Randolph County, Indiana - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1914 (part 13 of 20)

As a writer and author, Doctor Wilmore possesses unusual qualifications. He wields a facile and forceful pen and his articles are clear and convincing. He writes extensively for the newspapers and other periodicals. He is the author of the "Constitution of the Preacher's Aid Society" and the "History of White River Conference."

The domestic life of Doctor Wilmore began on August 14, 1870, when he led to the hymeneal altar Julia A. Trammel. She was a faithful helpmeet for a period of twenty years, and on May 14, 1890, she was called to her reward in the Silent Land. This union was without issue. On March 9, 1892, our subject was married to Minnie Alice Rice, of Anderson, Indiana. She was born in Marion county, near Indianapolis, November 8, 1870, and is a daughter of Rev. Archibald Carrolton Rice, a native of Maryland. She removed with her parents to Madison county, Indiana, in 1889, and in 1908 she removed with her husband to Randolph county, Indiana, she and our subject having lived in Winchester since 1910. She is a descendant of the noted Lamar family. William Lamar, her greatgrandfather, was an ensign and first lieutenant in Capt. John C. Jones' Company, Seventh Maryland Regiment, in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Wilmore is a charter member and is Registrar of the Winchester Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is active in church work, a lady of education and refinement, and a favorite with a large circle of friends.

Politically, Doctor Wilmore has been a life-long Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Orders of Knights of Pythias and the Free and Accepted Masons. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres in Washington township, seventy acres of which is under a high state of cultivation, the balance being woodland. He also is the owner of valuable real estate in the

Personally, Doctor Wilmore is one of the most affable and companionaljle of men, possessing to a marked degree the qualities that win and retain strong friendships, and his high standing as a citizen with the best interests of his fellow rnen at heart gives him influence such as few in this section of the state can exercise,. A gentleman of commanding and pleasing presence, of calm and dignified deitieanor, with the manners of the genteel gentleman, he moves among his fellows as one born to leadership, and yet he is easily approached, plain and unassuming in his relations with the world, and a man who makes every other consideration subordinate to duty, regardless of consequences, and who lives in harmony with his highest ideals of manhood and citizenship.

William A. Wilmore

One of the leading citizens and representative business men of Saratoga and that section of Randolph county is William A. Wilmore, who is extensively engaged in the general mercantile business. His has been an active and useful life, but the limited space at the disposal of the biog' rapher forbids more than a casual mention of the leading events of his career, which will suffice to show what earnest endeavor and honesty of purpose rightly applied and persistently followed will lead to - ultimate success. He has ever manifested an abiding interest in the upbuilding of his community in every way, and, having lead an exemplary life, he enjoys the utmost respect and the universal good will of all who know him.

Mr. Wilmore was born in Adams county, Indiana, May 10, 1864. He is a son of Addison G. and Lienor (Adamson) Wilmore, and was one of five children, namely: Elsa married Adam Kabel, a merchant and farmer of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Sarah E. married John L. Edwards, a farmer of Randolph county, and they have three children; John A., a farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio, married Retta Snyder, and they have four children; Ella died when eighteen years of age; William A., of this sketch, is the youngest of the family.

Addison G. Wilmore, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, from which state he came to Indiana in young manhood and here established the future home of the family, engaging in general farming, owning a valuable farm of four hundred acres in Adams county. He was one of the hardy band that crossed the trackless plains of the west to California in the gold fever days of 1849, being accompanied by two brothers. His death occurred in October, 1863.

William A. Wilmore was reared by his grandmother, Nancy Adamson, in Randolph county, and he received his early education in the common schools, later studied at the State Normal School and also at the Eastman Business College, of Poughkeepsie, New York, from which he was graduated in 1888, having made an excellent record there. He began life for himself by teaching, which he continued successfully for two years, then, deciding that his true bent lay along business lines, he launched into the mercantile field, in which he has been a pronounced success, having conducted a general store at Saratoga for a period of twenty-five years with an ever-increasing patronage. He carries at all seasons a large and carefully selected stock of goods, which he sells at prices that are always right, according to his many customers, whom he treats with such uniform courtesy and honesty that they have remained his friends from the first. His trade covers a wide territory and he has laid by a comfortable competence for his declining years, being now one of the substantial and influential citizens of this part of the county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the United Brethren church, and politically, he is a Democrat and is influential in public matters.

Mr. Wilmore has been three times married, first, to Flora L. Mitchem, a teacher, who was born in southern Indiana, and to this union one child was born, Mabel, whose birth occurred February 22, 1895. After six years of married life his wife died. Mabel Wilmore married Otis E. Love on July 20, 1913. Our subject's second wife was Caroline Stockum, a native of Coshocton, Ohio, and to this union one daughter was born, Ruth S., whose birth occurred September 18, 1899. She is preparing herself for a teacher. Mr. Wilmore's last wife was Ella Remmel, a native of Illinois, who was brought to Winchester, Indiana, when three years old, in 1874, by her parents. She and Mr. Wilmore were married June 11, 1905. She is a daughter of Samuel T. Remmel, who is still living in Winchester. He is a veteran of the Civil war. having served gallantly in the Seventy-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His father was a member of the same company and regiment. The mother of Mrs. Wilmore died in 1873. Our subject's last wife was graduated from the Winchester high school in 1890, and later was a student in the Indiana State Normal, also the National Normal at Lebanon, Ohio. She also studied at the University of Indiana. She is exceptionally well educated, is a lady of culture and a splendid con- versationalist. She was a highly successful teacher for ten years in the Winchester public schools, also taught in a district school one year. She is a member of the United Brethren church.

The men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving character to the times in which they live are two classes - ^the men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of the age to the one class or the other is a question of honest difference of opinion; neither can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence. In the following paragraphs are briefly outlined the leading facts and characteristics in the career of a gentleman who combines in his makeup the elements of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man of affairs. Devoted to the noble and humane work of alleviating the multiform ills to which human flesh is heir, Dr. Thomas Wildey Morgan, of Spartanburg, Randolph county, has long been doing a commendable work in the locality of which this history treats and in every respect richly deserves the high esteem in which he is held.

Dr. Morgan, who is indeed a worthy son of a worthy sire, his father having been a prominent physician in the pioneer day until his death in 1884, was born in northern Illinois, January 3, 1859. He is a son of Dr. Robert H. and Rebecca (Small) Morgan, who were pioneers and prominent people of their day.

Dr. Thomas \\'. Morgan received excellent educational advantages. After attending the common schools he was a student in the normals of Valparaiso, Indiana; Lebanon, Ohio; Danville, Indiana, and Mitchell, Indiana. Thus exceptionally well equipped for a teacher's profession he began teaching and taught in the high school at Spartanburg for five years, having taught four years previously in country schools. He was regarded as one of the able educators of the county and his services were in great demand, but he decided that his true bent lay along another line and he began studying medicine while teaching, reading under his father, then attended the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis, for one year, later entered the Ohio College of Physicians and Surgeons, now known as the Western Reserve, where he made an excellent record, and from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. Soon thereafter he began practicing his profession at Spartanburg, where he has remained to the present time and has built up a large and lucrative patronage, which is constantly growing, and has taken his place in the front rank of his professional brethren in a community long noted for the high order of its medical talent. He has remained a close student and has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his science.

Dr. Morgan is a Progressive in his political affiliations, and has taken more or less interest in local public affairs. He was a member of the township advisory board at the time the high school was built and was an ardent advocate of the same. He is a Universalist in his religious belief.. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand. He also belongs to the Encampment of which he is past chief patriarch. He is a member of the Randolph County Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Morgan was married December 31,1 889, to Sarah L. Horn, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, in December, 1858, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Silas and Charlotte (Knox) Horn, an excellent old family of this locality. Three children, one of whom died in infancy, were born to the Doctor and wife; the two surviving are Rexford H. and Lucile, both of whom are attending school at this writing.

One of the most active, thorough-going and enterprising farmers of Nettle Creek township, Randolph county, is Jesse E. McCollum, whose success lies very largely in the fact that he has always advocated doing well whatever task presented itself and in not permitting the numerous paltry obstacles met in the pathway of everyone to annoy or thwart him. He believes in pushing ahead, employing twentieth century ideas and methods in all phases of agriculturgil work and in dealing with his neighbors and acquaintances in a manner that will inspire confidence. He does not want a man's dollar if thereby he makes, an enemy. Such' men are always good citizens, good neighbors and good friends and are indispensable to any community.

