Hancock County, Indiana - Chapter 23, 1882

a native of the "Ancient Dominion,*' was born in 1814. He came with his parents to Henry county. When about fifteen years of age, he moved Prior Brown to Brown township. In 1840 he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Moses McCray. In 1846 Mr. Fort united with the Concord Baptist Church. He afterward became a member of the Nameless Creek Christian Church, of which he was an honored member until his death. Mr. F. from the green woods made a good farm, well improved, erected good buildings, with a brick house, lived an honorable, industrious life, and honestly accumulated considerable property. Few men were more esteemed than was Mr. Fort by those who knew him best. His widow, a noble Christian lady, still lives on the old farm, enjoying the fruits of their labor. Mr. F., politically, was a Republican, never aspiring to office. He was content with quiet rural duties in private life. For the last six 3'ears of his life he was a constant sufferer, but bore his affliction with patience and resignation, till he was finally taken to his long home, March 22, 1880, and his mortal remains were deposited in the Simmons cemetery in Jackson township, wliere loving hands liave erected to his memory a stately monument.

was born March 11, 1853, in Morgan county, Indiana, where he received a common school education, attending school for a time at Mooresville. His father being a miller, 3'oung Sparks run the engine in his native county for several years, prior to 1872 ; thence to Henry county, and

Avorked for a lime in the Commercial Mills on Blue Ri\er, of which mills his father was the proprietor ; thence to Greenfield, where he engaged in the sewing machine trade till 1879, when he was elected clerk of the city of Greenfield, which position he finally resigned to become a candidate for mayor, to which office he was elected by a handsome majority. This position he still fills. Mayor Sparks is a ^'oung man, unmarried, a Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and is superintendent of the Sunda}' School connected therewith. He is fully identified with the interest of the city, and is putting forth his best efforts to bring it up to his ideal of a model municipalit}-.

senior member of the mercantile firm of Hart & Thayer, of this city, a native of the "Ancient Dominion," was born July 7, 181 1. His father, a son of Erin, was a soldier under General St. Clair at the time of his memorable defeat, near the head-waters of the Wabash, in 1791. Andrew T. Hart, while a boy, endured the privations of pioneer life in his native State. At the age of eleven he removed from the home of his earlier youth to Centerville, Wayne county, where he attended such public and private schools as the country then aftbrded, and acquired a common English education. His opportunities, however, were limited, and the success that has attended his career has been mainly the result of his own exertions, and it may be properly said that he is the architect of his own fortune. At the age of eighteen, he was apprenticed as a saddler with his brother, James B. Hart, of Liberty, Indiana, which trade he faithfully followed for three years, or until 1833, when he removed to Greenfield, where he has since resided. He at once opened a grocery store, in which business he continued for two }'ears ; then as a clerk for Nicholas & McCart}' for one year, followed b\' a mercantile partnership with Nathan Crawford for two 3'ears, when he purchased Crawford's interest, and has continued in the same business ever since, alone and otherwise. Mr. H. has filled a number of positions of public trust, and always with honor. In 1839 he was appointed agent of Indiana for the distribution of surplus revenue. He was the first treasurer elected in Hancock county, the prior treasurers being appointed by the commissioners. This u'as in 1841. In 1843 he was re-elected, and served for six consecutive years. In 1869 he was commissioned by Salmon P. Chase as U. S. assistant assessor for this county. Mr. H. has been prominently connected with almost all public enterprises in the county during his residence therein. In 1878 he was President of the Hancock Agricultural Society. He become a Mason in 1859, '^^^ ^^ Odd Fellow in 1865. In religion he is of orthodox faith. . In politics he was first a Whig, and since a Republican. His first vote was cast for Henry Clay. He has been twice married. First, to Miss Louisa Forelander, in June, 1835, who lived but two years. In November, 1838, he was married to Miss Gabriella Sebastian, daughter of William and Elizabeth Sebastian. Mr. Hart has had five children. William E. was a soldier in the i8th Indiana Volunteers, and served for three years. After his discharge he joined and served in Capt. A. K. Branham's company of State troops in the pursuit of John Morgan, in his celebrated raid in Indiana and Ohio, and was killed in that unfortunate disaster at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1863. Mr. H. is a man much respected and highly esteemed by all who know him. He is of genial nature, kind and hospitable, steadfast in his friendship, and upright in his dealings, and by his good qualities of head and heart has endeared himself to every citizen cf the county.

was born in New York City, August 7, 1857, came to Hancock county February 28, 1867, made his home with the late lamented William S. Wood, attended the public schools, receieved a fair English education and, being an excellent scribe, was, on the 4th day of November, 1874, appointed Deputy Clerk of the Hancock Circuit Court, by Ephraim Marsh, Clerk, which position he holds to this day. October 8, 1879, ^^ Bradford Junction, Ohio, he was married to Miss Angle B., only daughter of Arthur P. and Emil}^ H. Williams, formerly of this city. Mr. D. is a member of the Christian Church, and has always contributed liberally to the support thereof. He is also an honored member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. D. is a young man of rare business tact and talent, and just upon the threshold of many rare possibilities.

