Hamilton County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 13 of 14)

Iva S. Hodgix

The man who thrives in any calling is not always the ablest, the shrewd¬ est, or the most laborious, but he is invariably one who has shown a willing¬ ness to please and be pleased, who has responded to the advances of others, not now and then, with conscious effort, but heartily, through nature and habit, while his rival has sniffed and frowned away every helping hand. The way any man treats the members of his family and his friends is a sure index to his character and disposition. He who is gentle with his family and considerate towards his friends reasonably may be depended upon for courtesv and consideration in all the relations of life. A man who measures up to a high standard is Iva S. Hodgin, who has lived more than half a century in the county which gave him birth.

Iva S. Hodgin, the son of Erastus and Lydia (Johnson) Hodgin, was born February 5, 1866, on the farm where he is now living. Erastus Hod¬ gin was born in North Carolina and came to this county when a young man and bought eighty acres of land on which he began farming. He was a very successful farmer and at the time of his death, in 1889, he owned over four hundred acres of land in this county. His widow died March 21, 1905. To Erasture Hodgin and wife were born eight children: Rhoda, deceased; Mrs. Matilda Beales, whose husband is a farmer in this county ; Jesse, a farmer of this county; Alvas D., living in parts unknown; Jonathan, de¬ ceased; Charles C., of Westfield; Iva, with whom this narrative deals; Ira, deceased, a twin brother of Iva; and Oliver, a farmer of Hancock county.

Iva S. Hodgin was given a good common school education in the schools of his home neighborhood, and spent his summer vacations on the farm as¬ sisting his father. In this way he early developed a love for the life of a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres, on which he raises all the grains and fruits of this section of the state and, at the same time, as much live stock as he can feed from his own crops. He has a beautiful home and excellent bams and outbuildings and takes a great deal of pride in keeping his farm in a neat and attractive manner.

Mr. Hodgin was married February 26, 1910, to Viola Nelson, the daughter of John W. and Sarah (Posey) Collp, natives of Hamilton county, Indiana and Kentucky, respectively. Mrs. Hodgin has one daughter, Mrs. Gladys Anderson, bv her first marriage, her daughter now living in Madison county, Indiana.

The Republican party claims the support of Mr. Hodgin, and, although interested in good government, he has never been a candidate for any public office. He and his wife are members of the Friends church and give freely of their means to its support. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Westfield and interested in the work of that fraternal organization. The life of Mr. Hodgin has much to commend it because of his clean and whole¬ some wav of living. He is alive to the best interests of his community and gives his hearty support to all worthy movements calculated to benefit it in any way.

Barnabas C. White

It is altogether fitting that the representative citizens of Hamilton county have their lives recorded in a permanent manner for the benefit of the succeeding generations. The civilization of the present day is so far different from that of the state fifty years ago that the people of today little realize conditions under which their forefathers had to live. In biographical his¬ tory there is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this county from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the pioneers of this county who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage are passing to their graves. The number remain- ing who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that the necessity exists for the collection and preservation of events without delay before all of the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Father Time. One of the old pioneers of this county is Barnabas C. White, who has been a part of this county's history for more than half a century, a period of time which has seen more changes than all the pre¬ ceding years of its history put together.

Barnabas C. White, the son of Stephen and Mary A. (Harold) White, was born September 17, 1849, in Guilford county, North Carolina. His parents also were natives of the same state and left there during the Civil War in order to make their homes in a free state. They crossed the Ohio river into Indiana May 8, 1862, with the intention of coming to the central part of the state to make their home. They crossed the river at Jefferson¬ ville, and here they got their first glimpse of the old Jefferson & In¬ dianapolis Railroad. They conceived the idea of chartering a car and ship¬ ping their household goods, horses and wagons and thus getting located soon enough to put out their crops for that year. They had no difficulty in char¬ tering a car and within two days after they crossed the river they loaded their household utensils, horses, wagons, etc., and shipped them as far north as Columbus, Indiana. Upon arriving at Columbus, Stephen White and his family moved on a farm ten miles east of Columbus, where they re¬ mained for one year, when they moved three miles farther east and remained on this second farm for another year. They then moved back westward ten miles, where they remained for four years, and in the fall of 1868 the whole family, consisting of the father, mother and a large number of children, came to Hamilton county, and since that date members of the family have lived within this county.

Stephen White and wife were the parents of eleven children, whose names are here given in the order of their birth: Barnabas C., bom Septem¬ ber 17, 1849: Delphina, born December 2, 1850, died at the age of two years; Isaac N., born January 30, 1853, died at the age of eighteen months; Mrs. Abigail Hubbard, born July 15, 1854, whose husband is superintendent of the county farm; Abel C., born February 7, 1856, died April 14, 1880; Daniel W., born September 22, 1857, now the proprietor of the elevator at Hillisburg, Clinton county, Indiana; Phoebe N., bom July 12, 1859, de¬ ceased; Shubael H., born March 31, 1861, now a resident of Carmel, In¬ diana; Walter R., born September 26, 1863. now a resident of Noblesville; Marv A., born May 15, 1865, died in infancy; Owen A., bom October 20,

1868, deceased. All of these children, except Walter, Mary and Owen, were born in North Carolina, the last three having been born in Indiana.

Barnabas C. White received only a common school education and sup¬ plemented this with wide reading all of his life. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, having started out in life with but ten acres of land, which he paid for by hard work. To this first small tract he has added from time to time until he and his wife now own one hundred and six and onequarter acres of excellent farming land in the county. They have worked together and j\lr. White feels that his wife* deserves as much credit for his success as he does himself. He has a good home, excellent barns and out¬ buildings of all kinds, while the farm is well equipped with the latest im¬ proved machinery for successful agriculture.

Mr. White was married March 6, 1878, to Ruth A. Macy, the daughter of Benedict and Mary (Jessup) Macy, natives of North Carolina and Henry county, Indiana, respectively. Benedict Macy was torn February 9, 1819, in North Carolina and came to Henry county, Indiana, when he was eighteen years of age. He followed the dual occupation of a farmer and blacksmith and lived a long and useful life in this county, passing away August 29, 1910. His wife died July 17, 1896.

Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of four children, Claudia, Bernice Lula, Cora Bessie and Freddie. Claudia was born November 28, 1878, and died August 6th of the following year. Bernice Lula was born July 24, 1880, and is the wife of Ulysses S. Moser, a farmer of Noblesville township, to whom were bom Mervin S., died December 11, 1899, Samuel W., Wilma, Edward and Leah. Cora Bessie was born December* 26, 1881, and died November 4, 1882; Freddie was born March 26, 1885. and died September 10th, of the same year.

Mrs. White is one of ten children born to her father, who was twice married, and who by his first marriage had three children : Lambert, who lives in Newcastle, Indiana; Bartlett, deceased, and Richard, deceased. The second wife of Mr. Macy was the mother of Mrs. White. To his second marriage were born seven children: Samira, deceased: Mrs. Samantha Jes¬ sup, of Jennings county, Indiana; Ruth, the wife of Mr. White; Mrs. Julia Woodward, of this county; Lydia, deceased; Elizabeth, who is now residing in Texas, and John E.

In politics. Mr. White always has been a stanch Republican, but has never held any office other than that of road supervisor. He and his family are all faithful and earnest members of the Eriends church, and he is one of the officials of Providence church. Mr. White has acted well his part in life, and while primarily interested in his own affairs, he has not been un¬ mindful of the interests of others, contributing to the extent of his ability to the advancement of the public good and the welfare of his fellowmen. Personally, he is a man of pleasing address, sociably inclined and enjoys a wide acquaintance and a large circle of warm and loyal friends.

Charles A. Cook

It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer reverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur¬ pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecu¬ tive endeavor or of sudden, meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. Charles A. Cook is distinctively one of the representative agriculturists of Hamilton county. For a number of years he was engaged in the livery business, since which time he has directed his efforts toward the goal of agricultural success and by patient continuance in well-doing has succeeded in overcoming the many obstacles by which his pathway was beset, being today considered one of the foremost farmers of the county.

Charles A. Cook, the son of Levi H. and Mary J. (White) Cook, was born September 24. 1858, in Washington township, this county. His par¬ ents were natives of Wayne county and Hamilton county, respectively, and his father was a merchant for many years in Xoblesville. Levi H. Cook spent his latter years upon his farm, where he died in August 1899. He had been given a practical education and was a man of good business ability, a fact which led to his appointment as the administrator of many estates, a service invariably performed with satisfaction to all concerned. His wife died in February, 1900.

