Washington Township (part 12 of 16)

with about six miles of pipe. It is supplied with gas from a single well, which is con¬ sidered one of the best ever drilled in the Indiana gas belt, and which so far shows no signs of diminution in its flow. The stock in this company has proved to he an excellent investment, the stock having sold at twentyeight dollars for i venty-dollar shares. The company supplies the village and surround¬ ing country with fuel, the well being in the southern part of the village. Dr. McFar¬ land owns a fine farm one mile north of the town.

Politically the Doctor is a Republican and often attends his party conventions, but he has never been an aspirant for office. His party, however, has often honored him by nominating him for different offices without any effort being made on his own part. Idle Doctor was married, December 24. 1875, to Miss Anna McFarland, of Pittsburg, In¬ diana, no relation, though of the same name. She received an excellent education and is a lady of refinement and culture. They have two daughters, viz: Josie hi., wife of Georg'e Barley, of Mill Grove, she having been educated at Taylor University, and Nel¬ lie M., living at home and attending the home school. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mill (drove, he being one of the trustees. Pie is also an instructor in the Sunday school, having a young ladies' Bible class. He is a member of Wabasso Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and has passed all the chairs of the order besides being keeper of wampum for seven years, or ever since the order has been organized. lie has taken the great coun¬ cil degree, thus having taken all there is in the order. The local tribe has about fifty members, and is in an unusually prosperous condition. Dr. McFarland stands high in

George W. Globe

George W. Clore, a practical farmer of Jackson township, was born in Madison county, Virginia, August 14, 1826. lie is a son of Charles and Frances (Snyder) Clore, both of whom were natives of Madi¬ son county, removed to Ohio when he was nine years old, locating in P'ayette county or. a new farm in a new country, and were thus among the earliest of the pioneers of that state. Later they removed to Black¬ ford county, Indiana, and in Jackson town¬ ship Charles Clore became one of the promi¬ nent men. Such was the confidence in him felt by his fellow citizens that they elected him township trustee, which office he held four or five years, and then declined longer to serve. Mr. Clore had entered land in Blackford years before he came into the county to live; still he came early and re¬ mained a resident thereof until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one vears old, and he is well remembered as one of the distinguished characters of the pio¬ neer days.

George W. Clore remained a resident of P'ayette county, Ohio, until lie was twentyone years of age, when he removed to In diana, locating in Randolph county, where he remained about two years and then se¬ cured land in Jay county, near Red Key, which was to some extent improved, though essentially it was a nc' farm. Afterward he decided to go wes. lis being in 1856, but in a few weeks lie c turned to Indiana, locating in. Jackson township, Blackford county, near the village of Trenton. In 1876 he settled on his present farm, then covered over to some extent with woods, though the most valuable timber had been cut away. For his eighty acres he paid one thousand dollars, and he now has nearly all of the eighty acres under cultivation. Later he added twenty acres more, for which lie paid five hundred and fifty dollars. Upon this there was some stave and tie timber standing', as well as many fine hickory trees, which he disposed of to good advantage.

Mr. Clore devotes his farn largely to the growing of grain, and lias it well under¬ drained with twelve-inch tile, which extends to every field, so that he is able to raise ex¬ cellent crops. Mr. Clore is a Bryan Demo¬ crat, but is not particularly active in political work or affairs, preferring to cultivate his farm and the acquaintance of his friends and neighbors in a social way.

Mr. Clore married Frances Racer, who also came from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Clore reared a family of six children, only two of whom are nowT at home, viz: James S. and Marietta, wife of Samuel Bolner, of Jackson township. Mrs. Clore died on the farm, leaving a family of small children. Mr. Clore is one of the substantial citizens of his county, and takes great interest in all mat¬ ters pertaining to the welfare of the com¬ munity, particularly in all educational and industrial a firs. He enjoys the highest regard a 1 confidence of all that know him.

J. C. Kegerreis, one of the best-known citizens of Blackford county, whose postoffice is Hartford City, was born near Fannettsburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. December 13, 1834. His parents were Thomas and Christina (Lambertson) Keger¬ reis, the former of whom was a son of John Kegerreis, of German ancestry, and prob¬ ably born in Pennsylvania. Christina was a granddaughter of A. Balsley, through whose services in the Revolutionary war his widow received a pension from tie govern¬ ment. But little is known of the Lambert¬ son family. The father of J. C. Kegerreis removed to Richland county, Ohio, when lie was two years of age, and in 1846, when the subject of this sketch was thirteen years old, removed to Delaware county, Indiana, and still later to Randolph county, where he died when J. C. w ; seventeen years of age. His widow was left in destitute cir¬ cumstances with seven children to support, and as J. C. was the eldest of the family the responsibility for this support of the family rested largely upon him, a responsibility which he nobly assumed and maintained. By his efforts the family was kept together until he was twenty-two, living on land rented of a neighbor. j He worked out by the month for a couple of years, when he se¬ cured a contract for carrying the mail on the route between Hagerstown, in Wayne coun¬ ty, and Penville or Camden, in Jay county, the distance between the places being fifty miles, he making the round trip once per week. This contract lasted for two years and seven months, expiring in 1858. It was necessary to carry the mails on horseback, as it was impossible to drive over the route, either with a wagon or stage coach. At times and in certain nlaces the logs of the corduroy road floated on the surface of the water, and the horse, a very intelligent ani¬ mal, was accustomed to carefully set his foot on such logs and let them gradually settle before permitting his weight to rest upon them. This contrar brought him in four hundred and fifty dollars per year, and made it comparatively easy for him to support the family. It was secured for him through the influence of the ex-treasurer of Randolph county, whose name w as Reece.

Before the expiration of this contract, in January, 1858, he was married to Miss Mar¬ garet A. Devoff, and all of the family except one were settled in life. Continuing to live on rented land until 1861, in that year he removed to Illinois, and for four years lived on rented land in that state. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company D, One Hun¬ dred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In¬ fantry, with which he served in middle Ten¬ nessee, being located mainly at Nashville doing garrison duty until September of that year, when he was mustered out as first ser¬ geant of his company. He had aided to en¬ list the men and to organize the company, and acted as sergeant during the whole pe¬ riod of his service.

Returning home after being discharged, he removed to Delaware county, Indiana, and there lived on rented land until 1878, when he settled down on his present farm, purchasing a tract of eighty acres, which had upon it a small log cabin and a few acres in cultivation. Of the entire eighty acres Mr. Kegerreis has placed about fifty acres in cultivation and has ditched the en¬ tire tract. Later he sold off forty acres, so that now he owns only about forty acres, all of which is well drained with tile, the extent of which on his land he increased every year until it was completely underlaid.

by a severe winter, yet his success has been very great. At this time he has one and a half acres in peaches, four acres in straw¬ berries, three acres in apples, cherries, plums and other small fruit. Mr. Kegerreis has found this part of the country well adapted tu the culture of plums, and he has exhibited his various fruits at the fairs held by the State Horticultural Society, carrying off the first prize for apples, his best display consi,' ig of nineteen different varieties. He also exhibited twelve varieties of plums, and won the prize given by the Noble County Horticultural Society, th state societ3r not offering a prize for plums.

He has been a member of the State Hor¬ ticultural Society for some y< s, and has served twice as chairman of the County Farmers' Institute. A great amount of in¬ terest. in the growing of fruit has been awak- | ened among the farmers of this section of | tlie country and among the business men of Hartford City, who nearly all contribute to the success of the institutes held by the Farmers' Institute of Blackford county, which annually offers suitable prizes for the best exhibits, and the success of the insti¬ tutes has been unexpectedly satisfactory, the last one held continuing two days, and being - attended by many people who had never be¬ fore taken any interest in the cultivation of fruits. The interest and the success of the institute has come about largely through the labors of Mr. Kegerreis, either directly or indirectly. The gr ing of small fruits in this part of the state has assumed handsome proportions, and the consumption of them has as steadily increased, so much so that whereas in years gone by five bushels of strawberries would serve to glut the market, sixty bushels are now readily disposed of in

Mr. Kegerreis for a time conducted a store at Mill Grove, and engaged in the meat business at Ossier one season. Polit¬ ically he was a Republican until recent years, but now he accepts the Bryan idea of the free coinage of silver at sixteen to one, and he also to some extent looks favorably upon the principles of the Prohibition party.

The first wife of Mr. Kegc eis died Jan¬ uary 26, 1887, having borne fifteen children, thirteen of whom are still living. Those fif¬ teen children were as follows: Hannah A., wife of William A. Thornbury, of Jackson township; He ry Lincoln, of Mill Grove; Catherine M., wife of Elmer E. Buckles, of Mill Grove; Thomas A., a practicing attor¬ ney of Hartford City; Charles F., of Mill Grove; Ulysses G., of Grant county; Samuel W., who died when ten years of age; Lula V., wife of Charles Wentz, of Jackson to 11- ship; Emma E., of Hartford City; Bert E., of Mill Grove; Lillie M., wife of George Ritter, of Licking township; Jacob P., of Mill, Grove; one that died in infancy; Arlie Ray, of Mill Grove, and Ora Clyde, living at home. Mr. Kegerreis has thirty-five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and occasionally his descendants hold a fam¬ ily reunion, all invariably being present, as they all live comparatively near the old home, to which they all love often to return.

