Grant County, Indiana - The whole text, 1914 (part 3 of 32)

Mr. Flanagan was married in Fairmount to Miss Sarah E. Winslow. She was born near Fairmount, March 8, 1860, was educated here and belongs to an old Quaker family, being a daughter of Levi and Emiley (Henley) Winslow. Both her parents are still living. Mr. and Mrs.

Mr. Flanagan was one of the organizers of the Fairmount State Bank, and held the office of president seven years. He was also a director and secretary of the Fairmount Mining Company, a company which put down some of the productive wells in the oil and gas districts of Indiana. For many years Mr. Flanagan has been looked upon as one of the leading citizens of Grant county. He has never held any political office except as president of the Fairmount school board, but has always been a leader in matters pertaining to his town and county's progress. He was president during the entire life of the Fairmount Commercial Club, an organization no longer in existence. He helped organize and was president for several years of the Fairmount Building & Loan Asso¬ ciation, and was for several years president of the Tri-County Fair Association.

Nathan D. Cox. The following sketch contains the important facts in the life and family records of a Grant county citizen whose name has always stood for all that is honest and of good report in this community for successful thrift and business integrity, for a position which all must respect. The Cox family have been Indiana residents since pioneer days, the early generation having made homes out of the wilderness, and later descendants bore a worthy part as soldiers and as citizens. Nathan D. Cox has for many years been sexton and caretaker of the beautiful Park Cemetery of Fairmont. Previous to that he was a successful farmer in this part of the county, and none would deny that the comforts and bless¬ ings of good children now surrounding himself and wife were merited rewards to worthy and well spent lives.

Nathan D. Cox was bom in Grant county, in Liberty township, Sep¬ tember 5, 1846. His grandfather, Joshua Cox, a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, where he was born about one hundred and fifteen years ago, was of a Quaker family, a farmer by occupation, and married in his native state, Miss Rachael Cox, who was no relative though of the same name. She also belongs to the Quaker religion. In 1830, with their chil¬ dren, these pioneers embarked their household goods, and other movables in wagons drawn by ox teams, and by many days of alternate driving and camping along the way finally reached Indiana, and settled in Morgan county. There Joshua Cox and wife died some years after their settle¬ ment, and it is believed that they were not more than fifty years of age at the time of their death.

Of a family of Joshua Cox was William Cox, father of the Fairmount citizen. He was bom in Randolph county, North Carolina, November 9, 1824, and was six years old when he accompanied the family on its migra¬ tion to Indiana. Growing upon the home farm in Morgan county, he came to Grant county before his marriage. In this county at the age of twenty-one, in 1845, he married Elizabeth Wilson. The Wilson family has played a worthy part in Grant County history. Elizabeth Wilson was bom in North Carolina about 1824 or 1825, and was a small child when brought to Grant county by her parents, John and Mary, better known as Polly, (Winslow) Wilson. The Wilson family located on gov¬ ernment land, improved a farm out of the wilderness, and there the par¬ ents spent their final years, dying at a good old age. They were of the Quaker Faith, were most estimable people, and in their children incul¬ cated the virtues of honor and thrift and simple living, which had been characteristic of Quaker people for generations. They were the parents of seven sons and six daughters.

After his marriage William Cox began life in Liberty township. For some years he rented and worked on others' farm and with his accumula¬ tions finally bought land for himself in Fairmount township. Some years later he sold out and bought a farm in Liberty township, and it was on that homestead that he and his wife died. His death occurred in 1901, and she died five months later in the same year, being seventy-four years of age. He was originally a member of the United Brethren church. William Cox had married outside of his Quaker church, and when called upon in a public meeting of the Quakers to express his sorrow for his act, he refused, and was accordingly dismissed from the congregation. He and his wife then joined the Wesleyan Methodist, and died in that faith. In politics he was first a Whig voter, and later a Republican. However, he at the time maintained a rigid adhe] wice to the temperance cause, and did all in his power to uphold prohibition principles, irrespective of the larger party lines. There were seven sons and six daughters in the family of William Cox and wife. All the sons are still living, are married, and with the exception of one, have their homes in Indiana. Two of the six daughters are deceased, while the others are all married and have homes of their own.

Mr. Nathan D. Cox, the oldest of the family, came to manhood in Lib¬ erty township. He was stijl a boy when the war between the states broke out, and at the age of nineteen, on October 7, 1864, volunteered in Com¬ pany A of the Thirty-Third Indiana Infantry. At the close of the war he was discharged, after having seen considerable active service. He fought at the great battle at Nashville, in the closing months of 1864, but escaped unhurt. On starting out for himself he became a farmer, and in 1890 left the farm and took up his residence in Fairmount. In the same year he was appointed superintendent of the Park Cemetery, and has now held that position and given most efficient service for more than twenty years. The Park Cemetery is a matter of much pride to the residents of Fairmont, comprising twelve acres of beautifully laid out and improved grounds, and the cemetery was incorporated in May, 1889. Up to the present writing the interments in the cemetery number over 1,500 and nearly all these additions to the city of the dead have been while Mr. Cox was superintendent. Mr. Cox owns some fine residence property in Fairmount, and has been well prospered through his long career.

For many years he has been a strong Prohibitionist in politics, and he exemplifies his principles not only in abstaining from all spirituous liquors, but has never used tobacco in any form.

On June 6, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cox with Miss Jennie Fisher. She was born in Clinton, Ohio, March 12, 1848, and was a young girl when her parents Asa and Susan (Horsman) Fisher, came to Delaware county, Indiana. Both her parents were natives of Ohio, were married in Clinton county, and settled in Delaware county about 1855. They bought a farm near Bethel, where they lived until their death. Mrs. Fisher died during the war, while her husband passed away some years later. Both were in middle life at the final summons. They were active members of the Christian church. One son, Andy Fisher was a soldier in the Thirty-Sixth Indiana Regiment, was badly wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, when a bullet struck him in the loins, and he lay for three days and three nights on the battle field. Finally he was cared for by a Confederate soldier, and then sent home, and largely owing to exposure as a soldier died from tuberculosis. He was unmarried. Mrs. Cox is the only one of the ten children in her parents' family now living.

The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Cox are mentioned as follows : Nora is the wife of David Gregg, of Fairmont, and their children are : Edward, who is a teacher; William, who has received an excellent education, and Dewey. Copa, the second in the family, is the wife of Clinton Haisley, who is with the Rubber Company of Jonesboro. They have two children,

Chester and Etha, both of whom have been provided with good advantages in the public schools and the Fairmount Academy. The daughter Flora, died in infancy, and the next child, also named Flora, died when young. The fifth and youngest child, William, died at the age of fourteen.

Mr. and Mrs. Cox have for forty-five years been active members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mrs. Cox has given a quarter century of work as a Sunday school teacher, while her husband has been a class leader for several years in his local church, later held the same position six years more, and for many years served as superintendent of the Sun¬ day School.

Robert A. Morris. Among any community's most important inter¬ ests are those which deal with its financial affairs, for financial stability must be the foundation stone upon which all great enterprises are erected. The men who control and conserve the money of corporation or country, or of private individual, must of necessity possess many qualities not requisite in the ordinary citizen, and among these, high commercial in¬ tegrity, poise, judgment, exceptional financial ability and foresight may be mentioned. They must possess the public confidence, for often through their wisdom, sagacity and foresight panics that have threatened the government have been averted. A citizen whose entire training has been along the line of finance, and who has been prominently connected with the banking interests of Grant county for a number of years, is Robert A. Morris, president of the Fairmount State Bank.

Mr. Morris comes of old Southern stock, his paternal great-grandfather having been bom in North Carolina of Welsh and Scotch parentage. The family came to the American Colonies prior to the outbreak of the Revo¬ lutionary War, and belonged to the Hicks Quaker stock, Mr. Morris him¬ self being a member of the Society of Friends. He was married in North Carolina, and in 1823 came north with the Quakers who left the South because of their opposition to the practice of slavery prevalent in the Old North State, making a settlement near Richmond, Indiana, where they became pioneers. Mr. Morris was a miller by vocation and established one of the first mills in Wayne county, continuing to spend the remainder of his career there and dying in advanced years, as did also his wife. Among their children was George Morris, the grandfather of Robert A. Morris.

George Morris first saw the light of day in North Carolina, and was still a small boy when he accompanied his parents in their journey over¬ land to the wilderness of Indiana. He grew up to sturdy manhood, was reared to agricultural pursuits and followed farming for some time, but subsequently became an early merchant near Richmond. He was mar¬ ried in that city to Miss Rhoda Frampton, who was bom a Quakeress and a member of an old Maryland family of Friends. Mr. Morris passed away near Richmond when but thirty-six years of age, while his wife survived him for a long period, dying at the advanced age of ninety years.

