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 86
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Barnhart W. Bugh was born in Alle- ghany county, Maryland, June 13, 1805, and was the son of Jacob and Polly ( Engle) Bugh, who were married September 11,
1796. On November 28, 1828, B. W., as he was universally known, was married to Hannah Coddington, daughter of Benja- min and Elizabeth (Coleman) Coddington, who were pioneers of Ohio.
About 1837 B. W. had ridden from his Ohio home, where his father had settled, on horseback to Indiana in search of a location, and finding suitable land went on to Fort Wayne, where the land office was located. to make the entry, returning by the same means to Ohio. However, he did not come on to settle upon his land until 1848, and even then he was one of the earliest in his immediate neighborhood, which was about four miles north of Hartford, in section 24. of Washington township. Here he had se- cured three eighty-acre tracts of land, upon which stood an old log cabin, into which he moved and which remained the home for about two years, when it was replaced by what became his permanent home so long as he lived on the farm. His impress is in- delibly stamped upon this community, as he placed about two-thirds of his own land in cultivation as well as having assisted ma- terially in the improvement of the farms of others. His moral influence was not less keenly felt, he having taken early steps to- ward the organization of a class of Method- ists, which was effected in his own home. He remained a Methodist all his life and did much to extend the influence of the church at large, as well as to emphasize its im- portance in his own neighborhood. He was no less widely and favorably known in his public life, having served the county for several terms as commissioner.
His relations with public men were of the most cordial character, the advice and counsel of no other man being given greater credence or consideration. While he was
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THIE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mioughout life a Republican, holding tenaciously to the earlier principles of the party and ardent in support of them, his recognition of the rights of others was such that many of his warmest friends were of the opposite political faith. During the war lic never swerved from the straight line in his support of the Union, two of his sons, by his advice and consent, serving honorably through the struggle.
After devoting a quarter of a century to the making of a first-class farm he re- moved to Hartford City, where for about fifteen years the fruits of the efforts of his earlier life were enjoyed amidst his numer- ous friends, who found greatest pleasure in frequent conversation with this genial couple, whose later years disclosed to an eminent de- gree the ripened culture that comes from a well spent life. For nearly sixty years this venerable couple traveled life's pathway, hand in hand, ever bearing each other's bur- dens with a spirit of forbearance and help that cemented them in the closest relation allowed on this sphere of human existence.
The companionship was broken when, on the 30th of March, 1887, his spirit answered the summons to "come up higher.". The widow survived for some three years, when, on Jai nary 23. 1890, she, too, passed on to rejoin him with whom her own life was so closely interwoven. The strength of his personality was shown in the provisions for the disposal of his estate, which were that at his widow's death his sons shouldl select one man, the daughters a second, and these chosen a third to act as a commission to divide the property equally among the heirs. His ideas were fully respected, the committee being composed of his old friends, Zadoc Williams, Joshua T. Kelly and J. H. Mell- down y.
This family was one of those so fre- quently seen in the earlier days, but which are so rare under the conditions of later cis- ilization. Six sons and six daughters com- prised the number, of whom five of each grew to maturity. Of these, William J., whose son, James, has part of the original homestead, died at Hartford January 18, 1800, at the age of sixty; Jacob died at thirty-five: Ezra is a farmer of Licking township, and Perry is individually treated in another article in this work. The daugh- ters were: Elizabeth, who married Rinehart Ankrom, and is living in Richardson county, Nebraska: Mary married Andrew B. Wil- liams and both are now deceased; Lydia M. is the widow of George Frash, and residing at Wakaroosa, Indiana: Mary Catherine be- came the wife of Levi Bowman and died in Nebraska; Hannah J. is the wife of John G. Wood, the popular Hartford merchant and former county treasurer.
