USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
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Mr. Goldsberry and his second wife settled on a farm in Sheffield town- ship, on which they lived for twenty-five years, and whence they removed
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to the farm on which his widow now lives, and which he bought in the winter of 1878-9. This farm comprises one hundred and fifty-four acres, and altogether he owned at the time of death six hundred and fifty-four acres. He died May 9, 1891.
Mr. Goldsberry was a man of many estimable qualities, and his integrity was beyond question. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active and generous supporter of the same. Politically, he was a Jeffersonian Democrat. He served for several years as a justice of the peace and was always known as " Squire " Goldsberry. He was honored with a seat in the state legislature of Indiana and served most acceptably for a term of two years. Mrs. Goldsberry is a Universalist in religious belief. She is a venerable lady, with well preserved memory, and is an excellent example of the pioneer women of Indiana, who are now rapidly passing away.
Such is an epitome of the life of one of Tippecanoe county's citizens who has passed away and whose memory is treasured by a large circle of friends.
JAMES ROSS BARR.
The respected and enterprising business man whose name heads this sketch and who is the manager and buyer for the McCray, Morrison & Com- pany's elevator at Earl Park, Indiana, is a native of Canada, dating his birth in the town of Durham, July 22, 1863.
His parents are William and Mary (Ross) Barr. William Barr was born of Scotch parents and his birthplace was probably in Scotland. His parents emigrated to America either just before or after his birth and located in Canada, where he was reared, near Paris, and where they spent the rest of their lives and died. He lived in the vicinity of Paris until he was twenty- one years of age and at that time became a sailor on the Great Lakes. Three years were passed on the lakes. He then learned the tailor's trade, at Durham, Canada, and continued working at it until 1864, when he came to the United States and located in Kendall county, Illinois. There he cultivated a rented farm one year, then moved to Grundy county, Illinois, and bought eighty acres, which he farmed nine years. Disposing of that property, he moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, and purchased three hun- dred and twenty acres, which he still owns. He is now living on a farm adjoining it which he rents. His wife, Mary (Ross) Barr, was born in Can- ada, in 1843, and they were married at Durham, Canada, in 1861. Their children in order of birth are as follows: Robert, a native of Canada, who is now manager of an elevator at Chalmers, Indiana; James R., whose name heads this sketch; John, who died in infancy; John, Joseph, William, Peter
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and Jessie, all at home with their parents. Mrs. James R. Barr, like her husband, is of Scotch descent.
James Ross Barr made the moves above referred to with his parents, and up to the time he was fifteen attended public school in Illinois. He then took a business course in the Lafayette Commercial College, at Lafayette, Indiana, after which he entered the employ of his uncle, James Ross, who had a general store at Raub, Indiana, where young Barr remained two years. The next three years he was employed in the Shonkwiler elevator of that place, and at the end of that time he returned to his uncle's store, as man- ager and buyer for his elevator and continued as such for seven years. In 1895 he came to Earl Park to serve as manager and buyer for the McCray, Morrison & Company's elevator at Earl Park, and is now acting in those ca- pacities.
Mr. Barr was married in November, 1891, at Neosho Falls, Kansas, to Minnie Wilson, daughter of Warren W. and Rose (Richardson) Wilson, who went west from Virginia, they being originally from Maine. One of her an- cestors was a general in the Revolutionary war. Their union has been blessed in the birth of one child, Elsie, born December 25, 1892.
Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Ar- canum. He was a charter member and is now chancellor of the Court of Honor of Earl Park, Indiana. He attends the Presbyterian church, as did his forefathers. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. He was nominated on that ticket for the office of county clerk on two occasions, and although his political views differ from those of many of his fellow citizens he is considered one of the future men of the county.
WILLIAM BOLDMAN.