The second son and child of the five children of his parents, Aaron Morris, the father of Robert A. Morris, was born near Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, November 21, 1834. There he was educated, reared and spent his entire life, and there his death occurred February 15, 1907. His brothers and sisters are all still living, are married, and have homes of their own. In his youth Aaron Morris learned the trade of wagon-maker' and this he followed with a reasonable amount of success until 1865, when he was married. At that time he became one of the organizers and part¬ ners of the Hoosier Drill Company, of which he continued as manager and a director until 1876, when he disposed of interests and became an official member of a reaper and mower concern. With this venture he continued until 1888, when he embarked in the banking business, at Pen¬ dleton, Indiana, where he became the founder of the Pendleton Banking Company. Of this institution he became president, and so remained for a number of years, and it is still in the family name, being now conducted by William F. Morris, a son of its founder. In 1902 Mr. Morris came to Fairmount, Indiana, and here established the Fairmount State Bank, with which he was connected in an official capacity up to the time of his death. Mr. Morris was an excellent business man and finan¬ cier, and was widely known in banking circles, especially in Wayne, Grant and Madison counties. He bore a high reputation for business integrity and honorable dealing, and in his private life was known to be a man of the utmost probity. He was a stanch Republican throughout his life, but was content with his business interests and never sought personal preferment as a candidate. Throughout his life he was a Quaker, and lived up to the teachings of his faith. While residing in Wayne county, near Pendleton, Mr. Morris was married in 1865, to Miss Martha Thomas, who was bom, reared and educated in Madison county, and was a daughter of Louis and Percilla (Moore) Thomas, natives of Pennsylvania, who came from Philadelphia and Chester county in that state at an early date, and located in Madison county. There they spent their lives in agri¬ cultural pursuits, in the community in which there were so many members of the Friends church, to which faith they belonged. Mrs. Aaron Morris was one of a large family, the most of whom are still living, and she still survives her husband and makes her home in Madison county, being seventy-five years of age. Four children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Morris, namely : William F., manager of the State Bank of Pendle¬ ton, who married Lyle Zeublin and has two daughters - Mildred and Eleanor; Luella, who is the wife of Elwood Burchell, of Port Chester, New York, a manufacturer of bolts and nuts, who has three sons - Rich¬ ard, Morris and Robert ; Robert A. ; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frederick Lantz, a merchant of Pendleton, and has one daughter, Deborah.

Robert A. Morris was bom near Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, May 16, 1877. He received his early education in the schools of Rich¬ mond, following which he attended Earlham College, and then embarked in the banking business with his father at Pendleton. There he remained from 1895 until 1902, when, having thoroughly mastered the details of banking, he came to Fairmount to take charge of the Fairmount State Bank, and of this he has since had control. This institution has a capital and surplus of $32,000, and is known as one of the solid and substantial financial houses of Grant county. Under the management of Mr. Morris it has enjoyed a steady and continued growth, and has gained the complete confidence of the public.

In 1908 Mr. Morris was married in Fairmount to Miss Artie Suman, who was bom, reared and educated in Fairmount, where her people were early settlers. They are now residents of North Dakota, where they are engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have one son: William S., bora January 2, 1913. In his political preferences Mr. Morris is a Repub¬ lican.

Eli J. Cox. A native son of Grant county, who is well known to the 'citizens of Fairmount, Eli J. Cox has not confined his activities to the Hoosier State, but is widely known in other parts of the country, especi¬ ally in Florida, where he is the owner of extensive orange groves: He is of Scoteh-Irish descent and is descended from one of two brothers, Joseph and Samuel Cox, who emigrated to this country prior to the War of the Revolution, settling in Pennsylvania, where they were identified with the

Fox Quakers. One of these brothers subsequently moved to North Caro¬ lina and established a home among the Quakers of Randolph county, and from him Eli J. Cox is directly descended.

Joshua Cox, the grandfather of Eli Cox, was bom in North Carolina between the years 1790 and 1795. He grew up there to agricultural pur¬ suits, and was united in marriage with a Miss Rachael Cox, no doubt a distant relative. At the time the Quakers whq were opposed to slavery began their migration north, about 1834, Joshua Cox left North Carolina with his wife and children and located in the Quaker settlement in Morgan county, Indiana, where he secured a tract of undeveloped land from the government and settled down to make a home. There he died not long afterward, when still in the prime of life, while his widow survived him for many years. They were Quakers all of their lives and were the par¬ ents of four sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, were married and had families.

The third in order of birth of his parents' six children, William Cox was born in North Carolina in 1824, and was still a lad when he accom¬ panied them in their migration to Morgan county, Indiana. At the age of twenty years he came to Grant county, Indiana, and when not yet twenty-one was married to Elizabeth Wilson, who was bom in 1826 in Randolph county, North Carolina, and was a child when she accompanied her parents, John and Mary R. (Winslow) Wilson, to Grant county. Mrs. Elizabeth (Wilson) Cox was reared a Quakeress, but before marriage joined the United Brethren church, and her husband, refusing to declare himself sorry for his act, was excommunicated by the church and a few years later they both joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, in the faith of which they died. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. William Cox located on a farm in Fairmount township, but subsequently moved to another tract in Liberty township, on the Little Ridge road, two and one-half miles southwest from Fairmount. There Mr. Cox's death oc¬ curred in January, 1901, while his wife followed him to the grave on June 12th of the same year. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Nathan D., of Fairmount, who is married and has children, grandchildren and one great-grandchild ; Abigail, who married first Jonathan Bogue, by whom she had a large family, and married second Josiah Winslow, and lives in Fairmount ; John W., a farmer near Fairmount, who is married and has five children; Mary R., who is the wife of Oliver Haisley, a carpenter of Fairmount, and has two married chil¬ dren; Eli J., subject of this review; Milton T., a fruit grower near Fairmount, who is married and has one son and two daughters, the latter being married; Zimri E., a Colorado ranchman, who is married and has two sons, both civil engineers and graduates of the College of Mining, at Golden, Colorado; Eliza Ann, who married William Shields, now of California, and died leaving three sons ; Sarah E., the wife of C. C. Powell, & farmer of Grant county, and has two sons and one daughter at home ; Elizabeth C., the wife of E. J. Seale, of Fairmount, who has one son and one daughter; William V., a farmer of Fairmount township, who has one adopted daughter; Micajah T., who has two sons and one daughter; and Margaret E., twin of Micajah T., who died after her marriage to William T. Cammack, now in the West, by whom she had one son and one daughter.

Eli J. Cox was bom on his father's farm in Grant county, Indiana, January 6, 1853, and received his early education in the country schools. Subsequently he became a student in the Marion (Indiana) Normal school, and after a few terms at this institution he became a teacher and for seven years was engaged in educational work in the Grant county schools. In 1881 he went to the western part of Missouri, where for one year he was engaged in hay buying business, and in the following year went to Florida, where he embarked in the orange grove enterprise. In this he met'with almost instantaneous success, and through good manage¬ ment and shrewd business foresight increased his holdings from time to time until he owned large interests in orange groves. He bought and sold this kind of land, established a packing house, and bought and shipped oranges extensively. His brand was well known in the eastern markets. With others, he was caught in the great 4 ' freeze' ' of the year 1895, but managed to recuperate his losses and to regain a part of his groves, and now owns and operates two very valuable orange properties. He has. large land holdings in Florida, and also owns valuable tracts in Texas, near the city of Houston. He is at this time an active member of the Florida State Horticultural Society, and is widely known as an expert in the orange industry. Mr. Cox has been an extensive traveler, having visited nearly every State in the Union, as well as various points in Canada and Mexico. He maintains a handsome home in Fairmount and here takes an active interest in all that affects the material welfare of the city or its people. In political matters Mr. Cox is a Republican but he has cared little for the struggles of the political arena.

Mr. Cox was married in Grant county, to a Miss Ballenger, and to this union there was born one daughter who died in infancy. His second marriage occurred in 1904, in Fairmount, Indiana, to Mrs. Ora D. (Luse) Osborn, who was born in Hancock county, Indiana, March 2, 1869. She came to Fairmount in 1882, with her parents, Walter S. and Elmira C. (Coffin) Luse, natives of Hancock county. Her father was for a number of years a successful agriculturist and tile manufacturer of Liberty township, Grant county, but in 1892 retired from active life, and he and his wife now make their home in Fairmount. He was a pioneer in the manufacture of tile and brick in Indiana, engaging therein as early as 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have no children. Her former husband, Jesse Osborn, died some years ago, when still a young man. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Friends church.

John R. Browne was bom October 17, 1876, in Van Buren town¬ ship of Grant county, a son of William L. and Martha E. (Kirkpatrick) Browne. The maternal grandfather, William M. Kirkpatrick, was one of the pioneers of Van Buren township. Grant county. The father was a lawyer and for many years practiced his profession at Lincoln, Nebraska, where he died in 1908. The mother now lives at Xiandersville in this county. There were two children in the family, and Mr. Browne's brother is Frank D. Browne, a substantial farmer near Huntington, Indiana.

