Washington Township (part 15 of 16)

Retiring to the farm in December, 1894, he resumed the active conduct of the place. The next year he erected the present hand¬ some residence which compares favorably with any country residence in the confines of Blackford county. The Fortner family con¬ sists of two sons, Lawrence and Frank. Of these, the elder became a teacher soon after passing from his 'teens, continuing to teach for some eight years and attaining in this line of work an enviable- reputation as an efficient and capable instructor. He mar¬ ried Miss Maud Mills and they have three children, James. Hazel and Helen. In part¬ nership with his brother he has purchased an eighty-acre farm, near his father, and is now largely devoted to the demands of the same. Frank Fortner is the efficient deputy county auditor, having become recognized among those engaged in the court house as one of the most painstaking and thorough clerks connected with the offices. He was also of considerable repute as a teacher, later acquiring a high standing among business men, having been for some time in a clerical capacity in the Blackford County Bank. William B. Fortner has ever taken an active part in the councils of the Democratic party, being generally seen in the various conven¬ tions of the same. 1 lis first vote was cast lor that grand exponent of Democratic doc¬ trine, Stephen A. Douglas. He was made a Mason in 1861, at Hagerstown, Wayne county, and has his present affiliation with the fraternity at Hartford City. The fra¬ ternal interest has extended to the other members of the family, Mrs. Fortner and son, Frank, being active in the chapter of the Eastern Star at Hartford.

Richard Dick

For nearly half a century has the Dick family been identified with the history of Blackford county, ever holding a high place in the estimation of the public and contrib¬ uting in no mean measure to the develop¬ ment and advancement of the section in which they have lived. One of its repre¬ sentatives who is considered worthy of spe¬ cial mention in a work of this character is Richard Dick, a substantial and reputable citizen of Washington township, where he is the proprietor of a fine and highly im¬ proved farm lying on the Montpelier pike, six miles north of Hartford City. He was born in Morgan county, in what is now West Virginia, on the 15th of September, 1851, and is a son of Uriah and Rosa (Michael) Dick. In T854, when he was three years of age, the family came to Harrison township, Blackford county, three miles west of Montpelier and on the line between the two townships. Uriah Dick became a prosperous and popular citizen, dying on his home farm, March _>6. 1892, in the seventy-seventh year passed to the beyond when he was a lad of twelve, the lady who became his stepmother being Mrs. Sarah jane Kittcrman, who still resides at the old homestead. Of five sons born to Uriah Dick, one died at an early age, three survivors, besides Richard, being John, who owns part of the old home, as does William Alonzo, and Clinton, who re¬ mains with his mother.

Richard's boyhood was not unlike most country lads growing up in close relation¬ ship with the hardest toil. He remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twen¬ ty-seven, in 1877, to Miss Mary Susan Kitterman, his stepsister, though their owri en¬ gagement preceded that of their parents. They were reared in the same neighborhood and a close intimacy had existed for years between the two families. However, when it was realized by the parents that a per¬ manent union was about to be consummat¬ ed, they decided to take no rear position in the procession, but to lead in the matter. The Kitterman homestead being near the Dick residence, it was arranged for Richard to assume its management, which he did, conducting it for four years with satisfac¬ tion to all concerned. In 1881 he secured liis present land, amounting to one hundred and one acres, at that time with but slight improvements.

He has placed fifty-five acres in culti¬ vation, all of which, as a result of a thor¬ ough system of drainage, is well adapted to the production of excellent crops of all kinds of grains usually found in the county. The improvements he has made are of a sub¬ stantial character, the barn, erected in 1890, completing the general plan that he had some years since decided upon. His orchard is one that demands the admiration of all the neighbors.

Being in the productive field of the oil industry, four wells are in active operation, the income from this source being an iniportant feature of his general income.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dick arc, Minnie, wife of William Ford, of Mill Grove; Vernie Myrtle, Charley, Walter Ir¬ vin, Louvica, died in infancy, Harvey Ross, Ennis and Sherman.

Mr. Dick is one of the kind of men wild arejnever inactive in any matter that makes to a better and broader civilization. In pol¬ itics he is a Democrat, though he has not aspired to publicity in connection with public business.

Jesse Bugii

Probably the mention of no name, in Blackford county calls up more pleasant memories among the citizens of to-day, as well as those of a past generation, than that of Barnhart W. Bugh. A record of the prominent families of this section would be justly considered incomplete without full consideration of the one we now take pleas¬ ure in presenting, however inadequately. Its present representatives are recognized as among the most prosperous, enterprising and public-spirited citizens, holding to a high de¬ gree the respect of their fellow men. 1 he representatives of the last generation, who have passed to that bourne whence none re¬ turn, are enshrined in the memories of thou¬ sands, their lives living after them and ex¬ erting a silent influence that is felt in the noblest walks of life.

Barnhart W. Bugh was born in Alle¬ ghany county, Maryland, June 13. an<^ was the son of Jacob and Polly (Engle) Bugh, who were married September 11,

1796. On November 28, 1828, B. \\'., as he was universally known, was married to Hannah Coddington, daughter of Benja¬ min and Elizabeth (Coleman) Coddington, who were pioneers of Ohio.

About 1837 B. W. had ridden from his Ohio home, where his father had settled, on horseback to Indiana in search of a location, and finding suitable land went on to Fort Wayne, where the land office was located, to make the entry, returning by the same means to Ohio. However, he did not come on to settle upon his land until 1848, and even then he was one of the earliest in his immediate neighborhood, which was about four miles north of Hartford, in section 24, of Washington township. Here he had se¬ cured three eighty-acre tracts of laud, upon which stood an old log cabin, into which he moved and which remained the home for about two years, when it was replaced by what became his permanent home so long as he lived on the farm. His impress is in¬ delibly stamped upon this community, as he placed about two-thircls of his own land in cultivation as well as having assisted ma¬ terially in the improvement of the farms of others. Idis moral influence was not less keenly felt, he having taken early steps to¬ ward the organization of a class of Method¬ ists, which was effected in his own home. He remained a Methodist all his life and did much to extend the influence of the church at large, as well as to emphasize its im¬ portance in his own neighborhood. He was no less widely and favorably known in his public life, having served the county for several terms as commissioner.

Idis relations with public men were of the most cordial character, the advice and counsel of no other man being given greater credence or consideration. While he was tinougliout life a Republican, holding tenaciously to the earlier principles of the party and ardent in support of them, his recognition of the rights of others was such that man)- of his warmest friends were of the opposite political faith. During the war he never swerved from the straight line in his support of the Union, two of his sons, by his advice and consent, serving honorably through the struggle.

After devoting a quarter of a century to the making of a first-class farm he re¬ moved to Hartford City, where for about lit teen years the fruits of the efforts of his earlier life were enjoyed amidst his numer¬ ous friends, who found greatest pleasure in frequent conversation with this genial couple, whose later years disclosed to an eminent de¬ gree the ripened culture that comes from a well spent life. For nearly sixty years this venerable couple traveled life's pathway) hand in hand, ever bearing each other's bur¬ dens with a spirit of forbearance and help that cemented them in the closest relation allowed on this sphere of human existence.

The companionship was br'oken when, on the 30th of March, 1887, his spirit answered the summons to "come up higher." The widow survived for some three years, when, on January 23, 1890, she, too, passed on to rejoin him with whom her own life was so closely interwoven. The strength of his personality was shown in the provisions for the disposal of his estate, which were that at his wddow's death his sons should select one man, the daughters a second, and these chosen a third to act as a commission to divide the property equally among the heirs.

This family was one of those so frej quently seen in the earlier days, but which 1 are so rare under the conditions of later civ¬ ilization. Six sons and six daughters com¬ prised the number, of whom five of each grew to maturity. Of these, William J., whose son, James, has part of the original homestead, died at Hartford January tS, 1890, at the age of sixty; Jacob died at thirty-five; Ezra is a farmer of Licking township, and Perry is individually treated in another article in this work. The daugh¬ ters were: Elizabeth, who married Rinehart Ankrom, and is living in Richardson county, Nebraska; Mary married Andrew B. Wil¬ liams and both are now deceased; Lydia M. is the widow of George Frash, and residing at Wakaroosa, Indiana; Mary Catherine be¬ came the w'ife of Levi Bowman and died in Nebraska; Hannah J. is the wife of John G. Wood, the popular Hartford merchant and former county treasurer.