Mr. McCollum was born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 20, 1856. He is a son of William and Diana (Gillaspie) McCollum. He comes of an exceptionally long-lived race. His paternal great-grandparents were natives of Scotland. Mr. McCollum's death occurred at the age of ninety years, and that of his wife at the age of ninety-four years. Our subject's father and mother were both natives of North Carolina, where they grew up and were married in 1847. ^^ the fall of 1852 they came to Wayne county, Indiana, where they lived on a farm a year. William McCollum was a blacksmith by trade and in 1854 opened up a shop at Dalton, later one at Cross Roads, east of Dalton, and it was there that our subject was born. In 1858 the family moved to Franklin, Indiana, where the father continued blacksmithing until 1862, when he moved to Losantville, Randolph county, where he continued blacksmithing* until June i6th of that year, when he enlisted in- Company E, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years, being mustered out June 16, 1865. While shoeing a mule during the service his spine was injured, from which he still suffers. In 1874 the family moved to Hagerstown, where the father secured the contract for carrying the mail for two years, then moved back to Losantville, where he still retained property and there went into the grocery business, remaining in the same until November, 1884, when he was burned out. He had a small amount of insurance on his store, which he invested in ten acres, which he sold and bought six acres adjoining his son's property. In 1896 his wife died and he sold his land and went to live with his son, where he still lives. His family consisted of five children, namely: Sarah Ann, Andrew Warren, Celia Francis, Phoebe Jane and Jesse E., all now deceased but the subject of this sketch.

Jesse E. McCollum received a common school education and remained with his parents until he was of age. While at Hagerstown he learned the carriage maker's trade, at which he worked until 1887, then bought forty acres in Nettle Creek township, later selling same and bought sixty acres adjoining; twenty acres of the latter was in timber; this he subsequently cleared. On this sixty acres was a four-room cottage and a small barn. He paid forty dollars an acre for this land. He has improved it in every way, drains, ditches, tiling, good fences, and has built a modern home, barn, cribs, granaries, hog houses, etc. He has two driven wells, and today his property is well worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. He carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of raising purebred Duroc- Jersey hogs for the market and has quite a reputation for his fine stock, and his hogs find a very ready sale owing to their superior quality. Politically, he is a Republican, and in religious matters is a Methodist.

I\Ir. McCollum was married on January i, 1889, to Sarah Catherine Routh, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Routh, the mother a native of Randolph county, Air. Routh having been among the early settlers here. They spent their lives on a farm and are now both deceased.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCollum, Lona Cleo, whose birth occurred May 20, 1892, is teaching school in Losantsville and is making her home with her parents; Frank Lincoln, born on February 12,- 1 90 1, is attending school and works on the home farm in summer.

Mr. and Mrs. McCollum have accumulated sufficient means through their former industry to be enabled now to take life easy, and they take pleasure in ministering to_ our subject's father's every want; he is now ninety-three years old and is one of our grand old men, beloved by all who know him.

Edward A. Evans

Success is achieved only by the exercise of certain distinguishing qualities and it can not be retained without effort. Those by whom great epoch changes ha^e been made in any field of endeavor began early in life to prepare themselves for their chosen arena of activity, and it was only by the most strenuous and persistent application that they were enabled to surmount the usual obstacles on life's highway and attain the heights aspired to by many but reached by few. Such lives are always an inspiration to others who are less courageous and prone to permit discouraging situations thwart them in their attempts to reach the goal of their ambitions. One of the men of Randolph county who has forged ahead despite obstacles and is accomplishing good both for himself and others is Edward A. Evans, popular school teacher, at this writing in charge of the Deerfield schools.

Mr. Evans was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, near Arlington, May 26, 1878. He is a son of Samuel and Amanda (Beachler) Evans, whose family consisted of four children, namely : Edward A., of this review, is the eldest; Ward, a merchant at Deerfield Station, this county, and who formerly engaged in farming in Ward township, married Goldie Jelleson, and they have two children; Emma, of Ridgeville, Randolph county, married Warren Crumb, who is engaged in merchandising; Albert, who was born in 1897, lives at home in Saratoga, this county. Samuel Evans, the father, was born in the famous Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where he spent his earlier years and was educated in the common schools. He came to Ohio October 15, 1866, and engaged in farming in Montgomery county a number of years, finally coming to Randolph county, Indiana, where he continued farming successfully until some time ago, when he retired from active life, and is now living c[uietly in his pleasant home in Saratoga. During the Civil war he cast his fortunes with the Confederacy and served gal- lanth' as a soldier under Gen. Jubal Early, seeing much hard service. His father was also a native of Virginia and his death occurred in 1862. The Beachlers were a Pennsylvania family, but the mother of our subject was born in Ohio.

Edward A. Evans was young in years when he accompanied his parents from Ohio to Randolph count}-, Indiana, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked when not a student in the common schools. Later he attended the Normal at Ridgeville, also the State Normal schools at Danville and Terre Haute. When but a boy he decided upon d, teacher's career and thus well qualified himself for same. He began teaching in Ward township, Randolph county, in 1900, and has been teaching in the grades in this county ever since and is now one of our best known and and most successful educators, his services being in great demand. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he attends the ISIethodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Evans married on July 19, 1913, Mrs. Delia Gault, a daughter of William Jennings, a farmer of Randolph county, where ]Mrs. Evans groy to womanhood and was educated. She first married Milton Gault, by which union one child was born, Delbert Gault, a very promising youth.

Christopher Eby Chenoweth

Longfellow, one of America's wisest men, said, '"The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do, without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the life of Christopher Eby Chenoweth, formerly a grain dealer, but nc«v an enterprising merchant of Spartanburg, Randolph count^^ It is evident that he has done well whatever he has turned his attention to and therefore success has attended his efforts all through his career.

Mr. Chenoweth was born in Greensfork township, this county, December 23, 1854. He is a son of William Coltunbus Chenoweth and Haimah (Bowen) Chenoweth. The father was born in Carroll count}', IMar^'land, April II, 1829, and was a son of William and Ketura (Murray) Chenoweth. The birth of \\'illiam Chenoweth occurred in October, 1802, also in Carroll county. Maryland. There he grew up and engaged in farming tmtil the fall of 1838 when he removed to Darke county, Ohio, and in 1840 came on to Randolph county, Indiana, and located in Greensfork township, where he bought land. He had previously been in the county and had entered about three hundred and fifteen acres of land. Here he spent the remainder of his life engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. Pplitically he was first a Whig then a I^epublican. His death occurred in the autumn of 1876. His wife was born in 1806, in Carroll county, Maryland, where she grew to womanhood and there married. Her death occurred in 1893 ^^ the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

William C. Chenoweth, father of our subject, grew up on the farm and he received such educational advantages as the schools of those early days offered. He has devoted his life to farming and stock raising, but retired from active work in 1895. Politically he is a Republican, fraternally a ]\Iason, and religiously a member of the Christian church. He and Hannah Bowen were married in December, 1849. She was a daughter of Squire Bowen aand her death occurred in January, 1855. In 1856 Mr. Chenoweth married Mary Jane Safer, whose death occurred in September, 1903. To his second union the following children were born: Julia is the wife of J. I. Thomas, of Lynn; Emma is the wife of Fred Horn, of Washington township; Sadie is the wife of Elmer Hodgins, of Wayne county; Laura is the wife of Charles Skinner, of Modoc, Indiana; Bertha is the wife of Prof. Charles Mann, of Lynn.

To the first marriage of William C. Chenoweth were born besides the immediate subject of this sketch, William Henry and James B., both of whom live in Lynn, this county, and Hannah, whose death occurred January 6, 1855.

Christopher E. Chenoweth was but two weeks old when his mother died and his grandparents took him to raise. He received a common school education and spent two summers in the Valparaiso Normal School. He then took charge of the books and clerked for John Hill, a merchant of Spartanburg, with whom he remained eight years, giving his employer eminent satisfaction, in the meantime learning the ins and outs of the mercantile business which stood him well in hand later in life. After leaving the store of Mr. Hill, our subject, in company with N. Anderson, built an elevator at Crete and was in the grain business there four years, meeting with a large measure of success. He gave up this line of endeavor on account of failing health and worked at carpentering for two years, his health being restored the meantime. In 1893 he opened a general store in Spartanburg, which he has continued to conduct to the present time with ever increasing success, enjoying a large trade with the surrounding country, and always carrying a large and carefully selected stock of goods, and his honest and courteous dealings with his hundreds of customers has won their confidence and good will.

Politically Mr. Chenoweth is a Republican and religiously is a Methodist. In 19 1 o he was appointed county commissioner to fill out a term of office vacated by Charles C. Bowen, and in the autumn of that year he was elected to this office, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all concerned.

^Ir. Chenoweth was married in September, 1883, to Margaret Buckley, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 25, 1861. She is a daughter of Cornelius and Sarah Buckley. Five children have been bom to our subject and wife, namely: S}lvia died when seven and one-half j^ears old: Edwin, born August 5, 1885, is in the store with his father; Leo, bom Juh" 28. 1889, is also in his father's store; Glen, born x\ugust 8, 1894, is teaching school in Greensfork township, this county; Gail, born September 2, 1897. is attending school at this writing.