John R. Browne spent the first sixteen years of his life on a farm, and during that time attained a common school and part of a high school education. At the age of sixteen he began teaching, which occupation he continued for six years. Many of the nights and a large part of his vacation periods, while a teacher, were spent in reading law both at home and with Mr. 0. L. Cline, and later with Paulus .& Cline. In 1898 he was admitted to the bar and begun the practice on March 1, 1899. with Mr. J. F. Charles, as a partner. This partnership was continued as Charles & Browne until December 1, 1902, at which time Hiram Brownlee became the head of the new firm of Brownlee, Charles & Browne. This firm continued until May 6, 1903, at which date, Mr. Charles retired. Brownlee & Browne then continued together until November 1st, 1907, at wrhieh time, the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr.

Browne was then engaged in practice alone until March 23, 1908, at which time the present partnership with Gus S. Condo was formed under the firm name of Condo & Browne. They practice in all the local, state and federal courts, both having been admitted to the United States Supreme Court at Washington, D. C., on December 2nd, 1912.

On May 17, 1899, Mr. Browne married Miss Grace Riley, of Van Buren, Grant county. Mrs. Browne is a native of this county and a daughter of James E. and Sarah E. Riley, a well known family here. The three children born of their marriage are named as follows : Miriam, aged eleven; Edward J., aged ten, and Ruth, aged eight.

Mr. Browne is a member and ex-president of the Marion Country Club ; also of the Elks Club, and is now Exalted Ruler of Marion Lodge No. 195, B. P. 0. Elks. In politics, he is a Republican.

William *H. Wiley. With impregnable place in popular confidence and esteem, Mr. Wiley has not only attained to prominence as one of the representative members of the bar of his native county but he also is known as one of the most liberal and progressive citizens of Marion, the judicial center of Grant county, and has put forth splendid service in the furtherance of its civic and material progress and prosperity. He is an interested principal in important industrial activities in his home city and is still actively and successfully engaged in the general practice of law, in which his status is that of a man of high technical attainments and distinctive practical ability in the applying of his knowledge, as is evident from the many decisive victories he has won in connection with important litigations in the various courts. Further interest attaches to his career by reason of the fact that he is a scion of a family whose name has been identified with the history of Grant county for more than half a century.

William H. Wiley was born at Jonesboro, Grant county, Indiana, on the 27th of January, 1861, and is a son of George W. and Margaret H. ( Horne) Wiley, the former of whom was born near Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of the Buckeye state, and the latter of whom was born near Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana, her parents having been early settlers in the stanch colony there founded in the pioneer epoch of the state's history. George W. Wiley was a successful contractor during the greater part of his active business career and established his home in Grant county, Indiana, about 1858, here passing the residue of his long and useful life and ever com¬ manding unqualified popular esteem. He was summoned to eternal rest, at Jonesboro, this county, on the 28th of April, 1900, one of the well-known and highly honored pioneer citizens of this section of the state, and his wife, Mrs. Margaret H. (Horne) Wiley, died on the 15th of July, 1880. Of their children two sons and three daughters are now living.

The village schools of Jonesboro afforded to William H. Wiley his early educational advantages, and this discipline was supplemented by an effective course of study in the Marion Normal School. He applied himself with characteristic diligence and ambition and before he had attained to the age of eighteen years he proved himself eligible for peda¬ gogic honors, as he began teaching in the public schools, his initial venture having been in a district school. He proved a successful and popular instructor and continued to devote himself to pedagogic work for four and one-half years, during two of which he held incumbencies in the schools of Delaware county, his remaining service having been in Grant county, where he taught for a time in the schools of his native town of Jonesboro. He early began the technical reading through which he effectively equipped himself for the legal profession, but his energies have likewise been directed along divers other lines.

On the 1st of January, 1884, a few weeks prior to his twenty-third birthday anniversary, Mr. Wiley established his residence in the city of Marion, where he engaged in the abstract business, in which he became associated in a partnership with Addison M. Baldwin and William H. Irvine. Later he purchased the interest of Mr. Irvine, and Mr. Baldwin was succeeded by Joseph W.* Stout. The firm of Wiley &. Stout con¬ tinued the prosperous abstract enterprise until about 1890, when Mr. Stout sold his interest to Pearl Bogue, whereupon the firm name was changed to Wiley & Bogue, this alliance continuing until 1893.

Having directed his legal studies with much energy and under effec¬ tive preceptorship for a number of years, Mr. Wiley was admitted to the bar of his native state in 1899. The same year he engaged in the active practice of his profession at Marion, where he formed a partnership with William J. Houck and Charles M. Ratcliffe. The firm built up a substantial and representative practice and the alliance continued until 1904, when Mr. Houck retired from the firm, after which the business was continued under the title of Wiley & Ratcliffe for one and one-half years, with a general insurance business maintained in connection with that of the law. After the retirement of Mr. Ratcliffe the business was individually continued by Mr. Wiley until 1907, in December of which year he removed to Decatur, the judicial center of Adams county, where he became an executive of the Cappoek Motor Car Company. In the meanwhile he still retained his law office in Marion, and to this city he returned in January, 1909, since which time he has continued in the practice of his profession, besides giving close attention to his other and varied interests.

Fully appreciative of the advantages and attractions of the city of Marion, Mr. Wiley, having as his associate Thad Butler of Marion and Geo. L. Mason of New York, initiated the work of exploiting its claims in an effective and productive wav, his initial efforts along this line hav¬ ing been instituted in 1889, and his labors having been most vigorous, circumspect and effective. Within the next few years he did much to aid in the securing of manufacturing industries to the city, and he was specially influential in the enlisting of the requisite capitalistic support. He was aggressive and versatile in his endeavors, as may be realized when it is stated that he arranged for and brought to successful comple¬ tion a number of special excursions to Marion, from Buffalo and other points in the western part of the state of New York, his work in this con¬ nection being projected for the purpose of bringing Marion to public attention and thus promoting its civic and material development and progress. Prominent among the important industrial concerns which he aided in securing to Marion may be noted the Marion Malleable Iron Works, which now gives employment to fully one thousand men; and the Hoosier Stove Company, the Central Foundry Company, the Western Drop Forge Company, and the Spencer Table Company. He was one of the organizers of the Canton Glass Company, the plant and head¬ quarters of which are at Marion, and he is at the present time a member of its directorate. He also gave timely and effective aid in the raising* of the fund of one hundred thousand dollars for the promotion of manu¬ facturing enterprises in Marion. He was one of the foremost promoters and an active organizer of the Marion Commercial Club, of which he

Jason B. Smith Mrs. Jason B. Smith

Mr. Wiley is a man of broad and well fortified views concerning mat¬ ters of economic and governmental polity and accords unwavering al¬ legiance to the Democratic party, of whose principles and policies he has proved a most effective advocate. He has been an active and efficient worker in behalf of the party cause and in 1906 he was the Democratic nominee for representative of his district in the state senate. He made a spirited canvass throughout the district, which was strongly Republican, and while he failed of election, as he had anticipated, he gained a rep¬ resentative support at the polls and reduced the normal majority of the Republican party, with the result that his defeat was compassed by only one hundred and eighty-four votes. Mr. Wiley is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian church in their home city and he is serving as a member of its board of trustees.

The 10th of April, 1884, recorded the solemnization of the marriage of Mr. Wiley to Miss Millie J. Bogue, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bogue, of Fairmount, Grant county, and she is a most popular factor in connection with the leading social activities of her home city. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have had two children, - Forrest, who died in 1898, at the age of eleven years, and William Emmett, who was a member of the class of 1913 at the Culver Military Academy, winning the scholarship medal which carried with it a scholarship in the University of Chicago, where he will pursue his studies.

Jason B. Smith. For a number of years Jason B. Smith has been a well known resident of Grant county, having been prominently identi¬ fied with gas development during the .decade of the eighties. His head¬ quarters during his operations in that field were at Fairmount, but finally failing health compelled him to go south and he lived for some years out of the county. His first wife was .Miss Seytha Dobbins, who died January 15, 1908, leaving the following children : Charles H., who resides in the state of Washington ; Harry D., who died as a young man ; Bernie, who resides in the state of Oregon ; Roy, also residing in Oregon ; Willis, residing in Atlanta, Georgia ; Clyde, also residing in Atlanta, and Clare, residing in Fitzgerald, Georgia. After his return from Fitzgerald, Georgia, where he had been operating a saw mill, Mr. Smith was mar¬ ried in March, 1911, to Mrs. Rachael Lewis, whose maiden name was Wright. She was the widow of Leander L. Lewis, a late resident of Fairmount township. Mr. Smith since his marriage has successfully operated the large estate of his wife in Fairmount township, and both are actively interested in many affairs in that locality, giving much attention and assistance to those things which make for progress and a better social and moral condition of community life.