Mr. Kegerreis was married, December 6, t88S, to Airs. Elizabeth J. Stevenson, widow of Robert Stevenson, who was a harnessmaker and dealer at Dunkirk. Her maiden name was Payton, and she was a daughter of Samuel, and Mary (Gregory) Payton, the former of whom still lives at Eaton, Indiana, aged eighty-three. Mrs.

Kegerreis has two children, James E. Poage, a harnessmaker of Hartford City, and Sam¬ uel L. Stevenson, now of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Kegerreis are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mill Grove, of which he is a trustee, and in which he has served as class leader for twenty years. Mr. Kegerreis has always been a hard¬ working and industrious man, but occasion¬ ally he "takes a day o(fi" and goes fishing, a sport which he greatly enjoys. He is a man of ability and character and enjoys the respect and confidence of all.

Peter Man Nix

Peter Mannix, of Jackson township, whose postoffice is Mill Grove, is a native of Tipperary county, Ireland, and when about eight years old was brought to the United States, together with a sister, landing at New York. Remaining in that city until he was about sixteen years of age he then started for the West, to "grow up with the country," locating in Illinois and engaging in farm labor. Later he worked on the levee along the Mississippi river and was thus engaged when the war of the Rebellion broke out, having begun on this work in the fall of i860 and being in the southern states when the blockade of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts was declared. Being impressed into the Confederate army, he was placed on picket duty, and while thus engaged in company with another soldier, took "French leave" at night. This was before Richmond, Vir¬ ginia, and as the Union army was but a short distance away it was a comparatively easy matter to make good his escape. Soon after¬ ward he reached Pennsylvania and went to

Pi ttslnirg;, where he worked in a nail fat. . >ry. Again turning his feet toward the West, he reached Indianapolis in 186S, and ther dad his only railroad experience, working < s, the road for two weeks. Then he went to Union City in search of farm work, which he at length found in Randolph county, and where he was married to Sarah Catherine Ensminger, of that county. There he rented a farm, continuing thus until 1 880. when 1 located in Blackford county on his present farm, 'on which there was a small clearing with a little board cabin. By dint of hard and constant labor he gradually increased the amount of cleared land, and ditched the land nearly as fast as it was cleared ; and at the present time has it all well drained and under a high state of cultivation. Upon pur¬ chasing his farm he went into debt somewhat for it, but paid off his notes as fast as they became due. Upon this farm Mr. Mannix carries on general farming and has a most pleasant home with all the conveniences c; modern life.

Mr. Mannix and his wife own one hun¬ dred and twenty-eight acres of land in Ran¬ dolph county, which is the old Wallace home¬ stead." She had been reared by her uncle, Thomas Wallace, who, not having any chil¬ dren, willed her two thousand dollars. This farm Mr. Mannix has since managed as well as his own home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Man¬ nix have a family of eight children, as fol¬ lows : John, living on a farm in Randolph county; William, of Hartford City; Charles, a teamster of Hartford City; Ira, Jane and Oscar, all three living at home ; Dora, wife of Oliver Iloldcroft, of Jackson township, and Effie, living at home.

has made the greatest progress, so great is ! the influence of a good wife on the life of her 1 husband. Formerly Mr. Mannix was a Re- : publican, hut at the present time he has but j little confidence in that party, and Ins atuba- ! tions are with the Democratic party. He is j a man of energy and industry, and devotes most of his attention to the management of j his private affairs.

Charles Wesley Barr

Charles Wesley Barr, of Jackson town- | ship, whose postoffice address is Hartford S City, a successful teacher and farmer, was born on the farm where he now lives, July 23, 1867. He is a son of Henry and Emma (As! baugh) Barr, the former of whom was born in Richland county. Ohio, and was taken by his parents, when a child to Fair- | field county, of the same state. His father was John Barr, and his mother Martha Hemphill, both from Pennsylvania. Emma Ashbaugh was a daughter of Frederick and Mary Elizabeth (Musser) Ashbaugh, the former of whom came from Pennsylvania, the latter from Maryland. They were brought to Ohio by their respective parents and were married in Fairfield county, thus being am< g the pioneers of that state. Mr. Ashbaugh was a soldier in the war of 1812- 1815. serving his country faithfully.

Henry Bari served for a time in the Union army during the latter part of the war of the Rebellion, and in 1866 settled on the present farm of the subject of this sketch, which contained eighty acres, about thirtyfive of which was cleared, and there was a log house on the farm. It was about the only farm that had been opened up in this section of the country at that time. Mr. Barr fin¬ ished clearing up the farm and brought it all under cultivation. The last few months of his life he spent at Mill Grove, dying October 31, 1892, when in his sixty-sixth year. His widow still survives, and is living on the old homestead. He and his wife, who were married May 6, 1852, had the following children: Martha Elizabeth, wife of Dr. John Sage, late of Hartford City; Jennie, who married David V ance, of Jackson town¬ ship; Florence Gertrude, wife of Marion Bartlett, of Jackson to', nship; Augusta Mis¬ souri, wife of Edwin Milton Shroyer, of Jackson township, and Charles Wesley, the subject of this sketch. The parents of these children were members of the first Metho¬ dist Episcopal church established in this vi¬ cinity at the Barr school house, and later the}*- went with the class that was established at Mill Grove. Mrs. Barr is the only surviving member of the original class of which for some years her husband was the leader. He was also a trustee of the church at Mill Grove, and gave material assistance to both churches. Politically he was a Repub¬ lican but never sought nor desired official preferment, his own private affairs being his chief concern.

Charles Wesley Barr remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, receiving his primary education at the com¬ mon schools and by private study, and began to teach at a youthful age. After teaching one term, perceiving more clearly than be¬ fore the importance of the work in which he was engaged and the necessity of a more thorough preparation therefor than most teachers make, he attended the Central Nor¬ mal College at Danville, Indiana, and after¬ ward continued to teach for twelve succes¬ sive terms. His first term was taught in Licking township, but all the subsequent ones were taught in Jackson township, four

! of them being in the home school, lie has \ steadily kept himself in the front rank of j good teachers, neglecting nothing calculated | to advance the cause of education which lay ' in his power to accomplish.

Mr. Barr has purchased the interests ! of the several heirs in the old homestead upon which he has erected a large and fine frame residence and has greatly improved the farm by intelligent cultivation and by a thorough system of drainage. lie is engaged mainly in general farming and in the raising of stock. The improvements he has made in the lines mentioned above have brought his farm up to such a high standard that it is excelled by few in the vicinity.

Mr. Barr was married, October 17, 1891, to Miss Hannah Letitia Shrack, a daughter of William M. and M. Barnes Shrack. of Jackson township, in which township she was born and in which township she grad¬ uated from the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have three children, viz. : Ralph | Eernly, Goldie Jeannette and Marcia Anita.

I and he belongs to Wabasso Tribe of the Imj proved Order of Red Men at Mill Grove, j being one of the trustees of the tribe. Po- ; litically he is a Republican, has often been sent as a delegate to his party conventions and takes an active part in every campaign. In every respect Mr. Barr is one of the good citizens of his county and enjoys the con¬ fidence of all that know him.

Alvin Chandler

The subject of this sketch is a wellknown mechanic of Hartford City and a de¬ scendant of an old English family, the Amer¬ ican branch of which is traceable as far back as 1687. fn that year one George Chandler, with his wife Jane and seven children, left their home at Greathodge, Wiltshire, Eng¬ land, and came to America, settling in the wilderness of Pennsylvania. George Chand¬ ler did not live to see the shores of the new world, but died at sea, leaving his widow with the care of seven young children, in the rearing of whom she was afterwards assist¬ ed by her brother-in law. John Chandler, who accompanied the family on their voyage. Subsequently Mrs. Chandler en¬ tered into the marriage relation with Will¬ iam Hawkes, an early pioneer of Pennsyl¬ vania. but of whom little is now known.

The following children were born to George and Jane Chandler : Jane, George, S within, Thomas, William, Charity and Ann. Jane married. Robert Jeffries and lived for many years in C1' aster county, Penn ylvania, where she re; ,.d a family of twelve children. George married, about 1698, Ruth Bezer and became tire father of at least five children. Swithin married after coming to America and settled on the Brandywine, in what is now the state of Delaware, where he died in 1742. He was the father of twelve children, the descendants of whom are still living in various parts of the Keystone state and elsewhere. Thomas married Mary Mankin and located on the Brandywine, adjoin¬ ing his brother Swithin's estate, and for sev¬ eral years represented Chester count)' in the general assembly. William married Ann Bowater and died in the county of Chester in the year 1746. He was the father of ten children, all of whom became well known in their native county. Charity died unmarried. Ann became the wife of Samuel Robbins, of Philadelphia, after whose death she married George Jones. She died in the year 1758, leaving four children. It is a noteworthy fact that nearly all the children of these sons and daughters of George and Jane Chandler reared large families and their descendants are at this time scattered over the greater part of the United States. To trace in detail the history of each is found to be an impossible task by reason of breaks in the genealogical record.

