Washington Township (part 8 of 16)

Tup Biographical Pcord

was still young. She remained on her farm., keeping her little family together, sufferingmany privations that she might not sacrifice j the personal oversight of her little ones. Theodore remained at home till sixteen, re¬ ceiving but a brief sei ooling, having attended lun three months, and none after lie was fifteen years old. The subsequent five ''ears were passed in ratlier a roving life, vi. ting Boston to the east, and tting as far west as Iowa. He returned occasionally to the old home and then would be absent for months at a time. He finally decided to re- j turn and was, on the 23d of January, 1879, united in marriage to Miss Eunice Ann Handley, daughter of the former prominent citizen, Washi m Handle)'. Hei grand¬ father, Jeremiah Handley, a native of Penn¬ sylvania, entered the land comprised in the present Clapper home, the old land patent, dated March 20, 1837, signed by President VanBuren, being still in the hands of Mr. Clapper. Here he lived and died when about seventy-five years old, being well re¬ called by Eunice, who was then a girl of about eight years. He was one of the bestremembered characters of early days, and his home was the abode of unlimited hospitality. His three sons were George Washington, Burris and Lafayette. Of these Lafayette resides at Muncie, he having been a citizen of Blackford comity until quite recent years. Burris Handley reared a family here and died while a soldier. ( Icon Washington remained at home, caring for his parents in their extreme age. Il< married Sarah Jlellyer in Guernsey county, Ohio, where both of them were born. He resided on this farm during- the greater portion of his life and here he died, December 7, 1874, at the age of fifty-four. IBs widow survived him some time, dying in her fifin'- sixth year.

Of the eight children born to them but two, P.uuice, and Charlotte, wife of Jacob | Remington, of Roy 11 ton, India 1, survive at the end of the century. After the mother's death Mr. and Mrs. Clapper pur¬ chased the remaining interests in the old homestead, which now contains one hundred and lift) six acres. Mr. Clapper has done much to enhance its productiveness and value, having placed nearly eighty acres in cultivation. Considerable of this was wet and swampy and of no value till his trans¬ forming efforts converted it into the most valuable and productive land on the entire estate. Being quick to adapt himself and with a; aptitude for mechanics, he became quite proficient in handling tools and soon acquired considerable skill, so that be has ! with his own hands erected suitable build¬ ings which, with many valuable improve ments shown all over the farm, give it a most pleasing and prosperous appearance, f ie has added another farm of seventy-four acres, adjoining, and which he also operates. He has been identified with other business interests, having for some time manufac¬ tured and sold a valuable patent fence, and for three years operated a brick yard in Hart¬ ford.

Mrs. Clapper has attained an enviable reputation as an expert butter maker and from iheir herd of high-grade cows sends the choicest dairy product to the tables of such private customers as will be satisfied with only the most delicate article.

They are the parents of six interesting children, born in the following order: Urbine O., Edgar Poe, Sarah Catherine, Flora Ann, Blanche Delight and Alta May. They lost one in infancy, Henry C. Mr. Clapper is recognized as one of the leading Populists of Blackf >rd county, having been chosen re-

Ira L. Townsend

Among the prominent business men of Hartford City may be mentioned Ira L. rownsend. For many years he was engaged in contracting and building, and erected many of the private residences of Hartford City and adjacent country.

Mr. Townsend was born in Blackford county, November io, 1852, and was' a son of John and Temperance ^ Bailey ) Town¬ send. John Townsend, the father of our subject, was a son of Gilbert and Mary (Saxton) Townsend. He was born in Steuben county, New York, where he mar¬ ried Temperance Householder, daughter of William and Elizabeth Householder, bv whom he had ten children: Mary E. (Mrs. John Hedge) ; .Emily T. (Mrs Phillip Co¬ vault); Lydia (Mrs. Aaron Casterline); John W. ; Henry H.; Louis B. ; Ira L., the subject; Charles M. (deceased) ; Flak dead, and George O.. deceased. The Townsend family are of English descent and located in New York state. At an early day John Townsend removed to Pennsylvania and in 1840 located in Blackford county and en¬ gaged in farming, which occupation he fol¬ lowed until his death in Illinois, where he removed when our subject was but a child.

The subject of this review was united in marriage on March 2, 1879, to Laura O. Cantwell, by whom he had six children: Maud, born April 9, 1879, died Septeml r 3, i <879; an infant, deceased, unnamed; Harry, born in August, 18S1, died in Jan-

: Gertrude, born January (>. 1888. Mr. Town- ! send died June 5, 1897, and in his death his family lost a kind and generous fathei and | tin community in which he lived a life time ! a good citizen. On the maternal side, Mr. Townsend's great-grandfather. John Sax¬ ton. was a soldier of the Revolution and died at the age of one hundred and one years.

! Mr. Townsend's eldest brother, John, was a soldier ol the C ivil war. Mrs. Townsend and family in their religious convictions are Methodists, of which church they are con¬ sistent members. Politically he was a stanch Democrat, and while not a seeker after public office wok a deep and decided interest in the success of his party. He left an estate of two residence properties and what was of more worth, an untarnished name, and was universally respected for his upright, manly character. Mrs. Townsend is a daughter of John Cantwell, who is prop¬ erly mentioned in this work, and the sister of S. W. Cantwell, the attorney of Hart¬ ford City.

Dodge Swift

Dodge Swift, who lias been a resident of Blackford county for more than half a century, and is widely known as one of its most wide-awake and progressive citizens, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 5, 1848. The family, so far as can lie traced, is of English origin, the grandfather of our subject becoming a resident of Ohio very early in the present century.

was but an infant of a few weeks, came to Indiana. The only other member of l he family at that time was a son of Lucinda's, Chester Birch, then a lad of four years. 1 lis first farm in Licking township was consider¬ ably cleaned and improved when, after about twelve rs' residence, he sold it and .pur¬ chased >A hat has ever since been known as the Swift homestead, of which a part is in¬ corporated in the present farm of his son Dodge., Of about two hundred acres, forty only was in cultivation at the time of its purchase and the residence was < me of the primitive homemade, he wed-log affairs. Richard converted some fifty acres of the wilderness into tillable and fertile fields and erected the house now standing about 1875.

Dodge's mother having died when he was still a small boy, he owes much to his stepmother, Mary Snyder, who is still a re¬ spected resident of Hartford City. Her son, Sylvester Swift, has retained the old homestead, having purchased the interests of various heirs and reincorporated most of it into one valuable farm. When Dodge was nineteen he yieldc- to the youthful prompt¬ ings for adventm and sought to find the satisfaction for his thirst in the west, which then offered many inducements to the young man. Reaching the great plains beyond the Missouri river, he entered the employ of the government, which was then construct¬ ing Fort Zaro, on the Arkansas river in western Kansas. After some months spent on that work, and seeing a good deal of frontier existence, with its ups and downs, lie decided that a less exc ng life would satisfy his cravings and g .in sought -the old fireside and the companionship of other days. That experience was valuable to him in many ways and while there was much that was unpleasant, it was seeing

Not long after his return he was wedded to Miss Dona Slater, daughter of James and Jane Slater, who w as born on the pres¬ ent: well-known Noonan farm in Licking township. He first secured the old Groves farm, but after six years purchased his pres¬ ent farm, which comprises forty acres of his father's estate, though he had received as In's inheritance but sixteen acres. I lis farm embraces one hundred and fourteen acres, all well drained and otherwise highly improved. About twenty acres of it, which was origi¬ nally swamp and valueless, has been drained with judicious tiling and has become the most productive of the entire tract. With a handsome residence and commodious barn and other buildings all arranged in tasteful manner, the place presents an appearance that commends to the traveler the skill, judg¬ ment and business sagacity of the proprietor. Keeping such graded stock as the farm will support, he pays some considerable attention to sheep, having that justly celebrated breed, the Oxford Downs. While growing ex¬ tensive crops of grain, it is usually consumed by the stock and through them he receives handsome and substantial returns for his labor and care.

While making no pretense as a politician, Mr. Swift is considered a substantial and in¬ fluential Democrat, though as parties have shifted under late industrial influence, he has assumed a more independent position, stand¬ ing more closely with the great body of intel¬ ligent American voters who wear no party collar and who are not moved at the crack of party whip. That spirit of independence in Mr. Swift is illustrated also in his adhesion to no church or creed and to his having only

1 1 is family consists o five children, viz: Mary, wife of Alexander Lowe, of Licking township : 1 Iarry, who is one of the county's progressive teachers, having had a technical training at Lafayette; Ida, who is an expert tailorcss working at Hartford; Asa and Lu¬ cinda, both at home.

Sylvester Swift

Sylvester Swift is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres situated two miles southwest of Hartford City, upon which his father, Richard Swift, had settled in i860, and upon which Syl¬ vester was born December 3, 1864.

Richard Swift was boi 1 in Ohio, being the only son of an early pioneer of that state, who was of English descent. Ilis first wife was Lucinda Roach, after whose death he wedded Mary M. Snyder, the mother of Sylester. This lady survives her husband, re¬ siding at present in Hartford. 1 he youth of Sylvester was quite like that of other boys of the neighborhood, attending the dis¬ trict school a small part of each year. He remained under the parental roof until at¬ taining his twenty-third year, since which time, with brief exceptions, his life has been mainly spent in the gold mines of Colorado. He early became interested in mining and its fascinations so grew upon him that he remained in that line of employment. Soon after first going west lie found work as a woodchopper, but in a short time secured a place in a stamp mill as an ordinary laborer, lie continued several years as an employee, becoming a trusted foreman for some time, when-lie had 11 - >st responsible work to super¬ vise. He secured the lease of valuable mines, the operation of which proved quite remunerative to him until the lease expired, but not being able to extend the lease, he re¬ sumed work as an employee for others, l ie lived amid the excitement of mining towns and among the mines ii which he worked that of the famous San Juan mine, of Gil¬ pin county, Colorado, is well known. He retained his interest in the old home and when not actively engaged in mining would pass his time on the homestead.