Charles A. Cook was educated in the district schools of Washington township and spent his summer vacations upon his father's farm. In this wav he early became acquainted with the details of agricultural life and upon his marriage, in 1880, was ready to engage in regular farm work for him¬ self. He continued to farm in this township until 1892, when he moved to Xoblesville and engaged in the livery business, which line he followed for ten years, after which he moved to his farm of eighty-eight acres, where he has since resided. This farm is well improved in every respect and in the tilling of the soil and the proper care of crops Mr. Cook is 'thoroughly mod¬ ern and up-to-date. He has a splendid set of farm buildings, all having been built with the idea of permanency and convenience, and he always has taken pride in keeping his farm in an attractive state.

Mr. Cook was married December 16, 1880, to Belle Scott, the daughter of Charles N. and Sarah A. (Hayworth) Scott, natives of Hamilton county and Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three chil¬ dren: Bitrnie, who married and has one son; Herman, who died June 15, 1887. and Anna May, born October 29, 1893, and now living with her par¬ ents.

The Progressive party has claimed the support of Mr. Cook since its organization, in the summer of 1912, he believing that the principles advo¬ cated by this new party eventually will bring about a better condition in the affairs of our nation. Mr. Cook always has been interested in good govern¬ ment, though never having been active in political affairs to the extent of being a candidate for any office. He and his family are members of the Friends church, and in the advancement of its interests they have been prominent factors in their community. Fraternally, Mr. Cook is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which organization he takes a deep interest. Mrs. Cook's father is living with her at the advanced age of seventy-three, her mother having passed away March 9, 1892. Personally. Mr. Cook is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor, though genial and friendly in all of his relations with his fellow citizens. He is a man of decided convictions on the leading questions of the day and gives his earnest support to all move¬ ments for the upbuilding of the community socially, educationally, morally and materially. The result is that he has enjoyed, in a large measure, the warm regard and confidence of all who know him.

Freeman Johnson Hair

The Hair family came to Hamilton county, Indiana, from * Ohio in 1844, and for the past ninety years the members thereof have been prom¬ inent factors in the advancement of the county along various lines of develop¬ ment. The first member of the family to locate in this county was James Hair, who was born in Ohio, either in Brown or Highland counties, and came here when a young man with his parents, John Hair and wife. They were compelled to cut a road through the farm which they had entered, and the night before they reached it they had to camp out in a cabin near Pendle¬ ton, in Madison county. The same night that they were in this cabin a man was lying concealed beneath the floor, hiding from the officers of justice who were seeking to apprehend him. He was one of a gang which had massacred some Indians, and he, with three others, was hanged near Pen¬ dleton shortly afterwards for this crime.

Raymond Johnson Hair, the grandson of James and Polly (Richey) Hair, the first members of the family to locate in this county, was born in the northeastern part of Wayne township, in this county, July 8, 1865. Raymond J. Hair is the son of John S. and Caroline (Fisher) Hair. John S. Hair was one of nine children born to his parents, and was born in the state of Ohio. James Hair was twice married, his first wife being Polly Richey, by whom he had nine children, his second wife being Betsy Wright, by whom he had one child.

John S. Hair was reared to manhood in Hamilton county, Indiana, and here married Caroline Fisher, who was born and reared in Wayne town-: ship. She was a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Fisher, natives of Cler¬ mont county, Ohio. Samuel Fisher and his family came to Wayne township during its early settlement and in 1835 he received the deed for his land from the government. Samuel Fisher was a Democrat in his earlier years, but later joined the Republican party.

After John S. Hair's marriage he began farming on the Fisher home¬ stead, where his son, Freeman J., is now living. He was a quiet and unos¬ tentatious man, thoroughly honorable and upright in all of his dealings and always lived in accordance with the promptings of a good conscience. His death occurred August 21, 1901, and his wife died in February, 1891. They reared a family of five children : Mrs. Lucretia T. Wright, the wife of Wil¬ bur Wright; Mrs. Clara Stanford, of Lapel; Mrs. Serepta Woodard, also of Lapel; Freeman J., a resume of whose history is here recorded, and Mc¬ Carty, who lives in Madison county, this state.

Freeman J. Hair was reared to manhood in Wayne township, and after his marriage he lived for ten years one mile west of Durbin, in Wayne township. He then bought out the interests of the other heirs in the old home place where his father had lived, and in addition bought out the inter¬ est of his wife's twin brother, so that now he has altogether one hundred and sixty acres. For about ten years Mr. Hair drilled gas wells in the gas belt of Indiana, and also water wells in various parts of Hamilton and Madison counties. He also went over into Ohio and drilled several oil wells in that state. As a farmer he ranks among the most progressive and enterprising of his county. He handles only the best breeds of live stock, and his Poland- China hogs and Shorthorn cattle are pure bred, although their pedigrees are not registered. For twenty years he has been raising pure-bred stock and sells hogs every year for breeding purposes to men who deal in regis¬ tered stock.

Mr. Hair was married November 6, 1890, to Martha S. Passwater, a sister of Enoch Passwater, a sketch of whose life's history appears else¬ where in this volume, where further details of the family history are given. Mrs. Hair was born and reared in the western part of Wayne township, in this county. Mr. Hair and his wife are the parents of six children, all of whom are still at home: Celia Grace, John E., Kenneth, Richard, Russell and Robert.

The members of this interesting family are all members of the Metho¬ dist Episcopal church at Lapel, in the affairs of which they take a warm and active interest. Mr. Hair and his son John are members of the Lapel Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and are actively interested in its affairs. Mr. Hair formerly was a Republican, but upon the organization of the Pro¬ gressive party, in 1912, he gave his allegiance to the new party, believing that the success of the principles propounded by the leaders of that political organization was essential to the continued welfare of the nation.

A prominent farmer and the present trustee of Wayne township, Ham¬ ilton county, Indiana, is Thomas E. McDonald, who is one of the leading citizens of his township. The McDonald family is of sturdy Scottish ancestry and has had prominent representation in this county since 1837. The McDonald brothers, Thomas, a cripple, and John, came from Scotland to America about 1750 and located in Pennsylvania. Thomas McDonald is the great-grandfather of Thomas F.., the present representative of the fam¬ ily in Hamilton county. One of the sons of Thomas McDonald was Jacob, who was the first of the family to locate in Hamilton county. He came here in 'i 837, and bought a farm in the northeastern part of Wayne township, where he lived until his death, January 24, 1864.

George McDonald, a son of Jacob, and the father of Thomas E., did not come here with his parents in 1837, but remained in Ohio, where he married Amanda Seabrooke. who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania,

April 24, 1819, the daughter of Archibald and Mary (Knight) Seabrooke. Mary Knight was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of John and Maria Christina (Grosscross) Knight. Maria Christ¬ ina Grosscross was born in Germany, and came with her parents to Adams county, Pennsylvania, and settled near Gettysburg. She had two brothers in the Revolutionary War. Archibald Seabrooke was born in Adams county; Pennsylvania, and was one of the nine sons of Moses and Nancy (Scott) Seabrooke. The father of Moses Seabrooke was born in England, while his wife was a native of Wales. Moses was killed by the Indians on the ground where Williamsport, Pennsylvania, now stands. Archibald Sea¬ brooke and his wife moved to Ohio and made a permanent home in Holmes county. Amanda (Seabrooke) McDonald, the mother of Thomas E., has two sisters who are worthy of special mention. One of these sisters is "Aunt Mary Ann" Robinett, of Wayne township. Her husband, Elijah Robinett, and three of her children died in 1854. She came to this county in 1852 and still lives on her farm near the Prairie Baptist church. She was ninety years old May 22, 1914, and is, considering her age, a remarkably well-preserved woman. She still is blessed with an excellent memory and sews and reads print without glasses. About ten years ago she walked over ten miles to Noblesville to pay her taxes, and now walks to and fro from church twice each Sunday, does all of her own housework, and, for one of her age, is probably the most active woman in the county. The other sister of Mrs. McDonald, who has an interesting history, was the wife of Major Peter J. Birchall, who was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln, and who often visited the Lincoln home. After Lincoln's death Mrs. Lincoln was cared for at the Birchall home for about three months. The mother of Mrs. Birchal, Mrs. Robinett and Mrs. McDonald, died August 21, 1882, at the advanced age of ninety-six years and nineteen days.

