Hamilton County, Indiana - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 6 of 14)

Mr. Caca has always been a Democrat in politics and has always been active in the declarations of his party in this county. In 1911 he was his party's candidate for the office of county treasurer. Although he was de¬ feated, he reduced the Republican majority of fourteen hundred to two hun¬ dred and sixteen, a fact which attests the popularity and recognized ability of Mr. Caca. Several years ago lie was the candidate for county commis¬ sioner in his district and carried his own township, overcoming the large Republican majority, his opponent living in the same townshp. Since mov- ing to Noblesville he served four years in the city council, although his ward is normally Republican. He has served upon the county Democratic central committee and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his family are members of the Christian church and always have been active in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Caca has always manifested a good business judgment and has been an indefatigable worker from his earliest boyhood. He is strictly a self-made man and has so ordered his life in all its phases that he has received that recognition which comes as a result of honest endeavor.

Perry A. Bray

A citizen of Noblesville who has been very largely dependent upon his own resources from his early youth is Perry A. Bray, who is now a rural route mail carrier out of Noblesville. He is a member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of this county, his father having been for many years one of the most influential men of his locality. For many years Mr. Bray was identified with the agricultural interests of this county, but for the past eight years has been an employe of the postoffice department, a position which he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his patrons. Like most men, he has encountered obstacles and met with reverses, yet he has pressed steadily forward, ever willing to work for the end he has in view. His tenacity and fortitude are due in a large measure to the worthy traits he inherited from his sterling father, whose high ideals and correct principles he has ever sought to emulate in all the relations of life.

Perry A. Bray, the son of Henry and Betsy (Mills) Bray, was born April 22, 1861, in Washington township, this county. His father was born October 23, i8ji, in Kentucky, and his mother was born January 25, 1819, in Tennessee. Henry Bray came to this state with his parents in 1815, and settled with them in the southern part of the state, where he grew to man¬ hood. After his marriage, in 1841, Henry Bray moved to Hamilton county, this state, where he settled on a farm, living there the remainder of his life. He was a man of unusual ability and served for a long time as justice of the peace, and was frequently called upon to act as guardian and administrator. At one time he had six cases of guardianship on his hands, and he discharged his duties in all these cases with such fairness that he always had all the work along this line he could manage. While not educated as a lawyer, yet he was learned in many phases of the law, and was frequently called upon by his neighbors to adjudicate small cases. He also served for several terms as county commissioner on the Republican ticket, and in every capacity in which he was found he was always a faithful servant of the people who elected him. In addition to his farming Henry Bray also manufactured tile, and derived no inconsiderable part of his income from this source. Henry Bray and wife were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daugh¬ ters, three of whom are living: Rev. A. M. Bray, of Newberg, Oregon; Mrs. Jonathan Stalker, whose husband is a farmer in Washington township, this county, and Perry A., with whom this narrative deals.

Perry A. Bray was given such education as was afforded by the common schools of his immediate neighborhood, and early in life decided that he would follow the vocation of a farmer. Marrying at the age of twenty-five, he at once began farming for himself and continued to operate his own farm of ninety-two acres in Washington township until 1906, when he removed to Noblesville upon his appointment as a rural mail carrier out of Noblesville. As a farmer he raised all of the crops common to this section of the state, as well as such live stock as he could feed from his own crops. Since assuming the duties of a mail carrier he has been faithful in the discharge of his duties and has made an excellent record for efficient service in the department.

Mr. Bray was married November 11, 1886, to Elizabeth Perry, the daughter of William and Emmeline (Teague) Perry, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Bray has two brothers living - Anderson, a grocer of Westfield, this county, and O. C. Perry, a farmer of Noblesville township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bray are the parents of five children, Pauline, who was born October 29, 1888, and is a graduate of the Nobles¬ ville high school; Leah, who died in August, 1893; Paul, who died Septem¬ ber 1, 1897; Rachel, who was born December 2, 1898, and is now a student of the high school in Noblesville; Mary, who was born October 10, 1904, now a student in the graded schools of Noblesville.

The Republican party always has claimed the loyal support of Mr. Bray, and although deeply interested in everything pertaining to good government, he has not been active in political affairs. He and his family are earnest members of the Friends church and Mr. Bray i§ a trustee of the Hinkle Creek Friends church. Fraternally, Mr. Bray is a member of the Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment at Noblesville, and has always been deeply interested in the affairs of this organization. Because of his clean and wholesome life and his influence in local affairs, there is accorded Mr. Bray the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem by his fellow citizens and neighbors.

Marion Aldred

The success of men in business or in any vocation depends upon char¬ acter as well as upon knowledge, it being a self-evident proposition that honesty is the best policy. Business demands confidence and where that is lacking business ends. In every community some men are known for their upright lives, strong common sense and moral worth rather than for their wealth or political standing. Their neighbors and acquaintances respect them, the younger generations heed their example, and when they "wrap the drap¬ ery of their couches about them and lie down to pleasant dreams" posterity listens with reverence to the story of their quiet and useful lives. Among such men of a past generation in Indiana was the late Marion Aldred, of Noblesville, Hamilton county, who was not only a progressive man of affairs, successful in material pursuits, but a man of modest and unassuming de¬ meanor, well educated, a fine type of the reliable, self-made American, a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors and who always stood ready to unite with them in every good work and active in the support of laudable public enterprises. He was proud of Noblesville and of the grand state of Indiana and zealous for their progress and prosperity. He was a man who in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was uni¬ versally held, for he was a man of public spirit, high intellectual attainments and exemplary character.

Marion Aldred, one of the best known citizens of Noblesville, was born in Perry county, Ohio, November 29, 1842, and died in Noblesville, Indiana, December 22, 1910. He was the son of William M. and Mary (Henderson) Aldred, and came with his parents from Ohio to Wayne township, Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1845, spending the rest of his life in this county. He was seven years of age when his parents moved to this county and consequently received the greater part of his education here. After finishing school he remained at home on the farm assisting his father in its cultivation. In April, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Union army in the Civil War, be¬ coming a member of Company B, One Hundred Thirty-sixth Regiment In¬ diana Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted for the one hundred days' service

Mr. Aldred was a farmer primarily, although in the latter years of his life he was largely interested in the banking business of Noblesville. As a farmer he was one of the most progressive and successful in the county, and at his death was the owner of a large farm in the vicinity of Lapel, this county, and another of two hundred and eighty acres two miles north of Noblesville. He was intimately connected with the history of Hamilton county for sixty years and saw it emerge from a primitive wilderness to its present prosperous condition. Early in 1893 he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, of Noblesville, and served as president of this institution for seventeen years. In 1909 lie was instrumental in the or¬ ganization of the American National Bank, of this city, and was a member of the board of directors of the institution until the time of his death.

Mr. Aldred was married in February, 1865, to Mary J. Ford, who died in 1869, leaving one son, James W. Mr. Aldred's second marriage occurred February 13, 1873, to Margaret R. Gentry, and to this union was born one daughter, Nellie, who is now the wife of W. E. Axline, of Noblesville. Mr. Aldred was a man of domestic tastes and when a given task was accom¬ plished he would throw off all cares, retire to his home and devote himself to domestic and social enjoyment, for which he had the keenest interest and relish. His temper was always calm and his manners were emphatically those of a gentleman, plain, simple and dignified. His devotion to every duty was intense and his perception of truth and worth was almost intuitive. Although his life was a busy one, his private affairs and his home duties making heavy demands on his time, yet he never allowed this to interfere with his obligations as a citizen of the commonwealth. He loved, with all his energy and enthusiasm, the county in which he had been reared and in which he had ripened into well matured years. He was fond of the people with whom he mingled, fond of the country, fond of the picturesque setting of the hills and streams. He moved among men uprightly all his days. He was a splendid type of a sturdy race brought forth by a sturdy time. He had the charm of unaffectedness, simplicity and sincerity. The world's veneer never touched him, and to the end he was the plain, unaffected man that he was when he a struggling farmer at the beginning of his career. He lived in peace with his neighbors and was always an example of uprightness who compelled admiration. Mr. Aldred was a member of the Methodist church, to whose highest interests he ever was devoted.

never attempted to make any show of the many kind deeds which he did. One interesting instance occurred several years ago which illustrates his characteristic generosity of heart. A young man who is now well known in Noblesville and who was at that time a senior in the high school, did not have sufficient money to allow him to graduate. His parents were unable to assist him financially and it seemed that his cherished ambition of graduating from the high school was to be denied him. The student appealed to Mr. Aldred for assistance to enable him to finish his high school education anc^ all the money he asked for was forthcoming without even a demand on the part of Mr. Aldred for any kind of security. This young man is today a resident of Noblesville and it is needless to say that he never forgot the favor which Mr. Aldred showed him in his time of need.