Xo state in the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than Indiana. In their courage, intelligence, capacity and loyalty, to the right they had no superiors. [Most of them came from that portion of the original Colonial states lying on a parallel with her, and in their daring and heroism they were equal to the ^Missouri and California argonauts. Their pri\ations, hardships and earnest labors have resulted in establishing one of the foremost commonwealths in America, and one which stiU has great possibilities before it. ^Members of this worthy band were the Chenoweths, \\'illiam L. Chenoweth, agriculturist of ^^'ayne township, Randolph count}', being one of the best known of the present generation.

Mr. Chenoweth was born in Greensfork tow'nship, Randolph count}'. April 26, 1867. He is a son of John T. Chenoweth, who was bom in 1S26 in ;Mar}"land, where he spent his boyhood and was educated, and from which state he removed to Randolph count}', Indiana, with his parents in 1840, and here he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming. He was three times married, first, to Rhoda Parker, in 1847, ^^^ they had one son, Samuel J., of ^lartinsville, Indiana; second, to Hester Ramsey, in 1852, and they had one daughter, Clara, now deceased; and third, to Emily S. Lawrence, in 1859. He was the father of eleven children. He was a Republican and a Methodist. He was one of the most successful men of affairs in his locality and w'as highly respected by all who knew him. He was assessorof both Greensfork and \^'ay^e townships, and also sened three vears as commissioner of Randolph county. Three of his brothers were soldiers in the Union army, Benjamin F., who served in the Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, had a finger shot off, and was discharged June 22, 1863; George W., who was a member of the Fifth-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was taken prisoner, but released on parole at Richmond, Kentucky, August 20, 1862; he was wounded at Thompson's Hill, near Grand Gulf, Mississippi, May i, 1863, and died May 14, 1863, of his wounds; Joshua B. joined the Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a recruit.

The Chenoweth family held a large and interesting reunion August 26, 1882, at the old homestead, near Arba, Randolph county, Indiana. The family are numerous and widespread, and wherever they have dispersed they are known as enterprising, honest and capable people. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Emily S. Lawrence before her marriage. She was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1832, and she is still living, making her home with her daughter in Winchester, being now eighty-two years old. Three of her sons and one daughter are living, namely: William L., of this sketch; John F., of Nebraska; Edwin G., of Blue Island, Illinois; Mrs. Nora Rowe, of Winchester. William Chenoweth, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in Maryland, and he died in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, in Randolph county, Indiana, where he had lived and farmed since 1840. He entered land from the government here, which he improved and established the future home of the family. Here he endured the usual privations and hardships of those who first braved the frontier, was accustomed to the toils and labors of the backwoods. His wife was Keturah Murray, and she died on the old homestead here in June, 1893. They were buried in Arba cemetery. They were worthy Christian people. Abram I. Chenoweth, the first known of this family, emigrated from England to America in 1720.

William L. Chenoweth grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the common schools, and he began life for himself when only seventeen years of age, and has followed general farming ever since. He first rented his father's farm, and in 1895 purchased the farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, which he now owns and which he has kept in splendid shape and on which he is making a good living. Politically, he is a Republican, and he belongs, to the Society of Friends. He was road supervisor one term.

Mr. Chenoweth was married February 23, 1891, to Lilly A. Cox, who was born in White River township, Randolph county, April 17, 1869, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of William M. Cox, a fanner and also a minister in the Friends church, and'did a great dea;l of good, holding meetings at different places. His death occurred in 1901. The mother is still living in White River to\vnship. She was known in her maidenhood as Mary Woodard.

To Mr. and Mrs. William L. Chenoweth these children have been bom : Ethelyn M., born January 7, 1892, was educated in the Winchester high school and two years in DePauw University, and is now teaching in Wayne township; Carl W., born Octobet 4, 1894, was educated in the Winchester high school and attended Purdue University at Lafayette two years; he is also teaching in Wayne township; Esther M., bom February 2, 1897, is attending school in her home community.

James C. Knox

The life history of James C. Knox, farmer, painter, stone mason, one of Randolph county's honored pioneer citizens, would indicate that he is the possessor of sterling qualities that cannot help winning in any vocation, if back of them is an indomitable courage, as seems to have been the case in this instance, and he has labored to goodly ends, ever keeping the interests of his neighbors and the locality in general before him while working to advance himself; therefore, he has played well his role in the local drama of civilization. He is one of the gallant veterans of the Union army, having gladly sacrificed much, like many legions of brave comrades, "in order that the nation might live." Thus many reasons might be advanced why Mr. Knox is jHistly entitled to mention in the history of this, one of the most thriving of the counties of the commonwealth of Indiana.

^ir. Knox was born on a farm in Pitt county. North Carolina, ]\Iay 7, 1833, and he is therefore nearing his eighty-first birthday, but is exceptionally strong foj- one so advanced in years. He is a son of Hosea and Clementine (Evans) Knox. Hosea Knox was born in Pitt county. North Carolina, also, and there he grew to manhood and married Clementine Evans, also a native of that section of Dixie land, and there they established their home, but emigrated overland about 1838 to Randolph county, Indiana, and here purchased eighty acres of land on which he farmed nearly until his death. On this place James C. Knox grew to 'manhood, he having been five years old when brought here by his parents. He helped reclaim the virgin soil from the wild state in which most of the land hereabout was at that early day, some seventy years ago, and he recei\'ed a meager education in the oldtime schools. When the Civil war began he enlisted in Company I, Sixty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but a spell of fever prevented his being sworn in and upon his recovery he found that the company was full and he was sworn in .as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Volunteer Infantry. This Indiana regiment, as a whole, did garrison and guard duty and helped repel Morgan's raid. While in the service he was again attacked by fever and spent some time in a hospital. He was honorably discharged July 17, 1865.

After his return from the army Mr. Knox took up farming, later house painting which he followed for a period of twenty-two years, was for a long time a contractor in brick mason work and also did stone masonry, and he made a success of all three vocations and finally retired practically from active life some ten years ago. From early manhood Mr. Khox was a teacher of vocal music, which he followed a great many years, and was very successful in his work.

Politically he is Independent, and is also liberal in his religious views. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been past grand, and is also a member of the Encampment, and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Knox was married on February 15, 1855, to Catherine Armstrong, a native of Ireland, born June 8, 1835, and she is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Valentine) Armstrong. She was four years old when she was brought by her parents to the United States in 1839. The family first settled in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1850 when they came on to Randolph county, located on a farm and here the parents spent the rest of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox only one child was born, Columbus C. Knox, who died when five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Knox are among our best known and most highly esteemed pioneer citizens, for they are honest, neighborly and hospitable.

Augustus R. Butler

One of the most enterprising of the present generation of farmers of Randolph county is Augustus R. Butler, of West River township. He has believed from the outset of his career that "The wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," and that while the methods pf our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century we are compelled to adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains; in fact, many things have changed since the days of the first . settlers. Mr. Butler has been a close observer of modem methods and is a student at all times of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, and he has therefore met with, encouraging success all along- the line, and, judging from his past record, he will undoubtedly yet achieve much in future years, taking his place among the leading agriculturists in a county noted for its fine farms and adroit husbandmen.

Mr. Butler was born on the did homestead in the above named township and county, August 3, 1852, and he has had the privilege of spending his life "under the roof that heard his earliest cry." He is a son of William and Thirza (Rosser) Butler, and was one of four children, namely: John W. died when eighteen years old; Elizabeth, widow of Levi Johnson, is living with our subject; Docia C. is the widow of William M. Botkin, is now sixty-eight years old, and is the mother of three children; Augustus R., of this sketch, is the youngest of the family. The father was born in Campbell county, Virginia, where he spent his earlier years, and removed with his family to West River township, Randolph county, Indiana, in 1847, and here he established himself on a farm and became an influential citizen, and here he spent the rest of his life, d5ang in 1885. The mother of our subject was a native of Virginia. Her father was Capt. John Rosser, and her brother, Thomas L. Rosser, was a general in the Confederate army. The death of the mother of our subject occurred in December, 1898.

Augustus -R. Butler grew up on the home farm and he received his education in the rural district schools. He was married on December 3, 1874, to Flora C. Hunt, a daughter of William S. Hunt, of West River township, where Mrs. Butler grew to womanhood and was educated. She was one of twelve children.

Two children have been born to our subject and wife, Cecil A., who died at the age of thirty years, left a widow, Mrs. Lelah (Bedford) Butler; Docia E. married John C. Hardwick, and they have two children, Ruby ]\Iarie and Ralph Butler.

Air. Butler has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising on the old home place, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres and which is one of the most productive farms in the township and which he has kept well improved and well cultivated, and he has also kept the buildings in good repair. He keeps an excellent grade of live stock and is one of our most energetic farmers.