Jesse Bugh remained at the home farm until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtyeighth Indiana Volunteers, not yet having attained his seventeenth year. Id is service, which extended over a period of five months, was mainly in garrison duty at various points from Nashville to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was devoid of the excitement attending the severer work in the armies at the front. Returning, lie remained with his father until his marriage, on the 18th of October, 1868, when in his twenty-first year, his birth hav¬ ing occurred November 21, 1847. The lady he had chosen for his bride was Miss Mary J. Diskey, of Washington township, and was somewhat his senior. He then built a small house on his father's farm and contin¬ ued to operate it for several years, in fact until the farm was sold and his father re- moved to Hartford City. Thinking to find a more suitable country in the west, he vis¬ ited Nebraska, only, however, to return with¬ out having made any definite selection, and soon after became established on a part of his present farm, his father having given him forty acres of wild land. It was in the swamps and nearly covered with ponds, a condition that required an immense amount, not only of hard labor, but also, what was as fully necessary, the pluck and determina¬ tion to stick and dig out under the most adverse circumstances a farm from the dis¬ couraging conditions. He built a little oneroom, rouncl-log house, clearing a place to set it. This remained their home until 1880, when, having added to his original purchase what was his wife's father's homestead, he removed to it, living in the old log house where her youth was passed, until 1898, when the present handsome residence was erected on the same site. Some seven years since la. built a commodious barn, so that the farm is now well supplied with all facili¬ ties necessary. Adequate appreciation of the efforts necessary to make a farm here can only be realized by visiting the section and getting some conception of the original con¬ ditions. It is almost a dead level, the swales and P' ds having no natural outlet, and the land not covered with water was covered with thick black ash. The most essential tb' g to do at the start was to secure suit¬ able outlet for' the water, and when this was done to proceed to ditch and lay tile to af¬ ford the drainage necessary before the land was in condition for cultivation. 1 lunch eds of rods of tile have been laid on this farm, reclaiming many acres that in the original ing in giving the same privilege to others that hi: claims for himself, he has not been offensive in its advocacy, in consequence hav¬ ing, hosts of warm and true friends among the opposition party. This was amply proven when, in 1894, he was elected sheriff of the county, being the first and only Repub¬ lican ever to hold that important office. Blackford county is hopelessly Democratic, so that when an official is selected from the ranks of the opposition it is largely on the strength of personal popularity. The pe¬ riod of his service was one that showed a revival in the activity of the criminal class, making the position a specially important one for the time being. Fifteen representatives were sent to the penitentiary from the county during this time. The already great popu¬ larity of Mr. Bugh was much extended from the ability and courtesy shown in the con¬ duct of the office, criminals even asserting that it was some compensation to have the attentions of so pleasant an official. Mrs. Bugh also came in for a share of commenda¬ tion, for as matron she made hosts of friends, especially among the unfortunate.

Our subject's wife was formerly Miss Eliza Freeman, and she was born in Dela¬ ware county. She became the wife of James A. Whittaker, late of Jackson town¬ ship, where he w;as a widely known and effi¬ cient teacher. Her marriage to Mr. Bugh occurred on the 13th of February, 1895. The lady with whom more than twenty years of the life of Mr. Bugh were passed had died after an illness of several months, on the 1 6th of November, 1890. Of eight chil¬ dren born, five are now living: Sanford, a farmer near his father; Leverctt, a reputable farmer of the county; Anna, wife of James Hart, of Harrison township; Lula, wife of Rufus Hart, cousin of James Hart; and Ada, residing at Montpelier. Krnest Whittaker, the sixteen-year-old soil of Mrs. Hugh, is also a member of the family. Mr. Hugh and family are identified with the Fairview United Brethren church, in which he is active and inlluential. While he has never been noisy in his methods his course has been in accordance with well established principles, every effort to advance the general pros¬ perity and welfare of the community finding in him one of its warmest supporters. Con¬ tact with the world and the broadening that comes from a wide reading and careiul ob¬ servation, has given this gentleman a culture and ease found only in connection with unu¬ sual intelligence and refinement. 1 fis greatest pleasure is found in the midst of his own interesting family, who find in him their safest counsellor and nearest friend.

John W. Knox

The traveler driving north from Hart¬ ford City, through Washington township, passes through a well improved and feitile section of the county, and if at all observant is impressed with the excellent condition of the farms, most of which are furnished with buildings and other improvements of a high grade indicative of thrift and enterprise. None of these show the intelligent conduct to a greater extent than that ol which the gentleman whose life we arc now' consideiing is the proprietor. J his line faun, l}ing on section 22, indicates in its every appointment a business management and oversight which if applied to other lines of enterprise would surely result in merited success.

in number ol a t ami 1 v ol six horn to Mill iam and Susan (Clevingvr) Knox and all of whom reside in Washington township. They arc, besides our subject, Maria, wite of Jacob Fuller; James, on the old home¬ stead; Mary Emily, wife of Daniel Russell; Daniel; and Cynthia \ 11 ice, wife of David Stallsmith.

William Knox was horn in Ohio and was married in W'ayne county, Indiana, where his wife had resided from her birth. They soon after came to Grant county, where he remained until about 1870 and then lo¬ cated in Blackford count)', two miles north and one east of Hartford City, where he pur¬ chased eighty acres of unimproved land and now has most of it in an excellent state of cultivation. Although he is now in his sev¬ enty-eighth year, he has, with the exception of a slight deafness, retained his faculties to a remarkable degree. After fifty years of wedded life they now enjoy the fruits of the efforts of former years, few being held in higher esteem than this venerable couple, whose lives have not only been devoted to their own family but to the advancement of the community at large.

John W. remained on the farm in Grant county until his twentieth year and was then married, choosing for his life's companion Miss Lydia Phillips, a native of North Caro¬ lina, but. living at that time in Grant coun¬ ty. Their family consists of five children, namely : Della, now Mrs. Roy Storms, of Washington township; Cora, who married Charles Schmidt and resides in Washington township; Edgar, of Harrison township; ITarley and Susan Ethel, at home.

Our subject was compelled to toil hard to earn a subsistence and in connection with farm industry worked tit ditching and such other labor as he could get to do. He moved to Blackford county, but losing one of his horses and making' no progress be¬ came discouraged and returned to Grant county. There he remained on one farm seven years, during which time he had ac¬ cumulated some means, and in company with his brother bought eighty acres of land. His forty acres being in the swamp was unfit for cultivation and for two years he rented, devoting his spare time to the clearing of his own land. His first ^dwelling was a heweddog house, on a spot cleared from the thickest growth of timber. The work of clearing wild land is necessarily slow and laborious, but Mr. Knox prosecuted his la¬ bors with zeal and diligence, succeeding in a few years in paying for his land, having assumed an indebtedness at the time of pur¬ chase. He bought his brother's interest and has since added another forty acres, making one hundred and twenty acres in a body. Of this he has placed one hundred acres in cul¬ tivation, besides making other substantial improvements. He has devoted much time and labor to proper drainage, having ex¬ pended more than the original cost of the land for this one feature of improvement. Deep, black ponds nearly covered the land and his neighbors discouraged him, saying that it could not be made productive. He was assessed seven hundred and fifty dollars for an open drain that gave outlet to his land. He laid hundreds of rods of tile, extending through the entire farm and opening up the ponds, making not only one of the most productive, but the most attractive farms of the community. Mr. Knox bore an expense of two hundred and fifty dol¬ lars on the pike extending north from Hart¬ ford past hi. farm, and has done much in other ways to promote the agricultural in¬ terests of the neighborhood, endeavoring to stimulate ambition and progressiveness among the farmers, his own energetic exam¬ ple inspiring many others. His new and handsome dwelling now presents a wonder¬ ful contrast to the primitive log-house which formerly stood on the same site. This, built in 1899, very appropriately supplements the well arranged and commodious barn erected five years before, and completes the general improvement contemplated by the proprietor when it was still all in the wilderness. While the farm was peculiarly adapted to the grow¬ ing of grain from the extreme friability of its soil, the crops have usually been fed to stock, each year quite a large number of hogs being marketed. At present, however, Mr. Knox is devoting special attention to his breeding of thoroughbred cattle, having already established a choice herd of short horns. Air. and Mrs. Knox are active mem¬ bers of the Fairview United Brethren church, which is near his home, and has served as trustee since its organization, assisting large¬ ly in the building and maintenance of the same.

Politically his views accord with the Re¬ publican party. Irle has never aspired to any office, but has preferred to devote his time to his business interests.

Elmer Crosby Storms

The Storms family have borne a promi¬ nent part in the history of this country, being found in some of the older states as well as in Indiana, Dutchess county, New York, being especially noted as the family home. The grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this review, Peter Storms, was born in Germany, but it is indefinite as to his coming to America. His son Reuben married Ruth Beals in New York, and in 1836 came to Conncrsville, Indiana, being not long afterward followed by bis parents. In 1846 they settled in Blackford county, Peter securing a tract now embraced in the present borne of our subject and which was located one mile south of the village of Dun¬ dee. Here be secured quite a large tract of land, and became one of the most substan¬ tial citizens of the community. His death occurred in the year 1857, when in bis seventy-seventh year. His widow, whose maiden name was Dorcas Ballard, removed about two years afterward to Allegan coun¬ ty, Michigan, where she resided with her daughter's family during the remainder of a long life, attaining the extreme age of ninety. Of their two sons, Willard re¬ mained in Steuben county, New York. Reuben was well educated, for the time, and became a teacher in the early schools of this neighborhood. It is recalled by some of his old pupils that he taught the first school in Center school-house, Washington township. He made a permanent settlement near his father, but survived him but four years, dying of brain fever at the age of fortyseven. PI is widow later became the wife of Thomas Cochran and resided on the farm to the end of her life, which occurred in 1S80, aged sixty-three.

Of the nine children born to Reuben Storms, Peter became a soldier in the famous Thirty-fourth Indiana, remaining in Texas after the war, and died at Brownsville. John B. served in the Seventeenth Indiana Battery and died in Wells county; Thomas B. be¬ came an extensive railroad contractor in the south, and died at New Orleans. Asenath F. is the wife of William Schmidt, of whom separate mention is found on another page.

