and was but a child when she came to Indiana with her parents, Nathaniel and. Deborah Cain, the family becoming residents of Delaware county. Wylie Jordan was born in Whitley county, Indiana, a son of William and Alice Jordan, and after his marriage became engaged in farming in Delaware county and later moved to Randolph county. To him and his wife were born four sons, the subject of this sketch (the second in order of birth) having three brothers, Fred M., C. S. and E. R. Jordan. Reared in Randolph county, P. E. Jordan received his common schooling in the schools of that county and then took a course in a business college, specializing in accountancy, and became an auditor. In 1906 Mr. Jordan became connected with the organization now known as the City Ice and Cold Storage Company of Muncie as bookkeeper, and in 1908 became secretary of the company and ever since has been engaged in that business, the plant of this company, at 423 Plum street, being one of the most extensive of the kind in eastern Indiana. Mr. Jordan is a Freemason. He and his wife reside at 1122 East Jackson street. Mrs. Jordan (Mary F. Snider) is a daughter of J. B. and Martha Snider, of Muncie.

WILLIAM W. WILSON, a substantial farmer and landowner of Center township, and a widely known breeder of purebred cattle, living on the Proctor road southwest of Muncie, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has resided there all his life. Mr. Wilson was born on April 24, 1869, and is a son of William W. and Frances (Stewart) Wilson, the latter of whom also was born in this county, in 1841, a daughter of Warren Stewart, one of the pioneers of the county. The late William W. Wilson was a native of Fayette county, this state. About the year 1860 he came to Delaware county and settled on a quarter section of land southwest of Muncie in Center township, where he established his home and became a well-to-do farmer, the owner at the time of his death in 1884 of 440 acres of land. He was twice married. By his first wife, Margaret Post, of Fayette county, he was the father of three sons, Watt, Jeremiah and Charles, the two former of whom are still living. The mother of these sons died and in 1865 he married Frances Stewart, who survived him for more than twenty-five years, her death occurring in 1910. To that union were born three children, two sons and a daughter, those besides the subject of this sketch being Margaret _ E., wife of Carl Huffer, and Robert W. Wilson, better known in the community as "Bert" Wilson. The junior William W. Wilson was fourteen years of age when his father died. He remained on the farm with his mother and upon completing his schooling gave his whole attention to the farm. After his marriage he continued to make his home there, where he now resides, south of Union Chapel church, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 290 acres. From the days of his boyhood Mr. Wilson has been interested in the breeding of purebred live stock. Formerly and for years he gave his chief attention to the breeding of Cotswold and Southdown sheep, importing his breeding stock from England, and in this line did much to improve the standards of sheep stock hereabout. In 1908 Mr. Wilson and his brother Bert took up the breeding of purebred Aberdeen- Angus cattle, starting with a carefully selected herd, and in 1911 they were able to enter the field as exhibitors. It was in that year that their Aberdeen-Angus bull, "Queen's Quality," was awarded the junior championship in his class at the International Stock Show. In the following year, 1912, the Wilson brothers' choice Aberdeen- Angus cow, "Queen Mother Johnson," was awarded the prize as grand champion of the show. The Wilson herd also from time to time at various state fairs has won grand prizes and the products of this stock farm thus have come to be in wide demand for breeding pur- poses. William W. Wilson has been twice married. In 1901 he married Ida Douglas, who was born at Washington C. H., Ohio, and who died in 1912. To that union were born two children, Lois Ann and William Robert. On October 27, 1920, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Judithe Marhoney, who was born at Crawfordsville, Ind., daughter of A. C. and Elizabeth Jane (Epperson) Marhoney. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. His home is situated on rural mail route No. 10 out of Muncie.