Hezekiah Fowler

The Fowlers have borne splendid reputations in both Randolph county, Indiana, and Darke county, Ohio, being well and favorably known in each, for they have not only been industrious and honorable in their every-day lives but have been public-spirited and have done what they could in furthering the interests of their respective communities. One of the best known members of the family is Hezekiah Fowler, a farmer of Wayne township.

Mr. Fowler was born in Darke county, Ohio, June lo, 1853. He is a son of Hanson Fowler, who was also born in Darke county, December 14, 1823, and there he grew to manhood, received his education and taught several terms of school in the pioneer days of that county, in the days when the teachers "boarded around" with the patrons of the school. He was quite a hunter and killed many a deer. He eventually moved to Jackson township, Randolph county, and was trustee of the township for several terms. He is still living at the advanced age of ninety years. He has a good memory and talks most interestingly of the early days. He married Sarah Livengood, of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry; her death occurred in 1859. His father, Hezekiah Fowler, was a native of Maryland, from which state he moved to Darke county, Ohio, among the first settlers and there spent the rest of his life, his death resulting from an injury received by falling from a building. He was sixty-four years old. He entered land from the government, a part of his land now being within the city limits of Union City. The origin of the name Fowler is traced back to the days of the old Norman kings when they guarded jealously their deer in their private game preserves, and those appointed to watch their game were known as fowlers, hence the surname Fowler, Fugelere in the Anglo-Saxon and Vogeler in German, vogel being the German for bird. The surname has been variously spelled Fowlere, Foweler, Fowilar, Fowlar, Fowieler and Fowiler. Fowler has been the common orthography since about the middle of the seventeenth century. The first of the name of whom there is any authentic record is Sir Richard Fowelere or le Fowlere of Foxley. He accompanied Richard Coeur de Leon to the Holy Land on one of the crusades. Henry Fowlere, of Foxley, was in the retinue of Henry V, at Agincourt, and his son William married the daughter of the "clerk of the Green Cloth," of one of the English kings. Edward Fowlere, who was gentleman of the bed chamber to Edward VI, entertained Queen Katherine of Aragon at his castle. The wife of Roger Fowlere was Cecelia, sister of Rowland Reed, chaplain to Henry VIII, who performed the marriage cere- mony between the king and Anne Boleyn. William Fowler, of the Willshire family, who is sometimes called Sir William, although there seems to be no authority for the title, was one of the poets of the court of James VI of Scotland, before his accession to the throne of England as James I. He became private secretary and "master of requests" to the Queen. When Prince Henry was baptized, the pageants exhibited were by the king committed to the Lord of Findores, and to "Mr. William Fowler," and a description of "these rare shows *and singlar inventions" was published. William's sister, Susanna, married Sir John Drummond, gentleman usher of Black Rod. They were the parents of the celebrated poet Drummond. William Fowler, one colonist, had the honor of being designated "Mr.," a great mark of distinction in olden days, and he was also one of the church at New Haven in 1637 and the first magistrate of the town. Phillip of Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1634, is another early settler, and Henry Fowler was a Rhode Island pioneer. A scion of the Fowler family whose muscle brought him fame which has lasted to this day, was Sergeant Jonathan Fowler, of Connecticut. He was a giant in size, seven feet tall, and wonderful are the stories told of his contests with the beasts of the forests, and with wrestlers from different parts of the country who tested his strength and always to their discomfiture. His fame was spread abroad, and so pleased was George II, that one of his subjects had performed such remarkable feats of valor that he had a painting made of him in the act of killing a- bear. This painting, the skin of the animal ana the pine knot with which the beast was slain, are said to be preserved in the British museum. Whether this is fact or fiction, stories of Jonathan Fowler's wonderful achievements are still told in the Connecticut valley. His son, Israel, inherited his great strength. Once, when on picket guard during the Revolutionary war, Israel Fowler was surprised by two British soldiers. He grasped them about the waist, one in each hand, and carried them to General Putnam's headquarters. "They scratched and bit and pulled my hair but they had to come," he remarked.

One branch of the Fowler family settled in Virginia, and for military service in the war for independence, William Fowler received a grant of forty thousand acres of land in the Old Dominion. The blazon of the arms is asure on a chevron between three lions, passant quadrant or as many crosses, formes sable ; crest, an owl argent ducella gorged. This is the coat armor of Phillip of Ipswich, Colonist, and may indicate that he was a descent of the Crusader who was with Coeur de Leon, for these were the arms granted him. As Sir Richard's vigilance at the siege of Acre defeated nocturnal attempts of the infidels, the owl seemed a most appropriate cognizance. "Sapiens qid vigilat" is the motto used by one branch of the family, and an appropriate one for this coat-of-arms.

Hezekiah Fowler, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Darke county, Ohio, and there received a common school education, also attended the Normal at Ada, Hardin county, that state, two terms, and he began life for himself at a teacher, which he followed seven years in the district schools of his native county, farming in the summer months in the meantime. He remained on the home farm until he was married, then commenced farming for himself, although as a teacher he had been most successful, but finally tired of the confinement of the school room. He rented land for seven years after his marriage, and in 1890 bought the farm of eighty-five acres where he now resides in Wayne township, Randolph county, Indiana, and is successfully engaged in general farming, keeping a good grade of live stock and his land well cultivated. Politically, he is a Republican, and is a member of the advisory board of his township. He belongs to the National Horse Thief Detective Association.

Mr. Fowler was married on September 20, 1883, to Margaret Jennie Wilson, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, February 14, 1861. She is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Davis) Wilson, farmers of Greene county, Ohio, during the generation that is past, the death of Mr. Wilson having occurred September 18, 1904, the mother of Mrs. Fowler surviving until January 29, 1905. Mrs. Fowler was educated in the district schools of Greene and Montgomery counties, Ohio, and finished at the Normal at Lebanon, that state. She taught school two terms.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fowler : Margaret Gertrude, born in Darke county, Ohio, September 24, 1884, was educated in the common schools and graduated at the high school in Union City, later from the Normal State College, at Oxford, Ohio, in 1908, received subsequently the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1912, having made an excellent record in all the above named institutions. She has taught three terms of school, and since her graduation has taught two years in Hartwell school, fifth grade, taught one year in Wayne township. Central school, the first term of school in the new building in 1912. She taught mathematics and botany. Mary Mildred, second daughter of our subject, was born in Randolph county, Indiana, October 26, 1888, was educated in the district schools, and was graduated from the high school at Union City. She taught three terms of school, and at this writing is in her last year in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, spec- ializing in the liberal arts. Ethel May, third of our subject's children, was born in Randolph county May 18, 1892, was educated in the horne schools and was graduated from the high school at Union City in 191 1; she then took a normal course in Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, and alsostudied at the Angola Tri-State College of Indiana. She has taught two years in the schools of Wayne township. Opal Agnes, youngest of our subject's children, was born in Randolph county May 7, 1902, and is in her seventh grade in school. These children were given every advantage possible, and, being good students and talented," have become highly educated and cuhured and are popular with a wide circle of friends of the best class of people in the county.

Thomas C. Peacoce

Fame may look to the clash of resounding arms for its heroes; history's pages may be filled with the record of the deeds of the so-called great who have deluged the world with blood, destroyed kingdoms, created dynasties and left their names as plague spots upon civilization's escutcheon; the poet may embalm in deathless song the short and simple annals of the poor ; but there have been comparatively few to sound the praise of the brave and sturdy pioneer who, among the truly great and noble is certainly among the deserving of at least a little space on the category of the immortals. To him more than to any other is civilization indebted for the brightest jewel in its diadem, for it was he that blazed the way and acted as vanguard for the mighty army of progress that within the past three-quarters of a century has conquered Indiana's wilderness and transformed it into one of the best and most enlightened of the commonwealths of America's domain.

