Fayette County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 12 of 16)

j\Ir. Ludlow has been twice married. In January, 1875, he was united in marriage to Lucy Wymore. who was liorn in Montgomery county, Kentucky, a daughter of David and Cynthia (W^illoughby) Wymore, who moved from Kentucky to Indiana in the winter of 1864-65 and settled in Harrison township, this county, but later moved to Iowa. Mrs. Lucy Ludlow died in 1901, w'ithout issue, and in March, 1906, Mr. Ludlow married Mrs. Angelina (Noel) John, who was Iiorn near Georgetown, Kentucky, a daughter of James and Saraii (Bailey) Noel, both natives of Kentucky. Angelina Noel came to Indiana when sixteen years of age, with the family of George Stewart, settling in Connersville, and lived with the Stewarts there for nine years, or until her marriage to Wesley John, who was born in this county and was reared on a farm a mile west of Connersville, a son of Greenup and Janet (Hines) John, members of old families here, Greenup John's father, Jonathan John, having come here during the early days of the settlement of this part of the state and entering a tract of land from the government about where the city of Connersville now is located. Wesley John farmed nearly all his life on the farm where he was born, but spent the last seven years of his life on a farm he had bought near Bunker Hill, west of Connersville, where he died in 1903, without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow take an earnest interest in general local affairs in the community in which they live and are helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare.

John Alfred Strong

John Alfred Strong, one of Harrison township's well-known and substantial fanners, is a native son of Fayette county, but was reared over the line in the neighboring county of Union, returning to this county and locating on the farm on which he is now living, three miles north of Connersville, in 1905, the year following his marriage, and has since made his home there. He was born on a pioneer farm in Waterloo township, this county, September 20, i860, son of Wilson and Eliza (Fiant) Strong, both members of the pioneer families, the former of whom was born on that same farm, and both of wliom are now deceased.

Wilson Strong was born on a farm north of Springersville, in the southeastern part of Waterloo township, a son of Richard Strong and wife, who came to Indiana from Maryland about 1821 and settled on the farm just noted, in this county, thus being numbered among the early settlers of this county. Richard Strong was of Irish descent, his grandfather having come from the Emerald Isle. On that pioneer farm Wilson Strong grew to manhood. He married Eliza Fiant, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, but who had come to this county with her parents when a child, the Fiants being among the old settlers of the county. Some years after his marriage Wilson Strong moved over the line into Union county and located at Brownsville, where he became engaged as a mechanic and wagonmaker and in the immediate vicinity of which place he also owned a farm. During the Civil War, Wilson Strong enlisted for service in the Ohio Heavy Artillery, but was later transferred to one of the Indiana infantry regiments and served for three years during the struggle between the states. He died in 1886 and his widow survived until 1902.

John A. Strong was but a child when his parents moved to Brownsville and there he grew to manhood, taking an active part in the labors of his father's farm from boyhood, and has farmed all his life. In 1905, the year following his marriage, he located on the farm on which he is now living, in Harrison township, three miles north of Connersville, and has since made that place his home, he and his family being quite comfortably situated there. Mr. Strong lias a well-kept and well-improved farm of mie Inimlrcd and sixty acres and is doing very well in his farming operatidus, being regarded as one of the progressive and substantial farmers of that neighborhood.

On March 9, 1904, John A. Strong was united in marriage to Emma D. Hamilton, who was born on a farm on the southern edge of the neighboring county of Wayne, west of Beeson, daughter of Thomas and Martha Comfort (Newbold) Hamilton, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Delaware, who came to Indiana with their respective parents in the days of their youth, the two families settling in the Connersville neighborhood. Thomas Hamilton was born near Georgetown, Kentucky, in iSio, a son of Alexander and Rebecca Hamilton, pioneers of that section. Alexander Hamilton was with Dick Johnson when the latter shot and killed the great Indian leader, Tecumseh, and served as a soldier during the War of 1812. Before 1820 he moved with his family up into Indiana and settled at Connersville, which at that time was but a small collection of rude log houses in the woods along the riverside. It was there that Thomas Hamilton grew to manhood. He started a hotel at Connersville and while thus engaged, July 6, 1838, married Martha Comfort Newbold, who was born in Sussex county, Delaware, October 6, 18 13, daughter of Francis and Comfort (Rodney) Newbold. who moved from Delaware to Kentucky and thence, seven years later, up into Indiana, their daughter, Martha, then being twelve years of age, and settled on a farm west of Connersville, where, and in Connersville, the daughter, Martha, grew to womanhood. Francis Newbold was married thrice and his daughter, Martha, was the youngest of the five children born to his first wife. Years after coming to this county Francis Newbold moved over into Rush county and there spent his last days. For thirtyfive years Thomas Hamilton was engaged in the hotel business at Connersville, his first hotel having been located on the east side of Central avenue, opposite the court house. From that site he moved to what later was called the Buckley Hotel, at the northeast corner of Eastern avenue and Fifth street. He and his wife were admirable hotel keeps and did a good business. It is a matter of recollection among old settlers that they had the first cook stove brought to Connersville and Mrs. Hamilton had a great reputation as a cook, her personal attention bestowed upon the kitchen of the hotel insuring to travelers the best of viands. About 1853 the Hamiltons moved to

Cambridge City, where tliey took the contract for boarding the men engaged in grading and gravehng the National road, which was being constructed through this part of the state at that time, and two years later they moved to a farm west of Beeson, on the southern edge of Wayne county, where Mrs. Strong was born. Later they moved to the Elijah Hurst farm, in that same vicinity, and there Thomas Hamilton died in 1864, he then being fifty-four years of ag'e. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring on October 7. 1898. Thomas Hamilton and wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom lived to maturity save one who died at the age of eighteen months and all the others of whom are still living save Alexander, W^illiam and John A., who died on October 16, 1916, those of the sun'ivors besides Mrs. Strong, the youngest, being Mrs. Rebecca Taylor, of Germantown ; Mrs. Mary Hearkless, of Elwood, and Robert H. Hamilton, of Wayne county.

Mr. and Mrs. Strong have one child, a son. Charles Hamilton Strong, born on June 16, 1905. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which they take a proper interest, as well as in the general social acti\'ities of the community in which they live. Mr. Strong is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. He is a publicspirited citizen and takes a good citizen's interest in all movements ha\ing to do with the promotion of the best interests of the community.

Leonidas A. Kline

Leonidas A. Kline, one of the substantial farmers and landowners of Waterloo township, this county, and former trustee of that township, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there the greater part of his life. He was born on September 15, 1863, son of Abraham and Caroline (Grindle) Kline, both natives of this state, the former born in this county and the latter born in Grant county, whose last days were spent in Huntington county, this state.

Abraham Kline was born in Waterloo township, this county, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Weichey) Kline, natives of Pennsylvania, who came out to Indiana in 1825 and settled in Fayette county, among the earliest settlers of Waterloo township, becoming useful and influential pioneers of that part of the county. Daniel Kline was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, about 1791, a son of Isaac Kline, of German stock, and there grew to manhood. He married Catherine Weichey, also of German stock, and in 1825 drove through to Indiana, with a view to establishing a home in the then "wilds" of Fayette county. Upon his arrival here Daniel Kline bought a quarter of a section of land in Waterloo township and there he and his wife reared their family, becoming prosperous farmers. He was an active member of the German Baptist church and did much in the way of promoting better things in the pioneer community in which he settled. There Mrs. Catherine Kline died on October 6, 1862. She was a devoted member of the Christian church. Some time after the death of his wife, Daniel Kline moved to Huntington county, this state, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on May 27, 1873.

On that pioneer farm in Waterloo township, where he was Ijorn, Aljraham Kline grew to manhood, a valued aid in the lalx)rs of improving and developing the same. He married Caroline Grindle, who was born in Grant countv, daughter of Samuel and Caroline Grindle, who lived and died in that countv, and in 1872 moved to Huntington county, this state, where he established his home on a farm and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on October 11, 1896. His widow, who continued to make her home in Huntington county, survived him for more than ten years, her death occurring on July 8, 1907.

Leonidas A. Kline was about nine years of age when his parents moved to Huntington county and there he made his home, assisting his father in the labors of the farm, until his marriage in the spring of 1888, when he returned to the old home farm in W^aterloo township, this county, where he was born, and there has made his home ever since, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of that community. He is the owner of three hundred and fifty-nine acres of excellent land in that township and has done very well in his farming operations. Mr. Kline is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs and for four years served the public in the capacity of township trustee, his term of office expiring in 1904.