Among the numerous descendants was John Chandler, whose father, also John was the son of William Chandler, -fifth in the family of George and Jane Chandler, above mentioned. A son of this John was Spencer Chandler, who reared a family, one of whom \\ as James Chandler.

James Chandler, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Blackford county, Indiana, in 1S47, and here married Frances Ardelia Rice. Mrs. Chandler was born in Albany, New York, and became a resident of Black¬ ford county in 1838, locating at Montpelier, where her death occurred March 13, 1887. She was the daughter of Ira P. and Ardelia (Stevens) Rice, both parents natives of New York state. James Chandler died June 28, 1864, at Montpelier.

Alvin Chandler, whose name introduces this article, is a son of James and Ardelia Chandler, and was born in Harrison town¬ ship, Blackford county, Indiana, October 10, 1854. At the age of four years he began attending a public school taught in a little building on his father's farm, and here he pursued his studies with commendable zeal until his seventeenth year. From sixteen until twenty-five he followed agriculture in his native township, and then abandoned farming and turned his a ention to mechan¬ ical pursuits. Purchasing a complete set of blacksmith tools and apparatus, he began

After Mr. Binderman left his employ Mr. Chandler secured the services of another expert workman, under whose instructions the shop was successfully conducted until he thoroughly mastered every detail of the trade. His first shop was located on Walnut street, Hartford City, and later lie erected the building lie now occupies, where is carried on an extensive blacksmithing business, wagon making, general repairing and all kinds of work in these lines of mechanics.

For a number of years Mr. Chandler has carried on a large and lucrative business and his shops are the most extensive of the kind in the city. He has pursued his calling with an intelligence that in time placed him in the front rank of skillful workmen and his services are in great demand in all mechan¬ ics requiring the knowledge and operations of an expert.

Mr. Chandler's long residence in Black¬ ford county, together with his integrity of purpose, has brought him to the favorable notice of the people, and no one occupies a more commendable station in the public es¬ teem. His ancestors for many generations were noted for sterling qualities and high morality and in his character are blended the same traits, which are universally recog¬ nized as essential to a vigorous type of man¬ hood and high order of citizenship. His life has always been above reproach and "to do unto others as he would be done by" has been the controlling principle of his daily conduct.

ruary, 1(856. She is the daughter of Henry P. and Emma (Bruce) Rowe, vand has borne her husband the following children: Edith, Jay, Jennie R., Ruth, William and Mary, all of whom are living at this time (1900).

G. W. Holdcroft, of Jackson township, was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, on the Ohio river, April 5, 1822. His parents were John and Rachel (Newkirk) Hold¬ croft. the former of whom served in the war of 1812-15), in the American army, in Ohio and Indiana, and was at Fort Wayne and Fort Meigs. Flis period of service extended all through the war, a portion of the time in the infantry and later in the cavalry, called the dragoons. Idis father, Richard Hold¬ croft, came from Pennsylvania, having lived there on a portion of the grant made to Will¬ iam Penn.

G. W. Holdcroft married in Switzerland county and early in life learned the cooper's trade, at 'which he continued to labor for thirty years, beginning when thirteen years old to learn the trade and working for wages from the tin!', he was fifteen years old, his wages going to support his mother. He did not set himself up in business, preferring to work as a journeyman. Having lived in Brown county eleven and a half years he then, in 1874, started for Kansas, but while cn route the grasshoppers began their rava¬ ges in that state and when near Springfield, Illinois, he determined to return to Indiana, and in October of that year located on h. ate farm, which contained one hundred and twenty acres, all covered with woods; how- ever the most valuable timber had been cut away. For the one hundred and twenty acres he paid one thousand five hundred dollars. ' immediately erected a round-log house and set himself to work to improve and pay for j the farm. After two years' labor, having | succeeded in fencing the farm and paying i half what he originally owned, lie offered it back to the person of whom he had purchased for the purpose of securing his money in re¬ turn; but the seller refused to accept the proposition. Mrs. JLIoldcroft was quite ill and he was very much discouraged with the prospect, and desired nothing so much as to get away from the farm, lie had reached i the point where he was willing to give up all he had, even to surrendering the farm for the notes held against him; but his son in¬ sisted on his remaining. As nothing else land, or rather the twenty-two acres he had cleared, and after this he raised a crop, the first he had raised. Previously his time ap¬ peared to have been wasted except so far as he had made a living for his family; but now the tide began to change. The third year after ditching the twenty-two acres he raised a fair crop of wheat - thirty bushels to the acre - and that season he planted fifteen acres of corn. Since then he has never failed to raise a crop. His first ditch was constructed of slabs and he carried out this plan of ditch¬ ing as 'fast as he cleared his land. These ditches were so substantial that they lasted until within a few years of the present time, when some eight > r ten of them were re¬ placed with tile. At length he had eightycwo acres in an excellent state of cultivation all cleared and tiled, and he has also erected fine farm buildings including a large and commodious barn, which together with his other improvements give him every needed advantage for successfully carrying on diver¬ sified agriculture. After twenty-five years spent in this way be decided to sell his farm if possible, and at length sold it for forty dol¬ lars per acre, and with a portion of the money received purchased a small place near the old homestead at Mill Grove, which had a vil¬ lage residence attached to it. and in this resi¬ dence he is now living. Having assisted several of his children in unequal amounts he now, having sold his farm, gave to each the difference between what he had given them and two hundred dollars, so that all might share equally from his bounty.

Franklin Holdcroft, of Jackson town¬ ship, whose postoffice address is Mill Grove, was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, October 29, (856. lie was a son of George W. and Mary A. (Bills) Holdcroft, the bi¬ ography of the former of whom is presented above. Franklin Holdcroft was eighteen years of age the day after his father and family reached Blackford county, in 1874, and remained at home until he was twentyfour years of age. He purchased his first farm of seventy-eight acres, going into debt therefor to the amount of one thousand three hundred dollars, in 1885. At the present time he has it all under cultivation, including has it all well tiled and drained, every field being reached by these drains and being in most excellent condition. His farm is de¬ voted to the raising of oats, clover and live stock, and to the feeding of many hogs. Upon this farm he has erected a large and convenient barn, and all his improvements are of the modern kind.

For some five years he was engaged in the timber trade, supplying railroad ties in Blackford and Randolph counties. It was during this period that he bought his farm,

Mr. Holdcroft was married, December 29, 1889, to Miss Emma Ford, a daughter of Andrew J. Ford, of Jackson township, in which township she was born, reared and ed¬ ucated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Holdcroft have the following children : Ernest, Mabel, Wayne. Russell and Guy. Mr. Holdcroft is a Republican in politics and has been at different times a delegate to con¬ vex dons of his party. He is a member of Wabasso Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, at Mill Grove, and while a member of no church yet he is everywhere regarded as an upright and honest citizen, and enjoys the full confidence of all his neighbors and friends.

Andrew J. Ford, of Jackson township, whose postoffice address is Mill Grove, and who is the father of Mrs. Holdcroft, was born in Highland comity, Ohio, July 27, 1838. I11 1852, when he was fourteen years of age, he came to Indiana, locating in Del¬ aware county. He is a son of William and Nancy (Stewart) Ford, he being a native of Virginia and she of Pike county, Ohio. An¬ drew J. remained at home in Delaware coun¬ ty, Indiana, until he was twenty-six years of age and worked on the home farm and on other farms, making ditches, splitting rails, cutting cord wood and performing other similar labor. His present farm he pur¬ chased while it was still in a wild state of nature, paying therefor four hundred and fifty dollars, there being in it forty acres. The valuable timber had to a considerable extent been cleared off the farm, but no im¬ provements had been made. Mr. Ford erected a round-log house, locating on the farm about 1876, and living in the old log house until he erected that in which he now lives. Devoting his time and attention al¬ most exclusively to his farm he has it now all in cultivation and well tiled and drained, and it is now one of the most valuable small farms in the vicinity.

Mr. Ford was married, in Jackson town¬ ship, in 1866, to Miss Jane Clore. a daughter of Charles Wesley and Frances (Snyder) Clore. She was born in Fayette county, Ohio, and when about six years old was brought to Blackford county, Indiana, her parents settling in the eastern part of Jackson township, Mr. Clove becoming one of the most widely known and highly honored cit¬ izens in the county. So strong was he by nature and so steady in his habits that he lived to the great age of eighty-one, dying January 11, 1883. His widow survived him about one year and died at about the same age. Of their family of twelve children,

1 eight are still living, those in Blackford county being John, George, Albert, Jane and Louisa, wife of Benjamin Currant, of Jay county, Indiana; those living in Iowa being Elizabeth Ann, Sanford and Lucy, and those that have died being Charles, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, on the twenti¬ eth anniversary of his birth; one that died in infancy ;\Henry, who died instantly of heart disease, in Paulding county, when fifty years of age, and Mary, wife of B. Rawson, who died when she was about thirty years old.