Mr. Aldred had been in poor health for two years previous to his death, but was not confined to his bed until about seven weeks before the end, which came peacefully. Surrounded by the members of his family Mr. Aldred sank into the final slumber. As gently as he walked the way of life so passed he into the final repose, going from this world into the other as if he were falling into a restful sleep. So passed away a man who always had the interests of his fellow men at heart, a man who had the greatest sym¬ pathy for his neighbor, and always stood ready to aid and encourage those who were struggling to aid themselves. When he believed he was on the right path nothing could swerve him from it. He commanded the respect of all classes by his exemplary life and his memory will long be revered by his many friends and acquaintances.

Clem C. Stanford

A man's reputation is the property of the world, for the laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being either submits to the con¬ trolling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the way along which others may follow with like success. The reputation borne by Clem C. Stanford, one of the leading citizens of Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana, having been unassailable all along the highways of life, ac¬ cording to those who have known him best, it is believed that a critical study of his career will be of benefit to the reader, for it has not only been one of honor but of usefulness also.

Clem C. Stanford, a prominent funeral director of Noblesville, Indiana, of the firm of Stanford & Hays, was born on a farm in Wayne township, in .Hamilton county, Indiana, on January 23, 1870. His parents, Thomas and Mary J. (Hunt) Stanford, were both born at Blountsville, in Henry county, this state. They were reared and married in that town and there Thomas Stanford purchased a general merchandise store and carried on that line of endeavor for several years. In the early fifties the Stanford family came to Noblesville, where the father again engaged in the mercantile business for a few years. Later in life he bought a farm in Wayne township, this county, where he lived the life of a simple farmer until his death, on February 19, 1891. He was engaged in installing a gas tank at Burlington, Carroll county, Indiana, when he was stricken with heart failure and died suddenly. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty years, in Noblesville. Thomas Stanford was a Republican in politics and a man who always took an active part in public affairs. He was greatly interested in agricultural develop¬ ment and took much pride in the work done by the Hamilton County Agricul¬ tural Society, being a member of its board of directors for many years.

Clem C. Stanford attended the public schools of his home township, and lived on the home farm until three years after his father's death. In 1894 he came to Noblesville, where he engaged in the livery and transfer business. This enterprise he enlarged, when, on January 29, 1914, he bought out the undertaking business of Longlev & Ball, which since he has conducted with much satisfaction to the public. Since taking a partner into the business this firm is now known as the firm of Stanford & Hays. In addition to the at¬ tractive show room of this establishment there is a well-equipped morgue and a comfortable parlor chapel, where funeral services sometimes are held at convenience. The firm has a stock of twenty-four horses and fine hearses and turnouts for funeral occasions, and does all the funeral work in Nobles¬ ville and surrounding country.

Mr. Stanford was married February 19, 1894, to Alice Fisher, the daughter of John H. and Ellen (Steffie) Fisher. Mrs. Fisher was the daughter of George Steffie. of Wayne township, a man of much prominence in his day and an undertaker and cabinet maker of recognized ability. Mr. and Mrs. Stanford are the parents of one daughter, Mary Lucile.

Mr. Stanford is a Republican in politics, and has been active in public and political matters of all kinds, always ready to do his part in all move¬ ments calculated to advance the interests of his city and community. He is a member of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of

Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an earnest and loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife and daugh¬ ter are members of the Christian church, and are active workers in their denominations.

Mr. Stanford is actively interested in the Hamilton County Horse Show Association and is now vice-president of this organization, which is famed all over the state for its annual exhibitions of fine live stock. Mr. Stanford conducts his livery and sales stable at 53 North Ninth street, while the family residence is at No. 122 East Harrison street, Noblesville. Though always a busy man, Mr. Stanford has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, being a careful observer of men and events and an active participant in those affairs which relate to the welfare of his own community. In all the various avenues of activity in which he has been engaged, he has met with splendid success, and is numbered among Hamilton county's most substantial and en¬ terprising citizens.

John Thom

Practically every nation of Europe has contributed some of its best citizens to the population of the United States. No country has given us better or more patriotic citizens than Scotland. Wherever the sons of that country settle they have become prosperous and substantial citizens and taken their full share in the life of the community in which they resided. The people of Sctoland have always been noted for their sturdy independence and strong character, characteristics which have become dominant in them because of their centuries of strenuous national history. Among the citizens of Noblesville, Indiana, today who are important factors in the life of the community there is no one who is more deserving of mention in this bio¬ graphical volume than John Thom, one of the oldest business men of that city.

John Thom, the son of James and Sarah (Mess) Thom, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, September 18, 1844. James Thom was a successful farmer in his own country and lived there several years after some of his children came to America. He and his wife came to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1873, where he resided until his death. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in Scotland, the others coming to America, as follows: John, whose history is here related and who was the oldest of the children; William, of Marion, Indiana; Sarah, the widow of

John Thom grew up in the land of his nativity and attended the schools of his home neighborhood. He was reared in the strict religious faith of his parents, namely, that of the Presbyterian church. As a lad he learned the trade of a harness maker with George Brown at Aberdeen, and early in life made up his mind to come to America. He felt that there were better op¬ portunities for a young man in America than in his own country and accord¬ ingly set sail for America in 1868 when he was twenty-four years of age. He landed at Quebec, Canada, where he remained for about two years work¬ ing at his trade in Quebec and other nearby cities in Canada. In 1870 he moved to Indianapolis, where he had no difficulty in finding employment as a harness maker. He worked as a journeyman harness maker there until 1876, when he went into the business for himself. In 1878 he married and went to Emporia, Kansas, and followed his trade there for two years. He then returned to Indianapolis, where he again engaged in business until 1881, when he moved with his son into Noblesville, where he has since resided. He has been engaged in the active pursuit of his trade up to the present time and the thirty-three years which he has spent in business on the public square of Noblesville entitles him to the honor of being the oldest business man on the public square. He prjdes himself on the fact that all the harness sold in his shop is his own manufacture. There is no better harness maker in the country today than John Thom. His product finds ready sale with the men who want the best and he has a large trade in Noblesville and the surround¬ ing country. His watchword is "Quality." During his long career as a manufacturer of harness in this county he has never let his output fall below standard in any way. It is a pleasure in these days of cheap goods to find a man who prides himself upon the superior excellence of his output and for this reason John Thom, the honest harness maker of Noblesville, deserves special mention in this volume.

Mr. Thom has been twice married, the first marriage occurring Decem¬ ber 24, 1878, to Louise H. Walker, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Walker, of Warren county, Ohio. To this first union were born two chil¬ dren : Leah, who lost her life in a railroad wreck near Lebanon, Missouri, September 14, 1914, and Charles, of Portland, Oregon. His first wife died in October, 1883, ar|d Thom's second marriage occurred April 5, 1885, to Genira Walker, a sister of his first wife. To this second union have been born three children: Faveola. the wife of Oscar Godby, of Noblesville; William, who is married and associated with his father in the business, and

The Republican party has always claimed the loyal support of Mr. Thom, and no man in Noblesville has been more deeply interested in every¬ thing that pertains to the advancement of this community. He served for three years as a member of the board of education and for eight years as a member of the city council. In both positions he was faithful to every public trust, and no official in the city ever had a better record than he. Religiously, he and his family are earnest members of the Presbyterian church, the con¬ gregation of which he has served as an elder for many years. He is faithful in his church obligations and active in everything which pertains to the church and Sunday school life. It is interesting to note in this connection that the husbands of his two sisters, who are now both widows, were also elders in the Presbyterian church and men of clean and wholesome lives.

In 1875 Mr. Thom made the trip back to his old home in Aberdeen, Scotland, in order to visit his relatives and renew old acquaintances. In 1895, in company with his two brothers, William and Charles, he again visited his old home. Mr. Thom has always stood for everything which he felt would advance the welfare of his fellow men. Because of the honest and upright life which he has always lived, he has commanded the universal confidence of his friends and neighbors. He is a man of kindly impulses and high ideals, who has always been ready to assist his neighbors in time of trouble or distress. The whole tenor of his life has been such that the com¬ munity in which he has lived has been the better because of his having lived in it.

Elmer Q. Thayer

In examining the life records of self-made men, it will invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. True, there are other elements which enter into and conserve the advance¬ ment of personal interests - perseverance, discrimination and the mastery of expedients - but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent labor. At the outset of his career, Elmer Q. Thayer recognized this fact, and he did not seek any royal road to the goal of prosperity and independence, but began to work earnestly and diligently in order to advance himself, with the result that he is now numbered among the progressive, successful and in¬ fluential business men of Hamilton county. In his chosen profession of

Elmer Q. Thayer, the son of Samuel A. and Sarah (Orth) Thayer, was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, August 26, 1869. His father was bom near Hope, Bartholomew county, this state, while his mother was born in this county, in White River township. Samuel Thayer was a farmer, but retired from active work some years ago and is now living with his wife in Arcadia, this county. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Elmer O., whose life history forms the theme of this narrative; Charles D., a farmer of White River township; Jessie, the wife of Harry Ball, of Noblesville; Grace, who is still living with her parents; Clyde, deceased, and Joseph, who is now a student at the State University at Bloomington, Indiana.