Ezra R. is a well-known railroad man of In¬ dianapolis. He, too, served in the war in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Regiment. One died in childhood, and of Larson O. full mention is found in another place in this work.

Elmer Crosby Storms was born in Har¬ rison township on the 29th of July, 1850. and was thus but about seven years of age at the death of his father. The older broth¬ ers had the charge of the farm until they left home to enter the service of the country; leaving Elmer, aged thirteen, to be the main¬ stay of the family, his mother still remain¬ ing in her endeavor to give her children all the advantages possible.

The war stories that filled the papers and made up the conversation of the returned soldiers created an unrest in the breast of Elmer and even at that early age he resolved to be a soldier. To this proposition his mother would never listen, and the only way in which he could attain his end was by leaving home without her consent. Accord¬ ingly, when the call came for recruits to make up the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, and many of his older compan¬ ions were going, lie, too, made the final de¬ cision and ran away. The demand for troops had become so urgent that he was ac¬ cepted and enrolled in Company B at Camp Carrington, Indianapolis. The service was in the Army of the Cumberland, in Kenlucky and Tennessee, doing patrol and guard work. Some of their raids were after the noted guerrilla, Ouantrell, who is said to have been killed by some of the troops of this regiment. Much of the time he was stationed at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where, in August, 1865, he was mustered out after about nine months' service. Returning to the old home, he was welcomed by the lam- ily, with whom he now remained, on. ucting the farm until he had reached his ma¬ jority. He now resolved to buy out the other interests in the estate, and for the next ten years his energies were almost wholly devoted to that object. He now owns two hundred and ninety acres, includ¬ ing the well-known Overhiser farm. The traveler passing south from the village of Dundee has his attention fastened upon the unusually fine class of improvements to be seen upon the Storms farm. The mature judgment and business sagacity of the pro¬ prietor is here show i to advantage. How¬ ever, the improvemc'.i. s that are not so read¬ ily seen are no less important or essential. Some of these consist of many hundred rods of underground drainage placed there at an expense approximating the original value of the land. He took the initiative in the manufacture of tile in this vicinity, and when the use of it had been proven of value he entered upon the making of it and continued for about fifteen years, producing in that time upwards of fifty-five thousand dollars worth of the material. Nearly ten years ago he drilled the second gas well in Wash¬ ington township, using the gas in his manu¬ factory. He was also in this matter a pio¬ neer. hie simply took a risk, investiv. about fourteen hundred dollars in whu, would be that much lost if gas were not found in paying quantities. Hie history of oil production in this field is an interesting one, yet soace will not permit our enteiing. fully into the subject. However, soon after Mr. Storms had demonstrated the presence of gas and began to use it in his factory, others put down a well to supply the people of the village, but the gas flow being mea¬ ger they drilled deeper, the well filling with oil as the result. 1 he Northern Indiana Oil j Company was then organized and began act - | ive operations, and was later merged into ! the Manhattan Company, which is today doing a prosperous business. At the pres¬ ent writing, August, 1900, about six hun¬ dred wells are in active operation within a circle of five miles in diameter, using the village of Dundee as the center. When the tile manufacture proved unprofitable, Mr. Storms leased land, embarking in the oil industry as a full-fledged operator, making an investment of about eight thousand dol¬ lars, and owning and leasing about seven hundred acres of land. He sank some nine wells, and finally disposed of the business at a handsome profit. He has since allowed others to continue the development, the Mid¬ way Oi! Company now having five produc¬ ing wells in constant operation.

The superior business capacity of Mr. Storms has been duly recognized by the peo¬ ple of the county, one present instance being his employment by the commissioners to su¬ perintend the construction of two lines of pike road extending through the township and crossing at right angles in the center. This improvement is nowr in progress, in¬ volving an expenditure o twenty-five thou¬ sand dollars. All the oversight is in the hands of Mr. Storms, from the grading to the final layer of gravel. His fitness to at¬ tend to the details of an enterprise of such magnitude has been proven in more than one instance, many occasions calling for the ex¬ ercise of those special qualities needed in the successful handling of men. The work above mentioned requires the employment of about seventy-five men and an adequate force of teams, and, when completed, will make an aggregate of thirty miles of firstclass pike in Washington township.

first wife being- Miss Mary Watson. Lovina Glancey was the second, her companionship continuing for about fifteen years, until her death at the age of thirty-nine. She was the mother of one child, Addie B., an attractive and popular young lady of seventeen. The present Mrs. Storms was Laura, the daugh¬ ter of David Cole, of Dundee, and one daughter, Ruth F., graces the union. The Storms home, situated some seven miles to the northwest of the county seat, is presided over by this charming and cultured lady, and is considered one of the most hospitable and popular homes of any in the northern part of the county. Beside the features of social life as found in the community, both have be¬ come somewhat interested in fraternal rela¬ tions, he being a member of Dundee Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and she an active worker in the Rathbone Sisters, at Hartford City. Ever alive to those matters that attract the attention of the world, he has not lived within himself alone, but finds commendable enjoyment in meeting his old friends, and no man has more of them, on the race track or at an exciting game of base ball.

While he has not esired personal popu¬ larity through the medium of public office, his capacity for such position has been duly recognized by his party, he being often so¬ licited to take some responsible office; yet the multifarious duties of his private busi¬ ness have been so constantly pressing that he has deemed it wise to confine his atten¬ tions in that direction. His interest in the success of his party has ever been mani¬ fested, he being one of the most effective campaigners of the county. Of that com¬ panionable and genial nature that makes and holds friends, regardless of party affilia¬ tions, few men in Blackford county occupy a warmer place in the hearts of the people than he. Being trained in the most valued school, that of human experience, his views have been constantly broadened until he holds a liberal position on most of those great questions that affect human destiny. Claiming the widest liberty for himself, he does not hesitate to grant the same rights to others, and while he holds tenaciously to the beliefs of years and is ever ready to main¬ tain his position with argument, he has re¬ spect for the man of different views, who dares stand as ardently by them.

As both himself and wife represent pio¬ neer families, who have clone much to make Blackford county what it is, and as they have done much themselves toward s devel¬ opment, they are necessarily looked upon with respect, and their own personal merits have greatly added to the esteem in which they are universally held.

Nathaniel Miller Robey

Succeeding generations will search with interest and anxiety to learn something defi¬ nite of those who, braving the dangers and sharing the privations incident to a new, wild country, peopled mainly with wild ani¬ mals, and still wilder men, carved out for themselves and their successors permanent and substantial homes, and, dying, passed from the scenes of effort, handing to sons and daughters a heritage made more honored and valued by the bravery and self-sacrifice shown in its making. Perry county, Ohio, presented many attractions and advantages to the early residents of the west, and there the ancestors of the gentleman whose life rec¬ ord we propose to review briefly settled in the early days of the century. There Natha- nicl Robey was born on the 28th of October, 183S, his parents being Henry and Mary (Fox) Robev, both probably also born in the same vicinity. His parents were of the old and substantial German stock of Pennsylvania, and were noted for the possession of a great amount of that vi¬ tality so essential to the making of a new country. When Nathaniel was twelve vcars of age, in 1850, the fam¬ ily removed to Indiana, making the trip with ox teams, supplemented by one horse. What attracted a good deal of attention, as they advanced, was the fact of the oxen being shod, few of the natives ever having seen or heard of oxen with shoes. Eighty acres, now comprised in the present farm, was secured, two hundred and fifty dollars being paid therefor. It had a small deaden¬ ing, but no house, and a log cabin was at once erected, with puncheon floor and board roof, and a quilt being used for the door. Henry was a skilled mechanic and soon found a demand for his services, besides making nearly all the furniture of his own home. The wild game that filled the woods contributed materially to the living. As¬ sisted by the two sons, he cleared up quite a farm. To illustrate the rapidity of the set¬ tlement it is well to note that one spring he worked for thirty-two days at log-rolling, receiving an exchange of similar work. The first log cabin remained their home for sev¬ eral years, being replaced by a hewed-log house, which at the time was the most pre¬ tentious residence of the entire community, and which in its turn gave way, in 1866, to another one erected by Nathaniel soon after his father left the farm. The latter had never liked the flat country, finally buying a farm in White county, where he died in 1876. The sandy country, which he so of¬ ten sighed for, he had found with emphasis in White county. His first wife, the mother of Nathaniel, died here in 1863, lie later marrying Mrs. Emily Hendrickson, of Ohio, who survives him, living at the White county homestead. Of their three children, one, Marion, resides in Washington township. The first family consisted of three sons and three daughters: Jacob died in Hartford at the age of fifty-five; John had served in the famous Forty-seventh Indiana for three years, became associated with Nathaniel for a time and died aged thirty; Mary was the wife of William Bonham, dying at the age of fifty; Elsie married Perry Alexander, of Bluffton, and died, aged forty; and Sarah is the wife of George Widener, of Anderson, Indiana.