In 1887 he> having always cherished a de¬ sire to be the owner of the old home, began to buy the interests of the other heirs, and he continued this process until he owned one hundred and thirty-seven of the two hun¬ dred acres that constitute the homestead. He has added to these purchases until his farm now contains one hundred and seventyseven acres in a body. The residence was erected by his father, but Sylvester has built two commodious barns and has himself placed seventy-five acres in cultivation. It is only within the past year that his entire time has been devoted to the management of the farm, although the improvements have been going on for some years. It can now be considered the most desirable stock farm in its vicinity. Its well-tilled fields, some of them reel ai me- rom a valueless condition by judicious rainage, yield a golden tribute for the care and labor be¬ stowed upon them. While not making any pretensions as a thoroughbred stockman, Mr. Swift keeps high grades of all kinds of profitable stock and through these converts the crops of grain grown upon the farm.

die 13th of March, 1897, lie was again joined in matrimony, his choice falling upon Mrs. llalie Smith, daughter of Octavius Shafer, of New Castle. Indiana. Their family consists of one son, born to Mrs. Swift of her former marriage, aged eight years. Mr. Swift, having his interests for so long a time in the mines, earl)' became imbued with the principles of the Democratic part), which applied with double force to the intere of the new west, and has cast his franchise with that organization. However, his political ambition extends only to the general welfare, he not having aspirations of a personal nature to he appeased by pub¬ lic. office. Mr. Swift is . . splendid specimen of the wide-awake, progressive citizens of to-day, whose energies are so fast transform¬ ing the state of Indiana do the finest agri¬ cultural section of the Union. The reputa¬ tion of the Swift family, established by his father, is well maintained by the son and his charming wife, many finding great enjoy¬ ment in partaking of their open-hearted hos¬ pitality.

Lewis Twibell

Among the older residents of the county who were born within its borders is the above gentleman, whose birth occurred near Mont¬ pelier in Harrison township, May 26, 1842, being the son of David and Margaret Twibell. His boyhood and youth were passed upon the farm of his birth, he doing his part in clearing and improving a new farm.

December 3, 1863, he offered his services to the government, being assigned to Com¬ pany I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indi¬ ana Volunteer Infantry, lie first felt the thrill of battle at Kcsaca, soon after the opening of that memorable campaign to At¬ lanta. lie was in the inks with his com¬ panions in each of the battles of that strug¬ gle. 11 is regiment was returned in pursuit of Hood after the fall of Atlanta, the pur¬ suit ending in the bloody and decisive battle of Nashville, where blood withdrew. The One Hundred and Thirtieth was recalled to be sent to join Sherman, who was then on his way north from the sea; the route was a circuitous one, via Cincinnati and Wash¬ ington to Newburu, North Carolina, where young Twibell v .'laced in a hospital. He was not atterw nt to his command, but when able was n a driver for the hospital steward, in which capacity he was retained until his discharge under general orders in June, 1865.

Upon his return to his old home he worked by the year and by the month until his marriage, on the 22d of November, 1868, to Miss Philena Elizabeth Bowman, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Stout) Bowman, of Licking township. Her fa¬ ther was born in Washington county, Penn¬ sylvania, and came while yet a young man to BlackiV>rd county in company with his sister, Deliliah, who became the wife of Benjamin Stout and is now a widow, living in Kansas. Levi and Benjamin, it ap¬ pears, traded sisters, as he married Eliza! h Stout, who was the daughter of David and Nancy Stout.

Levi Bowman entered a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in section 35 of Licking township, and devoted his life to its improvement, succeeding in making a productive and valuable farm. He laid a great deal of the early style wooden ditches and erected the house in which his son, George B., now lives, 188S. He had but fairly gotten it completed and in a comfort- lie was a chairmaker by trade and through working at his trade was able to live quite comfortably, making chairs for his neighbors in exchange for other labor or for living necessities. About the last set of chairs he ever made were for a wedding present for his daughter, Mrs. Twibell, who Iras preserved them, not only as a family heirloom but as a reminder of the pioneer life in which her own family bore a conspic¬ uous part. Another interesting relic is a wooden brace he made and used for many years.

His family of nine children were as fol¬ lows : William Henry, whose life was sac¬ rificed in the army service at the age of ttwenty-four ; John A. died at the age of twenty-five years, just after his return from army service; Mary 1 "artha d'ed aged twen¬ ty ; Charles Wesley served in the same com¬ pany as Mr. Twibell; his death vras coinci¬ dent with an i oortant event of the count)', his burial occurring the same day tire corner¬ stone was laid for the new court-house; Ben¬ jamin A. resides on the homestead; Levi Sylvester, of Leroy, Michigan; George B., on the homestead; Nancy L., wife of Mar¬ tin Ylounce, of Dundee, Indiana, and Philena Elizabeth.

Soon after his marriage Air. Twibell secured eighty acres of his present farm; it had less than forty cleared and that was in a dilapidated condition. A log house com¬ prised the only building, the fences were rot¬ ten and there had been no attempt, to drain the tract. Alany years of toilsome labor and economical living were required and ex¬ perienced before the farm began to assume the right appearance arid condition of soil and improvements. Yet, with the perse¬ verance horn of determination, the result began to appear from chaos and a valuable farm began to assume definite shape. ' lav¬ ing his plans outlined, lie began to work to ly all of which is in an excellent state of eul - tivation. An open drain extends through the tract, affording admirable openings for the tile drains he has laid, extending into every part of the farm, in some instances resulting in making valuable land out o what was formerly swamp and pond. The entire tract is composed of a fine quality of black soil which excels in the production ol fine crops of all kinds of cereals. Most of the grain grown is consumed by stock of his own raising, most of which is well graded and bears the markings of the full bloods. Lyi ng in the gas belt, his farm is leased, but not as yet developed, though he is a stockholder in a ndighbo hood well that supplies an abund ce of fuel.

The Twibell family embraces four chil¬ dren, of whom Nora Alay is the wife of Henry Wilson, and resides on an adjoining farm; Almeda Elizabeth is the wife of Ja¬ cob P. Parker, of whom fur her mention is found on another page; Charles C. Twibell is wedded to Eliza M. Mayo and lives near his father, operating part of the homestead. They have one son. Henry Dewey; Laura E., the youngest, is a lady of promise who still remains at home as the comfort of her parents.

Politically Air. Twibell is a Republican and has often served his party as a delegate to its conventions. Though preferring to attend to private affairs, he has not sought the emoluments of public station, though no man is held in greater estimation by the rank and file of the parly. For years he has served mini Carmel Methodist Episcopal church . the capacity of trustee, lie has been superintendent and teacher of the Sun¬ day school, and all that makes for a better citizenship, broader education and higher

John Hart

John Hart, prominent as one of the re¬ tired farmers and stockdealers of Blackford county, is a son of John \Y . and Margaret (Bly;.ii) Hart. His father was one of the early settlers of Blackford comity, settling here in 1850. He was born in Bedford county. Pennsylvania, and there learned the trade of a tanner. When a young man lie went to Ohio and settled near Steu¬ benville where he followed his trade for a short time, when he found employment at the salt works. After his marriage he rented a farm upon which lie lived for a while, when he moved on a farm near Waynesburg, Ohio. Upon this place he remained until lie came to Blackford county, and the winter of his arrival here was spent near Hartford. In the spring of 1851 he purchased the farm where William Snyder now lives, consisting of one hundred and seventy-seven acres of land for which lie paid four hundred and fifty dollars. Sturdy, indeed, were the men who entered upon the task of clearing and improving so wild a region as Blackford count} was at that time and of laying 'he foundations of the noble institutions that now stand as monuments t > their energy, enterprise and will power; such was the father of (lie subject of this sketch, lie was .1 man of fine physical development, standing five feet and eleven inches, affable and of kindly disposition, i !c became wide¬ ly and favorably known and highly respected in the locality in which he settled, lie was active in all matters of public improvement and took a decided interest in good roads, man)' of which lie helped to lay out. His death occurred February 29, 1896. in his ninety-fourth year.

When he settled upon his farm he erected a log house, 18x20, which was his home un¬ til i860, when he built the house now on the place. Fifteen years before his death he re¬ moved to Montpelier and spent the rest of his days with his daughter, Mrs. Cunning¬ ham. His wife was Margaret Blyth and they were the parents of ten children, as fol¬ lows : Henry, living in Harrison township; Abner, of the same township; John, our sub¬ ject; Sarah Ann, wife of Richard McIn¬ tyre, of : atlin, Illinois; Malisa, wife of Henry ; mingham, of Montpelier, Indi¬ ana; Wiuaim; Mary J., wife of Andrew J. Mann; Lorinda R., wife of Eli .Arnold, of W< county; Cordelia, deceased wife of W y Stallsmith, and Nancy A., wife of Jao. Kirkpatrick.