DAVID PORTER CAMPBELL, former representative in the General Assembly of the state of Indiana from this county, one of the organizers and the first president of the Western Reserve Life Insurance Company of Muncie, founder of the Campbell Ice Cream and Milk Company and formerly and for many years engaged in the drug business at Muncie, left a good memory in this community at the time of his passing, and it is but proper that there should be carried here in the definite history of the county in which he spent the mature years of his life some slight tribute to that memory. Mr. Campbell was born at Tabor, Ind., in 1867, and was a son of Capt. John and Mary (Gentry) Campbell, the former of whom was a veteran of the Civil war. Early becoming attracted to the drug business, David P. Campbell became engaged in the drug business at Gosport, in Owen county, this state, and presently moved to Spencer, county seat of that county, where he continued in the drug business until in 1892, when, attracted by the "boom" then in progress here he moved to Muncie and became engaged in the drug business here, head ' of the firm of Campbell & Cantwell. He presently became sole owner of this business and later formed a partnership in the business -with his brother, B. N. Campbell, which mutually agreeable arrangement continued until his death. Mr. Campbell married about three years after taking up his residence in Muncie and thus established his - home here. As a development of the growing business in the ice cream trade at his drug store he organized and developed the Campbell Ice Cream and Milk Company, which is still a going concern at Muncie. In 1906 when the Western Reserve Life Insurance Company was organized at Muncie he was one of the active promoters of. that institution and was elected president of the company, an executive position he continued to occupy until his death. In 1910 Mr. Campbell was elected to represent this county in the House of Representatives of the Indiana General Assembly and served in that capacity during the 1911 session of the Legislature. He was a Free- - mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the

Mystic Shrine. Mr. Campbell died at his home in Muncie on December 11, 1919, and his widow continues to make her home here, residing at 316 West Adams street. Mrs. Campbell (Minnie P. McKillip) was born in Clinton county, Indiana, and has been a resident of Muncie for more than forty years. She is the only daughter and only surviving child of Thomas and Cyenda (Wilson) McKillip, the latter of whom was born in Clinton county, Ohio, daughter of Philip and Sallie (Holliday) Wilson. The late Thomas MckKillip, who for years was one of Muncie's foremost newspaper men, was born in the vicinity of the village of Jeffersonville, in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1840, and was a son of Thomas and Mary (Powell) McKillip, both members of pioneer families in that county, the McKillips having settled there upon coming from North Carolina in 1809. Reared to farming, the junior Thomas McKillip remained in Ohio until he was twentyfive years of age when, in 1865, he came to Indiana and established his home on a stock farm of 400 acres in Clinton county, where for years he did well in the live stock business. During the panic of 1873 he was hard hit in a financial way and he gradually closed out his business there and in 1882 came to Muncie. Mr. McKillip was an ardent Democrat and he presently decided that Delaware county had no proper representation in the Democratic newspaper field. In 1885 he bought the plant of a moribund newspaper at Newcastle and moved it to Muncie where, as is set out elsewhere, on October 2, 1885, he issued the first number of the Muncie Daily Herald, a paper that for years afterward wielded a large influence in this community. In 1891 the late Frank D. Haimbaugh became associated with Mr. McKillip in the publication of this paper, a story that also is carried elsewhere in this work, and the Herald continued publication until in 1905 when it was merged with the Times and became the present Press. Mr. McKillip long served as chairman of the Delaware county Democratic central committee and in his generation was a figure to be reckoned with in the councils of that party in eastern Indiana. Nearly thirty years ago it was written of the old Herald that "it was nurtured in the lap of poverty," which was true enough, for when Thomas McKillip founded the paper he had a very slender financial margin to go on. In that same connection it was written that "Mr. McKillip, ever persistent and energetic, absolutely 'footed it' all through the county, soliciting subscriptions and business for the paper and at last succeeded in establishing on a sure foundation this journalistic 'little giant' that has so triumphantly withstood the onslaughts of its political foes in this overwhelming Republican county." Thomas McKillip died in 1908 and his widow died in January, 1918. Besides their daughter, Mrs. Campbell, they had two sons, William and Daniel, both now deceased.

