Randolph County, Indiana - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1914 (part 15 of 20)

Of this large band from the Fatherland should be mentioned Emanuel Zimmerman, father of Albert E. Zimmerman, well known hardware merchant of Ridgeville, -Randolph county, Indiana, in which county the latter, our subject, was born May 22, 1874. Both the father and the mother, who was known in her maidenhood as Anna \Mse, were born in \\'ittenTDurg. Germany and there they spent their earher years, finally emigrating to America, the father landing in Xew York City with but seventy-nine cents, and he began work in that cit}- at fifty cents a day, subsequently coming west and locating in Dayton, Ohio. He worked in a saw mill several years, during which he saved his money and was eventuall}- enabled to buy a farm in Darke county, Ohio, where he lived for two }'ears then came to Randolph county, Indiana, and purchased a farm in Green township where he prospered, becoming one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers in the county, and at his death in 1905 he left an estate valued at twenty thousand dollars, which he had made b}' his own persistency, good management and honest dealings. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1902. Their family consisted of ten children, two of whom, a son and daughter, died in infancy and eight grew to man and womanhood, namely : Jacob, an insurance man of Ridgeville, married Emma J. Jones, and the}' ha^e tAvo children; Emanuel was next in order of birth; John is engaged in the hardware business with our subject at Ridgeville, married Flora Mendenhall, which union has been without issue; George, a farmer of Green township, married Rosella Gantz, and they have two children, a boy and a girl; William, mail carrier out of Ridgeville married Flora Pace and they ha\'e two sons ; ^Martin, J., a painter and paperhanger of Dayton, Ohio, married Cassie Heniser and they have six children; Philip, a farmer of Green township, married Delia Boyer, and they have six children; Albert E., of this sketch is the youngest.

Albert E. Zimmerman grew to manhOod on the home farm and he received a common school education. September 11, 1897, he married Eva Shoemaker, daughter of Charles W. and Sarah J. Shoemaker, whose family consisted of six children. INIr. Shoemaker was a progressive farmer. He and the family are members of the Evangelical church.

!Mr. Zimmerman worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-three years old, then farmed for himself until he reached the age of twenty-nine. Although he was making splendid success as a farftier he decided to take up the merchandise business, and accordingly moved to Ridgeville where he went into the grocery business. He enjoyed a large trade, but finding a better opportunity" in the hardware business with his brother John in Ridgeville he went into that three years ago. having remained in the grocery business five years with his brother Jacob. He now has a double store and carries a large stock of up-to-date and carefully selected goods and enjoys a large and rapidly growing trade with the surrounding country.

"Ml". Zimmerman is a Republican in politics, and he has been township trustee for a period of six years, filling the office to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen.

Ollie M. Painter

One of the native-born sons of Randolph county who has been content to spend his life in his own locality, rather than seek uncertain fortunes in "the west," that vague yet facinating phrase which has lured many a lad from a good home in the Eastern states and then ruining him for his pains. Our subject was formerly in business in the county-seat, but having the love of the soil born in him he did not fit in exactly with the mercantile life in a city and returned to the farm where he is most successful and happiest, which indeed is not strange to us who love the country and have little use for the cramped and artificial life of the town.

Mr. Painter was born in Randolph county, February 25, 1864. He is a son of James K. and Margaret (Ellis) Painter, and he is one of two children, the other being Charles F. Painter, a carpenter and builder of Hartford City, Indiana; he married Lina Cox, and they have two children, Clarence and Harold ; Cecil O. died when thirteen months old.

James K. Painter, the father, was a native of Ohio where he spent his boyhood years and received a common school education. When a young man he came to Monroe township, Randolph county, Indiana ^nd here finally bought a farm, devoting his life to agricultural pursuits, although he was a mechanic by profession which he followed in early life for some time. He moved to Michigan but did not remain long in the Wolverine state, coming back to Randolph county and bought a farm in Franklin township, where he continued to reside until his death at the age of fifty-two years. The mother of our subject came from Perinsylvania, and the grandmother from England, having been abducted when a child, according to the tradition of her family. The parents of our subject were both of English descent. The mother is living in Ridgeville, Indiana at this writing. After the death of the father of our subject she married Rev. Thomas Addington, a minister in the Christian church.

Ollie M. Painter grew to manhood on the farm and assisted his father with the general farm work when a boy, and he received his education in the common schools of his locality. On October 24, 1887 he married Rosa B. Burton, a daughter of David Burton, a millwright by profession, but who is

To Mr. and Mrs. Painter one child has been born, Hermieone Goldie, whose birth occurred December 21, 1888; she received a good education in the local schools and married T. E. Driver, of Tampa, Florida.

]\Ir. Painter engaged in the shoe business at Winchester a short time, and although he was building up a good trade, he longed to get back to the soil and purchased a fine farm not far from Winchester. He lived on tne homestead thirty-five years, and has lived on his present farm ten years. He carries on general farming and stock raising on a large scale, and he has a cozy home and good outbuildings. He takes a delight in keeping everything about his place in ship-shape.

Daniel Bragg

The gentleman to a review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the favorably known and representative citizens of Randolph county. ^Ir. Bragg has, by his indomitable energy and enterprise, contributed to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community during the course of an honorable career and he has ascended through his individual methods from the bottom of the ladder to a place of importance in his locality, being a man of decided progressive ideas, and ever known as a man of unswerving industry, sound judgment and honesty of purpose.

Daniel Bragg was born in Grant county, Indiana, May 11, 1858. He is a son of \\"esley and 'Slary E. (Aliller) Bragg and was one of twelve children, nine of whom survive, namely : Daniel, of this review, is the eldest ; Austin, a farmer of Ward township, married Delia Sarff, and to them nine children were born, six of whom survive : Lewis, a farmer of \\'ard township, married Jennie Simmons, and they have two children; Samantha, who married James H. AA'arren, a farmer in Ohio, has six children; Ephraim, who is farming in Ohio, married Alary O. Warren; Sarah married Alva Arnold, a farmer; John W., a real estate dealer of AA'inchester, married Alta Peacock, and they have two children; Charles, a farmer of Jackson township, married Ada Craig, and to them six children were born, four of whom are deceased; Theodore, who is engaged in the real estate business with his brother in A\'inchester, married Gertie Craig, and they have six children.

Mr. And Mus. Daxikl Bragg

Wesley Bragg, father of the above named children, was born in Ward townshijD, this county, and here grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools; he has devoted his life successfully to general farming in Randolph and Grant counties. His wife was eleven years old when she came to Grant county, and there she married Mr. Bragg and they established their home there, but later removed to this county, and settled in Ward township. Our subject's paternal grandfather came from Tennessee in an early day and settled in Randolph county, Indiana, spending the rest of his life on a farm two miles north of Saratoga. He was three times married, and he was the father of eight children, all by his first wife; only one of the children survives at this writing.

Daniel Bragg grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked when a boy. He received a good common school education. He has been twice married, first, on May 26, 1877, to Rhoda P. Hinkle, by which union the following children were born, namely : Henry D., a farmer near Winchester, married Almeda Gurton, and they have four children, Lola May, Albert, Orin and Pauline; Bessie married Charles Ditmer, a farmer of Arcanum, Ohio, and they have three children, Mildred, Blanch and Naoma; Elsie, of Eaton, Indiana, married Charles Steed, and they have four children, Marvin, Marjorie, Ruth and Jessie D. ; Perrie A., a farmer near Winchester, married Maggie Courtner, and they have four children, Neva, Charlotte, Gladys and Edgar; Delia May married Charles Owens, a farmer near Winchester, and they have three children. Pearl, Roy and Grace; H. E., a railroad man of Chicago, married Glee Collett, and they have one child; Kenneth Newton. The second marriage of Daniel Bragg, of this sketch, was to Mary (Adamson) Evans on June i, 1904. She was born in Randolph county, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Ira. Adamson, a farmer of White River township and a highly respected citizen. This second union has been without issue.

Mr. Bragg began farming for himself when a young man and he has continued with ever increasing success, until now he is deserving of a place in the foremost ranks of local agriculturists. He owns a well-kept and finely improved farm of sixty acres, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, and on which stand a neatly furnished residence and large outbuildings. He is a good judge of live stock and keeps a good grade at all seasons. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is influential in local party affairs. He was supervisor of his township for four terms, discharging his duties in a manner that met the hearty approval of all concerned, and doing a great deal toward the general improvement of the township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern ^^'oodmen, being a charter member of the latter. He belongs to the United Brethren church at Saratoga, in which he is active. He is popular in his community and a pleasant gentleman to meet.