In the spring of 1888, while living in Huntington county, Leonidas A. Kline was united in marriage to Olive Guthrie, who was born and reared in that county, a daughter of John and Martha (Hunter) Guthrie, who lived and died on a farm in that county, and to this union nine children have been born, namely : Elsie, who married Joseph Little and lives in Connersville ; Paul, a farmer of Waterloo township, who married Fay Davidson and has one child, a daughter, Helen ; Ruth, who is a member of Fay- ette county's efficient public-school teaching force, and Ralph, Ross, Carl, Harold, Caroline and Mary, who are at home with their parents. The Klines have a very pleasant home and have ever taken a proper part in the social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in advancing all good works thereabout. Mr. Kline is a member of the Masonic fraternity and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient order.

Sam Gerber

Sam Gerber, one of I^osey township's best-known farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept and highly cultivated farm of ninety-one acres on the -north edge of the county, about three miles north of Bentonville, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of this county since shortly after he attained his majority. He was born on a farm near Pleasant Run, between Cincinnati and Hamilton, in Hamilton county, Ohio, June 19, 1874, son of John and Mary (Sloneker) Gerber, the former of whom spent his last days in that same county and the latter, in the neighboring county of Butler.

John Gerber was born and reared in Switzerland and upon arriving at manhood's estate came to this country and made his way to Ohio, locating at Hamilton, where he married Mary Sloneker, who was born and reared in Germany, and then engaged in farming in the Pleasant Run neighborhood between Cincinnati and Hamilton, continuing thus engaged there until his death about 1886, leaving his widow with five children, of whom the subject of this sketch, then twelve years of age, was the third in order of birth. After the death of her husband the Widow Gerber moved with her family up into Butler county and there she spent her last days.

Sam Gerber was about twelve years of age when his father died and after the family moved to Butler county he was a valued aid to his mother in helping to keep the family together. He remained there until he was twenty-two years of age, when, in 1896, he came to Indiana and located in this county, where he ever since has made his home. For a year or two after coming here Mr. Gerber was engaged at farm labor west of Connersville and after his marriage in 1897 he rented a farm and began farming for himself and «as thus engaged, farming the old Huston farm near Hawkinsville, in Harrison township, for ten years, at the end of which time, in June, 1907, he bought the farm of ninety-one acres on the north edge of Posey township, three miles north of Bentonville, wliere he ever since lias made his home and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Gerber has made ninneroiis substantial improvements and now has an excellent farm plant, good buildings and well-tiled fields. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to tlie raising of hogs for the market and is doing very well in his operations. Mr. Gerber is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

]Mr. Gerber's wile, born Nellie Jane Caldwell, was born at Connersville, daughter of Sanford and Elizabeth (McCann) Caldwell, both of whom also were born in this county and the former of whom is still living here. Sanford Caldwell was born in Posey township, on the farm two miles south of Bentonville, where Fred Hackleman now lives. May i8, 1843, son of Train and Jane (McClure) Caldwell, the former of whom, a native of North Carolina, was but an infant when his parents came West, first locating in Ohio and then moving over into Indiana and settling in Harrison township, this county, in the days when the blockhouse was still being maintained there as a protection against the Indians and for some time lived in the blockhouse, which was situated where Daniel Caldwell now lives. Train Caldwell grew to manhood amid the pioneer conditions that then prevailed in Posey township and became one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of that part of the county. About 1865 he moved to Connersville, where he became engaged in the pork-packing industry and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Sanford Caldwell was reared in this county and for some years after his marriage in 1873 ^^'^^ engaged in the retail meat business in East Connersville, remaining there until 1882, when he moved to Yankeetown, where he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and three acres, on which he made his home until about 1912, when he retired and has since been making his home with his children. His wife died in 1896. She was born, Elizabeth McCann, en a farm east of Connersville, a daughter of Basil and Eleanor (Webb) McCann, the former of whom was born in Jennings township, this county, a son of James and Barbara (Darey) McCann, who came to this state from western Virginia and located on land that now is in the 'very heart of the city of Indianapolis; but believing that land there never would amount to anything presently came over into Fayette countv and located in Jennings township, on what now is known as the old Spivey farm, three and one-half miles east of Connergville, later moving to a farm which occupied the present site of East Connersville, where they established their home. Basil McCann became a partner in the big pork-packing concern of

Caldwell & Company and was oftice manager for the same. When that concern went out of business about 1876 he continued his extensive farmingoperations and also for some time operated a saw-mill. He later engaged in the meixantile business in East Connersville and was thus engaged for about ten years. He was an active Republican and he and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church. Basil McCann died in 1885 and his widow survived him for fifteen years, her death occurring in 1900. She was born, Eleanor Webb, in Rush county, a daughter of Isom and Elizabeth (Cassidy) Webb, and when a child came to this county to make her home with a cousin, Mrs. Thomas White, and was living there at the time of her marriage to Basil McCann. To Sanford and Elizabeth (McCann) Caldwell four children were born, those besides Mrs. Gerber being Charles and Frank Caldwell, who live on a farm about four miles southwest of Connersville and Carrie, wife of William McClure, of Connersville.

Wiluam Maze

William Maze, trustee of Waterloo township, this county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in the southeastern part of that township, was born and reared in the neighboring county of Union, but has been a resident of Fayette county for the past twenty years or more, during which time he has come to be one of the best-known men in the county. He was born on a farm in the Quakertown neighborhood, in Harmony township. Union county, April 17, 1867, son of John W. and Susan (Hollingsworth) Maze, both of whom were born and reared in that same township, members of pioneer families in that part of the state.

Reared on the paternal farm in Union county, William Maze grew to manhood there and after his marriage began farming on his own account. In March, 1896, he came over into this county and bought the farm on which he is now living, in the southeastern part of Waterloo township, and has ever since made that place his home. Mr. Maze has two hundred acres of land in that farm and his place is well improved and profitably cultivated. Mr. Maze is a Democrat and in 1904 was elected trustee of Waterloo township, serving in that important capacity for four years. In 1914 he was re-elected to that same office and is now ser\'ing his second term as trustee, giving to the duties of his oft'ice the most careful attention to the needs of the public.

Mrs. Maze, whose maiden name was Al\a Simpson, was born in Waterloo township, daughter of Benjamin and ]\lelinda Jane (Strong) Simpson, both of whom were born and reared in the southeastern part of that same township. Mrs. Simpson was a daughter of Richard and Susan Strong, early settlers on the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Maze are now living. Benjamin Simpson, who was a son of William Simpson, one of the early settlers in Fayette county, for years served his home townsliij) in tlie capacity of justice of the peace.

To Mr. and Mrs. Maze four children have been born, namely : Earl, who died when fourteen months of age ; Anna, who married Wilbur Osborne and lives in the northwestern part of Union county; John Stanford, who is at home, and Lawrence, also at home. Mr. Maze is a member of both the subordinate lodge and the encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, affiliated with the former at Brownsville and with the latter at Liberty, and takes a warm interest in Odd Fellowship. He is a publicspirited citizen and has ever given his aid in promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare of the community.

Oliver T. Fiant

Oliver T. Fiant, one of Waterloo township's well-known and progressive young farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept farm near Waterloo, was born on the farm on which he is now living in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on Marcii 29, 1882, son of Daniel and Lavina (White) Fiant, both of whom were born in this county, members of pioneer families, and whose last days were spent in Connersville, the county seat, Daniel Fiant having been serving as a member of the board of county commissioners at the time of his death.

Daniel Fiant was born on a pioneer farm in Waterloo township, this county, January 28, 18.J.6, son of John and Hannah (Fiddler) Fiant, the former of whom also was born in this part of the state, on a pioneer farm over the line in Union county, a son of Daniel and Saloma (Gaby) Fiant, prominent among the early settlers of this part of Indiana. The senior Daniel Fiant was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, son of a Hessian (65) soldier, one of the band of troops hired by the Duke of Hesse to the British government for use against the American patriots, but who had deserted the British cause, putting in his lot with that of the colonists, and after the war had remained on this side, married here and established a home, his family now being a numerous one and represented in various parts of the country. Trained as a carpenter, Daniel Fiant followed that trade during his young manhood in Pennsylvania. There he married Saloma Gaby and in 1802 he and his family came out to this part of the country, then regarded as the "wilds" of the West, and .settled on a farm in Union county, not far from the present Fayette county line, in the then territory of Indiana, and there established his home. In addition to buying a tract of land there, he also laought a pioneer mill, but the latter proved unprofitable and was not long continued. In 1834 the pioneer Daniel Fiant moved over into Fayette county and settled in Waterloo township, where he had leased a quarter of a section of school land for a term of ninety-nine years, and there he and his wife' spent their last days, his death occurring in 1866, he then being eighty-six years of age, and hers, in 1867, she then being eighty-five years of age. John Fiant, the tenth in order of birth of the children born to the above pioneer couple, was born in 1818 and grew up on the pioneer fann in Union county, realizing fully the hardships which attended the efforts of the early settlers to bring the wilderness to a habitable state. In 1843 he married Hannah Fiddler, a daughter of Samuel Fiddler, and establishied his home in this county, becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres.' He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, of which Daniel Fiant, the pioneer, and his wife also had been members, and he for years was one of the deacons of the local congregation of that church.