Andrew J. Ford's parents lived in Black¬ ford county, his father dying there in his seventy-third year, and his mother is still living with him, well preserved, and one of the venerable ladies of the township, in her eighty-ninth year. He and his mother are now the only remaining members of the family in Blackford county. Mr. Ford is a Democrat of the old school, the principles of that party having been born and bred into his very nature, so that he might with¬ out doing violence to language or truth be denominated a "dyed-in-the-wool Demo¬ crat.'' Mr. Ford and his wife have two chil¬ dren : Emma, the wife of Franklin Iloldcroft,' whose biographical sketch is presented above, and John, living at Mill Grove, whose wife was Emma Thorpe. John Ford and his wife have the following children: Walter, Carl and Earl.

George H. Thompson

George H. Thompson, one of the most successful farmers of Jackson township, whose resident is in Hartford City, was born on the homestead settled by his ancestors, April 28, 1849. He 's a son Mathew and Jane (Huffman) Thompson, full reference to whom is made in the biographical sketch of William Thompson, elsewhere published in this work. The boyhood of George H. Thompson was passed on his father's farm, on which he performed such labor as was suited to his years, and while yet young attended the district schools about three months in the year, thus acquiring the rudi¬ ments of a good common-school education and laying the foundation for the develop¬ ment of a sound mind in a sound body, the latter being surely secured by outdoor la¬ bor, too infrequently appreciated at the pres¬ ent day. For reasons that will be fully un¬ derstood by the reader Mr. Thompson re¬ mained at home until he was thirty years of age. His father assisted him in securing eighty acres of land, which was almost wholly in its primitive condition of forest and wild wood, and while still at home he began the improvement of this farm by clear¬ ing a small portion, realizing quite hand¬ somely from the timber thus cut away by selling it in the form of sawed timber. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Becky Bargdil, who died about six months afterward; but while she was living Mr. Thompson built a house on his farm and ex¬ pected soon to remove thereto, when the death of his wife occurred. He was mar¬ ried the second time, September 19, 1878, to Miss Mary Ann Ellingham, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Scotten) Ellingham, of Bluffton, Wells county, Indiana, who was born in Wells county April 8, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Ellingham were both natives of England, but were brought to the United States by their respective parents while they were still children, the parents of each set¬ tling in Ohio. They were married in Hunt¬ ington county, Indiana, soon after which event they settled in. Wells county, where they became prosperous and respected citi¬ zens living on a farm until their deaths, wdiich occurred at Bluffton. Miss Elling¬ ham. like her husband, acquired a good, sound common-school education and is a woman of intelligence and excellent prin¬ ciples.

When Mr. Thompson's second marriage took place he had, as stated above, made a small clearing and erected a house in which to live, but the farm as a whole was yet al¬ most wholly in a state of nature. Both he and his wife took hold of the work before them - to make a good home for themselves and family, and hard w*ork it was for both. Mr. Thompson, being a far-seeing man, had ample teams and stock on his farm, and in the work of clearing and improving the farm made a good showing each year, as well as a good living for his family. Later he added eighty more acres to his land, so that now he has one hundred and sixty acres.

of which one hundred and forty acres are in an excellent state of cultivation and well underdrained with upward of eight miles of tile, some of it of unusually large size and extending to every field. This farm he has devoted largely to the raising of stock, the number kept being limited to its capacity to support them. He keeps about thirty head of steers, feeding this number each year, and to his stock he feeds his grain, selling it in the form of animal flesh, in¬ stead of as raw material, which is now con¬ sidered by the most enlightened and prr ctical farmers as a great and unnecessary waste. This farm is well adapted to the raising of cattle and hogs, and thus used is a profitable piece of property. One of its greatest conveniences is its gas well, which has been in operation for eleven years, and which supplies him with fuel. During later years Mr. Thompson has lived during the winter season in Hartford City.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson consists of a daughter. Olive, attending school in Hartford City. Politically Mr. Thompson is a Republic. , , having cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1872, but he has never sought or desired office or preferment along political lines. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hartford City and are highly esteemed by all their friends and acquaintances as excellent mem¬ bers of the community in which they live. Mr. Thompson is an unusually strong tem¬ perance man and believes in the principles of the Prohibition party, but has so far acted mainly with the Republican party. He is a good citizen, a good man and believes in all movements and enterprises calculated to ad¬ vance the material and moral interests of mankind.

Elisha Cook Lan Dot

Elisha Cook Random one of the most useful and highly honored citizens of Black¬ ford county, now serving his fourth term as the administrator of justice of Jackson town¬ ship, was born in Fairfield, Franklin coun¬ ty, Indiana, May 5. 1846. For nearly half a century has this most highly respected and estimable family been considered among the substantial citizens of the county. Elisha Cook Ran don is a son of Daniel Ran don, who was horn in Butler county, Ohio, and was a son of Elisha Random who was of nished so many estimable and patriotic citi¬ zens to this country; it is not known for certain whether he was born in Scotland or Ireland. He was also one of the gallant number of men born in foreign lands who fought for their adopted country during the last war with Great Britain, and he in a thousand other ways testified his true al¬ legiance to the country of his adoption. As to his original settk nent in Ohio but little is known, e. cept that he became one of the most useful and sturdy citizens of that state. ETpon arriving at manhood's estate Daniel Randon chose for his life companion a lady of most excellent family, who became a use¬ ful helpmeet for a man of his temperament and disposition. She was Matilda Powell, a daughter of James Powell, of Butler coun¬ ty. a native of the state of Maryland, who with his family removed to Indiana when Matilda was nine years of. age. This es¬ timable and venerable lady still survives and lives on the old homestead, where for nearly half a century her life was devoted to her husband and family. Now in her eightyeighth year she still retains, with but little diminution, the vigorous activity of both b- ly and mind that characterized her more, youthful days, and which contributed so much to the great esteem in which she al¬ ways has been and is still held by all who have had or have now the pleasure of her acquaintance.

In early life Daniel Landon became pro¬ ficient as a wheelwright and soon after himarriage removed to Indiana, locating in the thriving city of Fairfield, where for many years he conducted a profitable business in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Being industrious and economical, lie ac¬ cumulated means sufficient to enable him to purchase about three hundred acres of land, of which the present homestead is a part. Forty-eight years ago this portion of Indi¬ ana was for the most part in its primitive condition of wild woods, which were inhab¬ ited as they had been for centuries by wild beasts and still wilder men. But few roads had been opened and those that were fol¬ lowed the circuitous routes altig the sum¬ mits of the ridges in order to avoid the in¬ numerable swamps that then occupied much of the valleys and low lands. Mr. Landon's own land was covered with a heavy growth of forest trees, and a small log house was the only evidence that a white man had ever set his foot upon the soil. This little log house became the home of the family and so remained until Mr. Landon erected the well-remembered brick residence, in which the family lived for many years and in which the most openhanded hospitality was ex¬ tended during the forty-five years remain¬ ing to the life of the honored head of the family, which was terminated by death in April. 1889, lie having attained the ripe age of eighty-two. This ancient landmark has since then been replaced by a pleasant frame dwelling, in which his venerable widow, at¬ tended by her daughter, Fannie R., is pass¬ ing the evening of her days in contempla¬ tion of the many pleasant reminiscences of her life, which has been so fruitful in good works and charitable deeds, and in the en¬ joyment of the company of hosts of admir¬ ing friends.

In company with Andrew Armstrong, Mr. Landon fitted up a saw-mill at Tren¬ ton, the machinery for which he had hauled from Fort Wayne, to which mill he gave a considerable share of his personal attentio- for ten or twelve years. ITe also cleared and cultivated a valuable farm, to which, with the ambition of his youth, he gave per¬ sonal attention to every detail of improve¬ ment, including fencing and draining. Po¬ litically he was imbued with the, sturdy spirit of the old time Jackson Democracy and was not long in attaining a just importance in all the councils of his party, which re¬ peatedly honored him by entrusting to his charge the public business of the township. He served often as trustee and as such was ever active in the advocacy of all those es¬ sential public improvements of which his keen and sound judgment approved and which he fully realized were calculated to advance the best interests of the community. He also served as county commissioner and while a member of that board most of the far reaching improvements were inaugurated that have so far been made. While his per¬ sonal views were in accord with the prin¬ ciples of the Jacksonian Democracy, yet his expression of them was so kindly and con¬ siderate of the feelings of others that he seldom, if ever, gave offense, and many of his most ardent friends and supporters were supporters of the opposite political party. They all felt such confidence in his personal probity and honor that no doubt ever ex- isted in their minds that the county's inter¬ ests would he well served so long- and so far as his voice was influential in their manage¬ ment. Mis liberal views led him to the ac¬ ceptance of the Universalist faith in religion and he held his membership in the Univer¬ salist church at Bluffton. According to others the same right of independent thought and judgment that he claimed for himself, he looked beyond the professions of men and formed his estimate of them by the conduct of their lives as displayed in their daily walk. When the final summons came and when, holding the love and esteem of all who had known him, his life passed away, there went out an expression from almost every home in the county of Blackford that an irrepar¬ able loss had fallen upon the community of his adoption, and it is in his honor that in this work on an enduring page is preserved this unworthy tribute to his memory. It is not possible to rightly estimate the value of such lives as his to the world, but none will now attempt to deny them the honor due for their efforts toward a better and a higher civilization.

