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 82
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rule of three." But notwithstanding all these seeming disadvantages, as compared with modern school-houses and methods, it was often the case that the log school-house turned out most excellent men; for the ap- plication of the mind to study is far more important than the mere surroundings of the pupil.
The family by dint of persistent labor were thus kept together, and were engaged according to their abilities in the different kinds of work on the farm. Flax was one of the necessary crops in those early days, for the clothing for the family had to be spun and woven by Mrs. Caldwell, and it was also sold for the purpose of buying gro- ceries, after it had been woven into all-flax linen or into tow linen, a few sheep being kept for the purpose of supplying wool for this kind of weaving. Mrs. Caldwell also made rag carpet which she sold in order to increase her resources.
One of the difficulties she had to over- come was that her cattle were killed by mur- rain; but their skins were tanned in the vicinity and thus furnished leather for boots and shoes. Benjamin F., even becoming a shoemaker and harnessmaker, worked at these two trades for his own benefit in the winter season, and at nights at other por- tions of the year. He also tanned leather for others on shares and carried his product by wagon to Indianapolis, Richmond and other places, selling it there for such necessities as were of use in the family. The later years of the devoted mother's life were passed with her son, Benjamin F., she dying at Mill Grove about 1885, when she was eighty-three years of age. One remarkable thing about her was that while she had been raised in a slave-holding state and had learned little or perhaps nothing about household duties or
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work of any kind, yet when she was thrown upon her own resources she was not dis- mayed, but was always equal to the emer- gency by which she was confronted.
Having purchased the homestead farm Benjamin F. Caldwell remained upon it until 1865 when, selling it, he removed five miles south, but still in the same county, living here until 1875. Then removing to Black- ford county, he located at Mill Grove, his present home, and entered upon the breeding of high-grade horses. He now keeps about forty or fifty driving horses, including Ham- bletonians and others. In partnership with his son, David C., he owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres within two miles of Hartford City, besides the Mill Grove farm, and also a small farin south of Hartford City, in all tw hundred and eighty acres, all three of which are used in connec- tion with each other. Upon these farmis Mr. Caldwell and his son have bred many hundreds of horses, which they have ex- hibited at county, district and state fairs for years, and with satisfactory results. Mr. Caldwell has been engaged in the rais- ing of horses for fifty-four years, and has kept public stands and operated breeding farms. During the war of the Rebellion he handled many horses, as well as cattle, for the government, and has made the buying and shipping of stock a business for twenty years. So extensive has been his experience that he is regarded by managers of fairs as an expert judge of horses, and he has acted in that capacity for years. All the horses that he can raise are taken as fast as they are ready for the market, for his reputation is so thoroughly established and so widely known that all who live within this sphere rely implicitly on his judgment and pur- chase of him without hesitation, as it is well
known that he has confined himself to a le- gitimate line of business.
During his entire life Mr. Caldwell has been a Democrat, and was very active in party work for thirty years, yet he never as- pired to public office, being satisfied to at- tend to his own private affairs. In the man- agement of his business he has been uni- formly successful, and has not lost money except in endorsing for friends, a practice often attended with loss and which has been condemned ever since the time of Solomon. During the financial panic of 1873 he paid a security debt of fifteen thousand dollars, which necessitated the sacrifice of property worth twenty-five thousand dollars.
At the age of twenty-four Mr. Caldwell was married to Miss Mary Jane Sample, who was born and reared in the same neighbor- hood with himself in Hancock county. He and his wife have two children, viz: David C., and Adclia Emmerett, a maiden lady living at home. Besides his own, Mr. Cald- well has reared and educated other children. One of these is Ira H. Sample, the well- known attorney for the Pennsylvan : Rail- way Company, living at Logansport, who graduated at the Indiana University at Bloomington. Mr. Sample is a nephew of Mrs. Caldwell, being a son of her brother and an orphan from infancy. He received the same treatment in the family and the same opportunities for advancement as Mr. Caldwell's own son, who became a physician and practiced medicine several years. Other children have been taken care of in Mr. Cald- well's home for five or six years each, so that it is proper to state that this home has been a kind of asylum for children needing care, and that these children have been treated with the same fatherly and motherly solicitude that has been accorded the chil-
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dren of the home itself. Mrs. Caldwell has always been a woman of superior ability and tact, and has thus been able to aid her hus- band in every way necessary and to preside over her household with a calm dignity and kindliness which have always served to shower blessings and benedictions on all its members.