John Hart, the subject of this biography, was horn near Waynesburg, Stark county, Ohio, February 28, 1832. He received as good an education as the schools of his child¬ hood would afford. He was nineteen years of age when his father came to Blackford county and he has helped to bring the county to its present condition of prosperity.

mained one summer, and then returned to Harrison township and found employment at farming, working out until his marriage, when he purchased a farm of unimproved land of one hundred and sixty acres in sec¬ tion 7, Harrison township. Upon this farm lie lived until he purchased his present place of residence, in TS92. Upon this farm of one hundred and sixty acres lie made all the improvements and brought it to its present high state of cultivation. In 1898 he purchased the place where he now re¬ sides, consisting of ninety acres, and has re¬ tired from active business. Mr. Hart was married, on October ,3, 1864. to Miss Sarah Wood, who was born in Morrow county. Ohio, and is a daughter of Reason and Jane Wood. To this marriage have been born five children, viz: Allen G., a farmer of Harrison township, married Lizzie Strong and thev had one child. His second marriage was with Malinn Kitterman and thev have three children: Mabel M. (deceased), one which died in infanc)7, and Elmer R. Ab¬ ner. deceased. James, also on the farm with his broth r Allen ; lie has been twice married, his first wife being Florence Rayn, and his second Annie McGeath ; he had one child by his first wife, Earl I T., and two by the second, one which died in infancy and Elmer H. Reason W. died June 22, 18 . ag twen¬

In his political views Mr. Hart is a Democrat. Mrs. Hart, in her religious con¬ nection, is a Baptist. The respect, courtesy and kindness which Mr. Hart always shows to everyone, and the kindly charity and ab¬ sence of all selfish feelings, indicate the char¬ acter of the gentleman whose name heads this biography.

The subject of this sketch was horn in Jefferson countv, Ohio, November 25. 1829. He is a son of Joint and Margaret ( Myth ) .1 {art, whose biographies appear elsewhere in this work. In 1851, when his father set¬ tled in Harrison township. Air. Hart canto with him and remained upon the farm until 1856. He had before coming to Black¬ ford county n reived such education as the old I 'g school houses afforded, and had been raised to farm work. In Lite year Iasi men¬ tioned he was married, 011 August 7, to Aliss Matha Huggins, a native of Wetzel county. West Virginia, whose father removed from Pennsylvania and settled in West Virginia. In 1834 he came to Blackford county and settled, upon one hundred and sixty acres situated where Sarah Stortz now resides.

After his marriage our subject bought a farm of fifty -three acres, on section 7. Upon this tract was a log cabin which was the home of the family until 1865. In 1862 be purchased eighty acres more in section 7. and in 1865 he purchased forty acres of land in section 6, upon which he now resides. He also owns an improved farm of forty acres in Wells county. For a number of years Mr. Hart would work at carpenter work through die summer month ; and in the whi¬ te he w d clear his land, and in this way as the y( s passed he succeeded in makingone of tlu est farms in the county. Both of his farms are under cultivation, and after many years of hard work Mr. Hart has re¬ tired from active business and is now reap¬ ing the benefits of a well-spent life. In his political convictions Mr. Hart is a stanch Democrat, hut has never been a seeker of of ficc, as the cares of a busy life have left him no time to devote to public affairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Hart are the parents of five children as follows: Albert and Rosetta, twins. Albert is a farmer of Harrison town¬ ship, and Rosetta is the wife of D. Kiterman, of Washington township. Sarah M., wife of John W. Drake, of Wells county, Indiana; John \V., at home with his parents, and Emma E., wife of William Rabb, of Wells county, Indiana.

Henry Ward Beecher spoke the following words: "You cannot succeed in life by spasmodic jerks. You can not win confidence, nor earn friendship, nor gain influence, nor attain skill, nor reach position by violent snatches." Not by a single jump, nor by a single stroke of good fortune did Thomas T. McGeath become a permanent and im¬ portant factor in the business and political relations of Blackford county. Mr. Mc¬ Geath was born upon the farm where his brother, John McGeath, now lives, on February 29, 1840. He was a son of Lew¬ is and Rachel (Twivell) McGeath. He re¬ ceived such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded at that time, and at the age of twenty-one began teaching in the schools of his township, and taught two terms. He then took charge of his father's farm, where he remained until 1865, when he purchased the nucleus, sixty acres, of the estate of two hundred and seventy acres left to his family at the time of his death. The original sixty acres of land purchased by Mr. McGeath was wild and unimproved, and but twenty acres cleared. He built a small frame house upon it, and as the years rolled by, by judicious and practical manage¬ ment lie made it one of the finest farms in the county. In addition to his general farming he was engaged in the breeding and feeding of cattle and hogs of fine grades, and horses of heavy draught and for general purposes. Mr. McGeath was married, March 30, 1862, to Miss Jane, daughter of James and Elenor (Wot ten) Rhine, who were born in Jay county, Indiana. Mr. Rhine moved to Blackford county in 1847. By his marriage with Miss Rhine our subject had the follow¬ ing children : Laura A., wife of Henry Sills; James M. ; Charles C. ; Rachel, deceased; Cora, deceased wife of Frank Sanders; William A.; John L. ; W. Curtis; one who died unnamed; Thomas F. ; Madison G. and Harry S.

Politically Mr. McGeath was a Demo¬ crat, and served as county commissioner for nine consecutive years, and as justice of the peace for two years. He was a man of won¬ derful push and perseverance, and it may be said truly that no man did more to advance the interest of the county than he. His death occurred September 19, 1899, and his mortal remains now rest in peace in the I. O. O. F. cemetery of Montpelier. His unspotted name has been left to his family as a precious heritage.

Abner Hart

The subject of this review was born De¬ cember 9, 1830, and is a son of John and Margaret (Blyth) Hart. Mr. Hart's birth occurred near Amsterdam, Ohio, in Jefferson county. He was in his twenty-first year when he came to Blackford count)'-, and as¬ sisted his father in the clearing and improv¬ ing of the farm upon which they settled. At the age of twenty-eight he rented the home farm, which he continued to operate, his lather still remaining upon same. In 1870 he purchased the same from his father, and upon this finely improved place he has since resided. .

As stated in the sketch of John Ilart, Sr., Blackford county at the time of his arrival was a wild and unimproved country, and our subject did not possess many opportunities for an education, walking one and a half miles to attend the old subscription schools of those times, but by personal study and ' observation he is to-day one of the well in¬ formed men of the county. lie has been a life long Democrat, believing in the princi¬ ples of that party, and as such has always taken a deep interest in its success. During his active bush; ss life Mr. Hart devoted his land to general farming, but of late years he has retired from active participation in the work of the farm, and now, in the evening of his life, he is enjoying the reward of a well spent life, respected and esteemed by his friends and the community in which he has spent half a century.

George Humphreys

Standing prominent among the men who have done so much to make Blackford county one of the leading counties of the state, is the subject of this review. He was born in Pennsylvania, June 28, 1831, a son of

Thomas and Sophia (Dellaven) Hum¬ phreys, and it would be well to mention here that both the Humphreys and DePIaven fam¬ ilies are among the early pioneer families of western Pennsylvania. Mr. Humphreys re¬ ceived his education in the old subscription schools of the day. His father removed from

Pennsylvania to Knox county, Ohio, when our subject was a small lad. and settled near Bellville, where Mr. Humphreys grew to manhood upon a farm. At the age of eighteen he apprenticed himself to learn (he cabinetmaker's trade, serving two years at the business in Palmyra, Ohio. After he had acquired his trade he followed carpenter¬ ing work for some two years, and in 1868 he came to Blackford county, and purchased in Harrison township eighty acres of unim¬ proved land, upon which was a log house. Upon this place he lived until 1 880, and by well directed efforts and good business man- | agement made it one of the finest farms in the township. In this year he purchased and moved upon his present farm, which con¬ sists of one hundred and sixty acres. This land also at the time it became the property of Mr. Humphreys was a wild tract, which he has cleared and erected all the improve¬ ments, tiled and drained and put in its pres¬ ent state of fine cultivation.

Mr. Humphreys was one of a family of four, as follows: Sarah, George (our sub¬ ject), Joseph and Daniel, all deceased, Jo¬ seph dying in California. In 1859 Mr. Hum¬ phreys was married to Miss Rebecca Evers, daughter of David and Mary Evers, of Knox county, Ohio, and by this union they have had the folowing children : David, Ella, Jane, George, Rose, Lizzie, Eva M., Bessie, Blanche, and five who are deceased.

Politically Mr. Humphreys is an ardent Republican, and while he has never sought office he has always taken a commendable interest in the success of his party. Mr. Humphrey's advantages as a young man were very limited, and his success in life has been the result of his own efforts. As a citizen lie stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and the people of Blackford

William Adams

William Adams, farmer and stock raiser, is one of Blackford county's enterprising and progressive citizens. Tie was born near Greenfield, Ross county, Ohio, September 23. 1840, and is a son of James and Martha (Devoss) Adams. Mr. Adams received such education as could he obtained in the common schools of that time, and was raised a farmer. lie was one of a family of five children, as follows: Anna E., John A., Williai Margaret, deceased, and Sylvester, also deceased.