Jason B. Smith was born in Pennsylvania, August 7, 1845, and was quite young when he accompanied his parents to Rush county, Indiana, where he was reared and well educated. After some years the family moved to Decatur county, in this state. Mr. Smith is the son of David B. and Malinda (Phillips) Smith, the former a native of New Jersey and of a line of prosperous and intelligent people. Mr. Smith moved to Pennsylvania when a young man, where he met and married Miss Phillips, a native of that state and several years after their marriage they set out and established a new home in Indiana. They made the journey west by way of the Allegany river and the Ohio river, as far as Cincinnati, from which city a ^arge wagon drawn by six horses carried them to Rush county. In' Richland township of that county, they started life in almost a new country, and finally moved to Fugit township in Decatur county, where David Smith improved a substantial homestead. Later he retired to Rushville, where his wife died at the age of seventy-two. David B. Smith spent his last years with a daughter in Connersville, in Fayette county, where his death occurred at the very advanced age of eighty-nine years. He and his wife were active members and workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which denomination many years of their lives had been spent. He was also a strong abolitionist, and before the war his home was a station on the underground railway, and many a time he assisted the escape of a negro fleeing from the south for the Canadian boundary. After the war he was a Republican.

Jason B. Smith is a veteran of the Civil War on the Union side, having enlisted when a boy in Company B of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Regiment. His services continued until the close of hostilities, and though unwounded he met with much exposure and hardships of army life.

Jason B. Smith is one of three living children. A sister, Emma, is the wife of John Carpenter, and lives in Rushville, having two sons, Clarence and Jesse. A brother, Frank, is unmarried, and is following the trade of carpenter and builder at his home in Rushville.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have no children by their marriage, nor was she the mother of any children by her marriage to Mr. Lewis. They are both active in the Christian church of Fairmount City, and in politics he is a Republican.

Mrs. Smith is the daughter of John Wright, who was married in Fairfield township of Franklin county, Indiana, February 14,. 1861, to Celia Glidwell. Her mother was born in Franklin county, November 10, 1832, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Smith, September 29, 1912. The Glidwells were a well known southern family, and they still hold an annual reunion, Mrs. Smith being secretary of the family association.

Leander Lewis, the first husband of Mrs. Smith, was born in Barthol¬ omew county, Indiana, May 30, 1859, and died at Anderson, June 2, 1906, at the age of fifty-three years. He was a son of Armistead and Elizabeth (Carter) Lewis, the former a native of North Carolina, and a son of Michael Lewis. Michael Lewis lost his first wife in North Caro¬ lina, and later married again and came north about the middle of the decade of the thirties to Bartholomew county, settling at Old St. Louis, when the county was in its pioneer state of development. There Michael Lewis lived and died, attaining the age of almost four score. He was four times married after coming to Indiana, and had children by all his five wives. Armistead was the only child who lived in the immediate family of his father and mother, and grew up in Bartholomew county, where his father had accumulated a large property as a farmer and business man. Armistead Lewis became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Bartholomew county, having made it almost entirely by his own labor and having cleared and placed it in cultivation from an area of stumps and woods. He also owned and operated a saw mill. He is now living retired at Columbus, Indiana, and was eighty years of age on January 13, 1913. His first wife, Elizabeth Carter, died at Hope, Indiana, at the age of seventy-three. She was an old-school Baptist in religion, while Armistead Lewis has long been prominent in

Leander Lewis, who was the oldest of three children, grew up in his native county, had a substantial education and during his early years followed his career as a farmer and sawmill man, working with his father. He was married in Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, to Miss Rachael Wright, who was bom and reared there, and was well educated, having served at different times as a supply teacher,.

Rachael Wright, who is now Mrs. J. B. Smith, as already stated, was a daughter of <John Wright, and a granddaughter of William Wright, both of whom were bom in Lancastershire, near Manchester, England. William Wright, her grandfather, was born February, 6, 1786. He married Elizabeth Bartsley, both being of old English families. In 1820 the family took passage for America, in a sailing vessel that was seventy-five days on the high seas. After landing they came up the Hudson River, and by the Erie Canal and through the great lakes, finally reaching Dayton, Ohio. Mr. William Wright followed the trade of hatter, in England and worked at the same line in Dayton. On coming to that city he had six hundred dollars in cash. With much faith in his fellowmen, owing to his own scrupulous integrity, he loaned all that money to a man without taking a note and lost it all. Although thus deprived of his capital he set about undiscouraged and soon earned two hundred dollars at his trade. In 1825, he moved to Franklin county, Indiana, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, and was one of the pioneers in that section. Later his holdings were increased by another one hundred and sixty acres, and eventually & large and commodious brick house was erected on his land, the brick having been made from clay dug and burned on his own farm^ It was in that home that he died April 12, 1854, and his wife passed away there August 25, 1863. They were Church of England people for many years, but owing to the absence of a church of that denomination in their community they worshipped for convenience in the Presbyterian society. Their bodies now rest side by side in the Brookville cemetery. They had three sons and five daughters, all of whom grew up and married and had families except one. These children were: James, born in England, October 18, 1810, and lived in Fairfield township of Franklin county, and married Agnes Templeton, having one son, William. Ann married Dr. George Berry, a prominent physician, and for more than half a century lived in one home in Brookville, Ind., leaving three children. The next child in order was John Wright, father of Mrs. Smith. The fourth was Elizabeth, who married William Butler, and she died, aged 55. Hannah, born in Ohio June 1, 1821, married William Butler, her sister's former husband. Sarah, was born in Ohio, November 9, 1823, and died after her marriage to Andrew Shirk, and had eight children. Mary was born in Indiana, March 12, 1836, and married Elbert Shirk, and left three living children. William, Jr., was bom in Indiana, July 21, 1828, and married Permelia Wynn, and they died in Bartholomew county, leaving three children.

Mr. and Mrs. Jason B. Smith own and reside on "The Clover Crest'7 farm, a fine country estate of 225 acres, lying one mile southwest of Fowlerton in Fairmount township. Mrs. Smith moved to this farm in 1884, with her parents, and with the exception of seven years, which she lived in Fairmount, had resided here ever since. She worked very hard on this place and helped to clear it. They do general farming and have a fine silo with 100 ton capacity which they erected in 1911.

Hiram A. Jones. One of the fine old pioneer citizens of Grant county was the late Hiram A. Jones, who died at his home in Section 24 of Fairmount township on March 31, 1908. He was bom on the old Jones farm in the same township, on October 17, 1843. The date of his birth indicates the early settlement of the family in this county. Mr. Jones was long a successful farmer, held a high position in the esteem of his community, and besides providing liberally for his immediate household was always helpful and liberal in his relations to the general welfare and advancement of the locality.

The founder of the family in Grant county was Grandfather Ellis Jones, who was bom in Ohio, and it is believed that lie came to this county with his family from Ohio, and after arriving did the pioneer work of establishing a home, and lived to a good old age in Jefferson township. The parents of the late H. A. Jones were Joseph and Catherine (McCormick) Jones. They were probably married in Ohio, and then moved to Grant county and settled on a farm in Fairmbunt township. There they continued their useful career until death. Joseph Jones was bom April 15, 1811, and died September 15, 1856. His wife was born January 4, 1816, and died December 4, 1889. They were people of the highest character, and were active members of the Methodist church. The Methodist religion was characteristic of all generations of the family, while in politics the male representatives first supported the Whig ticket and later the Republican cause. In the family of Joseph and Catherine Jones, Hiram A. was the second among five sons. They were George; Burton, who lived in Marion, and was first married to Jane Duling, by whom he had one daughter Minnie A., and afterwards married a sister of his first wife, Sina Duling, and their children are Edith and Ralph. Robert L. Jones was a former sheriff of 'Grant county, and was killed by a prisoner, while performing his duties. He married Louisa Gadden, who lived in Marion and has two sons, Clinton and Paul. The youngest son was Joseph A., who died after his marriage to Malinda Whitson, a sister of R. L. Whitson, editor of this Grant County History.

Hiram A. Jones was a lifelong resident of Fairmount township, with the exception of three years spent in the army during the Civil war. He served three years in Co. C. 89th Indiana Vol. Infantry during the Civil war and had his right eye shot out in battle. After his education in the local schools, he found farming to be his best vocation in life, and from that time until his death followed the industry with thrift and energy, and steadily prospered. In 1874 he bought a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, and kept increasing his estate by judicious investment until at the time of his death he owned four hundred and seventy acres, all good land and divided into six different farms. These farms all lay in Fairmount township, excepting eighty acres in Washington township of Delaware county, and all of them were well improved with farm buildings, except one. The home place now occupied by Mys. Jones, is an unusually attractive rural home, and the house sits in the midst of well kept grounds, and a large red barn is itself an evidence of the prosperity which has always been a feature of this homestead. The late Mr. Jones was very domestic in his tastes, and lived entirely for his family.