Elmer Q. Thayer was reared on his father's farm and attended the country schools of his home township. Being naturally of a studious turn of mind he continued his education by attending the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, for three years, after which he engaged in teaching school for two winters in the country near his home. He was a successful teacher, but the work did not appeal to him in such a way as to lead him to make it his chosen work for life. He had an opportunity to study photo¬ graphy with Charles C. Pike, of Noblesville, and he started to learn the trade in the latter's studio. He worked with Mr. Pike in Noblesville and Muncie for about two and one-half years and then located in Noblesville, where he has followed his vocation down to the present time. He does all kinds of photographic work and makes a specialty of scenic work for magazines and publications of all kinds. His studio is equipped with the latest cameras and photographic accessories and is thoroughly modern in every respect. He is a man of artistic temperament and has won high praise for the sincerity and naturalness of his pictures. He keeps fully abreast of the latest ad¬ vances in his professon and takes an active part in the deliberations of the State and National Photographic Associations.

Mr. Thayer has been twice married, his first marriage occurring Decem¬ ber 24, 1895, when he was united to Lena R. Myers, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Cluckner) Myers, of White River township, this county, and to this union five children were born, Wallace, deceased; Kathleen; Rudyard; Donald and Albert, the last two named being twins. The wife and mother of these children died February 4, 1907. Mr. Thayer was married a second time on October 28, 1913, to Sera D. Wells, daughter of Dudley Wells and wife, of Jennings county, Indiana.

Politically, Mr. Thayer is identified with the Republican party and, al¬ though he is interested in the current issues of the day, he has never taken a very active part in public affairs, the nature of his profession being such that he could not absent himself from it for any length of time. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood¬ men of America and the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his family have been members of the Christian church for many years and give to it their earnest support at all times. In many ways Mr. Thayer has lent his influence for good in his community. He is a man of sterling worth and his life has been closely interwoven with the community in which he has re¬ sided for so many years.

Thomas E. Beals

The history of the Beals family has been traced back to the seventeenth century, when the first member of the family, John Beals, accompanied William Penn from England to Pennsylvania in 1682. At that time the Quakers were being persecuted in England, and in order that they might have more freedom and at the same time bring their children up in new sur¬ roundings the family came to America. John Beals settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and shortly afterwards married Mary Clayton, daughter of William Clayton, who had settled at the same time in Pennsylvania. John Beals and wife were the parents of three sons, John, William and Jacob.

John Beals, the son of John and Mary (Clayton) Beals, was reared in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and was married in 1711, to Sarah Bowater, w#hose parents had come from England. To this marriage were born seven children, Prudence, the wife of Richard Williams; Sarah, the wife of John Milles; Marv, who was first the wife of Thomas Hunt, and after hi's death, of William Baldwin, or according to another spelling, Ballard; Phoebe, who married Robert Sumner; John, who married Esther Hunt; Bowater, who married Ann Cookmvre, and Thomas, who married Sarah Antrim at Monacacy, Maryland, September 12, 1741.

Thomas Beals, the son of John Beals, Jr., moved to near Winchester, Virginia, shortly after his marriage and in 1748 went to Cane Creek, North Carolina. Some time later Thomas Beals, with two companions, removed to New Garden, now Guilford College, North Carolina, and were the first people to settle at that place. They were soon followed by the four brothersin-law of Thomas Beals, Richard Williams, Thomas Hunt, John Mills,

Robert Sumner, and John, a brother of Thomas. When Thomas Beals was thirty-four years of age he became a minister in the Friends church, and had the honor of founding the Quaker church at Guilford. Later he removed to Westfield, Stokes county, North Carolina, where he organized a church, and from this place he traveled widely in the interests of his church. He made several visits to what was then known as the Northwest Territory, even going as far north as Fort Wayne, Indiana. He took his nephews, Bowater Sumner, William Hiatt and David Ballard, on a missionary visit to the Shawnee and Delaware Indian tribes, which were then located in the Clinch mountains in Virginia. In passing near a fort, unfortunately, the British did not appreciate their peaceful mission and arrested them, accusing them of being confederates of the hostile Indians with whom the British were at war at that time. Just before they were to be put on trial for their lives, Thomas Beals asked permission to talk to the officers and soldiers in the fort and explain the cause of their visit, and shortly afterwards he preached so powerful a sermon that the officers allowed him and his party to proceed on their way without trial. A soldier in the fort near the Indian reservation was converted and attached himself to the Society of Friends, with which he remained until his old age. Before the missionaries proceeded on their jour¬ ney the attitude of the soldiers toward them had entirely changed and the officers did everything in their power to speed them on their way.

Thomas Beals and his party then crossed the Ohio river and held many meetings among the Indians in Ohio, and had the satisfaction of feeling that they did much good in softening the hearts of the savages. Thomas Beals had a prophetic vision that the spiritual truth eventually would be scattered all over that goodly land, and that the greatest gathering of Friends in the world would take place in this country, a prophecy which his descend¬ ants have lived to see fulfilled. This visit to the Indians in the Northwest was made in the year 1775, and two years later Thomas Beals attempted to make another visit to the same tribe, but was arrested at the point where Pittsburg now stands by the authorities at Fort Duquesne and sent back. Later in the same year he made a second attempt, but was again forced to return home, although he was permitted to hold a meeting for the soldiers. In 1781 Thomas Beals moved with his family to Blue Stone, Virginia, and while living there they suffered greatly from lack of the necessities of life. The Indians captured his son-in-law, James Horton, and took him to old Chillicothe, Ohio, now Frankfort, Ohio, where he was put to death. While living at Blue Stone, Virginia, Thomas Beals gathered about him some twenty or thirty families of Friends, enough to constitute a Friends Meet- ing, but this meeting was broken up when he returned to Westfield, North Carolina. In 1785 he took his family to Lost Creek, Tennessee, and lived in that place for the next eight years. He then removed to Grayson county, Virginia, where he set up several Meetings of Friends, and did everything in his power to further the interests of his church. In 1799, with his sons, John and Daniel, and his grandson, Abel Thornburg, he moved to Quaker Bottoms, now Ross county, Ohio, and there he died August 29, 1801, and now lies buried near Richmondale, in that county. He was buried in a coffin of regular shape hewn out of the solid white walnut tree which had been selected by him for that purpose before his death. The coffin was prepared by his ever faithful friend, Jesse Ballard, assisted by Enoch Cox and others.

In the autumn of 1802 Sarah Beals, the widow of Thomas, with her sons, John and Daniel, and their families, moved to Lee's Creek, in High¬ land county, Ohio, where she eventually died, on July 7, 1813, at the ad¬ vanced age of eighty-nine years. She was buried at Fairfield, Ohio. To Thomas and Sarah (Antrim) Beals were born five sons and eight daughters, as follows: Mary, born June 15, 1742; Mary and Sarah, twins, born August 30, 1743 (Mary became the wife of Thomas Jessup) ; Thomas, born October 29, 1745; Patience, born December 9, 1747; William, born June 13, 1750; Daniel, born February 15, 1753; Elizabeth, born April 25, 1755; Margaret, born October 12, 1757; Hannah, born December 13, 1759; Rachel and John, twins, born March 9, 1763; and Jacob, born October 28, 1768. Many of the most prominent ministers of the Quaker church have descended from Thomas and Sarah Beals. In remembrance and recogni¬ tion of these pious people the Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends at Rich¬ mond, Indiana, in 1868 and 1870, ordered an appropriation made and had a stone wall built around the grave of Thomas Beals. There are still some people living who remember this great missionary, one of these being Levi Coffin, the venerable philanthropist, who was a blood descendant of the Beals family.

John Beals, the son of Thomas, was born March 9, 1763, and was the great-grandfather of Thomas Elwood Beals, the present representative of the family living in Noblesville. He was a brickmaker as well as a wheel¬ wright, miller and general mechanic, and was skilled in each trade. He was married in 1788 to Mary Carter, who was bom in North Carolina, not far from Westfield, and he accompanied his father to Lost Creek, Tennessee, and from there to Grayson county, Virginia. At the latter place his wife died, October 11, 1799. In the latter part of the same year John Beals ac¬ companied the other members of the family to Quaker Bottom, Ross county.

