Grant County, Indiana - The whole text, 1914 (part 16 of 32)

Byron L. Bunker grew up in Jay county, where he attended the local schools, and when twenty-one years of age left home, married and for two years operated a farm belonging to his father. In 1885 he moved out to Kanshs during the boom period in that state, but re¬ mained as a contender against the adversities of the west for only two years, and in 1887 returned to his home state. For several years he was engaged in contract work of grading roads and highways. Then for about eight years he was employed by the Marion Gas Com¬ pany. In 1902 he began taking contracts for the laying of pipe lines, and laid one line from Marion to LaFontain, another from Marion to near Fairmount and relaid the line at Jefferson, Ohio. He then went to Canada, where he was engaged in laying one hundred miles of pipe line. Returning to Indiana in 1907, he bought sixty acres of land near Sweetser. In the same year he bought twenty-four acres near Hanfield, and soon afterwards bought thirty-two acres adjoining. All of this land he sold in 1911, and then came to Monroe township, where he bought his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Bunker has won his success by his own efforts, and has demonstrated that it is possible to pay a high price for agricultural land and still prosper as a result of its energetic management. For the land near Sweetser he paid one hundred and forty-three dollars an acre. He broke the record of land sales in Grant county, when he sold this for two hundred and five dollars per acre. He also sold part of his land near Hanfield, 47 acres, making a thousand dollars on the deal. For his present farm in Monroe township he paid one hundred and twentyfive dollars an acre, and as a result of his various improvements, it is now worth considerably more.

By his first marriage which occurred in 1883, Mr. Bunker had four children, namely: Charles Arthur, of Kansas City; Walter B., of Kansas City ; Fred B., who is with the Marion Gas Company ; and Mrs. Flossie Harper, of Portland, Indiana. April 16, 1904, Mr. Bunker married Lillian St. Clair, of Marion, a daughter of William St. Clair. Mr. Bunker has seven grandchildren, six living. James Byron died when an infant; Kearney Richardson and Maxine are children of Charles Bunker ; Raymond Earl and Anna Louise are children of Fred Bunker; Palmer Byron and Helen Louise are children of Mrs. Flos¬ sie Harper. In politics Mr. Bunker is a Republican, affiliated with the Marion Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In religion his par¬ ents were members of the Quaker church. Mrs. Bunker is a communi¬ cant of the Marion Christian church.

Ozro Groce Fankboner. It was in the days of the covered wagon emigrant train that George Kline Fankboner, from whom 0. G. Fank¬ boner of Fairmount is lineally descended, came from Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and located along the Mississinewa across from Jonesboro. He was not the first "Boner" to locate in Grant county, and to this day people have difficulty with the name, and it is as often called "Frankboner" and abridged to "Boner" as it is correctly spoken, although there are several Fankboner families in the community.

G. K. Fankboner sold his Tuscarawas county farm at forty dollars an acre, thinking it well sold. But when it developed that all that country was underlaid with iron ore, with melting furnaces springing up all over it, and that it sold again at two hundred dollars, he saw his mistake, but he had found good land - better farming land in Indiana.

TRe Fankboners who were already located at Jonesboro when George K. and Sarah (Moore) Fankboner arrived, were his brothers, and most of G. K. Fankboner and wife's children were grown, some of them married, but not all of them came to Grant county. The chil¬ dren of George K. and wife were: John, who married Mary Gaskell; Levi Lewis, who married Rachel Jane Moreland, through whom 0. G. Fankboner belongs to the Fankboner family ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of John Kilgore; Morris, who married Elizabeth Naber; Margaret Jane, who married Abram Carr (see sketch of A. W. Carr) ; George W., who married Mary E. Stallard; and Sarah, who married George Eckfield. Upon the death of his wife, George K. Fankboner married Matilda Webb, and two sons were born - Webster and Joseph, the former marrying Retta Fairbanks and the latter Minnie Havens. Mrs. Carr and Joseph Fankboner are still living in Grant county; some of the others are living in Ohio. Morris Fankboner was one time sheriff of the county.

Levi L. Fankboner married Rachel Jane, daughter of David and Mary M. (Jones) Moreland, August 20, 1852. They always had their home in the vicinity of Fairmount. Mrs. Fankboner was descended from Methodist ministers on both sides of the house, and they have always been identified with the Methodist church, attending services in Jonesboro and Fairmount. She had a brother, Ellis J. Moreland (married Luvenia Winans), who recently died in Newcastle, and her sis¬ ters are: Melinda, who married George Thorn ; Mahala, who married D. D. Ward; Sarah Elizabeth, who married William Winans. The sisters are all living at Fairmount.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Levi L. Fankboner are : Morris Kilgore, who died in infancy ; Sedora Jane, who married E. L. McDonnell and died in Michigan; Mary Martinette. who died in childhood; Sarah Romain, who married first Sanford McKinstry and second Eugene Mul¬ len, and has one son, Terry Lewis McKinstry, who married Luella Tenny ; Lucy Adelaide married Charles E. Sisson and has one daughter, Dora Alice Sisson ; Lura Belle, who married twice, first William Smith and after his death M. F. Tackett, and has one son, Ara R. Smith, by her

Mr. And Mrs. 0. G. Fankboner And Daughter

Never having known his brother Morris, the oldest of the children, Ozro G. Fankboner, the youngest, is the son who perpetuates the fam¬ ily name, and sometimes it is " Boner' ' they call him. Mr. Fankboner was married April 2, 1891, to Effie Howell, and they have one daugh¬ ter, Lois Ozro Fankboner. While Mr. Fankboner still has his mother, Mrs. Fankboner 's only living ancestor is Mrs. Elizabeth Howell. In their years of married life Mr. and Mrs. Fankboner have had a varied experience, living both in town and in the country, and he has been employed on the railroad as well as on the farm, and two or three times has been established in the baker trade. In the present year 1913 Fairmount people are supplied with Fankboner 's bread and pastry. The Fankboners occupy their own brick building.

Mr. Fankboner does any part of the bakery business or drives the wagon in the sale of the product, and Mrs. Fankboner can wrap more bread and send away more pleased customers than any one he could secure at the counter. There is demand for Fankboner pastry spe¬ cialties, and few men work more hours out of every twenty-four than 0. G. Fankboner. He will go on the wagon or take a turn at baking, and the fqrm will never again tempt him.

Mrs. Rachel Jane Fankboner, his mother, by terms of the will of her husband, who died May 10, 1910, is sole owner of the Fankboner farm on Back creek (see Omnibus chapter), which her husband owned many years, and it was always one of the inviting countrysides, an attractive house overlooking Back creek. Recently it was burned, a misfortune to the whole community, for it was always a beauty spot. Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Fankboner have not lived on the farm for several years, and she occupies a commodious home in Fairmount.

The Fankboner farm adjoins Back creek, and while the family were not Friends, in the old days of the Northern Quarterly meeting of Friends, Mr. Fankboner was forced to patrol his fences as there were so many horses hitched along them and sometimes whole panels of the fence were jerked down, so that it was a wise precaution for him to watch them. In this occupation he would visit with farmers from all over the country in attendance at the meetings who sought places to tie their horses, and Mr. Fankboner was really glad when the June meeting there was a thing of the past. The story is elsewhere told about him hanging venison in a tree on the meeting-house the first time he ever attended Quaker meeting at Back creek. John and Daniel Fankboner were the two brothers living in Grant county when George K. Fankboner arrived, and thus he did not come into the wilderness absolutely among strangers, although he came early into the new coun¬ try. Mrs. Carr is now the oracle of the Fankboner family in Grant county.

David L. H. Pearson. Five miles southeast of the City Square of Marion, on the Soldiers' Home pike, in Center township, is located Cedars Farm, a property that has been brought to a high state of culti¬ vation through the industry, enterprise and good management of its owner, David L. H. Pearson, one of Grant county's old and honored residents. Although not a native of Grant county, he has lived here since infancy, and his long and honorable career has been one made conspicuous by upright dealing and fidelity to the duties of citizenship. He was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 7, 1836, and is a son of Jonathan and Violet (Haugha) Pearson.

Virginia, and were both taken from the Old Dominion State as children to Clinton county, Ohio. There they were reared and educated, grow¬ ing up in the same vicinity, and were eventually married. In Sep¬ tember, 1836, the same year as that in which occurred the birth of their son David L. H., they came to Grant county, Indiana, and settled in Center township, settling down in pioneer style to clear a farm from the wilderness. They became highly respected people of their com¬ munity, succeeded in developing a good property, and reared a family of twelve children, as follows : William H., Thomas, David L. H., Isaac, who died in army during Civil war, John, Matilda, Polly A., Rebecca J., Susan, Elizabeth, Evaline and Sarah. Of these three are living at this time - David L. H., John, and Thomas, who is now 84 years of age.