Emanuel Zimmerman

Another of the enterprising farmers and public-spirited citizens of Randolph county who hails from the old Buckeye state and whom we take a delight in giving special notice in this volume is Emanuel Zimmerman, of Green township. He is a man who would have succeeded at his chosen life work in whatever locality he might have selected in view of the fact that he is a hard and persistent worker, a man of sound judgment and quick mind. He has never been content to live along the line of least resistance, but has tried in every possible manner to improve existing conditions, studying the soil, various fertilizers, seeds, climatic conditions and everything, in short, that he felt was necessary to insure a large measure of success as a general agriculturist.

Mr. Zimmerman was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 6, 1857. He is a son of Emanuel and Anna Elizabeth (Wise) Zimmerman, who were born and educated in Alsace-Lorraine and married there, and from that country came to Montgomery county, Ohio, later moving to Darke county, Ohio, and then to Randolph county, Indiana, when our subject was young and here he grew up and received a common school education, although he was not able to get any schooling after his twelfth year. He remained under his parental roof tree and assisted with the general work on the farm until reaching his majority.

On November 28, 1871, Mr. Zimmerman married Phoebe J. Gantz, whose father, James Gantz, was born in Germany where he spent his boyhood and received his education, and when a young man he left the Fatherland and emigrated to the United States, locating in Virginia. His wife, Elizabeth Ann French, was a native of New Jersey.. They finally removed to Indiana and established their future home.

Six children were born to Emanuel Zimmerman and wife, three sons and three daughters, namely: Anna E. married Garfield Carter, a farmer of Green township, and they have two daughters, Mildred Loretta and Olive Lucille ; Delpha, a school teacher, lives at home ; Everett ,Edward is super- intendent of the Farmland schools; Harrison Joseph is cost accountant and secretary of the Muncie Wheel & Jobbing Company, which is the largest concern of its kind in the world; Dorsie Etta, born September 5, 1893, is at home; John Arthur, born November 25, 1896, is at home.

Mr. Zimmerman has devoted his attention to farming all his life and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and is owner of a valuable and well-kept place of one hundred acres in Green township, on which stands a good set of outbuildings and where may be seen an excellent grade of livestock.

Mr. Zimmerman attends and supports the Methodist Protestant church. Politically, he is a Republican and has been active in local party afifairs. He has been township trustee for a period of six years, proving to be a most faithful and able public servant. Green township is indeed fortunate in having a man for this office with the business capacity of Mr. Zimmerman. He has done much for the township since he became trustee, among the notable things being the erection of the Central school, the finest in the state of Indiana for the expense incurred. This he accomplished with the aid of his advisory board which consisted of Jas. H. Moore, now deceased, J. W. St. John and George Wise, Jr. He is a most popular public servant and has the good will and confidence of all the people, irrespective of party alignment. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Red Men.

Arthur S. Slonaker

Among the thrifty and painstaking farmers and stock raisers of the vicinity of Farmland, Randolph county none are deserving of specific mention more than Arthur S. Slonaker, as he has one of the best kept, most productive and valuable farms in Monroe township. It has been his persistent work and good management that has made it so, for he is a man who has never depended upon others to do what he should do for himself, and he is not only a good farmer but a citizen in whom those who he has dealings with repose the utmost confidence, since he is unquestionably honest, charitable and neighborly.

Mr. Slonaker was born on March 27, 1864, in Randolph county. He is a son of Adam and Nancy (Morris) Slonaker. Adam Slonaker was born in what is now Hampshire county. West Virginia, in 1824, and when but an infant lost his father, the mother later marrying William Parish, and they settled in Frederick county, Virginia, where both spent the rest of their lives. When ten years old Adam began working out on a farm, which he continued to do until reaching his majority- Two years later he came to Ohio, in the fall of 1848 and continued working at farm work. In 1851 he married Nancy Morris, who was born in Highland, county, Ohio, October i, 1826, a daughter of Isaac and Maria (Cooper) Morris. Adam Slonaker resided in Highland county, Ohio, six years, and in 1855 came to Monroe township, Randolph county, Indiana, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on which he resided until 1864, when he removed to a farm just east of Farmland, buying one hundred and eighty-eight acres and here spent the rest of his active life, dying in Farmland, November 26, 1899. The farm he owned then is now occupied by our subject. In politics he was a Republican. He was county commissioner for two terms and was trustee of his township for two terms. His father was a native of Holland. Nancy Morris, mother ©f our subject, is still living, making her home in Oregon. Her grandmother lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years.

To Adam Slonaker and wife eight children were born, namely: Alice v., married diaries W. Paris, formerly superintendent of schools of Farmland; they now live in California, and have twelve children: William N. died in early childhood; Julia Emily died when three years old; Anna Marion died in infancy; Cornelia B., who lives in Mankato, Minnesota, married John A. Hancock, superintendent of schools, and they have two children, one having died; Charlotte E., who lives in the Hood River valley, Oregon, married James H. Jeffrey, a fruit grower, formerly of New Castle, Indiana ; Arthur S., of this review; James Rowland is a professor in Leland- Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, married Marion Esta Stratton, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and they have three children.

Arthur S. Slonaker was reared on the home farm and received his education in the public schools. On September 29, 1885, he married Nettie Gray, of Farmland, a daughter of Nathan E. Gray, who was a furniture dealer in that town for some time, later making his home in Dayton, Ohio; he was a builder and contractor. His family consisted of eight children, four sons and four daughters, there being two pairs of twins. The mother was from Holmes county, Ohio.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Slonaker, namely : Mildred Virginia, a teacher in the Farmland schools, was born April 8, 1887; Myron G., an electrical engineer, was educated at Purdue University; he was born January 24, 1889; Richard L., who lives in Dayton, Ohio, where he has employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born December 28, 1891 ; Mary Lou, born June 5, 1896, is a graduate of Farmland high school.

Our subject has devoted his life successfully to general farming and stock raising. He is now owner of a fine farm of one hundred and eightyeight acres, pleasantly located one-half mile from Farmland, where he carries on farming according to advanced methods and handles an excellent grade of livestock. On his place stands a comfortable residence and good outbuildings.

The name of Samuel Cougill, farmer and banker of Farmland is too well-known to the people of Randolph county to need any introduction by the biographer. He occupies a prominent place in the esteem of the people and is universally respected. He is a worthy representative of one of the excellent old pioneer Hoosier families, .members of which have figured more or less prominently in the affairs of this section of the state for several generations, ever lending such aid as was their just due in futhering any movements having as their object the general upbuilding of their respective communities in a material, civic and moral way. They have not been neglectful of their duty in any of the avenues of life and they have long ranked among the best farmers, being advocates of progressive methods in order to get the largest results from the minimum expenditure of labor. There is much satisfaction in offering biographies of such people in a work of "this nature.

Samuel M. Cougill was born in Wayne county, Indiana, February 15, 1846. He is a son of Robert and Eliza (Tunes) Cougill. He is of Scotch ancestry, seemingly inheriting many of the sterling traits of his forbears, and he is one of a family of nine children, namely: Asbury, deceased, left several children, only two of whom survive, Emily died at the age of sixteen years; George Wiley died in Missouri in 1910, leaving a widow ana seven children, he was both a teacher and minister of the gospel; Samuel M., of this review; Filinda died at the age of fifteen years; Lewis, who is farming in Delaware county, is married and has four children ; Cornelia, who married John Ralston, a carpenter and builder, is deceased, two children surviving; Martha, of Findlay. Ohio, married John Grooms, and they have six children, all boys ; Albert, who conducts a hotel at Portland, married Nora Linstell, first, later married Cora McLaughlin, and he has three children. The father of our subject was three times married; his second wife was May Savage, by whom two sons and one daughter were born; his third wife was a Miss Hunt and to them one child was born, Lloyd.

Robert Cougill, father of our subject, was born in Ohio where he grew to manhood, received his education and married, soon after this event he brought his bride to Indiana. He engaged successfully in school teaching tor a period of twenty-seven years, and three of his sons were school teachers. His father enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812, from Pennsylvania, his native state, but he died in Indiana. Robert Cougill purchased a farm in Randolph county, consisting of two hundred acres. His death occurred in Missouri in 1897, after devoting the latter part of his life to general agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject was one of nine children. Her parents were farmers and they came from Ohio to Indiana in an early day where the future home of the family was established.

Samuel M. Cougill grew to manhood on the home farm and he had- the advantages of a good education and he began life as a school teacher which he followed for eight years, during which his services were in great demand. He has been twice married, first on April 29, 1869 to Eliza Meeks, by whom six children were born, one of whom died in infancy; Thomas Harvey died in 1903, he was a farmer and school teacher, he married Gertrude Bond, and to them one child was born, Thomas Harold; Lona, who married William Tharp, a farmer of Delaware county, has seven children; Robie married Irene Brewington, is a farmer and dairyman, and has two sons ; Arthur lives near Lynn on a farm, married Anna Ross, and they have two daughters and one son; Myrjile married Earl Swander, a farmer and school teacher of Delaware county, and they have two children. Mr. Cougill married for his second wife Emma Learel-Brewington, which union has been without issue. She had three children by her former husband, namely : Glenn, who died when seven years old; Mary and Matilda, twins, born July 31, 1892; the former married John Strong, a farmer near Redkey; Matilda married Walter Hook, a farmer near Albany.