The Peacocks are a pioneer family, and the name has stood for progress in Randolph county for many decades, one of the well known members being Thomas C. Peacock, a farmer of Wayne township. He was born in this township and county April 13, 1851. He is a son of William Peacock, who was bo,rn October 10, 1818, and spent his life engaged in farming, and died January 3, 1907. He married Mary Thomas, who was born August 22, 1817, and died March 8, 1903. They were born in Wayne county, and both represented frontier families. Here they grew to maturity, received such educational advantages as the old-time schools afiforded, and were married in 1840, and at once took up their abode in Randolph county, locating in the wilderness. Mr. Peacock followed teaming for sev- eral years in his earlier life, hauling produce to Cincinnati and bringing goods back with him, thus being away from home a great deal, and in the nights that he was absent the young wife would barricade the door of her lonely cabin as best she could against the wolves and other wild beasts. The paternal grandfather, Amos Peacock, was born in 1787. He married Hannah Hill, who was born in 1793, both being natives of Randolph county, North Carolina. Owing to the large number of early settlers from that county to this section of Indiana, Randolph county, this state was named for the one in the old Tar state of the same name. Amos Peacock was one of these early emigrants, making the long journey from the far southland here in 1831, finding here only a vast wilderness, with no clearings. Elijah Peacock, a twin brother of Elisha Peacock, is the younger of nine children and the only survivor. He owns and occupies the old homestead, where he was born, and which has been in the family since 1818. Elijah Peacock was born January 28, 183 1. He married Agnes S. Brown, who was born in Cheltman, England, January 16, 1837. Seven children were born to. them, six of whom are living. The death of the mother occurred April I, 191 1. The children are: Amos H., born September i, 1854; Frances Eleanor, born October 28, 1857; Charlton Alva, born December 15, 1862; Joseph C, born October 20, 1864; Charlotte Eudora, born December 12, 1868; Corella Belle, born February i, 1872; Lilla Alta, born February 14, 1876. Charlotte Eudora married Lilburn Stanley, and her death occurred in 1902. She had no children. The father of Amos Peacock was Abram Peacock. He was twice married, his second wife being Anna Joy.

Thomas C. Peacock grew to manhood in his native locality and received a common school education. He has always followed farming, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. His noble wife has been of great assistance to him. They have reared and educated their children in good shape, and have a fine farm of one hundred acres, which, with the exception of a small competence from their parents, our subject and wife have made themselves. They have a comfortable home and are highly respected in the community. Politically, our subject is Independent, and he is a Quaker in his religious faith.

Thomas C. Peacock was married October 19, 1872, to Martha Alice Shultz, who was born in Spartanburg, Indiana, August 16, 1854. She was reared and educated in Randolph county, where her people have long been well and favorably known. A record of the Shultz family is found on another page of this volume.

To Mr. and Mrs. Peacock the following children have been born: Harry, born September i8, 1873, married Sarah Alice Brumfield in 1897; he was educated in the common schools of his township and was graduated from the Winchester high school, later taking a business course at Richmond, Indiana; he had five children, Pauline died at the age of four years; Frances W., Ruth Olive, Ralph C. and Virgil Eugene. Indianola, the second child of our subject, was born June 14, 1875, was educated in the common schools and graduated fpom the Winchester high school, also went nearly three years to the State Normal at Terre Haute, when her health failed and she was obliged to give up her work, but later she taught school three years in Jackson and Wayne townships; on November 16, 1898, she married J. W. Harris, and in November, 1907, they removed to Kings county, California, where he is engaged in the contracting business, and is also township judge; they have no children. Ethel Peacock, bom September 6, 1880, was educated in the common schools and the Harrisville high school; she married Harry G. Kemp, May 3, 1906, and they have one child, Ronald C, who was born February 23, 1908. Elsie Peacock, bom July 17, 1883, was educated in the common schools, and then attended Deaconess Hospital in Indianapolis for three years, preparing to be a trained nurse, and was graduated in 1909; she is single and is making her home in Indi9.napolis. Bernice May Peacock, born May 21, 1892, was educated in the common schools and the Winchester high school, but was compelled to give up schooling on account of failing health; she married James Blaine Clark June 26, 1912.

John D. Marker

The veterans of the great Union army that saved the nation from disruiDtion during its darkest period should be justly proud of what they have done for succeeding generations, having left an inheritance of which we should be very grateful; indeed, we owe them a debt of gratitude which we can never repay. Now that "the sunset of life" is upon them, and the "grand army of the republic" is continually marching across the "great divide" to join the phantom army in the Silent Land, let us of the aftermath accord them every courtesy and honor, and prove our gratitude for what they have achieved while we have the opportunity. One of this worthy number is John D. Marker, of Randolph county, a farmer and gardener of Spartanburg.

He is a son of Paul and Isabelle (West) Marker. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1804 and when a boy he came with his parerrts to Ohio, the father, Lewis Marker, entering one hundred and sixty acres of land in Darke county. The elder Marker was a soldier in the war of 1812. Paul Marker devoted his active life to farming and gunsmithing, having had a natural mechanical gift which he developed until he was quite a skilled workman. His death occurred in 1897.

John D. Marker spent his early life in Ohio and there received a fairly good education in the common schools. He proved his patriotism by enlisting in the Federal army shortly after the commencement of the great war of the Rebellion as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he joined in May, 1861. He was sent at once to the -front and was in several minor engagements in Virginia, later fighting at Perryville, Kentucky, and in the great battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, also those in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman. He then went with the army to Nashville, Tennessee, under Thomas and helped repulse Hood. After serving for some time in eastern Tennessee he was sent to Texas, and was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged on December 5, 1865. He veteranized at Chattanooga in 1863. He was wounded at Shiloh when a Minie ball struck him on the right cheek, coming out near the neck. He was also wounded at Stone River, a bullet striking him 'in the left leg, and the same kind of a missile struck him in the left shoulder at Chickamauga. The last wound has given him more or less trouble ever since.

After his career as a soldier, which was a most faithful and gallant one, Mr. Marker returned home. He spent one year in school, then took up the lightning rod business which he followed for five years. For many years he has followed gardening in the summer and selling trees in the winter. He has been very successful and owns three farms east of Spartanburg, one of forty acres, another of eighty acres and a third of three acres. His land is well-improved, properly fertilized and very productive.

Politically Mr. Marker is a Democrat, and in religious matters is a member, of the Christian church. He belongs to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic in which he has held all the offices.

Mr. Marker was married in 1869 to Martha Nail, a native of Shelbyville, Indiana, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, June Marker, who married a Mr. Blackman and they live in Oklahoma. The wife and mother passed to her rest in 1873, after four years of married life, she being then a young woman. Our subject was again married in 1897 to Sarah J.

Moore, who was born in Randolph county, in July, 1840. By a previous marriage to Wm. Moore, Mrs. Marker became the mother of two children, viz. : John, deceased, and Dora Moore, who married J. O. Wise, he being now deceased.

John Burroughs

The early pioneers of Randolph county, having blazed the path of civilization to this part of the state, finished their labors and passed from the scene, leaving the country in possession of their descendants and to others who came at a later period and builded on the foundation which they laid so broad and deep. Among the former class was the well-remembered farmer and influential citizen whose name forms the caption of this biographical memoir and also his worthy father before him. The name of John Burroughs ever stood for industry in connection with general farming and for good conduct in all the relations of life, and is deserving of a place in the history of the locality where he so long lived and for the general upbuilding of which he always did what he could.

Mr. Burroughs was born in Nettle Creek township, Randolph county, in 1838. He was a son of John and Martha (Chambers) Burroughs. The father was born on February 9, 1793, in Virginia. The mother was born on May 8, 1799, in North Carolina. They left their homes in Dixieland in a very early day and came to Indiana, locating in Randolph county in the early thirties, and here they spent the rest of their lives on a farm. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity except one, John, of this memoir, being next to the youngest.

John Burroughs was reared on the home farm and he worked hard when a boy. He received his education in the rural schools of those early days. He remained on the home farm until his father's death, then bought a farm in Wayne county, Indiana, later removing to the state of Kansas, where he remained two years, then came back to Randolph county, Indiana, where he bought eighty acres, later buying forty acres more, and this land he farmed successfully as long as he was physically able, but finally his health failed, but he remained on the farm until the fall of 1909, when he bought a home in Losantville, this county, and removed thereto, but lived only a short time thereafter, his death occurring December 14, 1909.

daughter of Stephen and Rachel (Jordan) Pollard. The father was a native of Kentucky, but the mother was born in Wayne county, Indiana. The parents of both were early pioneer farmers. Mr. Pollard farmed all his life. He and his wife are both deceased. Their family consisted of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, Mrs. Burroughs and her youngest sister are the only two living at this writing.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs, namely: Lilie B., born on October 9, 1861, died on October 21, 1880. She married J. N. Johnson, who is now residing on the" farm of our subject's widow. One daughter was born, November 25, 1878, to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, whom they named Bessie May; she married Dr. F. E. McKinnon, a dentist of Losantville, and they have two children, Ruth and Maurice. The second child of our subject and wife, Jesse P. Burroughs, was born August 9, 1867, and he died August 22^ 1892. He married Alice Hunt and to them one child was born, Cornelius Carl, whose birth occurred July 6, 1886; he married Hazel I. Burroughs (no relation), and to them two children have been born. Gladys Irene and Altie.

Mrs. Sarah J. Burroughs lives alone. She still owns the excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres which her late husband brought up to such a high state of improvement and cultivation. She is an active worker in the Methodist church, of which she has long been a member. She is a well preserved woman, appearing much younger than her years, is cheerful and kindly and therefore has a host of warm friends. She is charitably inclined and sympathizes in a substantial manner with the needy and distressed.