Jesse Bugh remained at the home farm until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Indiana Volunteers, not yet having attained his seventeenth year. His service, which extended over a period of five months, was mainly in garrison duty at various points from Nashville to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was devoid of the excitement attending the severer work in the armies at the front. Returning, he remained with his father unti: hus marriage, on the 18th of October, 1868, when in his twenty-first year, his birth hav- ing occurred November 21, 1847. The lady he had chosen for his bride was Miss Mary J. Diskey, of Washington township, and was somewhat his senior. He then built a small house on his father's farm and contin- tied to operate it for several years, in fact until the farm was sold and his father re-
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moved to Hartford City. Thinking to find a more suitable country in the west, he vis- ited Nebraska, only, however, to return with- out having made any definite selection, and soon after became established on a part of his present farm, his father having given him forty acres of wild land. It was in the swamps and nearly covered with ponds, a condition that required an immense amount, not only of hard labor, but also, what was as fully necessary, the pluck and determina- tion to stick and dig out under the most adverse circumstances a farm from the dis- couraging conditions. He built a little one- room, round-log house, clearing a place to set it. This remained their home until 1880, when, having added to his original purchase what was his wife's father's homestead, he removed to it, living in the old log house where her youth was passed, until 1898, when the present handsome residence was erected on the same site. Some seven years since lực built a commodious barn, so that the farm is now well supplied with all facili- ties necessary. Adequate appreciation of the efforts necessary to make a farm here can only be realized by visiting the section and getting some conception of the original con- ditions. It is almost a dead level, the swales and p ds having no natural outlet, and the land not covered with water was covered with thick black ash. The most essential th'g to do at the start was to secure suit- able outlet for the water, and when this was done to proceed to ditch and lay tile to af- ford the drainage necessary before the land was in condition for cultivation. Hundreds of rods of tile have been laid on this farm, reclaiming many acres that in the original state was of no value.
Mr. Bugh has ever been an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party, but, believ-
ing in giving the same privilege to others that he claims for himself, he has not been offensive in its advocacy, in consequence hav- ing hosts of warm and true friends among the opposition party. This was amply proven when, in 1894, he was elected sheriff of the county, being the first and only Repub- lican ever to hold that important office. Blackford county is hopelessly Democratic, so that when an official is selected from the ranks of the opposition it is largely on the strength of personal popularity. The pe- riod of his service was one that showed a revival in the activity of the criminal class, making the position a specially important one for the time being. Fifteen representatives were sent to the penitentiary from the county during this time. The already great poput- larity of Mr. Bugh was much extended from the ability and courtesy shown in the con- duct of the office, criminals even asserting that it was some compensation to have the attentions of so pleasant an official. Mrs. Bugh also came in for a share of commenda- tion, for as matron she made hosts of friends, especially among the unfortunate.
Our subject's wife was formerly Miss Eliza Freeman, and she was born in Dela- ware county. She became the wife of James A. Whittaker, late of Jackson town- ship, where he was a widely known and effi- cient teacher. Her marriage to Mr. Bugh occurred on the 13th of February, 1895. The lady with whom more than twenty years of the life of Mr. Bugh were passed had died after an illness of several months, on the 16th of November, 1890. Of eight chil- dren born, five are now living : Sanford, a farmer near his father; Leverett, a reputable farmer of the county; Anna, wife of James Ilart, of Harrison township; Lula, wife of Rufus Hart, cousin of James Hart ; and Ada,
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residing at Montpelier. Ernest Whittaker, the sixteen-year-old son of Mrs. Bugh, is also a member of the family. Mr. Bugh and family are identified with the Fairview U'nited Brethren church, in which he is active and influential. While he has never been noisy in his methods his course has been in accordance with well established principles, every effort to advance the general pros- perity and welfare of the community finding in him one of its warmest supporters. Con- tact with the world and the broadening that comes from a wide reading and careful oh- servation, has given this gentleman a culture and ease found only in connection with unu- sual intelligence and refinement. His greatest pleasure is found in the midst of his own interesting family, who find in him their safest counsellor and nearest friend.
1
JOHN W. KNOX.