Mr. Cougill began life for himself as a farmer, and he is now owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He was one of the organizers of the Farmland State Bank in i8»7, was one of its first directors and is still one. He was at one time vice-president of this sound and popular institution, and is now president of the same. Its fine prestige and large success has been due for the most part to the management of its directors and cashier. A general banking business is carried on and this bank ranks with the best in the county and northern Indiana.

Fraternally, Mr. Cougill is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he is a Republican, and is loyal in his support of the party. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a liberal supporter of same.

David Edgar Hill

The state of Ohio has sent large numbers of her best and most enterprising citizens into Randolph county, Indiana, where they have carried forward the good work of civilization, reclaimed the rich soil from the wilderness and so skillfully operated the farms that they have retained the original richness and productiveness of soil and they have built cities and towns, erected churches and school-houses and brought this locality up to an equality with any other in the Union. So we owe the old Buckeye state a great debt of gratitude, so great, indeed that we cannot hope to repay it in any way. One of the worthy families she has sent to us is the Hills, of the vicinity of Parker whose residence here of over forty years has been productive of much good to both themselves and the county.

David Edgar Hill, to whose life record we give briefly especial attention here, was born in Highland county, Ohio, May 22, 1869. but practically all of his life has been spent in Randolph county, he having been an infant when brought here by his parents, Benjamin and Sarah (Morris) Hill. He is one of five children, named as follows : Daniel, lumberman, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, married Etta Biser and they have five children : David Edgar, subject of this sketch; Sarah Alice, who became the wife of Oscar Tharp died at the age of thirty-four years; Marion, who is farming on the old homestead, married Belle Hinchman, and they have four children; Elizabeth lives with her parents in the village of Farmland.

Benjamin Hill was born, reared and educated in Ohio and there he and Sarah Morris were married. In 1870, when twenty-six years old, he removed with his family to Indiana, locating in Randolph county where he became a successful general farmer. He is owner of four large and valuable farms. He is now living retired in his pleasant modern home in Farmland, where he and his good wife are held in high esteem by a host of warm friends.

David E. Hill was reared on the old home place where he worked when a boy, and during the winter he attended the district schools in his neighborhood. He has been twice married, first, to Cora Thornburg, by which union five children were born, namely: Paul, Earl, Iris, Marcus and Marie. The wife and mother was called to her rest on November 16, 1905. In July,

1907, Mr. Hill married Eva McGunegill, of Monroe township, Randolph county. She is a daughter of John R. McGunegill and wife. This union has been without issue.

Mr. Hill has devoted his life successfully to general farming and stock raising, and is operating a well-managed and productive farm of three hundred acres.

Politically, Mr. Hill is a Republican. He has served his township as supervisor. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mrs. Mary Adamson-Evans Bragg

Words of praise cannot clearly convey the personal characteristics of the estimable lady whose name forms the caption of this article, for only those who have the good fortune to know her personally can see the true beauty of her character and individual traits, which have been the resultant,' very largely, of an industrious and wholesome life spent in the devotion to duty, a life filled with good deeds to others and led along worthy planes, and as a result of her commendable characteristics she enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances in Randolph county.

Mrs. Mary (Adamson-Evans) Bragg, wife of Daniel Bragg, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume, was born in Randolph county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Ira and Nancy A. (Wilmore) Adamson. Mr. Adamson, a highly respected farmer of White River township, this county, came to this locality when it was little developed and here he became a successful agriculturist, bringing an excellent farm up from the wild state. When the subject of this sketch was nine months old he moved with his family to a farm a half mile west and two miles south of the town of Saratoga, and there Mrs. Bragg grew to womanhood. The place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, only seven acres of which was at that time cleared. The land was originally owned by her maternal grandfather, Willis C. Wilmore, who gave his daughter, Mrs. Nancy A. Adamson, mother of Mrs. Bragg, eighty acres, Mr. Adamson purchasing the additional eighty. But Mr. Adamson was a man of industry and courage and he set to work with a will to clear and place all his land under cultivation, and it was not many years until he had one of the choice farms of the locality and a comfortable home. Jesse Adamson, brother of Mrs. Bragg, is living on the homestead at this writing. He was born and reared there ; in fact, has never lived anywhere else. Ten children were born to Ira Adamson and wife, namely: Willis A. married Angeline Warren, and they live near Saratoga.

Randolph county; Mary, the immediate subject of this review; Sarah is hving in Mason City, IlHnois ; Jesse, who hves on the home farm, married Etta McQraw, and they have one son, Ray ; Mrs, Ahce Leach lives in Muncie, Indiana, and has one child, Jesse Merril; John, deceased, was married and had ty^o children, Paul and Loveday; James is married and has one child, Lcis, and lives with, his family in Westerville, Ohio ; George, who is living in Everett, Washington, is married, but has no children ; Mrs. Hannah HolloAVay, who lives near Lynn, Lidiana, has two children, Ardath and Hubert ; Mrs. Edith Gulp, who lives in Mason Gity, Illinois, has one son, Ray.

Mrs. Bragg spent her girlhood days assisting with the household work on the home farm, and in the winter months she attended the district schools, first attending school in an old log house, a considerable distance from home, the path to which was through such heavily timbered country that her father found it necessary to blaze the trees along the path to keep his children from getting lost while going to and from school. It was known as the "lost school house," from the fact that a United Brethren minister got lost in the wilderness in attempting to go but a half mile to the little log school house, where he intended preaching. The country round about was low, and in the seasons of mud and ice, was difficult to travel over. A large pond came almost up to the door of the school house, and Mrs. Bragg recalls man}' a 'pleasant time spent in skating on this pond during her school days.

Mrs. Bragg remained at home on the farm until her marriage to Dr. G. S. Evans, of Saratoga, this county, and they lived in that town until his death, in 1891, after they had been married six years, and to this union two children were born, Harry A. Evans, who lives at Vancouver, British Columbia, married Maud V. Calliew, who was born in Sussex, England ; Mabelle Evans married Raymond Lasley, and they live on a farm two miles southwest of Winchester, Indiana, and to this union one son has been born. Evan Arnold Lasley.

Dr. Evans was one of the successful doctors of Randolph county and a highly respected citizen. After his death, his widow removed, with her two small children, to Mason City, Illinois, where they resided from September, 1 891, to March, 1901, when they moved back to the old home farm, Mrs. Evans keeping house for her brother and father, after the death of her mother. On June i, 1904, she married Daniel Bragg, and they are living on a farm in this county. This second union has been without issue. Their place, known as the "Revenue farm," is located in pleasant surroundings, six miles north of Winchester.

The grandfather of Mrs. Bragg's mother was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and by virtue of this fact, Mrs. Bragg is now a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her membership bein^ accepted April 18, 1 9 14. Mrs. Bragg's great-grandmother was a Harrison, a sister of President William Henry Harrison.

Mrs. Bragg is known among her friends as a neighborly, hospitable and genial lady, who takes a great pride in her home and the affairs that are of vital interest to the community.

Oliver G. Smith

One of the most conspicuous stock dealers and agriculturists in the present-day history of Randolph county is Oliver G. Smith, of near Farmland, a man actively identified with the business interests of this locality and for many years widely known as one of the representative men of this section of the great Hoosier commonwealth. Equally noted as a citizen whose useful career has conferred credit upon the community and whose marked abilities and stirring qualities have won for him much more than local repute, he holds today distinctive precedence as one of the most progressive and successful men that ever forged his way from an environment none too auspicious and that ever here inaugurated and carried to successful termination large and important undertakings. Strong mental endowment, invincible courage and a determined will, coupled with an honesty of purpose that hestitates at no opposition, have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the business world and a leader of important local enterprises. He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and farseeing in what he undertakes ; and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself has resulted in liberal financial returns, while at the same time he has won and retained the confidence and esteem of all.

Mr. Smith was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 2, 1855. He is a son of Barclay and Sophia (Grove) Smith, and is one of a family of six children, he being the eldest, the others are Everett W., a farmer near Parker, married Nancy Dragoo, and they have four children; Edgar Oscar, a painter of Parker, married Alice Cultice, and they have a son and daughter ; Charley, a machinist of Muncie, has remained single ; Ida M. lives in Columbus, Ohio; Sadie, who lives on the old homestead near Parker, married William Morris, and they have eight children.

there grew to manhood, was educated and married. His death occurred in 1909. The paternal grandfather came from Maryland to Ohio in an early day. The great grandfather was a native of Ireland, from which country he emigrated to America. The mother of our subject was bom in Kentucky, but was reared, educated and married in Ohio. Her death occurred in 1913 at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. The maternal grandfather was a Virginian, a large plantation owner, and at one time he had one hundred and twenty slaves which he finally freed. He removed from Virginia to Kentucky, thence to Ohio, purchasing in the last named state two hundred acres on which he spent the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty years. He was a philanthropist and among his innumerable charitable acts he fed scores of poor people during the Civil War. He was a prosperous farmer and an exceptionally strong business man and influential citizen.

