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 88
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OLIVER WOODARD.
Probably no man in Blackford county is more widely or favorably known than is he whose name introduces this biographical memoir, having been not only one of its
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most successful citizens from the financial standpoint, but also one whose judgment in matters of public moment have for many years been accorded great credence and weight, his advice in more than one instance being the guide to an economical solution of important questions. Ripe in years and ex- perience, he now may well be indicated as a truly representative of the class of men who, by the judicious exercise of natural gifts. seconded by rare good common sense, have won for themselves honorable and respected places in the hearts of their commrymen. He first saw the light on the 20th day of November, in the memorable year of 1832. Clinton county, Ohio, was the family home at the time, that being wl . his parents, Etheldred and Nancy ( Oliver) Woodard, had settled in the woods on coming from North Carolina. Etheldred was the son of Jesse Woodard, iwho is said to have been of Scotch birth and ancestry. The Olivers were of English origin. Like many young couples who emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio, Etheldred and wife were extremely poor, their home in consequence being start- ed in the woods. They became respected and influential people, their permanent home remaining where they first settled; and there he died at the age of sixty-two. Of their six children, four are still living, three being residents of Indiana. Jeremiah Woodard is a prominent farmer of the vicinity of Gas City ; Lucy J. is the wife of Calvin Whicker, of Clinton county. One sister is Mrs. J. H. Baker, of Chicago, whose husband is a man of considerable importance.
The boyhood of the subject of this sketch was spent upon the Clinton county, Ohio, home, where he received most excellent training, not only in the hard labor incident to the making of a new home, but also in
the habits of economy and frugality neces- sary to success in a new country.
While yet in his twenty-first year, on the 15th of January, 1854, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Fannon, a neighbor girl and schoolmate. She was also born in Clinton county, Ohio, January 24, 1831, and was the daughter of James and Catherine ( Mills) Fannon. Iler father was born in Virginia and was of English ancestry, while she was born in Tennessee, though they were married in Ohio. After marriage Oliver de- voted several years to rented farms, until he had acquired about six hundred dollars. During the draft in the year 1864 he was conscripted ; but, his eldest child being very sick, he secured a substitute at an expense of twelve hundred dollars, his father assist- ing in the payment. In October, 1865, he came to Blackford county, having about six hundred dollars with which to operate. He purchased forty acres of new land, paying eight hundred dollars, of which one-half was an indebtedness. He erected a log house, cleared the land all up, met his obligations as due, and in four years sold it for twelve hundred dollars. He now paid one thou- sand dollars for an eighty-acre wooded tract. on section 6, of Washington township, and which is part of his present farm. He spent one year in a log shanty, replacing that with a hewed-log house, which is still standing. and which gave way to the present residence, erected in 1893. Prospering in his opera- tions, he made additional purchase till he owned three hundred and twenty-seven acres in a body. This he has divided with his sons till that remaining in the homestead amounts to one hundred and seventy-five acres. Ile has bought land at prices rang- ing from ten to thirty-five dollars per acre. Ilis farm is naturally rolling and fairly well
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drained; however, he has laid more than three thousand rods of tile, expending in the one feature of drainage probably more than the original value of the lan1 The form being particularly well adapt : to the live stock industry, it has been largely devoted to that important branch of husbandry, the re- turns having been commensurate to the in- telligence of the proprietor in the selection, breeding and feeding. He became a breeder of short-horn cattle several years since and has found the keeping of thoroughbreds to be so advantageous that he has added regis- tered animals in most other lines. His choice flock of Oxfordshire and Shropshire sheep is a very interesting and valuable one, the Oxford male now at its head giving a clip of twenty-one pound. the present year. Ever an advocate of better roads, as in the earlier days he experienced many difficulties in that regard, he has earnestly encouraged the making of a first-class system of pike roads, the one extending through the town- ship near his own farm costing him up- wards of seven hundred dollars.
From his earliest years Mr. Woodard has shown keen interest in all questions af- fecting the general prosperity of the country, identifying himself with the party most nearly representing those principles that tend, in his opinion, to the benefit of the greatest number. He was chosen justice of the peace at his old home in Ohio, still serv- ing in that capacity at the time of leaving the state. While his partisan relation has never swerved from that of the stanch Democrat, he has been recognized as liberal in all mat- ters, many of his warmest personal friends being opposed to him in party work. His superior business capacity has won wide recognition for years, and in 1882 he was chosen, in a strong Republican district, as
one of the board of county commissioners. His colleagues embraced such popular men as Henry Shroyer, James Pittinger and Zadoc Williams, with whom his personal relations continued ost .cordial, not only during the association on the board, but also friendships were formed that have con- tinued and will be broken only by the hand of the Great Destroyer. He soon came to be referred to as the popular guardian of the county's best interests, standing for a stricter economy and more careful business management. His determination to secure the most capable men to fill responsible po- sitions, regardless of political affiliation, led many whose first thought seemed to be only the advancement of the party, to severely criticise his appointments; but, standing to what he deemed for the public good, he held to the course he had decided upon, the result in the end proving beyond cavil the wisdom of his action. His service was atan im- portant period in the county's affairs, many public improvements being inaugurated, and the wisest judgment was constantly need- ed to so spread these works as to best ad- vance the public interests in general.