The younger Daniel Fiant, grandson of the pioneer whose name he bore, was reared on the home farm in this county and in April, 1871, was united in marriage to Lavina White, who was born in Waterloo township, this county, August 24, 1849, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth White. Daniel Fiant and his wife began their married life on a farm not far from Waterloo, in the township of that name, and as time passed prospered in their ^operations, gradually enlarging their holdings until they became owners of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, all of which was well improved. In 1908 Daniel Fiant was elected a member of the board of county commissioners from his district and in that same year retired from the farm, turning the same over to the management of his sons, built a comfortal)le house in Connersville and moved to the county seat, where he and his wife spent their last clays. In 1910 Daniel Fiant was unanimously renominated to the office of county commissioner, but did not live to enter upon his second temi of office, his death occurring at Connersville on August 30, 1 9 10. His widow survived him less than three years, her death occurring in March, 1913. She had been a member of the Brethren church for many years and it has Iieen written of her that "her religion was a vital, controlling principle of her life." !<"or more tlian thirty years Daniel Fiant had been a member of the Dunker cinirch and lor many years served as president of the Gemian Baptist Tri-County Mutual Protective Association. To him and his wife seven children were born, two of whom died in early youth and the other five of whom are still living, those besides fhe subject of this sketch being Delia, Martha and Oren, who continue to live in the house in which their parents died in Conners\-ille. and Syh'ia, wlio married Roy Sherry, also of Connersville.

Oliver T. Fiant was reared on the fami on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. He completed his schooling in the high school o\er in \\'ayne county and early began giving his practical attention to the labors of the farm. After his marriage in 1903 he established his home on the old home plate, eighty acres of which he now owns, and there he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated.

On December 13, 1903, Oliver T. Fiant was united in marriage to Nelle Louise Stanley, who was born in the neighboring county of Union, a daughter of Fdwin and Wealthy Ann (Gruell) Stanley, both natives of this section of Indiana, the former born in this county and the latter born in the neighboring county of Franklin, who are now living retired at Lyons Station. Edwin Stanley was born on a farm in Jennings township, this county, June 16, 1843, son of Xathan and Mary (Golden) Stanley, the former a native of the state of Tennessee and the latter of this county. Nathan Stanley was but ten years of age when he came from Tennessee to Indiana with his widowed mother, two sisters and a brother, the family settling on the Jonas SchoU farm in the eastern part of Jennings township, this county. In that township Nathan Stanley .spent .the rest of his life as a farmer and was a substantial and influential citizen. He was twice married. His first wife, who was Mary Golden, born in Jennings township, this countv, a daughter of Stephen Golden and wife, wlio lived one mile from .Mquina, on a farfn now owned by Reed Nichols, died when her son, Edwin, was nine or ten years of age, leaving seven children. Later Nathan Stanley married Elizabeth Grimes, who bore him four children and was a devoted mother also to the children by her husband's first marriage.

Edwin Stanley grew up on the liome farm in Jennings township and was married in 1867. In the following year he moved to Illinois and in that state farmed for two years, at the end of which time he returned to his home state and bought a part of the Wilson farm, two miles northeast of Alquina, on the east side of the Union county line, and there made his home until 1903, when he retired from the farm and moved to Lyons Station, where he and his wife are now living. He is the owner of one hundred and thirtyeight acres of excellent land over the line in Union county and twenty-eight acres in this county.

On Feliruary 7, 1867, in Rush count}', this state, Edwin Stanley was united in marriage to VVe^althy Ann Gruell. who was born in Franklin county, this .state, a daughter of Thomas and Letitia (Gniell) Gruell, the former of whom was bom in Delaware and was about six years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents, Lawrence Gruell and wife, who settled on a farm on the northern edge of Waterloo township, this county, among the first settlers of that part of the county, and there established him home. There Thomas Gruell grew to manhood and there he married Letitia Gruell, who was born in the Xenia neighborhood, in Ohio, and who was but a child when her parents. Jacob and Prudence Gruell, natives of Delaware, moved from Ohio o\er into Indiana and settled in W^aterloo township, this county. Some years after his marriage Thomas Gruell moved. over into Rush county and in 1843 moved from there to Franklin county, where Mrs. Stanley was born, and in the early fifties moved from that county to Columbus, this state, where he lived for two or three years, at the end of which time he returned to Rush county and settled on a farm near Arlington, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Thomas Gruell was a tanner, having served an apprenticeship to that trade in his youth, and owned a tannery at Columbus. He also owned a store at Andersonyille, in Franklin county. Edwin Stanlev and wife have seven children, those besides Mrs. Fiant, the last in order of birth, being as follow: Grant, who lives on a farm on the eastern edge of Jennings township and who married Grace Williams and has four children. Alpha, Vera, Wilbur and Frances; Thomas O., who married Jennie Geis and is engaged in the grain business at Lyonsville, this county; Carrie, who married John Williamson (now deceased), of Jennings town- Sliip, and has four children, Everett, Earl, Lloyd and Opal ; Minnie, who married George Harvey and lives on her father's farm in Union county; Rusha. who married Newton Gruell, of Elmwood, Ohio, and has two children, Thomas and Lowell, and Letitia, who married^ Dr. Stanton E. Gordon, of Alquina, this county, and has two children, Stanley and Helen.

Mr. and Mrs. Fiant li.ive fmir children. Isabelle Junius, Daniel Web.ster, Paul Edwin and Thomas Kenneth. Mr. and Mrs. Fiant and the two eldest children are all members of the Methodist church, as are Mrs. Fiant's parents, and Mr. Fiant is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in the afifairs of which organization he takes a warm interest. He and his wife take a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live and are helpful in promoting all causes having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout.

Willard Hadley

Willard Hadley, proprietor of a well-kept farm on the eastern edge of the village of Columbia, in Columbia township, this county, and one of the best-known citizens of that part of the county, was born in the neighboring county of Franklin, but has been a resident of Fayette county since he was a boy and has lived in Columbia township ever since he came to this county. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Metamora, eight or ten miles south of his present home, December i8, 1867, son of David T. and Mary Ann (Curry) Hadley, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of this state and the latter of whom is still living, for many years a resident of Columbia township, this county.

David T. Fladley, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in Brown county, Ohio, August 21, 1841, a son of Anson Hadley and wife, and was but a child v.-hen his parents came over into Indiana and settled in the .Metamora neighborhood. His mother died shortly after the family came here and he was taken in charge by the Whitelock family, of Jackson township, this county, and was reared there, growing up to the life of a farm. Though not yet twenty years of age when the Civil War broke out, David T. Hadley offered his services in behalf of the Union and on April 22, 1861, at Brookville, was mustered in with Company C, Thirteenth Regiiuent, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with wh.ich command he ser\ed his full three years, the term of his enlistment, and was mustered out with his regiment at Indianapolis on July, 1S64, his company at that time having been reduced to twenty-three members, louring the term of h.is ser\ ice in the army Mr. Hadley was in some of the most important engagements and battles of the war, including Rich Mountain, Cheat Mountain. Green Briar, Allegheny, Winchester, Mt. Jackson, Summerville, Franklin, Jones's Ford, Cold Harbor,

Upon the completion of his military service David T. Hadley returned to his old home and on January 3, 1867, was united in marriage to Mary A. Curry, who was born at Metamore, in Franklin county, daughter of Thomas and Penselia (Simmons) Curry, both .of whom were born and reared in that same community, members of old families thereabout. James Simmons, father of Mrs. Penselia Curry, was a Virginian, one of the early settlers in Franklin county. Mrs. Hadley grew up on a farm in the Metamora neighborhood, where her father followed farming all his life, and lived there until her marriage. For three or four years after their marriage David T. Hadley and wife continued to live in the ]\.'letamora neighborhood and then moved to Daviess county, this state, where they remained about five years, at the end of which time they moved to Rush county, where Mr. Hadley died on December 7, 1876, leaving his wife and three small children. He was a member of the Methodist church, as is his widow, and was a member of the Grange, in the affairs of which, as well as in his church work, he took a deep interest. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hadley and her children returned to her old home near Metamora and remained there until her two sons were old enough to take the direction of a farm, when, about 1886, the family came to Fayette county and bought a farm about one mile south of Columbia, where Mrs. Hadley has lived ever since and where she is very comfortably situated, the owner of seventy-nine acres of excellent land, which is now farmed by her grandson, Virgil Hadley. Besides the subject of this sketch, Mrs. Hadley has two children, another son, Omer, and a daughter, Edith, the latter of whom married Rollin Pumphrey and now lives on a farm near Hawkinsville, north of Connersville. Omer Hadley now lives in Orange township, this county, where he owns a farm of one hundred and seventeen and one-half acres. He married Edith Robinson, who died in 1909, leaving two children, Virgil and Esta, the former of whom is now farming his grandmother's place, while the latter is keeping house for her father.