CORNELIUS C. FLEMING.
Cornelius C. Fleming, of Washington township, is so well known that he needs no introduction to the citizens of the northern part of Blackford county. He is a man of integrity and honor and carries the respect to a high degree of all who know him. He was born in Marion county, West Virginia, October 4, 1834, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (VanZandt) Fleming, on the pa- ternal side of Scotch birth and parentage, and on the maternal side Holland Dutch. The Flemings upon coming to the United States first located in the state of Delaware.
The boyhood of Cornelius was passed upon the farm, remaining with his parents until attaining his twenty-fourth year, when he was united in marriage with Miss Emily J. Ogden. The young couple began for themselves by renting for some time the old Fleming homestead in Virginia, and improv- ing a tract of his own until 1864. During much of this time the conditon of society about him was in a very disturbed state, owing to the uncertainties incident to the Civil war. Being near the border his part of the state was more or less overrun by guerrillas; among the rebel raiders was the notorious General Jones, whose force of some seven thousand men created quite a 39
commotion as it swept through the loyal sec- tion of the country; the principal damage donc, however, was in stealing horses.
In the year above mentioned Mr. Flem- ing removed to Indiana, his first home being in Delaware county, but soon afterward tak- ing up his residence in Henry county, where he remained about three years. In 1868, having made some progress, he secured a tract which is included in his present farm, and to which he began to devote all the en- ergies of which he was possessed. Being intelligent and diligent, and having pretty thorough understanding of the operation of a farm, he was not only able to live com- fortably but, at the same time, to make many essential improvements. He has more re- cently, in association with his son, James A., purchased an additional eighty acres of land, which by great effort and expense has been placed in a valuable and productive condition. Much of this immediate section of the township is flat and low, and if al- lowed to drain only in the natural manner would probably never be brought into till- able condition; but by the adoption and in- stallation of a scientific system of drainage by both open and blind ditches, a most sat- isfactory result has been attained, that part which was no value becoming the most pro- ductive and valuable. More than one thou- sand rods of tile have been laid on each of the above tracts, the returns being much out of proportion to the expense incident to the improvement. Both farms are in excellent state for the production of large crops, and it is no more than justice to say that ex- pectations have never been disappointed. Lying in the oil territory, wells have been sunk by companies, Mr. Fleming being but a lessee and confining his attentions rather to the oversight of the farm. More of a
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specialty is now made of stock, more grain than the farm produces being converted on the place into excellent beef and pork.
The Fleming family consists of six chil- dren, all but one of whom are living : Mar- tha M. is the wife of Eli M. Johnson, of Washington township; Minnie L. is Mrs. John Bocock, who owns and operates a fruit farm at South Haven, Michigan; Charles O). is the popular county recorder, and of him a more extended mention will be found on another page of this volume; Cora A. is the wife of Thomas H. Johnson, also of Wash- ington township, and Lawrence, who died at three years of age.
James A., who has already received brief reference in connection with his father, has spent nearly all of his life in close relation- ship with his father and the old homestead. He received no more than the usual educa- tion acquired in the district schools, and being cver interested in all ques- tions pertaining to social or political life, keeps well informed upon the is- sues of the day. He entertains de- cided views on all public questions, and while not seeking to press argument, is ever ready to advocate what he believes to be in nearest accord with the general welfare. He early took advanced position on finance, being one of the old-school free-silver men, standing today squarely upon the Chicago platform. Believing that the trusts are leading the country to wrong conditions, and that positive assurance as to the future is due the Filipinos, he is in thorough accord with the later expressions of his party. In June, 1891, he was married to Miss Laura Wilson, of Selma, Delaware county, In- diana.