This wide-awake and energetic young business man, now serving as sta- tionary engineer at the McCray, Morrison & Company's elevator, at Earl Park, Indiana, was born in Adams county, Ohio, on the 23d of January, 1861, and is a son of Louis and Harriet (Hazelbaker) Boldman, also natives of that county, the former born in 1835, the latter in 1836. The father pur- chased a farm of three hundred acres in Scioto county, Ohio, a part of which he still owns, and throughout life he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. Upon that place he and his wife still reside and they have the respect and esteem of the entire community. The children born to them are Nanny Ann, who died when young; Salathiel, a farmer living near Earl Park, Indiana; William, of this sketch; Joseph, who lives with his parents in Ohio; Thomas, who is now in Klondyke; James, who is connected with an elevator in Earl Park, Samuel, a resident of the state of Washington; and Minnie, 24
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who is married and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents were Pennsylvanians.
The subject of this sketch pursued his studies in the district schools of Scioto county, Ohio, until seventeen years of age, when he became a " full- fledged " farm hand, being employed as such until he attained his majority. He then came to Earl Park and worked for several different farmers in the vicinity. From 1888 until 1890 he operated a rented farm of two hundred and fifty acres near that place, and in the latter year removed to the village, where he bought a home and worked at the carpenter's trade for five years. At the end of that time he took charge of the engine at the McCray, Mor- rison & Company's elevator, which he has since run, to the entire satisfaction of the company.
On the ist of January, 1892, Mr. Boldman was married, at Earl Park, to Miss Dora Tooper, a daughter of Lewis Tooper, formerly of Canada, but now of Earl Park, and they have become the parents of four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Oliver, 1893; Amel, 1895; Avery, 1896; and William, January 22, 1898. In his political affiliations Mr. Bold- man is a Democrat, and he gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.
LORENZO D. TAYLOR.
The Taylor family, represented in White county by the subject of this article, has been identified with the history of Indiana for the past seventy years or more, during which period it has been developed from a swamp and forest to the state as we know it to-day-one of the best in the Union. In this great work Lorenzo D. Taylor has borne his share, and is justly entitled to have his name placed in the roll of the founders of the commonwelth. a
Born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, March 31, 1832, he is a son of Richard and Susan (Harvey) Taylor, who were natives of Ohio, in which state their marriage was celebrated. At an early day they became residents of Tippecanoe county, where they carried on a farm until our subject was about two years old, when the father died. He had made a fair start toward independent fortune, but by his early death his widow was left with but a small amount of property. He was a Jackson Democrat, but took no active part in politics. Both he and his devoted wife were members of the Meth- odist church, and actively interested in religious matters. Owing to the fact that his father died so many years ago, our subject knows little of his ances- tors on the paternal side. His mother was the fourth of eight children, her father being Stephen Harvey, an early settler of Vermilion county, Ohio, whence he removed to Ashland county, his death taking place in Perrysville.
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His other children were Benjamin, Samuel, William, Sarah, Anna, Mary A. and Rebecca.
Until he was fourteen years of age, Lorenzo D. Taylor continued to live with his widowed mother, after which he was a member of the household of J. W. Smith, a favorably known citizen of this county. He was a good friend to the youth, teaching him many useful things concerning agriculture, and setting him a worthy example. Later Mr. Taylor was employed at wages by Levi D. Osborn for some four years, and in 1855 the young man married and proceeded to carry on rented farms until the outbreak of the civil war. In 1863 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was placed in the western depart- ment of the army, commanded by Generals Thomas and Schofield. He took part in many battles and skirmishes, and though in one engagement seven bullet-holes were put through his clothes he escaped injury and was never captured. Among the more notable battles in which he saw severe service were Resaca, Dalton, Lookout mountain and Kenesaw mountain. He was mus- tered out at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and received his honorable discharge in March, 1866. Returning home, he has since given his faithful attention to agriculture, and since 1875 has cultivated the homestead in Prairie town- ship, which he purchased in the year named. He has made numerous sub- stantial improvements, drained the land with tiles, and now possesses one of the best farms in this section. He raises a general line of crops and keeps considerable live stock, of a good grade. He takes commendable interest in public affairs and uses his ballot in favor of the Republican party, frequently attending conventions of the same.