The traveler driving north from Hart- ford City, through Washington township, passes through a well improved and fertile section of the county, and if at all observant is impressed with the excellent condition of the farms, most of which are furnished with buildings and other improvements of a high grade, indicative of thrift and enterprise. None of these show the intelligent conduct to a greater extent than that of which the gentleman whose life we are now considering is the proprietor. This fine farm, lying on section 22, indicates in its every appointment a business management and oversight which if applied to other lines of enterprise would surely result in merited success.
John W. Knox was born in Grant coun- ty. Indiana. August 19, 18,19, being second
in number of a family of six born to Will iam and Susan ( (levinger) Knox and all of whom reside in Washington township. They are, besides our subject, Maria, wie of Jacob Fuller: James, on the old home- stead; Mary Emily, wife of Daniel Russell ; Daniel; and Cynthia Alice, wife of David Stallsmith.
William Knox was born in Ohio and was married in Wayne county, Indiana. where his wife had resided from her birth. They soon after came to Grant county, where he remained until about 1870 and then lo- cated in Blackford county, two miles north and one east of Hartford City, where he pur- chased eighty acres of unimproved land and now has most of it in an excellent state of cultivation. Although he is now in his sev- enty-eighth year, he has, with the exception of a slight deafness, retained his faculties to a remarkable degree. After fifty years of wedded life they now enjoy the fruits of the efforts of former years, few being held in higher esteem than this venerable couple, whose lives have not only been devoted to their own family but to the advancement of the community at large.
John W. remained on the farm in Grant county until his twentieth year and was then married, choosing for his life's companion Miss Lydia Phillips, a native of North Caro- lina, but living at that time in Grant coun- ty. Their family consists of five children, namely : Della. now Mrs. Roy Storms, of Washington township; Cora, who married Charles Schmidt and resides in Washington township; Edgar, of Harrison township: Harley and Susan Ethel, at home.
Our subject was compelled to toil hard to earn a subsistence and in connection with farm industry worked at ditching and such other labor as he could get to do. Ile
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moved to Blackford county, but losing one of his horses and making no progress be- came discouraged and returned to Grant county. There he remained on one farm seven years, during which time he had ac- cumulated some means, and in company with his brother bought eighty acres of land. His forty acres being in the swamp was unfit for cultivation and for two years he rented, devoting his spare time to the clearing of his own land. His first dwelling was a hewedelog house, on a spot cleared from the thickest growth of timber. The work of clearing wild land is necessarily slow and laborious, but Mr. Knox prosecuted his la- bors with zeal and diligence, succeeding in a few years in paying for his land, having assumed an indebtedness at the time of pur- chase. He bought his brother's interest and has since added another forty acres, making one hundred and twenty acres in a body. Of this he has placed one hundred acres in cul- tivation, besides making other substantial improvements. He has devoted much time and labor to proper drainage, having ex- pended more than the original cost of the land for this one feature of improvement. Deep, black ponds nearly covered the land and his neighbors discouraged him, saying that it could not be made productive. He was assessed seven hundred and fifty dollars for an open drain that gave outlet to his land. He laid hundreds of rods of tile, extending through the entire farm and opening up the ponds, making not only one of the most productive, but the most attractive farmis of the community. Mr. Knox bore an expense of two hundred and fifty dol- lars on the pike extending north from Hart- ford past hi: farm, and has done much in other ways to promote the agricultural in- terests of the neighborhood, endeavoring to 1
1
stimulate ambition and progressiveness among the farmers, his own energetic exam- ple inspiring many others. His new and handsome dwelling now presents a wonder- ful contrast to the primitive log-house which formerly stood on the same site. This, built in 1899, very appropriately supplements the well arranged and commodious barn erected five years before, and completes the general improvement contemplated by the proprietor when it was still all in the wilderness. While the farm was peculiarly adapted to the grow- ing of grain from the extreme friability of its soil, the crops have usually been fed to stock, each year quite a large number of hogs being marketed. At present, however, Mr. Knox is devoting special attention to his breeding of thoroughbred cattle, having already established a choice herd of short horns. Mr. and Mrs. Knox are active mem- bers of the Fairview United Brethren church, which is near his home, and has served as trustee since its organization, assisting large- ly in the building and maintenance of the same.
