USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind. : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana > Part 60
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now devoted himself to regain former losses. He at first built two cabins, in one of which he lived ten years, when e erected the pres- ent residence. Four years later he left the farm, living retired in Hartford City till his death, January 25, 1897, in his eighty-first year.
This wife died January 25, 1887, he hay ing survived her just ten years, Methodical and painstaking in his habits, he was satis- fed with no half-way work, but, with the tastes of a true mechanic, he demanded that everything be done in a workmanlike man- ner. Ile was supplied with a complete out- fit ot the finest mechanical tools, in the use of which he excelled. Reared a Lutheran, he for some years remained with that church, but later became identified with the United Brethren, in whose society, at Hartford City, he was an influential member. He served the society for many years as steward, and besides contributing liberally did much to advance the interests of the church.
His family consisted of six children : Melissa, who died in infancy; Wesley, a farmer of Jackson township: Catherine, wife 1 of Alfred Beath, of Hartford City; Edgar, now a farmer in Wells county, but who was formerly a blacksmith at Hartford City; Charles, who died at ten years of age; and Ezra, who has a lad of fourteen upon the return of the family to Blackford county. He remained with his father while he oper- ated the farm, having principal charge of it himself, however. from the time he at- tained his majority. In 1884, when his father retired, be bought the farm, which contained one hundred and twenty-two acres. Hle has himself placed about forty-five acres in cultivation; some fifteen acres, being lou and wet, was made valuable only by system- attic drainage. His father had always con-
tended that water could not find its wa into file drains and had adhered to the old style timber ditches; but Ezra at once sulopted the more modern plan, having al. ready laid upwards of one thousand rods of tile. While he grows considerable grain it is mainly converted into beef and pork. he generally keeping about twenty head of cattle and nearly one hundred hogs, Keeping abreast with the times, his farm is stocked with high grade hogs and cattle and thor oughbred Norman horses. In 1892 he creci ed a barn 40x72 fect, with twenty-two-foot posts, which not only affords ample stable accommodations, but contributes materially to the general prosperous appearance of the place.
In addition to the home farm, he owns a forty-acre farm on section 4, of the same lowuship, some three miles distant. With the exception of one year, when he conducted a meat market in Hartford City, his atten- tions have been mainly devoted to the farm. He is, however, identified with the American Glass Company, as agent, to oversee a por- tion of their outside work, more especially looking after the gas wells now producing and laying of lines. His ability and atten- tion to details have placed him in high es- timation with the company officials. His own farm lying in the gas belt, be was one of the first to leave, which he did some ten years since, although as yet its productive ness has not been tested.
Mr. Stallsmith was married. December 28. 1880, to Miss Ida Moore, daughter of tJenry and Mariah (Atkinson ) Moore, who were pioneers of the county. He was born in Virginia, while she was a native of Penn- sylvania. They settled, in an carly day, four miles southwest of Hartford, where Ida, the youngest of eight children, was born.
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Both parents die! on that farm, he on the i county. Ohio, when they were mere chil- 9th of August, 188), aged sixty six years. dren and there the to maturity and were married. eleven months; she, July 16, 1879, aged fifty-five years, ten months and six days. The Stallsmith family consists of one son, Ralph G., born August 12, 1800. Mr. Stall- sinith was early in life a Democrat, but when the temperance question grew prominent he became a Prohibitionist, in which cause he has been an ardent worker. He is the pres- ent district chairman, all campaign work re- ceiving his personal attention, and his pres- ence and influence carries weight in all the party councils.
Himself and wife a. members of the Methodist church, but, as in all other mat- ters. he holds to most liberal views. Always alive to advanced ideas, he took an active interest in the Patrons of Husbandry when the movement was being organized, and everything that has had for its object the advancement of the community, has found in him an earnest advocate and enthusiastic supporter.
ARCHIBALD M. CAMPBELL.