E. B. SLACK, veteran coal dealer at Muncie and formerly and for years engaged in the grain business in that city and in some of the other towns of the county, is a native son of Delaware county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Slack was born at Yorktown on April 18, 1859, and is a son of Dr. George W. and Mary Louise (Hardin) Slack, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and had come to Indiana with their respective parents in pioneer days. Dr. George W. Slack, whose memory ever will be kept green in the Yorktown neighborhood, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1825, and was twelve years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents in 1837, the family settling in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, where he grew to manhood. In 1854 he was graduated from Rush Medical College at Chicago and became engaged in practice at Yorktown, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on January 14, 1886. Not only was Doctor Slack widely known as a physician but he also had high local repute as an authority on agricultural and horticultural subjects. In Doctor Kemper's "Medical History of Delaware County" it is written of him that "he was a Christian gentleman of the highest type," an estimate that is lovingly confirmed by those of his con- . temporaries who still survive. Of the children born to Dr. George W. Slack and wife six grew to maturity. Of these latter four are still living, the subject of this sketch having three brothers, E. R., O. P. and J. K. Slack. Reared at Yorktown, E. B. Slack received his schooling in the schools of that village and as a young man was for some time engaged in farming in that neighborhood. He then went to Indianapolis and became employed in the Atkins saw works, a saw filer, and was thus engaged for ten years, during which time he put the finishing touches on the saws which became a part of the Atkins exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1898. Upon leaving Indianapolis, E. B. Slack became associated with his brother, J. K. Slack, in the grain and live stock business, the brothers buying the O. W. Crabs grain interests. They developed quite a business in this line, grain and live stock, with elevators at Muncie, Royerton and Oakville, and were thus engaged for years or until J. K. Slack sold his interest in the business to the Jay Grain Company of St. Marys, Ohio. E. B. Slack retained the Muncie establishment but presently sold his Royerton and Oakville interests, and as conditions in the trade changed to conform to the changing systems of distribution after awhile retired from the grain business altogether and has since been devoting his whole attention to his growing coal business, with an ample and well equipped coal yard at 1215 West Second street. E. B. Slack married Anna Thornburg and he and his wife reside at 621 West North street. They are members of the Baptist church, Mr. Slack being a deacon and are Democrats. |

FRANCIS MARION LEE, a substantial farmer and landowner of Harrison township, owner of a well improved farm known as the "Sugar Grove Farm" on rural mail route No. 8 out of Muncie, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. Mr. Lee was born on January 10, 1855, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Smith) Lee, the latter of whom was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1817, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Reel) Smith, who were among the pioneers of that section of Ohio. Samuel Lee also was born in Clinton county, in 1814, and was a son of John and Rebecca (Wright) Lee, the former of whom was born on April 16, 1782, and died in 1847. Samuel Lee and Elizabeth Smith were married in 1837 and in 1841 came over into Indiana and located in this county, establishing their home on a farm in Harrison township. There Samuel Lee died in 1898. Of the thirteen children born to him and his wife all grew to maturity save two sons, those besides the subject of this sketch being Martha Jane, Rebecca, Ellen, Hester Ann, John W., Goldson A., Sarah B., James, Clara Alice and Sherman M. Upon coming to Delaware county Samuel Lee bought an "eighty" in Harrison township and gradually added to his land holdings until 'at one time he was the owner of more than 400 acres in that section of the county. Francis M. Lee grew to manhood on the home farm in Harrison township and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He married at the age of twenty-one years and then began farming on his own account, starting as a renter. A few years later he bought a tract of fifty acres and not long afterward traded that ' tract for a farm of fifty-nine acres, the place on which he is now living, and has since resided there. To this tract he added an adjoining tract of thirty-two acres and now has a farm of ninety-one acres, which has been improved in admirable fashion. Mr. Lee is a Republican and is a member of the Christian church. It was on November 28, 1876, that Francis M. Lee was united in marriage to Sarah F. Goodrich, who died in February, 1901. To that union were born eleven children, Florence Pearl, Sarah Elizabeth (deceased), George

W. (deceased), Elmer V., Sherman, Ray F., Mamie, Fern, Mark, Samuel and one who died in infancy. Mr. Lee has nineteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. The late Mrs. Sarah F. (Goodrich) Lee was born in the neighboring county of Randolph and was a daughter of James and Sarah (Taylor) Goodrich, who had come into Indiana from Ohio not long after the Lees had settled here in the early '40s of the past century.