Thomas E. McDonald, with whom this narrative deals, was born November 7, i860, in the northeastern part of Wayne township, Hamilton county, Indiana, and was the youngest son born to George and Amanda (Seabrooke) McDonald. His father was born in Beaver county, Pennsyl¬ vania, November 30, 1815. George McDonald lived five miles southeast of Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, after his marriage until November, 1852, when he moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, and located near his father's home. In the spring of 1855 George McDonald moved one-quarter of a mile farther south and rented a farm until the fall of 1857, when he pur¬ chased a farm in the northern part of section 19. With the exception of eight acres of timber which had been deadened by Thomas Castor, this land was still covered with dense woods. On this farm George McDonald lived until his death July 28, 1894. He was a life-long farmer, a quiet, home-loving man, but active in all of those things which make for the better¬ ment of the community. No worthy cause appealed to him in vain, and he was a liberal and free hearted man who always was willing to share his good fortune with his neighbors. His wife died January 29, 1877. Seven chil¬ dren were born to George McDonald and wife: Alw'elda, who died in infancy; Archibald, who died at the age of fifteen; Sarah, who died at the age of two and one-half years; Jacob, who lives near the old home place; George, who died at the age of one year; Grafton, who lives near the old home farm, and Thomas E.

The education of Thomas E. McDonald was received in the district schools of his home neighborhood. His mother died when he was sixteen years of age and for several years afterwards he kept house for his father and his two brothers. After his marriage in 1880, Mr. McDonald lived on his father's home place and took care of his father until the latter's death in 1894. He continued to reside on the home farm until 1900, and then moved on to the James Fisher farm west of Lapel, where he has since resided.

Mr. McDonald was married August 27, 1880, to Sarah Alice Fisher, who was born on the farm where Mr. McDonald now lives in 1861, a daugh¬ ter of James and Nancy (Sterns) Fisher. On August 24, 1900, Mr. Mc¬ Donald and his family moved on to the Fisher farm, their present home. Mr. McDonald and his wife are the parents of five children living and one deceased : Amy, James, Fortner Socrates, Perry Grafton, Thomas Chester and George Lester. Amy is the wife of Scott Anderson, a farmer of Wayne township, and has one daughter living, Helen Louise, and a son, Russell, who died at the age of fourteen months. James died at the age of five months. Fortner Socrates married Mabel Fern Edrington, and lives on the farm where his father was born. He has one son, Thomas Morton. Perry Grafton married Eva Agnes Bartholomew, and lives one-half mile east of his father's home. They have two children, Alwilda and Woodrow Neal. Thomas C. and George L., who are twins, born May 1 1 , 1894, are single and still living with their parents.

Mr. McDonald has been a stanch Democrat since reaching his majority, and has been very active in the local councils of his party. He was elected trustee of Wayne 'township in 1907, taking office January 1, 1908, and filling this responsible position to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens until the expiration of his term January 1, 1915. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his wife both belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. McDonald is a genial man and has so lived as to win the esteem of his fellow citizens.

Albert A. Haskett

It is a well-attested maxim that the greatness of a community or state lies not in the machinery of government, or even in its institutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the public welfare. In these particulars Albert A. Haskett has conferred honor and dignity upon his county and for this reason his life history should be recorded here with the biographies of the representative men of his county. As a distinguished veteran of the Civil War, as a school teacher of many years' experience, as a public official and as a private citizen, he has measured up to the highest standard of American manhood.

Albert A. Haskett, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Godfrey) Haskett, was born May 15, 1843, in Henry county, Indiana. Daniel Haskett was born in North Carolina and shortly after his marriage, in that state, brought his family to Indiana in order to get away from slavery, an institution which he abhorred. He was a strong Abolitionist and after coming to this state took a very active part in the local operation of the "Underground Railway." He first settled in Henry county in 1842 and five years later moved to Tipton county and located near the town of Tipton. In 1857 the family permanently settled in Hamilton county, in Adams township. Daniel Haskett died Janu¬ ary 15, 1901, his wife having passed away in 1854.

Albert A. Haskett was the third of seven children born to his parents and was fourteen years of age when they settled in Hamilton county. Part of his education was received in Tipton county and the remainder of it in Hamilton county. At the age of seventeen he had just made arrangements to take a four-year course in school, but the Civil War then coming on he gave that four years to the service of his country. T11 November, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was shortly after assigned to the Twenty-first Brigade of the Sixth Division of the Army of the Ohio, which was later incorporated in the Army of the Cumberland. During his service of more than four years, Mr. Has¬ kett never was absent from his company and participated in every battle in which his regiment was engaged. Among the many battles in which he fought may be mentioned the following: Shiloh, Perrvville, Stone's River'. Missionary Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesborough, Springhill, Franklin and Nashville. In June, 1863, Mr. Haskett was appointed first sergeant of his company, and when his regiment was veteranized in January, 1864, was commissioned first lieutenant and was mustered out in December, 1865, at Port Lavaca, Texas, with this rank.

Mr. Haskett returned to Hamilton county immediately after the war, but remained in the county only a short time. He went to Champaign county, Illinois, in February, 1867, and lived there for the next fourteen years, during which time he was engaged in the teaching profession most of the time. While living in Illinois, Mr. Haskett was married on October 1,

1873, t° Mary Zell, of Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, and to this union there were born six children : Carrie, Albert, John Charles, Anna, Robert and Elsa.

1874, and died April 29, 1908. She was one of the most successful teachers of Hamilton county for many years. Albert was born January 31, 1876, and is now living in New Mexico, where he is employed by the United States government as a cattle inspector. He formerly was a teacher in the schools of Hamilton county. In addition to his duties as government inspector, he is acting as correspondent for the Arizona Globe and the Los Angeles Times. John Charles was born January 1, 1878, and died November 29, 1907. He was married September 20, 1903, to Cora Myers and left his widow with one daughter, Katherine. Anna was born February 20, 1880, and died September 20. 1900. Robert was born March 28, 1882, and married Janu¬ ary-24, 1912, to Laura Stanley. They have two children, Ruth and Anna. Elsa, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Haskett, was born April 8. 1884, and taught school for several years before her marriage to C. R. Mitchell, the cashier and bookkeeper of the Strawboard Company at Noblesville, In¬ diana. All of these children except Elsa were born in Champaign county. Illinois.

Mr. Haskett came back from Illinois in 1881 'and has since lived in Hamilton county. In 1888 he was elected treasurer of the county on the Republican ticket and served in that office for one term to the entire satis¬ faction of everyone in the county. He has been a life-long member of the Republican party and one of its valued leaders in the county for many years. Fraternally, Mr. Haskett is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Grand Army of the Republic. He became a member of the Grand Army Post at Noblesville at the second meeting of the local organiza¬ tion and has been officially connected with it ever since.

Mr. Haskett and his family are all members of the Methodist Episco¬ pal church and always have been liberal* supporters of its various, activities.

The life of Mr. Haskett has been commendable in every respect, his daily walk and conversation ever having been such as to command the respect of his friends and acquaintances, among whom he is held in the highest esteem. He has ever been interested in the welfare of his fellow citizens and has con¬ sistently favored every movement which would make his community a better one in which to live.

Roy B. Castor

One of the largest land owners of Hamilton county, Indiana, is Roy B. Castor, who has spent his whole life of thirty-five years in this county where he was born. He comes from a sterling' family, one that has stood for high ideals during all its career. He is a generous-hearted and public-spirited citizen, systematic in everything he does, and has met with a degree of suc¬ cess commensurate with his efforts.

Roy B. Castor, the son of William H. and Mary (Benham) Castor, was born in the house where he is now living in Wayne township, October 12, 1879. His father was born in this same township, one-half mile north of the place where his son is now living, on March 24, 1835, and lived and died within one-half a mile of his birthplace. He died May 26, 1914. The family history of his parents, John and Sarah (Beatty) Castor, appears elsewhere in this volume.

William H. Castor grew to manhood amidst pioneer surroundings and was married February 14, 1877, to Mary C. Benham, a daughter of Dr. Silas and Clemency (Pelair) Benham, who was born in Calhoun county, Illinois. Dr. Silas Benham, father of Mrs. Castor, was born in New York state and grew up with the design of becoming a coppersmith, in which trade, which he followed for a time, he became an adept artisan. Later determining to follow a professional career he studied for the practice of medicine and be¬ came a physician. After practicing this profession in different parts of New York for several years he came to Hamilton county, Indiana, and located in Noblesville, where he entered the practice of his profession, in which he became very successful and where he spent the remainder of his life, as did his wife, their deaths occurring at their home in Noblesville. Both Dr. and Mrs. Benham were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various activities of which they were deeply interested, as well as in all the good works of the communitv. Dr. Benham was a mem- (60) ber of the Masonic fraternity and took an active part in the deliberations of the Noblesville Lodge of that order. To Dr. and Mrs. Silas Benham were born four children: Mattie J., now deceased, who was a successful teacher in the schools of Hamilton county and who married Thomas Tuttle, to which union there was born one child, Thomas; Joseph Vincent, second child and first son of Dr. and Mrs. Benham, after having taught school in his younger days, gave his life for the preservation of the Union, being one of the many brave soldiers who were slain in the battle of Stone River in the Civil War; Mary C, the wife of Mr. Castor, and Charles, who died at the age of nine years.