Ohio, crossing the Ohio river on Christmas Day, 1799. The second wife of John Bettis was Mary Johnson Hiatt, the widow of his cousin, William Hiatt. Later John Beals and his family accompanied his widowed mother to Lee's Creek, Highland county, Ohio, and there John, assisted by his son, Thomas, made brick and built the Quaker meeting house at Fairfield, Ohio. In 1834 he moved to* Hamilton county, Indiana, and settled one mile west and one-half south of Deming, in section 7, Jackson township. Here he entered between three and four hundred acres of land in the woods, build¬ ing a log cabin for his first home. He also built a rude grist mill, which at that time was called a corn cracker. He fashioned the grindstone him¬ self out of a granite boulder, and these same stones are now used as door¬ steps by his granddaughter, Candice Beals Barker. John Beals was one of the first Friends to settle in this county and became one of the founders of the Friends church at Westfield, and always took an active interest in the church. He died on the farm which he had entered August 5, 1848, his second wife having died in 1846. To the first marriage of John Beals were born the following children: Nathan C., born September 3, 1789, at Lost Creek, Tennessee, married Elizabeth Chew, November 11, 1820; Thomas, born February 14, 1791, at Lost Creek, Tennessee, married Nancy Stanley, died in Hamilton county, Indiana; Abner, born March 6, 1795, in Grayson county, Virginia, and died in Virginia July 6, 1796; Amy, born April 24, T797, died December 4, 1892, in Hardin county, Ohio, at the advanced age of ninety-five years; she was the wife of Joseph Thompson; Daniel, born March 25, 1799, in Grayson county, Virginia, married (first) a Miss Had¬ ley, and after her death, Elizabeth Bray, and died in Lynn county, Missouri.

At the time when John Beals settled in this county in 1834, there were still Indians roaming the forest, although most of them had been taken to reservations west of the Mississippi. In this connection it is interesting to note a story concerning the Indians and John Beals, which is recorded in the old Beals family bible. On one occasion John Beals was chased by a party of Indians and sought shelter in the high stump of a hollow tree, and was followed into the same hole by two small cub bears. The Indians came up and rapped on the tree, but did not climb up to investigate the aperture where he had crawled in. After staying around the tree for a while they went away, but he remained there until after dark before he crawled out and started home. However, as he was crawling out, the old she-bear returned to the hollow tree, which was her den, and came down into the hole back¬ wards. He seized her short tail and held on so desperately that the bear climbed up inside the tree with John still holding fast to her tail, and finally scrambled to the ground, when she went one way and he the other.

Thomas Beals, the grandfather of Thomas El wood Beals, was born February 14, 1791, at Lost Creek, Tennessee. He had a much better educa¬ tion than most of the pioneers of his day and when a young man became a school teacher in Clinton county, Ohio, where he made* a record as a mathe¬ matician. He was married in the latter county, to Nancy Stanley, who was born in North Carolina, September 16, 1790. Her father* was a Revo¬ lutionary soldier, who had served under Washington, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis in the fall of 1781. Thomas Beals continued to live in Clinton county, Ohio, until 1830, when he moved to Henry county, Indiana, and entered a farm of one hundred and sixty acres not far from Cadiz. In 1848 he moved to Hamilton county, this state, where he pur¬ chased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 18, in Washington township. There was a rude log cabin on the farm when he purchased it and he lived in this until the follow ing year, when he built a twro-story frame house. Both he and his wife were members of the Friends church. His wife died July 18, 1870, and to them w;ere born three children: Lemuel, born December 29, 1822; Mary, born June 27, 1828, and Daniel, born December 5, 1830.

Lemuel Beals, the father of Thomas Elwood Beals, wras given a good common school education and accompanied his parents to Hamilton county, Indiana. He devoted his whole life in this county to farming, dying April 26, 1892. He was married in the Friends church at Westfield, Indiana, in 1849, *° Emily Bray, who was born in 1828, in Morgan county, Indiana, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Bray. The Bravs were an old Col¬ onial Quaker family of English stock, the mother of Mrs. Beals being a Shelton, of Scotch-Irish descent, but a Quaker in religion. Edwrard Bray was born in North Carolina, and came to Hamilton county, Indiana, as a pioneer in 1836, settling in Washington township. Although he was a cripple from the effects of an accident he managed to clear up a small farm, on which he lived until his death, at the advanced age of eighty. Edward Bray and wife reared several children: John, Edward, Wilson, Rhoda, Mary, Emily and Susannah. After his marriage, Lemuel Beals began farm¬ ing on the farm which he had inherited from his father, and to which he added by purchase until he was the owner of eight hundred acres in this county. Politically, he was a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Fremont in 1856. Lemuel Beals and wnfe were the parents of the following children: Thomas Elwood, bom November 7, 1850; Edward Newton,

Thomas Elwood Beals obtained a good common school education and then attended the Washington township high school for three years. He then settled down to the occupation of farming. After his marriage, in 1873, he settled in Jackson township, on a farm of eighty acres, which he had inherited from his father and to which he has since added, until he now owns five hundred and thirty-eight acres of fine farming land in this county. He is president of the State Draft Horse Breeders' Association and also president of the Hamilton County Draft Horse Breeders' Association. These associations were organized for the purpose of improving the breed of draft horses in the state and county, and Mr. Beals was one of the prime promoters of both associations, being the first president of each.

Thomas E. Beals was married November 12, 1873, in the Friends church at Oak Ridge, Washington township, to Matilda Hodgin, who was born February 13, 1852, in Hamilton county. She is the daughter of Erastus and Lydia (Johnson) Hodgin. Erastus Hodgin was the son of Elias and Matilda (Perkins) Hodgin, and was born in North Carolina. Later Erastus Hodgin settled in Wayne county, Indiana, and subsequently moved to Washington township, this county, where he bought eighty acres of land. He married the daughter of Jesse Johnson and died at the age of sixty- four, at which time he was the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land in the county, the greater part of which he had cleared himself. Erastus Hodgin and wife were the parents of nine children: Rhoda, Ma¬ tilda, Jesse E. Alva, Jonathan, Charles, Ira, Iva and Oliver.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Beals are the parents of the following chil¬ dren, Homer H., born August 23, 1874, now a traveling salesman, married Mabel Lindley, and has two sons, Thomas Elwood, Jr., born June 11, 1907, and Linden H., born October 16, 1910. Elias Edward, the second son of Thomas E. Beals, was born October 9, 1875, and married Bertha Woods. They have one daughter, Mary Emily, born December 23, 1880, married R. M. Pettijohn, a merchant of Westfield, and they had one son, Ward Beals. Mrs. Pettijohn died November 4, 1905.

Mr. Beals always has been identified with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. He served as county commissioner from 1905 to 1911 and during his incumbency of this office favored every measure which he felt would benefit his county in any way. He has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions and for many years has been looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in this county. In August, 1910, Mr. Beals was elected president of the First National Bank, of Noblesville, and filled that important position up to January 1, 1914. He and his wife are loyal members of the Hinkle Creek Friends church, and Mr. Beals was an elder in this church for many years.

Mr. Beals unquestionably has the natural endowments which go to make up the successful farmer and business man, and he has left no stone unturned whereby he could advance himself, although he has at the same time main¬ tained a deep interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens. He has shown a public spirit that is ever commendable, being always willing to do his full share in the development of his community, and has so ordered his course as to keep untarnished the honorable escutcheon of a worthy old family.

John Hodson

The Hodson family is of Irish descent and the family has traced its history back to the year 1710, at which time George Hodson was the first member to come to America. George Hodson started to America with his parents and two brothers, but before the slow-going sailing vessel reached America, both his father and mother and his two brothers had died and been buried in the broad Atlantic. George Hodson settled near Philadelphia, reared a family there and later moved to North Carolina, members of his family subsequently locating in Clinton county, Ohio.

John Hodson, the son of Uriah and Mary (Thornburg) Hodson was born in the southeastern part of Adams township, Hamilton county, Indiana, on the southwest quarter, section 1, township 19, range 3, on October 7, 1839. Uriah Hodson was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1811, a son of Hur and Achsah Hodson. Uriah Hodson grew to manhood in his native county and there married Mary Thornburg, who was born in the same county and state, the daughter of Richard Thornburg. In 1838 Uriah Hodson and his wife moved from Clinton county, Ohio, to Hamilton county, Indiana, and entered government land in this county. Uriah and his brother, Ira, had come to Hamilton county about two years previous to this time, in 1836, and entered government land. The two brothers had walked here on foot and after entering one hundred and sixty acres in Adams township, returned in the same way to their old home in Clinton county, Ohio.

to build his house, not a mere log house, but a house built out of boards split out of the logs. The builder whom he had hired took sick and when Mr. Hodson arrived with his family in November, 1838, the house was unfinished and no chimney had yet been erected. The weather was rapidly getting colder and in order to make provisions for fire they had to tear out a part of the house so they could light a fire on the floor on the inside. The first morning when they got up after spending the night in their new house, there was a heavy snow on the ground, and thus was ushered in their first day's experience in Hamilton county. There were few settlers in this county when Uriah Hodson and his family located here. Wolves, bears, deer and all kinds of wild game were to be found in abundance. There were no roads when the family came here, and whenever they made a trip away from their home they had to carry their axes in order to chop a road through the brush and fallen trees. Uriah Hodson was an active conductor on the "Under¬ ground Railroad" and furnished the means whereby many slaves escaped from the south to Canada. He was reared in the Friends church, but later joined the Wesleyan church, afterwards, however, rejoining the Friends, in whose faith he died. His first wife died in January, 1842. To this first union two children were torn, both of whom are now living, Mary, the wife of John Foulke, and John, with whom this narrative deals. The second wife of Uriah Hodson was Ann Bailey, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler in Wayne county, Indiana. Uriah Hodson died in 1888, and his second wife died in 1886.

