USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 2
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of the family thus took an active part in reclaiming the wild tract for the uses of civilization, and was active in promoting the agricultural interests of the county. His untiring industry, energy and well directed efforts at length were crowned with success, and ere the end of his earthly pilgrimage he found himself in possession of a good home and a comfortable competence. His religious obligations were never neglected, and even in the days when churches had not been established, and when ministers had not found their way into the new region, he gathered his family around him for worship on the first day of the week, and was ever observant of his Christian duties as a member of the Baptist church. His wife was alike faithful and earnest, and they gave a generous support to the erection of a house of worship in their locality and to the establishment of a Baptist congregation. Having for more than half a century borne an important part in the development and upbuilding of Wayne county, Abraham Gaar passed to his final rest August 20, 1861, and his wife died September 26, 1834, at the age of sixty-six years, ten months and one day.
This worthy couple were the parents of eight children: Jonas; Fielding, who died in Utah; Larkin, who resided on the old family homestead in Bos- ton township, Wayne county; Abel, who made his home in Michigan; Fan- nie, deceased wife of William Lamb, of Iowa; Rosa, deceased wife of John Ingels; Martha, who was the wife of Jeptha Turner; and Eliza J., wife of Thomas Henderson, of Iowa. All of this family are now deceased except Eliza J.
Jonas Gaar, who was the eldest, was born in Madison county, Virginia, February 1, 1792, and came with the family to Wayne county in 1807. He was therefore reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life, enduring many of the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the pioneer. He pur- sued his studies in a log school-house, but acquired his education largely through self-culture. He was a great reader and a close observer of men and events, and in the busy affairs of life added greatly to his knowledge. He and his younger brother, Fielding, were soldiers in the war of 1812, doing duty on the frontier in defence of the homes and lives of the border settlers. He assisted in the work of the home farm until attaining his majority, when he resolved to learn a trade, and took up that of cabinet-making. In 1820 he established a little cabinet shop of his own in Richmond, where he carried ·on business for a number of years.
In 1836 he extended his operations into other fields of labor by estab- lishing a foundry and machine shop, in connection with Abel Thornbury and Job W. Swain. The plant was operated by a rotary steam engine, the first steam engine in the county, but the enterprise was conducted for only a few years, and for a decade thereafter Jonas Gaar was connected with other busi-
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ness lines. In 1849, in connection with his sons, Abram and John M., and his son-in-law, William G. Scott, he purchased of Jesse M. and John H. Hutton their machine works, which later became the extensive Spring foundry, then A. Gaar & Company and lastly the Gaar, Scott & Company's machine works. This was the foundation for the present mammoth establishment now conducted under the last mentioned title. Mr. Gaar, his two sons and his son-in-law, were all natural mechanics and soon the old foundry business was placed upon a paying business basis and its patronage steadily increased. Prior to this time it had never been a profitable enterprise. On the ist of April, 1870, the name was changed to Gaar, Scott & Company, and Jonas Gaar continued to be identified therewith until his death, which occurred June 21, 1875. In 1870 the business was incorporated with a paid-up capi- tal of four hundred thousand dollars. Abram Gaar then became president of the company, and so continued until his death.
In 1818 Jonas Gaar was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Watson, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of eight children: Abram, born November 14, 1819; Malinda, born November 11, 1821; John Milton, born May 26, 1823; Samuel W., born October 22, 1824; Fielding, born Jan- uary 1, 1827; Emeline, born June 16, 1829; Elizabeth, born June 27, 1831; and Fannie A., born October 5, 1853. All have now passed away with the exception of John M., Fielding, Emeline Land and Elizabeth Campbell. The father died June 21, 1875, and the mother's death occurred November 8, 1863. Though his business demanded much of his attention, he yet found time to labor for the advancement of many movements and measures cal- culated to benefit the community and promote the welfare of his fellow men. He was a public-spirited, progressive citizen, honored for his integrity in industrial life, for his fidelity to every trust, and his faithfulness to family and friends. A portrait of Jonas Gaar appears as frontispiece of this volume.
JUDGE HENRY C. FOX.