Willard Hadley was twelve or thirteen years of age when his mother came up into Favette county from her old home near Metamora and settled in Columbia township and there he grew to manhood, helping his mother with the labors of the farm. About 1890 he rented the home farm and remained there, the last of the family to leave home, until about eleven years ago. he then being thirty-eight years of age, when he bought his present farm of ninetv acres at the east edge of the village of Columbia, where he has farmed ever since and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated.

Mr. Hadley lias a well-improved farm and a well-kept farm plant. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well in his operations. Mr. Hadley is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

On June 20, 1906, Willard Hadley was united in marriage to Pearl Stevens, who was bom of Garrison creek, in Columbia township, this county, daughter of Charles and Loanna (Limpus) Stevens, both of whom also were born in that same township. Charles Stevens was a son of Charles P. and Letitia (Thorpe) Stevens, old settlers in Columbia township, and he spent all his life farming there, dying when his daughter, now Mrs. Hadley, was three years of age, leaving a widow and, three children. The widow afterward made her home at Alpine and followed dressmaking as a means of livelihood for herself and children and there she spent the rest of her life, her death occurring in 1900. She was a daughter of John and Harriet (Perkins) Limpus, the former of whom also was born and reared in Columbia township, his father having been one of the original pioneers of that part of the county, entering a tract of land there from the government in an early day in the settlement of that section of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in promoting all agencies for the advancement of the common welfare.

John Limpus, who was one of the most active of the pioneer residents of Fayette county, was but a babe when his parents, Isaac Limpus and wife, came up here from the neighboring county of Franklin, where he was born. Isaac Limpus came to this state from Tennessee and upon coming to Fayette county located in the Columbia settlement, where he established his home. John Limpus grew to manhood in this county and became a carpenter, the most of his work being done in Alpine and vicinity, he and his brothers building the first four of five houses erected in the village of Alpine. He later became a foreman, then a contractor and then superintendent of construction of the canal between Cincinnati and Hagerstown, and was thus engaged until about i860, when he started a saw-mill at Alpine and operated the same for seven or eight years. He then became "walking boss," or supervisor, of a number of gangs of men working on the construction of the old "V'alley railroad and when that work was completed took up civil engineering and bridge contracting, building numerous bridges in this county, erecting the foundation of factory buildings at Connersville and supervising the construction of numerous other large works in Fayette and adjoining counties.

His wife, Harriet Perkins, liad also come to this county in the days of her early childhood, having been but two years of age when her parents came here and settled in the immediate vicinity of the old block house about a mile west of the jjresent village of Alpine, the presence of Indians hereabout in those days necessitating the maintenance of the block house as a means of protection against possibly raiding bands of redskins.

Ab.Salom Simpkins

Absalom Simpkins, one of Fayette county's best-known farmers, the proprietor of a fine farm in Harrison township and who, for some years past, has been serving as assessor of that township, is a native of the neighboring state of Ohio, but has lived in this county since 1887. He was born on a farm in Clermont county, Ohio, December 28, 185 1, son of Charles and Ann (Bennett) Simpkins, both of whom were born in the state of New Jersey and who became substantial farmers of Clermont county, Ohio.

Reared on the paternal fann in Ohio, Absalom Simpkins received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and at the age of twenty-one began teaching in that school, the same one in which he had been a pupil the year before. He got along well with his first school and for seven years thereafter was engaged in teaching during the winters, continuing to farm during the summers. When twenty-two years of age he married and began farming on his own account in southern Ohio. Three years before that time, in 1870, he had come to Indiana and had worked for a time in Fayette county; and in 1887 he moved here to make his permanent residence in this county and has ever since been engaged in farming and in the buying and shipping of live stock, having made a specialty of the latter phase of his farming for the past ten years. Four years ago Mr. Simpkins bought the farm on which he is now living in Harrison township, just four miles north of the court house, and he and his family are there very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr. Simpkins is an ardent Republican and has from boyhood given his earnest attention to political affairs. During the period of his residence in Clermont county, Ohio, he served for three terms as assessor of his home township and is now serving his third term as assessor of Harrison township, this county, having been successively elected to that important ofifice. Mr. Simpkins is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is also a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of

The Austin Claypool Home

Odd Fellows, of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Haymakers, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

In 1873, while living in Clermont county, Ohio, Absalom Simpkins was united in marriage to Eliza Jane Fraxter, who also was born in that county, a daughter of Leroy and Sarah (.'\ultnian) Frazier, the former of whom was l)orn in that same county and the latter in Rush county, this state. In 1891 Leroy Frazier and his wife moved from Ohio to Indiana and settled in the eastern part of Harrison township, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. During his residence in Ohio Mr. Frazier was for many years a dealer in live stock and also was an extensive buyer of tobacco. Upon locating in Fayette county he engaged in general farming and was thus engaged until his death.

To Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins eight children have been born, all of whom are living save three, one having died in infancy and two, Ira and Ora (twins), later: Ora dying at the age of five years and Ira, at the age of twenty-four. Those living are as follow : Lee, now living in Wayne county, who married Myrtle Wood, and has one child, a son, Robert; Frank, who also li\ es in Wayne county and who married Lizzie Watt and has two children, Paul and Elma Jeanne; Jesse, also of Wayne county, who married Carrie White and has two children, Geneva and Freda ; Mary, who married Clinton Bertsch, of Wayne county, and has four children, Maynard, Ralph, Margaret and Arthur; Albert, who is at home with his parents, a valuable aid to his father in the management of the home fann.

Austin B. Claypool

It was in the year 1816, the year of Indiana's admission to statehood, that Newton Claypool and his brother Solomon, vigorous and enterprising young Virginians, came over into the new state from Ohio and after prospecting a bit decided to put in their fortunes with those of such other settlers as would, in their opinion, form a colony in the vicinity of Conner's saw-mill, which had been established a short time previously by John Conner on the banks of the White Water, at the site of the present important and flourishing city of Connersville. Newton Claypool possessed a strong and true pioneering sense and his judgment unerringly told him that here on the banks of the White Water was an ideal location for a home. He secured a tract of land in the neighborhood of the mill and there set about the erection of a cabin for the bride whom he married in 1818, when he returned to his old Ohio home near ChilHcothe. Together they made their bridal trip in the month of February on horseback to the then wilderness. Later he built a more commodious house and as the only available source from which he could obtain the lumber needful for the construction of the house was the Conner saw-mill, he made application there, but was told that no more business could be accepted at that time; that the capacity of the mill was taxed to the utmost. But something had to be done and young Newton Claypool fell in with the plan, suggested by Conner, of using the mill for himself after sundown and getting out what lumber he could by moonlight.

And it was in that humble pioneer home, lovingly prepared by an ardent young lover, that Austin B. Claypool, who afterward was to become so prominently identified with the affairs of Fayette county and of the state of Indiana in general, was born. In 1836, Newton Claypool bought from a pioneer named Berry, the farm for many years known as the old Claypool homestead and now known as "Maplewood." He spent the greater part of his life here and the place is still in the possession of the family, being now occupied by Austin B. Claypool's widowed daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl. Austin B. Claypool enjoyed the unique experience of growing up amid pioneer conditions and witnessing the growth of a considerable city about his home, the luxuries of modern life and modern ways of living being brought to his very door. He grew up as a farmer boy, tilling fields on which substantial buildings of the city now stand and was thus a witness to the development of the city of Connersville from the very beginning of the same, and was one of the most active and influential factors in that development. Upon his father's death he inherited the home place, beautiful "Maplewood," and became, in addition, thereto, by his own efiforts, the owner of other large landed interests. He was at one time president of what is now the First National Bank of Connersville, and the Citizens Bank of Milton, but the confinement entailed by. the duties pertaining to those offices proved too irksome, for this stalwart, open-air man, a true lover of nature, and he relinquished the offices. Mr. Claypool gave large- attention to the raising of live stock and his herds of white cattle grazing on the beautiful pastures of "Maplewood" were widely admired. In an early day the old Claypool homestead was the scene of many spirited political conferences of the Republican party, to which the Claypools have been attached since the very beginning of the party, and conferences have been held there by many of the most notable personages in that party in the days gone by. Austin B. Claypool came to be regarded as a wealthy man, in his generation, and his chief delight was in adding to the happiness of others. He was a singularly public-spirited man and did very inucli toward tlie promotion of movements designed to develop liis home community along all proper lines. He took considerable interest in fraternal matters and was a Scottish-Rite Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was strongly influential in the building of gravel roads and active in promoting the construction of the railways entering Connersville. He helped organize thp early agricultural fairs of Wayne and Fayette counties and served as a member of the Indiana state board of agriculture and also was a trustee of Purdue University.