Oliver G. Smith was educated in the common schools and was reared in the Quaker faith, much pains being taken in his early training. On January 26, 1877, he married Mary Etta Wood, a daughter of John F. Wood, of Farmland, whose family consisted of twelve children, eight of whom survive at this writing. To our subject and wife four children have been born, three daughters and one son, namely: Burley Beatrice, born in 1884, married Omar Bennett, a farmer in Randolph county; Stella married H. Hawkins of Farmland and they have two children ; John B. who lives on the home farm, was born in 1892 and has just graduated from Purdue University where he spent four years; Flossie, born in 1894, married Oscar Hubbard, June 26, 1913; Mr. Hubbard is a machinist and lives in Farmland. All the above named children were well reared and all are graduates of the high school at Farmland.

Mr. Smith is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished for he started at the bottom of the ladder, working by the month as a farm hand for seven years. He assisted with the work on his father's farm until he reached his majority. He now owns one of the finest farms in Randolph county, which is modernly improved and under a high state of cultivation. He is one of the most extensive buyers of live stock in northern Indiana or perhaps in the state. , His start was made by buying a pig for which he paid with savings from wages at thirty-five cents a day. Something of the enormous growth of his business in this line of endeavor may be gained from the fact that during the year of 1912 he paid out to the farmers of Randolph county for livestock the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In the spring of 1913 he shipped from the state of Texas to this county forty-one car loads of young cattle, which he prepared for the market on his farm here. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Farmland. Besides buying all kinds of livestock for the market he breeds fancy hogs, Percheron horses and short horn cattle on an extensive scale, and his fine stock always find a ready sale at fancy prices, owing to their superior qualities. Personally he is a good mixer, genial, obliging "and straightforward in all his relations with his fellow men.

Manford Aukerman

The name of Aukerman has been an honored one in Randolph county for forty years, and the gentleman of that name who is the immediate subject of this sketch is richly deserving of the universal respect which is accorded him by all with whom he is acquainted. He is one of the painstaiking and energetic farmers of Jackson township ; still in the fulness of years, he is to be found at the helm of a large and growing agricultural business.

Manford Aukerman was born in German township, Darke county, Ohio, April 25, 1868. He is a son of Daniel Aukerman, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1834, there spent his early life, married Sarah Elizabeth Spencer, who was born in that county, September 5, 1838, a daughter of William and Margaret (Erwin) Spencer. The father of William Spencer was Frank Spencer. Daniel Aukerman finally moved with his family, in 1873, to Randolph county, Indiana, and located on a farm, now owned and occupied by his only child, Manford Aukerman. The father cleared and improved this farm and devoted his life to general farming. His death occurred in 1895. His wife died December 5, 1910. They both spent their last years with our subject. They were excellent people, honest, hard-working and hospitable. Lewis Aukerman, father of Daniel Aukerman, was an early pioneer of Germantown, Darke county, Ohio, and there he spent the rest of his life. He married Elizabeth Brower. The Aukerman family is of German origin.

Manford Aukerman was five years old when he moved with his parents from Ohio to Randolph county, Indiana, and here he grew to manhood on the homestead which he assisted his father to develop from the wilds. He received a common school education. He has remained on the home farm which consists of seventy acres, and is located in the northeastern corner of the county. He has kept the place well improved and well cultivated and has a good set of buildings.

Mr. Aukerman was married May 22, 1887, to Anna Jane Welburn, who was born in Mississinewa township, Darke county, Ohio, February 9, 1864. She is the daughter of George J. and Sarah Ann Welburn, who are still living on a farm in Ohio, of which state they were natives and in which they have always resided. They are of English ancestry.

To Mr. and Mrs. Aukerman the following children have been born : Bessie F., born May 28, 1888, married Wesley Whitacre, a brick mason by trade, and they reside in Chicago; Lewis C, born June 25, 1893, is attending Normal school at Muncie, preparing himself for a teacher; Oliver M., born ;May 28, 1896; Marshall G., born February 28, 1899. These children have received excellent educational advantages.

Mr. Aukerman and his three sons are members of the Mississinewa Valley band, which was organized four years ago and is regarded as one of the leading bands of the county. This family has much natural ability as musicians. Our subject has been leader of the choir in the local United Brethren church for the past fifteen years, and his sons are also members of this choir. He has attended this church since he was five years old or ever since the family came to this locality. His father was a leader in the Zion church choir for many years. Our subject has taught vocal music very successfully for several years. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he is a Democrat. He is a member of the United Brethren church.

A man of unswerving industry, sound judgment and progressive methods is Elijah W. McFarland, farmer of Jackson township, Randolph county. His career may well be studied with profit by the youth whose fortunes are yet matters for future years to determine, for it shows what one may accomplish if one has courage, fortitude and energy, backed by right principles, although starting out under none too favorable an environment.

Mr. McFarland was born on the old homestead in Jackson township, this county, February 29, 1856. He is a son of Nimrod McFarland, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1828, and there he grew to manhood, removing to Randolph county, Indiana, in 1850 and locating in Jackson township where his death occurred in 1856. In 1849 he married Jane Hendrix, a daughter of James Hendrix. She survived her husband thirty-eight years, dying in Darke county, Ohio, in 1894. She was twice married, her last husband being Robert Byram. The subject of this sketch has one brother liv- ing, William A. McFarland, a farmer of Jackson township, and he also has three half-brothers, Thomas W. Byram, Robert F. Byram and Eli M. Byram. The first named lives in Redkey, Indiana, and the' two latter make their homes in Jackson township. The paternal grandfather, William Mc- Farland, was born December 25, 1793. He spent the latter part of his life in Jackson township, this county, and here he laid out the town of Pittsburg. His death occurred in 1888 at the advanced age of ninety-five years, and he was buried in Pittsburg cemetery. His wife, Flora Tebo, was born December 17, 1793, there having been only eight days difference in their ages. They were born five hundred miles apart, he in Ohio and she in Virginia. The maternal grandfather, James Hendrix, was a soldier in the standing army. He disappeared about the year 1838 and nothing further of his whereabouts was ever learned.

Elijah W. McFarland grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked when a boy. He attended the neighboring rural schools in the wintertime. On October 26, 1876, he married Melissa J. Hindsley, who was born in Jackson township, September 10, 1856, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. To our subject and wife three children have been born, namely : Olive A. married Henry Peden and they have two children, Clarence W. and Harold; and they reside on a farm in Jackson township ; Anna P. married Troy Doherty and they are tne parents of five children, Estel, Erma, Orville, Carl and Wilbur; Raymond G., born February 18, 1893, died October 15, 1900.

Mr. McFarland began farming for himself when a young man and this has continued to be his occupation. He occupies the old homestead, consisting of ninety-five acres, which his father purchased in 1850 of Demas Lindley. Our subject began earning his own money when but fourteen years of age, working on a farm at four dollars per month and his board, continuing three years at the same work and same wages, however he spent the last two winters of that period in school at the Lisbon school house, this township. In the spring of 1875 he came into possession of the home place by buying out the other heirs, and in 1895 built the house in which he now resides. He has kept the old farm well improved and well cultivated. He makes a specialty of raising tobacco and the raising and feeding of a good grade of hogs. He takes an abiding pleasure in his home and family. His wife is a daughter of Stephen and Anna Hindsley, ,a record of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Politically, Mr. McFarland is a Democrat, and he was road supervisor for a period of twelve years, during which he built a splendid system of roads in this locality and won the lasting grati- tude of his neighbors. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious matters belongs to the Christian church.

Mr. McFarland's grandson, Clarence W. Peden, who is now fifteen years of age, is a natural musician of rare ability, in fact, is a boy of fine mental equipment, being now in his third year in high shool and is a brilliant student. He is proficient on the violin and clarinet. He will receive every advantage in music and general education and a bright future is predicted for him.

In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of incident and yet in summing up the career of any man the biographer needs touch only those salient points which give the keynote to his character. Thus in settiilg forth the life record of Dr. Frank Arthur Zeller, of Union City, and one of the most capable of the younger general physicians of Randolph county, sufficient will be said to show that all who know him will freely acquiesce in, that he is one of the worthy citizens and representative of a sterling old family.