Nathaniel Robey received such schooling as the old log house at Dundee afforded, sit¬ ting on the slab bench, writing on a shelf supported on pegs and conning his old dogseared New England speller. At twentytwo he was married to Miss Mary E. Griffith, of Wells county, and in 1862 moved to Dela¬ ware county, where he was operating rented 1. id till 1 866, when he succeeded his father on the old farm. However, in the fall of 1864 he had enlisted as a recruit in the re¬ nowned Twenty-second Indiana Regiment, but instead of being sent to the front, was retained at Indianapolis, doing guard duty till the close of the war. Several times he was detailed to escort recruits to the front, and at the time of the battle of Nashville happened to be in the vicinity, but did not participate. In taking the old farm he be¬ came indebted to the extent of twenty-five hundred dollars, paying interest at the rate of six per cent. While living in Delaware county he had become familiar with the prac¬ tices of the old and successful farmers of that part of the state, and putting their tried plans into operation here soon realized that he was making satisfactory progress, in the course of the following eight vears succeed¬ ing in completing the purchase of the farm. He then added another tract, making a very desirable farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all but twelve of which is in cultiva¬ tion. The original condition of this section of the county was such that great efforts and ex¬ pense were necessary before the land could be properly tilled ; but when the present sys¬ tem of tile was installed, reaching as it does to all parts of the tract, it became a most pro¬ ductive and desirable farm, there being few better ones in the northern section of the county. He is recognized as one of the successful stock and grain growers of the vicinity, his attention having been almost wholly devoted to those industries. How¬ ever, he is not a stranger to mercantile op¬ erations, having conducted a hardware store at Dundee some four years, at the same time holding the position of postmaster. His son, Wilson Robev, had established the busi¬ ness, which had become an important ad¬ junct to the enterprises of the county, but his untimely death threw the stock into the hands of his father. Eight oil wells are in active operation on the farm, yielding about six tanks of two hundred and fifty barrels each per month, the royalty amounting to upwards of one hundred dollars.

Two sons and two daughters compose the Robey family, the son above mentioned hav¬ ing died at the age of twenty-two. Harvey L. is a harnessmaker at Hartford City, and Arthur Adolph is on the farm with his fa ther. Mary, the elder of the girls, is the wife of Jason Chandler, of the township, and Minnie is the wife of Arthur Kelley, who operates the adjoining farm. Air. Robey is considered one of the stanch and reliable Republicans, and while he has not sought the emoluments of office he is generally found in consultation wth those who shape the course of local campaigns. At every juncture of life he has proven a reliable counselor, a stable friend and excellent citi¬ zen. Free from all affectation or shadow of artificiality, his life has been an open book, whose teachings will inevitably redound to the advancement of the reader. Reared in the faith and the spirit of the teachings of the Master, his influence has ever tended to a higher ideal and to a closer living in ac¬ cordance with the principles of Christian ethics. Identifying himself at Dundee with that society known as the Church of God, he at once became its most liberal supporter, being conspicuous in every movement tend¬ ing to the growth and extension of the con¬ gregation.

Ira Vernon

Ira Vernon, deceased, who was one of the most respected farmers of Washington township, was born in New Jersey, Novem¬ ber 30, 1824, and when ten years of age came with his parents to Fayette county, In¬ diana. Later they settled in Rush county, this remaining their home until the death of his parents, Richard and Elizabeth (Custerline) Vernon, the father having reached ex¬ treme age.

Ira Vernon, at the early age of twelve, was dependent upon his own exertions for what he possessed, but being an honest and industrous boy he found no difficulty in se¬ curing work and remained with one family five years. lie was married, in 1S4S, to , Miss Emily Miles, daughter of Lorren Miles, of Grant county. She was born in New York and came with her parents to Indiana while but a few years of age. Soon after marriage they located in Washington town¬ ship, making a farm from the wild timbered land. Later he moved to Grant county, re¬ maining there until i868, when he traded for the present farm, lying two miles west of Dundee and a quarter of a mile from the McGath pike. This contained eighty acres, with but two acres cleared, and no buildings; he erected a log house and in 18S9 replaced it by the present dwelling. Their family consisted of seven children, four of whom are still living and who were all present to comfort the father during his last illness. They are: Elias F., of Joplin, Missouri; Mary M., wife of John W. Williams, of Washington township; Julia E., wife of Ja¬ cob C. Balsley, who lives near the old home¬ stead, and John W. ; Phebe died at the age of twelve; Alonzo and Richard each passed away while in their eighteenth years. Mr. Vernon was a Democrat in politics, but was not extremely partisan, and he and his wife were members of the Church of God at Dun¬ dee, he serving as trustee and was prominent in the organizing and support of the church.

His death occurred May 15, 190 , after a brief illness, his remains being interred in the Balsk - cemetery, Blackford county. His wife died April 13, 1897, three years pre¬ vious to his. BI is loss was universally mourned, as that of a kind friend, a devoted husband and father, and as one whose course through life offered an example well worthy of emulation, his reputation being unmarred by a single blemish.

. was united in marriage to Miss Almeda Tharpe, daughter of William Tliarpe, and sister of Mrs. W. W. Palmer, of whom fur¬ ther mention is made elsewhere in this rec¬ ord. She was born in Mercer county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Indiana when about sixteen years of age.

John W. has operated the home farm, with the exception of a short time since his marriage. At the settlement of his father's estate he received an equitable interest, to which he has since added by purchase until his farm now contains seventy-four acres.

From early life Mr. Vernon has enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow citizens and that he has attained an active and honorable position in life is due to his unfaltering fidel¬ ity and his promptness in meeting every ob¬ ligation, together with the well-directed in¬ dustry which has m; ked his career from early childhood. He has many admirable qualities which commend him to the regard of all, and the community has many citizens who are proud to claim him as a friend.

John B. Wilt, late of Washington town¬ ship, Blackford county, was born twelve miles southwest of Greenville, Darke coun¬ ty, Ohio, June 29, 1S25, and was the son of George and Ruthic (Wade) Wilt, who were pioneers of that section of that state, hav¬ ing settled there, probably, from Virginia. September 9, 1847, was married to Miss Martha Dowlar, who was born in Preble county, October 22, 1829. Her parents were George and Miriam (Carter) Dowler, he of Pennsylvania and she of Maryland birth, respectively. They were married in tlie latter state and settled in Pennsylvania, later moving on horseback to Miami county, Ohio, bringing two children. They made their permanent home in Preble county, some five miles distant from the Wilts. After their marriage John B. Wilt and wife operated the old homesteads of both i unifies until when they came to Blackford county, locating on the present home farm, one mile west of Dundee. 1 he eighty acres was mostly a quagmire, but having had some valuable experience in Ohio with wet land, lie had no hesitation in attempting what many assured him was a hopeless task. Up to this time there had been no attempt at drainage, but only such patches of land as happened to lie high enough to drain itself was farmed. I he ridges would be planted, and about once a week, if the weather per¬ mitted, would be gone over with a onehorse plow or a double shovel. The rest of the time was passed by the farmers in sitting on the goods boxes at Dundee, telling stories or in swapping horses. Consterna¬ tion was created when the natives saw Wilt digging a ditch, and in derision they asked if he was' digging a canal. As soon as he had secured one crop, however, from this ditched land others fell in with the idea and it was but a short while before every citizen had more less ditching done. It simply needed some one to point out the possibilities that existed here, when once the water could be carried away. New life was instilled into the community at once, a rivalry soon developing as to whom would be due the credit of making the most drainage in a sea¬ son. When lie placed the old style timber drains in the ground it was a surprise to all, but the advantage afforded by them was so soon apparent that all accepted the wisdom of it, and in a short time thousands of rods of it was beneath the soil. As soon as it was possible to secure tile lie began to rc- , place the old drains with the more desirable material, a practice that was at once followed by all the more progressive neighbors. As the amount of cleared land would allow he added to the stock of the farm, until at the period of the war he had become one of the heaviest dealers in stock in the com¬ munity. In this, as in all his enterprises, j he made rapid progress, becoming in a com¬ paratively short space of years one of the most substantial citizens of the northern part of the county. No improvement was suggested but found in him a warm ad¬ herent and stanch supporter and usually he was the one who first suggested the improve¬ ment. 'The section of country being Hat, there was an almost utter absence of roads, except as the way was picked out on the ridges. He at once began efforts toward a better condition in that respect, claiming that gravel roads were what wras needed and that they would be secured in time. He was answered that no gravel could be found in this entire section of the country. He ar¬ gued that it could be found along the streams, but failing health prevented his making the personal investigation. He did not live to see his ideas carried into effect, the first gravel road being completed about one year after his death. Now, not twenty years after he passed away, no less than thirty miles of fine gravel road are found in the township, the material being all found in the near vicinity.