He was married in Jefferson township on April 21, 1867, to Miss Anna Hardy. Her birth occurred in Jefferson township January 28, 1844. She was reared and educated in that vicinity and proved herself a most competent wife and mother, having done her share in the creation of the prosperity which has been described and having given careful attention to the rearing and training of her children. She now occupies the old homestead where she and her husband located nearly forty years ago. Her parents were Walter and Jane (Dowden) Hardy, both natives of Ohio. Her father was bom August 27, 1820, and her mother May 4, 1821. Their marriage was celebrated in Grant county, March 26, 1843. They began their careers as farmers in Jefferson township, and to begin with had a tract of almost raw land. They made it a highly improved and well cultivated farmstead, and there spent all their active lives. Her father died in 1887 and her mother on May 9, I860. They belonged to the Methodist church and in politics he was Republican. The Hardy children were : Anna, Mrs. Jones ; Henry, who died in infancy ; David, who died after his marriage to Mollie Moore, who is still living with her two children; Noah, who died after his marriage in Jefferson township, and left a family; Celina, who died young; Elizabeth, who died after her marriage to Joseph Boey without children; Lewis, who lives on the old homestead in Jefferson township, and has one sonuand two daughters ; George, a resident of Indianapolis, and the father of two sons and one daughter.

To the marriage of Hiram A. Jones and wife were born eight children, whose names and brief mention of whose careers are as fol¬ lows: 1. Charles P. educated in the common schools, is a farmer in Fairmount township, and by his marriage to Nora Foster, has five children, Harry, Wilbur, Myrtle, Emerson and Albert. 2. Nettie J. is the wife of Elwood Rich, a farmer in Huntington county, and has three sons, Robert, William and Ralph. 3. George C. is a farmer in Delaware county, and by his marriage to Clara Haynes has three children, Inez, Everett, and Francis. 4. Della S., who is a well educated young woman, has given all her love and affection to her parents, has for a number of years had charge of the home and lives with her mother. 5. Dolly C. is the wife of Wick Leach, a son of Charles Leach, a Grant county family, whose history will be found on other pages. Wick Leach and wife lived in Fairmount township, and have children, Hazel, Adelbert, Kenneth and Robert. 6. Arthur 0., is a farmer on his grandfather's farm, in Fairmount township. He married Tura Skinner, and their children are Ray and Vera. 7. Emma E. is the wife of Louis Needier, a farmer in Jefferson township and tr^gtee of that township. Their children are Joseph and Harvey. Robert L., a farmer in Fairmount township married Lena Neal, and has a son Ralph. Mrs. Jones and family are all members of the Methodist faith.

James Allen Stretch, one of the early residents of Marion, was born in Salem County, New Jersey, July 15, 1817. He moved with his parents to Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, in 1823, and from Rich¬ mond to Henry county in 1835, where they lived on a farm. He was married July 18, 1838, to Jane Adlissa Stephenson, and lived in Henry county until 1843, when he purchased a stock of dry goods and moved the goods to Marion in wagons and opened a dry goods store on the East side of the Public Square. The family first lived in a frame build¬ ing standing on the corner of Adams and Third Streets, and after some time moved to the homestead on the east side of Adams Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets, now 609 South Adams Street. He sold his goods store after sometime in that business, and studied law; *as elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which office he held for lany years in addition to his business as attorney. He also became 4erested in politics and was nominated by the Republicans for Clerk f the Supreme Court on the State ticket, but the Democrats were suc- *ssful in carrying the State.

1862 and was Captain of Company A, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. This Company was on duty in Grant and Blackford counties for a short time due to the activity of the ' 4 Knights of the Golden Circle/ ' He served with his regiment in Kentucky and Tennessee, being engaged in several skirmishes, until December, 1863, when on account of sickness he resigned. He returned to Marion and after an illness of several months, recovered partially and endeavored to attend to business; was elected Magistrate again, but never entirely regained his health which he lost through hard service and exposure while in the volunteer army.

He died in Marion, June 22, 1880, and was buried in the Odd Fel¬ lows ' Cemetery. His wife and six children, four daughters and two sons, survived him. Mrs. Stretch died in Marion, November 6, 1907, at the age of ninety-one years, having been a resident of Marion sixty-four years, where she was respected and loved by all who knew her.

Three of the six children are living, two being residents of Marion. Sarah, now Mrs. Luther McLane, for a short time after her marriage lived near Somerset, afterward moving to Rochester, Minnesota, where the family lived for many years. They now have their home near Los Angeles, California.

James Quincy was born in Marion, attending the Marion Academy, and read law in his father's office and later was elected Justice of the Peace. He died in 1894 at his home here.

Mary A. came with her parents to Marion and attended the early schools here and the Marion Academy. She married James M. Pugh and lived on a farm near Mt. Olive in Pleasant Township, where she died in 1906.

John F. came with his parents to Marion in 1843, attending the early schools here and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1862, graduating in 1866. He was commissioned Second Lieu¬ tenant in the Tenth Infantry and served on frontier duty at Ft. Aber¬ crombie, Dakota (since abandoned), here commanding a detachment of mounted infantry. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant in 1867. He served on Mexican frontier at Brownsville, Texas, as Assistant Adjutant General of the District of the#Rio Grande, 1867 to 1871. On duty at Military Academy at West Point as tactical officer 1871 to '76. Again he served on Frontier duty in Texas in command of Ft. Griffin and in charge of the Lipan Indians. Afterward serving as adjutant again and being stationed at Detroit, in 1884 he was promoted Captain on duty in New Mexico, and was with company on Geronimo Indian Campaign in Arizona and New Mexico. During 1889 to 1894 he served as instructor in U. S. Infantry and Cavalry schools at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Served at Chicago with company during riots in 1894, guarding Postal cars. On duty with company at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, 1894 to 1898, and went with Regiment to Cuba in 1898. Commanded company in battle of Santiago, July 1, 1898, and subsequent fighting about Santiago. In command of battalion Tenth Infantry after return to this country. Promoted Major Eighth Infantry and joined that regiment in Havana, Cuba. On duty as disbursing officer of the Island, 1899 and 1900. Left Cuba for duty with Eighth Infantry in Philippine Islands and com¬ manded regiment in Provinces of Batangas and Laguna until 1901. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel Twenty-eighth Infantry, joined that regi¬ ment in United States and returned to Philippines. Promoted to Colonel of Twenty-seventh Infantry, 1902, then in the Islands. In June of that year, he asked for and received his retirement after forty years in the service of the government. He returned to Marion where he lived.

Mrs. William J. Houck

renewing old acquaintances, until his death on August 7, 1913. He was buried beside his father and mother in the family plot in the I. 0. 0. F. Cemetery.

William J. Houck. As Lincoln once said relative to his own par¬ entage and youth, the conditions which compassed the early years of William Jackson Houck were those implied in the "short and simple annals of the poor," but he had the will to do and to dare and has thus proved himself able to overcome obstacles, master circumstances and push his way forward to the goal of worthy and distinctive success, as is evident when it is stated that he is numbered among the able and representative members of the bar of Grant county, where he has main¬ tained his home since his childhood days and where he has measured fully to the demands of the metewand of popular confidence and esteem. He is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Marion, the county seat, and has not only achieved pronounced success and precedence in his chosen profession but also is known as a pro¬ gressive, liberal and influential citizen. He has passed the half-century mark and has made the years count for good in all the relations of his life, his accomplishment standing the more to his honor because it has represented entirely the concrete results of his own energy, determination and ability.

Mr. Houck was born in Jay county, Indiana, and the place of his nativity was a primative log cabin of the type common to the pioneer era, his parents and other kins-folk having been in the poorest of finan¬ cial circumstances, so that early felt the lash of necessity, which quick¬ ened his ambition and vitalized his mental and physical powers. He was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, all of whom are living except one. The parents, Samuel B. and Mary Ann (Iiams) Houck, were both natives of Ohio, where the respective families settled in the pioneer days. Samuel B. Boyd was born in Butler county, that state, and his wife was born near Sandusky, Erie county. After coming to Indiana Samuel Houck followed the vocation of teamster, in Jay county, for two years, at the expiration of which, in the autumn of 1864, he came with his family to Grant county and established his home in Marion. He followed teaming and other modest vocations and the financial returns for his labors were barely adequate to make pro¬ vision for the necessities of his family. - He was a man of integrity and industry and while his career was not marked by dramatic incidents or great temporal success he lived up to his possibilities under existing conditions and thus merited and received the respect of his fellow men. He passed the closing years of his life at Jonesboro, this county, where he died in 1908, at a venerable age, his cherished and devoted wife having passed tp the life eternal two years previously.