Politically his views accord with the Re- publican party. He has never aspired to any office, but has preferred to devote his time to his business interests.
ELMER CROSBY STORMS.
The Storms family have borne a promi- nent part in the history of this country, being found in some of the older states as well as in Indiana, Dutchess county, New York, being especially noted as the family home. The grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this review, Peter Storms, was born in Germany, but it is indefinite as to
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his coming to America. His son Reuben married Ruth Beals in New York, and in 1836 came to Connersville, Indiana, being not long afterward followed by his parents. In 1846 they settled in Blackford county, Peter securing a tract now embraced in the present home of our subject and which was located one mile south of the village of Dun- dee. Here he secured quite a large tract of land, and became one of the most substan- tial citizens of the community. His death occurred in the year 1857, when in his seventy-seventh year. His widow, whose maiden name was Dorcas Ballard, removed about two years afterward to Allegan coun- ty, Michigan, where she resided with her daughter's family during the remainder of a long life, attaining the extreme age of ninety. Of their two sons, Willard re- mained in Steuben county, New York. Reuben was well educated, for the time, and became a teacher in the early schools of this neighborhood. It is recalled by some of his old pupils that he taught the first school in Center school-house, Washington township. He made a permanent settlement near his father, but survived him but four years, dying of brain fever at the age of forty- seven. His widow later became the wife of Thomas Cochran and resided on the farm to the end of her life, which occurred in 1880, aged sixty-three.
Of the nine children born to Reuben Storms, Peter became a soldier in the famous Thirty-fourth Indiana, remaining in Texas after the war, and died at Brownsville. John B. served in the Seventeenth Indiana Battery and died in Wells county; Thomas B. be- came an extensive railroad contractor in the south, and died at New Orleans. Asenath F. is the wife of William Schmidt, of whom separate mention is found on another page.
Ezra R. is a well-known railroad man of In- dianapolis. He, too, served in the war in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Regiment. One died in childhood, and of Larson O. full mention is found in another place in this work.
Elmer Crosby Storms was born in Har- rison township on the 29th of July, 1850. and was thus but about seven years of age at the death of his father. The older broth- ers had the charge of the farm until they left home to enter the service of the country ; leaving Elmer, aged thirteen, to be the main- stay of the family, his mother still remain- ing in her endeavor to give her children all the advantages possible.
The war stories that filled the papers and made up the conversation of the returned soldiers created an unrest in the breast of Elmer and even at that early age he resolved to be a soldier. To this proposition his mother would never listen, and the only way in which he could attain his end was hy leaving home without her consent. Accord- ingly, when the call came for recruits to make up the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, and many of his older compan- ions were going, he, too, made the final de- cision and ran away. The demand for troops had become so urgent that he was ac- cepted and enrolled in Company B at Camp Carrington, Indianapolis. The service was in the Army of the Cumberland, in Ken- tucky and Tennessee, doing patrol and guard work. Some of their raids were after the noted guerrilla, Quantrell, who is said to have been killed by some of the troops of this regiment. Much of the time he was stationed at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where, in August, 1865, he was mustered out after about nine months' service. Returning to the old home, he was welcomed by the fam-
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ily, with whom he now remained, con suct- ing the farm until he had reached his ma- jority. He now resolved to buy out the other interests in the estate, and for the next ten years his energies were almost wholly devoted to that object. He now owns two hundred and ninety acres, incluid - ing the well-known Overhiser farm. The traveler passing south from the village of Dundee has his attention fastened upon the unusually fine class of improvements to be seen upon the Storms farm. The mature judgment and business sagacity of the pro- prietor is here shown to advantage. How- ever, the improvemen's that are not so read- ily seen are no less important or essential. Some of these consist of many hundred rods of underground drainage placed there at an expense approximating the original value of the land. He took the initiative in the manufacture of tile in this vicinity, and when the use of it had been proven of value