John R. Price

Although no section of the great Hoosier state is richer in opportunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than does Randolph county, success is not here to be obtained through desire alone, but is to be persistently worked for, there being various obstacles to be overcome just as in every country, so the idler knows nothing of the rich rewards that come to the toilers in the locality of which this history deals. John R. Price, farmer of the vicinity of Union City, is evidently entitled to rank with that class of hard-working citizens who prefer to follow the old maxim of "go it alone," rather than depend upon others to contribute to his support and progress. Having spent his entire life in this county, it is evident that he has preferred to remain at home rather than seek some mythical "better country," and here he has not only reaped the fruitage of a well-directed energy, but has so ordered his course in all the relations of life as to command the respect of all his neighbors and acquaintances.

Mr. Price was born in Randolph county, Indiana, January 3, 1869. He is a son of John Price, who was born January 5, 1826. The latter was a son of Solomon and Barbara Price, who located in Darke county, Ohio, in 1834, and from there came to Randolph county, Indiana, in 1837. They were the parents of fourteen childuen, seven of whom are now living. The elder Price was treasurer of the Union City and White River Turnpike Company, of which he was a heavy stockholder. He was a good business man, was highly respected by all who knew him and was one of the influential men of his day in this locality. His wife was a daughter of John Dixon.

The subject of- this sketch has three brothers and three sisters, namely: Mrs. Barbara Burk, Mrs. Martha Harrison, and Mrs. Sadie Wilson ; Samuel H., Robert L., and George E. Robert L. Price was born in Wayne township, Randolph county, December 25, 1859, and here he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He has been twice married, his first wife, Aseneth E. Erazier, died in 1879, leaving one son, Charles Loring Price, who has remained single, and is now living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Robert L. Price was married in January, 1886, to Constance May Euott, of French ancestry. When eighteen years old Robert L. Price left home and began life for himself. He spent twenty years in St. Louis, Missouri. He has traveled all through the southern and western states. He took his family to California and there spent about a year. He has seen a large portion of the United States and a great deal of Canada. He is a farmer, owner of a good farm of a little over one hundred and forty-six acres. He has two children by his second marriage, namely : Walter Robert, who married Edna Poffenbarger, residing in Muncie, Indiana; and Oliver Harold, who is single and living at home.

John Price, father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and he was eight years old when he came with his parents to Indiana. When but a boy he began buying unimproved land, which he would clear and trade for more land, and at his death he had accumulated six hundred and forty acres of valuable land, all improved and under cultivation. He not only farmed on an extensive scale but also dealt in livestock of all kinds and became very prosperous. IJis death occurred in 1898. His wife, known in her maidenhood as Sarah Dixon, died June 20, 1897.

received his education in the pubHc schools of his locaHty. When a young man he took up farming for a Hvehhood and this has continued to be his vocation. He has been very successful, having worked hard and managed well. He was twenty years old when he began life for himself by operating one of his father's farms, which he continued to do until his father's death, whereupon he purchased the immediate interest of the estate, and has now a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has an attractive residence and good outbuildings.

Mr, Price was married on October 2, 1887, to Nellie E. Jeffers, who was born in Danville, Hendricks county, Indiana, September 12, 1868, the daughter of E. Jeffers, who died when Mrs. Price was sixteen years old. To the union of our subject and wife the following children have been born: Clarence E., born July 4, 1888, married Ada Moore, daughter of Henan Moore, of Winchester, and they have one child, Ronald Dolphin Price, born March i, 1912; Lottie Blanche married Daniel Clark, and to them two children were born, Bertha May, born in 1910, and Lorin, born March 25, 1912; Bertha Irene, who is a graduate of Harrisville high school of the class of 1912, married Murrell Rowe, a son of Frank Rowe; Opal Marie, born March 25, 1898; and Anna Ethel, born August 3, 1900. Leander J. Price married Ethel Welch, a daughter of Jacob Welch, and they have one child, John J., born February 2, 1913.

Politically, Mr. Pric^ is a Republican. He belongs to the Christian church. He has been a member of the advisory board of his township for the past eight years, and his long retention would indicate satisfactory service on his part. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Clyde E. Shultz

Among the younger generation of farmers of Wayne township, Randolph county, who is deserving of the large degree of success which has come to him is Clyde E. Shultz. He finds himself the owner of a valuable farm at an age when most tillers of the soil are just getting well started, and he is doubly entitled to congratulations when we learn that he has acquired his own property. Judging from his splendid success so early it is reasonable to predict a time when he will stand in the forefront of the agriculturists of the locality of which this history deals.

Mr. Shultz was born near Harrisville, Randolph county, November lo, 1883. He is a son of Charles F. Shultz, of Wayne township, a well knownfarmer, who was born in Spartanburg, Indiana, in 1858, and whose death occurred October 24, 1909. He was a man of thrift, public spirit and excellent character and popular in his community. The mother of our subject was known in her maidenhood as Orabell Kayler, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1861, and her death occurred November 20, 1895. Peter M. Shultz, the paternal grandfather, was born in Highland county, Kentucky, August 16, 1833. He came to Randolph county many years ago ' and is at present living in lUnion City, at the advanced age of eighty years. He has devoted principally all his life to general farming. He is a man of fine character and worthy of the high regard in which he is held by all who know him. His wife, Julia Ann Moore, was born in Guilford county. North Carolina, from which state she came with her parents when a child to Randolph county, Indiana, the long journey being made in a one-horse wagon. The family settled one mile east of what is now the village of Spartanburg, and there developed a good farm from the wilderness. The death of Mrs. Peter M. Shultz occurred in September, 1902. George W. Shultz, the paternal great-grandfather, lived in Boone county, Indiana, and was a well known pioneer citizen there. His wife was Martha Alice Shultz.

Clyde E. Shultz grew to manhood on the home farm in this county and there he assisted with the general work, .and he received his education in the common schools of Wayne township, and at the tender age of sixteen years he began life for himself, farming, and he has continued this line of endeavor to the present time with ever-increasing success until he is now the owner of a valuable and well-improved farm of one hundred and sixtyeight acres in Wayne township, which is well cultivated and well stocked. He has a good dwelling and outbuildings and is carrying on the various departments of his work like an old-timer, each year finding him further advanced than the preceding.

Mr. Shultz is also engaged in operating a saw mill and devotes the greater portion of his time to this business. The mill has a capacity of about eight thousand feet per day.

Mr. Shultz was married February 27, 1902, to Blanche D. Fortenbaugh, who was born in Harrisville. Indiana, and here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of John B. and Naoma Fortenbaugh, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume.

Mr. Shnltz is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of the Golden E^gle.

Curtis M. Shierling

In the life history of Curtis M. Shierling, farmer, of Randolph county, the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article, we find evidence of peculiar characteristics that always make for achievement, persistency, coupled with fortitude and honorable traits, and as a result of such a life, he stands today one of the representative citizens of his township, well-known and highly respected by all.

Mr. Shierling was born in AVard township, Randolph county, November 7, 1865, and he has been content to spend his life in his native locality. He is a son of Philip and Emeline (Ford) Shierling, whose family consisted of four children, namely: Francis, who died at the age of thirty-four years, married Dora Nickey, and to them two children were born, Rosco and Almira; he was engaged in general farming in this county; Curtis M., our subject, was second in order of birth; Ida has been twice married, first to Marion Nickey, then to Richard Milo Fraze, a farmer of Ward township, and she has five sons and one daughter; Perl, who is engaged in farming in Ward township, married Stella Harshman, and to them three children have been born.

The father of the above named children was born in the state of Ohio, and the paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, born in Baden-Baden. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio and there she and Mr. Shierling grew to maturity, were educated in the public schools and were married and from there they finally moved to Indiana and established the future home of the family in Randolph county.

Curtis M. Shierling grew to manhood on the home farm in this county and there he assisted with the general work during the crop seasons and he received his education in the schools of Saratoga and the high school at Winchester. He began life for himself as a general farmer and this he has continued successfully to the present time, being now owner of a finely improved and valuable farm, of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, on which is always to be seen an excellent grade of livestock and a good set of buildings.

Mr. Shierling- was married April 20, 1887, to Sally Florence Crum, a daughter of John and Catherine (Brenaman) Crum, both natives of Virginia. They came to Randolph county in 1883, locating near Stone Station in Ward township, and later moved to Saratoga, where he died. He followed farming through life. They were the parents of five living children, namely : Martha Angeline : Frances Elizabeth ; J. L. ; Mary Ella ; and Sally Florence, our subject's wife.

To Mr. and Airs. Shierling* three children have been born, namely: Roy, born November 15, 1888, lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where he is attending the State University, preparing to become a teacher, he taught two years in the Saratoga High School; Marjorie, born May 21, 1896; Reva, born December 8, 1906.

Politically Mr. Shierling is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the United Brethren church.