Archibakl McClain Campbell, of Lick- ing township, is a prominent representative of those brave men and women whose lives were devoted to the infancy of Blackford county, and, with possibly one exception, is the oldest man now living in the county who was born within its present boundaries. His birth occurred October 1, 1837, on the farm that is now his home au [ practically on the site of his present residence. Ilis parents were William W. and Phebe (Mc- Ican) Campbell, the father being a native of Vermont and the mother of Maryland ; both were brought by their parents to Athens
In 1836 William W. mpbell came to Indiana in search of a home and entered the tract upon which he settled. He there- after devoted himself largely to its improve- ment and cultivation. However, he had learned the trade of a shoemaker, and being the only one for a considerable distance, he became the popular Crispin for nearly all the pioneer families who were near him, working often till near midnight and on rainy days. In this way he managed to live, and at the same time to improve a valuable farm, having placed nearly one hundred acres in cultivation. He was a man of sterling worth and undoubted integrity. Keenly alive to all that made for better citi- zenshuip, his influence was to the upbuilding of the community and it can truly be said of him that "the world was better by his hay- ing lived." Hle passed away at his home in his sixty-eighth year, honored and re- spected by all. Of his eleven chiklren nine grew to maturity, and of these seren are still living: Nathan is a resident of Hartford City and John resides at Eaton, Indiana. Archibaldl M. remained at home till reaching his majority, when he went to Missouri. where, in Schuyler county, in November of the year 1860, he was joined in matrimony to Miss Samantha Currier, a native of Per- ry county, Ohio, and raised in Athens count- ty, that ste e, and who had gone to Missouri with her parents as a young lady of seven. teen. The outlook for war and the intensity of feeling in that state was such that the young couple decided to return to Indiana. which they did just before the outbreak of actual conflict, the boat they took passage upon at Alexandria, Missouri, being the last
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one allowed to leave. Reaching Indiana he took charge of the operation of the home- stead, conducting it with uniform success till, at his father's death, he started in to secure the ownership of it by purchasing the other interests.
The process was slow, but after a few years he succeeded, in the meantime making many valuable improvements. He replaced the old style timber drains with tile and ex- tended them, laying over twelve hundred rods, which reaches to all essential parts of the one hundred and thirteen acres com- prised in the estate. He suffered the loss by fire of his former residence, but has re- placed it with one superior in every respect.
While not a breeder of thoroughbred stock, his aim is to ker a high-grade line of such stock as is usual found, converting all the grain grown into stock for the miar- ket. Wise judgment and careful manage- ment, coupled with economy, industry, will- ingness and persistent work, have won jor him an independent position in financial cir- cles, and with the interest he has ever shown in all that advances the community, he stands today one of the substantial and fore- most citizens of the county. Grounded in Democratic doctrine, he has adhered faith- fully to those principles which make for better government and the enhancement of the individual. He has been often selected to represent his party in its conventions and other councils. Ile was the deputy collector of delinquent taxes for Washington and Licking townships, was also land appraiser for Licking township and at one time served as a member of the board of county commis- sioners.
Our subject's family consists of five chil- dren: Lucinda M. is the wife of Aaron Slater, of Licking township; William Hen-
ry, of Delaware country; Archibald Mausen, who assists in operating the homestead; Nathan Edgar, of Hartford City, and Carie New on, also of Licking township. He takes pride 1 the fact that he is the grand- father of an even dozen. Not tied to re- ligious creed or dognia and with no social ties that in any wise hamper the largest indi- vidual freedom of thought, he stands an ex- polent of personal liberty and an example of unaided effort and independent manhood.
THEODORE CLAPPER.
The traveler who passes south from Hartford City on the Winters pike will, when just beyond the city limits, be at- tracted by a well kept and thrifty farm, the residence standing some distance from the road, but commanding a splendid wiew. This has for many years been known as the Handley estate, now owned and operated by Theodore Clapper, a native of the county, being "to the manor. born." His own birth- place was one mile west of his present home, the date of birth being November 8. 1855. His father. Chri. pher Clapper, yielded his life in the cause of his country, his death occurring at Iluntsville, Alabama, in Jan- mary, 1865. The widow, whose manden name was Catherine Hall, was thus left with the care of three children -- Theodore being the eldest and he then but ten years of age ; the others wer Alice, now the wife of George Marley, and Dr. M. M. Clapper, of whom see a skes h elsewhere.
Mrs. Clapper is still residing in Hart- ford City, being the widow of David Iless, to whom she was married when our subject
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was still young. She remained on her farm .. keeping her little family together, suffering many privations that she might not sacrifice the personal oversight of her little ones. Theodore remained at home till sixteen, re- ceiving but a brief schooling, having attend- crl bunt three months, and none after he was fifteen years old. The subsequent five years were passed in rather a roving life, visiting Boston to the east, and setting as far west as lowa. He returned occasionally to the old home and then would be absent for months at a time. He finally decided to re- turn and was, on the 23d of January, 1879, united in marriage to Miss Eunice Ann Handley, daughter of the former prominent citizen, Washi on Handley. Her grand- father, Jeremiah Handley, a native of P'eun- sylvania, entered the land comprised in the present Clapper home, the off 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 best remembered 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 county until quite recent years. Burris Handley reared a family here and clied while a soldier. Georg Washington remained at home, caring for his parents in their extreme age. He married Sarah Hell- yer 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. His widow survived him some time, dying in her fifty sixth year.