Dr. Zeller was born in Darke county, Ohio, October ii, 1870. He is a son of Dr. B. F. Zeller, who was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Darke county, Ohio, where he lived many -years and finally came to Randolph county, Indiana, and is now living practically retired in Union City, after a successful and honored career as a physician for over forty years. His father, a native of Pennsylvania also, spent a large portion of his life there, but eventually removed to Ohio where his death occurred. Dr. B. F. Zeller married Emily Bauder, a native of Fort Plain, Montgomery county, New York. These parents have three sons, all practicing physicians of prominence, namely: Dr. Frank A., of this sketch; Dr. Henry Rush, of Akron, Ohio; and Dr. Ward Clifton, of Union City, Indiana.

Dr. Frank A. Zeller spent his boyhood in Ohio and received his preparatory'education in the high school at Greenville, from which he was graduated with the class of 1888. He began studying medicine when but a boy and entered the Ohio Medical University in 1894 and was graduated from that institution in 1898, later taking a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic Institute of New York City, also post-graduate courses in Chicago, Paris and Berlin. He commenced practice as a surgeon in 1898, in the Spanish- American war, and he came to Union City, Indiana, in March, 1899, where he opened an office which he has maintained to the present time, building up the meanwhile a large and lucrative practice and meeting with great success which has placed him in the front rank of his professional brethren. He established an emergency hospital in Union City in 19 12, which was much appreciated by the people here, filling a long-felt want, but which was abandoned after the establishment of the Francis Ford Hospital in 1914.

Dr. Zeller is a member of the Randolph County Medical Society, the Indiana Medical Society and the American Medical Association, also the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America, and is a fellow ot- the College of Surgeons. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is an independent voter in political affairs, and religiously is of the Lutheran faith.

Dr. Zeller was married in March, 1905, to Mabelle Rosenbush, who was born in Union City, Indiana, in 1885, and here grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of John A. Rosenbush, a druggist of Union City.

Isaac M. Borror

Few young men could study the life history of Isaac M. Borror, one of the substantial and progressive citizens of White River township, without experiencing a thrill of ambition well up within his breast, for it shows how one may succeed in the face of great obstacles and at last win the good things, the things worth while which the world has to offer, if one has perseverance, sound common sense, fortitude and is imbued with honest impulses. He started in life at the bottom of the ladder, having arrived in Randolph county not such a long time ago with nothing in the way of material wealth, and he gradually forged to the front as a business man and citizen, becoming one of our most extensive general farmers and stock raisers and feeders and accumulating an ample competency.

Mr. Borror was born September 22, 1863, i" Pendleton county. West Virginia. He is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Carrier) Borror, both natives of West Virginia, where their fatpilies had long resided, which section, however, in their day was known as a part of old Virginia. They were honorable, hard-working people, but not of the thriftier classes. There the parents of our subject grew to maturity and were married and there continued to reside until 1889 when, with their large family, eight sons and three daughters, they left their native state and came to Randolph county, Indiana, and settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles northwest of Winchester. Isaac M., of this review, did not accompany the rest of the family to their new home in Hoosierdom, .remaining in his native state eighteen months after they left there, not following them here until July 4, 1890. When he left West Virginia he had nothing but a dog and gun, which he sold in order to get money to defray, in part, his expenses here. He had a wife and child. They traveled on foot, working a day here and a day there, using the money for food and such articles of clothing as they were compelled to buy. They walked the entire distance from West Virginia. They had nothing with which to begin life when they arrived here. Mr. Borror began working by the month for Sol Dull, living in a log cabin on his farm for a year and a half. He then moved to the farm of Frank Adams, in the same locality, renting a two-hundred acre place. Then went to work in earnest and managed so well that he soon had a fairly good start. He remained on this farm three years, during which time he bought forty acres of timbered land. He did not have any money beyond operating expenses, but he cleared his forty acres and paid for it. When he left the Adams farm he moved to the Gideon Shaw place of two hundred acres, which he rented from Mr. Shaw's widow, for a period of five years, for twenty-five hundred dollars cash rent. In four years he bought one hundred and sixty acres of the Shaw farm and on this he has made his home ever since. He prospered and from time to time purchased other land until he became owner of four hundred and fourteen acres, all of which advanced in value rapidly under his care and management and he has become one of the wealthy men of the county. In connection with his extensive general farming he has been a large stock raiser and feeder, especially of hogs, but has also raised and fed large numbers of cattle and horses. Some years he has fed and sold as high as three thousand hogs in a year. He has a commodious, pleasant home and numerous good outbuildings and his land is under modern improvements and a high state of cultivation.

When a boy Mr. Borror never had any school privileges and he could not read or write until after he came to Randolph county. He has become a well-read man and is an accurate and rapid calculator, in fact, one would think he was an expert accountant if one saw him doing sums in arithmetic or similar work.

Mr. Borror was married September 29, 1888, to Dolly Hedrick, a daughter of Sebual and Mollie (Dean) Hedrick, of Pendleton county. West Vir- (90) ginia. To this union four daughters and three sons have been born, namely : Millard, an automobile inspector of Cleveland, Ohio; Lydia, who married John Gray, of Jay county; Goldie, who married William Alexander7 of Winchester ; Rosie is the wife of Ralph Young, and they live on our subject's farm ; Clarence, Estie and Oliver are all at home.

Politically Mr. Borror is a Republican and has always been very active in public matters, but never an office seeker. He is a strong factor in the local organization and he advocates all movements that have as their object the general upbuilding of his locality, and the proprietor of Grand View Farm is .one of the most influential and highly esteemed men of his township.

Edar Simmons

Every human being either submits or rises above the controlling influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his reputation and point the way along which others may follow with like success. The career of Edar Simmons, one of the most progressive of the younger generation of agriculturists of Jackson township, Randolph county, is one of that class of enterprising citizens whose example is calculated to be an incentive to others, for his efforts have met with a large degree of material success in life's affairs, and he has established a reputation for uprightness and honor.

Mr. Simmons was born in the above named township and county, September 15, 1879. He is a son of William K. Simmons who was born on the old homestead in Jackson township, which is now owned by our subject, August 31, 1 84 1, he being a scion of one of our sterling old pioneer families, and here he grew to manhood, received such educational advantages as the early-day schools afforded, and here married, June 3, 1865, Malinda A. Sell, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 11, 1845. To this union three children were born, Edar, of this review; Dora, born March 29, 1868, married W. P. Noffsinger; and Esta, born November 11, 1871, married Melvin N. Rensberger; they reside at Redcliff, Alberta, Canada, and have one son, Gorman B., born March 27, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. William K. Simmons also took an orphan child to raise, Rachel Fidelia Byrum, who was born June I, 1881 ; they took her when less than two years old and cared for her as their own, and when twenty-two years old, she married on Thanksgiving day, 1903, Noah Onkst, a local engineer of Dayton, Ohio; to them one child has been born, James Taylor Onkst, whose birth occurred July 22, 1908. William K. Simmons has been very successful in a financial way, being a man of industry and good management. He is a stockholder m tne Atlas Bank of Union City, and he has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising with a larger measure of success than falls to the average farmer. He at one time owned two hundred acres of choice farm land, but has sold and divided with his children until now his place consists of sixty acres. He and his wife have taken great pains in rearing their children of whom they may be justly proud. The parents are members of the Dunkard church, in which the father has been an earnest and popular minister for many years. His father, Aaron Simmons, located in Randolph county in 1838, having entered his land in 1837, and was always known as a thrifty and honorable citizen. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, February I, 18 10. In 1840 he married Rebecca Marquis, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, February 2, 1819. They established their home on what is now the Salem Pike, two and one-half miles northwest of Union City, at the old homestead, now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. On this place is a magnificent flowing well of water which W. K. Simmons put down in 1875 and has ever produced an abundance of fine water. The death of Aaron Simmons occurred March 6, 1884, at the age of seventyfour years, his wiciow surviving until November 26, 1895, dying at the age of seventy-six years. The father of Aaron Simmons was Adam Simmons, who was born March 25, 1786, and died June 16, 1866. He married Mary Heckman, who was born July 5, 1786, and died August 14. 1851. Their family consisted of thirteen children, Aaron having been the second son. The father of Adam Simmons was John Simmons, who was born February II, 1761, married, but there is no record of his wife. The old home place mentioned repeatedly above was entered from the government by Aaron Simmons in 1837, and it has been in the possession of the family ever since. The Simmonses are of German descent, with a mixture also of French and Swedish blood. W. K. Marquis, father of Mrs. Rebecca (Marquis) Simmons, and great grandmother of Edar Simmons, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia.

Edar Simmons grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked hard when a boy. He received his education in the public schools of his locality, and when a young man took up general farming which he has followed ever since. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, then commenced for himself, renting land for two years, then purchased a farm of forty acres and remained on the same until 1903 when he exchanged it for the farm he now has, which is known in history as the old Indian boundary farm, consisting of one hundred acres. It is well improved in every respect and has a substantial group of buildings on it, in fact a new residence was recently erected, which is modernly equipped, having hot and cold water appliances, furnace, acetylene lights, in fact, is as aesirable as any city home in its appointments. It is two and one-half miles north of Union City. Mr. Simmons takes a great pleasure in his home and family. He has been a highway superintendent for eight years, during which time he has done much to build good roads in this community. Politically, he is independent and religiously is a member of the German Baptist church.