When Mr. Adams was ten years of age his parents moved to Buena Vesta, Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood. At the age of eighteen he commenced the battle of life for himself, by finding' employment at farm work, which he followed until April 1 9, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in response to the first call for men for the threemonths service. He was mustered in at Columbus, Ohf and sent from there to Virginia where ley guarded the B. & O. Railroad between Parkersburg and Clarks¬ burg, remaining there forty days. Later Mr. Adams, in December. 1861, again en¬ listed in Company C, Fifty urth Ohio Vol¬ unteer Infantry, for three yv. s, and yvas sent to Camp Dennison, yvherc they remained until the following March, when they em¬ barked on boats and were sent to Pitsburg Landing. They yvere in the battle of Shiloh, and then joined the advance on Corinth,

Mississippi, but before arriving there Mr. Adams was taken sick and was sent to the hospital, from there being sent back to Camp Dennison, and later was discharged for disabili ty on July 25, 1862.

After his discharge he returned to Ohio, and found employment in a still-house and later again engaged in farm work near Sa¬ bina. In the fall of 1865 he yvent to Ran¬ dolph county, Indiana, and engaged in farm yvork for one year, when he engaged in farm¬ ing for himself. Tn 1880 he removed to Jay county. Indiana, yvhere he remained for three year-, when lie came to Blackford coun¬ ty, and settled in Harrison township, pur¬ chasing eighty acres of land, of yvhich there were only twenty-five dw red and upon yvhich yvas a log cabin. Mr. Adams has to-day one of the fine improved farms of the county. It is under a high state of cultivation and has excellent improvements, all of yvhich he has placed on the farm. Mr. Adams was mar¬ ried, on the 2 1st of July, 1 866, to Miss Rachel Thornberry, daughter of Curtis Thornberry, and this union has been blessed with the birth of six children, namely: Ida M., Laura, Curtis E., Minnie, deceased, Ethel and Flora.

Mr. Adams is engaged in general farm¬ ing and stock raising, and is looked upon in the county as one of its substantial and goahead men, being' broad gauged and progres¬ sive in all that the words mean. He keeps abreast of the times, is a yvell-read man on all (juestions of the day, and in his political vieyvs he is a stanch Republican, believing that the principles "of that party are neces¬ sary to the welfare of the country.

lie is a member of Johnson Po-t, G. A. R., of Montpelier, of yvhich post he is chap¬ lain and has held {his most honorable posi¬ tion for six years. I11 his religious con- vietion lie adheres to the Clirislian church, of which he is a consistent member, its secre¬ tary and one of its honored trustees. A representative citizen and neighbor, he is regarded by all as a good soldier and a man

Few men have as strongly marked in¬ dividuality as the gentleman whose brief "biography is herewith set forth anti none within the last quarter of a ec fury have exercised a greater influence upon the politi¬ cal and professional life of Hartford City. Paternally Mr. Moffett is descended from an old and prominent pioneer family which settled many years ago near the present city of Wooster, Ohio, while on his mother's side he traces his ancestry back to the original settlement of Fostoria, that state, at which place his mother, Sarah Ann (Price) Mof¬ fett, was born and reared. T' e father, James H. Moffett, was an attorney and prac¬ ticed his profession for some years at Mill Grove, Ohio, where in addition to his legal business he was also for thirty years engaged in merchandising.

He was a man of education and refine¬ ment, universally well informed, and tor some years filled the position of high school principal at Fostoria. He entered the army during the war of the Rebellion with a captain's commission, but saw little active service in i at capacity, his principal duty while at the front being in connection with hospital work.

Enoch 1)., whose name introduces this arti¬ cle, and Olivia 1)., deceased. "The mother of these children departed this life in 1871. and his death occurred subsequently.

Enoch DeSo.to Moffett was born in Fos¬ toria, Ohio, August 7, 1852, and received Ins preliminary education in the schools ol that city, which he attended until his tenth year. From that time until his fourteenth year he pursued his studies at Mill Grove, to which place the family in the meantime removed, and later was similarly engaged

For two years Mr. Moffett was engaged as a teacher, but this not being to bis liking he abandoned the educational field and turned his attention to journalism, purchas¬ ing a newspaper at Weston, Ohio, which he conducted at that place for a period of six years under the name of the Weston Herald. At the expiration of that time he moved to Decatur, Indiana, where, he bought the De¬ catur Journal, of which he was editor and proprietor three years, the paper during that time becoming one of the leading local sheets of southern Indiana, noted for its able man¬ agement and the fearless manner with which the current questions of the day were dis¬ cussed in its columns.

From Decatur Mr. Moffett moved to the town of Montpelier and there established the Herald, which he ran one year, disposing of the same and at the end of that time purchasing the Times, of Hartford City, of which he assumed the editorial control un¬ til 1895. In the meantime he yielded to a desire of long standing by entering the legal profession, for which he had been pre¬ paring himself for a number of years, and began practicing in the courts of Blackford county where lie soon worked into a lucra¬ tive business. J fisposing of his interest in the 1 nnes in the above year, lie arranged his affairs so as to devote his entire time and attention to the law and for two vears there¬ after his rise was rapid and satisfactory and he earned the reputation of a safe counsellor and able practitioner.

Mr. Moffett s career as a journalist nat¬ urally led him into the arena of politics and the different papers of which he was from time to time the editorial villager became the recognized exponents of Republicanism in the several places published. He became a terse and vigorous writer, fearlessly dis¬ cussed the political issues of the day, thereby contributing much to the success of his party in the different counties where he resided. His services in behalf of the Republican cause in Hartford City and Blackford coun¬ ty, both through the medium of the press and as an active worker in the ranks, brought him to the favorable notice of the party at home and elsewhere and in recognition of the aid thus contributed he was appointed by President McKinley postmaster of Hart¬ ford City, the duties of which position he has since discharged in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory alike to party friends and political opponents. Since entering upon the discharge of his official functions Mr. Moffett has not neg¬ lected liis law practice. He still looks after the interests of his clients and being con¬ stituted both physically and mentally with wonderful capacity for work has managed not only to retain the business which for¬ merly came to him but to add to its volumes and at the same time attend to every detail of the office in his charge. In all matters pertaining to the public welfare of Hartford Cit ; Mr. Moffett takes an active part, be¬ lieving it to be a sacred duty thus to be alive to the interests iff the people. For several years he served as member of the board of education, during which time his interest in the public schools never wavered, nor has lie since permitted this very important depart¬ ment to he lost sight of in the midst of his many exacting duties. While" a resident of Weston, Ohio, he was honored by being elected mayor of the place, which with the exception of his present office is the only official position he ever held, although fre¬ quently solicited and import! - 2d by his many friends to present himself as a candi¬ date.

| voted in the main to the benefit of the public, ; and his career throughout has been such as ; to command the highest regard of his friends, j and it is a fact worthy of note that those opposed to him politically have never dared to couple his name with a single act savoring of disrespect or inconsistent with integrity and honor.

Mr. Moffett possesses a sound physique, is courteous in manner and impresses all with when lie comes in contact as a natural leader of men and moulder of public senti¬ ment. An indefatigable politician, -e\'er on the alert to promote the interests of his party, he permits nothing of this nature to mar his personal friendships, which are as numerous ! and strong among the opposition as among his party friends, a fact which attests his great popularity with the people. Aggres¬ sive and progressive in all these terms imply, making his presence felt at the bar, in the caucus or in the social circle, with the cour¬ age of his convictions on all questions of the day, standing high in the community Mr. Moffett has been a potent factor in giv-

Mr. Moffett is a married man and the father of live children, namely: Franchon, a teacher in the city schoo: ; Paul, deputy postmaster ; Mark, who also holds a position in the post.ofiice; James P., in school, and .Mary, deceased. The maiden name of Mrs. Moffett was E. May Phillips, and her na¬ tivity, Mill Grove, Ohio, at which place the marriage was solemnized August 27, 1878. , Fraternally Mr. .Moffett is identified with the Masonic order, while Mrs. Moffett is a member of the church of the Disciples and is known and beloved by a large circle of friends in Plartford Citv and elsewhere.

William B. Cooley

No biography will contain the record of a life without a remainder. It is possible to enumerate somewhat in detail the salient facts of an individual's career, but when this is done theme still remains the indefin¬ able something known as personality which neither pen nor cold type can put in tangible form for the world's inspection. Behind all that a man does is the man himself, whom the world does not and cannot know through the medium of the printed pag . Personal association alone enables the public to be¬ come acquainted in a limited degree with a man's real self. In the following lines, con¬ taining as they do the record of a very busy life, the reader will find but an imperfect delineation of the character of a man whose connection with the business interests of Hartford City has done as much if not more than any other single individual in promoting its commercial, industrial and financial pros¬ perity.

William B. Cooley, son of C. R. and Catherine Cooley, was horn December 27, 1856, in Hartford City, and here received his educational training in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he laid aside his studies and entered upon a long and useful career by engaging in the grain business with Byron Boyd, Esq., with whom he was asso¬ ciated about six months, purchasing his part¬ ner's interest at the end of that time and later effecting a co-partnership with his fa¬ ther, C. R. Cooley. He has continued to buy grain from that t: ne to the present and fn-- a number of years has been accounted the most extensive and successful dealer in Blackford county. In this connection it may be stated that while a youth of twelve he ex¬ perienced his first real contact with the business world as clerk in the hardware store of Fisher & Chaffee, of Hartford City, in whose employ he spent his vacation for : veral years, receiving for his services the munificent sum of four dollars per month.