The conditions of living were of the slenderest on our subject's coming here, and the source of income very meager. To get a little money he would make staves, haul- ing them often many miles to a market. These and hoop poles afforded the only means of getting any cash. They resided for fifteen years in the old log house, replac ing it with the present one in 1873. After about two years of failing health, lie suc¬ cumbed to disease on the 13th of May, 1882. It is difficult to properly estimate the bene¬ fits derived to this community by his having lived in it, no man having left the impress of his personality so indelibly stamped upon every phase of the life of the neighborhood. Broad himself, he did what he could to de¬ velop a spirit of tolerance and liberality in every walk of life. He started the Universalist church at Dundee, securing the minister and effecting an organization with some fifty members. He was the life of the society, and so long as he stood ready to attend the demands made upon him in its interests it flourished, but when the main stay was with¬ drawn it began to derogate, only in the en ! to fall of inanition. Well read himself he did much to foster the spirit of investigation on the part of the young people, encourag¬ ing them by taking part in the local debates, or whatever tended to a more liberal or broader citizenship, hie knew the Bible as few men of to-dav know it, and was well fortified with strong argument in the sup¬ port of the tenets of the Universal ist faith, in the truth of which he lived and died. The old Bible, from whose pages he constantly drew inspiration and comfort, is still treas¬ ured in the home, its well-worn leaves show¬ ing only too w:ell the reliance placed upon its sacred precepts by one man whose own life wras attuned to his holy music. Ever a true farmer, he stood ready to adopt those meas¬ ures that would redound to the lasting benefi! of the class he represented. Seeing in the Grange movement the opportunity to ' educate, and thus strengthen, the farmers, he became an earnest advocate of its prin¬ ciples, assisting in the organization of the local body. The benefits w ere many and the possibilities of the movements were beyond computation, and he lived to see much ben¬ efit come to the farmers of his vicinity.

The family of this gentleman were Eli Alexander, who died at ten, and William Wilson Wilt, lately the most prominent member of the medical profession at Mont¬ pelier, where he died April I, 1896. file had been in active, extensive and successful practice at Montpelier for twenty-three years. His widow' and one son, Adelbert Wilt, survive him. The lady whose life was closely interwoven with that of John B. Wilt, for a third of a century is still resid¬ ing on the pleasant homestead, having, how¬ ever, selected as her companion John J. Myers. to whom she wa married June 15, 1897. Mr. Myers is a genial gentleman, whom to know is to respect. He was born on the present site of the highly praised Spring Grove cemetery, near Cincinnati.

! The land became incorporated into the cem¬ etery in his boyhood, he assisting in the lay- I ing of it out, and continued to be associated with its management for a period of four¬ teen years, wdien he became superintendent of the cemetery at Urbana, Ohio, where he remained for twenty-nine years, making a total of forty-three years that he has devoted to the burying of the dead. All this time he was superintendent of grave digging. Ele is filled with many interesting stories of cemetery experience, having seen much of that peculiar side of humanity that comes but only in the nearness to the dead.

William W. Palmer

Among the earliest pioneers of tin's part of the state of Indiana, having settled here as early as 1839, is the Palmer famij , of whom there are several sons. One of the survivors, a gentleman who is. without a doubt, the oldest living resident of the north¬ ern part of Blackford county, is Samuel Palmer, who for many years lias resided at the village of Dundee. The family rep¬ resents one of the earL colonial emigrant , families of Virginia, having been among the courtiers who were the great planters of Berkeley county, where Samuel was born December 27, 1809. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Palmer, and in the family were six sous, Samuel, John, George, Jacob, David and Joseph, of whom the only ones living are Samuel and John. In 1839 they all came to Indiana, settling in Wells coun¬ ty, some miles north of Dundee, and there the father died, having reached the age of seventy-seven. All the sons became repu¬ table and substantial citizens. Samuel was married in Perry county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Fox and at the time of coming to this state had four children, four more being born here, and of these, two sons and three daugh¬ ters are living at the present time, they be¬ ing Jacob, Samuel, Susan, Mary and Sarah. One deceased son, John Wesley, was the fa¬ ther of Jonas Palmer, the popular post¬ master at Roll. Samuel Palmer is one of the best known characters in Washington town¬ ship, having a fund of interesting incidents, illustrating the life of fifty years ago. He is considered the head of the Palmer family and at the family reunion two years ago more than one hundred of his descendants were present. He is a dyed-in-the-wool, old-fashioned, Jacksonian Democrat, so thorough! . permeated with that doctrine that the energetic efforts of many of the ablest missionaries of the Republican faith, ''-'ho have exhausted all their powers of per¬ suasion upon him, resulted only in more firmly grounding Democratic principles in him. "He has become wedded to his idols, let him alone," is the hopeless cry. All through life he has been noted for his per¬ sistency in pursuing a given line of action, believing that when a man adopts a course in life it should be strictly adhered to. He cast his first vote tor Andrew Jackson and lias not failed to support every Democrat since. With equal ardor he has continued a. Methodist, though it is hinted that he has no less faith in the power of salvation issu¬ ing from the Democratic party, as that found in the church. Now, in his ninety-first year, as he reviews the interesting events in which he was no cipher, the glow of youth returns to the brow of age and he lives again in the telling, depicting in vivid colors the mode of life enjoyed by himself and neighbors in those primitive days, when every man was a brother and no one was turned hungry from the door. Ever a temperate man in all things, he has used to¬ bacco for nearly eighty years, but feeling that it is hurting his system, has resolved to quit the use of it upon reaching his one hundredth birthday, lde has done his share of the hard work necessary to the making of a new country, improving two good farms. In 1880, feeling the renewal of youth, he again embarked upon the matrimonial , his companion being Mrs. Lucy Ann Stout, whose maiden name was Gray, and who was born in North Carolina, coming as a young girl with her parents to Indiana, and at eighteen was married in Grant couni Joseph Palmer, the brother of Samuel, married Azubah McKee and resided on the pike west of Dundee, where his son, George, now lives. He was called into the service of the government during the war, yielding up his own life at Helena, Arkans >, toward the close of the war. His widow, with seven children, remained on the farm, where her death occurred some fifteen years since, at the age of fifty-seven. She was the repre¬ sentative of one of the old and substantial families and in her own life illustrated the spirit of the pioneers. She is deserving of much' credit in the rearing of her family, devoting herself absolutely to their care and counsel. They all grew up under her in¬ struction, making highly respected citizens, whom she lived to see nicely settled in life, all of whom, with one exception, survived her.

William W. Palmer's boyhood was with his mother on the fajpn, taking charge of it himself at the age of nineteen. He was married on December 20, 1877, to Miss Nancy Tharp, daughter of William and Lucy Tharp, and who was a young lady upon coming to this vicinity. Her par¬ ents purchased the present home of herself and family and here she was married. Both parents passed awa ripe in years and hold¬ ing to a remarkable degree the respect of a wide circle of wa. m friends. After his mar¬ riage Mr. Palmer remained some years on his old homestead, buying out some of the heirs, and then secured the home of his wife, to which they at once removed. Here he has made extensive and valuable improve¬ ments, erecting a new house in 1899. He is especially fortunate in having his farm lo¬ cated in the most valuable oil field in the state, three active wells being in constant operation on his place, the income from them assisting materially in swelling his usual income.

The Palmer family consists of seven chil¬ dren, whom Mvrtle, the eldest, is a student in the Marion Normal School, where she is preparing to become a teacher, her advance¬ ment in the common schools justifying a reasonable hope of her making a brilliant woman. The younger ones are Dessie, Roy, Ivy, Ethel, George and Ralph.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are counted among the liberal and progressive citizens of the community, both taking active and intelli¬ gent part in the promotion of all that makes for better man and womanhood. He is a j Baptist in his church relations, while she j affiliates with the radical branch of the Uniti ed Brethren.

It is to such men and women that the j future must look for a continuance in civil- I ization and enlightenment, the safety of the i government being in their hands, and if used | with the same spirit of progress that has thus far characterized their every relation i in life little is to be feared to the institu-

| tions of the coming generations. The re- | publican form of government is being tested 1 now, as never before, behooving every citi¬ zen to so instil correct principles into the minds of the rising generation that they may he prepared to stand, as their parents : have stood, the bulwarks of human liberty.

: Mr. Palmer Ivy careful observation and read- ; ing, realizes the signs of the times and is trying to do his part to solidify the true American citizenship.

Oliver Woodard

Probably no man in Blackford county is more widely or favorably known than is he whose name introduces this biographical memoir, having been not only one of its most successful citizens from the financial standpoint, but also one whose judgment in j matters of public moment have for many years been accorded great credence and weight, his advice in more than one instance being the guide to an economical solution <>f important questions. Ripe in years and ex¬ perience, he now mav well be indicated as a truly representative of the class of men who, by the judicious exercise of natural gifts, seconded by rare good common sense, haw won for themselves honorable and re pec ted places in the hearts of their countrymen. He first saw the light on the 20th dav of November, in the memorable year of 1832. Clinton county, Ohio, was the family home at the time, that being wb his parents, Etheldred and Nancy (Oliver) Woodard, had settled in the woods on coming from North Carolina. Etheldred was the son of : Jesse Woodard, -who is said to have been of Scotch birth and ancestry. The Olivers were of English origin. Like mmy young couples who emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio, Etheldred and wife were extremely poor, their home in consequence being start¬ ed in the woods. They became respected and influential people, their permanent home remaining where they first settled; and there he died at the age of sixty-two. Ot their six children, four are still living, three being residents of Indiana. Jeremiah Woodard is a prominent farmer of the vicinity of Gas City; Lucy J. is the wife of Calvin Y\ bicker, of Clinton county. One sister is Mrs. J. H. Baker, of Chicago, whose husband is a man of considerable importance.