HOWARD WARFEL, technical inspector of the engineering department of the Muncie Products Company and vice president and general manager of the York Tool and Manufacturing Company of Yorktown, was born at Yorktown, where he now makes his home, and is a member of one of the pioneer families of Delaware county, the Warfels having been represented in this county since 1840, the first of the family in this county having come here from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Howard Warfel was born on February 19, 1889, and was reared at Yorktown. He supplemented the schooling he received in the local schools by attendance on the Howe Military School and the Ohio Military Institute and then took a course of teacher training at Butler University, Indianapolis, after which he became engaged as a teacher in the Ohio Military Institute at Cincinnati and was for more than three years thus engaged, during which time he took a course in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Meanwhile he had become an expert draftsman and in 1913 he gave up school work and returned to Yorktown, where he became connected with the drafting department of the local plant of the Interstate Motor Company. Two years later he transferred his services to the Maxwell Motor Company and was connected with that concern as a mechanical draftsman when this country took a hand in the World war in the spring of 1917. In order to apply his technical skill to war work Mr. Warfel transferred his services to the military motors department of the Nordyke & Marmon Company at Indianapolis and was there engaged as chief tool designer in the military airplane section of that plant until the close of the war, after which he returned to the Maxwell company as assistant chief tool designer. Two years later Mr. Warfel returned to Yorktown and organized there the York Tool and Manufacturing Company, of which he was made vice president and general manager, and has since been thus engaged, this concern making a specialty of the manufacture of all kinds of special tool work, such as punches, dies, jigs, fixtures, gauges and the like. In addition to his duties in this connection Mr. Warfel has been engaged also, since in March, 1922, as the technical checker or inspector in the engineer- ing department of the Muncie Products Company, his time thus being divided between Muncie and Yorktown. Mr. Warfel is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and of the college fraternity Alpha Phi Sigma. He also is a Freemason and is likewise affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Muncie. In 1917 Howard Warfel was united in marriage to Gladys M. Overmire, daughter of Lewis D. and Emma E. (Oerther) Overmire, of Yorktown, concerning whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Miriam Elaine. Mr. and Mrs. Warfel are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Yorktown.

JOHN W. METZCAR, manager of the Western Reserve Condensed Milk Company of Yorktown, is a native of Ohio but has been a resident of Indiana and of Delaware county for many years. Mr. Metzcar was born on a farm in the vicinity of Greenville, in Darke county, Ohio, November 11, 1877, and is a son of Daniel and Emma (Wissinger) Metzcar, the latter of whom was born in Baltimore, Md. The late Daniel Metzcar was born in Darke county, Ohio, grew to manhood on a farm there and was a farmer all his life. John W. Metzcar was reared on the home farm in Darke county and as a young man was for some time employed working in a hotel at Greenville. . He then came over into Indiana and became employed working in a glass factory at Yorktown, became a glass blower, and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he became connected with the operation of the Union Fibre Company of Yorktown. For thirteen years Mr. Metzcar was employed with the Union Fibre Company, or until early in 1918, when he transferred his connection to the operations of the Western Reserve Condensed Milk Company of Yorktown. Five months later, in September of that year, he was made manager of the plant and operations of this company and has since ocenpied that position, general manager of a concern for whose products a wide market has been created. Mr. Metzcar is a Republican. He is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men at Yorktown and has been "through the chairs" in all of these lodges. He and his wife are members of the Christian (Disciples) church. John W. Metzcar married Myrtle Fletcher, daughter of Fountain Fletcher and a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, and he and his wife have four children, Paul, Crystal, Juanita and, Maurice Metzcar. Paul Metzcar married Beatrice Hoffman and is now principal of the Cammack school.

JOHN UDELL, treasurer of the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company, is of European birth but has been a resident of this country since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Udell was born in Finland on September 19, 1880, and is a son of Jonas and Johanna Udell, Swedish people, who emigrated to the eastern border of Finland where John Udell received his education in the Swedish school of that community. He was given good schooling and when nineteen years of age came to the United States and proceeded on out into Michigan, where at Dollar Bay he became employed in railway maintenance work, his first employment in America. Not long afterward he became employed in a copper stamping mill and after about a year of this sort of labor decided that the way of betterment lay along the lines of a somewhat broader schooling and he went to Chicago and entered the North Park College, where he took the general course, with special stress on commercial forms. During the vacation periods while in college Mr. Udell was engaged working on a Swedish language newspaper in New York city and upon leaving college he became engaged in lecturing in behalf of the temperance cause and organizing temperance societies in communities largely populated by persons of Swedish-American stock. One period of nine months was thus spent and he later spent another period of eight months in the same behalf, while thus engaged traveling from coast to coast. He then returned to Michigan and became employed in the First National Bank at Ludington, where he remained for five years, at the end of which time he was elected cashier of the Farmers Bank of that place. Two years later he took a trip to California, with a view to possible settlement on the coast, but after two years spent there returned to Michigan and became connected with the opera- 'tions of the Benton Harbor Malleable Foundry Company as an accountant, presently being made assistant treasurer of the concern. In December, 1919, he was elected treasurer of the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company and has since been thus connected with the operations of this extensive concern. The plant of the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company in Highland avenue is the Whiteley Malleable Castings Company, modernized and brought up to the standards required by the new processes in making malleable iron. This was one of the first such plants that successfully melted iron with pulverized coal and several hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended in bringing it up to its present standard of -production. Mr. Udell is a member of the Muncie Chamber of Commerce and of the local Kiwanis Club and is also a Knight of Pythias.