Austin B. Claypool was born on December i, 1823, son of Newton and Mary (Kern) Claypool, the former of whom was born in the state of Virginia and the latter in Ohio, the first white child born in the Sciota valley. Newton Claypool was born on May 20, 1795, and when a young man moved over into Ross county, Ohio, coming thence, in 1816, as noted above, and buying a tract of land on the present site of the city of Connersville and erecting on the same a house. In January, 1818, on High Bank prairie, in Ross county, Ohio, Newton Claypool was united in marriage to Mary Kern, who was born on February 3, 1798. In their pioneer home nine children were born, Sarah Ann, Austin Bingley, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Jefferson, Edward Fay and four who died in infancy or youth.

From the very beginning of his residence in this county Newton Claypool exerted his energies, not only to the task of developing his community, but to the general public service, and became early recognized as one of the most substantial and influential pioneers of this section of the state. He was elected first treasurer of Fayette county and while serving in that capacity performed a notable service in behalf of the county, his well-ordered and systematic methods doing much toward starting the civic afifairs of the county off in proper shape. He was early elected to represent his district in the state Legislature and was retained in the General Assembly for many terms, his services in both the House and the Senate proving of large value not only to this district, but to the state at large, his constructive mind and abilities as an organizer being widely recognized by his colleagues in the Legislature. Newton Claypool died on May 14, 1866, he then being seventy years, eleven months and twenty-four days of age. His wife had preceded him to the grave less than two years, her death having occurred on August 16, 1S64, she then being sixty-six years, six months and thirteen days of age. The memory of this honored pioneer couple is cherished wherever the history and the traditions of Fayette county are held dear.

Austin B. Claypool's early schooling was obtained under Harvey Nutting. a young Yankee school teacher who located in Connersville in an earlv day in the settlement of that place, and from the very beginning of his school days he evinced an unusual aptitude in his studies. His special bent was in the direction of mathematics and before he was sixteen years of age he was called on to settle a local dispute arising out of a variance of opinion as to the amount of stone in one of the WHiite Water canal locks, the contractor having disputed the estimate made by the appraisers. The issue was carried into court and young Claypool was called as an expert witness, his estimate, based upon his careful calculation, being accepted by the court, which sternly rebuked the opposing counsel, Samuel Parker, for the manner in which he had attempted to confuse the youthful witness. While still a boy, young Claypool was entrusted with numerous responsible duties by his father and at one time he was sent out with five hundred dollars to buy hogs throughout the county. That was in the day before farm scales were thought of and on the young stockbuyer's judgment depended the faithful performance of the trust, which was carried out to his father's entire satisfaction, the lad soon becoming an expert buyer and thus laying the foundation for his future success.

On May 20, 1846, Austin B. Claypool was united in marriage to Hannah Ann Petty, daughter of Williams and Elizabeth (John) Petty, pioneers of this section of the state, and to that union eight children were born, namely: Virginia, wife of Henry Clay Meredith, of Wayne county, Indiana ; Marcus S., who married Elizabeth Burson and now resides at Muncie, this state; Elizabeth, widow of Morell J. Earl and who is now occupying the old Claypool home, "Maplewood" ; Frank J., of Muncie, and four who died in youth. Frank J. Claypool married Luella Swiggett and has two children, Austin B., who married Elma Quick, and Virginia Meredith, who married Dr. Robert T. Miller. Austin B. Claypool and wife did not unite with any church until late in life, but contributed generously to the support of all denominations in Connersville, as well as to all other good works there. When "Maplewood" was laid out, Mr. Claypool donated the ground on which the Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal church was erected and practically gave to the congregation both the church and the parsonage, he and his wife at the same time becoming members of that congregation and continued active workers in the same until their death. Austin B. Claypool died on January 16, 1905, he then being eighty-two years of age. A distinct honor was paid to his memory by the city schools during the funeral service, by having each teacher devote one period to his life and character. His widow survived until January 18, 1913, she being eighty-five years of age at the time of her death.

remaining- in Connersville and who continues to occupy tlie old liomc, "Maplewood." was born during the brief period in which her parents lived at Germantown, in the neighboring county of Wayne, I)ut has been a resident of Connersville since she was three or four years of age. In her childhood she was tutored in private schools and by a governess and later attended Glendale College. Even in the days of her girlhood Elizabeth Claypool began to take an earnest interest in the cultural activities of her home town and all her life has been devoted to the promotion of the best interests of the community in a cultural way. Married in 1878 and left a widow after less than one year of happy married life, Mrs. Earl has ever since found distraction from her lonely state in doing in behalf of others what she has been denied doing for her own. and for many years one of her chief delights has been the labor she has been able to perform in Sunday-school work, the satisfaction she has derived from witnessing in after years the fruits of those labors reflected in the lives of the boys and girls who Iiad been members of her young peoples clubs and pupils in her Bible classes, being a great source of comfort. She regards this as the greatest work of her life and counts it a high privilege to have been gi\en the time, strength and means for the successful prosecution of such labors.

Mrs. Earl has also given much of her time and energies to the work of women's clubs in Indiana and is a past president of the Indiana Union of Literary Clubs. She was chairman of the committee that introduced the bill creating the public library commission of Indiana and successfully carried the same through the Legislature, and was appointed by Go\-emor Mount the woman member of that commission of three; has been reappointed by each successive governor and is now president of the commission. In this important capacity Mrs. Earl has performed a most valuable ser\-ice in behalf of library extension and development in Indiana and her influence has been carried into adjoining and other states. She is now president of the League of Library Commissions and is a member of the council of the American Library Association. It was through her suggestion that the Indiana Library Trustees Association was organized and it has been her enthusiastic co-operation in the labors of that association that has done much to advance the standard of libraries throughout the state. In 191 3 she was president of this as.sociation and she also has served as president of the Indiana Library Association. She is vice-president of the Connersville library board and it was largely through her influence and direction that the handsome Carnegie library building was secured for that city.

Io3S Fayette County, Indiana

for yea^s been particularly active and her activity and influence in that connection have done much to advance the movement in this state. When the "General Federation of Women's Clubs" began its campaign for a one-hundred-thousand-dollar endowment fund, Mrs. Earl was selected as cliairman for Indiana and, with marked ability, raised several hundred dollars over Indiana's apportionment. At the biennial meetings of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs held at Chicago in 1914 and at New York in 1916 she served as an aide to the president. When the secretary of agriculture asked Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, president of the General Federation, to appoint a special committee of three to co-operate with the agricultural department of the federal government to ascertain what the government is doing in the way of aid for women and children, Mrs. Earl was selected as one of the three women appointed. So successful was the report made that the committee was asked to be continued and take up other departments, which work is now under way. Mrs. Earl has been an extensive traveler, both in this country and in foreign lands, and a trip through the Holy Land made some years ago gave her vivid and invaluable impressions with which to render more realistic her presentation of the Bible lessons to the plastic minds of her Sunday school pupils. Mrs. Earl is a Presbyterian and is devoted to foreign missions.

Morell J. Earl

Morell J. Earl, of Lafayette, Indiana, who died in the summer of 1879, and whose widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl, has since made her home at "Maplewood," the home of her father and of her grandfather, at Connersville, was born at Lafayette, Indiana, June 7, 1853, and was therefore but twenty-six years of age at the time of his death. He was the son of Adams and Martha (Hawkins) Earl, both of whom were born in the state of Ohio, and who were the parents of two children, the subject of this memorial sketch having had a sister, Alice, who married Charles B. Stuart, of Logansport, who became a prominent lawyer of Lafayette.

Adams Earl was for years one of Lafayette's best-known and most influential merchants and landowners. The wholesale grocery business he built up there became one of the most substantial mercantile establishments in that city. He did other things also on a large scale and "Shadeland Farm," his Hereford cattle ranch on the Wea plain, near Lafayette, was widely famed for the excellence of the cattle he bred there. He and his wife spent all of

Morell J. Earl was reared at Lafayette and finished his schooling at Wabash College and at Amherst College, Massachusetts. From boyhood he took much interest in his father's farming and stock-raising operations and received careful instruction along the lines of agriculture, owning a large tract of land in Benton county, upon which he had a herd of Shorthorn cattle. After completing his college course, he entered the wholesale store with his father and was devoting himself to a business career, with prospects for large success opening out before him. when his death occurred on July 28, 1879.

Less than a year before his death, on October g, 1878, Morell J. Earl was united in marriage to Elizabeth Claypool, of Connersville. daughter of Austin B. Claypool and granddaughter of Newton Claypool, and his widow still survives, making her home at "Maplewood," the old homestead at which her grandfather and his wife established their home in 1836, then a large farm, where now stands the beautiful suburb, "Maplewood," of the city of Connersville. In a memorial sketch relating to Austin B. Claypool, presented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out, in full, details relating to the origin of the Claypool family in this community and of the good works and the various services to the communit}- rendered by Newton Claypool and by his son, Austin B. Claypool, and by the latter's daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl, and the reader's attention is respectfully called to the same in connection with this brief memorial sketch of a brave young man whose life went out just at the time when that life seemed fairer to him than ever before.

