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 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
the town of Widburnon, on the 3d day of January, 1859. Ilis father, William John- son, also an Englishman, is a blacksmith by trade, and his mother, whose maiden name was Dorothy Allen, was born and reared near the place where her son first saw the light of day. Their parents are both living, their home at the present time being in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, where the ckler Johnson is still working at his trade.
When about one year old William J. Johnson was taken by his parents to New Zealand, where he remained until 1869, at which time the family came to the United States and located in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. After remaining there about four years they removed to Sharpsburg, where, in 1876, William J. began learning glass blowing with the Tibby Brothers, pro- prietors of one of the largest glass factories in the western part of the state. Ile re- mained with that firm eight years, becom- ing a skilled workman in the meantime, and then assisted in organizing the Bellaire Bot- tle Works, at Bellaire, Ohio. About six months after perfecting the above organiza- tion Mr. Johnson, by reason of his wife's health, severed his connection therewith and returning to Sharpsburg again entered the employ of the Tibbys, with whom he re- mained for only a limited period. His next venture was the Summer Glass Company, Sharpsburg, which he was instrumental in organizing. By reason of scarcity of nat- ural gas he discontinued operation there and went to Steubenville, Ohio, where he pur- chased a plant containing a ten-pot furnace, which under his management was soon in- creased to twelve pots, and this he operated with successful results for a period of eight- een years.
Disposing of his property and business
.
559
THE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.
at Bellaire, Mr. Johnson went to California and during the five succeeding years was en- gaged in business at the city of Los Angeles. At the end of that time he came to Indiana and, in partnership with Frank MeElfrash, started a glass factory at Noblesville, with which he retained connection for only a short time. Selling out to his partner, he ac- cepted, in the spring of 1899, a position with the Diamond Flint Glass Company, of Hart- ford City, of which he is now superintend- ent.
Mr. Johnson is familiar with every de- tail of the manufacture of glass and has de- voted his entire time and attention to the business. His life has been one of great activity and, while meeting with some suc- · cess, which is the experience of every busi- ness man, yet on the whole he has been suc- cessful, as is attested by the competency ac- quired and the responsible position with which he is at this time honored.
On the 28th of January, 1882, Mr. John- son and Miss Mary Shirtleff, of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Peoples) Shirtleff, were made man and wife and their home has been brightened by the presence therein of four children, namely : Mame, born March 25, 1883; Catlı- arine, born July 1, 1888; Nancy, born July IO, 1896, and William, whose birth oc- curred in January, 1899.
Mr. Johnson is a member of Blackford Lodge, No. 106, F. & A. M .; Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., and also be- longs to the local council of the Royal Ar- canum meeting in the city of Los Angeles, California. He subscribes to the Presby- terian creed in religion and is active in the work of the church and the several frater- nities above mentioned.
By long and varied experience with
business men and contact with the world in various ways Mr. Johnson has acquired a practical knowledge such as no other agency can impart and his manner and gen- eral bearing bespeak the broad minded, intel- ligent gentleman. He is essentially a man of affairs, content to occupy no humble place, and he makes his influence felt wherever he goes. In his intercourse with his fellow men he is affable, easily approachable and at once commands the confidence of those with whom he has business or social rela- tions. With character above reproach and an influence ever on the side of justice and right, he occupies a conspicuous place in the estimation of the people of his adopted city who have learned to prize him not only for his superior business qualifications, but also for the sterling traits of manhood which he exhibits in his daily walk and conversa- tion.
MICHAEL J. KESLER.