Leo O. Harris was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1839. While yet quite 3'oung, his parents removed to Washington county, in the western part of Pennsylvania, where his early youth was passed. Here he was given the advantages of first the common school and then an academic course of study.

In the fall of 1859 ^^^ went to Illinois, and taught in what was then Coles (now Douglass) county. Returning to Indiana, he again began teaching in Hancock county, and has been more or less identified with her schools ever since, except for the five years succeeding 1874, during which time he was principal of the school at Lewisville, Indiana.

Mr. Harris is well known throughout the State as a journalist and poet, having been for a number of years a contributor to most of the leading papers of the State. He is also the author of a book. The Man Who Tramps^ published in 1878.

The fu-st of January, iS8d, Mr. Harris, in connection with Aaron Pope, then Countv Superintendent, began the publication of The Home and School Visitor, of which paper he i.s still the editor. In the spring of iSSi he took editorial charge of The Grccnjicld Kcpuhlicau^ and continued with that paper until January, 1882, when, The I Io))ie cuid School ]^isitor demanding his entire attention, he withdrew from the Re public cm.

time taught more schools than anv man now li\ing in the county, yet all this teaching, with the exceptions before mentioned, has been done in Greenfield and within a radius of five miles of that cit\'.

senior member of the medical fnmi of this cit\' of Howard, jNIartin & Howard, was born in Warren count}', Ohio, September 11, 1822. His father was one of the first settlers of Cincinnati, and during the war of 181 2 was a soldier in the American arm\-. In 1836, while the subject of this sketch was a mere bo^', he came with his mother iind settled in Indiana, where he recei\ed an Engiisli education at Brookville, Franklin county. In 1840 he began the studv of medicine with the eminent doctor, II. G.

Sexton, of Rushville, Indiana, where he read for three 3'ears. In 1843 he moved to this city, and began the practice of medicine and surgerj^ In 1877 he was Vice-President of the Indiana State Medical Society. He has served as President of the Union Medical Society of Hancock, and Henr}' counties, and also as President of the Hancock Medical Society. He holds diplomas from the Indiana Medical College, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, botii of Indianapolis, and is also a member oT the American Medical Society. In 1862 he was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the 12th regiment of Indiana volunteers, and served during its term of enlistment. For about eight years he was deputy collector of internal revenue. He has ever manifested a public spirit, and hastaken stock in most of the gravel roads centering in Greenfield. Since 1856 he has been an honored member of the Odd Fellows, and has lilled all the offices of the subordinate lodge and encampmeni:. In 1861 he was elected Most Worthy Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of the State of Indiana. He is a member of the M. E. Church, was a Whig in the days of that party, and nn earnest Union man during the civil war. In 1856 he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for representative^ but the county being Democratic, he was defeated by the Hon. Thomas 1). Walpole. He was a Republican until the nomination of Horace Greele}', since w^hich time he has acted with the Democratic party. He was married April 23, 1844, to Miss Cinderilla J. Gooding, daughter of Asa and Matilda Gooding, and a sister of Judge D. S., Gen. O. P. and Hon. II. C. Gooding. Dr. Howard is a genial gentleman, and a man of firm convictions and uncompromising integrity, and stands well both in his profession and as a man.

present Clerk of the Hancock Circuit Court, was born in' Brown township, this coimty, June 2, 1845. He is a son of Jonas and Catharine Marsh, honest, respectable people-.