David L. H. Pearson was reared on the home farm in Center town¬ ship, and secured his early education in the primitive subscription schools of his day, subsequently supplementing this by 45 days' attendance at the first public school lin Center township, which was held in a log schoolhouse. During this time his agricultural training was not neglected, for when he was not engaged at his studies in the short winter terms, he was assisting his father in farm work. He was married at the age of twenty-one years, and at that time began to farm on his own account, and so continued throughout his active career. His present property, a well-cultivated tract of 187 acres, is one of the most valuable in the township, having been improved with good buildings and equipment. As his children have grown to manhood and womanhood, he has pre¬ sented them with land and financial assistance, enabling them to start their careers under favoring circumstances. An honorable man of busi¬ ness, his transactions have ever been of legitimate character, and he has never been engaged in a lawsuit of any kind. As one of the men who are worthily representing the best type of Grant county citizenship, he is worthy of the high esteem and regard in which he is universally held.

Mr. Pearson was married in September, 1857, to Miss Susanna Griffin, who was bom and reared in Center township, and three chil¬ dren were born to this union. Of these one died at the age of two years ; Martin R. was given a common school education and is now a farmer in Center township; .and Louisa is the wife of James B. Wilson of this township. Mrs. Pearson died in September, 1880, and on March 13, 1883, Mr. Pearson was married to Mrs. Mary E. (Carter) Brad¬ ford, the widow of Benjamin Bradford. She was born in Washington township, Grant county, Indiana, August 21, 1853, was educated in the district schools there, and married Benjamin Bradford. They had two sons; Lewis E., who is engaged in farming in Washington township; and Jay B., a resident of Laporte, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have one son: Burr W., a graduate of the district schools and of Marion Normal College, who was educated in telegraphy and followed that voca¬ tion for some time, but is now a merchant at Adrian, Michigan. He married Eda Sangster, of Wauseon, Ohio, and they have a son and a daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are members of Griffin Chapel of the Meth¬ odist church, and Mrs. Pearson also holds membership in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, her husband also being an ardent sup¬ porter of prohibition. He was a charter member of Necessity Grange, and for a number of years served as an overseer of that order. In political matters he is independent, although other things being equal he gives his support to the prohibition candidate.

William Penn Bradford. A preface is hardly needed for the fol¬ lowing article concerning one of the ablest of Grant county farmer cit¬ izens, and a family which properly belongs among both the first and the best As will be seen three generations have lived on Grant county soil, not including the children of William P. Bradford, so that Grant county really spells home to a large number of Bradfords. Theirs have been lives of fruitful toil, of unselfish sharing of burdens, and mutual help¬ fulness and esteem.

William Penn Bradford of Centennial Place in Washington town¬ ship - the farm having been his since 1876 - was bom October 11, 1853, within a short distance of his present home, and his life has been spent in one neighborhood. He was married in 1875 to Miss Ida Alice Arm¬ strong, who died May 6, 1886. The children bom to them are Mrs. Nora May Beekman, Mrs. Louella Burris, Charles J. Bradford, Albert B. Bradford, Mrs. Carrie Dell Maynard, Earl Blaine Bradford and Vernon Eber Bradford. Mrs. Bradford, the mother of these children, was born after the death of her father, although James C. Stallings, who married her mother, Mrs. Jane Armstrong, was always as a father to her, and as a grandfather to her children. There was a wide-spread belief that there was virtue in the breath of a woman who had never Been her father, and before and after marriage Mrs. Bradford was fre¬ quently importuned to blow her breath in the mouths of children afflicted with thrush - an idea kindred to another about measuring children for small growth, which prevailed in the country. While she never had a fee for such service, she performed the office for many who came to her with afflicted children.

Mr. Bradford was left with a family of small children, and the following year he was married to Miss Nancy Jane Moore, and their children are: Mrs. Rosa Ethel King, Mrs. Lily Esta Weaver, Wilbur Arthur Bradford, Mrs. Hazel Ann White, Homer Leroy, Nellie Marie, Minnie Belle, Merlie Gladys and Belva Bernice. Thus there were seven children in the older family, and nine in the younger, seven sons and nine daughters.

In the family of Mr. Bradford's grandfather, George Bradford, who had come into Grant county soon after it was organized, were four sons and twelve daughters, all having the same mother, and all of whom lived to bring up families, and as all of the children of his family are living, and in the next generation are seventeen grandchildren, it is a large family circle when all are gathered at Centennial Place. While the seven older children had a different mother, Mrs. Bradford came into the home when they were small, and to them she is mother. All the children were given a common school education, the girls learn¬ ing domestic science at home, and the boys learning up-to-date farm¬ ing methods at Centennial Place - one of the best managed farmsteads in Grant county.

When Mr. Bradford went into debt for his farm in the Centennial year, he was young and determined to win and while he has reared a large family and has had sickness and its attendant expenses, his ambi¬ tion has been to make breadwinners of all his children, and they were thrown on their own resources early, and like the older generation of sixteen Bradford children, those who have taken up the struggle for themselves are winning the same success.

William Penn Bradford is a son of William R. Bradford and Eliza¬ beth (Gaines) Bradford, and his father who died in 1895, had reached seventy-nine years, while his mother who died in 1911, has been an octogenarian for four years. The old home of the family adjoins Cen¬ tennial Place and is owned by H. L. Bradford. There are Bradford farms all around, and Mr. Bradford recently commented on the size of them. Only a few years ago they were all large farms, but in the process of settlement of estates, the shares of heirs causing the smaller farm areas, gradually Grant county is shifting into conditions surrounding older countries - broken farms on account of the division of property.

Mrs. Bradford is a daughter of Patterson and Amanda (Forest) Moore, and both are of pioneer Washington township stock. While the name "William Penn" suggests Quaker parentage, many of the Brad¬ fords are in fact Friends, but the W. P. Bradford family are members of the Methodist congregation at Morris Chapel, although Fairview Wes¬ leyan church overlooks Centennial Place. Fairview is the original Brad¬ ford farm - the farm now owned by Mrs. Nancy Bradford having been named from the church, and the Bradford family burying ground where all the family pioneers lie buried is near Fairview church and in plain view from Centennial Place. There has never been a family in Grant county of stronger personal characteristics than the original Bradford family, and for years they have met in annual reunions, commemorating their ancestry and having pride in the Bradford family coat-of-arms in early American history.

There are many practical farmers in Grant county, but none have better understood the soil requirements and capabilities than Mr. Brad¬ ford who has always been a "farm agent" on his own acount. His crop rotation always includes oats which he thinks places the ground in better condition for a meadow instead of following com with wheat, and in feeding out stock he finds oats worth as much as com or any other grain, therefore, his meadow land is always level. Centennial Place is undu¬ lating and well adapted to meadow farming, and the stock kept there renders plenty of pasture a necessity. While Mr. Bradford is a con¬ servative citizen and has no political ambition, he is abreast of the times and in favor of good road advantages. The farm is well supplied with buildings, and the modem house built in 1910 is one of the best arranged farm houses in the country. The daily mail and telephone keeps the family in touch with things, and water - soft and hard and warm and cold - only a faucet to turn, and natural gas in abundance with acetylene lights all over the house - why should the Bradfords move to town? All the improved machinery has been installed on the farm and all the conveniences are in evidence in the house, and as yet the domestic service or farm labor problems have not touched Centennial Place. The dinner¬ time guest will always find the table well spread, and with young children in the home the future will take care of itself for many years.

Rev. J. William Richards. A representative in a younger genera¬ tion of the prominent Richards family so long . identified with Grant county, Rev. J. William Richards, has for a number of years been one of the leading farmers in both Grant and Delaware counties, his home being in Washington township of Delaware county, and close to the Grant county line. On December 6, 1902, he was licensed and ordained by the Harmony Primitive Baptist church at Matthews, and has been an active local preacher of his church for the past ten years, having been pastor of the Harmony church since 1904. His Washington town¬ ship homestead comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, and he also owns one hundred and eighty acres in Jefferson township of Grant county. Mr. Richards is very progressive in matters of agriculture, does what is known as mixed farming, raises good crops and feeds them all to his live stock, and the substantial improvements about his places indicate the style of thrift and industry employed by him. His home farm has a splendid barn, painted in a tasteful color, and nearby is the comfortable white house of ten rooms. His Jefferson township farm is improved with a large stock and grain barn. All his land is under cultivation, and is well cultivated and well stocked.

John Shields Overman And Huldah May Overman Four Generations

J. W. Richards was born in Jefferson township of Grant county, December 1, 1860, and is the first son and second child of Mr. L. G. Richards, whose career as one of the pioneers of Grant county is sketched at length on other pages of this publication.