Standing steadfastly by a judicious pol- icy, he adhered to a certain line of action, and has since taken some satisfaction in see- ing the same course pursued, more or less closely by his successors. His already wide circle of friends was largely extended and he left the office realizing that no man was more popular with the rank and file of the people. Retiring to his delightful home, some eleven miles northwest of Hartford City, he has since constantly devoted his at- tention to his private business, not having again consented to let his name be used in connection with public office. His interest in the welfare of the country has, if any-
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thing, increased with the passing years, no man having paid closer attention to the policies of the great parties, and while his inclination is toward a quiet citizenship, his carly opinions as to the Democratic party's value to the average citizen are being only emphasized by later observation.
The Woodard family have had ten chil- dren born, of whom seven are living, Sarah E. is the wife of C. Schooley, a well known resident of the township; Jesse D. is a teacher now engaged in the state of Arkan- sas; Harrison Eugene died at the age of twenty-three; James E. is a prosperous farmer living near his father, as is Addi- son Lawrence and also Chancey F. John Henry died at seventeen ; William O. is with his parents; Clara E. is the wife of Calvin Purdue, of Warren, Indiana, and Ira dicd at nine years.
Mr. Woodard has made a practice of rendering a stated assistance to each of his sons, starting each with a forty-acre tract and a suitable outfit for farming, the daugh- ters also having equal assistance. All are in prosperous circumstances and are recognized as among the truly representative people of their respective communities.
Mr. Woodard and his estimable wife are identified with the New Light church of his neighborhood, in which he is a liberal sup- porter and official. Like his life in other respects, he holds liberal views upon re- ligious matters, contributing to the support of other churches almost equally with his OWN.
J. N. McCONKEY.
Few families have left greater impress upon the communities in which they have lived than has the McConkey family in the
northern part of Blackford county, where its numerous representatives have for more than half a century been identified with its every interest. Upwards of sixty years ago James McConkey entered seven quarter-sec- tions of government land, upon each of which a MeConkey family, some years later, became established. The above named James McConker was an early resident of Wayne county, Indiana, where he had in- proved a new farm, which was his permanent home. Ilis securing of the land in Black- ford county was to provide his children with homes. The sons were David, Eli, James, Zephaniah and John, all of whom became permanent residents here, most of them reaching advanced age, and one, Eli, still living in Washington township.
The one in whom we are now specially interested was David, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and was a child of four upon the family's coming to Indiana. He married, in Wayne county, Miss Eliza- beth Purdue, a native of Carolina. About 1840 these brothers, David among them, be- gan to make their farms. He settled on section 10, the farm which he improved there becoming his permanent home. At the time of their coming it was necessary to cut their own roads from Hartford City, seven miles through the wilderness. All of the vicissitudes of pioneer life were experi- enced by them, their determination, how- ever, to succeed enabling them to overcome the many discouragements. The original cabin was replaced, in 1859, by the residence which is still standing and in a fair state of preservation.
David died at the age of fifty-six; his wife, surviving him several years, died aged seventy.
The boyhood of J. N. McConkey was
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
passed on the farm until manhood, when he became associated with his brother, A. J., in the operation of a threshing machine, be- coming quite well known in this connection.
Upwards of thirty years ago the family erected a saw-mill at Dundee, which J. N. was soon given charge of as sawyer. For several years he and his brother were asso- ciated in this connection, he finally becoming sole proprietor, having now operated it up- wards of twenty-five years. Its operation has proven of great benefit, not only to him- self, but also to the community in general. He has manufactured a great deal of or dinary building material and dimension stuff, much of the lumber having been suit- ably finished in the planing-mill depart- ment.
His greatest reputation, however, rests up: n his production of large quantities of the finer grades of lumber for furniture and in- terior work, his output of quartered oak, es- pecially, having attracted many of the lead- ing furniture makers.