William H. Castor was a farmer all of his life, although he was inter¬ ested in many other enterprises. .He owned farm land in Wayne, White River and Noblesville townships, a total of about sixteen hundred acres. In addition to this he was the owner of valuable property in Noblesville. He was one of the builders of the Central Indiana railroad and was a heavy stockholder in the company. This is the railroad which runs from Anderson to Brazil. It had a very precarious existence for several years after it was constructed and Mr. Castor lost heavily as a result of his connection with it, in fact, losing practically all he had at that time. However, he was not dis¬ couraged. Though he was then forty-five years of age he began life over and succeeded to a remarkable degree. He made a specialty of feeding hogs and cattle and accumulated his extensive holdings of sixteen hundred acres and business properties after he was forty-five years of age. He and his wife were both active and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Castor built the largest barn in the county, a building one hundred and fifteen feet long and equipped with all the modern conveniences. He literally cut his farm out of the woods, since the place where he started in to build a home was in the midst of a primeval forest. He built a beautiful modern home and it still remains one of the most attractive places in the county. The house is large and substantial, has stained glass windows, fine verandas around the house and electric-lighting plant. William H. Castor and wife had two children, Marie, who died at the age of seven months, and Roy B.

Roy B. Castor has lived upon the same place and in the same house ever since he was born. After completing the course in the district schools, he was graduated in the class of 1897 in the Noblesville high school. He then took a course in the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, and later a course in a business college at Indianapolis. He worked with his father until his marriage and then became a partner with his father, and for three years before his father's death had the active management of his father's extensive affairs. Since the latter's death he has been very busy in taking care of his large estate. He is a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank of Noblesville, and in addition to the properties which he inherited from his paternal estate, has farm lands of his own in Washington township and ex¬ tensive interests in the state of Louisiana.

Mr. Castor was married October 6, 1896, to Marie Beals, who was born west of Noblesville, a daughter of E* N. and Julia (DeHart) Beals. Mrs. Castor is the eldest of three children born to her parents, both of whom are still living upon the Beals farm west of Noblesville.

Mr. Castor and his wife are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and generous contributors to its maintenance. Mr. Castor joined the church when he was twelve years of age and has lived the life consistent with its teachings. He is a member of the Masonic order, be¬ longing to Clarksville, Indiana, Lodge No. 118. He and his wife are the parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy. The one son living, Worth H., was born November 28, 1908.

James Fisher

A highly respected citizen of a past generation was James Fisher, who lived in Hamilton county, Indiana, from 1834 until his death in 1900. He was a man of broad intelligence and was an interesting talker, possessed of a most informative fund of pioneer reminiscences. Genial in manner he easily won friends and for over a half century was one of the leaders in his com¬ munity. He grew up amidst the pioneer conditions in Hamilton county, and being possessed of a strong constitution and a personality which made him a natural leader of men was no inconsiderable factor in the improvement of the locality in which he lived.

James Fisher, the son of Samuel and Rebecca (Wilson) Fisher, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, September 11, 1819, and died at his home in Wayne township, Hamilton county, Indiana, April 6, 1900. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and emigrated to Ohio when about eighteen years of age in company with his parents, and settled on government land. The parents of Samuel Fisher continued to reside in Ohio until their death at an advanced age. Samuel Fisher grew to maturity in Ohio, and when about twenty-four years of age, married and lived at home until the death of his father, September 20, 1834. He at once sold out the Ohio farm and moved with his wife and children to Indiana, where he settled in Wayne township, Hamilton county. Samuel Fisher entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government and built a rude log cabin, eighteen by twenty feet, in which the family lived for about twelve years. He then built a larger house of hewed logs, which was a great improvement over the first cabin, its greater dimensions being necessary for the needs of the increased family. In this second log house Samuel Fisher lived until he retired from active life and moved to Noblesville', where he died at about the age of seventy-five years. The wife of Samuel Fisher was born in Clermont county and died, after a long life of usefulness, at the old homestead in Wayne township, in this county at the age of seventy-six. She was a devoted wife and mother and highly esteemed by all who knew her. Her parents originally were from Pennsylvania, but had emigrated in early life to Ohio, where her father operated a salt manufacturing plant, becoming one of the leading busi¬ ness men of his locality.

James Fisher attended the subscription schools of Hamilton county in his boyhood days, and while his education there necessarily was very limited, yet by wide reading he became one of the best informed men of his com¬ munity. When twenty-one years of age he married Susan McDole, who was born near Steubenville, Ohio, to which union five children were born, two of whom are still living,. Addison and Warren. Susan McDole was the daughter of John and Susan McDole, residents of Ohio, who came to Indi¬ ana about 1840. She died September 18, 1852. In the following year, on September 29, 1853, James Fisher was united in marriage with Nancy Sterns, who was bom March 20, 1833, in Carroll county, Ohio, the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Bushong) Sterns. Her parents came from Pennsyl¬ vania to Ohio and lived in the latter state until 1837. In that year the Sterns family came in a wagon to Hancock county, Indiana, and entered eighty acres of land, remaining there about ten years. Although Mrs. Fisher was only about four years of age when her parents came from Ohio to Hancock county, Indiana, she still has recollections of that journey, despite the fact that she is now eighty-two years of age. In 1847, the Sterns family moved to Hamilton county, and bought a farm of eighty acres east of Durbin, ad¬ joining Mrs. Fisher's present farm on the west. They lived there until old age, and then moved to Nobles ville, where Mr. Sterns died in 1887, while Mrs. Sterns died in 1898.

Immediately after his first marriage James Fisher settled on govern¬ ment land and built a log house in which he resided with his family until

1868, when he erected a good, frame dwelling, in which he lived until his death in 1900. He applied himself diligently to the clearing of this farm and to its tillage with the result that in the course of years he became prosper¬ ous and was numbered among the most influential citizens of his county. He was personally a very approachable man and one who always took a great interest in the welfare of his community. His widow is now making her home with her son-in-law, Thomas E. McDonald in Wayne township.

Floyd W. Zimmerman

A public school teacher in the schools of Hamilton county, Indiana, for the past thirty-three years, Floyd W. Zimmerman has exerted a most helpful influence upon the youth of this county. He is intensely practical in all of his teaching, and it is probably safe to say that no other teacher in the state has done so much to encourage the boy to remain on the farm as has Mr. Zimmerman. He has been particularly interested in the raising of fine corn, and has had the satisfaction not only of raising some fine corn himself, but of seeing many of his pupils take prizes for their corn. Mr. Zimmerman comes from a fine German family, one that has been at the forefront in Hamilton county for many years.

It is pertinent to note something concerning the spelling of the name "Zimmerman." Most of the family now in the county spell it "Simmermon," because in the early days when the first members of the family came here from Germany, they pronounced it as the Germans do. The Americans did not understand the German spelling, and spelled it as it was pronounced, namely, "Simmermon." The German spelling is "Zimmerman," which, in German, means "carpenter." To add to the confusion, one branch of the family, which has many members in the United States, has translated the name into English, and is known as the "Carpenter" family. The historian who attempts to write exhaustively of the Zimmerman family will in this way meet with much trouble, since this Carpenter family is directly descended from the great-grandfather of Floyd W. Zimmerman.

Floyd W. Zimmerman, the son of John Sullivan and Margaret Jane (Castor) Simmermon, was bom in Wayne township, Hamilton county, Indiana, August 11, 1861. Inasmuch as a resume of the interesting history of John S. Simmermon is given elsewhere in this volume, the reader is re¬ ferred to the biographical sketch of that gentleman for further information concerning the Zimmerman family.

Floyd VV. Zimmerman was reared to manhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools of his home neighborhood, and later spent two years in the high school at Nobles ville. Such was his excellent training that at the age of nineteen he began teaching in the public schools of Hamilton county and has been in continuous service in the school room since that time. His record is one which probably has never been equalled in Hamilton county and indicates the high esteem in which Mr. Zimmerman is held as an in¬ structor of the youth. He has taught the children of his earlier graduates, and has seen their children graduate as well. His long experience has given him unusual opportunities for noting family traits and thus he has been the better able to instruct the youth who have been entrusted to his minister¬ ing care. He always holds before his pupils the idea of going higher in the educational world and thus preparing themselves for more useful careers. He teaches because he likes the work. It is to him indeed a labor of love and he feels that in the school room he is performing a mission which is second to none.