John Udell

In 1913 at Benton Harbor, Mich., John Udell was united in marriage to Kate L. Ruth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Ruth, and to this union two daughters have been born, Elaine Ruth and Valerie Claire. Mr. and Mrs. Udell are members of the Presbyterian church. They reside at 734 Wheeling avenue.

THOMAS HIATT, former sheriff of Delaware county and a substantial landowner of this county, now making his home at Muncie, is a native son of Delaware county, a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state, and has lived here all his life. Mr. Hiatt was born on a farm in Perry township on January 28, 1863, and is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (McAllister) Hiatt, the latter of whom was a daughter of Ezekiel McAllister, one of the pioneers of this region and three of whose sons, Isaac, William and Thomas McAllister, were soldiers of the Union during the Civil war. Ezekiel McAllister was one of the early residents of old Muncietown and had a hand in the clearing of the public square there. Dillon Hiatt, a kinsman of Solomon Hiatt, was a captain in the Union army during the time of the Civil war. Solomon Hiatt was born in the neighboring county of Henry on December 20, 1833, and was a son of John and Charity Hiatt, who had come into Indiana from Guilford county, North Carolina, and had established their home in Henry county and whose descendants in the present generation form a numerous connection throughout this section of the state. Not long after his marriage in the fall of 1856, Solomon Hiatt established his home on a farm in Perry township, this county, and became one of the substantial citizens of that community. In 1864 he moved to Harrison township, where he developed a good farm and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on July 17, 1906. For eight years beginning in 1884 he had served as justice of the peace in and for that township. His widow survived him just two weeks, her death occurring on the 31st of that same month. She was born in this county on October 138, 1839. To Solomon and Elizabeth (McAllister) Hiatt were born eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Alexander, Adeline, Oliver, William, Melvina, Martha, Leroy, Elizabeth, Della and Emma. Reared on the home farm in Harrison township, Thomas Hiatt received his schooling in the local schools - and from the days of his boyhod has been interested in farm operations, now the owner of a well kept farm of 114 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, to the operation of which he gives his attention, though making his home in the city. For years also Mr. Hiatt was engaged as a contractor in road and ditch operations and became widely known throughout the county. In 1916 he was elected sheriff of Delaware county and by re-election served for two terms in that important public office, since which time he has made his home at Muncie, he and his family residing at 1004 East Jackson street. He is a Republican and a member of the United Brethren church. In 1887 Thomas Hiatt was united in marriage to Effie Jane Collins, who also was born in this county, daughter of James and Susan (Meyers) Collins, of Monroe township. Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt have five children, all of whom are married save the last born, Nellie; the others being Francis, who married Mattie Daff; Cleo, who married Hazel Warfel and has two children, James Thomas and Robert Allen; Kenton, who married Marie Miller, and Mabel, who married Harry Pfleeger and has one child, a daughter, Marilyn Ann. Kenton Hiatt is a veteran of the World war, a volunteer in the national army, who served in the Motor Transport service overseas for one year, this service including participation in the activities of the Army of Occupation. Mrs. Hiatt's parents both were born in Ohio but were married in this county, settling then on a farm in Monroe township. Of the eight children born to them five grew to maturity, Mrs. Hiatt and her four brothers, William, Marion, Perry and Samuel Collins.