Mr. Cooley was one of the largest stock¬ holders in the first gas company organized in Hartford City and assisted in putting down the first gas well in the county of Blackford; it was also in his dwelling that natural gas was first used for heating pur¬ poses about the year 1888. He still main¬ tains his interest in the above company, of which he has been a leading spirit ever since the organization went into effect. Perhaps no man has done as much as he to attract attention to this part of the state as a great industrial center or to induce the investment of capital in the various enterprises which have made Hartford City one of the most important manufacturing cities in the state of Indiana. He was the first to take stock in the Hartford City Glass Company, organ¬ ized in 1890, and at one time owned in con- nection with liis brother, E. C. Cooley, a half interest in the city electric light plant, of which he was made president. Subsequently he disposed of his interests in both the above concerns and in 1899 assisted in the organi¬ zation of the Akron Oil Company, with which he is still identified, holding at this time the office of president. He also served as president of the Merchants' Bank of Hart¬ ford City until its consolidation. January, 1896, \ h the Blackford County Bank, since which time he has held the same position with the latter, besides being one of its hea iest stockholders.

In 1896 Mr. Cooley became identified with the Hartford City Telephone Company, has served as president of the same to the present time, and is also one of the original stockholders and prime movers in the Hurrle Glass Company, of which he was elected presiding officer. In addition to the enter¬ prises enumerated he has been actively in¬ terested in the general welfare of Hartford City, aiding all commendable movements for the public good and subscribing liberally of his means to further any projects of a moral or benevolent nature.

Mr. Cooley was united in marriage, Janu¬ ary 24, 1882, to Miss Cora M. Edson, daugh¬ ter of L. O. and Hannah (Lewis) Edson, a union blessed with two children: Mabel, born November 23, 1883, and James Chi¬ ton, whose birth occurred on the 9th day of September, 1888. Mr. Cooley is a member of the Pythian brotherhood, Lodge No 135, Hartford City, and politically wields an in¬ fluence for the Republican party.

From this brief outline of a busy life, furnished with becoming modesty by Mr. Cooley, a useful lesson may be drawn. Com¬ mencing tbe struggle with but little assist¬ ance to speak of and at an age when most bovs are still under parental control, be has advanced step by step in the right drection, winning success from what to many would have been failure, and lived to see himself a power for good in the community where In¬ dwells. Believing at the outset that a good name is better than riches, and with no ambi¬ tion for distinction outside of his business enterprises, he has been governed by those fixed principles of honor and rectitude which stamp him to-day as a man whose example may with safety be imitated by the youth whose future career is still a matter of un¬ certainty.

In the various enterprises with which he has been identified Mr. Cooley has proven an influential member and his judgment in monetary affairs has been of especial value to his colleagues and others with whom he has had business relations. Exceedingly carefu' nd even conservative in arriving at conclusions, he is modest but earnest in main¬ taining- them and throughout a long and varied experience his success has fully dem¬ onstrated the soundness of his opinions and the clearness of his judgment on matters of business policy. Not only as a business man is Mr. Cooley known and esteemed, but in every relation of life he is popular and his friends feel proud of him as a citizen and useful member of society. He possesses fine social qualities as well as great decision of character, is optimistic in his view of life and no one questions his claim to honorable mention as one of Blackford county's most successful and distinguished citizens.

Rev. B. P. Baker

Ohio, August 25, 1835. lie was one of a family of ten children born to Aaron and Mary (Hartley) Baker. The Rev. Baker was reared and received the early lessons of life upon a farm, his early education being obtained at the public schools of his neigliberhood and at Findlay.

Upon attaining manhood he learned the trade of chair-maker in Findlay, which busi¬ ness he followed in connection with farm¬ ing until 18C4, when he came to Indiana and settled at Warsaw. Here he was en¬ gaged in local work as a minister until 1867, when he removed to Montpelier where he had his first pastorate, l ie had many charges in later years, but his work did not extend over many years, for his death occurred at Montpelier, October 18, 1875. Li early life Mr. Baker became attached to the Methodist church and ever after lie devoted his entire life to the ministry.

He was married, on February 4, 1858, to Miss Mary Anderson, a daughter of Sam¬ uel and Margaret (Short) Anderson, and to them were born nine children, namely: Aaron, who resides at Montpelier, and is superintendent of the gas line; Margaret, deceased; John, deceased; Ellen, wife- of David Evens, of Harrison township; Ervin P., deceased; Vinel, at home; William J., of Hartford City ; Charles J., of Harrison town¬ ship, and Benjamin P., at home.

Charles R. Cooley

perseverance and indefatigable industry rose step by step to wealth and influence. Mr. Cooley was a man of more than ordinary ability. Possessing energy and will power that enabled him to surmount all difficulties that came in his way, he was public spirited and progressive, an ardent supporter of all measures that would work to the betterment of his town and country. He was loyal to Hartford City, was ambitious as to its future, and gave liberally of his time and money for its advancement. He loved his fellow men, numbering among his friends persons in all walks of life. Honest and upright, with an integrity that was incorruptible, his kind, obliging and courteous manner won for him the respect of all who knew him.

Mr. Cooley was born May 1, 1826, in Bennington, Vermont, with the interests of which place the family had been identified from a very early day. He was the son of William and Jane (Rainey) Cooley. The father was born March 4, 1800, and the mother was born May 1, 1804. William, the father, was a small boy during the war of 1812, and witnessed the fight at Plattsburg.

When Charles was seven years old he with his parents moved to Washington county, New York. In the year 1837 they removed to Indiana, coming to Muncie, Del¬ aware county, in the month of August, the same year. William Cooley was a woolen manufacturer and in a short time he had established a business of that kind in Muncie, and carried it on for several years, subse¬ quently engaged in farming south of Muncie where he resided at the time of his death, which occurred September 17, 1876. Charles Cooley began the battle of life at the early age of fourteen years, being reared in Dela¬ ware county, in Muncie and vicinity. His younger days were spent in assisting his father in the woolen mill, having operated the j first woolen cards for his father in Muncie. | After his father disposed of his mill in ' Muncie he worked at his trade of carding in a mill at Wheeling, Delaware county, In¬ diana. This mill was owned and operated by John Henley. The mill was built on the south bank of the Mississinnewa and run by water power. Mr. Henley was also associ¬ ated with David Mercer in a saw-mill in Hartford City, the mill standing in what is now the northwest corner of Franklin and Walnut streets. It was decided to move the woolen-mills from Wheeling to Hartford City, and accordingly the machinery was placed in a building near the saw-mill, and both were operated by steam. Mr. Henley brought with him bis carder, Mr. Cooley. This was in the year 1852. Mr. Cooley lived in the home of David Mercer, and so far as known was the pioneer of the woolen manufacture in Blackford county. In 1853 Mr. Cooley was associated with Jacob Brugh in a lumber mill. (Jacob Brugh afterwards became his father-in-law.) Their mill stood on the site where now stands the C. R. Cooley & Sons Flouring Mill.

In 1854 he was united in marriage to Catharine Brugh, ihe daughter of his partner in the milling business. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have been born three children, two sons and one daughter : William B., of Hart¬ ford City; Addie, the wife of Judson Jaqua, of Portland, Indiana, and Edward, the ope¬ rator of the Hartford City Flouring Mills.

I11 1858 Mr. Cooley changed the saw-mill into a flouring-mill, this being the first mill of its kind in Blackford county operated by steam. In 1870 the plant burned, but Mr. Cooley at once rebuilt it, and made his two sons his partners, though prior to this he had put in the full roller process equipment and an automatic pattern engine of one hundred and twenty-five horse power. The mill has a capacity of one hundred barrels per day and furnishes employment for six men in its various departments. They did both cus¬ tom and mercli work. Tu 1887 they intro¬ duced natural gas, which proved to he an ideal fuel, being* automatically controlled, the steam and gas regulating each other.

Since the death of the father the sons continue the business under the old name, C. R. Cooley & Sons, Edward operating the mill at the present time, which is a threestoried building, 95x40 feet in ground area. Mr. Cooley was also a partner with his son William in the buying and shipping of grain and in the bakery and lunch room on the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets, Hartford City, which business is now man¬ aged by his son William.

Mr. Cooley was prominently identified with the fraternities of Hartford City, be¬ longing to the order of Free Masonry; he passed all the chairs of that lodge, one time representing his lodge at the grand lodge of the state. He was a member of the Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows and repre¬ sented the encampment in the grand encamp¬ ment. I11 religion he accepted the liberal creed of the Universalis! church, and in pol¬ itics was a Republican.

In all his undertakings Mr. Cooley had the sympathy and support of his wife, Mrs. Catharine B. Cooley. She was in every sense his peer. A kind and loving mother, "She looked well after the ways of her household." She reared to honored manhood and woman¬ hood the two sons and daughter, as the busy father had but little time to give his family. Mrs. Cooley still lives at the old homestead and her geniality, courtesy, kindness and benevolence are an inspiration to better the lives of all who meet her. Originally a Universalist, she has for some years attended the Methodist Episcopal church of 1 lartford City, in which she is recognized as a faithful worker. Jacob Brugh, her father, was horn in Adams county, Pennsylvania, near East Berlin, where he was married to Lydia, the daughter of George P. and Catharine (Myers) Spangler. To them were born nine children: Spangler, Lydia Ann, Margaret E., Emeline, deceased; Catharine, Andrew G., Elijah Galbraith, Elizabeth and Jacob.

Mr. Brugh was a prominent man of the state in his day, having served his district in the house of representatives and senate of Indiana. Mrs. Ann Stout, a pioneer woman of Hartford City, and one identified with much of its history, is a sister of Mrs. Cooley. Since the death of Mr. Coole}' the sons carry on the business in a manner befitting he sons of ; 1 a father.