The family of Daniel Landon consisted of twelve children, those living at the close of the nineteenth century being as follows: Joseph, a prominent real tate owner and capitalist of Kansas City, Missouri ; Fanny R., a widow' residing with her mother; Lewfis, the leading physician of this section of Blackford county; Sarah, wife of John Porter, of Irvington. Indiana; Ella, wife of William A. Daily, the popular assessor of Blackford county; and Elisha Cook Landon, whose name stands at the head of this mem¬ oir. John Whitcomb Landon gave his life to his country's cause, dying at Estill Springs, Tennessee, at the age of twentyone, while serving in Company K, Eightyfourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Eliza¬ beth died in young womanhood and Addie and tin.- others died in childhood.

The boyhood of Elisha C. Landon was passed upon the farm, he receiving such ed¬ ucation as the neighborhood schools afforded. Having a commendable ambition for the duties of a professional life, he turned his attention to the study of medicine and w hen properly qualified he entered on its practice at Poneto, Indiana, where he practiced with success for about four years. Then he aban¬ doned the profession and returned to the old homestead, assuming its management in conjunction with his father. Since then he has continued to operate the farm and has materially increased the extent of cultivated | land and also the productive capacity of the | farm, having laid more than one thousand ! rods of tile draining, and having in many in¬ stances reclaimed what had been low, wret parcels of land, vdiich are now the most val¬ uable parts of the farm. The evidences of his mature judgment and high intelligence are everywhere visible and he has now' the satisfaction of knowing that few, if any, of the farms in the county excel his in the value of their soil or products.

The general fitness and common sense of Mr. Landon have been so w7ell appre¬ ciated by his fellow7 citizens that they have ; repeatedly chosen him to the important and , influential office of justice of the peace. He uras first elected to this position in 1888 and has since been constantly in office by reelection, and is now serving his fourth term. That no mistake has been made in his selec- | tion to this office is proven by the fact that in not a single instance has a decision of his been reversed in a superior court, evidencing the greatest care in the examination of the statutes, in the weighing of evidence and in the exercise of common sense and the sense of right and justice. While a Democrat in party allegiance, he is generally found sit¬ ting in the party councils, and his sound judgment is universally recognized by the other leaders of his party.

Mr. Landon was married, February 27, 1867. to Miss Lydia Anderson, daughter of John K. anu Sarah Anderson, who was born in Ohio and who was brought to Indiana while an infant, her parents settling in Black¬ ford county. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Landon consists of three children, viz. : Lewis G., a farmer in St. Francis county, Arkansas; Fanny, wife of Edward Barnes, of Jay county, Indiana; and Sarah, wife of Edward Turk, of Montpelier, Indiana. Few,

Henry Howland

Henry Howland, a prominent farmer of Jackson township, whose postoffice is Ridertown, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, May 10, 1842. He is a son of Eber and Marcha (Sabin) Howland, the former of whom was a native of the same county, and was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth How¬ land, both of whom were of Anglo-Saxon origin and pioneers in the settlement of Ohio. Clinton county was the old home of the fam¬ ily. Marcha Sabin belonged to the old Sabin family of Connecticut. Previous to his marriage to Miss Sabin Eber Howland entered land in Shelby county upon which he made considerable improvements, and to which he removed when Henry Howland, the subject of this sketch, was about six

When Henry Ilowland was fifteen years old he returned to Clinton county, Ohio, where, on January 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer j Infantry, in which he served his country in - the southern and western states. As a mem¬ ber of the Army of the Tennessee he lay in the trenches in the rear of Vicksburg, dur¬ ing General Grant's siege of that rebel stronghold, for forty-one days, and was there at the time of the surrender, after which he went to New Orleans and to Matagorda, where the soldiers lived in forts built of sand and in holes in the sand on account of wind. Afterward Mr. Howland was sent on the Red river campaign, and was captured at Sabine Cross Roads by General "Dick" Taylor, remaining a prisoner at Tyler.

1 Texas, until he was. exchanged, about eight and a half months later. About two hun¬ dred Union soldiers were captured at Sa¬ bine Cross Roads, the battle being very se¬ vere, and in the prison, which was a stock¬ ade without shelter, there, were about eight thousand prisoners. There wa great deal of sickness in the camp, the ratio, s deal; at to the prisoners being but one-half a pin ,)f meal per day; the result was that many of them had the scurvy and some lost their eye¬ sight. The treatment by the guards was very cruel, though that accorded them by the soldiers whom they fought under Gen¬ eral Taylor was quite the reverse. The bat¬ tle of Sabine Cross Roads was fought by a few Federal soldiers against a very large force of Confederates, the latter of wdiom appreciated the bravery of the men they finally conquered.

Natchez, Mississippi, and participated in General Canby's campaign against Mobile. He was at the storming of Fort Blakely, which occurred on the day of Lee's surren¬ der, soon after which he was sent to Selma, Alabama, and with four others was sent from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, where dispatches were sent in to Smith's Cavalry under a flag of truce, announcing the surrender of Lee. Soon afterward the veteran part of the division in which he was serving was sent to Galveston, Texas, un¬ der General Canby, and the regimi of which he was a member was stationed at Brazos, Texas, and at other points in that state until he was discharged, he being mus¬ tered out of the service in May, 1866, at Columbus, Ohio, after nearly four and a half years' service.

During this long period he participated in thirteen different engagements and was in all the marches and battles in which his regi¬ ment participated, in the meantime rising from the ranks to the position of corporal. His regiment was composed principally of boys and young men, he being now omy fifty-eight years of age, and very few of his age served for so long a period in the army. He is now a pensioner, highly es¬ teemed by all old soldiers, especially by his former captain, of whom he has always been a stanch friend, and he attends most of the reunions of his regiment.

After the close of the war Mr. Howland worked a farm on shares for about six years and then removed to Blackford county, In¬ diana, where he expected to secure land cheaper than could be done in Ohio. In Indiana he received at first thirty dollars per month, working in a saw-mill which stood on a portion of his present farm. Soon he purchased a one-third interest in the mill, which was a saw-mill, .shingle-mill, edger, etc., and later he purchased a half interest, or rather enough more to make his a half interest. The mill did a large busi¬ ness in sawing black walnut, oak and ash trees into lumber. Having been connected with this mill about eight years he purchased a portion of his present farm, of which there was but little cleared and none in cultiva¬ tion, nor was there any drainage. Later he added to that which he owned until now he owns two hundred and seven acres, of which one hundred and eighty acres are in cultiva¬ tion, and upon which there are upward of twenty-five hundred rods of tile drainage. The farm is devoted to grain and grass and the raising of cattle and hogs. Upon it Mr.

1894. The farm is in the gas belt, and Air. Howland has one of the best gas-power water systems in the country, having run¬ ning water in eight different places on the farm. He uses a gas pump by means of the pressure of gas in pipes, which gives him tlie greatest satisfaction, as the gas engine he has had in use six years has not cost one dollar for repairs. It is also very conven¬ ient, as it can be started from the inside of the house as well as from the outside.

Mr. Howland was married February 9, 1873, to Mary Agnes Kesler, a daughter of Adam Kesler, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Miss Kesler was brought to Indiana by her parents when she was but two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Howland have had the following children: Alvin, who lived at home until his death, which occurred when he was twenty- four years of age; Eliza AT, who died when in her fifth year; Myron, who died at the age ol five; Norman, a student, and Mary Alice, a school girl, the latter two living at home.

Politically Mr. Howland was originally an abolitionist, and since that party ceased to exist because of the abolition of slavery, has been a Republican, but lias never sought or desired office. Ilis attention has been given to his private business affairs, which have yielded him a sufficient return, which politics frequently fails to do. lie is a good neighbor, a good citizen and has hosts of friends who value him for his worth.