James E. Holland

James F. Holland, a former member of the board of countv commissioners of Fayette county and one of the best-known and most sut)stantial iarmers of V^^aterloo township, proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres of land, was born in that township, on a pioneer farm not far from his present home, and has lived in that vicinity all his life. He was born on June 19, 1861, son of William A. and Mary A. (Scholl) Holland, both now deceased, who also were born in that same township, where they spent all their lives, among the best-known and most influential residents of that part of the county.

(Stephenson) Holland, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of the state of Ohio, who were among the early settlers of Waterloo township, this county. Robert Holland was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1779, and was well grown when he came to this country and settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he married Margaret Stephenson, who lived in Colerain township, that county. Shortly after his marriage Robert Holland came over into Indiana and entered a tract of "Congress land" in Waterloo township, this county, and there established his home. He also owned a farm in Union county. He was a weaver as well as a farmer and was wont to work at his trade as a weaver at night, spending his days farming, and it is related of him that it was nothing unusual for him to sit before his loom all night and then do a full day's work in the fields the next day. His son, William A. Holland, grew to manhood on the pioneer farm where he was born and for several winters taught school in that neighborhood. He spent his entire life in that township, a life-long farmer, and came to be the owner of four farms, aggregating four hundred and eighty acres, in Waterloo township, besides helping his children to get a start on farms of their own. WiUiam A. Holland was an ardent Republican and for some time served as assessor of his home township and for sixteen years served as a member of the board of county commissioners of Fayette county, his services in the latter connection proving of much value to the county at large. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and v/ere among the leaders in all good works in the community in which they lived. William A. Holland died on May II, 1908, and his widow survived a little less than two years, her death occurring in February, 19 10. She also was born in Waterloo township and lived there all her life. Her maiden name was Mary A. SchoU and she was a daughter of John and Sallie (Reed) SchoU, members of pioneer families in that part of the county.

John Scholl was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1824, and was about nine years of age when his parents, John and Sallie (Reed) Scholl came to Indiana with their family and settled in Fayette county, establishing their home on a tract of land bought from the government in Waterloo township. The senior John Scholl also was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, a son of John Jacob and Mary (Hetzel) Scholl, natives of that same county, of German descent, the former having been born there in 1773, son of John Peter Scholl, who was born in the Black Forest of Germany and who, when a lad, started with his parents and the other members of their family for this country, all of the family save himself dying on shipboard of cholera on the way over. John Jacob Scholl and his family came to Indiana from Penn- sylvanin. in 1833 and settled in Fayette county, where John Jacob SchoU ched in 1870, at the age of ninety-six years. His son, the senior John Scholl, also located in Waterloo township, this county, in 1833, and there died in 1876, he then being at the age of seventy-six years. He and his wife ( Sallie Reed) were the parents of seven children, John, Sallie, David, Mary, Henr\-, Leah and William. The junior John Scholfwas l)ut nine years of age when he came with his parents from Pennsylvania t(i this county and here he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Waterloo township, where he spent all his life. On August 19, 1852, he married Jane Holland, who also was born in this county, a daughter of Henry and Jane Holland, pioneers, and their daughter, Mary A. Scholl, grew to womanhood in Waterloo township and there married William A. Holland. To that union five children were born, those besides the subject of this sketch, the second in order or birth, being as follow: ]\Irs. Alice N. Byrne, deceased; John W., of Cottage Grove, Union county, this state; Cliarles F... of Conners\-ille, and Mrs. Edie B. AIcGraw, of Connersville.

James F. Holland grew up on the paternal farm in Waterloo township and remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-seven years, when he began farming on the place where he now lives and where he ever since has made his home, long having been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. Air. Holland owns four hundred and eighty acres of land and has done very well in his farming operations. His place is well improved and well kept and he and his wife are very comfortably situated. Mr. Holland is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs. He has served as a member of the board of county commissioners, having been appointed, without his previous knowledge or solicitation, to fill an unexpired term on the board and then elected to fill the balance of the unexpired term.

Mr. Holland has been twice married. In 1888 he was united in marriage to Nancy McDaniel. who was born in Hancock county, this state, a daughter of Jacob and Martha (McCray) McDaniel, and who died in August, 1903, without issue. In 1906 Mr. Holland marrietl Mrs. Emily J. (McDaniel) Scholl, his deceased wife's sister and widow of W. C. Scholl. She also was born in Hancock county and there lived until her marriage to W. C. Scholl, a native of this county, coming to Fayette county with her husband in 1883 and locating near Springersville, where she lived until Mr. SchoU's death in December, 1889. She has two sons by her first marriage, Chester A. Scholl, who is now living in Iowa, and Curtis Scholl. who is living on the place his (66) father owned near Springersville. Mrs. Holland is a member of the Universalist church and J\Ir. Holland is a member of the iSIethodist Episcopal church.

William Thomas Jones

William Thomas Jones, one of Fayette county's best-known old settlers and a well-to-do farmer in Connersville township, proprietor of a well-kept farm in the southern part of that township, is a native son of Fayette county and has lived here all his life with the exception of eight years, during the seventies, when he was pioneering on the plains of Kansas and enduring the hardships and privations of "grasshopper days" in that state. He was born on a pioneer farm in Orange township, this county, December 2"], 1845, son of George Washington and Elizabeth (Bedell) Jones, the former also a native of this county and the latter of whom was born over in Preble county, Ohio, whose last days were spent in this county, respected and influential residents of Orange township.

George Washington Jones was born on the farm in the southwestern part of Connersville township, the place on which his son, the subject of this sketc4i, has for years made his home, and was a son of William and Lucinda (Ginn) Jones, pioneers of this section of Indiana. WiUiam Jones was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, and upon reaching manhood went to Bracken county, Kentucky, where he married Lucinda Ginn and about 1829 came on up into Indiana and settled in Fayette county, entering from the government a tract of eighty acres in the southwestern part of Connersville township, the place on which his grandson, the subject of this sketch, is now living. There William Jones and his brave pioneer wife established their home and with all the toil and endeavor necessary in the creation of a farm in a forest wilderness presently had a good piece of property. Upon coming here they had but one horse and on that horse Mrs. Jones rode up from Kentucky, carrying her babe in her arms, her husband walking alongside and carrying a gun as a protection against possible dangers from wild beasts or Indians. Their small cooking equipment and a few essential household belongings were strapped onto the horse and they arrived here with an exceedingly limited equipment for making a home. However, they had stout hearts and willing hands and it was not long until they had a little log house erected in a clearing which \\'illiam Jones made on his place and had begun to make a place of comfortable residence. On that pioneer farm William Jones and his wife

Spent the rest of their hves, and there George \V. Jones grew to nianho.Kl, a vahied aid in the labors of improving and developing the home place. In 1840 he married anti three j-ears later, in 1843, located on a farm in Orange township, this county, where he spent the rest of his life. George W. Jones was a man of firm convictions and much strength of character and for years rendered excellent service in his community as township trustee. He possessed in a high degree the confidence of his neighbors and frequently was called on to act as administrator of estates or as guardian of minor heirs and in all these positions of trust acciuitted himself faithfully. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and took an earnest part in all neighborhood good works. George W. Jones died in 1897 and his widow survived him for nearly ten years, her death occurring in 1906. She was born, Elizal)eth Bedell, near Lebanon, in Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of John and ^lartha (Yaryan) Bedell, who had moved from New Jersey to Ohio, then to Indiana, and then in 1845 moved to Iowa, where their last days were spent. To George W. Jones and wife were born seven children, three of whom died in childhood and another. John Bedell Jones, in 1911, the survivors being the subject of this sketch and his two sisters, Mrs. Nancy L. AIcKee, of Posey township, Franklin county, and Mrs. Sallie I. Logan, of Noble townshi]). Rush county.

William T. Jones grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Orange township and for two or three years before his marriage farmed on his own account on his father's place. In the latter part of 1869 he married and in 1872 he and his wife went to Kansas and settled on a tract of a quarter of a section of railroad land he bought in Lincoln county, that state. Gras.5- hoppers, droughts and hot winds made life a burden for Kansas farmers during that period, but Mr. Jones persisted, despite all the discouragements that beset him, and in time developed a good piece of property there. There he remained until 1880, when, at the urgent request of his father, he returned to Indiana and resumed his place on the old home farm in Orange township. On September 3, 1895, Mr. Jones moved to his present farm in the southwestern part of Connersville township, the place that had been opened in the wilderness by his grandfather in 1829, and there he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Jones is the owner of one hundred acres of well-improved land and has done very well in his farming operations. He is a member of the Christian church and his wife is a member of the Methodist church, both taking a proper part in neighborhood good works.