Michael Jacob Kesler, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Jackson town- ship, Blackford county, whose postoffice is Priam, was born in Perry county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1853. He is a son of Adam Kes- ler, who came to Indiana soon after the birth of the subject of this sketch, and still resides in. Jackson township, well known to all its inhabitants. Michael Kesler passed his boyhood days upon the old homestead, which is still dear to him, and upon which he performed his share of daily labor, ob- taining such education as was then afforded by the district schools. Remaining at home until his thirtieth year, he was then married, but he had previously made a start in life for himself by renting a portion of his father's farm and by cultivating eighty acres more
560
THIE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
given him by his father. Then all was wild land and some of it had on it the largest timber growing in this section of the coun- try. By the time of his marriage Mr. Kes- ler had twenty-three acres of his land cleared and under cultivation, but as yet he had not erected a house. He and his wife there- fore began housekeeping in a log cabin which was their home for some years. At the present time he has ninety acres in a good state of cultivation, his farm contain- ing one hundred and sixty acres in all. Most of his attention has been given to the culti- vation of wheat, but he also raises hogs to a considerable extent. The little log house has been supplanted by a commodious and comfortable dwelling house, and good out- buildings have been erected, so that his farm now makes him a comfortable home and also a good living. Mr. Kesler's farm is in the gas belt and he has one well upon it in operation. A portion of his farm he rents to outside parties, thus to some extent reaping the reward of their labors as well as of his own. It is one of his aims to keep himself well informed as to current events and to keep his farm in as high a state of cultivation as those of his neighbors, and to be known in all respects as a progressive farmer and upright and useful citizen.
Lillie Samantha Barnes, his wife, is the daughter of Thomas Barnes, who still lives in Jackson township. She was born in this township in 1863, and has borne her husband the following children: Grace Edna, a graduate of the district schools; Clyde Mer- rill, Prudie Letha, all under the parental roof. Mr. Kesler is a Democrat in politics, always putting forth his best efforts for the good of his party, seeking no official prefer- ment for himself, but looking to the good of the community wherein he resides.
JAMES MADISON SECREST.
James Madison Secrest, of Jackson town- ship, whose postoffice is Hartford City, was born in Licking township, in the southwest corner of Blackford county, October 17, 1844. He is a son of Henry and Margaret (Geyer) Secrest, who were married in Blackford county. Henry Secrest came from Guernsey county, Ohio, where he was born, and was a son of John and Sarah Secrest, who came west from Easton, Pennsylvania, and were among the early pioneers of Vir- ginia. Margaret Geyer, who became the wife of Henry Secrest, was a daughter of Daniel and Susannah (Darr) Geyer, who came from Muskingum county, Ohio, when Margaret was twenty years of age, locating in Indiana about the same time as Mr. Secrest, who came as a young man and be- gan clearing land which his father had en- tered. For two years he was thus engaged before marrying, which event occurred when he was twenty-six years old. Upon his mar- riage he and his wife began keeping house in a hewed-log house which he had already erected, the first house of the kind in the neighborhood. He was born January 7, 1812, and died May 22, 1882, and she was horn March 10, 1813, and died February 8, 1884. He is believed to have located in this state at least as early as 1834, and he and his wife lived on the farm until it was well im- proved, selling the old homestead after the close of the war of the Rebellion and remov- ing to Illinois, dying in Christian county, that state, at the dates given above for each respectively. Of their family two are still living in Blackford county, viz: James M., the subject of this sketch, and Eliza, wife of Isaac E. Carmine,, who lives on a farm ad- joining the old homestead in Licking town-
561
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ship. They had eight children in all, and six of them are still living, the sons, besides James M., being John II., a lumber manufac- turer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Oliver, a farmer near Edwardsville, Illinois, and the daughters, besides Eliza, being Sarah M., widow of William Milhollin, of Grant coun- ty. Indiana, and Mary Jane, of Springfield, Missouri.
Henry Secrest was a mechanic and mill- wright and assisted in drafting the plans for the first county court house and also for the first schoolhouse in Hartford City. He also engaged in the saw-mill business, and alto- gether was a very useful man in his day.
James M. Secrest remained at home until he was of age, going to Illinois with his par- ents, but returning soon afterward. Being, as was his father before him, a natural me. chanic, he found ample opportunity to ex: cise his bent in this direction on his farm and in connection with his farm work. He lo- cated on his present farm in 1885 and having owned two other farms in Blackford county, he improved them by repairing the fences and in other ways. He has also operated a saw- mill and a grist-mill, the Millhollin mill in Grant county, and has erected numerous houses, bridges, etc., all of which in compar- ison with his farm work has been incidental. The farm on which he now resides was, when he began to live upon it, badly run down and worn out; but he has improved it and re- paired the house, which was in no condition to live in, and has also erected other build- ings, so that at the present time he has a well improved farm and modern, convenient buildings. His farm is well underdrained, he having laid two thousand rods of tile, which reaches every field, and puts each field in excellent condition for tillage, giving each a warm and genial soil.