Rev. Richards grew up on his father's farm, was educated in the public schools, and from early manhood has given most of his time to farming. An interested student of the bible, and of religious problems and having shown much talent as a church worker, he devoted himself diligently to the preparation for work as a local minister, and since his ordination has been one of the spiritual leaders in his community.

Mr. Richards was married in Delaware county, in 1883, to Emma Z. Harris, who was born in Washington township of Delaware county, January 11, 1866. Her parents, John M. and Margaret (Broyles) Harris were also natives of Delaware county, and their respective parents probably came from Virginia in the early pioneer times. Mr. and Mrs. Harris grew up and were married in Washington township, started life as farmers, and Mrs. Harris died on the old homestead when a little past sixty years of age. Mr. Harris is still living on his fine farm of about two hundred acres, and though more than seventy years of age, is still active and gives personal supervision to his affairs. His wife was a devoted Methodist, but he ha£ held to no church creed. He is a Repub¬ lican in politics. There were six sons and three daughters in the Harris family, of whom, one son and one daughter died after marriage, each leaving children, and all those now living are married and have families. Mrs. Richards grew up in Delaware county, had a common school educa¬ tion, and since her marriage has proved herself a capable housewife and devoted mother. To their marriage have been bora four children : Orpha, died at the age of two and a half years. T. Clayton, born in September, 1884, now occupies a part of his father's Delaware county farm, and by his marriage to Esta Whiteneck, a Grant county girl, has two sons, John L. G. Richards, now eight years old and Forrest Charles Richards, one month old. Gladys is living at home and a graduate of the Matthews high school in the class of 1911. Dilver W., is attending the high school at home. Mr. Richards and the children are also members and workers in the Harmony church, and Mr. Richards in politics is a Democrat.

John Shields, one of the old and honored residents of Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, now retired from active pursuits, is a member of the good old Irish family of that name, always well known as devout Presbyterians in their native land. A little more than a century and a half ago, there lived at Coot Hill, one William Shields. The elder of two brothers, he sold his birthright to the younger, and when still little more than a lad bid farewell to his friends and relatives and embarked on a sailing vessel for America, arriving at Philadelphia some years prior to the Revolutionary war. There he met and married a Pennsylvania girl, and began his married life as a farmer in the Key¬ stone state, where his industrious habits soon earned him prosperity. He reared a family of seven sons and two daughters, and later all of the family moved to Augusta county, Virginia, where William Shields and his wife passed their last days, dying in the faith of the Presby¬ terian church. Their children all grew to maturity and were married, establishing homes and becoming substantial people of their several communities, and the sons* enlisted in the Colonial army, assisting their country in its successful fight for independence.

sylvania, about 1750. He early learned the trade of tailor, and accom¬ panied the family in 1770 to Augusta county, Virginia, where, with his six brothers, he enlisted in Washington's army as a member of a Vir¬ ginia regiment. He continued to serve throughout the war, at the close of which he returned to Virginia and resumed the trade of tailor, going from house to house and measuring, cutting and sewing the clothes for the families of his vicinity, as was the custom in those days. He continued to follow his trade until his death, which occurred either in Virginia or Pennsylvania, when he was not yet seventy years of age. He married a Miss Frame, a Virginia girl, and it is thought that she died in her native state. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shields were probably Presbyterians. They were the parents of five children, namely: Wil¬ liam (III) ; Joseph and Preston, who served in the War of 1812; Ann and Margaret. All lived to advanced ages, and all were married and reared families except Joseph.

Preston Shields, son of William Shields, Jr., and father of John Shields, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, about the year 1790, and as a young man enlisted from that county in the War of 1812, becoming an orderly sergeant in a division of Scott's army, under Colonel McDowell. In early life he had been engaged in teaming between Augusta county and Richmond,. Virginia, and it may be that he drove a team during his army service. At the close of the war he returned to his hopie, and in 1815 migrated to Green county, Ohio, where he began life as a farmer in the wilds, also driving a team to Cincinnati. He was there married to Delila Fulkerson, who was born, reared and educated in Frederick county, Virginia, and who had gone to Green county, Ohio, about 1810 or 1812 with her parents, Richard¬ son and Clara (Moore) Fulkerson. In 1848 Mr. and Mrs. Shields migrated to Indiana, purchasing slightly improved land in Richland township, Jay county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Shields passed away, aged eighty years, while his widow passed away seven years later, being seventy-nine years old. Mr. Shields was a Whig and later a Republican, but took no active part in party affairs. They reared a fine family of stalwart children, as follows: William (IV), who was twice married and was a farmer in Jay county, Indiana; James, who was married, and died in Franklin township, Grant county, when seventy-nine years of age; John, of this review; David, who died at the age of eighteen years; Joseph, who died when two and one-half years of age; Benjamin, who was a soldier in the 19th Volun¬ teer Infantry, and died during the war, in Washington, D. C. ; Clara, who is the wife of William Wright, of Dunkirk, Indiana; Hannah, who died after her marriage to Sira s Bargdol; and Richard, the youngest, who is single and lives in the South.

John Shields was born in Green county, Ohio, July 21, 1826, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits and also engaged'in sawmill¬ ing. He was married December 6, 1849, to Araminta Jane Wroe, who was bom in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1829, and came to Ohio with her parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Pagett) Wroe. They had come to Somerset, Ohio, as early as 1831 and in 1836 settled in Green county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

In 1851, John Shields, with his young bride, came to Grant county, Indiana, on a visit and they were so favorably impressed with the coun¬ try that in February, 1852, they returned, to make this their perma¬ nent home. They located at what is now Roseburg, Franklin township, where Mr. Shields secured a one-fourth interest in a sawmill, the coun¬ try at that time being almost entirely covered with good timber. A man of industry and energy, he accumulated some small capital, and in 1855 made his first investment in farming land, purchasing a tract of seventy-four acres of partly improved property. This he later sold, with his milling interest and some land he owned in Jay county, and bought eighty acres of land in another part of Franklin township. Subsequently, in 1866 he bought a better tract of eighty acres, in sec¬ tion 16, on which he settled after the war, and which he made one of the best farms in Grant county. For forty years Mr. Shields made this farm his home, erecting handsome buildings, and installing improve¬ ments and equipments, and at the time of his retirement was consid¬ ered one of the most substantial men of his community. Although now eighty-seven years of age, he is alert and active, and, having lived a life of temperance and probity, still weighs 165 pounds. He is a pleas¬ ing conversationalist, and his memory is testified by his entertaining reminiscences of early days.

Mr. Shields is a veteran of the Civil war. On August 10, 1862, he enlisted for a service of three years in Company C, Twelfth Regi¬ ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being attached to Sherman's Corps. He participated in every battle, skirmish and march from Missionary Ridge to Bentonville, North Carolina, his record including twenty-one battles. Although always a brave and valiant soldier, to be found in the thickest of the fight, he escaped with a slight wound on the side of his nose, this being caused by a ball which glanced from a limb of an oak tree. As he remembers it, his hardest fought battle was that at Atlanta, July 28, 1864, when the men stood face to face and fought it out until the enemy were driven from the field. Mr. Shields never yielded to the temptations of whisky while in the service, and, in fact, has not touched a drop since 1855. He was honorably discharged June 8, 1865, with a record which compares favorably with that of any sol¬ dier who participated in the great war between the North and the South.

On December 5, 1849, in Green county, Ohio, Mr. Shields was mar- ' ried to a boyhood sweetheart, whom he met when but twelve years old, Araminta Jane Wroe. She proved a valued and loving helpmeet, and in her death, which occurred in 1909, at the age of eighty years, the community lost a kindly Christian woman, a devout Quakeress, and one who was widely known for her many charities. Mr. and Mrs. Shields became the parents of the following children: Clarinda, who died at the age of eighteen years, a young woman of much promise; Araminta, wife of Allen J. Overman, a grocer of Marion, who has four children, all married except one; Sarah M., the wife of Dr. N. Pierce Haines, of Marion, a physician at the Insane Hospital, and has a fam¬ ily; Maggie, the wife of Harry Hoadley, living at Spokane, Washing¬ ton, who has four sons and one daughter; Prestina, the wife of Wil¬ liam Howe, a farmer of near Landessville, Indiana, and has two daugh¬ ters; and Benjamin W., twin of Prestina, one of the best-known horse buyers and dealers of Grant county, who married Clara Parks, and has had three sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter survive. Mr. Shields has eleven grandsons, ten granddaughters, and twenty-one great-grandchildren. Mr. Shields is a Prohibitionist in his political views. He is public-spirited and progressive, and at all times is ready to support measures for the good of his community.