JOSEPH SHEETS, a substantial farmer and landowner of Hamilton township, residing on the Studebaker pike, rural mail route No. 3 out of Muncie, is a native of the old Buckeye state but has been a resident of Indiana and of Delaware county since the days of his boyhood, a period of nearly seventy years. Mr. Sheets was born in Warren county, Ohio, March 17, 1847, and was nine years of age when in 1856 he came to Delaware county with his parents, Abraham and Elizabeth (Monger) Sheets, the latter of whom also was a native of Ohio, the family settling in Hamilton township. Abraham Sheets was a Virginian by birth and had moved into Ohio with his parents when he was but an infant. Upon coming to Delaware county with his family he bought a quarter section of land in what later came to be the Royerton neighborhood and there started to make a farm. In 1865 he bought another quarter section, including the place on which his son Joseph now lives, and thus had 320 acres, which he continued to operate until his death. His widow survived him for four years. Joseph Sheets grew up on that farm and has been interested in farm development all his life. Following his father's death he continued to operate the farm in his mother's behalf and after her death he took over eighty acres of the home place and has continued to make his home there. He increased his holdings until at one time he was the owner of 200 acres, fifty acres' of which he later sold and now has 150 acres, to the continued operation of which he still gives his supervisory attention, though practically retired from the active labors of the farm. Mr. Sheets is a Republican and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Sheets's wife died on September 11, 1895. She was Mary Ellen Shafer, a daughter of Adam and Ellen (Graves) Shafer, and left three children, two daughters, Nellie and Edith, and a son, Walter A. Sheets, the latter of whom married Daisy Stradling and is living at Royerton. Nellie Sheets married Rea Riggins, also of Hamilton township, and has nine children, Joseph, Clarence, Adam, Robert, Miriam, Lloyd, Fred, Carl and Jean. Edith Sheets married Clark Snider, of Hamilton, and has three children, Francis, Mary Louise and Jerusha. Joseph Riggins married Lois Jones and Adam Riggins married Violet Crusius.

JOHN HOFHERR, farmer and landowner of Mt. Pleasant township, has been a resident of Delaware county since he was six years of age, a period of nearly seventy years, and thus has seen many notable changes in farm methods hereabout since the days of his boyhood. Mr. Hofherr was born at Connersville, in Fayette county, this state, June 25, 1856, and is a son of Philip J. and Mary (Greisheimer) Hofherr, who established their home on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township in 1862, and whose last days were spent in this county, as is set out elsewhere in this volume, together with further interesting details regarding the Hofherr family in this county. Philip Jacob Hofherr, who in his generation was widely known hereabout as a music master, died in 1901 and his widow survived him until in 1911. They had nine children, all of whom are still living, and the Hofherr connection of this family in the present generation is a considerable one. John Hofherr grew up on the home farm in the southeastern part of Mt. Pleasant township, near the Salem township line, and his schooling was received in the district schools of the latter township. As a young man he bought a farm of fifty-eight acres in his home township and following his marriage about three years later established his home there and continued to farm that place for some years, at the end of which time he sold that place and bought a tract of 119 acres to which he moved and on which latter place he made his home until in 1917 when he bought a tract of sixty-three acres of the old Hofherr home place and has since lived on this latter place, the owner of 182 acres of well improved farm land. Since taking over this place Mr. Hofherr has erected a modern dwelling house on the place and has otherwise improved it in accordance with modern standards. This farm is located on the Wiggerly road, rural mail route No. 2 out of Yorktown. John Hofherr married Sarah Wilt, daughter of Israel and Elizabeth C. Wilt, and to that union was born one child, a daughter, Bertha, who married Kenneth G. Pierce and who died on April 2, 1924, leaving three children, Edith Ethel, Fredia Elizabeth and John William Pierce. Another of her children, Kenneth G. Pierce, Jr., died in infancy.

JOHN G. MALNOSKI, general manager of the great plant of the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company and as such one of the leading factors in the industrial life of the city, was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., October 23, 1886, and is a son of John and Florentine Malnoski, natives of Poland, who came to America following their marriage and settled at Grand Rapids. John Malnoski, who is a tailor, is now living at Lansing, Mich. Reared at Grand Rapids, John G. Malnoski received his schooling in the schools of that city and upon leaving the high school entered the offices of the Pere Marquette railroad there, in the clerical department, and continued engaged in railroad office work, there and in one or two other Michigan cities, until in 1913, when he became connected with the operations of a malleable iron foundry at Benton Harbor. In this relation Mr. Malnoski became thoroughly familiar with the details of the malleable iron industry and when the change in organization of the old Whiteley malleable iron works at Muncie was effected in 1919 he was placed in charge of operations here as the general manager of the new organization, known as the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company. The plant of this company in Highland avenue occupies the site of the old Whiteley Malleable Castings Company's plant which was destroyed by fire in 1916. The buildings were rebuilt but not equipped with machinery and in 1919 the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company bought the plant and installed in the same a complete equipment of modern machinery at a cost of many hundreds of thousands of dollars, this equipment including the first installation in this country successfully to melt iron with pulverized coal. In other respects also the great factory was modernized in all essential details to bring it up to all up-to-date requirements. The plant now employs right around 450 persons and has a capacity of around 15,000 tons of malleable castings a year. About 50 per cent of the stock of the Muncie Malleable Foundry Company is held in Benton