he entered upon the making of it and continued for about fifteen years, producing in that time upwards of fifty-five thousand dollars' worth of the material. Nearly ten years ago he drilled the second gas well in Wash- ington township, using the gas in his manu- factory. He was also in this matter a pio- neer. He simply took a risk, investi .. about fourteen hundred dollars in wha. would be that much lost if gas were not found in paying quantities. The history of oil production in this field is an interesting one, yet space will not permit our entering. fully into the subject. However, soon after Mr. Storms had demonstrated the presence of gas and began to use it in his factory, others put down a well to supply the people of the village, but the gas flow being mea- ger they drilled deeper, the well filling with oil as the result. The Northern Indiana Oil
Company was then organized and began act- ive operations, and was later merged into the Manhattan Company, which is today doing a prosperous business. At the pres ent writing, August, 1900, about six hun- dred wells are in active operation within a circle of five miles in diameter, using the village of Dundee as the center. When the tile manufacture proved unprofitable, Mr. Storms leased land, embarking in the oil industry as a full-fledged operator, making an investment of about eight thousand dol- lars, and owning and leasing about seven hundred acres of land. He sank some nine wells, and finally disposed of the business at a handsome profit. He has since allowed others to continue the development, the Mid- way Oil Company now having five produc- ing wells in constant operation.
The superior business capacity of Mr. Storms has been duly recognized by the peo- ple of the county, one present instance being his employment by the commissioners to su- perintend the construction of two lines of pike road extending through the township and crossing at right angles in the center. This improvement is now in progress, in- volving an expenditure o. twenty-five thou- sand dollars. All the oversight is in the hands of Mr. Storms, from the grading to the final layer of gravel. His fitness to at- tend to the details of an enterprise of such magnitude has been proven in more than one instance, many occasions calling for the ex- ercise of those special qualities needed in the successful handling of men. The work above mentioned requires the employment of about seventy-five men and an adequate force of teams, and, when completed, will make an aggregate of thirty miles of first- class pike in Washington township.
Mr. Storms has been thrice married, his
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first wife being Miss Mary Watson. Lovina Glancey was the second, her companionship continuing for about fifteen years, until her death at the age of thirty-nine. She was the mother of one child, Addie B., an attractive and popular young lady of seventeen. The present Mrs. Storms was Laura, the daugh- ter of David Cole, of Dundee, and one daughter, Ruth F., graces the union. The Storms home, situated some seven miles to the northwest of the county seat, is presided over by this charming and cultured lady, and is considered one of the most hospitable and popular homes of any in the northern part of the county. Beside the features of social life as found in the community, both have be- come somewhat interested in fraternal rela- tions, he being a member of Dundee Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and she an active worker in the Rathbone Sisters, at Hartford City. Ever alive to those matters that attract the attention of the world, he has not lived within himself alone, but finds commendable enjoyment in meeting his old friends, and no man has more of them, on the race track or at an exciting game of base ball.
While he has not esired personal popu- larity through the medium of public office, his capacity for such position has been duly recognized by his party, he being often so- licited to take some responsible office; yet the multifarious duties of his private busi- ness have been so constantly pressing that he has deemed it wise to confine his atten- tions in that direction. His interest in the success of his party has ever been mani- fested, he being one of the most effective campaigners of the county. Of that com- panionable and genial nature that makes and holds friends, regardless of party affilia- tions, few men in Blackford county occupy a warmer place in the hearts of the people
than he. Being trained in the most valued school, that of human experience, his views have been constantly broadened until he holds a liberal position on most of those great questions that affect human destiny. Claiming the widest liberty for himself, he does not hesitate to grant the same rights to others, and while he holds tenaciously to the beliefs of years and is ever ready to main- tain his position with argument, he has re- spect for the man of different views, who dares stand as ardently by them.
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