Edward Everett Cox

Edward Everett Cox, editor and pro¬ prietor of the Weekly Telegram and Eve¬ ning News, of Hartford City, is an Indianian by birth and the son of Hon. Jabez T. and Jennie (Price) Cox. The father, a native of Ohio, is at this time judge of the Miami circuit, of Peru, and is recognized as one of the distinguished jurists of northern In¬ diana. Jabez T. Cox was born in Clinton county, Ohio, and in 1850, with his parents, moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, settling in the vicinity of Noblesville. At the age of sixteen he taught school and a few years afterwards began the study of law in the office of judge James O'Brien, of Noblcsville. After finishing the prescribed course of reading, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing with II011. N. R. Overman, of Tipton. He served faithfully in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion and later became one of the leading Demo- | cratic workers in northern Indiana. After | several years of successful practice in Tipton, he went west for the benefit of his wife's health and while in Colorado, in 1883, was j bereft of his companion, after which he re¬ turned to Indiana and resumed the practice of his profession in the city of Peru.

Mr. Cox was elected judge of Miami circuit court in 1890 and again in 1896. He is considered one of the best judges ever elevated to the bench of the above circuit and also ranks among the ablest lawyers in the northern part of the state. Prior to his election to the judgeship, he represented Miami county in the lower house of the gen¬ eral assembly and while a member of that body earned the reputation of a discreet and able legislator. He is admired by all politi¬ cal friends and foes alike and no profes¬ sional man stands higher than he in the es¬ timation of the people of his city.

Judge Cox was the father of three chil¬ dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the first in order of birth. Inez is the wife of Merrill Mowbray, of Chicago, and the youngest, Lula, is not living.

Edward Everett Cox was born in Tipton, Tipton county, 011 the 29th day of De¬ cember, 1868, and received his preliminary education in the schools of his native town which he attended until the removal of the family to Kansas. He attended the com¬ mon schools in the city of 'utchinson, and upon his return to Indiana entered the high school at Peru. With this preparatory train¬ ing he entered Purdue University. After leaving school lie was for three years en¬ gaged in teaching in the district schools of Miami county. In the meantime Mr. Cox evinced great liking for journalism, and after severing his connection with educational work he accepted a position of reporter on the Miami County Sentinel and continued in that capacity until his removal, in 1891, to Hartford City. I11 the spring of the above year he purchased the Hartford City Tele¬ gram, a weekly paper, and entered upon his independent career as. a journalist at the age of twenty-two. It was not long until the influence of the paper under its new manage¬ ment began to be felt in Hartford City and Blackford county and before the close of his second year as editor the paper had over twelve hundred regular subscribers, besides a liberal advertising patronage. In 1893 he further enlarged his plant by the publication of the Evening News. The latter, a daily, has a circulation in excess of eight hundred and the subscription list combined contains the names of two thousand patrons. Prior to 1891 the Telegram office was a dingy back room on the second floor and the print¬ ing was done by means of an old fashioned hand press which made neat work impos¬ sible. Shortly after Mr. Cox took posses¬ sion a new order of things was inaugurated. New and improved appliances gradually re¬ placed the old equipment and in due time a neat and substantial two-story brick build¬ ing was erected, the ground floor vhich is occupied by an office, 120x20 fee: m size, and a large room on the second floor. This office contains machinery of the latest and most improved pattern and no reasonable expense has been spared to make all work done there models of typographical art. Both daily and weekly papers are mechanically for terse and vigorous editorials and as a medium for disseminating the news of the day they will lose nothing in comparison with the best local sheets in the state. They have fully kept pace with the times and the growth of the city and are potential factors for the Democratic party, of which they are the rec¬ ognized organs in Blackford county. As a writer Air. Cox is clear, fluent and forcible. He has displayed rare ability in his success¬ ful building up and management of the Telegram and Evening News and although a young man, he has already gained a high standing among the leading journalists of the state. Air. Cox comes from a Demo¬ cratic family and since locating in Hartford City has contributed greatly to the party's success in Blackford county through the medium of his able editorials and as a wise and reliable counselor. Personally he is a most affable gentleman, kind and obligingin his relations with his fellow-citizens and popular with all classes irrespective of politi¬ cal affiliations. He is a thirty-second-degree Alason, a member of the. Mystic Shrine and the Pythian fraternity. Air. Cox has a pleasant home on North Jefferson street, un¬ til recently presided over by a wife who nobly seconded his every endeavor and con¬ tributed not a little to the success he achieved. Airs. Cox was a native Indianian. Her maiden name was Dora Sites and the cere¬ mony which united her in marriage to her husband was solemnized at her sister's resi¬ dence at Hinton, West Virginia, on the 25th of September, 1891. She died of pneumonia while on a visit to Air. Cox's uncle at In¬ dianapolis, Judge Alillard F. Cox, in No¬ vember, 1898, leaving two children, Linnie, aged seven, and Catherine, aged five years. Her remains rest in Peru, her former home.

William Hart

Blackford county possesses many promi¬ nent farmers, but in all this number there cannot be found one more truly representa¬ tive than our subject; a self-made man in its truest sense, who by his own energy and effort has risen from the rank of a poor farm boy to one of the successful farmers and business men of Blackford county. Mr. Hart was born in Starke county, Ohio, June 23, 1837, came to Blackford county with his parents in 1850, when he was thirteen years of age, and settled in Harrison township. His first schooling was obtained in a double log cabin, one part of which was occupied as a home by one of the farmers of that neighborhood; this was supplemented by an attendance at the common schools. He re¬ mained on the homestead until twenty -two years of age, assisting in the work incidental to farm life, when he began chopping cord wood in Marion county, Indiana, at fifty cents per cord, and that winter he cleared about seventy-five dollars. This was the be¬ ginning of his present prosperity.

On November 22, i860, he was mar¬ ried to Miss Jenny Kirkpatrick, and soon after he moved on to his eighty-acre farm on which he erected a log cabin, 18x20 feet, which contained one room. The land was wild and unimproved. In the spring he put out five acres of corn, cleared the ground and fenced the same, and through the summer he worked at carpenter work. For the suc¬ ceeding five sun ners he worked at his trade of carpenter and cleared his land through the winters. In February, 1865, he enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Indianapolis, being sent to Louisville; later he was ordered to

After his term of service expired he re¬ turned to his father's farm, where he re¬ mained one year, his wife having died while he was in the service, lie then engaged in contracting and building which he conducted for three years, meeting with flattering suc¬ cess. In 1870 he moved upon the farm where he now resides, which consists of two hundred and eighty acres, 'of which two hun¬ dred and ten are under cultivation, and in connection with his farming he is engaged in stock raising.

By his first marriage Mr. Hart has three children : Melville, who resides in Harri¬ son township; Orlando, who lives at Albanv, Indiana, and is an engineer; and fora, wife of George Early, who resides at Port Wil¬ liams, Ohio. Mr. Hart's second marriage occurred on November 24, 1868, when he was united to Miss Rosa A. Musscter, and by this union have been born four children : Mary A., wife of Manson Williams, who is engaged in farming in Harrison township; Arthur M., a farmer of Harrison township; Rufus P., also a farmer of Harrison town¬ ship; and Sarah E., the wife of Edward Knox. The last named and her husband re¬ side with Mr. Hart, as Mrs. William Hart died April 26, 1899. Mr. Hart's farm is in the oil belt and has upon it four wells. I11 connection with his general farming and raising, Mr. Hart is also engaged in the buy¬ ing and selling of cattle.

Politically he is an ardent Republican, and while not an office seeker, he believes the principles and policy of his party will best serve the interests of common people.

James McFeren Wells, the subject of this sketch, belongs to one of the oldest fami¬ lies of Blackford county, and has witnessed the many changes in the gradual develop¬ ment pf the country from its primitive con¬ dition into one of the most highly cultivated and progressive sections of Indian <.

John Wells, a father of James, was a na¬ tive of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and an early settler of Guernsey county, Ohio, where his parents moved when he was about nineteen years of age. By occupa¬ tion he was a tanner and for a number of years operated a tan yard near Birmingham, Ohio, where he lived until his removal with a family of six children to Blackford county, Indiana, in the spring of 1839. Mr. Wells made the journey to his new home in a wagon, and in due time found himself the possessor of three hundred and nine acres of land in section 7, Harrison township, which he purchased from the government. On this place he erected a small log cabin, 18x20 feet in size, containing a single room, which served the family as a residence un¬ til replaced by a more comfortable and com¬ modious structure a few years later. He was a man of great industry, worked early and late, in season and out, to develop his farm, and in due time was rewarded by a beautifully improved place upon which he spent the remaining years of his life, dying there on the 12th day of March, 1879, at the age of seventy-nine.

nence in the community, took the lead in laying out roads and otherwise improving the new country, and as a member of the Baptist church did much to promote the cause of morality and religion among the sparse settlements of Blackford and Wells counties, throughout both of which he be¬ came widely and favorably known. His wife, who was born in 1799 Pennsylva¬ nia, departed this life on the home place- in Harrison township in the year 1876. The following are the names of the children born to John Wells: James, whose name intro¬ duces this article; Martha, deceased; Eliza¬ beth, deceased; Sarah, wife of Albert Daw¬ son, resides in Michigan; D. Bungan, of Wells county; and Jacob T., deceased, all of whom were born before the family came to Indiana.