Mr. Jones has been twice married. On December 8, 1869. he was united in marriage to Ann Eliza Johnson, who also was born in Orange township.

this county, daughter of Louis and Louisa (Winchell) Johnson, who came to this county from Pennsylvania about 1830 and settled in Orange township, and to that union four children were born, namely : Sedella Lee, who married Edward Thomas, of East Connersville, and has three children, Gladys, Frank and Garnet; George C., a contractor and carpenter, now living at Glenwood, in Orange township, this county, who married Mollie Medsker and has four children, Nellie, Cecil, Evelyn and Elizabeth; Charles F., who lives on the home farm with his father, and Eva, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1883 and in 1887. Mr. Jones married Emma Steffey, who was born at Laurel, in Franklin county, this state, a daughter of Lewis and Amelia (Snyder) Steffey, both of whom were born at Williamsport, Maryland, and who, after a sometime residence in Ohio, came to Indiana and located at Laurel, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Lewis Steffey was a carpenter and contractor and followed that vocation to the time of his death. He died in 1880 and his widow survived him about four years, her death occurring in 1884. They were the parents of six children, all of whom grew to maturity save one, who died at the age of nineteen months. Of the others, William Steffey died in 1903 and Mrs. Catherine Naylor died on Septeml)er 27, 1912. Mrs. Jones now having two surviving sisters, Mrs. Matilda Cameron and ]\lrs. Alice Sheppard.

Samuel Calvin Moffett

Samuel Calvin Moffett, one of the well-remembered pioneers of Fayette county, who died at his home just over the line near Beeson, in the neighboring county of Wayne, had been a resident of Fayette county since 1833, having come up to this part of Indiana in 1833 with his parents, he then being a child of five years, and has spent the rest of his life in this vicinity, thus having been a participant in the development of the interests of the northern part of this county, his family having settled in Harrison township, from pioneer days. He was born on a pioneer farm in Grainger county, in the eastern part of Tennessee, January 17, 1828, a son of Samuel and Mary (Donaldson) Moffett, who later became pioneers of this part of Indiana and here spent their last days.

Tlie elder Samuel Moffett was born in Ireland, a son of Henry, whose father's name also was Henry Moffett, and with others of the family came to this country, locating in Grainger county, Tennessee, in 1803. There he was naturalized, lieccmiing a citizen of the L'niteil States, and when tlie War of 181J Ijruke out enlisted fur service in hehalf of the arms oi his adopted country and served in the army of Andrew Jackson. Samuel .Moffett was a neighlior of Da\-id Crockett in his Tennessee home ami hecame one of the stalwart pioneers of that section of the state. There he married Mary Donaldson, daughter of a pioneer of tiiat section of Tennessee, and in 1833 came north with his family and settled in this part of Indiana, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Previous to coming up here Samuel Moffett had bought a tract of land in the northern part of Harrison townshi]), Fayette county, a tract of wild and unimproved land, the farm now occui)ied by his grandson, O. O. MotYett, and for a year, while getting tlie same ready for occupancy, made his home on the Dungan farm, one-half mile west of Beeson. He gradually improved his woodland farm until he had one of the best places in that part of the county, and there he and his wife sjjent the rest of their lives, useful and influential pioneer residents of Harrison t(.nvnship. They were the parents of ten children, James, William, Laml)ert, Jane, Xancy, Susan, Franklin, Elizabeth, Samuel Calvin and Emeline.

Samuel Calvin Mofifett was but five years of age when his family niovetl to Fayette county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in I'ayette county, becoming thoroughly familiar with the conditions that confronted the pioneers of this section of the state. He lived un the home place after his marriage, having bought the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead, and there continued to make his home until in December, 1867, when he moved to a farm south of Beeson, just over the line in Wayne county, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. His death occurred on July 17, 1892, and she survived until December 9, 1902. She was born, Exeline Cox, May 9, 1827, near Ogden, in Henry county, this state, and was a member of one of the pioneer families of that section. To Samuel C. ^iloffett anrl wife ten children were liorn, three of whom died in infancv and seven of whom lived to maturity. One of the daughters, Relle, died on January 6, 1881, and one of the sons, Oscar Franklin, who was horn on January 25, 1858, died on Alay 9, 1893. The five still living are as follow: Simpson, of Kinnard, in the neighboring county of Henry; Emery, who lives two miles west of Connersville: Otho O., mentioned above as living on the home place that was settled by his grandfather back in 1833, and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume;. Lambert, w'ho lives three miles southeast of ]\Iiddletown, in Henry county, and Mrs. Oma Mochworth, who lives one and one-half miles west of the village of Dublin, in \\'a_\ne countv.

Otho Orlando Moffett

Otho Orlando Moffett, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of Harrison township, this county, was born on the farm on which he is now living, on the northern edge of that township, and has lived there most of his life. He was born on March 11, 1862, son of Samuel Calvin and Exeline (Cox) Mofifett, the former of whom was born in eastern Tennessee and who came to this county with his parents when he was five years of age, and the latter of whom was born in Henry county, this state, a daughter of pioneer parents. Samuel Calvin Mofifett became one of Fayette county's substantial farmers. He and his wife spent their last days on a farm in the neighborhood of Beeson, over the line in Wayne county, but their children were reared on the pioneer farm in Fayette county, the place taken by Samuel C. Moffett's father, Samuel Moffett. in 1833, when he moved up here with his family from Tennessee, the place now occupied by the subject of this sketch. In a memorial sketch relating to Samuel C. Moffett, presented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out further details concerning the Moffett family in this section of the state, to which the attention of the reader is invited in this connection.

On the pioneer farm in the northern edge of Harrison township, above referred to, Otho O. Moffett grew to manhood. He received his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood and from boyhood was a valued assistant to his father and his brothers in the labors of developing and improving the home place. After his marriage in 1887 Mr. Moffett continued to make his home on the home place for about seven years, at the end of which time he moved to another farm that had belonged to his father, between Connersville and Waterloo, and there was engaged in farming until 1900, when he returned to the old home place, where he was born and where he ever since has made his residence, he and his family being very pleasantly and very comfortably situated there. Mr. Moffett owns ninety-eight acres and has a fine new house and a very well-kept place, his farm being improved according to modern standards. ]\Ir. Moffett is a life-long Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's atention to local civic affairs, an ardent exponent of clean politics, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

On February 17, 1887, Otho O. Moffett was united in marriage to Clara Dailey. who was born on the old James Lester farm on the Rushville road between Connersville and Glen wood, in the southwest quarter of section 30,

Connersville to\\nship, tliis county, a daughter of Aanm and Mary A. (Lester) Dailey, Ijoth of wliom were born in this Cduntx", nienihers of pioneer famines. Aaron Dailey was born on Octol)er j8, 1824. a son of WilHam Dailey and wife, of English ilescent. and Mary A. Lester was born on September j8. 1830, a daughter of James and Jennie Lester, both of Irish parentage, who were early settlers in the western part of Connersville township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Moffett have four children, namely: ]Murl Leroy Moffett, who lives at Richmond, this state; Mabel ALay. who married Dennison Kerr, living near Hawkinsville, this county, and has one child, a daughter, Virginia Eloise ; Mary Marie, who married Ernest Caldwell, who lives near Yankeetown, in Harrison township, Fayette county, and Luella, who is at home with her parents. The Mofifetts have a very pleasant home and have ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in advancing all worthy causes therealiout.

Saxford Shortridge

The late Sanford Shortridge, who died at his farm home in Fairview township in 1902 and who for years was one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in that part of the county, was born in Posey township and moved to the farm when six months old, where he died and where he had spent all his life. He was born on July 23, 1847, son of James and Mary (Keaton) Shortridge, the former of whom was born in the neighboring county of Wayne on April 30, 1818, a son of Samuel and Eleanor (Hulse) Shortridge, and the latter at Reading, in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 29, 1819, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Young) Keaton, natives, respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania, the former born in 1782 and the latter in 1788. Thomas Keaton and Rebecca Young were married in Philadelphia and moved thence to Cincinnati and subsequently to Reading, Ohio, when, in 1820, thev came up the White Water \'alley and settled in this county, establishing their home on land that Mr. Keaton had entered in Fairview township. In 1S54 the Keatons moved from this county to Madison county and there both Thomas Keaton and his wife spent their last days, her death occurring on September 15, 1863, and his, February 28, 1866. They were the parents of nine children, William, Benjamin, Tliomas, James, John, Mary, Ambrose, Susan and Joseph.