Olmn Gordon. Barring a brief two years' time in which he was engaged with his father in the grocery business, Ollin Gordon has, dur¬ ing his entire active career of something more than twenty years, been identified with the enterprise in which he is now occupied - the furni¬ ture and house-furnishing business. In April, 1895, Mr. Gordon estab- lished himself in Gas City, opening a small shop in association with Mr. J. E. Ward at the corner of Second and Main streets. Since that time his advance in the commercial circles of the city has been rapid and today he has a leading position among the most prominent and prosperous business men of the community: Shrewd, careful and con¬ servative in all his business dealings, he has conducted his affairs in a manner conducive to the best results, and his standing in the city today is one that he has undeniably earned, and of which he may well be proud.

Ollin Gordon was bom in Grant county, Mills township, August 8, 1869, and he is the son of Seth and Sarah (Jay) Gordon. Seth Gordon was a native son of Henry county, Indiana, bom there in the year 1831 on the 14th day of July. He was for years engaged in farming in Grant county, later interesting himself actively in the grocery business, and was connected with a prosperous grocery business in Gas City, Grant county, until a short time before his death, on his sixty-seventh birth¬ day anniversary, in 1898. The mother was born on what is now the Infirmary Farm in Mills township, on January 23, 1843, and she is now living in the home of her son, Ollin Gordon of this review. She and her husband were both birthright Quakers and both had served as elders and overseers in the church for many years. The mother is yet active in the work of the church, and still continues an influence for good in her community. Mrs. Gordon was a daughter of James and Lydia (Hollingsworth) Jay, early settlers in Grant county, whither they came from their native state, South Carolina, in early life. They were of the old pioneer stock of the county, and they lived in a time when primitive civilization was at its height in Grant county. In about the year 1807 they settled in Vermillion county, Ohio, there residing until they settled in Grant county. They, too, were birthright Quakers and passed their lives in the church of their fathers.

Ollin Gordon is the youngest child but one of his parents, and he is today the sole surviving member. The other died young, and he alone was left to cheer them in their declining years, his mother making her present home with him.

Mr. Gordon had his education in the district schools, such as were provided in his boyhood in Grant county, and when the Marion Normal College was opened he became one of the first students enrolled there, graduating from its commercial department among the first with the class of 1892. Since that time Mr. Gordon has been steadily engaged in business.

The first enterprise with which Mr. Gordon identified himself was his father's grocery business, as has been stated already. For two years he continued with the elder Gordon, and while he was a deal of assistance to his father, it is also true that he acquired much in the way of practical knowledge of business management that stood him in excellent stead in the years of his earlier private business experience.

It was in 1895 that Mr. Gordon became established in the house fur¬ nishing business with J. E. Ward. The two were practically without capital, but they were young and courageous, possessing a deal of energy and ambition, and fortified with Mr. Gordon's business training, both in college and in his father's establishment, they were better equipped than many who start in with more of money at their command and less of these other assets. After a year of business activity, Mr. Gordon bought out his associate, Mr. Ward, and since that time has operated inde¬ pendently. He remained at the old stand on Second and Main streets for a year, then moved to one room in the Peele building on Main street. Here he has continued, and from time to time additions of one room have been made to the place, as the business expanded and demanded more space for its proper management. Mr. Gordon has not hesitated to branch out whenever he saw an opportunity for it, and he has from first to last carried on an advertising campaign that has resulted in a continued growth of the business, making necessary additions to floor space, warehouse room and all the appurtenances necessary in the con¬ duct of a thriving furniture and house furnishing enterprise. In the past six years his advancement has been particularly rapid and substan¬ tial, and his place today devotes one entire room to carpets and rugs, one to upholstered goods, one to china and other household wares, and another in which staples in house furnishings are to be found in plenty. He carries a fine class of goods, his trade being of a conservative and dis¬ criminating character, and his place is considered the acme of complete¬ ness in his especial line in Gas City. The place itself is a building of two stories, with sixty-six by seventy foot frontage, all of which is occu¬ pied by the business. An overflow wareroom also adds to the floor space required by the business, this being located at the comer of First and Main streets.

As a business man, it will not be gainsaid that Mr. Gordon has been a very successful man. His progress has been steady and consistent with the most conservative and business like advancement, so that he is properly regarded as one of the safe and altogether reliable business men of the city.

Mr. Gordon was married in Jonesboro, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Eaton, a native daughter of the state of Illinois, where she was reared and educated. Her parents are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have no children of their own, but they have an adopted son, C. Fred¬ erick, bom April 5, 1910.

As members of the Friends church of Jonesboro, Mr. and Mrs. Gor¬ don have carried on the church relations of their parents and grand¬ parents, and they are among the most useful and active people in that church today.

A Republican in his politics, Mr. Gordon has served his fellow men well in Gas City, for ten years having been a member of the City Coun¬ cil. He is a citizen of splendid type, and has borne his full share of the civic burdens of the community in all the years of his residence here. He is a member of the Gas City lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all chairs in the local order, while he has also represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the Order.

John B. King. The late John B. King was bom in Washington township, Grant county, Indiana, on May 29, 1843, and he died at his farm home in Mill township on August 4, 1913, when little past seventy years of age. All his life had been spent in Grant county, with but slight exception, and he was one of the best known and esteemed men of the county during his life time. He is remembered, and long will be, as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of the community.

Mr. King was a son of John and Elizabeth (Bloxham) King, natives of Virginia, where the father was born in 1805 and the mother in 1800. The father was a son of John and Sarah King, who passed their lives in Virginia, and who were birthright Quakers and exemplary citizens all their days. John King, the father of the late John B. King, was a small boy when his parents died in Virginia, and he was early bound out as an apprentice to learn the trade of a tanner. He com¬ pleted his apprenticeship and in early manhood married, coming to Ohio after the birth of the two eldest children in his family. That state .did not long claim his attention, and he soon found himself estab- lished in Grant county. This was in the early thirties, and in Wash¬ ington township he entered eighty acres of what seemed desirable land. He made a good deal of improvements in the place and then sold advan¬ tageously, intending at the time to go to Iowa to live. Their plan was altered, however, through the protracted illness of their son John, the subject of this review, and they settled in Marion, Grant county, Indi¬ ana, instead, the father once more resuming his work as a tanner, which he had discontinued when he settled on his Washington township farm. In about 1850 he went to Arcana and established a tannery which he operated successfully until war times, even continuing it through a part of the war period, when he sold it and retired to a small farm in Mill township. Here he died on October 5, 1867, when he was sixty-two years of age. His widow later went to make her home with a daugh¬ ter, Mrs. Sarah Nelson, and she died there on December 18, 1874, when she lacked twenty days of having reached her seventy-fifth birthday anniversary. She was a daughter of William and Mary Bloxham, who were native Virginians, living all their lives as farming people in that state. They, too, were Quakers. John King and his wife were birthright Quakers, though in later life they became associated with the Methodist Episcopal church. In this body they were active and prominent, Mr. King becoming a class leader and holding that place for some years prior to his death. His devoted wife was in perfect accord with him in all the issues of life, and they lived happily and to excellent purpose, being Christian people of many lovable qualities. Of their three sons and three daughters, two died young, and the names of the six were as follows: Jonathan, William S., Ruth, Mary, Sarah, John B., of this review. Ruth and Mary died in girlhood, but the other four reached mature years and reared families of their own. All are now deceased.

John B. King grew up on the home farm in Grant county and he found his early employment in work on the farm and in his father's tan¬ nery until the outbreak of the war caused the discontinuing of the tannery activities. On October 10, 1862, he was mustered in as a private in Company M, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and with his command went to the front, and so continued until the close of the war, being hon¬ orably discharged in September, 1865. All through that period he proved in many ways his gallantry and devotion to the cause in which he had enlisted, and he participated in practically every engagement of importance in which his regiment was active. Exposure and the gen¬ eral hardships of war on several occasions caused his disability and con¬ finement in hospitals, though he was never wounded in action. For years he was a member of the Jonesboro Post of the G. A. R.

After the war Mr. King settled down to farm life on the farm of his wife in Mill township, continuing there until 1897, when the family removed to Jonesboro, three years later coming to Gas City, but retiring to the old farm home some few months prior to his death, it being his wish that his last days might be spent there.

Mr. King was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episco¬ pal church. A good citizen all his days, he had his full share in the civic activities of whatever community he lived in, and he enjoyed the esteem and high regard of his contemporaries and is still remembered with genuine affection by those who knew him in the various relations of life.

On March 17, 1867, Mr. King was married to Miss Elizabeth Over¬ man, born in Mill township on the old Overman homestead on Septem¬ ber 18, 1840, and there reared and educated. She was the eldest child of Jesse and Jane (Griffin) Overman, an account of which family will be found elsewhere in this work. Since the death of Mr. King, Mrs.