Mr. Simmons was married February 28, 189 1, to Effie M. Warner, a native of Jackson township, Randolph county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of George W. Warner, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

To Mr. and Mrs. Simmons the following children have been born: Gleemer, born April 19, 1892, was graduated from the local high school, and is farming with his father on the home place; Glade, born July 29, 1897, is attending the Jackson township schools, and is at home with his parents.

One can see the superior results obtained by scientific farming by looking over the splendidly cultivated and well kept farm of Clarence Mullen, in Ward township ; for he has always made an effort to combine brain and brawn in his operations of husbandman, and, while clinging to some of the methods r.^ed by a former generation he has been ready to adopt such new ones as he deemed well adapted to present century conditions, realizing that time brings many changes in farming as well as other things and that one must keep vigilant and studious or be surpassed by his neighbors.

yiv. :\Iullen was born July 9, 1871 on a farm two miles northeast of Lynn, Randolph county. He is a son of Thomas G. and Elmina (Shaw) :\Iullen, the mother a daughter of Gideon Shaw, one of the early pioneers of this locality who became a successful and prominent citizen. He reached an advanced age, dying on July 3, 191 1, honored and respected by all, for his life had been most exemplary and conducive of much good. His good wife preceded him to the grave many years.

Clarence Mullen

in the Winchester high school. He remained at home until his marriage on February 6, 1891'; He was then farming the old home farm in Ward township, four miles north of Winchester, where his parents had moved in 1876 from near Lynn.

Two sons have been born to our subject and wife, Thomas R., born September 6, 1892 ; and Claude D., bom September 3, 1897. The oldest child is a graduate of the Winchester high school, after which he spent one year in Purdue University. He was married December 14, 1912 to Gertrude Hesser, daughter of Frank and Amelia (Weaner) Hesser, of Jackson township, Randolph county. Thomas R. is assisting his father with the work on the home farm, in fact, is now the manager of the place. The youngest son is a student in the high school at Winchester.

After the marriage of Clarence Mullen he continued to work on the home farm, and in due course of time had a good start. In the spring of 1912 he purchased the old homestead, and will hold same in the famil}^ He has kept the land well tilled. Crops properly rotated, fields well fertilized, so that the old place has retained its original fertility of soil and is today one of the best farms in the community. He has other landed interests and property in Winchester. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Ridgeville, Randolph county, and Mr. Mullen was one of the promoters of the Farmers Telephone Company, which was organized in the spring of 1910. He was its first president, which office he held for two years, discharging the duties of the same in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned, in fact, he has been principally responsible for the large success of this company. He is still one of its largest stockholders, and is a director. He is an extensive stock feeder, and, his stock being always of the best grade, brings top prices on the market.

Mr. Mullen has always been a loyal Democrat, active in party affairs, and has frequently been a member of the County Democratic Central Committee, and a frequent delegate to district and state conventions, where he always made his influence felt for the general good of the party and the people: In the general election in the fall of 191 2 he was elected one of the three county commissioners, and took office on January i, 191 3, for a term of three years, and he is proving to be a most faithful and conscientious public servant.

Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Encampment. He and his family belong to the Christian church, and he is a member of the official board of the same, and is teacher in the men's class in the Sunday school, and has long been active in all church and Sunday school work.

Isaac Xewtox Maxgas

The history of Randolph county is not a very old one, comparatively speaking. It is the record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness three-quarters of a century ago and has reached its magnitude of today without other aids than those of industry. The people who redeemed it from its primitive wilds were strong-armed, hardy sons of the soil who hesitated at no difficulty and for whom hardships had little to appall. The ^langas family was of this courageous band, the name having been well known here for many decades, one of the best known of the present generation being Isaac X'ewton Mangas, one of our most progressive and successful general farmers and stock raisers.

;\Ir. INIangas was born in Jackson township, this county, September 12, 1873. He is a son of Emanuel Mangas, who was born in Pennsylvania, August 25, 1826. He attended the common schools of Ohio and Indiana, and on December 20, 1855, he married Catherine Ely, who was born April 12, 1838, which union resulted in the birth of two children, Jacob J., born December 21, 1859, died February 20. 1865; and Sarah B., born April 8, 1865, died August 13th of the same year. The wife and mother passed away also on that date. On October 15, 1868, ^Ir. Mangas married a second time, Caroline L. Castle, who was born July 14, 1834, and to this union two children were born, namely: Oliver M., born August 11, 1869, died January 3, 1873; and Isaac X"., the subject of this sketch, who is the only surviving child. Emanuel Mangas was a prominent citizen here in the early days. He was a successful farmer, and he held the office of township assessor for several terms. He and his wife were members of the Disciple' church. He was a staunch Democrat.

Isaac X'. Mangas grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the rural schools of his township, from which he was graduated. He began working on the homestead early in life and has followed farming all the while. At the time of his father's death in 1897 ^^ took up the work where the elder Mangas had left off, inheriting the old homestead of eighty acres, and he purchased an adjoining eighty in 1907. In 19 1 3 he bought thirty-five acres adjoining, making in all a valuable and productive farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He built a fine home in 1898, and everything about his place denotes good management and thrift, in fact, he is one of the most prosperous young farmers of Jackson township. Politically, he is independent, and religiously he belongs to the Christian church.

Mr. Mangas was married in December, 1898, to Maggie Warner, who was born in Jackson township, Randolph county, July 16, 1878, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of George W. Warner, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

To Mr. and Mrs. Mangas three children have been born, named as follows: Claude Leon, whose birth occurred April 18, 1900; Gorman Nile died when three and one-half years of age; Stanley Warner, born March 14. 1907-

Isaac W. Warren

Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free out-of-door life known to the tiller of the soil has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood, and no truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. Isaac W. Warren one of the influential citizens of Jackson township, Randolph county, was fortunate in being born and reared on the farm and wise in deciding to spend his life tilling the soil. He has been privileged to spend the major portion of his life on the old home place, for all will agree that it is indeed a privilege to remain where we were born and reared, if it happens to be on a good farm, in a favored country like this. He has made a careful study of agricultural methods as they advance with the times and is one of our most progressive farmers.

Mr. Warren was born in Jackson township, this county, February 22, 1859. He is a son of Dolphin and Nancy (Taylor) Warren, a record of whom will be found on another page of this work, hence need not be reproduced here. Suffice it to say that they were among the worthy early families of this community and noted for their thrift and honesty. Here our subject grew to manhood and received a good practical education in the rural schools. Upon reaching manhood he was successfully engaged in operating the home place on which he remained until his father's death in 1907, receiving two-fifths profit of the annual sale of grains and livestock of the place, his father furnishing everything. He managed well and worked hard and laid by a comfortable competence, and is now owner of two valuable and productive farms, one consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Jackson township, and another splendid place of one hundred and four acres in another location, both of which are improved in an up-todate manner and under a high state of cultivation. . He erected modern and substantial buildings on his home place and is well fixed in every way to enjoy life, everything about his farm denoting thrift and good management. Mr. Warren was married in March,^ 1910, to Narcissus Sell, who was born in Jackson township, Randolph county, in 1878, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the, common schools. She is a daughter of Jonathan Sell and wife, a highly respected family of this township. Politically, Mr. Warren is a Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for public office.

William Adamson

There has been a very steady increase in the value of producliip per farm in the United States during the past quarter of a century. Not as great an increase as in other lines of industry, perhaps, but in this respect American farmers compare favorably with farmers of other nations. Reliable statistics show that the record by decades is as follows : The average farm produced in 1890 five hundred and thirty-eight dollars; 1900, eight hundred and twenty-two dollars, anrfin 191 o, thirteen hundred and thirty-six dollars. We also show during this period an increase of over two million farms. One of the citizens of West River township, Randolph county, who has progressed during the past thirty years as a general agriculturist is William Adamson, one of our venerable native born citizens, who was born in this township and county, February 5, 1837, and who has thus come down to us from the pioneer days, having lived to note and take part in the wonderful changes here, and he is not only widely known but is respected by all, as a result of his careful and well spent life.