William J. Houck is indebted for his early educational discipline to the public schools of Marion and Jonesboro, this county, and in se¬ curing a more liberal education he had the definite spur of personal desire and ambition, so that he depended upon his own exertions in defraying the expenses of his collegiate course. When but fifteen years of age he began teaching in the district schools, and that he does not place a specially high estimate upon his scholastic ability at the time is shown by the fact that he states that he "kept rather than taught school/ ' Experience proved effective, however, and he made good the handicap , with the result that he was successful in the pedagogic pro¬ fession through the medium of which he paid his college expenses. He finally entered Ridgeville College, at Ridgeville, Randolph county, an institution that has now passed out of existence, and in the same he was graduated in June, 1880, with the degree of Bachelor of Science (et seq. M. S.). After leaving college Mr. Houck passed two years as a teacher in the public schools near Cincinnati, Ohio, and simultaneously he pursued his studies in the Cincinnati Law School, his ambition being jOne of action and definite purpose. After completing the prescribed course in the law school Mr. Houck returned to Indiana and entered the office of Judge Haines, of Portland, Jay county, and there he was admitted to the bar of his native state in the year 1880. He forthwith entered upon the practice of his profession, but shortly afterward, in June, 1881, he was deflected from the same, as he was elected superin¬ tendent of schools for Jay county, the place of his birth. Thus was shown forth conclusively that he was not like the prophet and without honor in his own country. He gave an effective administration, did much to systematize and advance the work of the schools of the county and the popular estimate placed upon his services was manifest in his re-election in 1883 and again in 1885, so that he served three successive terms, at the expiration of the last of which the county board of trustees failed to elect a successor, with the result that he continued the incum¬ bent about six months after the close of his regular term and then re¬ signed the office.

Resuming the active practice of law at Portland, Jay county, Mr. Houck there remained until September, 1889, when he purchased the weekly newspaper known as the Marion Democrat and returned to the county seat of Grant county. He removed the plant of his paper to new quarters and in its first issue under his regime he changed its title to the Marion Leader. He successfully continued as editor and publisher of the Leader until the autumn of 1895, and brought the paper up to a high standard in its editorial 3nd news departments and as an exponent of local interests. It is still published under the name which he con¬ ferred and is one of the influential papers of this section of the state. After his retirement from the field of journalism Mr. Houck resumed the practice of his profession, to which he has since given his entire time and attention and in connection with which he has become one of the representative members of the bar of Grant county, and of the state, with a large and important clientage and with the highest reputa¬ tion for ability and resourcefulness as a trial lawyer and conservative counselor.

Mr. Houck, as may well be imagined in connection with a man of his character and experience, is staunchly fortified in his opinions con¬ cerning matters of public polity, both in a local and general sense, and he has long been one of the influential figures in the councils of the Demo¬ cratic party in central Indiana. In 1886 he lacked only eleven votes of being nominated for the office of clerk of the supreme court of the state, and two years later he was the Democratic nominee for representative of his district in the state senate, said district comprising Grant and Madison counties, his defeat being compassed by normal political ex¬ igencies, for the district had at that time a decisive Republican ma¬ jority. In 1900 at the Democratic convention for the Eleventh con¬ gressional district Mr. Houck, against his own volition and desire, was virtually compelled to accept nomination for congress. His defeat was a foregone conclusion, but he made a spirited and effective campaign through his district and succeeded in reducing the majority of his op¬ ponent 3,000 votes, though the district had a normal Republican majority of eight thousand. Mr. Houck is a most vigorous and convincing po¬ litical speaker and his services have been enlisted by his party in various campaigns in the state, though he has permitted nothing to defleet him - from his profession and the demands of his large and representative practice. As a citizen he shows a vital and helpful interest in all that touches the welfare of his home city, county and state and his influence and aid are given to worthy enterprises and measures projected for their good, as well as that of humanity in general. He has unqualified affection for his native state and deep appreciation of the sturdy pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundations upon which has been reared the great superstructure of advanced civilization and prosperity. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Tribe of Ben Hur.

On the 21st of June, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Houck to Miss Eliza C. Sliraek, who was born and reared at Dunkirk, Jay county, this state, where her husband taught school for two years. She presides most graciously over the attractive home in Marion and the same is a center of generous hospitality. Mrs. Houck is the only child of James H. and Nancy R. Shrack, who are now living in the same home with Mr. and Mrs. Houck where they have always lived as one family.

Edgar L. Goldthwait. As one of the old families of Grant county there are numerous references to the Goldthwaits in the historical vol¬ ume of the Centennial History and also the sketches of the other branches of that family, so prominently identified with the business and civic life of the community. The following is a brief outline of the ancestry and career of Edgar Louis Goldthwait, who has been best known in Grant county as an editor and publisher.

The founder of his family in the United States was Thomas Gold¬ thwait, who was born at Goldth waite, Yorkshire, West Riding, in 1610, and emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1628. He died March 1, 1683. This first ancestor married Rachael Leach of Salem. From this ancestor the line is traced as follows: Samuel, son of Thomas, was born in 1637 and died in 1714, and lived his life at Salem. Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in 1668 and died in 1748, and also spent his life in Salem. Thomas, of Petersham, Massachusetts, born 1738, served all through the Revolutionary war, after several years*' service in the French- Indian wars. Thomas, a son of the latter, lived from 1768 to 1829, his birthplace having been Long Meadow, Massachusetts. In Fairfield county, Ohio, he married Mary Crawford, who lived from 1785 to 1847. When a widow with seven children she emigrated to Marion, Indiana, in 1836.

The father of Edgar L. Goldthwait was Oliver Goldthwait^ who was born in 1812 and died in 1872. He was married April 11, 1847, to Marilla Ellen Eward, who was born at Carlisle, Kentucky, September 22, 1830, and died December 31, 1862. Oliver Goldthwait was a car¬ penter* by trade, a man of high moral character, was liberally edu¬ cated, and was devoted to his church. His wife, Ellen, was a diligent student, an omnivorous reader, and especially charming in conver¬ sational ability. Her ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Kentucky, and of Scotch stock

Edgar L. Goldthwait was born in Grant county, August 7, 1850. When twelve years of age he began an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, and was connected with that trade and the business of publish¬ ing and editorial work for forty years. Mr. Goldthwait is especially remembered for his long connection of sixteen years as editor of the

In December, 1886, Mr. Goldthwait married Candace Zombro. She Was born in Urbana, Ohio, February 19, 1860, a daughter of John Thomas and Rebecca (Brown) Zombro. Mr., and Mrs. Goldthwait are the parents of a fine family of eight children, all of whom are living, and whose names and dates of births are as follows: Mary Agnes, October 21, 1887; George Edgar, October 18, 1889; Margaret, January 15, 1892; James Sweetser, March 27, 1894; John Louis, March 19, 1896; Rebecca, March 7, 1898; Robert Stuart, March 30, 1900; and Marilla Ellen, June 11, 1905. Mr. Goldthwait is of the eighth genera¬ tion of the family in this country.

Kenton Ruley Wigger. While the name Wigger has been in the Marion business directory so long that it is a household word in Grant county, and is as familiar to the trade as any landmark about the public square, the original Wigger business house was located in Jonesboro. It was in 1852 that Harman Wigger came with his uncle, Aaron Abel, from Germany, and in 1859 he established the business in Jonesboro that has always been associated with the Wigger family name in Grant county.

When Mr. Wigger concluded to remain in America his parents fol¬ lowed him two years later, and located at Union City, where they ended their days although some of the relatives still live there. When Harman Wigger was prospecting for a location he chose Jonesboro rather than Marion because of the Whiteneck tanyard located there, and William Whiteneck offered special inducements to him. He was a saddler and harness maker, and Mr. Whiteneck wranted a home market for the output of his tannery. Mr. Wigger could have leather at any time and in any quantity, and for twenty-four years he continued the saddle and harness business in Jonesboro, where he accumulated both town and farm prop¬ erty, and where he was married and raised up his family.

One year after coming to Jonesboro Mr. Wigger married Mary Jane Whitson, and one daughter, Mrs. Nora A. W. Tucker, was bom to them. Mrs. Wigger did not live long and later he married Sarah Jane Ruley, whe became the mother of Kenton Ruley Wigger, named at the beginning of this Wigger family sketch. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Wigger married her sister, Eliza M. Ruley. The daughter, Nora, married Henry Tucker, of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and on the death of her husband she returned to the home of her father. Kenton R. Wigger married Miriam A. Wallace (see Wallace family) and one daughter, Miriam Louise, was bora to them. Harman Wigger married three times and all were Jonesboro women. The first wife is mentioned in the Whitson family sketch, and all that remain of the Ruley family from which Kenton Ruley Wigger is descended are Mrs. Margaret Ruley Willman of Jonesboro and Mrs. Mary Ruley Weddington of Indianapolis.