King has maintained her residence in the Gas City home, where she took up her abode after the passing of her husband on the old home place in Mill township, and she is' still active and energetic at the age of seventytwo. She still has ownership of the Mill township property, which is a fine place of eighty acres, and some desirable property in Jones¬ boro as well as the Gas City property, make her independent. She is the mother of the following children :

Ida J. is the wife of Lincoln Lamb. They live on the mother's farm in Mill township and their children are Charles, Earl and Flor¬ ence, the latter the wife of Benjamin Stockwell. She is the oldest of the three children. She has one child, Chelsey James. Charles King is married and has one son, Charles II. James, the second son, of John and Elizabeth King, died after his second marriage, at the age of thirty-seven years. His first wife was Elizabeth Brewer, and this marriage was without issue. Two children blessed the second union. Rea, the first born, died young, and Harry B. now resides with his paternal grandmother, Mrs. King, and is attending the city schools. Jesse Albert King died aged fifteen years.

Mrs. King is a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and still retains her membership in the Griffin M. E. Chapel of Center township, where she united with the church many years ago. She is a woman of many virtues and is one whose life has been a shining example in the community all her days.

Lee C. Frank. When Gas City was beginning its development as a commercial center, Lee C. Frank identified himself with the new com¬ munity, and set up in a business way there. For twenty years, since January, 1893, he has been a citizen of that community, and in that time a number of distinctions have come to him as a business man and factor in local affairs. The official records of the city will always give him a place as the first treasurer after the incorporation under a city charter. His chief business has been as a funeral director and embalmer, and he keeps a first-class establishment with perfect facilities for giving service to his patients. His establishment contains two hearses, he has a complete line of caskets, and for eleven years, from 1893, at the beginning of his career here, until 1904, conducted a furniture store in connection with his undertaking business. For five years Mr. Frank was vice president of the First State Bank of Gas City. His election to the office of city treasurer, after the incorporation, occurred in 1894, and he continued to hold the office by successive reelection without any opposition candidates until January, 1912, resigning before the conclu¬ sion of his last term. He was elected on the Republican ticket, of which he has always been a stanch supporter, though as a matter of fact his choice for this office was one based upon personal fitness rather than on account of party considerations.

Lee C. Frank was born in Troy, Miama county, Ohio, September 30, 1867. He grew up in his native town and county, was reared on a farm, and after getting his schooling was employed in an undertaking establish¬ ment, an experience which gave him a thorough preparation for his chosen vocation. Mr. Frank is a son of Samuel and Charlotte Frank, who were born in the state of Ohio, and were married in Troy, where the father still lives. Samuel Frank, during his active career, was one of the very prominent men, not only in his home locality, but in the state, especially in Republican politics. As a young man he enlisted during the Civil war and went to the front with the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was in the Army of the Potomac, and he fought in many of the great battles of the war, mainly in Vir- ginia, being out about three years. In a small skirmish in Virginia he was shot, a minie-ball passing through his left elbow, and the wound was of such a nature that he was discharged oil account of disability and returned home. The veteran soldier soon became prominent in public affairs. He was elected sheriff of Miami county, then promoted to the office of county treasurer, and for ten years was in the United States Revenue service. In the meantime in a business way he had bought land and taken up farming. He served as postmaster at Troy during McKin¬ ley 's administration, and for a number of years held the office of county commissioner. He was one of the leading and influential Republicans for many years, a personal friend of President McKinley and of Gen¬ eral J. P. Warren Keiffer, the latter one of Ohio's notable public men. The elder Frank served as delegate to many state conventions, went through the national convention as a delegate on several occasions, and was twice a presidential elector. He has been long identified with Grand Army affairs and has attended nearly all the national reunions. He and his wife now live in a comfortable home at Troy. In that city he has served as alderman, and in other local offices, and has been township trustee. He and his wife are devout Methodists. Mr. Lee C. Prank was the only son and his three sisters are: Mabelle, wife of J. H. Scott, of Troy, and the mother of four children ; Maude, wife of Rev. E. M. Kerr, a minister of the Christian church and they have one son and a daugh¬ ter; Florence, who lives at home in Troy, is a fine instrumental musi¬ cian, on the piano and pipe organ, and is a teacher of music and a leader in musical affairs in her home locality.

Lee C. Frank was married in Gas City to Miss Bell West, a daughter of James R. and Lucy T. West. The West family came from Ohio to Gas City during the early history of the latter locality, and her father was a hardware merchant for a number of years. He and his wife now live at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. West was born in England. Mrs. Frank was bom in Elyria, Ohio, and was educated partly there and partly in the high school at Marion, Indiana. To their marriage the following chil¬ dren have been born : Margaret, who is now a sophomore in the high school ; Richard, in the grade schools ; Dorothy, also in school ; William, in the second grade; and Robert, the youngest of the family. Mrs. Frank is a regular attendant of the Methodist church, and her husband is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Loyal Order of Moose.

Isaiah Wall. Nearly three-fourths of a century ago the parents of this honored citizen established their residence in Grant county, and he is now one of the most venerable of the native sons of the county residing in Marion. He gave virtually his entire active career to agri¬ cultural pursuits, and is still the owner of a well improved and valu¬ able landed estate in his native township, besides his attractive resi¬ dence property in the city of Marion. His life has been replete with earnest and productive endeavor, he is known as a man of high ideals, broad views and impregnable integrity, and none has more secure vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. He served as a member of the board of county commissioners for three years, retiring therefrom on the 1st of January, 1914, and this fact in itself vouches for his high standing in the county that has ever represented his home, and to the development and progress of which he has contributed with all of loyalty and liberality as an enterprising and appreciative citizen.

Mrs. Isaiah Wall Isaiah Wall

Wall was bom on the 24th of December, 1844, and thus he became a welcome Christmas arrival in the pioneer home of his parents, David and Sarah (Dwiggins) Wall, both of whom were bora and reared in Clinton county, Ohio, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer epoch of the history of the state. The paternal grand¬ parents of the subject of this review were John and Mary (Mills) Wall, and both were natives of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was sol¬ emnized and whence they finally remQved to Ohio and numbered them¬ selves among the early settlers of Clinton county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The maternal grandparents, Robert and Sarah (Starbuck) Dwiggins, were born and reared in North Carolina and were representatives of stanch Colonial stock. They likewise became pioneers of Clinton county, Ohio, which continued to be their home until death.

David Wall came from Ohio to Indiana in the year 1837, making the trip on horseback. His object was to select a location for a home, and he made Grant county his destination. Here he entered claim to a tract of government land in Monroe township, and in 1840 he and his wife came to this pioneer homestead, which he reclaimed from the virgin wilds and developed into a productive farm. Both he and his wife passed practically the entire remaining period of their lives on this fine old homestead, and the names of both find enduring place on the roll of the honored pioneers of Grant county, where they lived and labored to goodly ends and where popular confidence and regard came to them with naught of qualification - a just tribute to their ster¬ ling worth of character. David Wall was born on the 1st of May, 1815, and thus was eighty-eight years of age at the time of his death, which occurred in 1903. His wife, who was born on the 7th of June, 1817, was summoned to eternal rest on the 7th of May, 1894, exactly one month prior td the seventy-seventh anniversary of her birth. Of their three children, the eldest was Mills Wall, who sacrificed his life while serving as a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war. He was a member of Company M, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, was captured by the enemy in connection with the battle of Resaca, was held at Andersonville prison for some months, and died while confined as a prisoner of war at Florence, South Carolina. Isaiah Wall, of this review, was the second in order of birth of the three children. The youngest is Dr. Mahlon M. Wall, of Marion, a representative physician and surgeon of Grant county. The father was influential in his home township, and served at one time as its trustee. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He and his wife were reared in the Quaker faith, but on coming to Indiana they adopted the United Brethren as the church of their choice, and while they did not become members they were regular attendants and took a deep interest in the welfare of the church and the cause of Christianity in general.

Isaiah Wall continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits from his boyhood days until he had attained the age of sixty years. He assisted in the reclamation and other work of the farm which his father obtained from the government, and his early educa¬ tional advantages were those afforded in the common schools of the pioneer days, - a discipline later to be rounded out through the medium of self application and through close association with practical duties and responsibilities of life. He continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-two years, when he initiated his inde¬ pendent career on an adjoining farm. Energy, experience and close application gave results, and the years brought to him definite pros- perity, indicated in the development of one of the fine farms of Monroe township. He continued to purchase additional land as circumstances justified, and his home place, on which he resided for more than forty years and which he still owns, comprises three hundred and forty acres. He made the best of improvements on the place and gained reputation as one of the most progressive and broad-minded farmers of his native township. He has at all\ times given evidence of his liberality, loyalty and public spirit by supporting , enterprises and measures projected for the general good of the community, and his attitude in this respect, combined with his invincible integrity in all of the relations of life, have given him high vantage place in the confidence and esteem of the people of his native county. In the autumn of 1906 Mr. Wall removed from his farm to Marion, and in this city he has an attractive modern home on West Third street, the same being a favored rendez¬ vous for the wide circle of friends who wish by this means to pay trib¬ ute to him and his devoted wife. After years of earnest toil and endeavor he is enjoying the well earned repose and comfort that are his due, and he and his gracious wife find themselves compassed by most pleasing associations and environment.