Mr. Adamson is a son of Abraham and Nancy (Botkin) Adamson, very early settlers here, the father having come from Ohio to what is now West River township and entered land from the government, which he cleared and developed into a good farm and here reared his family of eight children, who were named as follows: Ira and Eleanor, both deceased; William, of this sketch ; Susie is deceased ; George is living in West River township ; Ann and Martha are both deceased ; Phoebe, the youngest, is living in West River township. The father, Abraham Adamson, was twice married; his first wife (nee Puckett) died leaving two children, a son and a daughter. The paternal grandfather, John Adamson, came from Kentucky. The death of Abraham

Wiltjam Adamsox

William Adamson grew to manhood on the home farm, and he was educated in the rural district schools. On September 25, 1867, he married Mary Stanley, a daughter of James Stanley, a farmer and merchant. To this union four children were born, namely : Willie Edgar died in infancy ; Carrie married Alden Edwards, a farmer of West River township, and they have one child, Carver; Orrie B., who married Ada Hutchins, is farming on a place adjoining the old homestead; India Myrl married Charles Bales, a farmer in ^Vest River township, and they have one child, Ruby.

Air. Adamson engaged in farming until August 9, 1862, when he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very faithfully for a period of three years, taking part in a number of important battles in the South; in fact, was in every engagement of importance in the western army. He was taken prisoner at Richmond, Kentucky, but was paroled at once. He was in the ixiemorable siege of Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged at Mobile, Alabama, July 5, 1865, after gallantly defending the flag. Returning home soon thereafter he resumed farming, which he has continued successfully to the present time. He pre-empted his farm from the government, the papers being signed by the great name of Andrew Jackson. He has one hundred twenty-four acres, which he has kept well improved and well tilled, and he has a good home and convenient outbuildings, and always keeps a splendid grade of livestock. He is one of the leading farmers of his township. Politically he is a Progressive and is influential in local public afifairs.

James B. Sutton

One of the progressive tillers of the soil in Jackson township, and a representative of a splendid old family of Randolph county is James B. Sutton, formerly in the mercantife business, but whose chief occupation through life has been general farming and stock raising, meeting with encouraging success all along the line, as a result of his perseverance and good management. He believes in doing well whate\er he attempts and in dealing squarely with his fellow men, consequently he enjoys the confidence of all who know him.

Mr. Sutton was born in Jackson township, Randolph county, November 18, 1856. He is a son of Joseph H. Sutton, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, January 26, 1810, and there he spent his boyhood and was married to Martha Johnson. He came with his parents to Randolph county, Indiana, in

1840. His father, Cornelius Sutton, was born in Xew Jersey, June 20, 1780, and he entered in 1847 the farm which is now owned and occupied by James B. Sutton. He was one of the early pioneers of this locality. His wife was Judith Babcock, a native of Ohio. Her death occurred late in the forties. The death of Cornelius Sutton occurred at thp advanced age of eighty-nine years. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, namely : Amos, Joseph H., Thomas, Sampson; Sarah who married Ezekiel Davis; Martha, who married Daniel Coblentz. They are all now deceased. Cornelius Sutton was a native of England, who emigrated to America when young and settled in Xew Jersey, sometime about 1765. He reached the remarkable age of ninety-nine years, dying in Greenbriar county, Virginia, now a part of West Virginia, and was buried there. His wife, a Miss Aplecut, was a native of Xew Jersey. Their family consisted of three sons and four daughters, namely : John, Cornelius, Amos, Hanna married Joseph Davis ; Nellie married William Stevenson; Sarah married Jesse Maxon; Jane married James Davis. The father, Joseph H. Sutton, devoted his life to farming, and his family numbered seventeen children, namely: Elizabeth married .Isaac Hoover; Martha Jane married James Phillips; Jacob was next in order; Cornelius married Xancy E. Huffman, and they had three daughters and one son; Eva L. married A. M. Henderson; L. Ossa is single and is a stenographer; Martha E. married O. B. Taylor; R. H. married Etta Brubeck, a jeweler; Lewis, Thomas, Stephen A.; !Mary married H. A. Bunger; Xancy married M. P. Hinckel; Isaac W. ; and James B., subject of this sketch; four died in infancy.

James B. Sutton grew to manhood on the old homestead and was educated in the schools of Jackson township, and when twenty-one years of age began life for himself, farming the homeplace on the shares. In 1879 he engaged with his brother, Thomas C. Sutton, in the boot and shoe business, in Union City, continuing in that line for five years, and enjoying a very good trade, then sold out and returned to the home farm, buying out the heirs. The place consisted of seventy-eight acres, and he nearly paid for the same raising tobacco, in about ten years. He has kept the place well improved, and in 1904 built a model and attractive residence, the old home having been burned.

Politically, ^Ir. Sutton is a Democrat and he was a member of the advisory board for four years, and cast the deciding vote to bring about the Jackson township graded school, he and James W. Hindsley pushing the matter to a successful issue. He is a member of the Farmers' Co-operative Tobacco Association and belongs to the Christian church.

Air. Sutton was married December 25, 1884 to Nellie D. Johnson, who was born in Brookville, Montgomery county, Ohio, June 21, 1865. She is a daughter of John E. and Fannie Johnson, both of whom died many years ago.

To our subject and wife the following children have been born : Bessie F.-, born May 9, 1886, was graduated from the Jackson township schools, married June 24, 1905, Thomas C. Monks, an engineer of Muncie, Indiana, and they have one child, Cleo; Grace G., born September 3, 1887, was educated in the Jackson township schools and graduated therefrom, married Leroy Kemp, in November, 1906 ; they reside in Dayton, Ohio, and have one child, Arthur W. : Mr. Kemp is employed in an automobile generator factory. Claude J. Sutton, born February 27, 1893, was educated in the local schools and graduated from the same ; he fs a telegraph operator at Dunkirk, Indiana, for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; he has remained unmarried,. Ralph Sutton, who also attended the Jackson township schools, was born November 25, 1902, is at home.

Oliver J. Sutton

One of the most scientific general agriculturists of Jackson township is Oliver J. Sutton, a scion of one of Randolph county's sterling pioneer families, whose honored record he has sought to keep untarnished. He is a studentfarmer, believing that since "the old order changeth" with advancing years, it is up to the tiller of the soil to. study new conditions and labor under improved methods. He also delights in studying nature in her ever varying moods and is a broad-minded, far-seeing gentleman. For many years he was one of our most progressive school teachers and did much the meanwhile to establish a higher system of work in our public schools.

Mr. Sutton was born in Jackson township, this county. May 10, 1873, and here he has been content to spend his life, believing that as good, if not better, opportunities existed right at his own door as anywhere. He is a son of Thomas Sutton, Jr., also born in Jackson township, Randolph county, the date of his birth being April 29, 1849. He was a son of Thomas Sutton. Sr., who was a son of Cornelius Sutton, who was one of the early settlers of this \:ounty, he having entered the farm which our subject now owns from the government in 1837, the grant being signed by President Martin Van Buren, and from that early day to this the Suttons have been well and favorably known in Randolph county, playing a leading part in the general development of the same and ranking among our best citizens in every respect. Here Thomas Sutton, Jr., grew to manhood amid pioneer environment and assisted with the arduous work of developing the home place. He received such educational advantages as the early-day schools afforded and here devoted his life successfully to general farming. He married Martha Auker, a native of Preble county, Ohio, whose death occurred in 1889 at the early age of thirtynine years. The father is still living.

Oliver J. Sutton grew to manhood on the old home place and he received his preparatory education in the rural district schools of Jackson township - the Mt. Holly school, later studied ofle term in the Normal at W'inchester, under Denney, Caldwell and Bowers, then spent one term at the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, also was a student at the National Normal at Lebanon, Ohio. He also spent one year in the Indiana State Normal school at Terre Haute. Thus exceptionally well equipped for his life work he began teaching in the public schools and continued with great success for a period of thirteen years, during which he gave eminent satisfaction wherever he was employed and his services were in great demand. He kept abreast of the times in all that pertained to his chosen vocation and was regarded as both an instructor and entertainer in the school room and was popular with both students and patrons. Finally tiring of the school room he abandoned teaching and turned his attention to farming, in 1904, buying fifty-two acres of the old home place, which he has kept well improved and well cultivated and is making a comfortable living as a general farmer and stock raiser.

Politically, Mr. Sutton is a Democrat, and in 1910 he was elected a member of the advisory board of Jackson township* and when his term expires in 19 14 he will have served four years in this capacity. He rs giving every degree of satisfaction to all concerned and is looking closely after the general good of the township. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously, he is a member of the Disciple church.

Mr. Sutton was married June 28, 1899 to Daisy V. Evans, who was born in Jackson township, this county, 7, 1881, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a daughter of Mahlon O. and Lovina C. Evans, an excellent family of Jackson township. Mrs. Evans was born and reared here and has always lived on the same farm. She was known in her maidenhood as Lovina C. Shire. Mr. Evans has devoted his life to general farming.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sutton one child has been born, Acil Allen Sutton, whose birth occurred July 31, 1901. He is now in his sixth grade and fourth term in school and is making rapid advancement, giving promise of a brilliant scholar.

George A. Ullery

There can be no impropriety in scanning the acts of any man as they affect his pubHc, social and business relations, so in this biographical work will be found mention of worthy citizens of all vocations, and at this juncture we are permitted to offer a resume of the career of George A. Ullery, one of the substantial representatives of the agricultural interests of Randolph county, where he has long maintained his home and where he has won a reputation for honesty, industry and public-spirit.