in good standing in the community. By industiy and close application to his studies, Ephraim soon acquired a fair English education at the public schools of the county, and at the age of twenty entered Asbury University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he graduated with honors in 1870. Dvn-ing his collegiate course he spent one year at Washington Citv as clerk in the Third Auditor's office of the Treasury Department, receiving his appointment through the recommendation of ex-Governor Hendricks and Judge D. S. Gooding. After serving for a time as deputy clerk of the Circuit Court under Henry A. Swope, during which time he applied himself assiduously to the stud}^ of law, he was, in the autumn of 1874, elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and re-elected in 1878. Mr. Marsh, on February 29, 1872, joined the Knights of Pythias ; in 1873, the Free and Accepted Masons ; in 1874, ^^^^ Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; in 1878, the Ancient Order of Workingmen. He has been Master in the Masonic and Past Chancellor in the Pythias. He is also a thirty-second Indiana Consistory, S. P. R., and a member of Keystone Chapter of the Masons of Indianapolis and Raper Commandery. He was married Februar}- 5, 1875, to Miss Matilda J. Brewer, of Franklin county, an estimable lady of great merit and financial means, the fruits of which union is one child, Ella, a favorite of all who know her, and in the public school, which she is now attending.

Mr. M. is a steadfast Democrat, a fine conversationalist, and a courteous gentleman. As an officer he has been attentive and efficient, and has won the confidence of his constituents. Mr. M. is still a young man, and is looking forward to the legal profession after the expiration of his office, and is bending his energies in that direction.

President of the Greenfield Banking Company, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, May 19, 1822. His father w^is an Englishman, and served in the American army in the war of 181 2. Mr. Bradley's opportunities for an education were limited, his time being chieliy employed in helping his father on the tarm, and his schooling was restricted to a tew months' attendance at the log school-houses of his neighborhood. Mr. B. in early life manifested a taste for and aptness in business pursuits, and while yet a bo}- made frequent visits to the markets at Cincinnati with produce purchased at the farm-houses in the various settlements. In 1852 he visited Indiana, and purchased a small tract of land on the newly-constructed Bellefontaine railroad, at the site of the present town of McCordsville. In September he located there and opened a store. In 1863 he was elected Treasurer of Hancock county, which position he held for two consecutive terms. In 1866 he moved to Greenfield, and engaged in the grocer}- business, at which he continued till 1871, when, with other gentlemen, he established the Greenfield Banking Company, of which he is still president. He is also a partner in the Hancock Flouring Mills, and a stockholder in nearly all the gravel roads centering in Greenfield. Mr. B. has contributed liberally towards the erection of churches and other public buildings, and has ever manifested a liberal public-spirited disposition. He has been an honored member of the Free and Accepted Masons since 1845, at which time he joined the order in Georgetown, Ohio. He took the Chapter degrees in Felicity, Ohio, in 1848, and the Council and Scottish Rite degrees at Indianapolis at a later date. He assisted in organizing Oakland Lodge, No. 140, and McCordsville Chapter, No. 44, of which he was the first High Priest. He is now a member of Hancock Lodge, No. loi, of which he has been treasurer and trustee for a number of years. He has been a liberal, consistent member of the M. E. Church since 1845, and is now and has been for many 3'ears superintendent of the large and prosperous Sunday-school in connection therewith. He was first a Whig, but, since the organization of the party, an enthusiastic Republican. He was married September 29, 1844, to Elizabeth Gray, a noble. Christian woman, who has been his faithful companion, shared his joys and aided in his prosperity for nearly forty years. Mr. B. is of a ircnial disposition, enjoys a good joke and a hearty laugh, and has a host of warm friends.

was born in Preston county, West \^iro-inia, August 29, 1818, and moved to Hancock county, Indiana, during the winter of 1836-7. Was married to Mary T. Watson December 17, 1840, who died December 4, 1841. His second marriage w^as to Susannah Lakin, October 16, 1845, who has been an invalid for the past twentv-six years. Mr. S. has raised foiu" children (all boys), all of whom are still living, the oldest being thirty-iive years of age. Mr. Smith's religious views are strictly old scliool Baptist. He established a store at what is now known as Willow Branch in 1853, and a post-office at the same place in 1854. He continued in this occupation about twenty 3'ears. Also, at the same time Mr. S. continued in farming, \yhich was his former occupation. Mr. S. was a staunch Democrat, an industrious man, and served one term as county commissioner. See his portrait on another page.