His farm of one hui Ired and sixty acres embraces one hundred and twenty acres of that formerly in the old homestead, which was improved during his father's lifetime. The McConkey home, furnished as it is, with an attractive and convenient residence, sur- rounded by a well kept lawn, makes one of the most pleasing country homes in the coun- ty. Mr. McConkey is, doubtless, the most prominent oil operator residing in the com- munity, his efforts toward the development of it having given great impetus to the in- dustry. His earliest effort was to drill a well, hoping to secure gas for fuel in his own engines, the result exceeding his ex- pectations. He became interested in the Northern Indiana Oil Company, which be- gan to lease land at fifty cents per acre, which
was soon raised to one dollar by other com- panies. The interest by this time was such that several wells were soon drilled, pipe- lines laid and the business thoroughly es- tablished. Selling his interest in the com- pany he bought the lease of his own farm, adding two more wells, giving him six in active operation on the farm, besides which he operates other leased land, constantly ex- tending his operations in the development of this important industry. Hundreds of valuable wells are already found in this territory, which bears the sinking of one well to each ten acres, one quarter-section now having seventeen wells.
Mr. McConkey was married to Miss Mary Schmidt, daughter of Wilhelm and Margaret Schmidt, but she died at the age of thirty-five, leaving no children. His sister and venerable mother have for some years resided with Mr. McConkey, con- tributing by their many entertaining quali- ties to the making of an agreeable home.
IIis well known adherence to Demo- cratic principles, distinguishes him as a gentleman of fixed views based on a clear understanding of the question before the public. He has not aspired to the emolu- ments of office, preferring to attend to his private enterprises. Standing to-day, as the most widely known and popular representa- tive of the McConkey family, he is, as well, representative of all that is most progres- sive and standing for continued advance- ment of the community.
JACOB EMSIWILLER.
Jacob Emshwiller, one of the most pro- gressive farmers of Jackson township, Black- ford county, whose postoffice is Hartford
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.
City, Indiana, was born on the farm on which he still resides, March 24, 1845. His parents were Abraham and Emily ( Painter) Emshwiller, both natives of Rockingham county, Virginia, where they were married. Abraham Emshwiller was a son of Jacob, whose parents came from Germany before the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, in which he served the American colonies as a soldier. A half brother removed to In- diana with Abraham. The latter's name was Joseph. He married in Franklin com- ty, Indiana, where his family still resides.
Abraham Emshwiller and family, con- sisting of Emily, his wife, and one child, Ann Rebecca, came to Blackford county in the year 1838 from Rockingham county, Virginia, being on the road fourteen weeks and landing in this county in October of that year. He had to cut a road through the woods most of the way from Muncie. Mr. Emshwiller and family moved in a little cabin with his brother Jacob, who had moved out to Blackford county in the previous year and built the aforesaid cabin; it was roofed with clapboards which were held in place by heavy weight-poles. The cracks were chinked, but were not daubed. The cabin had neither doors, windows, floor or chim- ney, but the two brothers added these during the winter. They had to split puncheon and hew them for a floor; also split and hewed boards for a door and made a table and bed- stead and some other pieces of furniture the same way. The two families lived to- gether in this cabin until the following spring, when Mr. Emshwiller bought and moved ( ; the farm where the subject of this sketch was born, and lived there until his death, which occurred October 3, 1865. They encountered many hardships when they first settled which the present genera-
tien do not think of. For instance, the first nifling that Mr. Emshwiller did he. in com- pany with his brother Jacob, was gone four- teen days, while their families were com- pelled to subsist upon corn bread made by pounding corn in a hominy block which was previously constructed, screening out the coarsest parts of the meal for hominy. There was no fouring mill nearer than Ha- gerstown, Henry county, where Mr. Emsh- willer went, and while they were on the road the weather changed very suddenly. becoming very cold and freezing the river over, which stopped the mill, which was run by water power. Luckily Mr. Emshwiller got a job of teaming, which work compen- sated for their board until they could start the mill, hence their delay.
Jacob Emshwiller, the first, who had come to Blackford county the previous year in company with his father-in-law, Samuel Gochenour, was a tanner by trade and con- ducted a large tan-yard until he was elected treasurer of Blackford county, moving to Hartford City where he resided until his death. This event occurred before his term of office expired, and was caused by his team becoming unmanageable and running away, throwing him out of his wagon and against a stump, killing him instantly.