X048 Fayktte County, Indiana

Samuel Shortridge, father of James Shortridge and grandfather of Sanford Shortridge, was born in Kentucky in 1795 and there was married to Eleanor Hulse, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania in that same year. After their marriage Samuel Shortridge and his wife settled in Powell county, Kentucky, where they remained until 18 15, when they came up into the then Territory of Indiana and settled on a farm in Harrison township, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Samuel Shortridge dying in 1844 and his widow surviving until 1879. They were the parents of eleven children, Price, Fannie, James, Daniel, Elisha, George, \\'illiam, Jesse. Jane, Mercer and Hester. James Shortridge, second son of Samuel Shortridge, grew to manhood on tlie home farm and continued farming in that neighborhood all his life, after his marriage settling on a farm in the northeastern part of the neighboring township of Fairview. On January 8, 1841, he was united in marriage to Mary Keaton, whose family has been mentioned above, and to that union seven children were born, Samuel, Sanford, Rebecca J., Louisa, Mary E., George T. and Emma B. James Shortridge died at his home in Fairview township on December 26, 1872, and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring at the home of her daughter and son-inlaw, Mr. and j\Irs. Lewis, in Fairview on September 23, 1905.

Sanford Shortridge lived from the days of his infancy on the farm where his widow now lives and where he spent his last days. He spent his boyhood in a log cabin and grew up familiar with conditions in a pioneer community, one of his tasks as a lad being to ride once a week to Cambridge for the mail. He was fourteen years of age when his father began the erection of a new farm house, the house in which Mrs. Shortridge now lives. That was about the time of the outbreak of the Civil War and before the house was completed every man who had been engaged in its construction had gone to war. After the death of his father in 1872 he continued making his home with his mother and after his marriage in the spring of 1885 established his home there, his mother thereafter making her home alternately with her several children, who in the meantime had married and established homes of tlieir own. About a year after his marriage Sanford Shortridge bought the interests of the other heirs in the home place and made many substantial improvements to the same, coming to be regarded as one of the most progressive and substantial farmers in that section. He prospered in his operations and he and his family became very comfortably situated. Sanford Shortridge died at his home in Fairview township on October 10, 1902, and his widow continues to make her home there.

On ]\larch 18, 1S85, Sanford Sliortridge was united in niarriaj^e to Ida E. Dora, wlio was born in Columbia township, this county, January 4, i86j, a daughter of Robert C. and Nancy Ellen (Hartman) Dora, the former of whom was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, March 17, 1841, a son of \\'illiam and Elizabeth (Morris) Dora, ami who came to Indiana when a boy of sixteen or seventeen years to make his home with a sister in this county. At the age of nineteen Robert C. Dora married Nancy Ellen Hartman, who was born in Connersville township, this county, a daughter of Levi and Rebecca (Mount) Hartman, pioneers of this county. Levi Hartman was born in the neighboring county of Franklin on Decemljer 7, 1816, son of Henry and Nancy (Smith) Hartman. who were born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, the former of whom was a son of Frederick Hartman, a native of Germany, who had come to this country in pre-RevoIutionary days and settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he married Nancy Black and in 181 3 came thence into the then Territory of Indiana and settled in Franklin county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and upon coming to this part of the country took an active part in the affairs of the then pioneer community. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, Jacob, Catherine, Frederick, Nancy, Michael, Hannah and Henry. The latter, father of Levi Hartman, married in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Nancy Smith, of that county, and in 1813 accompanied his parents to the then "wilds" of Indiana Territory, settling near Brookville, where his first wife died in 18 16, leaving three sons, Abraham, James and Levi. Henry Hartman later married Elsie Tharpe and in 1854 moved to Platte county, Missouri, where he and his wife spent their last days. To that second union five children were born, Jonathan, William, Nancy, Newton and Lovina. Levi Hartman grew up on a farm and early began farming on his own account. In June, 1838, he married Rebecca (]\Iount) Jones, who by a former marriage was left with one child when she married Levi Hartman. After his marriage Mr. Hartman rented a farm in Connersville township, this county, where he remained about eighteen years. In the meantime he had bought a farm in Wabash county, which he afterward sold and in 1852 bought and moved onto the farm in Connersville township, where he spent the rest of his life, a substantial farmer, the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and twenty acres. Levi Hartman and wife were the parents of nine children, Nancy Ellen, Alfred, John C, Hezekiah, Clarissa. Rhoda, Henry, Hannah and James.

farm in Columbia township, this county, and it was there that their daughter, Ida E., now Mrs. Shortridge, was born. In 1862 Mr. Dora took his wife and baby daughter to his old home in Kentucky and while there he was imprisoned for resisting an attempt to enroll him in the Confederate army. His wife had already started back to her home in this county with her baby, but, upon learning of her husband's imprisonment, returned to Kentucky to rejoin him, but before she reached the place of his imprisonment was overjoyed to meet him on the way back North, he having been released. The most of Robert C. Dora's subsequent life was spent on a farm in Orange township, this county, though his last days were spent in Glenwood, where his death occurred on March 18, 1913, and where his widow is nOw living. For many years, in addition to his general farming, Robert C. Dora operated a threshing-machine outfit and was one of the best-known men in the western part of the county. For some years he served as assessor of Orange township and in other ways contributed of his time and his energies to the public service, being justice of the peace at the time of his death. To him and his wife nine children were born, of whom but four are now living, those besides Mrs. Shortridge being William, who lives on a farm on the edge of Franklin county; Rebecca, wife of John Jordan, of Rushville, and Clara, who is living with her widowed mother in Glenwood.

Ida E. Dora grew up on the home farm in Orange township and completed her schooling in the Connersville Normal School. She then entered the ranks of Fayette county's teaching corps and for five years served as a teacher, teaching in the schools of Orange, Harrison and Fairview townships, and was thus engaged at the time of her marriage to Mr. Shortridge. To that union four children \\'ere born, Irvin D., Bertha M., Estella F. and Nellie L. Irvin D. Shortridge was born on June 29, 1886, and was carefully trained to the ways of the farm. He is now managing the home farm for his mother and is likewise farming an adjoining farm, about two hundred and fifty acres in all, and is doing well. He married Goldie Swift and has two children, Noel D. and Norma E. Bertha M. Shortridge married Justus Rees, a farmer living near Gings Station, in Rush county, and has one child, a son, Myron Deloris. Estella F. Shortridge makes her home with her widowed mother. When Fayette county gave its first free fair she was one of the "queens" in the notable pageant that marked that affair, a picture of which pageant is presented elsewhere in this volume. Nellie L. Shortridge married Dr. Clarence Hinchman, son of U. G. Hinchman, and lives at Indianapolis. She has one child, a son, Wavne D.

Charles M. Archey. one of Harrison township's well-known and substantial farmers, is a native of the Old Dominion, but has been a resident of Indiana since he was twenty years of age and of this county since tlie early eighties. He was born in Monroe county, in that section of \'irgini:i now comprised in \\'est Virginia, September 22. 1848, son of Charles S. and Frances (Shirey) Archey, both natives of Virginia, the former born in the Shenandoali Valley and the latter in Monroe county, who spent their last days there.

Charles S. Archey was a farmer and also for many years a merchant. He was engaged in the mercantile business when the Civil War broke out and hired two substitutes to take his place in the ranks, during the last nine months of the war his son, Charles M. Archey. the subject of this sketch, though little more than a boy at that time, taking his place at the front.

Upon the completion of his military service Charles M. Archey returned to his home in West Virginia and remained there until the fall of 1868, when, he then being twenty years of age, he came to Indiana and located in Rush county, where he began working as a farm hand and for nineteen years was thus engaged, most of the time in Rush county. In the summer erf 1881 he married and about 1884 he began farming for himself, renting the Heman Jones farm in Columbia township, this county, and, with the exception of three years has farmed in Fayette county ever since : three years in Columbia township, three years in Orange township, ten years in NVaterloo township, and since November, 1904, has been farming in Harrison township, his place being situated two and one-half miles north of the court house. Mr. Archey is farming one hundred and eighty-seven acres and in addition to his general farming has traded quite a bit in horses and cattle. All of his place is under cultivation with the exception of about fifteen acres of i)lue grass in the creek bottom. Mr. Archey has witnessed the evolution of farming from the days of the hand scythe and the flax hackle and has ever ke])t pace with the various improvements in the methods of farming through all the years in which he has been actively engaged as an agriculturist since the da\s of his boyhood.

On August 18, 1881, some years after coming to this state, Charles M. Archey was united in marriage to Luella B. Holmes, who was born in Union county, this state, a daughter of John and Sarah (Scholl ) Holmes, the former a native of that same county and the latter, of Fayette county. John Holmes was reared in Union county, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Holmes. His wife, Sarah Scholl, was born in Jennings township, this county, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Scholl, who came from Pennsylvania in the early days of the settlement of this part of the state, settled in Fayette county and spent their last days in Jennings township. John Holmes moved from Union county to Rush county and for nearly fifty years was engaged in farming there, his last days being spent at Glenwood.