The boyhood of the subject 01 tins sketch was spent upon the Clinton county, Oiiio, home, where he received most excellent training, not only in the hard labor incident to the making of a new home, but also in

While yet in his twenty-first year, on the 15th of January. 1854, lie was married to Miss Nancy A. Fannon, a neighbor girl and schoolmate. She was also born in Clinton county, Ohio, January 24, 1831, and war the daughter of James and Catherine (Mills) Fannon. Ilcr father was born in Virginia and was of English ancestry, while .she was born in Tennessee, though they were married in Ohio. After marriage Oliver de¬ voted several years to rented farms, until he had acquired about six hundred dollars. During the draft in the year 1864 he was conscripted ; but, his eldest child being very sick, he secured a substitute at an expense of twelve hundred dollars, his father assist¬ ing in the payment. In October, 1865, he came to Blackford county, having about six hundred dollars with which to operate. Fie purchased forty acres of new land, paying eight hundred dollars, of which one-half was an indebtedness. He erected a log house, cleared the land all up, met his obligations as due, and in four years sold it for twelve hundred dollars. He now paid one thou¬ sand dollars for an eightv-acre wooded tract, ' on section 6, of Washington township, and which is part of his present farm. Ide spent one year in a log shanty, replacing that with a hewed-log house, which is still standing, and which gave way to the present residence, erected in 1893. Prospering in his opera¬ tions, he made additional purchase till he owned three hundred and twentv-seven acres in a body. This he has divided with his sons till that remaining in the homestead amounts to one hundred and seventy-five acres. He has bought land at prices rang¬ ing from ten to thirty-five dollars per acre, drained; however, lie has laid more than three thousand rods of talc, expending- in the one feature of drainage probably more than the original value of the lai ' The fa in being particularly well adapi to the live stock industry, it has been largely devoted to that important branch of husbandry, the re¬ turns having been commensurate to the in¬ telligence of the proprietor in the selection, breeding and feeding. He became a breeder < f short-horn cattle several years since and has found the keeping of thoroughbreds to be so advantageous that he has added reinstered animals in most other lines. His choice flock of Oxfordshire and Shropshire sheep is a very interesting and valuable one. the Oxford male now at its head giving a clip of twenty-one pound the present year. Ever an advocate of better roads, as in the earlier days he experienced many difficulties in that regard, he has earnestly encouraged the making of a first-class system of pike roads, the one extending through the town¬ ship near his own farm costing him up¬ wards of seven hundred dollars.

From his earliest years Mr. Woodard has shown keen interest in all questions af¬ fecting the general prosperity of the country, identifying himself with the party most nearly representing those principles that tend, in his opinion, to the benefit of the greatest number. He was chosen justice of the peace at his old home in Ohio, still serv¬ ing in that capacity at the time of leaving the state. While his partisan relation has never swerved from that of the stanch Democrat, he has been recognized as liberal in all mat¬ ters, many of his warmest personal friends being opposed to him in party work. His superior business capacity has won wide recognition for years, and in 1882 he was chosen, in a strong Republican district, as one of the board of county commissioners. His colleagues embraced such popular men as Henry Shroyer, James Pittinger and Zadoc Williams, with whom his personal relations continued ost .cordial, not only during the association on the board, but also friendships were formed that have con¬ tinued and will he broken only by the hand of the Great Destrover. He soon came to be referred to as the popular guardian of the county's best interests, standing for a stricter economy and more careful business management. His determination to secure the most capable men to fill responsible po¬ sitions, regardless of political affiliation, led many whose first thought seemed to be onlv the advancement of the party, to severely criticise his appointments; but, standing to what he deemed for the public good, he held to the course he had decided upon, the resultin the end proving beyond cavil the. wisdom of his action. ITis service was at Sm im¬ portant period in the county's affairs, many public improvements being inaugurated, and the wisest judgment was constantly need¬ ed to so spread these works as to best ad¬ vance the public interests in general.

Standing steadfastly by a judicious pol¬ icy, he adhered to a certain line of action, and has since taken some satisfaction in see¬ ing the same course pursued, more or less closely by his successors. His already wide circle of friends was largely extended and he left the office realizing that no man was more popular with the rank and file of the people. Retiring to his delightful home, some eleven miles northwest of Hartford City, he has since constantly devoted his at¬ tention to his private business, not having again consented to let his name be used in connection with public office. His interest in the welfare of the country has, if any- thing, increased with the passing years, no man having paid closer attention to the policies of the great parties, and while his inclination is toward a cjuiet citizenship, his early opinions as to the Democratic party's value to the average citizen are being only emphasized by later observation.

The Woodard family have had ten chil¬ dren born, of whom seven are living, Sarah ! If. is the wife of C. Schooley, a well known resident of the township; Jesse D. is a teacher now engaged in the state of Arkan¬ sas; Harrison Eugene died at the age of twenty-three; James E. is a prosperous farmer living near his father, as is Addi¬ son Lawrence and also Chanccy F. John

Mr. Woodard has made a practice of rendering a stated assistance to each of his sons, starting each with a forty-acre tract and a suitable outfit for farming, the daugh¬ ters also having equal assistance. All are in prosperous circumstances and are recognized as among the truly representative people of their respective communities.

Mr. Woodard and his estimable wife are identified with the New Light church of his neighborhood, in which he is a liberal sup¬ porter and official. Like his life in other respects, he holds liberal views upon re¬ ligious matters, contributing to the support of other churches almost equally with his own.

northern part of Blackford county, where its numerous representatives have for more than half a century been identified with its every interest. Upwards of sixty years ago i James McConkey entered seven quarter-sec¬ tions of government land, ,upon each of which a McConkey family, some years later, became established. The above named I James McConki was an early resident of Wayne county, Indiana, where he had im¬ proved a new farm, which was his permanent home. His securing of the land in Black¬ ford county was to provide iiis children with homes. The sons were David, Eli, James, Zephaniah and John, all of whom became permanent residents here, most of them reaching advanced age, and one, Eli, still living in Washington township.

The one in whom wre are now specially interested was David, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and w'as a child of four upon the family's coming to Indiana. He married, in Wayne county, Miss Eliza¬ beth Purdue, a native of Carolina. About 1840 these brothers, David among them, be¬ gan to make their farms. He settled on section 10, the farm which he improved there becoming his permanent home. At the time of their coining it was necessary to cut their own roads from Hartford City, seven miles through the wilderness. All of the vicissitudes of pioneer life were experi¬ enced by them, their determination, how¬ ever, to succeed enabling them to overcome the many discouragements. The original cabin was replaced, in 1859, by the residence which is still standing and in a fair state of preservation.

passed on the farm until manhood, when he became associated with his brother, A. J., in the operation of a threshing machine, liecoming quite well known in this connection.

Upwards of thirty years ago the family erected a saw-mill at Dundee, which j. N. was soon given charge of as sawyer. For several years he and his brother were asso¬ ciated in this connection, he finally becoming sole proprietor, having now operated it up- ! ward's of twenty-five years, its operation has proven of great benefit, not only to him¬ self, but also to the community in general. -He has manufactured a great deal of or dinary building material and dimension stuff, much of the lumber having been suit- | ably finished in the planing-mill depart- j ment.

His greatest reputation, however, rests up. n his production of large quantities of the finer grades of lumber for furniture and in¬ terior work, his output of quartered oak, es¬ pecially, having attracted many of the lead¬ ing furniture makers.

His farm of one hu; ' red and sixty acres embraces one hundred and twenty acres of that formerly in the old homestead, which was improved during his father's lifetime. The McConkey home, furnished as it is, with an attractive and convenient residence, sur¬ rounded by a well kept lawn, makes one of the most pleasing country homes in the coun¬ ty. Mr. McConkey is, doubtless, the most prominent oil operator residing in the com¬ munity, his efforts toward the development of it having given great impetus to the in¬ dustry. His earliest effort was to drill a well, hoping to secure gas for fuel in his own engines, the result exceeding his ex¬ pectations. He became interested in the Northern Indiana Oil Company, which be¬ gan to lease land at fifty cents per acre, w hich was soon raised to one dollar by other com panics. The interest by this time was such that several wells were soon drilled, pipe¬ lines laid and the business thoroughly es¬ tablished. Selling his interest in the com¬ pany he bought the lease of his own farm, adding two more wells, giving him six in active operation on the farm, besides which he operates other leased land, constantly ex¬ tending his operations in the development of this important industry. Hundreds of valuable wells are already found in this territory, which bears the sinking of one well to each ten acres, one quarter-section now having seventeen wells.

Mr. McConkey was married to Miss Mary Schmidt, daughter of Wilhelm and Margaret Schmidt, but she died at the age of thirty-five, leaving no children. His sister and venerable mother have for some years resided with Mr. McConkey, con¬ tributing by their many entertaining quali¬ ties to the making of an agreeable home.

His well known adherence to Demo¬ cratic principles, distinguishes him as a gentleman of fixed views based on a clear understanding of the question before the public. He has not aspired to the emolu¬ ments of office, preferring to attend to his private enterprises. Standing to-day, as the most widely known and popular representa¬ tive of the McConkey family, he is, as well, representative of all that is most progres¬ sive and standing for continued advance¬ ment of the community.

Jacob Ems Ii Willed

City, Indiana, was born on the farm on which he still resides, March 24, 1845. Ilis parents were Abraham and Emily (Painter) Emshwillcr, both natives of Rockingham county, Virginia, where they were married. Abraham Emshwillcr was a son of Jacob, whose parents came from Germany before the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, in which he served the American colonies as a soldier. A half brother removed to In¬ diana with Abraham. The latter's name was Joseph. He married in Franklin coun¬ ty, Indiana, where his family still resides.