Aaron Lanning

Aaron Lanning, a prominent citizen of Jackson township, was born on the farm ad¬ joining that on which he now lives, March 1 6, 1852. Pfe is a son of Robert and Mar¬ garet Ann (Kennedy) Lanning, the former of whom was from New Jersey, and the lat¬ ter from Guernsey county, Ohio, in which county they were married. Robert was taken to Guernsey county when yet a small boy by his father, Isaac Lanning. Probably in 1845, with his wife and one child, he re¬ moved from Guernsey county, Ohio, to In¬ diana, locating on the farm upon which he lived for many years, buying it of the origi¬ nal settler, the man who had entered it. At that time there was no house upon it nor timber cut and he had to make roads for miles through the woods. In his part of the county there were but two families, one being that of Alvin Fuller and the other that of Calvin Hundred, the former of whom lived three miles to the northeast and the latter three miles to the southeast. As other settlers came into the country the home of Mr. Lanning became the center of the com¬ munity and a nucleus for all others as they came in. Hunters made it their stopping place, and pioneer preachers radiated there¬ from in all directions on their missions of mercy. His family consisted of himself, wife and one child, and they had simply the necessary utensils for keeping house. He had a one-horse wagon, one horse and two cows, and it may easily be imagined that it i required nerve on the part of both his wife | and himself to remain in a country so thinly j inhabited. His first house consisted of a common log one, with a board roof, the boards split out by himself, and what was then known as a puncheon floor. This was : his home for about thirteen years, when he I removed to a double log house finished with sawed lumber and having small windows. In some way he secured, in company with a relative, Robert H. Lanning, an eighty-acre ; tract of land in the cranberry swamp or j marsh, which lay about four miles to the i north, and it was his crops of cranberries that kept him on his feet, as he often had for his I share from two hundred to three hundred : barrels of cranberries to sell, hauling them j to Farmland and shipping to Cincinnati and , Dayton. This crop was his main dependence j for several years, until the ditching of the ; swamp lands so drained them that the cran- | berry vines were destroyed. He then set i himself to work clearing his farm and soon had it in good condition. When nearly fifty years of age he erected a store building at Mill Grove, the second building of the kind in the place, and in it placed a general stock of goods. It is still occupied as a I store by his son. I Ic followed the business I of a country merchant with sua wss for the 1 next twenty-five years, until his death, on i July 31, 1894, when he was seventy-five years of age. He was well and widely known during the whole of this time, for he had a large patronage among the country people, and he is well remembered by all the older citizens down to the present day. A portion of the time -he kept his store he also acted as postmaster at Mill Grove, and for many ye ws he was a justice of the peace. Ir politics he was one of the old-line Jackson Democrats, and unusually firm and decided in his views; but notwithstanding this he had thousands of friends, for he was of a most obliging and accommodating disposi¬ tion. For the last twenty years of his life he lived in Mill Grove, and survived his wife nine years. She was. a Missionary Baptist, and a there was no Baptist society in the vicinity her house became the center of the Old School Baptists, whose ministers often made it their headquarters. The Lanning school house was first built on Mr. Lanning's land, and it even now is known by that name. Mr. Fanning did a great deal toward securing other settlers for his neigh¬ borhood, and in his travels about the co*. ntry always carried a compass, notwithstand¬ ing which he was often lost, and passed three weeks at a time without looking into another human face.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lanning consisted of the following children: Maria, who died at the age of eight years; Lydia, wife of Winfield S. Mercer, of Albany, In¬ diana; Isaac N., of Mill Grove, an all-around mechanic, and a preacher of the New Light church; Moses W., of Mill Grove; Aaron, the subject of this sketch; William J., a teacher at Mill Grove; Stephen A., a mer¬ chant at Mill Grove; Harriet Esther, who married Ross Peterson and died when thirty years of age, and Mary E., who married Thomas Stanley and died in Blackford coun¬ ty at the age of twenty-six.

spent upon the farm, and he there remained until he was twenty-four years of age, man¬ aging the homestead, which was only about half a mile from the store. February 3, 1875, he married Miss Alfretta Robbins, a daughter of William II. Robbins, of Mill Grove, and afterward spent one year in Mill Grove. Then he took charge of the home farm, which he conducted about eight years, when he purchased the farm, upon which he resided about ten years, or until he became engaged in mercantile pursuits at Mill Grove, purchasing the store at his father's death. This business lie conducted four years with satisfactory results, carrying a general stock of goods, such as was suitable to his trade, and rented his farm during this time. Fail¬ ing health, however, required him to take more outdoor exercise and hence he returned to his farm in 1898, to which he added an¬ other place, known as the Holdcroft farm, and containing one hundred and twentyacres of land.

Mrs. Lanning died December 9, 1896, of typhoid fever, leaving a family of eight children: Bertha Olive, wife of William Mannix, of Hartford City; Mary E., who, together with her sister, Ruth, attends to the household duties; Robert, Goldie, Flattie, Frank and Dorothy, the mother dying at the time of the birth of the latter child. The loss of his wife with so many small children on his hands at first seemed very great, but the elder girls have proved excellent house¬ keepers and his family matters are well con¬ ducted.

Politically Mr. Lanning, formerly a Democrat, is now a Prohibitionist, and lie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which for the past twenty-one years he has been a trustee. He is a member of Wabassa Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men,

Abraham L. Blankenbaker

Abraham Lewis Blankenbaker, one of the most prominent citizens of Jackson town¬ ship, whose postoffice is Mill Grove, was born in Madison county, Virginia, June 8, 1840. His father, Henry Blankenbaker, died in 1843, after which event his mother married A. K. Wayman, with whom she and her family removed in 1851, to Blackford county, Indiana, locating in Jackson town¬ ship, near Dunkirk, or rather near the pres¬ ent site of Dunkirk, for there was no Dun¬ kirk there then, their land being about two miles northwest. Here Mr. Wayman cleared up a farm, the country all around being covered with timber and the conditions be¬ ing anything but encouraging. Still, as Mr. Wayman was by trade a shoemaker, he managed to make a good living, he being the only shoemaker in the vicinity. He still lives on the old homestead with his daughter, the wife of William McDell; and is now past eighty years of age. His wife, the mother of our subject, died on the old homestead about 1875. Abraham L. and his elder brother, Robert Blankenbaker, did most of the clearing and the latter still lives in the vicinity. Abraham lived at home un¬ til lie was twenty-one years old, and on No¬ vember 7, 1861, was married to Miss Mary Gaar, daughter of James and Lurena (Wil¬ hite) Gaar, of Delaware county, and both natives of Madison county, Virginia, they removing to Indiana in 1854, from Vir¬ ginia, where they were acquainted with both the Blankenbaker and Wayman families. They settled a few miles south¬ west of Dunkirk, in Delaware county. Mary Gaar was about twelve years old when she came to Indiana and was but nineteen when married. Her mother is still living on the old homestead at the age of eightytwo, her father having died when about seventy-five.

Abraham Lewis Blankenbaker, after his marriage, settled near the old homestead, his farm being largely wild land, for which he went into debt, having only one hundred and twenty-five dollars with which to make his start in life, in addition to a small sum coming to his wife. At first he erected a little log cabin of round logs, and cleared about twenty acres, in which and upon which they lived until 1868, when he secured his present tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land. During the year 1S78 he pur¬ chased eighty acres of land, paying therefor seven hundred dollars and afterward he pur¬ chased forty acres more for five hundred dol¬ lars. When he began to establish for himself and family a home his farm was covered mainly with small timber, the heat' timber having previously been cut off and it was largely covered with underbrush. Besides the clearing away of the underbrush, which was more tedious work than the cutting of heavy timber would have been, he had to drain the land, involving much more hard work, but whici when done more than paid for the labor involved in making the improvement. At this time he had about one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and seventeen acres cleared and drained with good tile drains, and his farm is in an excellent state of culti¬ vation.

Tie Biographical Record

teen years, when his present residence was erected, and in making all the improvements upon his farm and in the erection of better buildings he was cheerfully and ably assisted by his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenbaker have reared a family of four children: Sarah Frances, wife of William Baker, liv¬ ing one-half mile east of the old homestead, and who has eight children living; Martha Cornelia, wife of John Jed wards, a farmer of Grant county, by whom she has had ten children; Laura Jane, wife of Rollin Wooster, living on part of the old home¬ stead, and having three children, and James Henry, who died of typhoid fever when in his eighteenth year. There are now twentyone grandchildren and two great-grandchil¬ dren. Mrs. Blankenbaker has a picture of five generations of her mother's family, which she prizes very highly, it contains her mother, herself, her daughter, Sarah, her daughter, Clara, wife of James Lutz, of Jackson township and their son, Clarence. All of these are living in Jackson township except the great-great-grandmother, who is in Delaware county, Indiana.

Abraham L. Blankenbaker is a Demo¬ crat in politics, and he and his wife are mem¬ bers of the Union Orthodox Friends church, having become members of that society late in life, and the children also belong to the same church. The family is among the very best in the county and is highly esteemed by all that know them.

Henry W. Garr

near Culpeper Court House, Virginia, Oc¬ tober 15, 1847. He is a son of James W. and Lurcna Garr, who, in 1853, removed from Virginia to Indiana, settling on a new farm, upon which the boyhood of the subject of this sketch was passed and upon which he

On June 17, 1874, he was married in Jackson township to Miss Mary Huffman, a daughter of William and Talitha Huffman, both of whom are now deceased, and the lat¬ ter of whom was a daughter of John Beal. Mr. Beal came from Pennsylvania and set¬ tled in the early days in Blackford county, thus becoming one of its pioneers. The In¬ dians were yet numerous when he arrived and it was amid the wild scenes of the fron¬ tier that the girlhood days of Talitha Beat were passed. Mr. and Mrs. William Huff¬ man were married in Llarrison township, the former having removed to this country when yet a young man, and living with his brotherin-law, Mathew Thompson, whose wife, Jane, was his sister. Mr. Huffman worked in a woolen factory at Highland, in Dela¬ ware county, and also at the Camden fac¬ tory in Jay county for some time and finally settled one-half mile east of where his daugh¬ ter now lives, the old homestead now owned by his daughter, Nancy J. Underwood, of Hartford City. On this farm Mary Huff¬ man was horn February 10, 1856, and it was there that her girlhood was passed. There also she was married and there her parents lived and died, the father January, 6, 1875, at the age of fifty-six, and the mother October 29, 1S77, in the forty-fourth year of her age.