John Wesley Starbuck

Alany of the choice farms of Randolph county were made wholly by the owners thereof, not a cent having been inherited. It is also true that many of the best farms were almost wholly inherited from the parents of the present holders. It would seem at first glance that the latter owners were the ones to be congratulated, but this is not always the case, for very often in their youth they did not receive the proper training as to thrift and industry that would enable them to save and manage their large inheritance. On the contrary it may be set down as an unqualified truth that the man who by hard knocks made all his property, beginning as a poor boy, learned at the same time how to take care of it. To know how to save money, as well as to know how to make it, is of the greatest importance, in the rearing of a boy. Such training was received by John Wesley Starbuck, farmer, of Washington township. He was thrown on his own resources when of tender age and has had to "hoe his own row" through life, but he has succeeded nicely.

Mr. Starbuck was born in White River township, this county, April 2, 1855. He is a son of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Jones) Starbuck. The father was born in South Carolina, Alarch 16, 1807. The mother was a daughter of Alichael and Xancy Jones and was born near Winchester, Indiana, where she was reared. The father left the sunny South when a young man and located in Randolph county, this state, and here he met and married our subject's mother and they established their home on a farm in White River township.

Mrs. John W. Starbuck John W. Staebuck

John W. Starbuck had very Httle opportunity to attend school. When only nine years old he left home to work for his uncles, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, then began life for himself, engaging in farming which he has continued to the present time with success, being now owner of a valuable and well-kept farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Washington township. It is all under cultivation. He has a good grade of livestock and on his place is to be seen a comfortable home and convenient outbuildings. He makes a specialty of shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.

Air. Starbuck was married August 2, 1879, to Sarah E. Jackson, who was born in White River township, Randolph county, October 3, 1862, and there she was reared and received a common school education. To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Robert died iit infancy; Elizabeth AI., born February 22, 1880, is the wife of W. Longenecker; Hattie is the wife of Clarence Engle; Roy H., born September 6, 1888, married Gra:ce Mote of Greensfork township, and is working the home farm with his father.

Politically, Air. Starbuck is a Republican, and he belongs to the Friends church, and is also recognized as one of the leading and progressive citizens of the county.

Alden J. Edwards

The farms of the United States produce an annual farm value greater than any other agricultural country on the globe. The American farm is the largest, it is true, but the final test of a successful producer is net receipts per farmer, and that is in favor of the American plowman. In this class must consistently be mentioned the name of Alden J. Edwards, one of the most painstaking and therefore, most successful farmers of West River township, Randolph county, a man, now just in the prime of middle life, but who has already accomplished more than many of our farmers of much more extensive experience.

Mr. Edwards was born in the above named township and county, April 5, 1870. He is a son of G. W. and Victoria (Harris) Edwards, a well known family of this locality, which is given a separate sketch elsewhere in this volume. Our subject has one brother and one sister, the former, William Edwards, operates his father's farm; the latter, Ida, is the wife of Cliff Gordon, of West River township. (86).

Mr. Edwards of this review was reared on the home farm where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his early education in the common schools. He began farming when a young man arid this has continued to be his chief life work, and he has made a success as a general farmer and stock raiser, keeping his land well improved and well tilled. He raises a good grade of livestock and has a comfortable home. His farm is comprised of one hundred and twenty-two acres and is well located, fc

Mr. Edwards was married December 20, 1893, to Carrie Adamson, a native of West River township, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is a daughter of William L. Adamson, a well known farmer of West River township, who was born in this community, February 5, 1837, a son of one of our oldest settlers, Abraham and Nancy (Botkin) Adamson. William L. Adamson married Mary Stanley in 1867, a daughter of James Stanley, a farmer and merchant of Wayne county, and to these parents four children were born, namely: Willie Edgar, deceased; Carrie, wife of Mr. Edwards, of this sketch; Orrie B., a farmer of West River township; India M., wife of Charles Bales, of West River township. The father, William L. Adamson, was a soldier in the Civil War for three years and saw a great deal of hard service in the far South. He is engaged in farming in this township, owning a valuable farm of one hundred and twentyfour acres. A complete sketch of him appears on another page of this volume.

Alen B. Slusher

Alen B. Slusher was born in Randolph county, January 31, 185 1. and is the son of George and Sarah (Hogston) Slusher. November 29, 1873, he was married to Sarah Wright, daughter of Isaac Wright, of White River township, and to them have been born seven children, six boys and one girl. George died in infancy as did also Joseph; John lives at Muncie and conducts a garage, his wife was Jessie Brubaker; they have no children. Will, of Montpelier, married Cora Martin and has two children, Kenneth and Lela. Francis, of Traverse City, Michigan, is

The youngest of Mr. Slushers children, Ethel Maria, was born October 10, 1897, and has begun a musical career that promises to be of remarkable brilliancy. Already she has a grasp of the most difficult compositions that indicates a profound and subtle genius at maturity. It is from such precocious people as Miss Slusher that the text books are written. She seems to grasp the range of music intuitively. Compositions embracing melody and form and the intricacies of phrasing, including motives, phrases, sections, periods and the larger divisions of subjects and episodes, are executed by her with the utmost ease and facility. And in harmony and tone coloring her execution is quite as facile as in phrasing. Miss Slusher should be one of the greatest virtuosos known in this county and doubtless will be. She has the faculties that have made such artists as Bertha Frielhng, Fannie Zeisler, Katherine Goodson, Mathilde Verne and Helen Hopekirk famous. And she has the advantage of beginning at a time when the flexibility of muscle and mind is in its early stages of development. Miss Slusher is just such a prodigy as Joe Hoffman was in his boyhood days. Her intellect predominates. Her felicitous rendition of the nocturnes and dance themes of Chopin, the sonatas of Beethoven, the operas of Mozart and Donizetti and the rhapsodies of Liszt give one an idea of the scope of her powers. Even at so young an age they embrace the most difficult and beautiful in musical composition.

Six of the brothers and sisters of Alen B. Slusher are dead. Their names were William, Polly, Eliza, Anderson, Martha and Sarah. Those Hving are Leon, of Blackford county, a farmer; Amanda, wife of Joseph Wiest, of Peru, Indiana, a brick mason, and Henry of Randolph county, a farmer, who married Beulah Hoffman. The father and mother of Mr. Slusher came from Virginia to Indiana when this part of the country was a wilderness. Mrs. Slusher's father was a Virginian, but came here from Pennsylvania. He was married twice, and Mrs. Slusher has seven half-brothers and sisters living.

The subject of this review is a member of the Catholic church, was educated in the public schools and is a Democrat in politics. And he is true to his educational training and religious and political affihations. Any movement pertaining to education, religion or politics excites his sincere interest. He is one of the men well up in the leadership of his party that have made Indiana a Democratic State.

William Albert Hernley

A painstaking twentieth century farmer of Greensfork township, Randolph county, is William Albert Hernley, a native of this locality, which may account for his ability to demonstrate to all spectators his skill in husbandry. He was reared upon the farm and from his earliest years the sight of herds of cattle, sheep, horses and other domestic animals was a daily occurrence. Youthful experiences are the most stringent, and accordingly the lessons thus taught of general farming from ififancy found a secure lodgment in his understanding. No young man could halve better equipment for the duties of the farm than he received. There were not only the sleek herds and the beautiful fields of growing grain but also the sound judgment and able training of his father, so it is no wonder that he has made a success of his chosen vocation and that the future promises still larger emoluments for the care and toil he is expending.

Mr. Hernley 'was born near the village of Farmland, Randolph county, July 22, 1881. He is a son of Amos H. and Mary C. (Griffis) Hernley, a well known family of West River township, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume, to which the reader is respectfully referred.

William A. Hernley grew to manhood on the home farm and, being a sturdy lad and having a natural bent toward husbandry, he did full share of the work about the place when growing to manhood, finding time the meanwhile to receive a practical education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the homestead until the year 1901, when on June 19th he purchased forty acres of the J. D. Bowen farm, which he operated three years, during which he got a good start, then purchased eighty acres two and one-half miles west of Spartanburg, to which he removed in xA.ugust, 1906, then purchased forty acres adjoining on the west, which he owned two months, then bought six acres east and owned that two months. His next purchase was fifty acres east of the village cf Crete, in August, 191 1, which he owned two years, then sold out and purchased his present place of fifteen acres. He recently purchased thirty-seven acres east of his present place and now owns a total of 120 acres. He makes a specialty of raising tobacco and has a large shed in which to properly care for the same. This was erected in 1909. He has eight acres in tobacco which nets him a good annual income. He also makes a specialty of raising Duroc- Jersey and Poland-China hogs. He has kept all the land that he has owned well improved, and has done a great deal of ditching. His cozy cottage which

Stands on the main road was built in 1910. Politically he votes independently, and in religious matters is a member of the Christian church.