Of the eight children born to them but two, Eunice, and Charlotte, wife of Jacob Remington, of Boynton, India &, survive at the end of the century. After the inother's death Mr. and Mrs. Clapper pir- chased the remaining interests in the old homestead, which now contains one hundred and fifty-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 an aptitude for mechanics, he became quite proficient in handling tools and soon acquired considerable skill, so that he 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. He 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- titred and sold a valuable patent fence, and for three years operated a brick yard in Ilart- Ford.
Mrs. Clapper has attained an enviable reputation as an expert butter maker and from their herd of high-grade cows sends the choicest dairy product to the tables of stich ,rivate customers as will be satisfied with only the most delicate article.
They are the parents of six interesting children, born in the following order : Ur- bine 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 Blackford county, having been chosen re-
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
peatedly as chairman of the county commit- tee and having served as delegate to the various state and other party conventions.
1
IRA L. TOWNSEND.
Among the prominent business men of Hartford City may be mentioned Ira L. Townsend. 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 10, 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, by 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) ; Hal. tead, and George O .. deceased. The Townsend family are of English descent and located in New York state. At an carly 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 September 3, 1879; an infant, deceased, unnamed ; Harry, born in August, 1881, died in Jan-
mary, 1886; Winnie M., born August 29, 1883: Blanche, born December 1, 1885; Gertrude, born January 6, 1888. Mr. Town- send died June 5. 1897, and in his death his family lost a kind and generous father and the 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 ekdlest brother, John, was a soldier of the Civil 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 secker after public office took 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 has 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 be traced, is of English origin, the grandfather of our subject becoming a resident of Ohio very early in the present century.
Richard Swift was, like his son, born in Guernsey county, where he married Mrs. . Lucinda Roach, and in 1848, when Dodge
В.Я. Гонказалов
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was but an infant of a few weeks, came to Indiana. The only other member of the family at that time was a son of Lucinda's, Chester Birch, then a lad of four years. His first farm in Licking township was consider- ably cleared and improved when, after about twelve rs' residence. he sold it and .pur- chased what 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 one of the primitive homemade, hewed-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 yields to the youthful prompt- ings for adventi and sought to find the satisfaction for his thirst in the west, which then offered inany inducements to the young Allail. 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, he decided that a less exving life would satisfy his cravings and a in sought the old fireside and the companionship of other clays. That experience was valuable to him in many ways and while there was much that was unpleasant, it was sceing 29
life at an important juncture, not only in his own existence but also at a critical time in the life of the nation.
Not long after his return he was wedded to Miss Dona Slater, daughter of James and Jane Slater, who was 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 his inheritance but sixteen acres. His 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 liandsome 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 bis adhesion to no church or creed and to his having only
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those bonds of fraternal association that be- long to universal brotherhood.
Ilis family consists of five children, viz : Mary, wife of Alexander Lowe, of Licking township: Harry, who is one of the county's progressive teachers, having had a technical training at Lafayette; Ida, who is an expert tailoress 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 1860, and upon which Syl- vester was born December 3, 1804.
Richard Swift was born in Ohio, being the only son of an early pioneer of that state, who was of English descent. His first wife was Lucinda Roach, after whose death he wedded Mary M. Snyder, the mother of Syl- ester. This lady survives her husband, re- siding at present in Hartford. The 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 tinie, 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 he found work as a woodchopper, but in a short time secured a place in a stamp mill as an ordinary laborer. He continued several years as an employee, becoming a trusted foreman for some time,
when he had most responsible work to super- vise. Ile 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. He lived amid the excitement of mining towns and among the mines in which he worked that of the famous San Juan mine. of Gil- pin county, Colorado, is well known. ITc 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. Hle has added to these purchases until his farm now contains one hundred and seventy- seven 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 reclaime. 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.
Mr. Swift was married in Colorado to Miss Mollie Noy, whose life was terminated by an accident nine months afterwards. On
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the 13th of March, 1897, he was again joined in matrimony, his choice falling upon Mrs. Halie 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, carly became imbued with the principles of the Democratic party, which applied with double force to the inter 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 be 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 : ito 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 Twi- bell. His boyhood and youth were passed upon the farm of his birth, he doing his part in clearing and improving a new farn.
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