Mr. Zimmerman practices what he teaches and is not only one of the most successful teachers of agriculture in the state, but is also a practical farmer, ranking among the most progressive farmers of his county. He is the owner of two hundred and thirty acres in Hamilton county, and one hun¬ dred acres in Madison county, this state. He bought his first one hundred tmd sixty acres with his earnings as a teacher, and has since, with the assist¬ ance of his sons, managed his farm as well as spent each winter in the school room. For the last ten years he and his sons have specialized in raising fine corn, particularly seed corn. He has won frequent prizes at the various corn shows held in the county and state, and has demonstrated what can be accomplished by scientific corn raising. In 1913, a boy on one of Mr. Zim¬ merman's farms by the name of Wilson Abney, was encouraged by Mr. Zimmerman to try for prizes in corn raising and the lad gave his best efforts in the summer of 1913 to the production of good com, with the result that he won twenty-eight dollars in prizes. He won first on white corn giving the largest yield per acre - twenty dollars ; first on the best ten ears of white com - five dollars ; first on single ear of white corn - three dollars. His brother, Cecil Abney, won first on the best ten ears of yellow corn, receiving five dollars as a prize, and third on best single ear, winning a prize of one dollar. Mr. Zimmerman encourages all the boys in school who are reared on the farm to remain there and give their best efforts toward becoming successful farmers. He teaches manual training as well as agriculture and uses tools in the school room, the pupils under his direction having turned out some really remarkable work. As an illustration of his methods of teaching, it is interesting to note that he has gone into the fields with sacks and worked up and down the corn rows showing the boys the best ears to select for seed ; then he explains to them the methods of caring for the corn and selecting ijt for seed the following spring.

Mr. Zimmerman was married December 27, 1885, to Pauline Wright, the daughter of Jesse W. and Ann M. (Aldred) Wright, to which union have been born six children, three living and three deceased. Benjamin Hanson died the day after his birth; John Vernon died at the age of five years and three months; Catherine Marie was graduated from the State University in 1912 and is now the principal of the Camden, Indiana, schools; Jesse Griffith was graduated from the high school at Lapel and has taught three years; Margaret Ruth is now a senior in Indiana University, and will be graduated in the class of 1915; Rex Wright died at the age of nine months. Mr. Zimmerman and his wife have given their children the advantages of the best education which is provided by the state of Indiana, and have had the satis¬ faction of seeing them take their places as useful members of society.

Mrs. Zimmerman's father was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, on April 19, 1823, and was the sixth in a family of eight children. His par¬ ents were Jesse and Ruhanna Wright, Jesse Wright being born in North Carolina, July 15, 1787, and his wife's birth occurring in the same state, Novmeber 28, 1788. James Wright settled in Stokes county, North Caro¬ lina, shortly after his marriage, and there all his children were born, Jesse W. spending his earlier years in that county. The Wright family held a deep-seated hatred of slavery and in 1839 they left North Carolina and located in Bartholomew county, Indiana, a year later settling in Marion county, this state, where Jesse W. Wright lived with his parents until 1851, when he moved to Hamilton county. In 1845 Jesse W. Wright was married to Ann M. Aldred, the daughter of William A. and Eliza F. Aldred. His wife was a native of the state of Delaware, born November 14, 1826, and came to Indiana with her parents in 1836, her father previously having entered one thousand acres of land in this state. Mr. Wright and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the fathers of each were local preachers in that denomination.

Mr. Zimmerman is an active worker in the Democratic party, and has been the nominee of his party at various times, although the Republican majority is such that he has never been elected. Fraternally, he is a mem¬ ber of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star. He also is a member of the Knights of

Pythias, and he and his wife both belong to the Pythian Sisters. Mr. Zim¬ merman also holds membership in the Improved Order of Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Although he does not tell these things himself, many others have told of the many substantial deeds of kindness and generosity on the part of Mr. Zimmerman. He is a man of strong convictions, earnestly following any course of action decided upon, straightforward and upright, a man with so many friends because he is sincerely a real friend to so many others. '

John Sullivan Simmermon

The late John S. Simmermon, spent his entire life of seventy-two years within the limits of Hamilton county, Indiana, and when he died in 1909 he left a name which was untarnished before the world. No more sterling citizen has ever lived in the county than he, and his career is typical of the lives of the pioneers of the county.

John Sullivan Simmermon, the son of John and Mary (Fisher) Sim¬ mermon, was born in Wayne township, Hamilton county, Indiana, March 15, 1837, and died in the same township, November 9, 1909. John Simmer¬ mon was a native of Pennsylvania, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (Nagol) Simmermon, also natives of the same state. Benjamin Simmermon came to Ohio when John, Sr., was nine years of age, and in this state Benjamin Simmerrrion died at the age of sixty. The Simmermons were of German ancestry and were the descendants of a thrifty family who possessed a large estate in Germany. John Simmermon, Sr., was only eleven years of age when the death of his father threw upon him in a large measure the care of the family. He worked at home and also worked out by the month at whatever he could find to do. In 1833 he came to Indiana and located in Hamilton county, not long afterwards marrying Mary Fisher, the daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Atherton) Fisher.

Benjamin Fisher was the son of Benjamin Fisher, of Pennsylvania, where both father and son were born. In 1800 Benjamin Fisher, Jr., came to Ohio, having been married shortly before, and located on thirty-three acres in Cleremont county, where he lived until 1819, when he came to Hamilton county, Indiana, and located in what is now White River township. At that time there were thousands of Indians and very few white people in the central part of Indiana. The city of Anderson was then only an Indian village and Chief Anderson held undisputed sway over the Indian wigwams clustered along the banks of White river. Elsewhere in this history is found an account of Benjamin Fisher's tragic end at the hands of Indians. He was killed by the redskins in the fall of 1821, being the only white man as far as history records, who was killed by the Indians in Hamilton county. Hannah Atherton, the wife of Benjamin Fisher, was born in Vermont, and became the mother of three children, John, Mary and Charles. After Mr. Fisher's tragic death in the fall of 1821 the widow and children remained nearly twelve years on the farm and then moved to Stony Creek township, Madison county, Indiana. The tomahawk which the Indians used in killing Benjamin Fisher still is in the possession of the family.

After John Simmermon, Sr., was married, he and his wife located in Hamilton county, which was then a dense woods. He built a rude log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet, and in it four of his children, including John S., were born. In 1849, the family moved to the north part of Wayne town¬ ship, where John Simmermon, Sr., bought the farm on which he lived until his 'death at the age of sixty-five. He was a Democrat in politics, a Meth¬ odist in religious belief and a man who was sincerely devoted to all publicspirited enterprises. His wife died at the age of sixty-eight.

John S. Simmermon grew to maturity amid the pioneer scenes of the county, and a few months after reaching his majority he was married Novem¬ ber 4, i860, to Margaret J. Castor. She was born in Wayne township, this county, November 24, 1840, and was the daughter of John and Margaret (Beatty) Castor. Five children were born to John S. Simmermon and wife: Floyd W., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Alma, the wife of George Anderson, of Durbin, Indiana; Marion G., who married Metta Guinn; Minnie, the wife of Edwin C. Aldred, and John B., a farmer of Wayne township.

Mr. Simmermon started in life as a poor boy, working as a farm hand on the farms in his home neighborhood. He drove oxen to break the prairie sod on the Gray farm for the first time and ploughed it with eight oxen. It is said that he veiled so lustily at the oxen that his voice was heard as far away as Strawtown. After his marriage Mr. Simmermon settled on a farm of eighty acres and for five years he and his family lived in a little log cabin and then he built a larger and much better house. In 1884 he erected a hand¬ some dwelling at a cost of five thousand dollars, one of the must attractive country homes in Wayne township. He devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, and was very successful in handling high grade cattle and horses. He was a man of exceptional business and executive ability for a farmer. An interesting story is told of his shrewdness in financial matters. While buying timber at one time he saw a lot of walnut timber which had been cut and the trunks hauled away, leaving the tops and knots. He bought what was left for ten dollars in order to* make his title secure, although he could have had it for a gift if he would remove it. He worked it up one winter and found many knots which were valuable for veneer, selling one par¬ ticular fine knot for five hundred dollars. Another knot which was still more valuable was stolen. From his ten-dollar investment he realized thirty-five hundred dollars and with this he bought his first eighty acres of land. He had many interesting experiences as a youth in this then unsettled county. When about eighteen years of age he had an encounter with a young panther which proved to be more exciting than dangerous. On this particular night he was going to see his girl, the same girl who later became his wife, when he met a bear in the road, and things looked serious for a while. However, he frightened the bear awav, only to run into a panther, and fortunately he had little difficulty in eluding the panther.