Mr. Secrest was married, July 2, 1871, in Blackford county, to Miss Lura Corwin, a daughter of Solomon and Isabel (Davis) Corwin, she having been born in Madison county, Indiana, and removed thence to Blackford county when a young woman, her parents settling in Licking township. three miles south of Hartford City. Her mother (lied in Madison county, Indiana, when she was a mere child of about seven or eight years, and her father removed to Mercer county, Illinois, where he died at the age of seventy-six. Lura is the only member of her family remaining in Blackford county.
Mr. and Mrs. Secrest have two children, viz: William, who married Della Ritter, a daughter of Captain Wm. L. Ritter, and is living on the Captain Ritter farm, near Hart- ford City, and Orval, just past his twenty- first birthday, who has recently graduated at the home school and is living at home. Mr. Secrest has been a life-long Republican, is often found in his party conventions and is one of the leading men of his township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mill Grove, and are both influential in their respective spheres. The sons belong to the Improved Order of Red Men, and have received the best educational advantages afforded by the country in which they live. Both have remained at or near home, so that they might be all the time near their parents, and have the advantages of their advice and assistance.
JAMES G. McCOLLY.
Among the successful farmers and vet- crans of the Civil war, of Blackford county, is the subject of this review. Ile was born
562
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in Stokes township, Logan county, Ohio, November 16, 1839. In 1848 his parents removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where Mr. McColly grew to manhood. He was reared a farmer and received his education in the common schools. At the age of eighteen he began working by the month upon adjoining farms in his township, but made his father's home his headquarters. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry, for the one-hundred-day service and was mustered in at Columbus, Ohio.
His regiment was sent to Washington and thence to Fortress Monroe, whence they were sent up the river to Whitehouse Land- ing. From there they were sent in advance of the Pioneer Corps to Petersburg and were engaged in the building of pontoon bridges for Grant's army to cross the river. With his command Mr. McColly was before Pet- ersburg when the fort was blown up. From this point he was sent to the Shenandoalı valley and the peninsula between the James and York rivers, and participated in the op- erations on the James river and around Pitts- burg Landing and Richmond. He was in the battle of Monocacy, and in the intrench- ments at Washington, D. C., and other im- portant services. He was discharged De- cember 15, 1864, seeing short but active service. Returning to Woodstock, Cham- paign county, Ohio, Mr. McColly was en- gaged in railroad contracting for three years, when he turned his attention to the building of pike roads in Champaign and Logan counties until 1874, when he settled upon the farm where he now resides.
In 1861 Mr. McColly was married to Miss Polina McElwain, a daughter of An- drew and Maragh McElwain, and by this marriage they are the parents of two chil-
dren, Charles, deceased, and Emma, wife of J. Fred Sterns. Mrs. McColly died and in 1885 our subject married for his second wife Miss Martha, daughter of Ester Holycross, by whom he had two children : Amiziah, who is engaged on the farm with his father, and married Ada Parnell; they have one child, Charles; Daisy, who married John Parnell and resides on the farm with her father; they are the parents of one child, Marie. Mr. McColly owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres situated on section 32, and has one hundred and fifty-five acres of it under cultivation. He is also engaged in the breeding of stock and devotes his farm to the raising of grain and general farming. In connection with farming he is engaged in the buying and selling of hay for the mar- ket.
In his political views Mr. McColly is a stanch Republican, and takes a deep interest in the success of his party. He is a member of Jacob Stokes Post, G. A. R., and a mem- ber of the United Brethren church, of which he has been a trustee for seventeen years. Mr. McColly is regarded as one of the pro- gressive and substantial citizens of Black- ford county and commands the respect of all who know him.
JOHN P. WILLIAMS, DECEASED.