Cornelius C. Fleming was reared with- in the ranks of the Democracy and for the
greater part of his life has acted with the party ; however, in more recent years he has taken rather an independent position, cast- ing his franchise for the men he deemed most suitable for the position to be filled. While Mr. Fleming has held to the even tenor of his way, making but little noise in the world, no better citizen lives within the borders of the county or one who has its advancement and prosperity more at heart.
LEMUEL JOHNSON.
Forty-five years ago the condition of the civilization of Blackford county was most primitive, very few of the advantages # AW enjoyed by all being then available to any. The gentleman whose name heads this article was one of the many who, like himself, began in the wilderness and who by the exercise of constant application, forced economy and fortitude born of necessity, finally had the satisfaction of knowing themselves to be in such circumstances as assured ease and com- fort during the years remaining to them. Lemuel Johnson was born in Clinton county, Ohio, August 6, 1834, being the son of Lem- uel and Mary (Watson) Johnson, both of whom were born in North Carolina, where they were also married, moving to Ohio soon after. When young Lemuel was in his sev- enteenth year he accompanied the family to the Indian Reserve, a few miles from Marion, Grant county, where they remained about four years, coming in 1855 to the wilds of Blackford county. The settlement was upon the farm in section IS of Washington township now owned by the family of Thomas Johnson. There the parents lived and died, their deaths being but one day
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apart, so that in death, as in life, they were not divided. The first home was the then universal log cabin with clapboard roof, puncheon floor, dirt fireplace and stick chimney. Everything inside the house was of the same primitive pattern and all of home construction, the furniture being but such as the ax and the drawing knife would supply. Such remained the home for about ten years, when it was replaced by a new and rather pretentious one, which had but barely been occupied and the conditions of life became more easy and the ability of fuller enjoyment less hampered, when both the parents were called to the great beyond, he having but slightly passed his sixtieth year.
They were the parents of six children, of whom five lived to mature years, they being : Lemuel; Dixon, who resides near Upland, Grant county. He was one of those who served faithfully during the Civil war, seeing much of interest, among other re- markable scenes being the historical battle between the Monitor and Merrimac off Hampton Roads, which has worked a com- plete revolution in naval methods and naval architecture; Elizabeth is the wife of John W. Lyon, of Upland; Hester is Mrs. D. J. McDaniel, of Fremont county, Iowa; Thomas had remained with his parents on the homestead, finally acquiring it himself. and resided upon it till his own death at the age of fifty-five. His widow and children still make it their home.
Soon after his advent into Blackford county, Lemuel was united in marriage, on March 5, 1856, to Miss Ruhamah Pearson, daughter of Peter and Martha (Taylor) Pearson. She was born in f Enton county, Ohio, December 8, 1837. 1 . . two families had been quite intimate in those early days, her mother having frequently nursed Lemuel
in his childhood. They were also of the pio- neer families of Grant county, having settled in it as early as 1840. After marriage Mr. Johnson and wife set up housekeeping on their present farm. He had gone about four hundred dollars in debt, but had a new hewed-log cabin in which they ate their first meal off a box improvised as a table. Three- legged stools were their chairs, and all of the ' furnishings were of the same home-made style. He started with but an ax to work with and a yoke of oxen to do the hauling. All of their worldly goods were moved in a cart, that he had borrowed for the purpose of moving. It required five years to pay off the indebtedness, paying much of the time eleven per cent interest. As he could spare any small amount he would go ten miles to liave it applied on the note, that the interest might be reduced. He worked out for others at such work as the new country could give, chopping, ditching, rail making, logrolling, etc. He remembers that he has devoted two weeks at a stretch to logrolling, receiving a return in labor, to be performed on his own land. After getting the forty acres paid for he began buying more till he now has one hundred and twenty, about all being in an excellent state and nearly all of it so placed by his personal labor. Lying in a section of the county that was naturally level and wet, he set himself diligently to the arduous task' or draining it. This was at first accomplished by the means of timber ditches, connecting with the larger open ones, but all these have long since been replaced with the more mod- ern and lasting tile drains, he having laid upwards of one thousand rods of such tile and having expended probably more in this matter of drainage than the land was worth. He has devoted the farm largely to the grow- ing of grain, which is, however, consumed
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1
by his own stock, hogs being the principal source of income to the farm.