Mr. Simmermon was reared a Democrat, but when he married it hap¬ pened that his wife was a Republican in belief. He had never voted before his marriage, being, in fact, but a little past his majority at that time. Elec¬ tion day came shortly afterwards and to please his bride he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time forward voted the Republican ticket. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church until he was about fifty years of age and then he and his wife became members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He was an active church worker and took a great interest in every¬ thing pertaining to its welfare. He not only assisted his own denomination financially, but helped other denominations as well as all local benevolent enterprises. He was a generous supporter of all movements having as their object the public welfare and was a public-spirited citizen who gave gener¬ ously of his means to the support of all worthy institutions.

Mr. Simmermon's wife died January 27, 1909. Immediately after her death, Mr. Simmermon's health began to fail, and although he was a strong, robust man at the time of her death, from that time on his health gradually gave way and he passed away nine months later. They had been close com¬ panions throughout their long married life and his grief at her death was such that he did not seem to care to live any longer. Such, in brief, is the career of one of the most honored citizens of the past generation in Hamil¬ ton county, and it is indeed fitting that his career be set forth in the annals of the county to whose welfare his whole life so consistently had been devoted.

Curtis H. Mallery

The Mallery family was one of the first families to locate in Hamilton county, Indiana, and during all the years which the members of the family have lived here, they have been prominently identified with every phase of the county's development. Curtis Mallery, the grandfather of Curtis H., was born in the state of New York, April 8, 1774, and died in this county October 1, 1851. His worthy wife, Nancy Bolter, was born June 16, 1782, and suffered all the privations and sacrifices of frontier life with her hus¬ band. She died of the cholera in Noblesville August 19, 1850. She was a devoted wife and mother and tenderly cared for the ten children who came to bless this union. Curtis Mallery was the second treasurer of Hamilton county, and held this office for twenty years. He was a man of sterling integrity and ambition and was peculiarly well adapted for successfully fac¬ ing the privations of the life which must be lived in a frontier country.

Horace C. Mallery, the son of Curtis Mallery, and the father of Curtis H., with whom this narrative deals, was born April 6, 1815, in Herkimer county, New York, and came with his parents to Hamilton county, Indiana, arriving here May 4, 1820. Horace C. Mallery was a farmer and an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mary Pugh, the wife of Horace C. Mallery, was born September 19. 1817, in Green county, Ohio, near Cedarville, and was the daughter of Hulit and Abigail Pugh. Her parents came to Hamilton county in old age and died soon after arriving here of malarial fever, and they are buried in the Bethel church cemetery in Wayne township. Horace C. Mallery died November 11, 1879, and his wife passed away March 31, 1875. They were the parents of six children, Curtis H. and his sister, Mrs. Belinda Grange, of Noblesville, being the only ones now living.

Curtis H. Mallery was born August 13, 1840, near where the carbon works are now located at the southern edge of Noblesville. He lived there until he was eleven years of age and then moved wnth his parents to the west side of Wayne township, where he has since resided. He attended the dis¬ trict schools and at the age of seventeen began teaching in the schools of his county and for several years taught school in Noblesville and Wayne town¬ ship. While his father was living he rented the farm from his father and worked on it all the time except when he .was teaching. After his marriage in i860 Curtis H. Mallery and his wife began life in a log cabin, wrhere they spent five happy years. He now has a substantial brick residence on an ele¬ vation overlooking the winding road that follows the valley of Stony creek in the western part of Wayne township. He also has another substantial resi- dence on the farm now occupied by his son, Horace Francis. His well im¬ proved farm of over two hundred acres is one of the most productive farms of the county and is now successfully managed by his son, Horace F.

Curtis H. Mallery was married in i860 to Lydia R. Richmond, who was a native of Madison county, Indiana, a daughter of Rev. Francis M. and Sarah (Holliday) Richmond. Her father was a Methodist minister who died in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Mallery are the parents of three children, their first child dying at the age of five months, while two sons are now living, Arza and Horace Francis. Arza is a decorator and painter and now lives in Los Angeles, California. He has been twice married, his first wife being Margaret Passwater, to which union one son, Ralph, was born. His present wife was Airs. Bessie (Pierce) Small, who was born in Noblesville. Horace Francis, the other son, commonly known as "Frank," is living on the old home place and now has the management of it. He married Kate Passwater, the daughter of AT. F. and Clementina Passwater, and they have one son and three daughters, Martin, Jennie, Alaggie and Lucile.

Air. Mallery and his wife have both been members of the Alethodist Episcopal church from their youth, and have lived lives consistent with the teachings of their church. They have been active workers in the church and Sunday school and Mr. Alallery has more than a local reputation as a minister in the church. He is an eloquent preacher, and while he has never filled regular charges, has frequently filled pulpits with ability. He is an upright and honorable man and in all the relations of life has so conducted his affairs as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held. He is kind and considerate, gentle and courteous in manner, and a public-spirited citizen who always stands firmly for the right.

William A. Johnson

In 1933 Hamilton county will celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of its organization. Since its organization as a county ninety-two years ago it has emerged from an unbroken wilderness to its present prosperous condi¬ tion. There must have been a certain fascination which brought our fore¬ fathers to this state and led them to settle amidst the virgin forests which covered the state in every direction. Probably the most energetic, ambitious and strong-minded men and women came to Indiana in its early history. This fact should be borne in mind when thinking of the discouragements through which they passed. It needed men strong of heart and sound of body to cope with the forests, the Indians, the swamps and the malaria, and that otir forefathers had all of these necessary qualities is shown by the fact that they successfully conquered all of these one by one. The young farmer of today who starts in life has not one of these obstacles to overcome, and yet not infrequently one is heard to complain that he cannot make a living. In justice to the present generation, however, it is not improbable that some farmers of today placed amid the same conditions with which their grand1 fathers had to cope in the twenties and thirties would- have made a better living at that time than they do at the present time. One of the most valu¬ able lessons to be learned in a perusal of the many interesting biographical sketches presented in this volume is that presented in the recital of the fierce obstacles and discouragements which our forefathers had to overcome. Will¬ iam A. Johnson, a resume of whose life's history is presented in the follow¬ ing paragraphs, is a son of one of the pioneers of this county, and himself has many of those sterling characteristics which made his father such a sturdy citizen of the county.

William A. Johnson, the son of Alfred Johnson, was born in this county, November 9, 1867. His father also was a native of this county, his birth having occurred here in 1844, and he lived the life of a farmer during all his days. Alfred Johnson and wife were the parents of six children, Mrs. Emma Ledbetter, Oliver. Joshua, William, Mrs. Dora McCord and Charles.

William A. Johnson was given a good, common school education and early in life started out to make his own way. At an age when most boys now are in high school, he began to "work out" and being a sturdy youth soon became enabled to command the wages of a man. He continued to work on farms in his home neighborhood until his marriage when he rented a farm of his own in this township and with his good wife began to save money in order that they might have a farm which they could call their own. There is no more commendable trait than that of thrift and the story of the ten talents is as true in the twentieth century as it was in Biblical times. In 1905 Mr. Johnson bought his present farm of fifty-four acres in Jackson township and on this tract he raises as fine crops as any farmer in the county. Prospering, as he deserved to prosper, in March, 1914, Mr. Johnson added to his holdings by the purchase of the Willits farm of one hundred acres in Noblesville township. He keeps his farms in a high state of productivity by a scientific system of crop rotation and thus always is able to secure the best results.

man and to this union have been born six children, all of whom are still with their parents, Estelle, Grace, Floyd, Edith, Mildred and Clyde.

Mr. Johnson is a stanch Democrat, but he has been so concerned with his agricultural duties that he never has felt that he had the time to take an active part in the political life of the community. Nevertheless, he identifies himself with all public-spirited measures and is genuinely interested in the welfare of his neighbors. He and his wife are earnest and loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute according to their means to its support, feeling that the value to their community of the church's benefi¬ cences cannot be overestimated. His township has no worthier or more highly respected citizen, and his years of straightforward and honest dealing have gained for him the confidence of every one with whom he has been associated.

Francis M. Musselman

A man who has been an intelligent tiller of the soil and a public-spirited citizen of Hamilton county, Indiana, is Francis M. Musselman, who has lived within the limits of this county for the past fifty years. Such has been his diligence and good management that he has accumulated a fine farm of three hundred and eighty acres, the general appearance of which place indi¬ cates that he has been very successful in its management. He is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor and while attending primarily to his own interests, has not neglected to take his part in the civic life of the community about him.