Mr. Wall has by no means abated his energy and his vital interest in affairs. He takes a lively concern in public matters of a local order, and is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party. In 1910 he was elected to represent the second district of his county on the board of county commissioners and he served in this important office until January 1, 1914, with characteristic loyalty and effectiveness. Within his incumbency of this office there occurred a vigorous contest between the liquor and Prohibition elements in Grant county, and, as may naturally be inferred, his influence has been cast unequivocally in support of the local option policy and in favor of all things which make for morality and civic righteousness. Both he and his wife are devout members of the United Brethren church, and they still retain their active membership in Oak Chapel of this denomination, the same being situated near their old homestead farm. Of this church he served as a trustee for a number of years prior to his removal to Marion.

On the 8th of November, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wall to Miss Catherine Strange, who has been a resident of Grant county from the time of her birth and who is a daughter of George and Lydia Strange, both now deceased. Her father was a representa¬ tive agriculturist of Monroe township, and there her birth occurred. Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Wall two died in infancy. Carrie E. is the wife of Frank F. Seegar, of Greentown, Howard county; Clinton M. remains at the parental home, as does also Ada L. and Della, the latter of whom is a successful and popular teacher in the high school in the city of Vincennes: Claude D. is engaged in the drug busi¬ ness in the beautiful city of Spokane, Washington.

Peter Solms. One of the well established business men of Gas City is Peter Solms, who at the corner of E and Third streets has for a num¬ ber of years conducted a grocery store and a butcher shop. His opera¬ tions have been carried on with a generous measure -of success as a result therefrom, and he has come to be a property owner of considerable scope in the place. The entire block from D to E streets on Third street is his property, and in addition to the butcher shop and meat market he oper¬ ates a grocery and bakery. Eighteen years ago he first opened a little shop in this vicinity, and the progress that he l?as made has been worthy of the quantity and quality of the interest he has put into his labors. Each year has witnessed the addition of something to his realty accumu- l&tions, and progressive ideas have been the mainspring of his business success. Mr. Solms does his own killing, so that the product of his market is second to none in the land, and the equipment of his shop is undeniably good.

Mr. Solms is a native of Germany, bora in Hesse Darmstadt, on No¬ vember 24, 1842, and he comes of old Hesse stock. He is a son of Adam Solms, who was thrice married. The mother of Mr. Solms was the first wife of Adam Solms, and she died when he was a small boy. The second wife of his father was Christina Howard and they lived and died in their native province, Mr. Solms being sixty-five years of age when he passed away. His wife preceded him, and was at about middle life when her death came. The family was one of the Roman Catholic faith, and Mr. Solms is likewise a member of the church of his fathers.

Peter Solms was the third child born to his parents. He has two sisters. One of them, Mrs. Margaret Straub, is now a resident of New York City, and Gertrude Sieben, the widow of Michael Sieben, is without issue, and is a resident of Gas City. Mr. Solms grew up in his native province and learned his trade there. All his life has been devoted to the butcher business. It was in the year 1863 that he took passage on a steamer and came to America. A short stay in New York sufficed him and he then came on to Grant county, where he had a married sister, Mrs. Gertrude Sieben, living in Monroe township. From that time to the present he has been in business at his present location, with what success has already been set forth.

Mr. Solms was married in 1865 to Miss Lena Bower, in New York City. She was born in Prussia on May 1, 1843, and came to America when she was about six years old, settling in New York City with her parents, where she was reared. Her father was a merchant tailor and followed that line in New York all his days. Both parents died there in advanced age. They were members of the Roman Catholic church, and their daughter was also reared in the same faith.

Mr. Solms has been twice married. His first wife died in New York City before Mr. Solm moved to Gas City, the mother of nine children, but only three are now living. Peter, Jr., is engaged as a bookkeeper. He is married but without issue. Lillie married Ancel Fatter, and they live in New York City. They have two children. George is living in Brooklyn, New York. He is a coal, wood and lumber dealer, and a suc¬ cessful business man. He is married and has three children.

The second marriage of Mr. Solms took place in New York when Miss Barbara Raimer became his wife. She was born in Wurtemburg, Ger¬ many, on November 30, 1859, and was there reared and educated, com¬ ing to the United States in 1889. She continued a resident of New York City until her marriage.

Mr. Solms is one of the live men of the community, and is one of the leading citizens of the place. He is up and doing in all matters that have any bearing upon the advancement of the town. Though he has never been an office seeker, he was named to represent the Fourth ward on the City Council, and though running far ahead of his ticket at the polls, he lost the election by three votes. His influence, however, has been quite as efficient and far reaching as it could be in an official capacity, and his citizenship is a credit to himself and the community.

Michael Sieben. At Gas City one of the fine homes, on ample and attractive grounds, is occupied bv Mrs. Gertrude Sieben, widow of the late Michael Sieben, who for many years was prominent as a farmer, land owner and business man, and at his death in November, 1897, left the memory of an upright man, a just and kindly gentleman, and one whose good deeds in life follow him. Mr. and Mrs. Sieben came to Grant county more than forty years ago, and it was as a result of their united efforts, in constant co-operation that they accumulated a sub¬ stantial competence. Having no children of their own Mr. and Mrs. Sieben extended the comforts of their home to several children, to whom they stood in the place of father and mother, and their charity is not measured entirely by their kindness to those under their own roof, since they were people who constantly exhibited the spirit of community helpfulness and accepted almost countless opportunities to do good to humanity.

The late Michael Sieben was born near the River Rhine, in the vicin¬ ity of Berlin, Germany, in 1840, being fifty-seven years of age when he died. He was of good old German stock, land owners and farmers, and the family were faithful German Catholics. Michael Sieben grew up in his native town of Niederolm, came to America when a young man in 1861, and having served a thorough apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, he followed that occupation on locating in the city of Chicago. Prom his trade he some years later drifted into the business of team¬ ing, and got together a considerable equipment and employed several men in the business, at which he prospered. He was living in Chicago at the time of the great fire of 1871.

He had by that time established himself securely in a business way, and then sent back to Germany for a girl whom he had chosen to bestow his affections upon, and Gertrude Solms soon afterwards came to Amer¬ ica, and they were happily married. She was born, in the same locality of Germany as her husband, they grew up and went to school together, plighted their troth while young, and continued faithful to each other during their long separation, one on one side of the Atlantic and the other on the other side. She was born November 8, 1843. Mrs. Sie¬ ben is a sister of Peter Solms, an account of whose career and family will be found elsewhere in this publication. She was one of her father's twenty-one children by two wives, and wras next to the youngest of the seven children born to the second wife. When she was two years old her mother died, and she had to bear her share of the burdens of earn¬ ing her living from an early age. She, as well as her husband, was reared in the faith of the Catholic religion.

In 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Sieben came to Upland, in Grant county, where he at once took a leading part in business affairs. He owned the grain elevators at Upland, also operated a saw mill, and a stave factory, and his business prospered and it was while there that he laid the founda¬ tion for the handsome estate which is now owned by his widow. Among business men, Michael Seiben's word was as good as a bond, and no man in Grant county enjoyed a better reputation for probity and substan¬ tial ability. Some years later he invested a portion of his money in one hundred and eighty acres of land in Monroe township. Later he bought thirty acres, and another tract of fifty -two acres in Jefferson township. Each place he improved and made into attractive and valuable farms. His Monroe township farm was and is one of the best homesteads in that locality, and it was there he lived until his death in 1897. There are sev¬ eral men now well on the way to fortune, who were the beneficiaries of Michael Sieben 's assistance and practical training and counsel during their younger days. He never refused charity, and in every relation was noted for his generosity, as for his excellent business judgment and energy. He was in politics a Republican.

Mrs. Sieben, as already stated, has been a worthy helper to her hus¬ band, in every issue of life, and continues the same fine ideals of service which they manifested when Mr. Sieben was alive. In 1900 she moved to Gas City, and bought a fine nine-room modern home, situated on half a block of land, comprising six lots, and she also owns a good residence on a lot adjoining her home place, using this for rent. Seventy years of age she is still active, and one of the most lovable women of Gas City.