Abraham Emshwillcr and family, con¬ sisting of Emily, his wife, and one child, Ann Rebecca, came to Blackford county in the year 1838 from Rockingham county, Virginia', being on the road fourteen weeks and landing in this county in October of that year. He had to cut a road through the woods most of the way from Muncie. Air. Emsh wilier and family moved in a little cabin with his brother Jacob, who had moved out to Blackford county in the previous year and built the aforesaid cabin; it was roofed with clapboards which were held in place by heavy weight-poles. The cracks were chinked, but were not daubed. The cabin had neither doors, windows, floor or chim¬ ney, but the two brothers added these during the winter. They had to split puncheon and hew them for a floor; also split and hewed boards for a door and made a table and bed¬ stead and some other pieces of furniture the same way. The two families lived to¬ gether in this cabin until the following ; spring, when Air. Emshwillcr bought and moved c the farm where the subject of this sketch was born, and lived there until his death, which occurred October 3, 1865., '! hey encountered many hardships when they first settled which the present genera¬ tion do not think of. For instance, the first nulling that Mr. Emshwillcr did he. in com- ! pany with his brother Jacob, was gone four¬ teen days, while their families were com¬ pelled to subsist upon corn bread made by pounding corn in a hominy block which was previously constructed, screening out the coarsest parts of the meal for hominy. There was no flouring mill nearer than Ha¬ gerstown, Henry county, where Air. Emsh¬ willcr went, and while they were on the road the weather changed very suddenly.

! becoming very cold and freezing the river over, which stopped the mill, which was run by water power. Luckilv Air. Emshwillcr got a job of teaming, which work compen¬ sated for their board until they could start the mill, hence their delay.

Jacob Emshwiller, the first, who had come to Blackford county the previous year in company with his father-in-law, Samuel Gochenour, was a tanner by trade and con- I ducted a large tan-vard until he was elected ! treasurer of Blackford county, moving to Hartford City where he resided until his death. This event occurred before his term of office expired, and was caused by his team becoming unmanageable and running away, throwing him out of his wagon and against a stump, killing him instantly.

Jacob Emshwiller, the subject of this sketch, was kept at home very closely, not being allowed very much liberty, and if he wished to go anywhere he always had to obtain permission from his father. There¬ fore, when he was compelled to go out in the world and shift for himself, being unac¬ customed to the ways of the world, it was very trying to him ; but he packed his clothes in his satchel and bade his weeping mother adieu, not knowing where to go, but he had made up his mind to go south. There being no railroad to Hartford City, be walked, reaching Muncie just in time to catch tlie evening train to Indianapolis. He reached there about ten o'clock and stopped over night at the California Hotel. The next morning he started south afoot in search of* work, succeeding in hiring to at old gentleman by the name of Tumlinson who lived in Indianapolis but was going to his farm.

The old gentleman asked him if he could make fails, and he replied that he could do almost any kind of work on a farm, which pleased the old gentleman very much, and a bargain was struck, our subject starting to work the next morning. He went at it with a will that gained the respect and confidence of the old gentleman to such an extent that when his time had expired he tried very hard to keep him longer. But having got¬ ten a letter from relatives near Warren ask¬ ing him to come and tend his farm, he accepted the proposition, reaching Warren in time to put out a large crop of oats and corn. He was kept very busy tending his corn, which he did with a single shovel plow, as a two-horse cultivator or even a double¬ shovel plow had not then been known or thought of, but our subject kept on until the corn was tended and his crop was harvested, only losing one day during the whole sum¬ mer, and having spent but one dollar dur¬ ing that time. Having harvested his crop, he sold it and with the proceeds he was en¬ abled to purchase one of the heir's interest in his father's estate, this being the founda¬ tion of his present estate.

The next spring, being the year i8(>8, Mr. Emshwiller hired to a farmer near l pland for twenty dollars per month, and as that was the summer that the Panhandle Railroad was built he worked part of the time for the company and part of the time on the farm. During the entire summer he only lost one-half day, and never drew one cent of his wages until fall; this sum was also invested in the old homestead. Thus we van see it pays a young man to be in¬ dustrious and saving.

It has been Mr. Emshwiller's aim all through life to keep abreast of the times, in keeping the best stock that he could get, get¬ ting new varieties of grain, potatoes, etc. ; also agricultural implements, buying and using the first twine wheat harvester that was sold in the county, also the first corn harvester, and was among the first users of corn buskers and disk wheat drills. When lie took charge of the old homestead he found it in very bad condition, and it re¬ quired a great amount of hard work. In the spring time he would be found in his field plowing long before the sun was up and until sundown, after which he would do his stock feeding, eat supper and then go to the clearing and there chop and pick-roll logs and burn them, many and many times until after midnight. For the energy thus dis¬ played Mr. Emshwiller at the present time owns two hundred acres of the old home¬ stead, to which he has added until his landed interests now comprise three hundred and twenty acres in three separate farms, of which more than one-half is under a fine state of cultivation. The improvements made consist of many rods of large open ditches, also hundreds of rods of tile drains, the tile being from four to twelve inches in diame¬ ter. As a result the farm is a cedit to the county, and is devoted to general farming and raising of stock. The feeding of cattle and hogs is a favorite branch of farming with Mr. Emshwiller, he frequently exhibit¬ ing his best h eeds at the county fairs. At

(lie present time his sons are tending the farm, while Mr. Emslnviller himself devotes his attention to his stock and the superin¬ tending of the farm work.

In politics Mr. Emslnviller is a Demo¬ crat, and while he has held no office, yet he has frequently been sent as a delegate to the conventions of his party.

Mr. Emslnviller was married, .April 5, 1869, to Miss Huldah Cortright, the daugh¬ ter of Johiel and Mary Ann (Ammom) Cortright, who was born in Jackson town¬ ship^ Blackford county, Indiana, July 20, 1849, which union has been blessed with the following named children: Emory Emer¬ son married Flora Isabell Keeler, by whom he has two children, Errol Edmond and Eulalie Etalie. Amos Milton first married Ann Hummer, who was the mother of one child, Mable Edith, who died when eight months old. Mrs. Ann (Hummer) Emsliwiller died in November, 1895. Amos again married, this time Miss Lea Ray, by whom he has had two children, Irene Eliza¬ beth and Ina limes; the latter died at the age of six months. Nathan Harland mar¬ ried Rebecca Studebaker, by whom he has one child, Zolpha Opal. Armincla, Agnes and Walter reside at home. Mr. Emshwil ler has a most pleasant home, where with genial hospitality he entertains his many friends.

Calvin O. Shull, M. D., of Montpelier, is a retired physician of note and one of the best-known men in northern Indiana. He was born in Frankstown, Huntingdon coun¬ ty, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1830, a son of Henry B. and Sarah (Wolf) Shull. I lie paternal grandfather of our subject, b'reder- | ick Shull, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a captain in the Revolutionary war. serv ing faithfully throughout the entire con'Wf. \L ter the establishment of peace he viced a military land grant which was Prated in Frumbull county, Ohio, and which was util¬ ized by his son Frederick. John, another son, remained in Pennsylvania.

Henry Broomfield Shull, father of the subject of this review, was born in Harris¬ burg, Pennsylvania, March 19. 1789, and died in Montpelier, Indiana, - in December, 185(1; he was the third child of the family. At an early age Henry B. Shull began learn¬ ing the carpenter trade, and later learned cabinetmaking, eventually becoming proprie¬ tor of a shop of his own.

In 1828 lie removed to Huntington coun¬ ty, Pennsylvania, and carried on business, first at Ilollidaysburg amt later at Frankstewn. In the meantime lie had been resolv¬ ing the plan of making the west his home, and thus he laid the foundation for his chil¬ dren's future prosperity. Accordingly, in 1834, lie began the journey to Indiana, and located at Milton, Wayne county, that state. Then he engaged in merchandising, being associated with John Crum, under the firm name of Crum & Shull; lie also ran a hotel and farmed a small acreage. Finally dis¬ posing of his dry goods business, lie engaged in the drug trade, and his children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps in this respect. He closed out his store in Milton in 1839 and assumed charge of a hotel at Cambridge City, the same county, which he conducted for one year only, returning to Milton in October, 1840, where be resumed the drug and hotel business. In 1848 be closed out permanently bis business in Milton and purchased ninety acres of land four miles southeast of Indiauanolis upon which he at once located. In the spring of 1853 lie disposed of this farm and purchased sixtythree acres in Harrison township, Blackford county, Indiana, where he made his home during the last days of his busy life. This farm is now a part of the site of Montpelier.

Mr. Shull was always of a deeply relig¬ ious turn of mind. Both he and his esti¬ mable wife were members of the Presbyte¬ rian church until 1816, when they joined the Christian church under the ministra¬ tions of Rev. Ben Franklin, a minister of great power in his day. Mr. Shull was al¬ ways active in church affairs, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church. Politi¬ cally he was a Whig and a warm friend of Henry Clay, whom he occasionally enter¬ tained while the "great commoner" was on political tours. Local politics, however, had but small interest for Mr. Shull other than to elicit his support for the best candidate regardless of party, but on national ques¬ tions he was a strong believer in the princi¬ ples of his party and would make a hard fig to secure its success.