Henry Clay Fox, judge of the circuit court of Wayne county, and a dis- tinguished jurist of eastern Indiana, was born near West Elkton, Preble county, Ohio, on the 20th day of January, 1836, a son of Levi and Rebecca (Inman) Fox, the former of English and the latter of Irish lineage. On the paternal side he is descended from the celebrated Fox family of Eng- land that furnished to that nation some of its most eminent and prominent representatives. His grandfather, Thomas Fox, was a native of New Jersey and there spent his entire life, devoting his energies to farming. He was quiet and unassuming in manner, but merited and gained the high regard of his neighbors and friends. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Pitman, and was a native of New York. Levi Fox also was a native of New Jersey,
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where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. In 1810 he removed to Preble county, Ohio, where he was extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits until his death, which occurred in 1867. He was a practical, progress- ive and enterprising farmer and met with very gratifying success in his under- taking. His wife passed away in 1846. In politics he was an ardent Whig, and a great admirer and a supporter of Henry Clay, whose name he bestowed upon his young son,-the future judge of the Wayne county circuit court. Both he and his wife were active and influential members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their labors largely promoted its usefulness. Mr. Fox took a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare, and was one of the prime movers of the Eaton & Hamilton Railroad, doing much good to secure its location and completion. He was public- spirited, loyal to American institutions, and by his activity in public affairs, as well as by his upright character, won the respect of all with whom he came in contact.
Judge Fox spent the days of his childhood and youth in the place of his nativity, and having acquired his preliminary education in the public schools continued his studies in Whitewater College, in Centerville, Indiana. In 1860 he removed from Preble county to Centerville, which was then the county seat of Wayne county, and began the study of law under the direction of George W. Julian, a very able attorney, who recently died in Irvington, Indiana. After pursuing a thorough course and largely familiarizing himself with the underlying principles of jurisprudence, Mr. Fox was admitted to the bar in 1861, but, instead of devoting his energies to building up a practice, he put aside all personal considerations and offered his services to the govern- ment, becoming a member of Company C, Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He was made first lieutenant and served for thirteen months, at the end of which time he was forced to resign on account of failing health. During that time, however, he participated in the hard-fought battle of Pittsburg Landing.
After his return home Lieutenant Fox began the practice of law, and for that purpose formed a partnership with Judge Nimrod H. Johnson, under the firm name of Johnson & Fox. Judge Johnson was the father of the Hon. Henry U. Johnson, late representative in congress from this district. In 1875 Judge Fox removed from Centerville to Richmond, and has since made his home in this city. He opened an office and successfully engaged in prac- ticing law. In 1862 Judge Fox was elected district attorney for the common- pleas district, composed of the counties of Wayne, Union, Fayette and Franklin. In 1864 he was re-elected, serving in all four years in this office. In the year 1878 Mr. Fox was elected judge of the Wayne superior court, which office he held until the office was abolished. On the 25th day of August, 1892, he was, by Governor Chase, appointed a judge on the appel-
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late bench of Indiana. He was nominated for this position in that year by the Republican party. At the regular fall election he was defeated with the balance of the Republican ticket. In the year 1896 Judge Fox was elected judge of the seventeenth judicial circuit of Indiana, which position he now holds. Judge Fox commands the respect and attention of the bar who prac- tice before him, as well as of the voters who elected him.
In politics the Judge has been an ardent Republican all his life, uncom- promising in his political views. For thirty-five years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is now a member of Richmond Lodge, Rich- mond, Indiana.
In May, 1861, Judge Fox was married to Helen S. Linsley, of Trumbull county, Ohio. She was of Scotch and Welsh descent. She was at the time he married her a teacher of music, and they first met in the town of Seven- mile, Butler county, Ohio, where Miss Linsley was teaching music for the celebrated Professor Hanby, who was the author of the well known song, "Nellie Gray," and other popular ballads.