Francis M. Musselman, the son of John and Mary (Kaufman) Mussel¬ man, was born December 14, 1863, in Owen county, Indiana. His parents moved from Owen county to Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1864, and located in the northern part of Wayne township. John Musselman was a carpenter and contractor as well as a farmer, and was a man of high influence in his community, where he lived until 1894. He was an active member of the Lutheran church, as was his wife, and both took a prominent part in the various activities connected with their church. The wife of John Mussel¬ man died in 1898. There were born to this worthy couple seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The five living children are David, Oscar, George, Francis M. and Mrs. Della Wiles.

moved from Owen county, Indiana, to Hamilton county. He has lived on the same farm since coming to this county. He received a good commonschool education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and re¬ mained with his parents until the time of his marriage. As a farmer he has been very successful, as is shown by his fine farm of three hundred and eighty acres, all of which lies in one tract in the northern part of Wayne township. He has never specialized in his farming, but raises all of the crops common to this section of the state and feeds for the market a con¬ siderable annual production of hogs and cattle. He has a beautiful home and a large and commodious barn and other outbuildings. His house is sur¬ rounded by a well-kept lawn and everything about it speaks well for the taste of its owner. Concrete walks and a concrete wall in front of the house and a porte-cochere at the side of the house add to the general attractiveness of the place.

Mr. Musselman was married in 1891 to Minnie A. Stubbs, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, the daughter of Leonidas and Charlotte (Cushing) Stubbs. Mrs. Musselman lived in Shelby county with her parents until ten years of age and then came with them to this county. To Mr. Musselman and wife have been born seven children, all of whom are still living: Orvis, Carey, Clarence, Muriel, Pearl, Roy and Ralph. Orvis mar¬ ried Julia Kinder and lives on the home farm.

Leonidas Stubbs, the father of Mrs. Musselman, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, April 22, 1847, the son of Elza and Zephaniah (King) Stubbs. He was reared to manhood in his native county, and was married October 6, 1868, to Charlotte W. Cushing, who was born at Scott Plains, New Jersey, August 4, 1850, the daughter of John and Hannah (Wattson) Stubbs. She came to Shelby county, from New Jersey, with her parents when she was a child. Mr. Stubbs died June 3, 1908, and his widow is still living in Noblesville. The reader is referred to the biography of Leonidas Stubbs, which appears elsewhere in this volume for further details of the history of this family in Hamilton county.

Mr. Musselman and his wife are loyal members of the Christian church. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never been active in political matters, his extensive agricultural interests having demanded all of his time and attention, and lie has never cared to become a candidate for any political office. Mr. Musselman is an industrious and prudent farmer and gives his personal supervision to his large estate. He takes a deep interest in the affairs of his community and lends his hearty support to all public-spirited measures.

Clinton E. Castor

For the past eighty years the Castor family has been represented in Hamilton county, Indiana, and during these four-score years, members of that family always have taken a prominent part in the history of the county. One of the many members of this sterling family who is now living in Wayne township is Clinton E. Castor, an enterprising and progressive farmer.

Clinton E. Castor, the son of John Marion and Sarah (McDonald) Castor, was born September 29, 1868, on the farm where he is now living in the northeastern part of Wavne township. His father was born Novem¬ ber 28, 1844, on the Wade Castor farm two miles west of where his son is now living. John M. Castor was the son of John and Sarah (Beatty) Castor, whose biographies appear elsewhere in this volume. John M. Castor grew to manhood on his father's farm, and in 1863 enlisted in Company E, Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was afterwards mounted and changed to the Eighth Cavalry and incorporated as a part of Kilpatrick's Brigade. This brigade saw hard service and fought almost daily on the campaigns from Tennessee through Georgia, with Gen¬ eral Sherman on his march to the sea. It also was with General Sherman on his march through the Carolinas, was present at the final surrender of General Johnson on April 22, 1865. and participated in the Grand Review at Washington. John M. Castor had many narrow escapes, but came through the terrible struggle with only one slight bullet wound in his leg.

Immediately after the close of the war John M. Castor returned to his home in Wayne township and married Sarah McDonald, who was born April 25, 1845, on farm where Homer McDonald is now living. She was a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Hamilton) McDonald. Her father was born near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster county, in 1818, the son of Jacob and Sarah (Scherer) McDonald. Jacob McDonald's grandfather was one of two brothers who came to America from Scotland. The history of the McDonald family appears in the biographical sketch of Thomas Mc¬ Donald elsewhere in this volume.

When Thomas McDonald was about six years of age the family moved to Holmes county, Ohio, and later came to the northeastern part of Wayne township, in Hamilton county, Indiana, arriving here about 1839. Jacob McDonald bought one hundred and sixty acres of land here and spent the remainder of his life in this county, and is buried in the acre lot on the farm which he donated for a cemetery. He was active in the Missionary Baptist church and helped organize the Prairie Baptist church, furnishing the timber to build tlie old log church. In this county Thomas McDonald married Ann Hamilton, who was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, a daughter of John Hamilton and wife. The Hamilton family came to this county about 1837, and located just south of the McDonald farm. The Hamilton family also was active in the organization of the Prairie Baptist church. Shortly after Thomas McDonald married he bought an interest in the farm where Homer McDonald is now living and moved there and rented from the other heirs, finally purchasing the whole farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was a township trustee for about twenty years, a strong Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party. He was a man of earnest convictions, quick to acknowledge an error and quick to forgive.

After John Marion Castor's marriage he located on the farm where Clinton E. Castor is now living. His father gave him one hundred and five acres and he added to this until he owned four hundred and twenty acres at the time of his death. He was an exceptionally good manager and a man diligent in every way. When not busy with his farm work, he was out trad¬ ing and bought and sold a great deal of lumber. He was an active Demo¬ crat, a leader in his party and helped to organize his party for local cam¬ paigns, giving both of his time and money generously. He was very sym¬ pathetically inclined toward those who were less fortunate than himself and gave away nearly half of what he made, with the result that he had a host of friends in his community. He was an active member of the Methodist church from 1866 until about twenty years ago, when he joined the Wesleyan church, where he labored earnestly until his death. He was a faithful Christian and practiced what he preached. During his earlier life he was active in the work of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Free and Ac¬ cepted Masons and other lodges, but retired from active lodge work in order to devote more of his time to his church. He died July 30, 1897, at the age of fifty-two, and his wife survived until February 11, 1914. She made her hofne after her husband's death on the farm where she had begun her mar¬ ried life. She, too, was a faithful member of the church with her husband and was a wife and mother who was devoted to her husband and children. Six children were born to John Marion Castor and wife: Ona, Clinton, Hat¬ tie, Osie, Sarah and Flovd. Ona is the wife of Asa Fisher, and lives in the northern part of Wayne township. Clinton E. is the immediate subject of this review. Hattie is the wife of Robert Presser, of Madison county, Indi¬ ana; Osie, who was the wife of Charles Huffman, died in 1902, leaving two children. Sarah is the wife of Owen Huffman and lives in Madison county, (61) '

Clinton E. Castor was reared on his father's farm, the same on which he is now residing. He inherited eighty acres from his father and has since added ninety acres, so that he now has a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres. He has been an active worker in the Democratic party from the time that he reached his majority. In 1914 he served as committeeman of his precinct.

Clinton E. Castor was married in 1891 to Emma Lehr, the daughter of Henry and Jane Lehr, who was born in the northwestern part of Wayne township, in this county. To this union have been born five children : Sarah Jane, who died at the age of two years and one month; Henry Marion, who died at the age of three years, and three children who are still single, Nessie, Ruth and Clifford. Nessie and Ruth are graduates of the high school, while Clifford is a small lad of six years.

Mr. Castor is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. His wife belongs to the Lutheran church at Cicero, and Ruth and Nessie belong to the Prairie Baptist church. The family live in a fine home and every¬ thing about the farm indicates that the owner is a man of enterprise and in¬ dustry. He always has taken a prominent part in advocating all publicspirited measures and is righly regarded as one of the representative men of his community.

John H. Castor

For more than eighty years the Castor family has been prominently identified with the history of Hamilton county, Indiana. Coming here in 1824, John H. Castor, the first member of the family to locate in the county, filled an important place in the history of his community. He was one of the pioneers who started the county on the way to prosperity and advance¬ ment along every line.

John H. Castor was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1810, and died in Hamilton county, Indiana, January 1, 1883. He was the son of Nathan and Freelove Castor, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, the son of Noah Castor. Noah Castor was one of thirty children born to Conrad Castor, who lived at Brock's Gap, Virginia. Of these thirty children of Conrad Castor, twenty-seven were boys and every one of the number served in the Revolutionary War. It is doubtful whether any family in the United States can show such a record. Noah Castor was born at Brock's Gap, Virginia, and moved to Pennsylvania, where most of the members of the family lived until the forepart of the nineteenth century.