The first marriage of Mr. Taylor was to Mary, daughter of Joseph Sayre, originally of Ohio, and later of White county, Indiana. In 1857 he removed to Missouri, where he lived until his death. Of his six children; Jennie, John P. and Edgar died while young. Frank is following the same calling, farm- ing, and Alice is the wife of D. Phebus. Mrs. Mary Taylor died January 10, 1867, a consistent member of the Christian church. In 1869 Mr. Taylor mar- ried Eliza, daughter of Jonathan Scott, an early settler of this county, who had come here from the Buckeye state. Mrs. Taylor became the mother of a son, George, who died while young, and her death took place in 1871. For the past twenty years our subject has been aided in all his labors and undertakings by the lady to whom he was married in 1879, Nancy, widow of Samuel Burrows. She was the mother of five children, two of whom have died, and the others-Thomas C., Jacob O. and Lena B. (now Mrs. J. Haggardy)-were reared at the home of Mr. Taylor. By his last marriage Mr. Taylor had one child, Cullen, born July 4, 1883, but death claimed him at the age of eight weeks. Mrs. Taylor's father,
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Thomas C. Smith, was a native of New Jersey and later came to Ohio, where he married Ann Brown, from Virginia. About 1833 they emigrated to Indiana, first locating in Tippecanoe county and later in this county, where the father entered one hundred and twenty acres of land and passed the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring February 26, 1848. His wife sur- vived him many years, dying April 1, 1882. Of their twelve children, Har- riet was born August 29, 1831, and died January 15, 1848; Margaret, born December 19, 1840, died March 14, 1848: both of these died unmarried; Fanny, February 21, 1830, died October 14, 1834; Mary C., Newton, Na- than and Jasper died in childhood; Tacy Jane married Solomon Crose, of Chalmers, who is since deceased; George B. is a farmer of this township: he has been blind for twenty-one years and yet often goes about alone for miles, can go to any of the towns and neighbors in the vicinity unguided. He enlisted in Company F, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and his service and exposure in the army were the cause of his affliction. During his two years of service he was engaged in many hard fights and severe skirmishes, and was with Sherman in his " march to the sea." Elizabeth became the wife of H. McCloud, who is now deceased; and Clarinda is the wife of W. Ramey, of Prairie township.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are faithful members of the Christian church, with which her parents also were associated. Mr. Taylor has served as a deacon and church treasurer, and has been a valued worker in the Sunday-school and other departments.
SAMUEL ALKIRE.
It is interesting to the favored generation now rapidly taking the places of those born in the first or second decade of this century to learn how laboriously an education was obtained in the wilds of Indiana and sister states at that period, and with what extreme difficulty success, of any kind, was then achieved. Everything seemed to prove a hindrance to the sturdy, brave-hearted pioneer ; for, in addition to the enormous task of clearing and rendering fit for cultivation his farm, he must take his grain, when garnered, long distances to mill, over almost impassable roads ; and stores, school- houses and churches, as well as neighbors, were inconveniently far away from his humble cabin.
Adam Alkire, a Virginian, grandfather of our subject, was an early settler in Ohio, where he devoted his attention to farming and stock raising until his death. His children were eleven in number, namely : Michael, Samuel, John, Adam, Daniel, Simon, Isaac, Margaret, Sally, Lydia and Judah. Samuel, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, moved to Kentucky and then to Ohio with his parents, and after his marriage to Dollie
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Alkire (a distant relative) he came to White county, Indiana, in 1830. This section of the state was very wild, and through the dense forests multitudes of wild beasts prowled. Indians there were also, but they were friendly and occasioned no trouble to the white men. For some time the only families living within the radius of several miles of Mr. Alkire's cabin were the Hazle- tons, Woods, Barrs, Spencers, Thompsons and Brodas. He was fond of hunt- ing and brought down many a fine specimen of game with his old single-shot, muzzle-loading rifle, which, with the powder-horn and bullet pouch, are still in the possession of our subject. After entering some land in Prairie township he improved a homestead and was one of the first to raise a crop in his neigh- borhood. The first " corn-cracker" within a reasonable distance was at La- fayette, where trading had to be done by the pioneers of this section. The town comprised three or four houses, a tavern and two stores. For some time he lived in a tent, and when he was ready to raise his cabin people came from Tippeca- noe county to assist in the undertaking. Mr. Alkire greatly aided in the settle- tlement of this county, and many a family owed much to him for his hos- pitality and kindly assistance while they were getting established in their new homes. He entered about eleven hundred acres of land and success- fully carried on a large farm. He died in 1874, at the ripe age of eighty-five years, having survived his wife nine years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and politically was a Whig and Republican. Both he and his wife were leading members of the Christian church. Mrs. Alkire was one of four children of Rev. John Alkire, a minister of that denomination, and a resi- dent of Kentucky and Ohio. His three sons were Samuel, George and William, the last named a resident of Illinois.