The present house was erected in 1882, succeeding a rather pretentious one-and-a- half-story log house, which had in its time taken the place of the original one. Good barns and necessary outbuildings have been made, so that the farm is now one of the most highly improved and desirable ones in this vicinity. Having the advantage of be- ing in the oil region, a handsome income has been derived from that source, two wells being in active operation and the product amounting to about a tank of two hundred and fifty barrels every six weeks.
The Johnson family consists of eight chil- dren, as follows: Mary S., who became the wife of J. E. Nelson; both are now dead, their son, Burr, living with his grandparents ; Margaret A. is the wife of H. C. Templeton, a merchant at Dundee; Sarah died at seven- teen; Ida Bell married George Glasgow, of Grant county ; Rachel is the wife of George Hudson, of Washington; Thomas H. is the owner of a neat farm adjoining his parents; Ethalinda married Martin Nelson and also lives near; and Martha E., wife of Henry Smith. All are nicely situated in life, being among the neighborhood's valued citizens. Fifteen grandchildren give honor to this worthy couple, whose interests in each is often shown in most substantial manner.
Politically Mr. Johnson is classed as a Democrat, though he is quite liberal in his support of men rather than measures in local matters, having been on record as supporting those of the opposite party when he has felt the public would be best served. His con- nection with party work has usually carried him into the conventions, where his voice and vote have been ever given to advance the better interests of the community. He was
chosen constable of his township some years since, serving most acceptably in that posi- tion for six years, when further and more responsible work was demanded of him by placing him in the office of justice of the peace, to which he was repeatedly re-elected until he had seen sixteen years of contin- uous service in that capacity, making a grand total of twenty-two years in the same connec- tion. Always a peaceable man himself, his counsel has been to the advancement of peace, and even as a justice he has en- deavored in every possible way to secure amicable settlement of questions in dispute. In many instances that might be recalled, where the inclination of litigants has been toward protracted and possibly expensive contests in the courts, his wiser counsel pre- vailed and a warm and more kindly feeling was the result. Personally of a stocky build and well knit in every sinew, he has ever been capable of any amount of the hardest toil, and in the frequent contests of strength among the hardy pioneers he seldom found his match.
Both himself and wife are consistent members of the Independence church of the Disciples, or Christians, in which he has not only been an important and influential mem- ber, but has reared his children so that their own lives are in accordance with the teach- ings of the divine book.
Now that the weight of years is press- ing and the near approach of the dark mes- senger is felt, the contemplation of the vicis- situdes incident to their life in the early years of the county's history justly affords this worthy and esteemed couple many themes for personal congratulation that their days were thrown upon such times and their own influence has borne such ripe fruit. Few have taken more important part in the
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making of the community and assuredly none have won for themselves warmer love or more lasting affection in the hearts of nu- merous and devoted friends.
MAURIS H. ROBERDS.