John H. Castor was reared to manhood in Armstrong county, Pennsyl¬ vania, and came to Hamilton county, Indiana, on horseback in 1834, arriving here on the 1st day of February. He came here with the intention of mak¬ ing a home for himself and on the nth of the same month, he was married to Sarah Beatty, who wras born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cascadden) Beatty. The Beattys came from Ire¬ land to Pennsylvania, and after Sarah was born, moved to Holmes county, in that state. It was in Holmes county that John H. Castor met Sarah Beatty and became engaged to her. After they were betrothed he made his long overland trip on horseback to Hamilton county, Indiana, in order to enter land where he and his future wife might make their home. The Beatty family came to Hamilton county in 1833 and settled on the Gascho farm at the northern edge of Noblesville. Undoubtedly the young couple had their plans already made to get married before either of them came- to1 Indiana. At least, they were married ten days after Mr. Castor arrived in this county.

John H. Castor and his young wife began life under truly pioneer condi¬ tions. The timber was so dense where they derided to locate their little cabin that it was hard to fell the trees. Game was so abundant that Mr. Castor could stand in the doorway and shoot deer by the light of his own fireplace. Turkeys, rabbits, squirrels and all kinds of small game could be shot from his doorstep. They prospered and reared a large family of children : Will¬ iam H., Nathan, Samuel Beatty, Margaret Jane, John Marion, Freelove M., Nancy E., Sarah Ruth and Wade P. Three other children died in infancy, and only three of those who grew' to maturity, are nowr living, Wade P., Mrs. Sylvester and Freelove. At the time of his death John H. Castor was the owner of six hundred and twenty-five acres of land in this county, and was considered one of the most substantial men of the county. He and his wife' reared their children to lives of usefulness and honor, and had the satisfaction of seeing them married and rearing families of their own.

John H. Castor was a good man in every respect. He and his wife, as well as their children, were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Castor was very active in church work and contributed liberally to the building and support of numerous churches in the county. No good cause ever appealed to him in vain and he always stood ready to share his worldly possessions with those less fortunate. Such men are responsible for Hamil¬ ton county as it is today, and to these sterling old pioneers the present genera- tion should be forever grateful. They builded better than they knew, and this volume which contains a brief account of the lives of many of these pioneers, as well as their descendants, will be handed down to future genera¬ tions as a book to be preserved as the record of their unselfish lives, a priceless heritage descending from one generation to another.

No family of Hamilton county has a more distinguished ancestry than that of William Francis McShane, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a resident of this county since his birth, three score and ten years ago. The McShane family are of Scotch descent and played an important part in the American Revolution. The first members of the family to come to America from Scotland were two brothers, Edward and Robert, who came to this country before the Revolution. Several of the sons of Edward fought in the Revolutionary War and he (Edward), on one occasion, while taking pro¬ visions to the soldiers in camp, reached there just before a battle and, shouldering a musket, took part himself, and helped to defeat the British. Edward McShane appears to have been living in New Jersey during the Revolution, and to have removed to Virginia after the war. He subse¬ quently removed to Kentucky, where he lived until his death. Robert, the other brother who came to this country, was a sea captain, and was captured by the Algerian pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.

It is not known how many children Edward McShane had, but Francis who was born in New Jersey in 1782, is the grandfather of William F. Mc¬ Shane of this county. After his father's death, Francis McShane went to live with an uncle in Pennsylvania and remained with him until he reached his majority. He then returned to Kentucky and married Theodocia Gray, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Pogue) Gray. He then rented a farm in Kentucky for a few years, and in 1826 he brought his family to Hamilton county. Indiana, locating on the farm now occupied by his grand¬ son, William Francis McShane. He built a log cabin sixteen by eighteen feet and began to clear the land for cultivation. Later he entered one hun¬ dred and sixty acres in Boone county, and at the time of his death still owned the three hundred and twenty acres which he had entered from the govern¬ ment. Early in life he was a Baptist, but later in life he became a Presby¬ terian. He died in 1842, while his wife lived until she was eighty-four, not passing away until 1866. Francis McShane and wife were the parents of three children : James G. the father of the present head of the family in this county; Edward, deceased; and Sarah, who married Riley Bond. Sarah was the first white child born north of White river.

James G. McShane was born in Harrison county, Kentucky and came to this county with his parents in 1826 when he was seven years of age. At the age of twenty-two he married Martha J. Silvy, the daughter of William and Nancy (Mosley) Silvy, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The Silvys came to Indiana early in its history and settled on the outskirts of Indianapolis, and there, Martha, the wife of James G. McShane was born in 1824. The children of. Mr. and Mrs. James McShane are four in num¬ ber: Nancy E., William Francis, Dr. John T. and Jennie.

William Francis McShane, the oldest member of the family now living in Hamilton county, was born on the present farm in 1844, in a small log cabin which is still standing on the home farm. He received the limited com¬ mon school education which was afforded by the subscription schools of his days, and when a youth of only seventeen, enlisted in Company F, the Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His first enlistment was for three months and at the end of that time he re-enlisted in Company B, One Hun¬ dred Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for a period of four months. At the end of this second re-enlistment he returned to his home in this county where he has lived ever since. After his marriage in 1868. he moved to a farm one and one-half miles south of Jolliet and lived there for several years, and then moved back to the farm which his father owned, which joined the home place on the east. On this farm he lived for the next seven years, and then built his present home on his father's farm where he was born, his father having built a new home on the other farm across the road. Mr. Mc¬ Shane has been a prosperous farmer in this county for fifty years and has carried on general farming and stock raising all of his life. On his farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres he has raised excellent crops and has had uniform success with his hogs and cattle. He has found by experience that it pays to own only the best stock, so he has made a specialty of handling thoroughbred Chester White hogs, and Shorthorn cattle.

William F. McShane was married February 26, 1868 to Sarah A. Foulke, the daughter of Jessie and Mary (Baker) Foulke, who was born in Ohio, November 20. 1846. The Foulke family moved to Hamilton county when Sarah was a small child and bought land at Baker's Corner. Mr. and Mrs. McShane are the parents of five children: Eva, Nona, Alma, James and Lena. James W. McShane married Edna C. Owen, who was born in Fremont, Nebraska, and lived there until her marriage. They have two chlidren, James Owen and Sarah Elizabeth. Eva, the eldesUchild of Mr.

and Mrs. McShane, married William Hensil and lives one mile east of her parents' home. Nona married John W. Day and lives three and one-half miles west of Noblesville. Alma married Edgar Michener and lives in Deadwood, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Michener have five children: Earle, Ester, Evalena, Frank and Silvy. Lena married John Eveleth. They have one child, Ruby. The mother of these children died July 4, 1906.

Mr. McShane has been a life-long Republican and always has been actively interested in its success. Several years ago he was trustee of Dela¬ ware township for one term, but has never held any other office. Fra¬ ternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Free and Accepted Masons in Carmel and of the George H. Thomas Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Indianapolis. He is a member of and an earnest supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church.

This sketch of Mr. McShane's life would not be complete without men¬ tioning the collection he has made of Indian relics. For more than fifty years he has been deeply interested in the collection of Indian arrow-heads, hatchets and other Indian relics, and has in the neighborhood of eight hun¬ dred different pieces in his private collection. He also has a large collection of old relics, such as mowing sickles, cabinetmaking tools, saddlebags, and Civil War relics. He also has all of the tools and implements which our forefathers used in spinning and weaving flax. He naturally takes a great deal of pride in his relics, and enjoys showing them to anyone who is inter¬ ested in seeing them.

Wesley D. Hare

A review of the life of the honored and lamented Wesley Hare must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching the struggles of his early manhood and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and generation and the luster of his deeds and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of the community where he did his work and achieved his suc¬ cess. Sufficient is submitted, we believe, to prove him entitled to the honor¬ able position he long occupied among the brave and energetic self-made men of Indiana, who by enterprise and unswerving integrity forged to the front despite all opposition and won for the grand old Hoosier state a place second to none other in the bright constellation comprising the Union of American States. That he did his part nobly and well cannot be gainsaid, and, though dead, he yet speaketh in the work which he accomplished and in the many kindly deeds and wholesome influence which not only his friends, but the community as well, prize as a grateful heritage.

The late Wesley Hare, founder of the business which is now conducted by his son, was bom September 4, 1825, in Ross county, Ohio, and died in Noblesville, Indiana, November 2, 1902. He was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Freshour) Hare, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, re¬ spectively. Jacob Hare was one of the early emigrants to Ohio and a pioneer citizen of the Buckeye state. He later moved with his family to Green county, Ohio, and from there he finally settled in Hamilton county, Indiana, where he lived the remainder of his life. His wife, Elizabeth Freshour, came with her family from Virginia to Ohio, and in that state she and Wesley Hare were married. She was a devoted, self-sacrificing wife and mother. She and her husband reared a family of nine children to lives of honor and usefulness.