Judge Fox and his wife now have three living children: Francis L. Fox is an attorney in the city of Richmond. Frederick H. Fox was, in Decem- ber, 1898, by the federal government, appointed in the postal service for Cuba, and was assigned to the city of Bayamo, military station No. 22, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, as postmaster. This position he held until May, 1899, when he was transferred to Baracoa, in the same province, at which place he now is acting as postmaster. Florence J. Fox is the third child. She is an artist of rare ability, her specialty being in oil painting of animals. She also excels as a painter of portraits. She was for some time a pupil under Professor Bell, of New York.
The Judge has also had some experience in literary matters, having a very fine library of miscellaneous books. He, as a matter of recreation, has indulged in some literary work, principally of a humorous character. He won considerable reputation by the publication of a book entitled "The Advent- ures of a Philosopher, a Dun Mule and a Brindle Dog," of which two editions were quickly sold. The book is now out of print and probably will never be reprinted. The Judge has never been a society man, but has all his life been a hard worker, confining himself to his profession and to his family.
MISS MARGARET SHIELDS.
Miss Shields is well known to the residents of Connersville township, and her home, adjoining the city of Connersville, is a most beautiful spot, has been in the family for years, and many tender memories cluster around the grand old place. The name is an honored one in Fayette county, Indiana, Miss Shields having secured a warm place in the affections of a wide circle of
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friends who esteem her for the many estimable qualities she possesses, as well as for the fact that she is a daughter of the late Ralston and Anna (Huston) Shields. Her grandparents were Robert and Nancy Shields, the former a native of Ireland, whence he came to America with his parents in his childhood. They settled in the state of Pennsylvania in early colonial times and prior to the war of the Revolution and there his life was passed.
Ralston Shields was one of a family of seven children and was the first to venture into the western country. He was born in 1790, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and remained a resident of the Keystone state until 1817, the year after Indiana was admitted into the Union, when he came here and purchased a tract of land, in Fayette county, some two and one- half miles west of the present site of Connersville. The following year he returned to his native state and was married to Miss Anna Huston, daughter of William and Margaret Huston, whose relatives fought in the Revolutionary war. He brought his young bride to his Indiana home and there they lived a short time, until he had an opportunity to sell the land to advantage, which he did, buying other property farther west in the same township. Here their children were born and reared. His death occurred in 1859, when he was almost seventy years of age. His wife survived him more than a quarter of a century, dying in 1887, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Ralston Shields was always industrious and upright and enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens to a remarkable extent. Both he and his wife were reared in the Presbyterian faith and their lives were patterned after the Divine model. More to be esteemed than all the property left to the children, is the heritage of a good name and worthy parentage with which they endowed them. Six children were born to them, namely: William, Robert, John, James, Benjamin and Margaret. Three of these are living, -Robert, a resident of the state of Kansas; James, a resident of California; and Mar- garet, our subject, who resides cn the homestead which was shared by her twin brother, Benjamin, until his death, in 1896.
REV. ALLEN JAY.
One of the most prominent ministers of the Society of Friends is Rev. Allen Jay, who is known throughout the entire country among the people of his denomination. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, on the 11th of October, 1831, and is a son of Isaac and Rhoda (Cooper) Jay. The family is of English origin, and its members have long been orthodox Quakers. The father was a native of Miami county, born February 19, 1811, on the old homestead which had been settled by his father at a very early period in the history of the Buckeye state. There he was reared, and when he was married he took his bride to the old home place. He carried on agricult-
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ural pursuits for many years. For thirty-five years he was connected with the ministry of the Friends' church and traveled extensively over the coun- try, preaching the doctrines in which he so firmly believed. He also engaged in teaching for a few years after his marriage, and possessed a good educa- tion for that day. In his evangelistic work he visited all sections of the United States and won the love and confidence of the Friends throughout the country. He was a member of the representative meeting, clerk of the quarterly meeting and filled many other offices. In 1850 he sold his property in Ohio, and removed with his entire family to Indiana, locating at Marion, Grant county, where he died in 1880. He had four sons and one daughter, Allen, of this review being the eldest. Milton, a prominent physician of Chicago, was for some time dean of the Bennett Eclectic Medical College of that city, -in fact was one of its organizers. He resigned his position, how- ever, in 1890, and afterward served as director of the Cook county hospital. He is one of the most able physicians of Chicago, especially skilled in sur- gery, and is now leading surgeon of the Rock Island Railroad Company. Walter D. died on a farm near Marion, Grant county, Indiana, when thirty- seven years of age. Abijah formerly followed farming, but sold out and is now a general business man of Marion, Indiana. Mary E. is the wife of Asa Baldwin, and a minister of the Friends meeting, of Marion, Indiana.