James McFeren was born March 9, 1826. Lie was thirteen years old at the time of his arrival at the new home in the wilds of Har¬ rison township, and being the oldest of the family, soon became practically acquainted with the toilsome duties incident to life in an undeveloped country. His first educa¬ tional training was imparted by a teacher who visited the family, there not being a sufficient number of children in the neighborhood to organize into a school, but later he obtained a knowledge of the American branches by attending as circumstances would permit a school taught in a small log cabin not far from his home; he also went to school some months in Montpelier and there obtained a fair knowledge of the com¬ mon branches of study. He assisted his father on the farm until early manhood, and did not leave the parental roof until his twenty-second year, at which time, 1851, he took possession of the place where he now lives, a part of the old homestead. Prior to the above date, October 31, 1850, Mr. Wells entered into the marriage relation with Miss Catherine Miller, a native of Ger¬ many, and as soon as a house could be pre¬ pared the young couple set up a domestic es¬ tablishment of their own on the farm where he has since lived. To this marriage were born children as follows : Esther, deceased ; George resides at Ft. Scott, Kansas; Letitia, wife of George Gadbury; Mantea E. mar¬ ried Thomas Swain, who recently left her a widow, and the youngest died in infancy before being named. The mother of these children dying, Mr. Wells, on the 26th of May, 1881, married his present wife, for¬ merly Elizabeth Cusiea, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio.

Mr. Wells' farm consists ,of ninetyseven acres, all of which has been cleared and otherwise improved by his own efforts. He has never been content to eat the bread of idleness, but from early boyhood has been a hard worker and a firm believer in the dig¬ nity of honest toil. His industry has brought its own reward, as he is now in com¬ fortable circumstances with a liberal income which insures him immunity from hard labor the balance of his days.

Mr. Wells belongs to the large and re¬ spectable class of people who in a quiet, manl.y way do much for the good of a com¬ munity, and his life is an open book known and read by his many friends and neighbors who find therein little to criticize and a great deal to commend. Devoted to his vocation, he nevertheless takes a lively interest in all matters of a public character, and as a sup¬ porter of the Republican party is an intelli¬ gent student and close observer of the trend of political opinion. Since his eighteenth year he has been a consistent member of the Baptist church, and his private character as well as his daily life has been remarkably free from any taint of suspicion. He is one of Harrison township's most substantial citi¬ zens, and this tribute to his manly character and worth is honorably merited and freely bestowed.

Henry Lincoln Kegerreis

Henry Lincoln Kegerreis, the eldest son of Jacob C. and Margaret M. Kegerreis, of whom a full biography will be found in a preceding sketch, is one of the most noted of the educators of Jackson township, Black¬ ford county. He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, October 7, i860, was reared on a farm and attended district school in the adjoining county of Delaware until seven¬ teen years old. lie came to Blackford county in 1878, and attended the district school during the winter of 1880-1881, and in the summer of 1881 attended the normal school at Muncie.

Mr. Kegerreis did not abandon the in¬ vigorating and vivifying life of a farmer, however, until tweniy-one years of age, but continued to labor on the home place when not at school. In the winter of 1881 he nevertheless seems to have adopted teaching as a vocation, but in the summer of 1882, to further qualify himself, he attended a term of school at Ridgeville, Indiana. He then assumed teaching in Blackford county, and, with the exception of one term, has here taught ever since, but in the interval attend¬ ed three terms - 1884-1886 - at college at Danville, Indiana.

< Mr. Kegerreis is a gentleman of fine lit¬ erary taste and ability, and is the author of several poems that have attracted attention, having been published in some of the lead- ing journals of the country. Among his productions having been an exceptionally meritorious poem on Columbus. He has also made several public addresses that have been commended as eloquent, dignified and logical.

September 4, 1884, Mr. Kegcrreis was united in matrimony, in Blackford county, with Miss Susan J. Fulkerson, a native of Delaware county, this state, and a daughter of A. N. and Rebecca (Stewart) Fulkerson. To this union nine children have been born, of whom five still survive, viz : Claude Blaine, who graduated from the common schools of the county at the age of twelve years, being the second youngest to be thus distinguished; the others in order of birth are Rose Imogene, Amos Devoss, Elizabeth Beatrice and Jacob C., Jr.

In politics Mr. Kegerreis is a Republi¬ can, and fraternally is a member of the Im¬ proved Order of Red Men, as well as a mem¬ ber of the Teachers' Association of Black¬ ford county. Although he has devoted his life to teaching, he engaged in general mer¬ chandising in Mill Grove from 1890 to 1893, and is the owner of a residence and small business room.

Samuel Henry Huffman

Samuel Henry Huffman, a leading farmer of Washington township, Blackford county,' Indiana, comes from an old and re¬ spected pioneer family, and was born in Wells county, eight miles northwest of his present home, April 24, 1864, being the eld¬ est of four sons born to George R. and Elsie A. (Griffith) Huffman. His grandparents, Henry and Katie Huffman, natives of Penn¬ sylvania, came to Indiana in 1846, when

George was but two years okb and located four miles southeast of Warren, Wells coun¬ ty, which remained their permanent home, he there rearing a large family. After traveling life's pathway together for nearly half a century he passed away at the age of eighty-six, her own death occurring with¬ in a week thereafter. In death, as in life, they were not divided.

The parents of Samuel are now living, retired, at Mount Zion, the father having been an invalid for several years. Of their four sons, one other, Jonas G., resides in Blackford county, being engaged in the oil industry at Montpelier. Samuel's boyhood and youth were spent at home, he being at an early age innured to the hardships of a farmer's life and taking the responsibility of the work, under his father's supervision, as soon as he could handle the plow. He received a liberal education, having attended the district schools and later the normal school at Bluffton. At the age of twentyone he learned the carpenter's trade, devot¬ ing three years to this industry, and then spent one year on his uncle's farm. He was now married to Miss Jennie Merriman, daughter of John V. Merriman, of Liberty township, Wells county, operating for one season the old home farm, when he pur¬ chased his present tract. This contained one hundred and four acres, only twenty of which had been cleared. The remainder was low, swampy land, covered with ponds and heavy underbrush and was of little value. Prairie creek, passing through it, afforded an excellent outlet for tile, of which he has laid upward of fifteen hundred rods, which extends in numerous branches, adequately draining the entire farm. What was once but ponds and quagmire has now become one of the most productive and valuable farms of the community. TIis present hand¬ some dwelling which, in 1892, replaced the log house, their previous residence, and the well-tilled farm of to-day give ample c\ idence of the thrift which has attended the labor and excellent management of the owner.

In addition to the growing of grain our subject has been for some years emphasiz¬ ing the breeding of thoroughbred stock, now having herds of short horn cattle, Shrop- ' shire sheep and Poland China hogs. These he keeps registered in the standard herd books, and is increasing his facilities of sup¬ plying first-class animals for breeding pur¬ poses.

Lying in what has proven to be a pro¬ ductive oil territory, Mr. Huffman's farm was leased for development, the result being that five active wells are in constant opera¬ tion, the return from them contributing not a little to the easy condition in which the proprietor now finds himself. To Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have been born four chil¬ dren, namely: Vernon Lloyd, Sylvia E., Clifton McCoy and Herman Lee, constitut¬ ing a contented and happy family.

A Democrat in politics, he has for many years been active in the support of his par¬ ty's principles, serving on various party com¬ mittees and taking an active part in cam¬ paigns. Notwithstanding this, however, he numbers among his warmest friends many whose political faith is antagonistic to his own. Mr. Huffman received the Demo¬ cratic nomination for county clerk on August 23. 1900, and the county having a solid Democratic majority, his election is an as¬ sured fact. Fraternally he is a member of Montpelier Lodge, No. 410, I. O. O. F., also Hartford City Tent, Knights of the Maccabees,

Solomon M. Barnes

One of the most prominent citizens of Blackford county, and one of the honored exsoldiers of the war of the Rebellion, is Solo¬ mon M. Barnes, a son of Ozias Barnes, a native of Maryland, who died in January, '874, at the age of sixty-one. When Ozias was eighteen years old his parents removed with their children from Maryland to Fairfield county, Ohio, and when just past nine¬ teen years of age he was there married to Hannah Bowen, a daughter of Thomas Bowen, of Fairfield county. She was a sister of William and Thomas Bowen, both late of Blackford county. Her parents came to Blackford county about the same time as she and her husband, Ozias Barnes, in March, 1838. It was about one year before this that Ozias Barnes selected the land which, upon his arrival here, in March, 1838, he entered, walking to Fort Wayne to accomplish this act. One of his brothers, named John, about the same time located near Indianapolis. Ozias Barnes had to cut a road a distance of one and a half miles from the Crumley farm to the new farm lie had selected, the Crumley family having moved here about one year before. At first he erected a log cabin, 16x18 feet in size, made of round logs and which remained his home for many years, and in which most of his children were born. Later he sup¬ planted it with a hewed-log house, which re¬ mained his home as long as he lived. The barn he built about 1S68 is still standing. The lumber in this barn was sawed out by his son at Crumley Cross Roads, and the tim¬ ber constituting the frame of it was cut on his farm, which contained about one hundred and sixty acres of land. To this original farm he added three other tracts of eighty

Ozias Barnes in the early pioneer days was a great hunter, and it was well for him¬ self and family that this was the case, for had it not been for his gun and his skill in its use he could not have lived. For eighteen years after locating in this country he de¬ pended largely upon his gun and his dog, with which he killed and caught hundreds of deer, several bears and many , coons and mink. In Decem¬ ber, 1863, he killed six deer in one day, there being two deer, each with two fawns, which he followed for two days before a favorable opportunity for shooting them pre¬ sented itself, but when this opportunity came he got them all. These were the last deer that he killed, and with this success his hunting days practically closed, though he kept up his interest in the chase to the day of his death.