When Burtney W. Ruley came from Virginia he located on a farm in Mill, and after serving the county as treasurer (see chapter on Civil Government) he returned from Marion to this farm, where he built a farm home very unusual in that day - a typical Virginia manor in Grant county. This old homestead is now owned by Henry Wise and the house still stands there - back from the road, although built along the old Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne State road crossing the Mississinewa at Ink's ford, but finally the roads were placed on section lines and the house was near the center of the farm - and there are people living who still remember it as the Ruley farm, although the Ruley family had retired to Jonesboro (Gas City was not then on the map), and the

Harman Wigger was successful as a harness dealer, and after a few years Marion business men invited him to change his location and open a harness store in Marion. The Whiteneck tannery served his purpose well, and he regarded Jonesboro as a better town and along in the sixties there was frequent agitation of changing the location of the county seat - Jonesboro nearer the center of Grant coufity. Instead of moving to Marion then, Mr. Wigger induced a younger brother, J. H. Wigger, to open such a store in 1864, and he helped him establish a business that, with changed conditions - notably, the building of the Marion and Liberty (Strawtown) pike, made the Marion store more profitable than the §tand in Jonesboro. The Whiteneck tannery burned and finally Harman Wigger 'removed his family to Marion in 1883, although only a nominal business relation existed between him and his brother, J. H. Wigger. He invested in rental property, and after the death of J. H. Wigger in 1896, the Wigger Buggy and Harness company of which K. R. Wigger is now the head came into existence. For half a century the name Wigger has been in the Marion business directory.

J. H. Wigger accumulated considerable property and he had a happy family, but Mrs. Josie Swartz and Paul Wigger died soon after the death of their father and a few years later Miss Pauline Wigger died, and upon the death of the wife and mother (Ruth Griffin), the Wigger estate went to relatives. 4 'The earth is a stage," although some of the players have but short time in which to act their parts. J. H. Wig¬ ger 's time in Grant county was from 1864 to 1896, and his family is now extinct. John Wigger of Washington township is a brother, and Harman Wigger, who was the first of the family in Grant county, is now the senior Wigger in America. He was born August 31, 1836, in Germany. While J. H. Wigger was the first of " Wigger on the Square," in Marion the Wigger Buggy and Harness Company rounds out the first half century of the Wigger harness trade in Marion.

While Harman Wigger is the senior Wigger in this country, he is also the senior in the Whitson-Ruley family relationship. Changes have come to the Wigger family circle as to the rest of the world. While Grandmother Wigger lived and frequently visited in Grant county, the German language was spoken in the family, but now German is seldom spoken - the Wigger family thoroughly American, and the younger gen¬ eration not knowing the German tongue. Mr. Wigger's immediate fam¬ ily circle is his daughter and the family of his son, K. R. Wigger. . Mention of the name Wigger suggests the business Harman Wigger established in the county in 1859 - more than half a century ago. When he first handled leather in Jonesboro the demands of the trade were simple and he manufactured everything, and today the Wigger Buggy and Harness Company makes a specialty of hand made harness. A large force of men is employed and Wigger made harness is in great demand among Wigger patrons in Grant county. While the automobile trade is a later feature of the Wigger business and up to date features are everywhere in evidence in the store, the name : ' ' Wigger Buggy and Harness Company" indicates that the company adheres to the old line - caters to the trade that has always had its headquarters at the Wigger store.

The name Wigger has been advertised as widely as any business or firm name in Grant county, and the future policy is to maintain the excellent business reputation. The Wigger Buggy and Harness Company initiated the plan of sending out wagon loads of buggies for sale among farmers, but more recently its policy is to invite all patrons to the " Wig- ger on the Square1 * store where a complete line of luggage articles, trunks, suit cases and valises and all kind of robes and blankets, as well as buggies, carriages, harness and automobiles and accessories are to be found in stock, and a courteous floor service is extended to all. While Mr. Wigger maintains close oversight of his business, he is sur¬ rounded with competent salesmen and the Wigger Buggy and Harness Company enjoys splendid patronage.

Edmund Clark Leach. On section three of Fairmount township is the home of Edmund Clark Leach. Two hundred and forty acres of some of the finest land to be found in southern Grant county are the basis of his industry as a farmer and stockman, and by his success he stands in the very front rank of producers of agricultural crops. His judgment in farming matters is regarded as almost infallible, and everything about his place attests the progressive and prosperous business man. From a considerable distance his home can be recognized by its large white house, red barn, and silo, and the condition of the fields and the fences is a further evidence of his ability. Mr. Leach grows crops that average sixty bushels of corn to the acre, forty bushels of wheat and other grains in proportion, and everything grown on the place is fed to his cattle and hogs. The Leach family has been identified with this section of Indiana, since pioneer times, and orig¬ inally came from the old commonwealth of Virginia.

Great-grandfather Rev. Eaton Leach was born in Virginia, not long after the close of the Revolutionary war, and was married in that state. Most of their children were born in Virginia, and those whose names are remembered were: William Archibald, Reuben, James IT., Mattie, Rebecca. Early in the year 1800 the family came over the Mountains to Franklin county, Indiana, wTiere they were among the very earliest settlers in what was then northwest territory. Indiana did not become an individual territory for several years later, and did not become a state until 1816. Eaton Leach entered land from the government, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Franklin county. He was a life-long member of the primitive Baptist church, in which faith he was a preacher, and he was a man who exercised great influence and did much for the good of his community. His wife was of the old school Presbyterian church. All his children mentioned above, with the exception of Rebecca lived to be married, and all had children of their own.

William Leach, grandfather of the Fairmount township farmer, was the oldest, and was born in Virginia, about 1790. lie enlisted for service in the -war of 1812, his participation as a soldier of that war being one of the features in the family history of which his descendants may well be proud. In Franklin county, Indiana, William Leach married Miss Sarah or Sallie Harrison, who was born in Ohio, of the old Ohio family of that name. All the children of William Leach and wife were born in Franklin county, Indiana, and then in the early thirties, they moved to Fairmount township in Grant county. Thus nearly eighty years have passed since the Leach name first became identified with Grant county, and its members have all been effective and honorable citizens of their respective communities. William Leach took up land from the government and eventually acquired by purchase eight tracts of eighty acres each, giving to each one of his eight children, a farm of eighty acres. On the old homestead he continued to make his home throughout the rest of his days, and died about 1848, when less than sixty years of age. His widow survived until a good old age. The first Primitive Baptist church organization was formed in the home of William Leach, and he was one of the officials and active workers in that society.. In politics his support was always given to the Democratic party, and he was in many ways an honored and respected citizen. The eight children of William Leach and wife were as follows: Rachael, Esom, John, Edmund, Jane, Mary (Polly), Martha A., and William Jasper. The last named died young, while all the others married and now have descendants living in this and other parts of the country.

Esom Leach, the oldest son and second child, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, and after coming to Grant county became owner of half a section or three hundred and twenty acres of land in the township of Fairmount. There his death occurred January 17, 1893. His wife, who survived him some years was Lucinda Corn, born in Kentucky, and spending part of her girlhood in Rush county, being still young when her family moved to Grant county. She was fourteen years of age when married to Esom Leach. Their career began in a very humble home, and by their industry and good management they provided well for their children and spent their own years in comfort and prosperity. Lucinda Corn was a daughter of Joseph Corn, one of the early settlers who came from Kentucky to Rush county, and later to Grant county, where he died when a very old man.

Mr. Edmund Clark Leach is one of thirteen children, all of whom married and had families, and eight sons and two daughters are still living. The fifth in this large family, Mr. Leach was born in Fairmount township, May 26, 1849, was reared and educated in his native locality, and has always followed farming with such success as few of his neighbors have attained.

Mr. Leach first married Frances Caskey, who died without children. His second wife was Elizabeth Mann, who was born in North Carolina, but was reared in Grant county, and died in Fairmount in 1885. She left a son, William H., who married Myrtle Payne, who died leaving three children, Harold, Bernice, and Clarkson P. The present wife of Mr. Leach was Miss Zibbie Glass, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Harrison) Glass. She was born and reared in Rush county, but in early womanhood came to Grant county. Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of eight children, namely: Ethel, Myrtle, Elizabeth, Hattie, Carnetia, George, Wilma, and Wilmer. The three oldest children are all graduates of the Fairmount Academy, and Miss Myrtle is now a special supply teacher. Hattie is a student in the Academy as is also her sister Carnetia, while the three youngest are in the grade schools. Mr. and Mrs. Leach are workers in the Primitive Baptist church at Fowlerton, and in politics he is a Democrat.

Jason Willson. The city of Marion, Indiana, has been rarely called upon to mourn the loss of a citizen whose death removed from the com¬ munity such an important factor in its affairs as did that of the late Jason Willson. For more than a half a century the directing head of the banking firm of Jason Willson & Company, his connection with financial affairs was of such an extensive nature as to give him un¬ questioned prestige among Indiana bankers, while as a citizen and in private life he ever maintained a reputation as a man of the highest principles and strictest integrity. Mr. Willson was bom at Greenwich, New York, November 23, 1826, and was one of the twelve children of Osborn and Susan (Clapp) Willson.