Samuel Alkire, whose name heads this article, is the youngest son of his parents. His brothers, Michael, Jason, Peter and John, are all deceased. Margaret, who married John Malloy, now lives in Missouri; Susanna is the wife of Isaiah Vooris, of this township; Dulcina and Arminda died while children; and Rebecca is the wife of William Listor.
Born in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 20, 1827, our subject passed three years of his life there, since which time he has lived in this county. He was reared to hard, laborious toil on the new farm owned by his father. In 1848, after his marriage, he located on a homestead in Prairie township, which he had purchased; and now, after a lapse of more than half a century, he is still managing this property. Many improvements and changes for the better have been instituted by him on the farm, which is a model country home to-day. In all local matters he has taken an interested part, as becomes a patriotic citizen, his political preference being the platform and nominees of the Democratic party.
The faithful wife of our subject, whose death occurred August 29, 1880,
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bore the name of Sarah M. Halstead in her girlhood. She came from Ohio to Indiana with her parents, Dr. John and Mary (Nice) Halstead, many years ago. The Doctor was a pioneer physician of White, Greene and Benton counties, Indiana, and died in the last named county, May 12, 1866, when about sixty-one years old. He was a member of the Methodist church, respected by all who knew him. Politically he was a Democrat, and for some time he held the office of justice of the peace. The children born of his first marriage were Matilda, Arthalinda, Sarah M., Mary, Marion, Elliott, Magdalena and Louisa; and by his second union he had three children,- Luther, Jerome and Elizabeth. Eight children blessed the union of our sub- ject and wife, their names in order of birth being as follows: Eliza J .; Minerva A., wife of George Randall, of Johnson county, Texas; John C., a farmer; George and Mary M., who died when young; Susie and Rebecca, both deceased; and William, whose death took place when he was twelve years old. Both of the parents have been considered pillars in the Christian church, Mr. Alkire having served as an elder and as superintendent of the Sunday-school.
HENRY H. HORNBECK.
The freest and most independent man is he who tills the soil and raises upon his farm nearly all of the staples necessary for his household, and the agricultural class is unquestionably the most important in any country. Developing its resources and supplying the bulk of the food required by the inhabitants, living in sympathy with Nature and untrammeled by the narrow, petty methods of trade, what wonder that the farmer possesses a dignity and importance surpassed by few of the city toilers and merchants ?
The birth of Henry Hampton Hornbeck occurred upon a farm, and the greater share of his life has been spent in agricultural pursuits. A son of Hampton Wade and Amanda Ellen (Brown) Hornbeck, he was born on the homestead now owned by John Hoch, in Monroe township, Pulaski county, February 20, 1846. The paternal ancestors of our subject were of German birth, the family having been founded here by two persons bearing the name, some generations ago. The father of Hampton Wade Hornbeck died when he, an only son, was quite young. He had two sisters who lived to maturity. Mrs. Amanda E. Hornbeck had the following named brothers and sisters : Samuel, Frank, Martha (who married John James and lives in Hocking county, Ohio), Rachel and Ellen.
Until after he had arrived at his majority H. H. Hornbeck remained at home with his parents, becoming thoroughly versed in farming in all its departments. For some years he owned and carried on a homestead in Franklin township, and in the spring of 1881 removed to Winamac, where
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he worked at the blacksmith's trade for two years with his brother, William B. Then for a year he carried on a farm near the town named, thence going to the Rudolph Hoch place, which he managed for seven years. In 1889 he purchased forty acres on section 10, Monroe township, and later became the owner of twenty acres more of the same section. About forty acres he has placed under cultivation, and he has remodeled the house and made many substantial improvements.