TVhen the war of 18 12 broke out he re¬ sponded to the call for troops and saw ser¬ vice for a few months in ti lake country under General Harrison Physically he was a man of medium build, but very active, and his alert mentality was such that he was quick to dec e in matters in which he was interested. His devoted wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Wolf, was born September 22, 1801, and died October 20, 1863. The following is a brief record concerning their children :

William Tetlow, born February 23, 1818, died January 17, i8qo; Josiah, the second child, was born February 19, 1820, and died August 19, 1822; Elizabeth, born October

17, 182T, died September 20, 1822; Amelia, born June 3, 1824, died January 13, 1878; Catharine, born June 10, 1826, died on the 28th day of September, that year; Calvin 0., our subject, is the next in order of birth; Sarah Ann, born January 3, 1 S'? s, died Sentember 7, 1833; Harrison Irving, born Novembe 7, 1S37: Thomas, born October 13, 1840, of whom further mention may be found on a contiguous uage of this volume; Henrietta, the youngest of this family, was born June 16, 1847.

Peter Wolf, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Shull, married Elizabeth Grove, a de¬ scendant of Hans Groff (John Grove), a Protestant who emigrated from Holland to America in 1744 to escape religious persecu¬ tion. The children of Peter and Elizabeth (Grove) Wolf, were: Peter, Henry, Jacob, Daniel, Julia Ann and Sarah, the last named being the mother of our subject.

Dr. Calvin 0. Shull, the subject of this review, lias practically spent all of his life in Indiana, ha\ :ng been brought to Milton, Wayne county, by his parents at four years of age. He worked in his father's store, of which he had charge at the age of fourteen, conducting it for two years; the business was then disposed of so that young Calvin might go to school. His medical education began at the age of eighteen years, at which time he began his technical reading under Dr. David Funkhauser, a prominent physi¬ cian of Indianapolis who was his preceptor for a short time. Subsequently he was ma¬ triculated at the old Indiana Central Medical College at Indianapolis, which was a part of the Asbury University, and which soon after passed out of existence. In June of that, year he located in Montpelier where his brother William, a physician, was in active practice. A partnership was formed with his brother, which association was ter¬ minated at the end of the year. 1 Ie then practiced a1 me. and at the end of the second year of his professional career he had built np and was in control of a large and lucra¬ tive practice which extended into four coun¬ ties. the greater part, however, coming from W ells county.

From 1870 until 1880 Dr. Shull was as¬ sociated with J. P. A. Leonard in the drugbusiness under the firm nam of C. O. Shull & Co. T11 April, 1870, he took active part in organizing- the Citizens Bank, of Hart¬ ford City, and was elected its vice-president, a position which he held until the reorganiza¬ tion of the bank, twenty years later. This was a state bank, and was organized with a paid-up capital of twenty-five thousand dol¬ lars. In 1887 the capital was increased to sixty thousand dollars. In 1880 this hankestablished at Montpelier a branch known as the Citizens Bank, of which Dr. Shull took charge. After doing business for ten years it was discontinued, for the Doctor's health had become so poor that he could no longer give it the proper attention.

In February, 1900, Dr. L. E. Maddox, D. A. Bryson and Dr. Shull conceived the idea of establishing a national bank at Mont¬ pelier, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. The books were opened for subscriptions, the stock subscribed, with the above named gen¬ tlemen principal stockholders, and the doors of the bank were opened for business on April 15, with Dr. Shull, president: H. B. Smith, of the Citizens State Bank, of Hart¬ ford City, vice-president; D. A. Bryson, cashier, and Dr. L. E. Maddox, assistant cashier.

principal organizers of the Salamonie Min¬ ing & Gas Company, in October, 1887, \\ . \\ . W orthington, of Fort M'avnc, becoming its president; the object of this company was to drill for gas. The first well was put down on what is now W indsor street, and at a depth of nine hundred and sixty-three feet Trenton rock was found, into which they drilled, finding oil tit thirteen leet and at eighteen feet a spraying well. As the well had been put down for the purpose of finding gas, a disappointment w as felt in the discovery of oil, the prospectors little dream¬ ing of the riches that lay in store beneath the surface. While there was a goodly sup¬ ply of gas in this well, the abundance of oil prevented it from being used and conse¬ quently the well lay idle for about two years : during this time large tracts of land were leased. The Northern Indiana Oil Com¬ pany was now organized, with Dr. Shull as president ; the company leased eight thou sand acres of land, and drilled its first well two miles .northeast of the town; this proved rels of oil, which w as stored in tanks. The tanks were struck bv lightning and entirely destroyed with their contents. The next well was drilled at the village of Keystone, and was a one-hundred-and-twenty-five-barrel well. This was the beginning of the oil excitement which swept northeastern In¬ diana. The well at Keystone is still beingpumped and is a good producer. Dr. Shull sold his interest in the Northern- Indiana Oil Company at the end of two years. lie is the owner of several hundred acres of land, all of which is oil-producing, in addition to which he has important real estate interests and business property in the town of Mont¬ pelier.

Miss Mary Cornelison Scucldcr, April 29, 1852. This lady is the daughter of Caleb and Mary (Gardiner) Scndder, her father being- one of the typical pioneer settlers of this state. He was born in Westfield, Essex county, New Jersey, in 1795, and was mar¬ ried in 1814, removing shortly afterwards to Cincinnati, Ohio, and later to Dayton, Ohio. In 1821 he made a permanent loca¬ tion at Indianapolis, and so new and wild was the country that he frequently shot wild turkeys on what is now Washington street o! that city. He was a cabinetmaker bv trade, and in his shop the first Sabbath school ever held in Indianapolis was organized and for a considerable time conducted. When the week's work was over on Saturday night the tools were carefully put away, the shav¬ ings swept out and benches arranged for the next day's service. Mr. Scndder suc¬ ceeded Judge Newcomb to the mayoralty of Indianapolis, being the second to hold that position. He died at his residence at the corner of Market and Tennessee streets, March 9, 1866, and his wife, who was born in December, 1793, died May 28, 1867. Their daughter, Mary Cornelison, horn March 3, 1834, is now the honored wife of our subject.

Of the children of Dr. and Mrs. Shull we make record as follows: Mary Ella, born November 2, 1854; Ida Bell, born Septem¬ ber 22, 1856, is now the wife of William Beard, of Mendon, Michigan; Alice Eva, born February 11, i860, died November 29, 1864; Eugine C, born March 1863.

Dr. Shull is not in active practice at this writing, although he occasionally visits a friend when asked to do so;. he has not, how¬ ever, lost interest in his chosen profession, being a member of the Blackford County Medical Society, Delaware District Medical

Society, Indiana .State Medical Society, American Medical Association, and his other extensive business interests which claim al¬ most all of his time. Dr. Shull lias reached his sixty-ninth milestone on life's journey, and retains to. a remarkable degree both the mental and physical vigor that is generally supposed to belong to younger years.

Sanguine in temperament and retaining a fine equipoise in discernment, his decisions according to his knowledge are on the side is clear in his deductions, concise in his state¬ ments and a spirit of frankness and candor characterize him in manner and speech. Broadly American in his views, there is in his composition nothing which begets nar¬ rowness, radical offensiveness, or the idle day dreaming of visionary schemers.

Samuel Newton Jay

The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were among the early Quakers of Pennsylvania, and later the name became widely known throughout certain sections of Ohio, and in various parts of Indiana. Mr. Jay's father, Lot B. Jay, for many years a resident of Jay county, Indiana, was born October 2, 1827, in Miami county, Ohio, and departed this life in December, 1898, in Cumberland county, Illinois. He married Sarah L. Taylor on the 2d day of October, 1851, and had children, among whom was the subject of this sketch.

The parents of Lot B. Jay were John and Lucy (Toles) Jay, the former horn at New¬ berry, South Carolina, August 24, 1780, and the latter in the same state on the 17th of April, 1787. John and Lucy Jay were mar¬ ried in the state of their nativity, February

23' t8°3, and died in Miami county, Ohio, September 6, 1846, and September 16, 1849, respectively. John Jay was the oldest of live children, three sons and two daughters, born to William Jay and his second wife, Margaret, all of whom emigrated from South Carolina early in the nineteenth cent¬ ury and settled in Miami county, Ohio. From the most reliable information obtain¬ able the father of the above John Jay ap¬ pears to have been William Jay, whose birth occurred ' Frederick county, Virginia, about the \ ar 1 745 > and who married in that state Mary Vestal. W illiam and Mary Jay were the parents of eight children, all of whom after the father's death emigrated, about the year 1770, to South Carolina, from whence their descendants drifted to various parts of the country, south and west.

The remote history of the- Jay family is enveloped in considerable obscurity, and it -S impossible to determine definitely its origin or fix the date of the arrival of any of its members in the new world. The concensus of opinion, however, favors English ances¬ try, and it is believed by some that the Amer¬ ican branch is descended from a gentleman of considerable social standing who located in Maryland when that colony was governed by Lord Baltimore.

The original settlement of the family ap¬ pears to have been in St. Mary's county, and later a home was located in the county of Montgomery. From here their descend¬ ants afterwards crossed the Potomac and settled in Fairfax and Frederick counties, Virginia; thence in process of time various emigrations took place, principally south¬ ward, to one of which reference is made above.