Osborn Willson was born in Vermont, in 1793, and belonged to an early family of the Green Mountain State, whose early spirit of inde¬ pendence carried them valiantly into the ranks of the Continental army during the War of the Revolution. His paternal ancestors were Scotch- Irish and his maternal ancestors were of Scotch birth, the McCrackens', to which family his mother belonged, coming from Scotland and settling in New England during Colonial days. Her grandfather, Col. David McCracken, sacrificed an arm in the cause of American Independence, while the maternal grandfather of Jason Willson, Isaac Clapp, and the latter's brother, also served in the Revolutionary army. In early life Osborn Willson removed to Washington county, New York, where he was married to Susan Clapp, born at Salem, in that county, in 1799, of Welsh descent. This happy union lasted for sixty-three years, and resulted in the birth of twelve children, all of whom reached maturity and occupied honorable and honored positions in life. At the Golden Wedding Anniversary of this couple hundreds of their descendants and friends gathered to do them honor, and this occasion was duplicated when they had passed sixty-two years of married life. Not long after the latter event, Mrs. Willson passed away, in August, 1875, while her husband survived her five years, his death removing from his community a man who had fairly won the highest respect of all who had known him.

Born in the same house in which his eleven brothers and sisters had first seen the light of day, Jason Willson passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, in the meantime securing a thorough education in the common schools. At the age of eighteen years he embarked upon a career of his own, adopting the profession of educator, in which all of his parents' children were engaged at one time or another. For eight years he was engaged in teaching during the winter months, while in the summer he followed the vocation of farming, but his youthful ambi¬ tion to better himself in life made him dissatisfied with the small wages and meagre opportunities offered in his calling and eventually he re¬ linquished it to become a traveling photographer. From 1853 to 1859 he was engaged in making daguerreotypes in various parts of the East, West and South, and while thus engaged, in the year 1859, came to Muncie, Indiana. Constantly on the lookout for a more profitable busi¬ ness, he recognized the opportunity for the establishment of a grocery business in Muncie,. and continued to conduct this with remarkable success, for some two years.

It was while a resident of that city, September 19, 1860, that Mr. Willson was married to Miss Sabrina Wolfe, the estimable daughter of Adam Wolfe, the pioneer banker and merchant of Muncie, and this union was the means of causing Mr. Willson to embark upon the career in which he was to gain such high distinction and so great a success. From young manhood it had been his ambition, to become a banker, and when he had confided his aspirations to his father-in-law, the elder man, with rare foresight, recognized in him the qualities which go to make for success in the field of finance. Accordingly, Mr. Wolfe proposed that they enter the banking business as partners, and shortly thereafter, hav¬ ing secured some experience in the house of his father-in-law, Mr. Willson came to Marion and became the founder of the firm of Jason Willson & Company. When the Exchange Bank threw open its doors to the public, January 8, 1862, there was not a railroad nor a mile of gravel road in Grant county, and the only sidewalks in the embryo city consisted of a few stones embedded in the grounds surrounding the Court House. Although the enterprise was a success from the very start, it is interesting to note that for three years and four months following its inception Mr. Willson carried on all the work of the bank, from sweeping the floor to « discharging the duties of clerk, bookkeeper, cashier, president and board of directors. At the time he disposed of his interests therein, the bank required the services of no less than six active and experienced men, and had ten corresponding banks located in New York, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Toledo and Cleveland, and a perusal of the record of the institution shows that the accounts with these banks were at no time overdrawn. Mr. Wolfe continued as a partner in the bank until his death, March 20, 1892, a period of more than thirty years, and after his demise Mr. Willson was associated in business with his sons, Fred W. and Albert J. Willson. In 1883 Mr. Willson erected the Bank block, at that time the best in the city, and his residence, built in 1896, was the largest, handsomest, most substantial and modem in the city for years. At the time of his retirement, about ten years prior to his death, he sold his interests in the bank, which then became known as the Marion National, and continued to live retired until his death, March 10, 1913. Mr. Willson gained his position in the world of finance through no happy chance or adventitious circumstance, but by years of most devoted attention to the routine of the business, by an exacting knowledge of its principles, and after the most thorough test of his firmness, sagacity and integrity. He was a Democrat in politics, but of the kind that seeks the establishment of the right principles of government rather than the acquisition of the honors of office. Essen¬ tially and pre-eminently a banker, he left to others the task of public service, although the earnestness of his citizenship was never doubted, and in numerous ways he advanced the interests of Marion and its people. The members of the family have always been connected with the Episcopal church.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilison : Grace, who died in 1879, in her seventeenth year; Fred W., a graduate of Racine College, of Racine, Wisconsin, and now a resident of Marion, Indiana; and Albert J., a graduate of Yale University, and now a resident of Marion. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Willson was celebrated at Muncie, Indiana, in 1910, and many of the people who were at their first wedding were there in attendance. This golden wedding was given at the resi¬ dence of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Balls at Muncie, Indiana.

"Whereas, those who are still actively associated with the banks of Marion and Grant county are conscious and appreciative of the record of the nestor of the banking business in this city and county. For more than a generation, Jason Willson set the standard of correct business principles in this community from 1862 thenceforward, without the record of an unkind act or a blot upon his name, as a loyal and valuable citizen and banker. It is therefore

"Resolved, by those who succeed him in different interests, represent¬ ing his pioneer enterprise of a half century ago, that they certify to his high conception and loyalty to his duties as a banker and his obliga¬ tions as a common citizen. The confidence of the people, and of the public, were never betrayed ; what was entrusted to him was ever faith¬ fully guarded. He was ever faithful and loyal to the confidences that were entrusted to his watchfulness and care.

"Resolved, That the banking institutions of Marion close on Wednes¬ day afternoon at 1 o'clock for the day in honor of his memory. Marion National Bank, First National Bank, Marion State Bank, Grant Trust & Savings Company, Farmers Trust and Savings Company. ' '

Mr. Willson was exceptionally successful in a material way as was evidenced by his will, which was filed for probate after his death with the county clerk. Very brief and concise, it was nevertheless very thorough, covering all points in the business-like manner which would be expected of a man of Mr. Willson's ability. The first item provided for the payment of all just debts, including the funeral expenses. Item two bequeathed to his wife, in fee simple, the magnificent residence property at Ninth and Washington streets, together with all the furni¬ ture and household goods of every description. The third and final item provided that all other property of the deceased, both real and personal, and the residue therefrom, should become the property of the widow and two sons, to be held in equal shares.

It will not be inappropriate to close this all too inadequate review of the career of this distinguished citizen with a quotation from a local newspaper, which in describing his funeral said in part as follows: ''The last rites over the body of Jason Willson, Marion's oldest banker, and reputed to have been for the last ten years the oldest living banker in Indiana, were conducted with impressive solemnity at 2 o'clock, Wednes¬ day afternoon (March 12, 1913). Services were held at the residence, 908 South Washington street, with Rev. F. B. B. Johnston, rector of Gethsemane Episcopal church, in charge. Following the ceremony the body was laid to rest in the I. 0. 0. F. cemetery. The funeral was very largely attended. The friends of Mr. Willson filled the residence Wednesday afternoon. A large number of beautiful floral tributes were given by friends. Out of respect for Mr. Willson all banks in the city closed their doors at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon for the remainder of the day, and bankers attended the funeral, as did many business men of the ,city."

Solomon Duling. In the annals of early settlement in Grant county one of the names first to be mentioned is that of the Duling family, which for upwards of seventy years has been identified with Fairmount township. Solomon Duling, above named, was born a few years after the settlement of the family in this county, and has thus lived prac¬ tically all his life in his native community. The Duling name throughout his residence in Grant county has always been associated with solid worth and an industry which brings credit to the possessor and has helped to create the resources and wealth of the community.

The Duling family has always been more or less on the frontier, struggling against the hardships of the wilderness, and making homes first on the Atlantic Coast, and then in different sections of the middle west. First to be mentioned in the family history is William Duling, great-grandfather of Solomon. He spent all his life in Virginia, where he was a farmer. One of the sons of William was Edmund Duling, Sr., grandfather of Solomon, and the next in line of descent was Edmund Duling, Jr. The senior Edward moved from Virginia, early in the nineteenth century and made settlement in Coshocton, Ohio, where he died when past seventy years of age. lie married, probably in Virginia, Mary Dean. He had a large family of 13 children, all of whom lived so that it wras possible for the entire group to be seated at one time about the same family table. Edmund Duling, Sr., -was a prosperous farmer, a man of substance for his time, and was especially prominent in the Methodist church. His home was, in fact, a center for Methodist activities in that part of Ohio. Many meetings were held in his barn, and every itinerant minister who went through the country stopped and was fed and lodged in the Duling home. It was one of the oldfashioned log houses, so frequent at that time in Ohio, but its hospitality was unlimited, and it was often filled from cellar to garret with visitors and worshipers who came from a distance, all of them partaking of the generous provisions afforded by the Duling household. Previous to the immigration of the family from Virginia, they had all been slave holders and planters, but the slaves were freed many years before the war.