John P. Williams was born in Preble county, Ohio, June 2, 1835, and died Janu- ary 3. 1883. His parents were William Y. and Sarah (Tomelson) Williams, the former dying June 28, 1900, in his eighty-eighth year, near Muncie, Indiana. When John P. was a child of but a few months his parents settled on government land in Delaware
563
THE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.
county, Indiana, where his boyhood was passed. He was married at the age of twen- ty-four to Miss Rose Ann McConnell, and soon after settled on the present farm, which had been given him by his father. A small cabin stood on the site of the present house, but the now highly improved farm was then but a wilderness. Scarcely had the young couple become well established in their new home when the wife died, surviving the birth of her son a few weeks. The next fall, No- vember 21, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary E. Frint. She was the daughter of Hiram and Delilah ( Kirkpatrick) Frint, and lived on the farm two miles west of Hartford upon which the Dunkard church now stands. He had improved that farm, and it was his home till his death, at the age of seventy- five, he having preceded his wife but eleven days, her death occurring January 12, 1889, aged seventy-two years. They were married in Clinton county, Ohio. He was born in Ross county and she in Guernsey county, Ohio, and in 1851 they came to Indiana. His parents having died when he was young. he was separated from the other children, one of the sisters finally making her home in Iowa, where Hiram decided to emigrate. On reaching that state he found the sister had returned to Ohio, and they thus failed to meet. Years passed on till near the close of his life, when she came to see him after a separation of more than sixty years. The little log cabin was the home of Mr. Will- iams till 1870, when the present residence was erected. He devoted his entire energies to the making of the farm, using in the earlier years the old style timber drains, which have been replaced with the more modern system of scientific tiling. Always in close sympathy with all that advanced the general welfare, he early identified himself with the Metho-
dist Protestant church at the Corn Cob school house near his own home. He was an exem- plary man whose faith in the future of his adopted county was unbounded. Taking pride in what he did toward its development, he did much to encourage others toward sim- ilar efforts and he was held in greatest re- spect by a host of warm personal friends. Mrs. Williams, who still resides amid the scenes where nearly forty years of her life have been passed, is a lady of great good na- ture, of a genial and kindly disposition. She has many warm friends who appreciate her many womanly traits and virtues. The fam- ily of John P. Williams consisted of William N. Williams, who at the death of his mother was taken by his grandfather Williams, who has insisted on the young man remaining with him. Of the children born to the sec- ond marriage, Clarissa is now Mrs. Simon Stewart, of Delaware county ; Elminus A. dien in infancy ; Linzie L. is a farmer near the old homestead; Minnie Esther is the wife of Robert Johnson, residing near her mother ; Watty Edmund died in childhood; Leroy Freeman operates the old home for his mother, and Effie May died also in childhood.
HENRY C. DAVISSON, M. D.
Henry C. Davisson, M. D., was born September 25, 1839, at Norton, Delaware county, Ohio. He graduated in the English course at Granville College, in 1856, and sub- sequently studied medicine with Dr. I. H. Pennock, of South Woodbury, Monroe coun- ty, Ohio. IIe left home October 6, 1860, with fourteen dollars in money and a shawl for an overcoat, and arrived in Hartford City with but a single dime in his pocket,
564
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which he always retained as a reminder of his start in life. He taught school at Trenton for three months and engaged in his profess- ion when an opportunity offered. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Eliza Anderson, and was graduated in medicine at Indiana · Medical College in 1871-72. He was presi- dent of the pension board for four years un- cler President Cleveland, coroner for eight years, and county and city health officer for eight and four years respectively. He also was a member of the County, District, State and American Medical Societies. Unaided unassisted, penniless, friendless and alone among strangers, the Doctor started out in life when but twenty-one years of age, but by untiring zeal, energy and devotion to his pro- fession, he has accumulated a fortune ; witlı never a penny given to him, he has succeeded in acquiring a competence for life. Out of debt, owing no man a penny, he may have the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been rewarded.
In politics a Democrat, the Doctor is always found laboring for his friends, never asking for office. For five years the Doctor has eschewed politics, except to vote his sen- timents, and has applied himself with energy, devotion and zeal to his chosen profession. His obstetric work has been extensive, he having attended at the birth of two thousand one hundred and eleven children and never having lost a mother during confinement.