Politically he was a Republican, but he was not active in the service of his party, nor was he ambitious for office or distinction in any way. Owing to the circumstances of his early life his education was then neg¬ lected and the effect of this neglect he always felt. After his marriage he attended school three months in order to learn to write. Re¬ ligiously he belonged in early life to the United Brethren church, but later he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the largest contributors to the erection of the Kingsley Methodist Episcopal church. For many years he was a class leader in this church and was a trustee up to the time of his death. His wife survived him about twentyfive years, notwithstanding it was thought for the last twenty years of her life that she could live but a short time. She and her husband were the parents of eleven children.

Barnes homestead, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, September 5, 1837, and was six months of age when brought by his par¬ ents to Blackford county, Indiana. He re¬ mained at home until he was of age, when he was married, December 30, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Sutton, a daughter of Isaiah and Katie (Shrack) Sut¬ ton, and a cousin of William Shrack, whose biographical sketch appears else¬ where in this work. Her father formerly owned two hundred and forty acres of land where the village of Dunkirk is now situated and it was he who laid out and started the town. His son, William G. Sutton, still owns a portion of the old homestead, and it was there that Mrs. Barnes was born, April 8, 1842.

For one year after his marriage Solomon M. Barnes farmed a part of his father's farm and after this for two years he lived upon the farm upon which Dunkirk now stands, in Jay county. Then he began on forty acres of his own given to him by his father, the entire forty acres being still in a primitive state of wild woodland. Not a stick of timber had been cut, and he had to erect a cabin in which to live. His progress in making a home was interrupted by his enlistment in the army of the Union, as a member of Company H, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteers, this service being* mainly in the Western army. His first march was from Memphis, Ten¬ nessee, to a place in Mississippi, whence he returned to Grand Junction for the winter of 1862-63. Bi the following spring he went down to Vicksburg, where he performed service in guarding the rear of the army against any attack that the rebel general Johnston might make. After the fall of Vicksburg he took part in the bat¬ tle of Jackson, Mississippi, in which

Johnston was defeated, and then he returned to Black River where he re¬ mained some time. In the succeeding: fall he was sent with his regiment to Chattanooga via Memphis, but being taken sick he re¬ mained for some time in the hospital at Mem¬ phis, whence he went home on a furlough. After an absence of three months he joined his regiment at Belmont Station, Alabama, and then took part in the Atlanta campaign, being present at the fall of that place. Par¬ ticipating in the pursuit of General Hood for a portion of the march, he was again taken ill, this time with rheumatism, and was absent from his command from November, 1864, to April, 1865, spending the winter in Nashville, and taking part in the pursuit of General Hood after the battle of Nashville, into Alabama. In April, 1865, he joined Sherman's army at Goldsboro, North Caro¬ lina, going via Louisville, Cincinnati, An¬ napolis and Newbern, North Carolina, and in the battle of Kingston carried' a flag. This was just before reaching Sherman at Goldsboro, after which he went to Raleigh, was present at Lee's surrender and also at the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. At Dallas, Georgia, while on the skirmish line, lie received a slight wound in the head, and for a time he thought surely that he was killed. For his services in the army he draws a pension, and is a member of Gen¬ eral Shields Post, G. A. R., at Dunkirk.

Returning to pursuits of peace, for a time he worked the little farm above men¬ tioned, and was the administrator of his fa¬ ther's estate, himself receiving the old home¬ stead, which, with the exception of two and a half years, was his home until 1899, when he removed to Dunkirk, which village is now his home. The farm has been well tilled and is now in a high state of cultivation, is thoroughly underdrained and well prepared for raising profitable crops. Mr. Barnes has always been a Republican, and both he and liis wife were members of the Kingsley Methodist church, of which he has been, steward for twenty-five years. Mrs. Barnes died June 14, 1899, of cancer, after suffering therewith for five years.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were the parents of seven children, as follows: George W., of Albany, and Charles M., of Dunkirk, both married; Effie N., wife of Frank Heddington, of Dunkirk; Ida A., at home; one that died in childhood; Bertha M., who died at sixteen years of age, and Emma, who mar¬ ried George Buckles and died at the age of twenty-two.

James E. Gothrup

James E. Gothrup, a successful farmer of Jackson township, whose postoffice is Mill Grove, was born in Delaware county, Indi¬ ana, October 30, 1852, and is a son of John T. and Mary (Rutherford) Gothrup, both natives of Virginia and married in their native state. Afterward they removed to Ohio, not, however, remaining there very long, but instead came to Indiana, locating in Fort Wayne. Being a farmer by occupa¬ tion lie later settled in the woods in Dela¬ ware county, and after improving a farm in that county again removed, this time to Blackford county, about 1868, when he set¬ tled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, William M. This was a sixty-threeacre farm, was partly cleared and had tolera¬ bly fair buildings upon it. Still later he added a tract of eighty acres, the farm on which James E., the subject of this sketch, now lives, of which he improved about twenty acres, and upon which he passed the re¬ mainder of his days, surviving his wife some ten years. John T. and Mary Gothrup had a family of eight children, as follows: Sarah, wife of Alexander Thomas, of Delaware county; Newton, a farmer of Delaware county; Archibald, who died at his home when thirty-five years of age; John, who died at forty-two on the old homestead where he has always lived; Mary Ann, wife of Fred¬ erick Haynes, of Delaware county; Mason, a farmer of DeWitt county, Illinois; James E., the subject of this sketch, and William M.

James E. Gothrup remained at home until his father's death, when he bought eighty acres of the home farm at administrator's sale, going in debt to the amount of eight¬ een hundred dollars. At that time there were twenty acres cleared and such ditches as had been constructed were, like many others of the early farms of timber. The remain¬ der of the farm he has cleared, put all of it under a high state of cultivation, and has laid about one thousand two hun¬ dred rods of tile. A company ditch passes through the farm, furnishing an excellent outlet for his drains. Mr. Gothrup has erected good buildings, including house, barn and outbuildings, costing in the aggregate about three thousand dallars. The farm is all well fenced, being divided into fields of from ten to fifteen acres. Fie raises stock and grows grain, feeding all he grows to hogs, his main dependence, getting out of his crops in this way the greatest possible amount of profit. Fie keeps none but high grade stock, and has bred a good many Norman horses. While his farm is in the gas belt no well has yet been sunk upon it.

to do. Fie has never married, hence has no family, but has made a home for several of his brothers' children, thus having done what he could to assist the boys. His labors have been confined to his farm, which bears evidence of the care and close attention he has given to it. Mr. Gothrup is a man of sim¬ ple, honest and industrious habits and charac¬ ter, and has endeared to himself a large num¬ ber of friends, all of whom respect him for his real worth, and place in him all the con¬ fidence of their hearts, a tribute of which any man might well be proud.

Jonathan Hitesman

It affords the publishers much pleasure to present this brief and inadequate review of the life of the above named gentleman, in whose life there is much to commend. Filled with ambition, he unhesitatingly en¬ tered upon a course that promised financial prosperity; filled with a love of country, he was among the noble few who immediately offered their services to defend their na¬ tion's honor when it was assailed at Sumter. In every emergency, throughout a busy and honored career, his duty has been nobly met, and no stain mars what has been a just and upright character.

Born in Huntington county, New York, while the cannon were booming in celebra¬ tion of the freedom of a people and the na¬ tion's taking its place among the first-class powers of the world, he seemed to breathe from his first breath the spirit of freedom and human liberty. Ilis father was John Hitesman, of German stock, while his mother, Mary Robbins, was of English de¬ scent,

Being a strong lad, he decided to become a blacksmith and engaged as an apprentice, serving three years and eleven months up to his twenty-first birthday, receiving in com¬ pensation but his board and clothes. In the year 183S he reached Cincinnati, Ohio, having worked for a while at Wheeling. He finally bought a shop at Moscow, Ohio, which he conducted for three years, in the meantime having, in 1840, been married to Miss Sarah Shetterley. Three years later he removed to a six-hundred-and-forty-acre tract of land in Gallatin county, Illinois. However, after about six years spent in im¬ proving the farm, he returned to Ohio, and was soon after found operating a shop in the old home at Moscow, Clermont county. Until 1852 he worked at his trade principal¬ ly, part of the time, however, being spent as an engineer on a steamboat plying the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, visiting New Or¬ leans and St. Louis.

The gold fever had attacked him with such severity that, in 1852, securing several companions in Ohio, he started on the over¬ land trip to California. In a company of about twenty-one, fit! d with ox teams, they made the long and tiresome journey from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Gold Hill, Califor¬ nia, occupying one hundred and eleven days upon the road. After a few unsatisfactory efforts at prospecting, he took up his ham¬ mers and tongs, and, receiving from four¬ teen to eighteen dollars per day, was soon upon the road to prosperity. In a short time he became proprietor of a shop at Ne¬ vada City, which he conducted till April, 1853. He sold picks at seven dollars each, and as he could make twenty per day, he saved nearly one hundred dollars per day above his living, even though meat sold at thirty cents per pound, onions at one dollar