On the 12th of July, 1874, Mr. Hornbeck married Mary Melissa Youngs, a daughter of David Layton and Margaret (Baker) Youngs, who came to this county thirty years ago and resided upon a farm on section 20, Franklin township. David Layton Youngs was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1824. His father, whose full name was Zachais Youngs, was from Rhode Island, where he was born, in 1790; and he died at the age of sixty-four. His mother's name was Liddie Holt, and she was born in 1781, in Connecti- cut, of Scotch descent. Margaret Youngs' mother's name was Betsy Baker. David L. Youngs and Margaret Baker were married July 4, 1845. Mrs. Hornbeck was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1857, and since she was twelve years of age has lived here in Pulaski county. The eldest child of our subject and wife, Lillian Estella, born March 5, 1877, received an excellent education, and after leaving her studies taught school for three terms, with signal success. She then became the wife of John Holmes, April 18, 1897, and they have one child, Valeria Hazel, born June 7, 1898. Etta Viola, born November 20, 1881, is the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Hornbeck; and the youngest is Cora Elvira, born October 11, 1885.
Politically, Mr. Hornbeck is affiliated with the Democratic party, and is not an aspirant to public office. In his religious belief he adheres to the creed of his forefathers, and is a member of the Brethren or Dunkard church. Upright and fair in all his dealings, he merits the respect which is freely accorded him by his neighbors and fellow-citizens.
WILLIAM MORRIS CRANE.
All credit is due the man who wins success in spite of great obstacles, who by persistence and honest industry gains a competence and a position where he is respected by his acquaintances. The history of William Mor- ris Crane is the history of such a man, one who has become strong and self-reliant through struggling with difficulties which would have over- powered many a one less courageous and resourceful.
Born January 18, 1851, on his father's farm north of Rochester, Fulton county, our subject is a son of Levi Morris and Rebecca Jane (Hartley) Crane. He was but eight years old when his father died, and from that
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time forward his lot was not a promising or happy one. The years which followed ere he arrived at his majority were filled with poorly paid toil, and while he was young he was glad to obtain his board and actual necessi- ties in return for such work as he was able to perform. For a period he made his home with Frank Venard, while he found employment with neighbors. Long and faithful industry brings its reward at last, and in 1879 Mr. Crane became the owner of his first land, a tract of forty acres situated on section 32, Harrison township. With zeal he began improving the place, which was in a wild state, built a house and barn and otherwise in- creased its value. In time he found a purchaser for the place, and dis- posing of it he bought other land on the same section, of his brother John, and lived there for four years. At the expiration of that period he exchanged it for his present homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, part of it being on section 32 and the rest on section 33. All but two acres are under cultivation, the land being very productive and fertile. The comfortable house which stands upon land in section 33 was built by David Hayworth. Everything about the place bespeaks the constant care and attention given by the practical, enterprising owner, who is numbered among the energetic farmers of the township.
The marriage of Mr. Crane and Miss Mary Miller, a daughter of John P. Miller, was celebrated January 18, 1875. Mrs. Crane was born February 22, 1852, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, namely: Millard Oscar, born May 30, 1876, and now a student of the State Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana; Elva May, born December 21, 1878; Orrin Willard, born October 9, 1880; and George Miller, born May 30, 1882. The younger children are attending school and are making excellent progress in their endeavors to qualify themselves for the serious duties of life. The family is highly respected, and all local improvements and en- terprises receive their earnest support. In his political principles Mr. Crane is a stanch Republican.
RELIEF JACKSON.
In these days of transition when the restlessness which has come to be a national trait seems to preclude the possibility of one's remaining more than a few years at most at any given place, it seems almost inconceivable to hear of a man active in business life who for sixty-six years has resided in the same city to which he came a child of five years. Such, however, is the case with the subject of this sketch, the well-known merchant tailor of Lafayette, and some of the incidents of his career may well occupy a place in this volume.
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