John E. Ward. When business enterprise decided to convert the old country village of Harrisburg into a thriving industrial metropolis and thus gave inception to the present Gas City, many new lines of business were thus attracted to the locality. One of the first of this new set of business men to locate there was John E. Ward, who for more than twenty years has been successfully identified with Gas City as a merchant and as a funeral director. Mr. Ward located in Gas City in January, 1893. For seventeen years he did business at one location, and then moved to his present store on Main Street, where he carries a complete stock of furniture, funeral supplies, and has all the facili¬ ties for high grade service, including two funeral cars, an ambulance automobile and truck. His merchandise occupies two floors in a build¬ ing, twenty-two by one hundred and twenty-five feet, and he also has a wareroom for his surplus stock.

Mr. Ward has reason to be proud of his family, since his ancestry is of very old American stock, and includes several members in the direct line who gave service to their country in different wars of this nation. John E. Ward is a native of Jefferson county, Indiana, born near Mad¬ ison, in 1855. He was reared and educated in that locality, first entered business in the grocery trade at Areola, Illinois, where he remained six years and then returned to Jefferson county, and became interested in his present vocation. Mr. Ward when he secured his first embalming license on July 1, 1901, was number seventeen in the list, and at the present time there are more than two thousand similar licenses extant in the state. His son Clyde, associated with him in business, was li¬ censed in 1911 and at that time was the youngest man in the state to get official permission to practioe his profession. He was at the time of the license's issue, twenty-one years and one month of age.

Grandfather Jonathan Ward was a son of Daniel and Daniel in turn was a son of Joseph Ward. Joseph Ward came to America with two brothers, Wesley and Benjamin. Their arrival in this country antedated the Revolutionary war. Joseph Ward settled at Morris, New Jersey, where he lived until death. His son Daniel, born in New Jersey, served as a soldier through the war of the Revolution on the American side, and later bore arms with the American troops in the war of 1812. Daniel had two brothers, Luther and Calvin, also in the American army. Daniel Ward's children were as follows: Calvin, Luther, Joseph, Amos and Jonathan. The last, grandfather of the Gas City business man, was bom in New Jersey about 1800 and married Mary Hamel. From the east he moved to the state of Ohio, settling at Madisonville, where their son Willis was born about 1830. Some years later the family settled in Jefferson county, Indiana, bought a home in Madison township, and there Jonathan spent his years as a farmer and died when sixty-five years old, followed some five or six years later by his wife, who at her death was a little older than her husband. They were Baptists in religion, and Jonathan Ward was one of the early Republican voters.

Willis Ward, father of John E. Ward, was fifteen years old when his parents moved to Indiana, he grew up on the farm in Jefferson county, and married Sarah E. Moncrief. She represented one of the very early families established in southern Indiana, and was herself bom in Jefferson county in 1832. The ancestry was Scotch, and her parents, Abner and Ann (Vawter) Moncrief settled in Jefferson county before the tide of white settlement had made much impression on the wilderness, and they had their full share of experience as pioneers. Abner Moncrief died in that county at the age of sixty-five, while his wife attained the remarkable age of ninety-nine years. Willis Ward and wife after their marriage lived on a farm, and were quiet and industrious people, and remained citizens of Jefferson county the rest of their lives. He died in 1891 and she in 1869, when thirty years of age. For six consecutive terms Willis Ward served as county commis¬ sioner, and on account of ill health declined nomination for a seventh term. He was a Republican, and both he and his wife worshiped in the Baptist faith.

John E. Ward has a brother, Charles Ward, who is a sand contractor of Indianapolis, and has three children named Josephine, Raymond and Catherine; and a sister Emma, wife of Ira Montgomery, of Madison, Indiana, . a feed and produce merchant, and they have two children, Mattie and Alvin.

Mr. John E. Ward was first married at Areola, Illinois, to Josephine Walkup, a native of Kentucky. At her death she left children : Mae, wife of J. A. Carnige, of Chicago, Illinois, and their children are: Clarence, Josephine and Helen ; Charles, who died at the age of twenty years; and Everett, who died when three months old. The second wife of Mr. Ward was Miss Lamora 0. Lee, and was bom in Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1863, and finished her education in the North Madi¬ son high schools. Mr. and Mfs. Ward have three children: Ethel died at the age of seven years. Clyde W., who finished his preliminary edu¬ cation in the Gas City high school and the Marion Business College, pre¬ pared for his profession in the Worsham Embalming College, and has since been in business with his father. He married Miss Mae Coyne December 7, 1913. Newell J., who is twelve years old, is attending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the Christian church, and he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Haymakers, the Knights of the Maccabees and has taken much part in fraternal affairs, having passed all the chairs in the various lodges, and having represented his orders in the Grand Lodges. While he gives close attention to business, he does not neglect his public responsibility, and for a time served as assessor of Mill township. In politics he is a Republican.

James Otterbein Batchelor. Now a commercial salesman with home and business headquarters at Marion, J. 0. Batchelor has for a number of years been identified with educational work in Indiana, and is also known in the field of authorship, being an intelligent student of history and a writer of special ability.

James 0. Batchelor was born in Randolph county, Indiana, Novem¬ ber 18, 1876, and belongs to a family which has been in Indiana for eighty years or more. His parents were Joseph W. and Nancy (Davis) Batch¬ elor. Grandfather Caswell Batchelor brought his family from North Carolina to Randolph county, Indiana, where he located among the first settlers about 1830. The Batchelors are of Scotch Irish stock. The grandfather was a substantial farmer.

Joseph W. Batchelor, father of James 0., was born in Nash county, North Carolina, was a very small child when the family came to Indiana, and in this state spent all his active career at Bloomingsport, in Ran¬ dolph county, where he died at the age of seventy-five in 1905. By trade he was a cabinet maker, and he was also a local minister in the Methodist church. The maiden name of his first wife was Anna Vandergrift, who was the mother of three children, namely : William G., who is a rural mail carrier at Winchester, Indiana; Ezra V., who is a machinist at Indianapolis; and Josephine, now deceased. Nancy C. Davis, the second wife of Joseph W. Batchelor, was born at Martinsville, in West Vir¬ ginia, and is now living at the age of sixty-three in Richmond, Indiana. She became the mother of seven children, all living but one, namely: Mrs. Emma Burton of Richmond, Indiana ; Sevilla Phillips of Fountain City, Indiana; Byron, who lives on the old home place at Bloomingsport; John L., who owns the Consolidated Dairies at Richmond, Indiana; and George W., who is a butcher and baker in Canyon City, Colorado.

James 0. Batchelor was reared in his native village of Bloomingsport, attended the public schools of Randolph county, and with an ambition for learning and his aim being to teach school, he continued to study and work until he eventually graduated from the highest institution of . learning in the state. He attended the Central Normal school at Dan¬ ville, Indiana, for three years, and in 1899 first matriculated in the Indiana State University, where he remained a student until 1902. He then left in order to take up teaching, and finally completed his studies there in 1908 when he was graduated with the A. B. degree. For four years Mr. Batchelor was a teacher of the district schools in Randolph county, and for five years was superintendent of schools in Farmland. At the same time he owned and published the Farmland Enterprise. During 1903-04, Mr. Batchelor was an American teacher in the Philip¬ pine Islands, and in 1906-07 he was principal of the Ward school in Fort Wayne and was principal of the Union City high school in 1907-08. Mr. Batchelor came to Marion as assistant superintendent, a position which he held from 1908 to 1912. Since leaving school work he has been on the road as special representative of the Osborn Paper Company of Marion.

While in college, on November 17, 1900, Mr. Batchelor married Alice Mae Engle of Winchester, Indiana, a daughter of Calvin Engle, who at the time of Jhe marriage held the office of auditor in Randolph county. Mr. Batchelor's mother was Helen Greeley, who was a cousin of Horace Greeley, the famous editor. Mrs. Batchelor died on May, 1901, with¬ out children. On September 9, 1906, Mr. Batchelor married Leota M. Schultz, daughter of William E. and Cora (Alexander) Schultz of Harrisville, Indiana. They have one son, Joseph Alexander Batchelor, born August 2, 1909. Miss Leola Schultz, younger sister of Mrs. Batchelor, has her home with Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor. Mr. Batchelor has been affiliated with the Masonic Order since he was twenty-one years of age, and since the same date has been a member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his family worship in the First Methodist church at Marion. In politics he is Independent. Mr. Batchelor is a member of the Amer¬ ican Historical Association, and his interests and studies in history have been the source of his authorship. He is the author of a text¬ book on the history of Europe, now in the hands of New York publishers.

On November 5, 1913, Mr. Batchelor was elected mayor of the city of Marion on a law enforcement proposition. When asked to represent the people he declined to make it a party issue, maintaining his inde¬ pendence in politics, but saying he would accept such office as a popular law and order candidate, receiving support from law-abiding citizens of all political affiliations. Mr. Batchelor became mayor with a council representing all parties, and in making his appointments he recognized all of them, and thus the city government is without definite political stamp, but offenders against the law have discovered that law enforce¬ ment is the program of the administration. While the "fly-bob" may be necessary in detecting violations, detection has been part of the show and the law-abiding citizens of Marion are standing behind the adminis¬ tration. The election of Mayor Batchelor is discussed in the chapter on politics in the history section.