John Hodson lived at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he married Mary Bates, who was born in Howard county, Indiana, near London, the daughter of Townsend and Jemima Bates. Her parents came from Tennessee to Howard county, Indiana, and later moved to Wisconsin, finally locating in Iowa. After his marriage John Hodson went to farming for himself on land which he had bought before his marriage, the same being part of the farm which he now owns. He started with a small four-room house. When he settled on this land and built his house, the timber was so near the house that he chopped it and threw it in from where it fell. He had one hundred and sixty acres, and only seven acres of it 'was cleared. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres and has yet remaining thirty-five acres of natural timber. At one time he had five miles of rail fence on the farm, having split all these rails himself. In 1884 he built the substantial residence in which he is now living.

John Hodson and wife are the parents of six children : Harley, Myrtle, Mina, Anna, Ernest and Minnie. Harley married Ollie Ballard, and lives two miles north of his father's farm on a farm of his own. He has four children, Mary, Everett, Earl and Esther. Myrtle is the wife of Clark Coffin, and lives about three miles south of the old homestead. She has two sons, Merrill and Robert. Mina is the wife of Alfred Briles, and lives on a farm east of her father's homestead. She has one son, Raymond. Anna is the wife of Bernie Moore, and lives near Cicero. She has six children, Gladys, Wilna, John, Luther, Floyd and Paul. Ernest married Lizzie Herr, and lives on the home farm with his father. He also has a farm of his own two miles north of the old homestead. He has one daughter, Margaret. Minnie is the wife of Archie Wilson, and lives one and one-half miles north¬ east of the old homestead. She has two children, Mary Elizabeth and John William. The mother of these six children died July 19, 1912. Mr. Hodson has six children and sixteen grandchildren and the children, grandchil¬ dren and relatives gather at the old paternal homestead every year for a family reunion. With the exception of Myrtle, all the members of these families are members of the Friends church, and contribute generously of their means to its maintenance.

John B. Foulke

The Foulke family represented in Hamilton county, Indiana, by John B. Foulke, is of Welsh descent, and Edward Foulke, the first of the family to come to America, located in Pennsylvania in April, 1698. A very interest¬ ing document is a record written by Edward Foulke and handed down through succeeding generations. Inasmuch as this record is a summary of the early history of the family, it is here given.

"I, Edward Foulke, was the son of Evan, the son of Thomas, the son of Robert, the son of David Floyd, the son of David, the son of Evan Vaughn, the son of Griffith, the son of Maddock, the son of Jerworth, the son of Maddock, the son of Bird Black of the Poole, who was lord of Penrhvn, one of the.northern divisions of Wales. My mother's name was Fowry, the daughter of Edward, the son of David, the son of Ellis, the son of Robert of the Parish of Lanbor in Merioneth Shire.

"I was born on the thirteenth of the fifth month, 1651, and when arrived to mature age, I married Eleanor, the daughter of Hugh, the son of Cadwallader, the son of. Reese, of the Parish of Apitue, in Derbyshire. Her mother's name was Given, the daughter of Ellis, the son of Hugh, the son of

William, the son of David, the son of Maddock, the son of Evan, the son of Cott, the son of Evan, the son of Griffith, the son of Maddock, the son of Emion, the son of Meredith, of Cannadock, and was born in the same parish and shire with her husband/'

This Edward Foulke, the first member of the family to locate in America, gives much more of the family history, but space forbids further quotation from the family record. He came to America, arriving here on July 17, 1698, after spending eleven weeks on the ocean. During the voyage across, two or three died each day, but Mr. Foulke and his wife and nine children were all spared. Upon arriving in Pennsylvania, Edward Foulke bought seven hundred acres of land sixteen miles from Philadelphia. One of his sons was Hugh Foulke, who was the father of Samuel, the father of Judah, who was the grandfather of John B., with whom this narrative deals.

John B. Foulke, the son of Jesse M. and Mary (Baker) Foulke, was born in' Harrison county, Ohio, 'March 31, 1844. His father and mother were both born near Philadelphia. Jesse Foulke came to Harrison county, Ohio, with his parents, Judah and Sarah Foulke. *

John B. Foulke was a lad of six years when his parents came to Hamil¬ ton county, Indiana, in the fall of 1850, and settled near Cicero. Some time later the father bought two hundred and eighty-five acres of land in the south¬ western part of Jackson township, and there the family made their permanent home. Jesse Foulke was a cooper by trade, but after coming to Indiana, he devoted all of his time to farming, although he made a few barrels and kegs for himself and neighbors. He died February 18, 1875, leaving his widow and five children, John B., George, Sarah Ann, William and Amassa. The widow remained on the farm for three or four years, and then spent the rest of her days with her children, her death occurring in 1888.

John B. Foulke remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty. He then rented a farm one mile north of Baker's Corners, in this county and lived for six months on this farm. He then moved to the farm where he is now living, one-half mile south of Baker's Corners, and for fifty years has been tilling the fields of this farm of one hundred and eighty-nine acres. The farm is well improved with a good home, large and commodious barns and outbuildings. He has devoted his attention to general farming and* the raising of Percheron horses.

Mr. Foulke was married April 2, 1864, to Mary Hodson, a sister of John Hodson, whose history elsewhere in this volume presents the family ancestry. To this union four children have been born: Cora, Amba, Frank and Marvin. Cora married Oscar Teter, a farmer of this township, and has two daughters, Leina and Lucile. Amba is the wife of Frank Simmonds, and lives on a farm near her father. Frank married Cora Hester, and has two daughters, Hester and LaVonne. Frank is the manager of the telephone exchange at Sheridan. Marvin married Vernie Phillips, and has one son, Maurice. He lives on the home farm with his father.

On April 2, 1914, Mr. Foulke and his wife celebrated their golden wed¬ ding anniversary, and their children and grandchildren and relatives to the number of seventy-two were present to help in the celebration of this event. Mr. Foulke and his wife are both members of the Friends church, and one of the most highly respected couples in the county, where they have lived their more than half century of wedded life.

Oliver C. Elliott

The history of any county is the chronicle of the people, of the men and women who live in the county. The value of any one man to a com¬ munity is determined by two things, by what he does for himself, and what he does for the community at large. There are, unfortunately, some men who do a great deal for themselves, but who are very remiss when it comes to doing something for the locality in which they live. On the other hand, there are a few men who neglect their own individual welfare for the wel¬ fare of the rest of their immediate neighborhood. The most valuable man to a particular community is he who neglects neither his own welfare nor that of his community. It is said that no man lives unto himself, and this phrase was never truer than at the present time. With the pioneers in this state there was not the division of labor which marks our civilization of to¬ day. Our good forefather was not noly a farmer, but he was his owrL doctor, his own blacksmith, his own carpenter, his own shoemaker, and fre¬ quently his own lawyer. But his son of today calls upon a score of men trained in their respective professions in order to do the work which the father did himself. The rail-fence age is gone forever, and while we are now in the wire-fence age, there is much evidence to prove that we are approach¬ ing a period when there will be a fenceless age altogether. A few of our old rail-fence pioneers are still living, but many of their wire-fence sons are now living a life of luxury and ease compared to what their forefathers en¬ dured. Among the pioneer farmers in Hamilton county, the name of Oliver C. Elliott occupies a prominent place.

Oliver C. Elliott, one of the fanners of Hamilton county, who has reached the allotted age of three score and ten years, was born September 12, 1844, in Wayne county, Indiana. He is the son of Absalom and Polly (Maxwell) Elliott. His father was born June 18, 1813, in North Carolina, and was the son of Jacob and Marv (Peele) Elliott, both of whom were born in North Carolina, of Irish descent. His mother, Polly Maxwell, was born September 5, 1816, in Wavne county, Indiana Territory, three months before it was admitted as a state. She was the daughter of John and Han¬ nah (Whitlock) Maxwell, who came to Wayne county, Indiana Territory, from Knoxville, Tennessee. Absalom Elliott was born in North Carolina and came to Indiana with his parents when he was three years of age. His grandfather, Exum Elliott, was born April 10, 1765, and the latter's wife, Catherine Lamb, was born April 8, 1774. Exum Elliott and wife were in all probability natives of North Carolina. The parents of Polly Maxwell, the

Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, John Maxwell being born May 10, 1789, and his wife July 30, 1787. John Maxwell and wife were married in Tennessee and came to Indiana Territory about 1814, settling on the land which is now occupied by Earlham College at Richmond, Indiana.