Rev. Allen Jay spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and attended school through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he assisted in the cultivation of the fields. After the removal of the family to Marion, this state, in 1850, he entered Friends' boarding school (now Earl- ham College) at Richmond, where he spent some time, then was a student in the Farmers' Institute, at Lafayette, Indiana, for one year. He next became a student in Antioch College, where he remained until the spring of 1854, when he turned his attention to farming. He located on a tract of land on the Wea plains, near Lafayette, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until 1867. In 1864 he became a minister in the Friends' meeting, and through the three successive years both farmed and preached. In the autumn of 1867 he was appointed superintendent of a work projected by the " Baltimore Association of Friends," under the presidency of Francis Y. King. The war had left Friends, in common with other people, destitute in North Carolina and Tennessee, and Mr. Jay was appointed to ascertain their needs and improve their condition. Making his home at High Point, North Carolina, he traveled extensively over those two states, alleviating the tem- poral sufferings of the Friends, building up churches, establishing schools, preaching and teaching among the people of those districts. He established thirty-one schools, with an enrollment of three thousand students, and told the gospel message to the people in many districts. He had the oversight of
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the work embraced within nine churches in Tennessee, and twenty-two in North Carolina, and during most of the time his work necessitated his driving from place to place, so that this period was not without its hardships; yet he regards it as the greatest work of his life.
After eight years of such service Mr. Jay turned his work over to the yearly meeting of North Carolina. In 1875 he went to Europe, visiting the churches in England, Scotland, Ireland and Norway. In 1877 he went to Providence, Rhode Island, where he served as treasurer and minister of the Friends' boarding school, which had an enrollment of two hundred and fifty boys and girls. There he remained for four years, after which he came to Earlham College, in 1881, acting as superintendent and treasurer, while his wife filled the position of matron. For six years he labored in that institution, during which time he raised a large amount of money for the school and for the erection of two substantial and commodious college buildings, -Lindley and Parry Halls. In 1887 he removed to his new home near the college, and has since served as one of its trustees and as solicitor for the college, raising money in all parts of this country and in England and Ireland for the institution. He has for six years been superintendent of the evangelistic and pastoral work of the Indiana yearly meeting, retiring from that position in 1895. He has visited all the yearly meetings of the Friends Society in the world and is well known throughout this country in connection with his church work.
Mr. Jay was united in marriage to Miss Martha Ann Sleeper, who was a native of Ohio, but when two years old was taken by her parents to Tippe- canoe county, Indiana, where she was married in 1854. Five children have been born to them: Rhoda died at the age of six years. Charles died at the age of fifteen months. William died in West Richmond, in 1897. He was graduated at the Providence boarding school, studied medicine under the direction of his uncle, Dr. Milton Jay, of Chicago, and was graduated in the Bennett Medical College of that city in 1882. He practiced for six years in Richmond and then removed to New Sharon, Iowa, where he successfully practiced until 1896, when, on account of failing health, he retired. He died in 1897, at the age of thirty-seven years. Edwin is a farmer, living near Richmond, Indiana. Isaac is with his father in Richmond.
Rev. Allen Jay is now serving as preacher of the East Main Street Friends meeting, a position he has occupied for the past eleven years, the society having no regular preacher. Thus almost his entire life has been devoted to the work of instructing men in the higher things of life, and his labors have been followed by excellent results; but who can measure the influence for good? Not until the heavenly record is read will it be known how great is the work that he has accomplished. His own career, in perfect
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harmony with his teachings, has won him the love and respect of all, and he well deserves mention in the history of his adopted county.