a native of Virginia, began his earthh' pilgrimage in 1803. Was married to Elizabeth Wales in North Carolina, September I, 1825, and emigrated to Newport, Wa3-ne count}^ Indiana, in 1826. Moved to Hancock county in 1833, and entered land about one mile west of Eden. Among his neighbors at that time were Robert Walker, Jas. and Jehu Denney, Jacob and William Amick, and Enoch Olvey. Others soon followed. Here he experienced the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Fruits were then almost unknown ; corn was $1 per bushel, and other eatables proportionately high. In 1836 he moved to the Pierson farm and mill on Sugar Creek, iive or six miles north-w^est of Greenfield, wdiich mill he run for about four years, and did much of the grinding and sawing for the citizens of *Greenfield. The old mill pond was then supplied with fine fish, the catching of which afforded royal sport for some of the early settlers of Greenfield, among whom were Cornwell and Joshua Meek, Nathan Craw-ford, Ferdinand Keiffer, the Piersons and others. In 1840 he sold the mill, purchased an adjoining farm, and worked thereon for tw^o years ; then back to the Pierson farm and mill again, which he rented for six years, Pierson having died in the meantime. In 1848 he returned to his adjoining tarm, where he remained till his death, December 24, 1874. Mr. J. was the father of eight children, his widow and three of whom survive him. Dr. E. I., Miss Irene and the widow, of this city, and James M., of Iowa. Mr. J. was a devoted member of Hancock Lodge, No. loi, F. A. M. His mortal remains now slumber in the Sugar Creek cemeterv, near his old home.

cashier of the Greenfield Banking Company, of this city, w-as born on a farm in Owen count}-, Kentucky, September ,^0, 1827. His grandfather was a soldier in tfie revolution. His earl}' opportunities for education were exceedingly limited, so that at the age of twenty-one he could neither read nor write his own name. He now, however, resolved to educate himself, and within eighteen months w^as teaching school in his owm county. This occupation he followed for fifteen months. In 185 1 he came to Hancock county, Indiana, and engaged in teaching. In 1854 ^^^ engaged as clerk in the store of G. G. Tague at $10 per month. April 22, 1855, he was married to Miss Nancy M. Galbreath, formerly of Kentucky. In the fall of the same year he was elected Sheriff of this county. After the expiration of his term of office, he engaged in farming until 1861 , when he was elected Clerk of the Hancock Circuit Court, which office he held for four years. The summer of 1867- 68 he spent in the Western States and Territories, and the winters of the same 3-ears in Washington City. In 1869- 70 he was engaged in the store of Walker & Edwards. In 1871 he, with four other gentlemen, established the Greenfield Banking Company, of which he is cashier. Referring back to his earlier history, we may remark that at the age of fifteen he united with the Baptist Church, and still leans in that direction. At the age of twenty-two he was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the State troops of his native county. Mr. C. has been a life-long Democrat, an advocate of improvements, and has always taken a lively interest in agricultural pursuits, being President of the District Fair Association, composed of the counties of Rush, Henr}^ and Hancock. Mr. C. is kind and hospitable, and has thereby made an extensive acquaintance. He is also a good judge of human nature, and has rare business tact and talent, which eminently tit him for his present position. In the fall of 1880 he represented his adopted county in the lower house of the Legislature.

was born in Center township, Hancock county, Indiana, July 16, 1835. At the age of sixteen his father died, leading his mother with several small children. Mr. Curr}- being the oldest, much of the care of the family consequently fell upon his shoulders. He grumbled not, however, but performed his duties well. His opportunities for education were limited, but he made the most of them. In December, 1857, he was married to Miss Mar}^ Thomas, with whom he is still happily living. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B, 99th Indiana Regiment, and was soon promoted to i st Sergeant, which position he held till January, 1863, when he was again promoted, this time to 2nd Lieutenant, and in March, 1864, to ist Lieutenant, and finall}', in April, 1865, he was mustered in as Captain. His regiment followed Gen. Sherman in his memorable march through Georgia to the sea. Mr. C, through these tedious years of soldier life, was ever recognized as a faithful soldier and dutiful officer. In the fall of 1880 he was elected Treasurer of Hancock county, which position he is still filling.