John Maxwell, the maternal grandfather of Oliver C. Elliott, was a blacksmith in the eastern part of the state when it was taken into the Union in 1816. .He made nearly all of the axes used in clearing and opening up the land in that section of the state and was a noted man in his trade. Set¬ tlers would come from miles around in order to get axes which he made and as were the Elliotts. While living at Richmond, John Maxwell entered land north of Centerville and manufactured brick, subsequently, in 1825, erecting on his farm a brick house, which is still standing in a good state of preserva¬ tion. In this house he lived until his death.

Absalom Elliott, the father of Oliver C., lived with his parents until he was married. The year before he married, he entered one hundred and sixty acres in Hamilton county, in the northern part, but sold the land before he moved upon it. Later he purchased eighty acres of land, where his son, Oliver C., is now living. He was a prosperous farmer and later added the forty acres adjoining his original purchase and on this farm of one hundred and tweqtv acres he lived from 1858 until his death, November 24, 1893, aged eighty years and three months. His widow, Polly, died June 1, 1911, being nearly ninety-five years of age at the time of her death.

Oliver C. Elliott was fourteen years of age when his parents moved from Wayne county to Hamilton, and, consequently, received most of his common school education in Wayne county. He was married December i, 1865, to Martha Hussey, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Frazier) Hus¬ sey. His wife was born July 28, 1844, m Fayette county. Joseph Hussey was born in North Carolina, while his wife, Sarah Frazier, was born and reared in Fayette county, Indiana. In 1853 Joseph Hussey and his family moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, where he purchased land in the south¬ western part of the county. Joseph Hussey and wife were the parents of ten children : John, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863; William; Martha, the wife of Mr. Elliott; Mary; Thomas; Elizabeth, Harriett, Rachael, Milton and Franklin.

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott reared a family of four children, all of whom are living and married: Sarah is the wife of Louis J. Symons, and lives one mile northwest of the old Elliott homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Symons have three children, Mary, Malcolm and Helen; Frederick married Cora Dixon and lives just across the road from his father; Thomas married Henrietta Spitzer and lives in Hong Kong, China. He was graduated from Earlham College and after his graduation was appointed the boys' secretary of the Milwaukee Young Men's Christian Association, remaining there five years, at the end of which time he was appointed the secretary of the Korea Young Men's Christian Association, but three months later was transferred to Hong Kong, where he has been for the past seven years. He has two children, Robert and Martha, both born in China: Harriett, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, is the wife of Alvin Powers, and lives in the southern part of Hamilton county. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have two children, Fletcher and Maxwell E. Mrs. Elliott, the mother of the above family of children, was taken to her final rest April 15, 19T4, after over forty-eight years of married life. She was a member of the Christian church in her youth, but a few years after her marriage united with the Friends church. She was a good and faithful wife and mother, whose loss was keenly felt by all her friends. In her home she found her chief delight, she having been a home builder in the truest sense of the word.

Mr. Elliott has been a life-long Republican and has always taken a deep interest in the life of his community. He served for several years as road supervisor and he is especially proud of his work while holding this office. He was largely influential in starting the present gravel road system of his township and county. Mr. Elliott has also served two terms as trustee and was elected the second time by the unanimous vote of both the Democratic and Republican parties of his township. This one fact is an indication of the high esteem in which Mr. Elliott is held by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Elliott and his family are all members of the Friends church and contribute generously to its support. Mr. Elliott's career has been a long, busy and useful one, and he has contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community. His admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward and upright course of his dealings have en¬ deared him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Levi Gascho

The Gascho family are of German ancestry, the first member of the family to come to this country being Henry Gascho, who left his native land at the age of fifteen, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where his death occurred in Lancaster county, at the age of eighty-eight. He married Barbara Shenk, who was tern in the Keystone state and died there at the age of eighty-four. They were the parents of three children, one of whom, John Gascho, is the grandfather of Levi Gascho, whose history is here related.

John Gascho, Sr., the grandfather of Levi, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and reared to manhood upon a farm in that state. Early in life he learned the weaver's trade, and for many years followed that occupa¬ tion. At the age of twenty-eight, he was married to Catherine Shellenberger, the daughter of Henry and Barbara (Zimmerman) Shellenberger. After his marriage, John Gascho, Sr., continued to work at the weaver's trade until 1847, when he left his old home and drove overland to Hamilton county, Indiana, and located on the farm which has since been in possession of the family. He led a busy and useful life, and as a result of his labors accumulated a farm of over seven hundred acres. He passed away at the age of eighty-three in 1867, highly respected by all who knew him. His wife died on the old homestead in her ninety-fifth year.

Nine children were born to John Gascho, Sr., and wife: Jonathan, who died unmarried at the age of sixty-six in 1879; Fanny, who died unmarried in 1888, at the age of sixty-three; Christian, who married Mary Binkley, and reared a family of four children, Christian B., John B. (deceased), Catherine B. and Mary B. ; survivors all live in Hamilton county, on the east edge of Noblesville. Christian died in 1891, at the age of seventy-three. Catherine, the fourth child of John Gascho, Sr., and wife, died in 1900, at the age of seventy-two; Henry died in 1906, at the age of ninety; Tobias died on his ninetieth birthday in 1909; Elias died in 1913, at the age of ninety; Daniel, \vho was county commissioner of Hamilton county from 1876 to 1879, died in 1914 at the age of seventy-seven; John is the ninth child of John Gascho, Sr., and wife. Of these nine children born to John Gascho, Sr., and wife, Catherine, Fanny, Henry and Daniel were unmarried and made their home together.

John Gascho, Jr., the father of Levi Gascho, grew to manhood in Penn¬ sylvania and married Miss Catherine Coffman, and to this union were born two daughters and two sons: Mrs. Elizabeth Stern, Seth, Mrs. Catherine Coffman and Tobias, all four of whom are deceased. John Gascho, Jr., moved here before the birth of Tobias and located at the eastern edge of Arcadia, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. When John Gascho, Jr. asked his father-in-law to help him buy a farm, his father-in-law told him to get out and hustle and earn his own money. This stung the young man's pride and spurred him on, making him determined to show his father-in-law that he could get along without assistance. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he had bought near Arcadia, had only fifteen acres of cleared land. About 1854 he sold this farm and bought one hun¬ dred and twenty acres where Levi Gascho is now living. He also bought eighty acres in the northeastern part of Noblesville township, and one hun¬ dred and sixty-five acres southeast of Noblesville along Stony Creek. He became very successful in raising cattle and hogs, and became a very prosper¬ ous and influential man in his community. The first wife of John Gascho, Jr., died some years before the Civil War, and he then married Margaret Klepfer, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and reared to womanhood in that state and in Indiana. Her father died when she was about tw.o years of age and her mother married a second time. Mrs. Gascho's brothers, Jonathan and George Klepfer. were tailors, and came to Indiana and settled east of Cicero. Their mother and the other children of the family came later and joined them here in Hamilton county. Margaret Klepfer lived for a time in Indianapolis, and was living there when she mar¬ ried John Gascho, Jr. To the second marriage of John Gascho, Jr., were born eight children : Martha, Sarah, Anna, Mary, Jesse, Joseph, Chris and Levi.

Martha married Henry Gerhart and lived four and one-half miles west and north of Atlanta. She died in 1912. Sarah, a twin sister of Martha, married Mr. Sylvia, and lives east of Lawrence. The first child, Anna, died at the age of nine at the same hour at which Sarah and Martha were born.

and just a day before another sister, Mary, died at the age of eleven. Jesse, the youngest son in the family, lives at Alexandria. Joseph died September 27, 1914, and Christopher lives in Hamilton county on a farm. The father of these children died in March, 1879, and their mother passed away July 15, 1907.

Levi Gascho was born December 3, 1864, on the farm near Noblesville, where he is now living. He was reared to manhood on this farm and re¬ ceived a good education in the schools of Noblesville. He lived on this farm for a year after his marriage and then moved to Indianapolis, where he be¬ came connected with the Coburn Timber Company, remaining with this firm for nine years. He then returned to the old home farm, where he has since resided. He is a man of upright character, warm hearted and dispenses his charity with an unostentatious hand. His father was a member of the Dunkard church and his mother a member of the German Lutheran church, to which latter faith both he and his wife are earnest adherents. Politically, he is a Republican.