Since writing the foregoing sketch, Mr. Jay's wife has passed away. The following obituary notice we quote from the American Friend:
Martha Ann Jay, a daughter of Buddell and Elizabeth H. Sleeper, was born tenth month, 22d, 1833, in Clark county, Ohio, and died at her home, opposite Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, fourth month, 27th, 1899, aged sixty-five years, six months and five days. Her parents moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, when she was two years old. She was married to Allen Jay on ninth month, 20th, 1854, and they settled on a farm near the old home, where their five children were born, and the two eldest died, the third one dying fifteen months ago in the same room she died in. In 1868 she, with her husband, moved to Bush Hill (now Archdale), North Carolina. After nine years they moved to Friends' Boarding School, Provi- dence, Rhode Island. After spending four years there, in 1881 they went to Earlham College, where she served as matron for six years, and then retired to the home where she died. Martha A. Jay was of a retiring disposition, never seeking popularity. Converted at the age of seventeen, she endeavored to carry Christianity in all her life work. She was much interested in humane work among the children, the birds and all dumb animals; for several years had a band of mercy in her own home and one in the Orphan Home near by. She was appointed an elder at an early age, and held that position in the four different yearly meetings to which she belonged. She was a great strength to her husband, who was, as a minister, often called to labor away from home; she never murmured at the separation, but encouraged him to faithful- ness when the Master called. She bore a long illness with Christian resignation; the closing hours were peaceful; the last audible words were: "Blessed! Blessed!" "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord!"
MILTON TRUSLER.
Not all men order their lives to their liking; nor yet are all men true to themselves in living as nearly to their ideals as possible and attaining to such heights as their opportunities and talents render accessible. We now turn to one who has done much and done it well, wherein all honor lies. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and its possibilities, and one to which the biographer may revert with a feel- ing of respect and satisfaction.
Hon. Milton Trusler's identification with the history of that section of Indiana with which this compilation has to do has been one of ancestral as well as individual nature, and would on that score alone demand considera- tion in this connection; but such has been his personal prominence in posi- tions of public trust and responsibility; such his influence in furthering the progress and material prosperity of the state at large, that his individual dis- tinction clearly entitles him to representation in this work. Back to that cradle of much of our national history, the Old Dominion, must we turn in tracing the lineage of the subject of this review. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on the 31st of October, 1825, the son of Samuel W. and Martha (Curry) Trusler. The original representative of the family in Indiana was James Trusler, grandfather of the subject of this review, who was a native of Virginia, where he was reared to manhood and there married.
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About the year 1812 he emigrated with his family to the wilds of the Hoosier state, coming to Franklin county and settling on a tract of excellent land in the vicinity of the present little village of Fairfield. Here he developed a good farm, upon which he passed the residue of his days, passing away about the year 1840, at the age of eighty-two. He was a man of strong individuality and upright life, being known as one of the successful and influ- ential farmers of this section, where he was uniformly honored and respected, by reason of his sterling character. In his religious adherency he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a most devout and earnest worker.
In the family of James Trusler were five sons and two daughters. Of these Samuel Wilson Trusler, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia on the 9th of July, 1795, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana in the early pioneer days. In 1830 he removed to Jackson township, Fayette county, this state, where he thereafter continuously devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until called from the scene of life's labors. He owned a farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he brought under most effective cultivation, bringing to bear those methods and that judgment which insure success. The old homestead farm is now owned by his son, the subject of this review. Samuel W. Trusler was in politics a stanch supporter of the Whig party, and though he had no predilection for official preferment, he was called upon to serve in certain township offices and was for many years a school director, maintaining a lively concern in all that conserved the public welfare. While other members of the family had clung tenaciously to the tenets of the Methodist church, his intellectual powers led him to adopt somewhat more liberal views, and he became a zealous and devoted member of the Universalist church; ordering his life consistently with the faith which he espoused. The death of Mr. Trusler occurred on his farm August 4, 1846, and the community realized that a true and noble character had been with- drawn from their midst. His devoted wife had been summoned into eternal rest in 1838, at the age of thirty-four years, her birth having occurred on the 4th of July, 1804.
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