in 1830. Me remained with his father, working on a fiirm and in a mill, till he attained his majority. His opportunities for education being limited, his thirst for knowledge led him to Greenfield in January, 1852, where he attended school tor a time, then at Shelbyville for one year. He afterwards encrai^ed in teaching and manual labor until the autumn of 1854, when he went into the drug trade and study of medicine. In the spring of 1865, after having attended a course of lectures in the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, he began the practice, and has since been actively and successfully engaged in his chosen profession. Dr. J. is a graduate of the Indiana Medical College and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indiana. He has been an active insurance agent since 1863, and perhaps is the oldest agent in the county. He has been a member of and zealously devoted to tiie order of Masons since 1853. In May, 1857, he was married in Rensselaer, Jasper count}', Indiana, to Miss Emma L. Martin, daughter ot* the late Dr. William H. Martin, formerly of Rushville, and at one time Secretary of the Board of Examiners of the Indiana Medical Institute. (See page no.) In February, 1880, Mrs. J. died, leaving no children. The only child born unto them died in 1863, ^t the age of five 3'ears. In 1862, the doctor was appointed enrolling and draft commissioner, by Gov. Morton, for this county. In 1868-69, Dr. J. served as President of the Board of Town Trustees^ and to him is mainly due the credit of originating and negotiating the bonds for the erection of tiie public school building, which is a credit to our city. He also served, four years as treasurer of the town. In 1881 Dr. J. was appointed by the Commissioner of Pensions as a U. S. Examining Surgeon for this vicinity, which position he still holds. The Doctor's mother and sister are living with him at the old home, where he set up to himself in. 1857. The Doctor is an unswerving Republican, inclines to the Presbyterian faith, and is an enterprising, publicspirited man.

Hon. William R. Hough, senior member of the law firm of Hough & Cook, of the city of Greenfield, was born at Williamsburgh, Wayne county, in this State, October 9, 1833. He is the oldest son of Alfred and Anna Hough, whose parents were among the pioneers of that county. His paternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, having emigrated from England and located in that State in 1683. At the age of eight years, the subject of our sketch removed witli his parents from his native village to 'Hagerstown, in the same county, and in tiie fall of 1842 from Hagerstown to Northern Indiana, locating at Middlebury, Elkhart count}'.

In this village Mr. Hough grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools, the Middlebury Seminary, and a supplemental course of study at the LaGrange Collegiate Institute, of LaGrange county. During his twentieth and twentysecond years he taught school in the last named county. In the fall of 1856, having determined to enter the legal profession, he located in Greenfield, and began the study of the law in the office of Capt. Reuben A. Riley, one of the leading lawyers of the county. He made rapid progress with his studies, and was soon admitted to the bar, and began practice as partner of his preceptor. While prosecuting his legal studies he was twice appointed by the commissioners of this county to the office of school examiner, and for two successive years performed the duties thereof. In i860 he was elected district attorne}' for the district composed of the counties of Hancock, Madison, Henry, Rush and Decatur, and for two years prosecuted the pleas of the State to the satisfaction of the law-abiding people of the district.

In 1862 Mr. Hough was married to Miss Tillie C. McDowell, a native of Scotland, and settled down to the earnest pursuit of his profession, and for ten or twelve years did an immense amount of professional labor, both in his office and at the bar, where he was recognized as an able advocate and a tenacious, strong opponent. In the year 1872 he was nominated and elected State Senator for the district composed of Hancock and Henry counties, which position he filled for four 3'ears, serving during two regular and two special sessions in the Legislature. As a legislator, Mr. H. was recognized as an able debater, and as a man of acknowledged executive abilit}', evidenced by the large amount of work which he j)erformed as a member of several of the most important committees.

Mr. IT. lias been an earnest Republican since the origanization of the l'>arty, and cast his tirst vote for President tor John C. Fremont. Since i865 he has been an honored member of the I. O. O. F.

Mrs. Hough, who has been his companion and helpmate indeed, is a lady of refined tastes and accomplishments, and is in every way fitted to preside over her elegant and hospitable home. They have two boys, William A. and Clarence A., aged respectively seventeen and fifteen. Their only daughter, Mabel, a beautiful, brilliant little girl, dearly loved by all her friends and schoolmates, and idolized by her parents, was, at the age of seven years, suddenh^ and unexpectedly called from her pleasant home, surrounded by birds, music, flowers and Terns, to enter her long home in the celestial city, where the streets are paved with gold, and music is never ceasing, and sickness, death and darkness never enter.

Mr. H. is a public-spirited citizen, and is a prominent promoter and supporter of the public school system, which he has defended as a citizen, lecturer and legislator. That his services to the cause of education as a member of the Senate were highly appreciated by the leading educators of the State, may be inferred from the following incident : In the 3'ear 1874, the late Hon. Milton B. Hopkins, then Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a public lecture in Greenfield, in speaking of the acts of the Legislature of 1873, among other things said : "The last Legislature was the best Legislature on the question of education that ever sat in Indiana ; and I take pleasure in saying now, and sa3'ing it here in his presence (Mr. H. being in the audience), that no county was more faithfull}' represented in that body, on that question, than was Hancock county, on the floor of the Senate, in the person of your honored Senator."

Mr. Hough has been remarkabl}^ successful financially, having achieved a handsome competence, and is one of the largest tax-payers in the county.