Levi Gascho was married in 1897 to Amanda Prasuhn, who was born four miles north of Greenville, Ohio, and is the daughter of Henry and Amelia Prasuhn. She moved with her parents to Indianapolis after she was grown. In 1905 her father lost his life in trying to save the life of a small child who was trying to cross a railroad track in front of an approaching train. Mr. Praushn ran and threw the child from the track in time to save its life, but his foot slipped and he was killed by the train.

Charles B. Jones

This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clear brained men of high resolves and noble purposes, who give character and stability to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence and leadership are easily discernible in the various enterprises that have added so greatly to the high reputation which Hamilton county enjoys among her sister counties of this great commonwealth. Conspicuous among this class of men whose place of residence is in this county is the progressive citizen under whose name this article is written, and to a brief outline of whose career the biographer is herewith pleased to address himself.

ship, this county. His parents, Harrison and Hannah (Jowe) Jones, were natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Harrison Jones came to Indiana in his youth with his father, Thomas Jones, who settled at Baker's Corners, on forty acres of government land. Here he grew to manhood and after reaching his majority operated a lumber mill and farm in this township until his death, which occurred in December. 1907. His wife died in April, 1905. To Harrison Jones and wife were born five children, Livona, Jasper, Jessie E., Charles B. and Alva C.' Livona is the wife of William Jackson, a farmer of this county, and has five children : Jasper is an automobile salesman, of Los Angeles, California, and married Iona Sophia; Jessie E. died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving her husband and two children in Noblesville; Alva C. is a speculator in Albany, New York, and married Alberta Haworth and has two children.

Charles B. Jones received his common school education in the schools of his home township, and when twenty-two years of age started a general merchandise store at Baker's Corners, and has continued this business for the past twenty-five years with remarkable success. He carries one of the largest stocks of goods in this township, and has built up a large and lucra¬ tive trade in this section of the county. He carries a complete line of such merchandise as is usually found in general stores of this character and by his never-failing courtesy and strict business methods has built up a trade which stamps him as a man of more than ordinary business ability. In addi¬ tion to his mercantile interests he is also interested in agriculture and owns a fine farm of ninety acres in Jackson township, to which he gives his per¬ sonal attention and supervision. Mr. Jones is a man of good judgment and rare discrimination and has the foresight to know when to venture, with the result that he has become one of the substantial men of his township and county. At the present time he is vice-president of the First National Bank of Sheridan, as well as president of the Central Indiana Telephone Company.

Mr. Jones was married April 14, 1892, to Lavina Taylor, the daughter of Samuel Taylor, of Jackson township. Mr. Tones and his wife are at¬ tendants of the Wesleyan church and contribute of their means to its support.

Mr. Jones is a stanch Democrat in politics and has always been active in political affairs of his county. His worth as a citizen is shown by the fact that his party nominated him for the office of county commissioner and at the last election he was successful in being seated in this important position. It is not too much to say that the position of county commissioner is one of the most important within the suffrage of the people of Indiana, since this board bandies the money of the people to a great extent. Mr. Jones has made a success of life because he has directed his energies along channels with which he was familiar, and being a man of energy and ambition he has had little difficulty in surmounting all obstacles which have come across his path. He is the fortunate possessor of those innate qualities which never fail to bring success if properly directed.

Thomas D. Baker

During the summer of 1852 there came to Hamilton county, Indiana, a small bov fourteen years of age with his parents and the history of this small lad who came to this county sixty-three years ago is now presented in the following paragraphs* At the time that Thomas D. Baker came to this county, in 1852, much of it was still a primitive wilderness, and the evi¬ dences of civilization which are now found on every hand were then little in evidence. This boy grew to young manhood and served with distinction throughout the Civil War from beginning to end. He then came back to his home county and has engaged in peaceful pursuits down to the present time. Such a career presents many points of interest. If it were possible to delineate in detail the history of a man who has lived sixty-three years in this county a volume of several hundred pages would be required to tell the whole story. In this brief record, therefore, it is only possible to sketch in outline the life of Mr. Baker, a life which has been fraught with much good to his county in many ways.

Thomas D. Baker, the son of Joseph R. and Rachel D. Baker, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 21, 1838. Joseph R. Baker was born in Pennsylvania in 1794, and when twenty-five years of age went to Ohio. He married in Pennsylvania, where he lived a few years. He then came to Indiana with his wife and two children and settled in Wayne county, where he taught school, as he had previously done in Ohio. In 1852 Joseph R. Baker and his family came to Hamilton county and located in Adams township, and here Joseph R. Baker died in 1872, his wife passing away in September of the same year. Joseph R. Baker was a man of great force of character. In a day when good school teachers were rare and when the best teachers received only a miserable pittance for their work, Joseph R. Baker devoted his time and talents to instruction of the youth of that early day. He and his wife reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness and honor. These children, in the order of their birth, are as follows : Amanda, deceased ; Isophena, deceased ; Anthony Wayne, de- ceased; Mary, deceased; Ruth Ann, the wife of George Wade; Lydia Ann, deceased; James B., deceased; Joseph Y., a Civil War veteran, and for many years a shoe dealer at College Corner, Ohio, died November 21, 1914; Thomas D. and William H., twins, the latter a farmer of this county, living at Baker's Corners; Hannah Ellen, the wife of George W. Beam, a farmer of Adams township, this county, and Sarah E., who died in Michigan in 1882.

Thomas D. Baker has lived all his life since 1852 in this county with the exception of the four years which he spent at the front during the Civil War. He received such education as was afforded by the subscription schools of his day and has supplemented this with wide reading all his life, so that he is practically a self-educated man.

Mr. Baker made an enviable record as a soldier during the Civil War. He first enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry on August 28, 1861, and after the battle of Stone River, January 3, 1863, his regiment was transferred to the Eighth Indiana Cavalry, and he served for forty-seven months with this regiment. He participated in many of the hardest fought battles of that memorable struggle, among them being Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and all of the battles fought by Sherman on his famous march to Savannah on the Atlantic seaboard. From Savannah he was with Sherman upon his march through North and South Carolina until the final surrender of Johnson in North Carolina, in the spring of 1865, and was finally discharged on July 20, 1865. He had served throughout practically the whole struggle without being wounded, captured or having his health seriously impaired.

Mr. Baker returned from the war to Hamilton county and engaged in farming, and has here spent his days. For a time after returning from the war Mr. Baker worked at the trade of carpentering, but after his marriage, in 1867, bought the farm where he has since resided. This place he cleared and brought to its present high state of cultivation. On this two hundred acre farm he carries on general farming and stock raising and has been quite successful. Mr. Baker is somewhat independent in his political views, believing it the duty of a good citizen to vote for the best men, regardless of political affiliations. His community has honored him by making him supervisor of the public highways and school director of his district. He is a member of Sheridan Post No. 103, Grand Army of the Republic, and takes much interest in the affairs of the same.

of a family of ten children. John Y. Baker was born October 10, 1812, in Westchester, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was twelve years of age, at which time he went to Highland county, Ohio. At the age of eighteen he started to serve an apprenticeship of seven years as a tanner and fol¬ lowed this occupation for several years. November 30, 1833, he was united in marriage with Rachael H. Anthony, of Clinton county, Ohio, and in 1840 came to Hamilton county, Indiana, where he resided for a time. He then returned to Ohio, but in 1848 moved back to Hamilton county, where he farmed until his death, which occurred December 9, 1895, his wife having preceded him to the grave several years, her death having occurred in April, 1890.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Baker are the parents of seven children, Ar¬ thur D., Edna, Zula, Gertrude, Leonidas, Alphonso and Ethel L. Owens. Arthur D. was born January 16, 1869, and is now a stock buyer and farmer in this county; he married Mary Scott and has eight children living; Edna was born March 22, 1871, and died at the age of nineteen years; Zula was born February 22, 1874, and died in infancy; Gertrude was born September 7, 1877, was married January 27, 1915, to James H. Campbell and lives with her father; Leonidas and Alphonso were twins and died in infancy; Ethel L. was born August 9, 1885, and died at the age of seven. The mother of these children died May 31, 1910.

Success is essentially the measure of public indorsement in any line of endeavor. The approval of others is elemental in the code of those who would get ahead and stay ahead in most any activity. The farmer, as an individual, is nearer to being independent of public sentiment than men in any other line of business, but even he finds it to his advantage to merit the approval of his neighbors. In this day and age no man lives unto himself and the man who takes his share of the burdens of his community is the one who will be successful in the eyes of his fellow citizens. Among the citizens of Hamilton county who are making a success of their particular line of activity there is no one more deserving of mention than J. T. Hubbard, the present superintendent of the county poor farm.