Mr. Hernley was married November 16, 1900, to Garcie M. Martin, who was born in Randolph county, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education. To this union three children have been born, namely : Emma Opal, Oria Kenneth, and Olva.

Curtis M. Spera

It is noticeable in all communities that some men talk a great deal while others have little to say. Curtis M. Spera, farmer, of Randolph county, is able to express himself clearly and forcefully when it is necessary to talk, and is also well qualified to carry into execution his thoughts, and he is regarded as one of the strong factors in a community where there are many men of sound sense and ripe judgment. He has devoted his life to farming and has met with encouraging success all along the line as a result of his ability to see quickly what was needed and to do the right thing at the right time. He believes in adopting the latest and most approved methods in farming, 'believing it just as nece;ssary as in any other line of business.

Mr. Spera was born in Portage county, Indiana, April 21, 1857. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Shook) Spera, and was one of a family of four children, namely: Frank is deceased; Wilson, who is a carpenter and builder of Winchester, married Ella Brouse, and they have five children; Martha, who married B. F. Boltz, employed at the novelty works, in Winchester, has five children; Curtis M., of this sketch.

George Spera, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania where he spent his earlier years, and from which state he removed with his father to Ohio in an early day, and in 1859 he came to Indiana where he established his future home. During the Civil War he served gallantly for the Union, in the Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, remaining at the front three years. He saw much hard service and was once wounded. After the war he returned to Indiana and resumed farming. Both the Speras arid Shooks are of German descent. The mother's family also removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio and later to Indiana. The death of the father occurred at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

ceived his education in the common schools. He began farming early in life and this has continued to be his vocation. He is now owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred acres on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a good home and convenient outbuildings.

Mr. Spera was married May 23, 1878, to Samantha Mullen, a daughter of Thomas Mullen, who died in July, 1911. He was a farmer by occupation and spent the latter 'years of his life in Winchester. He was twice married and had four children by his first wife ; his union with his second wife resulted in the .birth of eight children, an equal number of sons and daughters.

To Mr. and Mrs. Spera three children have been born, namely: Frank, born March 3, 1879, died October 13, 1898; Blanch married Reed DeVoss, a farmer near Fairview, Indiana, and they have two sons, Paul, born October g, 1901, and Joseph, born October 3I,^I907. Gladys, the youngest child of our subject and wife, married Carl Warren, a farmer near Saratoga, this county; their union has been without issue.

John C, Rubey, of Scotch descent, was born December 14, 1843, i^^ Randolph county, the son of Dr. Samuel and Jane (McNulty) Rubey, who are natives- of Ohio. After serving through the war in the Union army, Mr. Rubey took up farming for his life work and has heroically stuck to it unremittingly ever since. His achievements in the pursuits of agriculture are evidences of what a man can do in that line who gives his mind and time to them. He is a veteran and typical farmer, and for intelligent or scientific cultivation of the land, stands second to no one of similar calling in his county. He is one of those exceptional men who dignify a profession by adopting and pursuing it. The occupation of farming in Randolph county has been very greatly advanced by the fidelity and intelligence with which Mr. Rubey has followed it. His idea is that a man should give his time and talent to his profession, and acting upon this conviction he has demonstrated the value of it by the success he has achieved.

Mr. Rubey is one of seven children. His brothers and sister were as follows: Celestina, of Lvnn, Ind., married Mareellus Brown, a farmer. Thev have three children. William died at the age of fifteen, and James, who farmed in Nebraska, is also dead. Joseph, of Winchester, married three times, has two children and is a retired farmer. Ambrose, of Spartanburg, is also a retired farmer with two children. Daniel, of Kansas, is a farmer and has a wife and two children.

Mr. Rubey was married in 1866 to Mary Jane Jackson, daughter of James M. Jackson. One child, Arabell, was born to them, who married I. R. Thomas, a farmer of Spartanburg, and has two children. The second wife of Mr. Rubey was .Flora jMcClure, whom he married in 1901, she dying in 1903. April 25, 1909, he married Mrs. M. H. Rubey, nee Houghtby; she having at the time five boys and one girl. The- eldest child. Hazel, was born February 10, 1887; James, a civil en'gineer in Duluth, was born September 2, 1889; the date of Harold's birth, a graduate of Wabash College, was July 23, 1891, and that of Reed, December 16, 1893; John, of Duluth, with the Mesaba Railroad, was born July 30, 1895, and Charles, March 31, 1897.

Mr. Rubey attends the Methodist church and is a Progressive in politics. He beheves in the old religion of John and Charles Wesley but in new methods of political procedure. In the Civil War, he served in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for one year and in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry till the close of the war. He was at Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Thompson's Hill, Mobile and Blakely.

The father of John C. Rubey was a practicing physician in Randolph county up to the time of his death, December 30, 1857, aged forty-five years. He came to this state from Harrison county, Kentucky, when a boy. The parents of the mother of Mr. Rubey came to Indiana from Pennsylvania when she was a child and settled on the site where the village of Hill Grove, in .Darke county, Ohio, was afterward built. They were pioneers and dealt with the Indians. Her grandfather was a blacksmith with Gen. Wayne when he went through this section. Mr. Rubey's ancestry on his father's side was Scotch. Two of his uncles were physicians. His mother died February 5, 1893, aged seventy-five years.

The occupations successively of soldier and farmer have the elements in them that immortalize men. When armies were needed for the defense of the republic and constitutional government, Mr. Rubey voluntarily went to the front and stayed there till the last shot was fired. That is a great record. The supreme crisis in popular government was at the time of our Civil war, and the men who responded to the call for the defense of the constitution have a more brilliant fame than the soldiers of any other nation or time. As a soldier, Mr. Rubey participated in the heroic action that preserved constitutional liberty, and in his vocation of farmer his labor is a part of the great productive energy that feeds the nation he risked his life to save.

James Buchanan Jordan

Fewf of the present day farmers of Randolph county had better equipment f Of their vocations than James B. Jordan received, for he had a natural liking for general husbandry to begin with and this was carefully developed by his father, one of the successful early-day tillers of the soil here. In addition to all this he received a good practiced education in the common schools and in every way fitted for his future successful life upon the farm.

Mr. Jordan was born in Randolph county, Indiana, October 21, 1856. He is a son of the late Jesse Jordan, who was born in Wayne county. North Carolina, September 21, 1814. The latter was a son of Stephen and Sallie (Farmer) Jordan, and was one of the old families of the Tar state. Jesse Jordan left his native community in Dixie land when a young man and came to Randolph county, Indiana, where he bought land which he cleared and farmed the rest of his life. He was one of our early settlers and never left the farm. He prospered in the new country and at the time of his death owned a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres. He died February 20, 1 87 1. Politically he was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Baptist church. On July 16, 1845, he married Peninah Horn, who was born July i, 1822. She was a daughter of Henry and Miriam (Wood) Horn. Her death occurred March i, 1898. Se^en children were born to these parents, named as follows: Sarah Elizabeth, born May 11, 1846; Isaac F., November 3, 1847, died May 23, 1913; Marcella C, October 31, 1851, died January 26, igoo; Texanna B., November 25, 1854, died February 27, 1898; James B., subject of this sketch; Dollie P., February 26, 1859; Miriam, October 16, 1862, died August 26, 1870.

Jesse, the father, having died when our subject was fourteen years of age, James B. Jordan grew up on the homestead and worked there when a boy in the summertime, attending the neighboring schools in the winter months, gaining an education by his own efforts. He began farming when a young man and this has continued to be his life work. He has always made a comfortable living and is now owner of about eighty acres of productive land, which he has cleared, ditched and developed into one of the choice farms of his neighborhood. Here he carries on general farming and raises considerable livestock for the market from year to year.

James B. Jordan

Mr. Jordan was married to Ida M. Bowen, December 20, 1884. She was born in July, i860, and is a daughter of James D. and Mary E. (Chenoweth) Bowen, an old family of this locality, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools.

Six children have been born to our- subject and wife, named as follows : Jessie B. is the wife of E. H. Coffin and they live in Henry county, Indiana; James H. is farming in Greensfork township, this county; Gerald R. is at home; Henry W. is teaching school in Greensfork township; Sol B, is at home; Ralph M. is attending school at this writing. -

Frederic Kabel

Our attention has frequently been called of late to the alarming decrease of farm products in the United States while its population is steadily increasing. We are told that our most priceless treasure, the fertility of our soil, has been so dissipated by slipshod methods in tilling it that we are now face to face with the necessity of increasing its' power to produce or else go hungry in the near future. We who would eat must get in tot^ch with the things of earth once more as consumers if not as producers. One of the energetic farmers who seems to clearly understand present day conditions is Frederic Kabel, of West River township, Randolph county, a man who has devoted his life to a study of general farming in all its phases and who is therefore an authority on the same.