purchased forty acres of lard, upon whichhe lived for a time with Abraham Blankcnhaker and was engaged in clearing his land. Originally this land was covered over with a heavy growth of timber, which he cut into staves, spokes, ties, cord-wood and lumber, realizing considerable money in this wa\ and setting a good example to all who can fol¬ low it in clearing up their farms. To this original forty acres he has added other acres from time to time until at the present time he owns one hundred and nineteen acres of land, over one hundred acres of which is in a high state of cultivation, all of it having been cleared and improved by Mr. Garr. Some of these improvements may be speci¬ fied as a commodious and comfortable house and a large, fine barn, which is conveniently arranged, and the tile drain¬ ing is also worthy of mention, as by this means his farm has been greatly im¬ proved. These numerous and great im¬ provements have not been made without much hard labor, he having during a por¬ tion almost literally worked day and night, and he has been faithfully assisted by his wife, who has always realized that her hus¬ band's success in life is her own, and con¬ tributes to her own happiness, this excel¬ lent farm is devoted by him to the culti¬ vation of a variety of crops and the raising of cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Garr have had twelve chil¬ dren, as follows: Lillie Myrtle, wife of Dent¬ ing G. Print, living at Dunkard Church, two miles west of Hartford City; James Will¬ iam, a teamster of Hartford City; Arminda Maud, who has been blind from childhood and who is a student in the State Institute for the Blind at Indianapolis, where she is considered by the officials one of the most intelligent of their students; she is now twenty-two years of age and is preparing herself for a teach r in a similar institution; Lewis E., living at home on the farm; Cora Belle, a bright young school girl, living at home; W'alter Roscoe, Henry W esley, (her¬ ald Lloyd, Deming, Bernice and May, and in addition to the above a twin brother of Ar¬ minda Maud died in infancy.

Politically Air. Garr is a Democrat and lias served as supervisor of his township. Airs. Garr is a member of the New Light church, and while Air. Garr sustains no church membership, yet he is one of the honest and highly respected members of his community, who has the confidence of all who know him.

Thomas Alarshall Haney, a prominent citizen of Jackson township, whose postoffice is Llartford City, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, June 14, 1853. He is a son of Joseph and Eve (Livingood) Haney, the former of whom was born in Aliami county and was a son of George Haney, a pioneer of the southern part of Ohio, removing thereto from Kentucky, and entering land in the northeastern part of Aliami county. Late in life Joseph Ilaney settled in Shelby county, in which he operated a saw-mill for many years, and in wdiich county he died in 1885.

Thomas Alarshall Haney, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood in Shelbv county, remaining at home on the farm un¬ til he was thirty-five years of age. Soon after attaining his majority he engaged with G. H. Rundle, the proprietor of "Porter's Pain King," traveling from Piqua, Ohio, and continuing in this line of business some fourteen years. He also covered l'reblcand | severed counties in northern Indiana, and continued in this kind of work two years after his marriage, which event occurred in La Grange county, Indiana, November i, 18S6, his wife being Miss Lilly M. Con¬ rad.

In 1888 he located on his present farm in Jackson township, consisting of one hun¬ dred and twenty acres, and nearly all of which is under cultivation, he himself hav¬ ing cleared and improved, one hundred acres. On this farm he has laid about fifteen hun¬ dred rods of tile, draining many ponds and swamps, which low places are now the best land on his farm. This farm he devotes mainly to general farming. Si e 1888 Mr. Haney has acted in connection with the Prohibition party, though he was originally a Democrat. Pic is at present chairman of the county committee, and has often been a del¬ egate to county and district conventions of the party of which he was at one time a mem¬ ber. He has been nominated by the Prohibi¬ tion party for county treasurer, he receiving ninety-five votes out of a total cast in the county of one hundred and seventeen. He and his wife are members of the United j Brethren church, he being a trustee of the | church at Hartford City, as well as of that at Mill Grove. He has been enthusiastic and active in all departments of church work, and has consistently endeavored to follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarine. He is al¬ ways ready to give support to the party and church to which he belongs, having now, as ever, the "courage of his convictions."

Mr. and Mrs. Haney have the following children : Florence, Ethel, Lee W. and Beu¬ lah, all living at home, and all being reared in the way they should go by parents who have their interests at heart. The iamily are ali numbered among the highly esteemed members of the community in which they live and are considered respectable and use¬ ful members of society.

Lucullus G. Knight'

Lucullus G. Knight, editor and proprie¬ tor of the Montpelier Daily and Weekly Herald, also postmaster at Montpelier, is a native of Blackford county, Indiana, born on the 13th of March, 1868, in the town of Mill Grove. His father, A. T. Knight, a retired manufacturer of lumber and drain tile, is also an Indianian, born of English parentage, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Robbins, is descended from German ancestry.

Mr. Knight's early educational training embraced the curriculum of the public schools in Union City and Kendallville, In¬ diana, and later he entered the Hartford City high school from which he graduated in the year 1887. Shortly after leaving school he entered the office of Cantwell & Cantwell, 1 lartford City, and devoted eighteen months to the study of law, being formally admitted to the Blackford county ba: at the expiration of that period. Under the direction of the above able attorneys he made substantial progress in the profession, but after due consideration decided not to engage in the practice, finding a more congenial field for the exercise of his talents in journalism, to which he finally concluded to devote his time and attention.

capacity lie continued until the spring of 1893 when he came to Montpelier and pur¬ chased a half interest in the Herald. He at once assumed entire control of the plant and succeeded in making the Herald one of the best edited papers in the count}'-, his able editorials bringing it to the favorable notice of the public and winning for it a large sub¬ scription list and a liberal advertising pat¬ ronage. Mr. Knight conducted the paper with gratifying results until 1898, at which time hq disposed of the same to S. L. Galvin, under whose management it continued to make its regular visits to patrons until Jan¬ uary of the following year, when the sub¬ ject was again induced to accept the editorial control. Later, March, 1899, he became sole owner and proprietor, and from that date to the present time has personally overseen each issue of the Herald, which has become one of the strong Republican papers of cen¬ tral Indiana.

Mr. Knight is a fluent writer and through the medium of his paper has done much to advance the material interests of Montpelier and mould political sentiment in Blackford county.

With the courage of his convictions, he is fearless in discussing the issues of the day and as a party exponent his influence has been duly recognized and appreciated. The Herald is a neatly printed paper, fully abreast of its contemporaries in all that pertains to typographical art, and its columns are the medium through which everything of local general or political interest is given public¬ ity. Although a young man, Mr. Knight has for a number of years been a potent factor in political circles, and his counsel and advice arc frequently sought by the Republi¬ can management in this part of the county.

! I c 'is a Mason of high standing, belong¬ ing to the Mystic Shrine and the Scottish Rite, and is also an active worker in the I 'ythian brotherhood.

In recognition of his services to the Rej publican party in a number of campaigns, local, state and national, Mr. Knight was appointed, in 1897, postmaster of Mont- ! pelier. the duties of which position he has since discharged in a most praiseworthy manner. He is kind and obliging to all and is recognized alike by political friends and those of the opposition as a capable and pop¬ ular public servant.

Mr. Knight was married in Mo tpelier, July 2 1 , 1.896, to Miss Grace Brannum, a native of Blackford county, and a daughter in Henry C. and Rebecca Brannum, the fa¬ ther a well known lumber dealer of Hartford City. Mrs. Knight was bor. in Montpelier, July 31, 1876, and is the mother of one child, Henry Alfred, whose birth occurred on the 9th day of January, 1899.

Adam Kesler, one of the few remaining of the early pioneers of Blackford county, whose farm is in Jackson township and whose postoffice is Priam, is a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, having been born there March 27, 1825. He is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stum) Kesler, the former of whom was a son of Adam and Mary Kesler, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania in the early days, being among the German pioneers of that state.

sylvania, performed his share of the labor of the farm and obtained such education as the country afforded at the time. On Au¬ gust 28, 1848, when he was twenty-three j years of age, he married Elizabeth (iutchall, also of Perry county, and in the spring of 1853 the couple removed to Indiana, com¬ ing by railroad to Cleveland, Ohio, thence by Lake Erie to Toledo and thence by canal to Fort Wayne. The rest of the way they drove overland. At Fort Wayne they fell in with Thomas Smith, who induced them to settle on his land in Jay county, but during the same year Mr. Ivesler purchased eighty acres of Ins present farm, his brother, Jacob, purchasing the other half of the quarter-sec¬ tion. The price paid fo. the one hundred and sixty acres was six hundred and twentyfive dollars, nearly the whole of which was paid in cash. Much of it was swamp land, with plenty of heavy timber, such as oak, hickory, ash and black walnut and also sugar maple. A great deal of this timber, which would now be exceedingly valuable if standing, he cut, piled the logs into heaps and burned, as was the custom with most of the pioneers, in order to get it out of the way, and of cou.se realized very little if anything for it. In those early days there was a great quantity of all kinds of game in the woods, such as deer, bear and wolves. Mr. Keslcr well remembers the killing of his firs' deer, which he still relates with great gusto. Wolves howled around at night, making music which was far from delight¬ ful. There were numerous ponds and much swampy land in the vicinity, which made the country sickly as a general thing, but notwithstanding this Mr. Keslcr and his fam¬ ily were unusually healthy.

hewed and as the shingles shaved out by himself, was one of the best houses in the vicinity of his home. It was the custom then for each pioneer to assist each of his neighbors to raise their houses and barns and also to clear and log their timber, other¬ wise it would have been difficult if not im¬ possible to do a considerable portion of this i work, and Mr. Kesler was always ready to lend a helping hand.