DAVID R. MELICK.
The true spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly displayed in the life of the man to whom this article is devoted-a gentle- man whose energetic nature and well-
formed determination have enabled him to overcome many adverse circumstances and advance steadily to a respectable position in life. Mr. Melick was born in Perry county, Ohio, September 8, 1857. Ilis parents were Dr. Isaac and Julia Ann (Ansel) Mel- ick; the father being a practicing physician owning and operating a drug store, farm and mill.
David remained upon the farm until his twelfth year, from which time until attain- ing his majority his time was divided be- tween the various interests of his father, becoming familiar with the store, as well as the operation of the farm and mill. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in the butcher business at Zanesville, Ohio, remaining there five years, during which time he had made very satisfactory progress; but, being desir- ous to engage in farming he disposed of his business and, removing to Indiana in the spring of 1884, rented the Maddox farm west of Hartford. In 1895 he purchased part of the present farm, and the next year added the remainder, assuming, in doing so, a considerable indebtedness. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres, two miles west of Hartford, on the line of the Panhandle Railroad, is one of the most desirable in the vicinity. It was formerly known as the Williams farm, and at the time of the pur- chase the buildings especially badly needed repair. Mr. Melick at once set to work, re- modeling and enlarging the house, and erected cribs, sheds and sheep barn. Has also set out an orchard, rebuilt most of the fence and laid considerable tile, extending it to all essential parts of the farm, thus ma- terially adding to its value and productive- ness. His efforts are resulting in a beautiful place. The house, standing some distance back from the road, will, when the grounds
565
THE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.
are arranged as planned, present a handsome appearance.
Mr. Melick was married at his old home in Ohio, March 27, 1879, to Miss Eva A. Gillespie, a former schoolmate. They have four children whose names are as follows : Raymond G., whose occupation is a carpen- ter; John Lee, Edna May and David Roy. It is an interesting family, all of whom are musicians, and having been supplied with the best educational advantages make a home that may well be considered a model.
In politics our subject is a sound Demo- crat, having always aimed to promote the success of his party in what he considers to be the best policy for the benefit of the masses. He has always held the full confi- dence of the people and of his party, and by the latter has been frequently sent as dele- gate to its conventions. He and wife are both members of the Methodist church at Hartford, and socially occupy a high stand- ing, and are greatly esteemed for their many excellent traits of personal character. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Hartford Tent, No. 50, Knights of the Maccabees.
THOMAS CHARLES NEAL.
The industrial history of Montpelier would be incomplete without conspicuous mention of Thomas Charles Neal, and no one would undertake to write the biogra- phies of Blackford county's representative men without narrating in detail the salient facts in the life of this most estimable citizen.
Originally the family name was O'Neal, and the pronunciation at once suggests Irish origin. The subject's grandfather, John O'Neal, left the Emerald Isle many years ago, coming to America and settling in
Greenbrier county, Virginia. Later he moved to Lawrence county, Ohio, where he reared his family, and there his death oc- curred, the exact date of which has not been ascertained. The children of John O'Neal, six in number, were named as follows: Hezekiah, Thomas J., William, Charles W., Jennie and Amanda.
Charles W., father of Thomas C., mar- ried Nancy Roberts, who bore him two chil- dren, both sons, the name of the second being John Chapman Neal. This estimable woman was a native of the state of New York, and departed this life at Marion, In- diana, in the year 1864. Thomas Charles Neal was born February 12, 1852, in Grant county, Indiana, where he spent his youth- ful years, attending meanwhile the district schools until the age of fourteen. While still quite young he entered the service of Sweetser & Turner, grain dealers of Ma- rion, in whose employ he continued five yars, obtaining during that time a practical knowledge of business which proved of great value to him in after life. Severing his con- nection with the above firm, Mr. Neal en- gaged in the grain business at Montpelier upon his own responsibility and continued the same with satisfactory results until 1899, when he disposed of his interest to H. C. Arnold, of Bluffton.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.