Mr. Ullery was born, like many other good citizens of this locality, in Darke county, Ohio, October i8, 1855. He is a son of George A. and Elizabeth (Sword) Ullery, the latter still living, making her home with our subject, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Adam Ullery, the paternal grandfather, spent his life on the farm and died in the early seventies in Miami county, Ohio. His wife was Charlotte Ullery. Jonathan Sword, the maternal grandfather, married Hannah Kane, who was born December 28, 1807, and died October 30, 1894.

George A. Ullery was educated in the schools of Adams township, Darke county, Ohio. He was reared by his grandfather, his own father having been killed by a limb falling from a tree while he was working in the woods, which happened just previous to the birth of our subject. This grandfather, Jonathan Sword, died when our subject was seventeen years old, and the lad was left to take charge of the farm, which he operated successfully for a period of seventeen years, then moved to Randolph county, Indiana, and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now resides, also bought eighteen acres near Union Gity. He has been very successful as a general farmer and is also now engaged in a lucrative fire insurance business, representing the German Baptist ^Mutual, of Randolph, Henry and Delaware counties. Mr. Ullery being a director, adjuster and agent of the company, and this, in connection with his general farming makes a handsome annual income for him. He has a well kept and attractive place and always keeps some good livestock.

Politically, Mr. Ullery is a Democrat, and religiously is a staunch member of the German Baptist church. The Ullerys are of German ancestry, but have long been in America, and ha\e been noted for their thrift and honesty wherever they have lived.

Mr. Ullery was married March 6, 1881 to Harriet Miller, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, October 15, 1861, aijd there she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Aaron K. Miller, who died February 9, 1899, after a successful life as farmer in Darke county, Ohio. His wife, Susan E. Miller, died October 14, 1904. To these parents three sons and six daughters were born, namely: Israel B., Noah D., Mary A., John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ella, Anna and Harriet.

The following are Mr. Ullery's brothers and listers : David J., ]Mary J., and these half brothers and sisters, Samuel Wise, \\'illiam Wise, Hanna \\'ise and Martha Wise.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ullery the following children were born: Martha A., born in Darke county, Ohio, February 4, 1882, married Clyde Earl Hinshaw, December 24, 191 1, and they have one child, Ruth Harriet, born in 1912; he is a farmer and lives in Randolph county. Bertha Ellen, second of Mr. Ullery"s children, was born in Darke county, Ohio, March 8, 1886, married Herbert C. Slick in 1909, and they have one child, Crystal Ray, who was born in 1912; Mr. Slick is engaged in farming. \\'ilbert Ray Ullery, born in Randolph county, Indiana, December 11, 1894, lives at home; Laura Thelma, born in this county, August 28, 1896, died September 9, 1908. The above named children received good educational advantages attending the common schools, and Martha finished at the Union City high school, and taught a term in Washington township ; Bertha finished at Xorth ^Manchester College, and taught four terms in Greensfork township. Randolph county, also one term in Jackson township.

Daniel Wesley Brown

Having never been seized Avith the roaming desires that have led many of Randolph county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other states, where they have sought their fortunes, Daniel Wesley Brown, farmer of Jackson township, has been content to remain in his native community and here direct his efforts ; and he has met with encouraging success in his chosen vocation and has at the same time so conducted himself before his fellow men as to gain their respect and confidence. He is a noted breeder of fancy Duroc-Jersey hogs.

Mr. Brown was born in this county, April 26, 1857. He is a son of Joseph Brown, who was born in ^Maryland. After spending his boyhood in the East he came west where he spent the rest of his life, being among the early settlers in Randolph county. Indiana, and here he developed a good farm and died in October, 1901 ; his wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Nancy Harshman, passing to the life beyond February 4, 1895. To these parents were born six sons and two daughters, namely : William S., whose death occurred in February, 1913; ilary A., who married Ira Porter, died in Janu- ary, 1907; Lilly C. married Harvey Haley and they live at Ridgeville ; Abraham, when last heard from, was living in Iowa; Isaac E. died October 13, 1885: Frank is a carpenter in Union City, this county; Albert died in 1895; and Daniel W., of this sketch.

Daniel W. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm, and he received his education in the common scliools. He took up farming when but a boy and has always followed this line of work, commencing business for himself when twenty-five years of age, first buying the twenty acres where he now resides, and on this made good improvements, later buying ten acres more, then bought sixteen acres, finally secured fifty-one and one-half acres additional, and his father left him forty, making him in all one hundred and thirtyseven and one-half acres of fine land, all of which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and is carrying on general farming successfully, also is making a specialty of breeding thoroughbred hogs - Duroc Jerseys, which business he has carried on most successfully for a period of thirty-three years, and is regarded as one of the best hog raisers in the county, his fine stock finding a very ready market, owing to their superior quality. He has a good dwelling and numerous large outbuildings on his place. He has taken many premiums with his fine hogs at the Indiana state fair, at Indianapolis. At the fair of 19 1 3 the following premiums were awarded his exhibits, he having very strong competition by the best breeders of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky : First premium on aged boar, first and third under one year boar, first on under year sow, first on under year herd, first on get of boar, first on produce of sow, champion on under year boar, champion on under year sow ; American specials, first, under year herd ; national special, first on under year herd, and silver trophy on under year herd. Mr. Brown has judged swine four times at the Indiana state fairs of the past, three times at the Ohio state fair, and once at the Kentucky state fair, also once at the International Live Stock Exhibition in Chicago, and many county fairs. No better judge of hogs is to be found in the middle west, and Mr. Brown is widely known among the leading stock men of the county. He and his son raise and sell about seventy-five head of hogs annually for breeding purposes, their shipments going to all parts of the United States and Canada, and one shipment went to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. They are in position to fill orders for their fine stock at all times, at prices and quality to suit the customers. Theirs is all registered stock. While a great deal of their attention is thus claimed by their hogs, they raise large numbers of fine draft horses and carry on a general farming business.

born in Bond county, Illinois, October i8, 1862. She is a daughter of Eli P. Noffsinger, whose death occurred August 6, 1910. Her mother, Mrs. Martha Noffsinger, lives with Dr. Noffsinger in Union City. Mrs. Brown had five brothers and three sisters, one of the brothers being now deceased. The Noffsinger children were named as follows : Henry is a practicing physician at Union City ; Ida, wife of Mr. Brown ; Elizabeth died when six years old ; Noah lives in Union City; Joseph resides in Ohio; Edward died in 1893; Clara Jane died in 1908; Ora A. lives in Ohio.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brown the following children have been born : Glee, born July 13, 1884, was educated at North Manchester, Indiana, married Jessie M. Richer, and they reside in South Whitley, Indiana, where he is practicing dentistry; Joseph E., born July 27, 1887, also educated at North Manchester, is uhmarried, and is at home, being a third partner with his father in the Hvestock and farming business; Vera, born December 28, 1888, a graduate at North Manchester, later spent one term at the State University at Bloomington ; she married Elmer E. Jones, a professor in the University, and they reside in Bloomington. Mr. Brown has no grandchildren. Politically, he is a Democrat, but is no politician preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large livestock and farming business. He is a man whose word is regarded by those who know him as being as good as the bond of most men, and he is a genial, obliging gentleman.

John William Farabee

From sterling old Pennsylvania stock comes John William Farabee, one of the most enterprising farmers of Randolph county, and, like the rest of the good citizens which the old Keystone state has sent within our borders, we have profited by his coming, for he has proven to be not only an enterprising agriculturist and stock man but a public-spirited citizen who is always willing and ready to do his full share in the work of promoting the best interests of his adopted county.

Mr. Farabee was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, October 25, t86s. He is a son of Stacy F. Farabee, who was born in Pennsylvania m 1837, where he spent his earlier years, was educated and married, and from there he moved with his family in 1870 to Darke county, Ohio, locating on a farm on which he remained about eleven years, then came on to Randolph county, Indiana, buying a farm here on which he spent the rest of his life.

dying in 1890. He was a successful farmer and a good man in every respect. In 1 86 1 he married Elizabeth Hickesenbaugh, and to this union eight children were born, John W., of this sketch being the oldest; the others are Frederick, who resides at Fort Wayne; Jane married Thomas Fields, and they live at Saratoga, this county; Eva married Wesley Warren and they also live in Randolph county, on a farm ; James E. is deceased ; Adeline married Arthur North and they live at Traverse City, Michigan, and are engaged in truck farming; Joseph lives in Randolph county; Ella married William H. Reitenhour, and they also reside in this county. The paternal grandfather, Edward Farabee, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and there he engaged in farming, but late in life removed to Ohio, where his death occurred at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife, known in her maidenhood as Catherine Plants, died several years ago.