Since settling here he purcl ed more land, so as to bring his total purchases up to four hundred and eighty acres, much of which he has improved. Ilis present farm consists of one hundred and twentv acres and upon this, as well as upon his other farms, lie has constructed many rods of both open and closed drains. It was Mr. Keslcr that laid the first tile in the neigh¬ borhood and he has always been making im¬ provements. Politically Mr. Kesler is one of the old-fashioned Democrats, having cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk and having voted for every Democratic condidate for tlie presidency. At the present time he is in favor of William J Bryan for the presidency, hoping to see him elected in November, 1900. While he has never been an office seeker, yet he has filled several of the minor township offices.

Mr. Kesler is a member of the Evan¬ gelical Zion Lutheran church at Hartford City, but works in harmony with all denom¬ inations. lie and his wife are the parents of ten children, as follows: Caroline, who mar¬ ried John Wellman, and died at the age of thirty-seven years; kb - Agnes, the wife of Henry Howland, ot Jackson township, Blackford county ;Michael Jacob, whose biog¬ raphy appears elsewhere in this work; Eliza¬ beth Lida, who married Aaron Clouse, and died when thirty-two years of age; Martha

Jcsnc, wife* <>t I,. Barnes, oi Jackson townskip; Emeline, who died when in her sixth vea r ; Sarah A. m, wife of George William living near Hart ford City; David Gideon, a tanner of Jay count}', Indiana; and Alice l-uella, wife of Joseph M. Rook, of lay county, Indiana. Mr. Kesler has thirtvtwo grandchildren and two grcatvTandcbib dren.

1 he eight children that arrived at mature years Mr. Kessler ; isted to start in life for themselves by giving each fourteen hundred dollars and has always been ready to aid them as they might need. He has always settled his affairs according to his own views of right and always satisfactorily to right and justice. Ills children all live within a few miles of the old home, which still re¬ mains the most favored spot for all. to meet, and family gatherings are not few nor far between. Mr. Kesler is one of the sub¬ stantial men of Ins county and is highlv re¬ garded by all who know him.

Mathew McKeiver Thompson, one of the most prominent citizens of Blackford county, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1815. His father, Captain John S. Thompson, was born near Gettys¬ burg, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Jo¬ seph d hompson, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States late in the last century. He was of Scotch- Irish ancestry and a man of energy and decision. John S. Thompson was a captain of militia in Pennsylvania in the days when more atten¬ tion was given to the training of the militia than has been given in recent years, and his I j portrait, showing him in his regimentals, is slid retained as a souvenir in the Thomp¬ son -family, lie married his cousin, .Mar¬ garet Thompson, a daughter of Mathew 1 hompson, a brother of Joseph Thompson,

; her parents bringing her to America when , she was about six years of age. By trade | Captain John S. 1 hompson was a wdieefwright, building spinning wheels, looms, etc. He died in Brooke count}-, Virginia,, in 1836, v ben about sixty years of age, his widow dying in 1858, when she was sixty-seven years of age. His family consisted of four sons and one daughter, viz: Joseph, Mathew McKiever, James, John Graham and Rachel, Mathew McK. being the only surviving son.

Mathew McKeiver Thompson was mar¬ ried in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1840, and m t 84 r he removed to Indiana, bringing v ith him his wile and mother. A few years later his brother, Joseph, located in Allen county, Indiana, and lived there until his death. His sister, Rachel, who married. William Cool, a harnessmaker, came latef and settled in Hartford City, in winch place Mr. Cool followed his trade for several years, and where he is still well remembered by all old settlers. Late in life he and his vile removed to Missouri, where they lived until his death, when the widow with her family removed to Kansas, she dying in Abeline, that state.

Mathew McK. Thompson, as st ted above, is the only surviving member of the family. When he was about twenty years of age be spent one year on the Ohio river at. Shaw's town, about fifteen miles below I ittsburg, now known as Avon, where he was engaged in the building of steamboats. Upon the death of bis father he returned to bis home, where he remained caring for the home and his mother. In 1841, after being married in Guernsey county, Ohio, he located on land which was entered some four years previously by his fathei in-law, who gave eighty acres to his daughter, to which he him¬ self added eighty acres more. At this time the land was in its prim dive condition, covered with fine forest trees. Nothing had been done in the way of clearing or improvement,

nd it was therefore necessary for Mr. i hompsOn to cut his own road lor quite a distance through the woods. A rude log cabin, erected bv himself, of huge logs, with clapboard doors and a puncheon floor and with but one window, served as a home for ! more than twenty years, but which at the time of its erection cost but a few days' la¬ bor. Mr. Thompson helped to cut out and make all the roads in his part of the coun¬ try, the distance between neighbors often being very great. He had but one neighbor within half a. mile and but four families then lived at Trenton, their names being Ezekiel Lavting, Robert Lanin g, William Cortright and James Ransom. To the south and west there was but one settler, Emanuel Fuller, he being about one mile away. Then the woods were full of all kinds of game - bear were still in this vicinity, deer were numerous and wolves were plentiful, the latter doing a great deal of damage by their ravages among the sheep. He spent but little time in hunting, but at once set him¬ self to work clearing up his farm, to which he devoted his time, and now has about one hundred and forty-five acres under a high state of cultivation. This farm has been underlaid with many rods oi tile, and is hence v 11 drained and possesses as a conse¬ quence a more warm and genial soil.

September 5, lSqS, at the old home, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Since then Mr. Thompson has lived with bis son on the old home, place. Mr. Thompson in Ins earlier life was an old-line Whig, his first vote for president of the United States being cast for William Henry Harrison. Since that time he has voted at cverv presi¬ dential election, and for the Whig- or Republican candidates. At the first election which he attended in Blackford county there were cast but eleven votes in the township. Mr. Thompson has served the people as a township trustee and in a few other loc offices, but has never cared for political pre¬ ferment, though he has always been an ar¬ dent Republican since the organization of tli is party, and was one of the most active in its earlier days. He has been and is a thorough believer in its principles and doc¬ trines, and has always been ready to up¬ hold the course of its leading men. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and has been for more than sixty years, his membership being at Sharon church in Delaware county, Indiana. He has had from his earliest boyh< d the confidence of those who have known him and he is now one of the highly esteemed citizens of his county. Mr. Thompson is the oldest living pioneer of his township and now, at the venerable age of eighty-five years, can look back over a long life of usefulness and of honest endeavor to make the world better. His long and active connection with the in¬ terests of the county has earned him that respect and esteem which is universally ac¬ corded him.

His family of seven children lived to mature years and of these two sons and three daughters are still living. One son, John, served during a portion of the war of the Rebellion in the Thirty-fourth Indi¬ ana Volunteer Infantry, hut was discharged therefrom by reason of disability. lie reenlisted in the Nineteenth Indiana Volun¬ teer Infantry, in which he served long enough to bring the entire period of his service up to about three years. In the bat¬ tle of the Wilderness he was wounded in the hip and from exposure his health was quite broken down, so much so that he died February 25, 1883; Mary, wh'o married Jo¬ seph L. Smith, of Guernsey county, Ohio, and later moved to Topeka, Kansas, where she is still living; Rachel, who died in 1863, aged seventeen years; Elizabeth, wife of Moses White Cotton, of Jackson township, and living on an adjoining farm; George H., a farmer of Jackson township; Mar¬ garet, wife of Franklin Cotton, of Rochester, Indiana, and William M., whose biograph¬ ical sketch appears elsew here in these pages.

William M. Thompson

William M. Thompson, a prominent farmer of Jackson township, whose postoffice is Priam, was born April j6, 1853, on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of Mathew? McKeiver and Jane (Huff¬ man) Thompson, fuller mention of whom is made on another page of this work. Dur¬ ing his boyhood and youthful days he re¬ mained at home, receiving such education and religious and moral training as other farm boys received, with a viewr to honorable and useful citizenship. In 1872 he and his brother-in-law, W. F. Cotton, took charge of the homestead, the north eighty acres of which he now owns, his father retaining the other part. Mr. Thompson was married

September 17, 1884, to Miss Letitia Shroyer, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Sea¬ man) Shroyer, of Mill G >ve, where Le¬ titia was born August 21, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have the following children : Mary, Lena, George and Rufus, all of whom are living at home.

The farm upon which Mr. Thompson lives is in fine condition and has been amply tiled at great expense. J t is largely devoted to the raising of grain, though considerable stock is kept upon it. In politics Air. Thompson is a Republican, but he has never had any desire to take any active part in politics. Both he and his wife are mem¬ bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Trenton, he being a member of the board cd trustees and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. Though born and reared in, the woods he never cared to hunt and has never shot an animal or bird in his life. While he lived at home his father allowed him his Saturday afternoons, but he did not spend the time in sport; but in¬ stead was exceedingly fond of reading and keenly alive to the 1 rnefits of education. He is a man of genial nature, fond of all that is elevating in its character, and is es¬ pecially fond of children. His disposition is so kindly that all who know him are his friends.