J. T. Hubbard, the son of Freeman and Mary Jane (Scott) Hubbard, was born December 29, 1852, in Caswell county, North Carolina. His par¬ ents were born in the same state and lived all of their days within the state of their nativity. They were the parents of seven children: Albert, de¬ ceased; Harriet, of North Carolina; Augustus, of North Carolina; Albert, deceased; Mrs. Ellen Wilson, of North Carolina ;. Laura, of North Carolina; and J. T., the only member of the family living in Hamilton county.

J. T. Hubbard left his native state in 1869 and came to Indiana, where he found work in Hamilton county. Upon his marriage he rented a farm and has spent his whole life in this county in agricultural pursuits. In 1905 he was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm by the county commissioners and has had charge of the farm down to the present time. The farm contains two hundred acres of excellent land and since taking charge, Mr. Hubbard has made it a paying institution, turning from one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars into county treasurer's office each year. He is the first superintendent of this institution who has been able to make any money above the actual maintenance expenses.

Mr. Hubbard was married November 19, 1877, to Abagail V. White, the daughter of Stephen G. and Mary (Harrold) White, both natives of North Carolina. Mr. White came from his native state in 1861 and settled in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived for eight or nine years. He then moved to Hamilton county, where he continued to farm until his death, January 17, 1878. His wife died June 20, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. White were the parents of eleven children, Mrs. Hubbard being the fourth child.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have been born three children: Laura, John and Harry. Laura was born August 28, 1878, and married, first, George White, and second, John W. Beals, of Noblesville. John was born September 9, 1880, and is an engineer at the Model Mills at Noblesville. John married Myrtle Woodall and has two children, Martin and Ruth. Harry, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard, was born December 22, 1882. He married Sadie Fritcher and is the manager of the United States Tire Company of St. Louis.

Mr. Hubbard was# formerly a Republican, but since 1912 has been identified with the new Progressive party. He has always taken an active part in political affairs and has been interested in all measures of good gov¬ ernment. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Noblesville. He and the members of his family are loyal adherents of the Friends church and contribute of their substance to its support at all times.

Ernest E. Sowers

Success in what are properly termed the learned professions is the legitimate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift,* but professional advancement is gained only by critical study and consecutive research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough profess¬ ional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and at¬ tributes essential to success have made Ernest E. Sowers eminent in his chosen calling and he stands today among the best and most efficient teachers of his community.

Ernest E. Sowers, the supervisor of Manual Training, in Jackson town¬ ship, in this county, was born February 12, 1877, in Jackson township, where he has always made his home. He is the son of Henry C. and Lavina (Creek) Sowers, natives of this county. Henry C. Sowers was the son of Henry- Sowers, a native of Virginia, the first of the family to come to In¬ diana. Henry Sowers, senior, first settled in section twelve on a farm, a tract the patent for which was received from James Monroe, then president of the United States. Henry Sowers, Jr., reared a family of seven children: Cora, the wife of Elworth Mundell; Ida, the wife of Frank Reath ; Myrtle, the wife of William Snyder: Otto, deceased: Ernest E. ; Sarah, the wife of William Brown ; and Carl, who married Marie, daughter of C. B. Goodard, is still at home with his parents. Henry C. Sower is one of the large land owners of the county and for many years has been one of the influential men of his community.

Ernest E. Sowers received a good common school education and later graduated from the high school at Arcadia, in this county. Being a young man of keen intellect he entered the teaching profession and for the past fifteen years has taught with marked success in this county. He has at¬ tended school in the Normal at Noblesville and also taken a course at Pur¬ due University in order to equip himself to better advantage. In addition to his work in the school room, Mr. Sowers is a farmer of many years ex¬ perience. He manages his farm during the summer season and raises a large amount of stock each year, making a specialty of Berkshire hogs.

Mr. Sowers was married December 31, 1903, to Maude Mitchell, and to this union have been born two children, Keith and Fayola. The family are stanch members of the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute lib¬ erally of their means to its support.

and on two occasions has received the nomination of his party for the office of township trustee, on both occasions, however - in 1910 and 1914 - failing of election by reason of the majority against his party in his township. He is a widely read man and keeps well informed upon all issues of the day. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.

Among those who stand as distinguished types of the world's workers is Dr. Charles C. Ray, who is one of the able and honored physicians and surgeons of Hamilton county, Indiana. A man of fine intellectual and pro¬ fessional attainments, of most gracious personality, of strong and noble character, and one who has labored with zeal and devotion in the alleviation of human suffering, he is clearly entitled to representation among the pro¬ gressive and enterprising citizens of his county. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and has lent honor and dignity to the medical profession, having due regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and exhibiting marked skill in the treatment of diseases.

Dr. Charles C. Ray, a prominent physician and surgeon of Arcadia, this county, was born in Marion county, Indianapolis, February 2, 1870, the son of Chesley and Eliza (Shanklin) Ray, his father being a native of Boone county, Indiana. Chesley Ray is a merchant at Trader's Point, In¬ diana, and has been engaged in business in one building for forty-two years, a record which would be hard to beat. Chesley Ray is a son of John Ray, one of the leading men in the early history of Zionsville, as well as of Boone county.

Doctor Rav is the only child of his parents, and as a youth attended the common schools at Trader's Point, near his home. Early in life he deter¬ mined to become a physician, and with this end in view, matriculated in But¬ ler College and took such work as would help him towards getting a medical degree. After attending Butler College for a time, he entered Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he was in attendance for two years. He now not only had the preliminary training for a good medical education, but also a broad education in the liberal arts, and when he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis he easily took his place among the best students of the college. He completed the course at the Indiana

Medical College with the class of 1892, but since that time has taken post graduate work in New York. Immediately after his graduation, in 1892, from the Medical College at Indianapolis, Doctor Ray began to practice his profession in Indianapolis, but a year later came to Arcadia, and has prac¬ ticed continuously in that place for the past twenty years. He keeps fully abreast of the times and is a deep student of everything pertaining to his chosen life work. He has built up a large and lucrative practice and bv his genial manner and never failing courtesy, as well as by reason of his un¬ doubted technical ability he has caused his name to become a household word in scores of families in this community.

Doctor Ray was married August 6, 1892, to Lusa A. Smith, the daugh¬ ter of Preston and Amanda (Moore) Smith, and to this union have been born two sons, Chesley, Jr., and Eugene.

In politics, Doctor Ray has always been an ardent Republican, and has always been deeply interested in the welfare of his party. From 1898 to 1910 he was coroner of his county and discharged the duties of that office in a manner highly satisfactory to every one concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Doctor Ray has not only attained a wide reputation in his chosen vocation, but has also established a name for uprightness and noble character in all the relations of life.

Milton C. Beales

One of the conspicuous names on the list of Hamilton county agricul¬ turists is that of Milton C. Beales, proprietor of the "Crescent Valley Farm,, in Washington township. He is a man of high standing, to whom has not been denied a full measure of success. Long recognized as a factor of im¬ portance in connection with the farming and stock raising industries of the county, he has also been prominently identified with the material growth and prosperity of this part of the state. He has also taken his share of the burdens of citizenship, and in the office of county councilman he recently served his fellow citizens in a wav which stamped him as a man fully abreast of the times.

where he is now living. Lemuel Beales was born in Ohio, and came to this county in 1847, locating on the farm where his son is now living. Upon reaching his maturity, he married Emily Bray, who was a native of Hen¬ dricks county, this state, and to this union there were born five children, T. E., of Jackson township; Edward X., a farmer of Washington township; John W.. a farmer of Jackson township; Milton C., with whom this narra¬ tive deals, and Mrs. Elizabeth E. Tomlinson, whose husband is a farmer in Washington township.

Milton C. Beales was educated in the district schools of Washington township and early in life decided to follow the vocation of a farmer. In his boyhood days he assisted his father on the home farm and in this way acquired a practical knowledge of all of the details of agricultural life. He is energetic and obliging, and carries on a diversified style of agriculture, raising all the crops adapted to the soil of this section of the state, while at the same time he gives a good deal of attention to the raising of live stock for the market. He is a practical and scientific farmer, giving his personal attention to every detail of the farm work, and on his farm of three hundred and nine acres he raises as good crops as any farmer in the county. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the notably sys¬ tematic and honorable methods he has followed have won for him the un¬ bounded confidence and respect of all who have formed his acquaintance.

Mr. Beales was married August 31, 1887, to Ida Macy, the daughter of Rev. P. T. and Charity (Mills) Macy, natives of Wayne county and Morgan county, Indiana, respectively, and to this union have been born two sons, John Waldo, born December 27. 1888. and Herbert M., born October 28, 1894. The older son graduated from the common schools of Washing¬ ton township, and since that time has been assisting his father on the farm. The younger son was graduated from the high school at Westfield in the spring of 1914, and is now assisting on the farm.