John G. Malnosky

Harbor, 25 per cent in Lansing and 25 per cent in Muncie. Under the new direction it is coming to be recognized as one of the leading industrial plants in eastern Indiana, and its present plans for expansion promise much in the way of its future development. It was on December 1, 1919, that Mr. Malnoski entered upon his pres-- ent connection with this company and he has since concentrated his: attention upon the direction of the operations of the great plant which is under his charge. On November 25, 1908, at St. Joseph, Mich., John G. Malnoski was united in marriage to Augusta Greiger, who was born in that city, daughter of Paul Greiger, and to this union three children have been born, Edward, Ruth and Vincent.. The Malnoskis reside at 224 North Hackley street. Mr. and Mrs.. Malnoski are members of Trinity Lutheran church of Muncie and he is a member of the local Kiwanis Club.

DR. OWEN WALTER OWENS, who died at his home in Muncie in 1921 and whose widow is still living here, maintaining her residence at 220 West Jackson street, had been a resident of Muncie since 1900, in which year he became engaged in the practice of medicine here, coming over from Ohio. Doctor Owens was a native of the old Buckeye state, born in the pleasant village of Venedocia, in Van- Wert county, Ohio, January 22, 1869, a son of David J. and Mary (Jenkins) Owens, the latter of whom also was born in Ohio, of Welsh parentage. David J. Owens was born at Anglesey, Wales, and was six years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the family establishing their home in VanWert county, Ohio, where David J. Owens grew to manhood and where he became a substantial farmer and landowner. Owen Walter Owens grew up at Venedocia and his local schooling was completed in the normal school in-the neighboring town of Middlepoint. For five years he was engaged as a school teacher in the schools of his home county, meantime pursuing preparatory studies in medicine, and then entered the Hahnemann (homeopathic) Medical College at Chicago and in 1897 was graduated from that institution. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Owens returned home and opened an office for practice at Venedocia, where he remained for about three years or until 1900, when he came to Muncie and permanently located here. Here he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on February 5, 1921. In 1902, about two years after taking up his residence in Muncie, Dr. Owen W. Owens was united in marriage to Elizabeth M. Davies, who, as noted above, survives her husband and is still living at Muncie. Mrs. Owens also was born in VanWert county,. Ohio, and, like her late husband, also is of Welsh stock, her parents, Evan G. and Mary (Morgan) Davies, both having been born in Wales. Mrs. Owens has three sons, David Wendell, Walter Evan and Richard Owens, the first named of whom now is a student in Purdue University. Mrs. Owens is'a member of the Presbyterian church, as was her late husband. Doctor Owens was a Freemason and also was affiliated with the order of Knights of Pythias. He was a member of the state and national medical associations and of the Muncie Academy of Medicine and the Delaware-Blackford (counties) Medical Society.

L. H. LARUE, a landowner in this county and manager of the Gaston Lumber Company of Gaston, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Delaware county for more than forty years. Mr. LaRue was born on a farm in the vicinity of Brookville, in Franklin county, Indiana, August 6, 1860, and is a son of William R. and Matilda W. (Baker) LaRue, both of whom spent their last days in that county. Reared on a farm in Frankklin county, L. H. LaRue completed his schooling in the Brookville schools and as a young man occupied his time as a farm laborer and in learning the carpenter trade. In the early '80s he came to Delaware county and became engaged working as a carpenter at New Corner, a voca- - tion he was following here when in the late '80s the gas "boom" came on and lifted New Corner up to its newer status as Gaston. With the call for building which followed this sudden development Mr. LaRue started in as a building contractor on his own account and did well, at the same time engaging in the realty business, buying lots and building for the market, and was thus engaged during the height of the gas and oil industry at Gaston. Gradually his business came to center in the lumber yard he had started there as an adjunct of his business and he carried on the lumber business until he sold his yards to Voorhees Smith. Two years later, however, as an active associate in the Gaston Lumber Company he bought back this lumber yard and has since been engaged as the manager of the same. He is the owner of 120 acres of land in Washington and Harrison townships, which he rents out. Mr. LaRue is a Republican. He isa charter member and a past sachem of Sioux Tribe, No. 123, Improved Order of Red Men, at Gaston. This tribe was instituted at Gaston on December 6, 1890, and Mr. LaRue was elected junior sagamore, the third ranking officer of the tribe, upon its organization. L. H. LaRue married Nettie Woodring, daughter of Ezra Woodring,-of Gaston. .