Thomas M. Couch. The name of Couch with its attendant family relationship is one of the best known in Grant county, especially in Jef¬ ferson township. Thomas M. Couch, of a younger generation, has made a splendid reputation as a farmer and stockman, and the Walnut Level stock farm in section six of Jefferson township, his home for the past twenty years is one of the best in its improvements and facilities, and value in Grant county. Mr. Couch in everything he has undertaken has made a success by reason of his good judgment and vigorous indus¬ try, and is a map who well deserves his influential position in the com¬ munity.

His father, Samuel Couch, was born not farm from Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1825, and was a child when he lost his father. His mother then took him to the home of her* father, whose name was Todd, and they all at an early day came to Indiana, and settled in Jefferson township of Grant county. Samuel Couch was a boy at that time, grew up on the farm, in pioneer environment, and was trained to practical pursuits, but with little advantages from schools.

In this county Samuel Couch married Nancy Furnish, whose fam¬ ily name is one of the oldest and most distinguished in Grant county. She was born in Franklin county, Indiana, a daughter of Judge Ben¬ jamin Furnish, one of the early settlers in Grant county, who made entry to large tracts of land, and a portion of that property is now owned and occupied by his grandson Thomas M. Couch.

Judge Furnish was not only a land owner and extensive farmer, but a man of prominence in local and county politics, was elected to the office of county judge and served for a number of years in that capacity. His death occurred when he was fifty-six years of age and he is buried in the Harmony cemetery at Matthews. Mr. Furnish married Tamer Corn, who survived him and died when above ninety-three years of age, and they are buried side by side in the Harmony Cemetery. Mr. Furnish and wTife were among the organizers of the Primitive Baptist Church at Matthews, and were leaders in church affairs, and in local soci¬ eties and benevolent activities. The Judge was a Democrat, and one of the best known members of that party during his lifetime.

After their marriage Samuel Couch and wife began life on a farm in section six of Jefferson township, and there developed a splendid estate. Samuel Couch died on the old homestead, December 2, 1891, and his wife survived him just a decade, passing away in the old home December 26, 1901. She was born in Franklin county September 5, 1831, came to Grant county with her parents in 1837, and was married to Mr. Couch January 26, 1854. She was likewise for many years an active member of the Baptist church. Samuel Couch and wife had five sons and two daughters, and all are living except Nettie V. who died February 13, 1888. The others are : Sallie, wife of William H. Lind¬ sey, of Fairmount; Benjamin W., who is a farmer in Washington town¬ ship of Delaware county and has several children : Thomas M. ; Joseph W., who is a carpenter living in Matthews, and has a family of one son and a daughter ; Absolom G., who owns and occupies the old home¬ stead where his parents and his grandparents lived and died and wl*o has seven children of his own; Orlando H., who is a prosperous agri¬ culturist in Jefferson township and has a family of four Bons and two daughters.

on August 13, 1860. His youth was passed during the decades of the sixties and seventies, and his advantages were supplied by the public school of the country. On reaching manhood he chose farming as his vocation, and there has seldom been a year wrhen he has not prospered and added a little bit to his store. His farm of seventy-nine acres ad¬ joins the old home place, his property is excellently improved and has a substantial barn, a comfortable white house of nine rooms, and good water and other comforts and facilities are supplied on every hand. Mr. Couch grows a great deal of fruit and feeds all his crops to his high grade live stock. He raises hogs, and is perhaps best known as a breeder of Belgian horses. His young stallion Mack is one of the finest horses in the state.

Mr. Couch was married in Henry county to Miss Emma A. John¬ son, who was born, reared and educated, near Springport in that county, a daughter of Jesse F. and Zilpha (Covalt) Johnson. The Johnsons were among the early settlers of Henry county, and also the Covalts. Mrs. Johnson died on the old homestead in Henry county in 1905, when nearly seventy years of age, and her husband passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Couch, in September, 1910, being then seventynine years of age. They were active members and workers in the Prim¬ itive Baptist church, and Mr. Johnson was a Democrat. Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Couch one died in infancy and the other is Ora. Ora Couch was born April 26, 1891, was educated in the high school, graduating with the class of 1911, and now lives at Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Couch are working members in the Matthews Harmony Baptist church, of which he has been church clerk since April, 1909. In politics he supports the Democratic candidate and believes in the basic principles of that party.

Burtney R. Jones. Among the most respected residents of Grant county, Indiana, is Burtney R. Jones. He was born in this section of the state and has lived here all of his life, being a member of a family that is well known throughout the northern part of Indiana. He has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer and has opened up and developed much valuable property in Grant county, not only farming lands but also city realty, and although he has now retired from busi¬ ness he is still keenly interested in the life of the community and his advice is frequently asked in matters of public concern.

Burtney R. Jones is the only surviving member of the family of Joseph and Catharine (McCormick) Jones. His father was born on the 15th of April, 1816, and grew up in his native state of Ohio. When he was a young man he removed from Preble county, Ohio, to Grant county, Indiana, this being in 1833. In 1839, on the 15th of Novem¬ ber, Joseph Jones was married to Catharine McCormick. His wife was a daughter of Robert and Anna McCormick, who had been the first set¬ tlers in Fairmount township, Grant county, Indiana, settling here on August 15, 1829, and coming from Fayette county, Indiana. Joseph Jones died as a comparatively young man, on the 16th of September, 1856, and his wife died on the 4th of December, 1889. They were both prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and took an active part in these early pioneer days of northern Indiana.

Five sons were born to Joseph and Catharine Jones, Burtney R. Jones being the third in order of birth. The eldest son, George W. Jones was born on the 25th of September, 1841> and served in the Fiftyfourth Indiana Regiment during the Civil war. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863 but was paroled the following June. His parole was of little moment to' him, however, for he died at Annapolis, Maryland, July 25, 1863. He married Sarah J. Secrist, October 17, 1861. Hiram A. Jones, the second son, was born October 17, 1843. He also served in the Civil war, being a soldier in the Eighty-ninth Indiana Regiment from August, 1862, until August, 1865. He had his right eye shot out in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, on April 9, 1864, but continued to serve until the end of the war. He was married on April 21, 1867, to Anna Hardy and died on March 31, 1908. Robert L. Jones, the fourth son, was born September 1, 1849. He became sheriff of Grant county in November, 1888, and on December 9, of the same year, after successfully capturing an escaped horse thief, he was shot and died from the wounds, on the 11th of December. He was away from home at the time and died at Jerome in Howard county, Indiana. He married Louisa C. Jadden, on the 25th of September, 1870, and left two sons, Sanford C., of Marion, In¬ diana, and Robert P., of Whitefish, Montana. Joseph A. Jones, the youngest son, was born on March 5, 1852. He was married to Sarah J. Whitson on the 7th of January, 1885, and she died February 8, 1890. He died on April 25, 1893, at the home of his brother, Burtney R. Jones, in Marion.

Burtney R. Jones was born on the 2nd of October, 1846, at the old Robert McCormick Hotel, which stood at the crossing of the Fort Wayne, Muncie and Indianapolis state roads. This was the first house to be built in Fairmount township and was erected by his maternal grand¬ father. His mother entered eighty acres of land from the government on August 5, 1837, and Burtney Jones grew up on the farm. He was married to Eliza J. Duling, a daughter of Solomon and Jane Duling, on the 9th of December, 1869, and after his marriage settled on eighty acres of timber land in section twenty-four in Fairmount township. Here he built a house of hewed logs and there lived until the death of his wife on April 12, 1872. She left one child, Minnie A., who was born on November 7, 1871, but the baby died on August 31, 1872. Mr. Jones continued as a farmer and made a decided success of it. He lived on the farm which his mother had homesteaded and to which he had added until 1881 when he came to Marion and here he has resided ever since.

He married Sina M. Duling, who was also a daughter of Solomon and Jane Duling, on September 1, 1887, and to this union have been born two children, namely, Edith D. Jones, who was born on the 31st of July, 1890, and Burtney Ralph, whose birth took place on September 1, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Jones together own two hundred and sixty acres of valuable farming land in Grant county, located in Fairmount, Jef¬ ferson and Center townships. Mr. Jones has himself cleared and brought into cultivation one hundred and twenty-five acres of Grant county land. They also own three valuable pieces of residence prop¬ erty in the city of Marion which they have developed and improved, and which is considered some of the best paying property in the city.

Jesse Johnson. As owners of large landed estates, as substantial farmers who have brought the latent resources of the soil to productive¬ ness, perhaps no one family in Grant county has operated so exten¬ sively as that of Johnson, one of the best known members of which is Mr. Jesse Johnson of Mill township.