Success to some seems an elusive thing, but failure usually results from a lack of some of the elements which may be acquired by all- perseverance, energy and resolute purpose. An analysis of the life record of the suc- cessful men shows that these qualities have been essential to their prosperity, and such is the case with Mauris H. Roberds, now living in easy retirement at the pleasant country village of Dundee. Mr. Roberds was born near the present flourishing town of Gas City, in Grant county, Indiana, on the 2d of October, 1837. There his par- ents, Phineas and Sophia (Saben) Roberds, both of whom were born and married in Clinton county, Ohio, had settled some five years previous to the birth of Mauris. The ground now included in the thriving city was embraced in their farm, though no pre- monition gave any indication that here would, within a few years, be a busy popula- tion of several thousands engaged in the many vocations of a manufacturing town. When Mauris was seven years of age he lost his mother and as a result the family ties were considerably broken. His father, Phineas Roberds, was one of the many men who in those early days did much to shape the moral thought of the young communities throughout the west. He was a pioneer preacher of the Newlight faith and devoted his life to the work of the Master. He or- ganized the early church near his home and
was widely known as an itinerant minister, visiting every community in a wide region. He walked long distances to keep his ap- pointments, often having serious difficulties to overcome in order to not disappoint his congregations. Streams were forded, storms encountered, wild animals braved, lone paths traversed, sleeping at times in the woods, and all to carry the gospel into new neigh- . borhoods and to bring the light of civiliza- tion to those who were in the dark. He started many churches, over a wide region, and was the mainstay for years in keeping them in a flourishing condition. A great religious revival was then going on through- out the entire country, people were aroused as never before, or since, in respect to the needs of Christianity ; wonderful camp-meet- ings were held by the various denomina- tions and all were wide awake to the benefits of the energetic evangelist. The names of such successful proselyters as Peter Cart- wright date from that period. Alexander Campbell was then in his zenith, and there are men still living in this section who re- member to have listened to him in his won- derful exhortations. Not the least effective in arousing men and women to act upon the conviction of sin, as painted to them in glowing colors, was Phineas Roberds, whose work was crowned with remarkable result. After doing the hard work of the church in this new field until an effective organization was effected, he took up the burden again in another new field, being sent into Illinois, there to repeat something of the same line of endeavor. There his latter years as a minister were passed, there he suf- fered the loss of a second companion, and, late in life, returned to the scenes of his earlier Christian effort, amid old friends breathing his last in 1890, having attained
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the age of seventy-seven. Ripe in years and full of Christian grace and fortitude, his was a life that can be pointed out to the new religious enthusiast as one which, if followed, will surely lead to an honorable career and a greater reward.
Mauris Roberds was married, December 5, 1857, when just past twenty-one, to Miss Elizabeth McKee, daughter of Peter and Rhoda ( Peters) McKee, of Dundee, the for- mer of whom was born June 26, 1800, and died September 27, 1873, and the latter, born September 20, 1803, died October 17, 1887. She was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, being but a small child when her par- ents brought her to this vicinity in 1839. But very few families were then in the com- munity, the more notable being those of Peter Bonham, Joseph Gillaspie and a Mr. Craig. The remarkable religious excitement known as Millerism that had taken such a wonderful hold on the minds of thousands of the people, was at its highest at the time her father was making the journey from Ohio to crect a cabin preparatory to bring- ing his little family, and people were so con- vinced of the near approach of the end of. the world that he was given every accommo- dation without charge and without price. The long looked for period came and passed and each was offering some explanation for the failure of the end of time to show up as expected. Peter ever after took much en- joyment in recounting the fact that on the return trip these same enthusiasts took great pains to charge him double prices for any accommodation extended. Peter McKee was a cabinetmaker by trade, having a shop on his farm and doing what farming he had done by proxy. The residence he erected about one year before he died is still stand- ing and in a good state of preservation,
marking the site of one of the most widely known and popular homes of the genial peo- ple of a generation ago. Peter McKee was one of those men who feel that life is worth living and, with a keen sense of the ludicrous, was ever ready with some inter- esting story that afforded great entertain- ment to interested auditors. He had little sympathy with that form of religion where long and austere countenances were needed to portray the feelings, but, with full appre- ciation of the jovial and the humorous, his own good nature contributed largely to the good feeling for which the neighborhood was noted. His wife, who was no less popular, survived him about twelve years, dying at the ripe age of eighty-seven. Her latter years were passed with her daughter, as were those of her own mother, Mary Peters, who reached the great age of ninety-three and is remembered by a wide circle of friends who held her in highest regard for her many admirable traits. For two years after mar- riage Mauris rented in Grant county, after which he partially cleared a farm in Wells county, finally starting in on a new farm north of Dundee in Blackford county. Mak- ing considerable progress he, in company with J. T. Brotherton, engaged in mercan- tile life at Dundee, at which his previous success was continued. He then devoted his energies to the conduct of his farm, which embraced the McKee estate as well as his own tract, making one hundred and ninety-two acres. After some fifteen years of close application to the active operation of the farm, making extensive and important improvements in the meantime, he removed to the thriving village of Upland, in Grant county, but continued to supervise the farm- ing, though it was operated by tenants. At the urgent request of citizens he laid out
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