Jacob Emshwiller, the subject of this sketch, was kept at home very closely, not being allowed very much liberty, and if he wished to go anywhere he always had to obtain permission from his father. There- fore, when he was compelled to go out in the world and shift for himself, being unac- customed to the ways of the world, it was very trying to him ; but he packed his clothes in his satchel and bade his weeping mother adieu, not knowing where to go, but he had made up his mind to go south. There
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being no railroad to Hartford City, he walked, reaching Muncie just in time to caich the evening train to Indianapolis. He reached there about ten o'clock and stopped over night at the California Hotel. The next morning he started south afoot in search of work, succeeding in hiring to al old gentleman by the name of Tumlinson who lived in Indianapolis but was going to his farm.
The old gentleman asked him if he could make fails, and he replied that he could do almost any kind of work on a farm, which pleased the old gentleman very much, and a bargain was struck, our subject starting to work the next morning. He went at it with a will that gained the respect and confidence of the old gentleman to such an extent that when his time had expired he tried very hard to keep him longer. But having got- ten a letter from relatives near Warren ask- ing him to come and tend his farm, he ac- cepted the proposition, reaching Warren in time to put out a large crop of oats and corn. He was kept very busy tending his corn, which he did with a single shovel plow, as a two-horse cultivator or even a double- shovel plow had not then been known or thought of, but our subject kept on until the corn was tended and his crop was harvested, only losing one day during the whole sum- mer, and having spent but one dollar dur- ing that time. Having harvested his crop, he sold it and with the proceeds he was en- abled to purchase one of the heir's interest in his father's estate, this being the founda- tion of his present estate.
The next spring, being the year 1868. Mr. Emshwiller hired to a farmer near Up- land for twenty dollars per month, and as that was the summer that the Panhandle Railroad was built he worked part of the 42
time for the company and part of the time on the farm. During the entire summer he only lost one-half day, and never drew one cent of his wages until fall; this sum was also invested in the oll homestead. Thus we can see it pays a young man to be in- dustrious and saving.
It has been Mr. Emshwiller's aim all through life to keep abreast of the times, in keeping the best stock that he could get, get- ting new varieties of grain, potatoes, etc .; also agricultural implements, buying and using the first twine wheat harvester that was sold in the county, also the first corn harvester, and was among the first users of corn huskers and disk wheat drills. When he took charge of the old homestead he found it in very bad condition, and it re- quired a great amount of hard work. In the spring time he would be found in his field plowing long before the sun was up and until sundown, after which he would do his stock feeding, eat supper and then go to the clearing and there chop and pick-roll logs and burn them, many and many times until after midnight. For the energy thus dis- played Mr. Emshwiller at the present time owns two hundred acres of the old home- stead, to which he has added until his landed interests now comprise three hundred and twenty acres in three separate farms, of which more than one-half is under a fine state of cultivation. The improvements made consist of many rods of large open ditches, also hundreds of rods of tile drains, the tile being from four to twelve inches in diame- ter. As a result the farm is a cedit to the county, and is devoted to general farming and raising of stock. The feeding of cattle and hogs is a favorite branch of farming with Mr. Emshwiller, he frequently exhibit- ing his best leeds at the county fairs. At
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the present time his sons are tending the farm, while Mr. Emshwiller himself devotes his attention to his stock and the superin- tending of the farm work.
In politics Mr. Emshwiller is a Demo- crat, and while he has held no office, yet he has frequently been sent as a delegate to the conventions of his party.
Mr. Emshwiller was married, April 5, 1869, to Miss Huldah Cortright, the daugh- ter of Johiel and Mary Ann (Ammom) Cortright, who was born in Jackson town- ship, Blackford county, Indiana, July 20, 1849, which union has been blessed with the following named children: Emory Emer- son married Flora Isabell Keeler, by whom he has two children, Errol Edmond and Eu- lalie Etalie. Amos Milton first married Ann Hummer, who was the mother of one child, Mable Edith. who died when eight months old. Mrs. Ann ( Hummer) Emsh- willer died in November, 1895. Amos again married, this time Miss Lea Ray, by whom he has had two children, Irene Eliza- betli and Ina Innes; the latter died at the age of six months. Nathan Harland mar- ried Rebecca Studebaker, by whom he has one child, Zolpha Opal. Arminda, Agnes and Walter reside at home. Mr. Emshwil ler has a most pleasant home, where withi genial hospitality he entertains his many friends.
CALVIN Q. SHULL, M. D.
Calvin Q. Shull, M. D., of Montpelier, is a retired physician of note and one of the best-known men in northern Indiana. was born in Frankstown, Huntingdon coun- ty, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1830, a son of Henry B. and Sarah ( Wolf) Shull. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, Freder- ick Shull, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a captain in the Revolutionary war. serving faithfully throughout the entire conflict. Af. ter the establishment of peace he . eived a military land grant which was located in Trumbull county, Ohio, and which was mil- ized by his son Frederick. John, another son, remained in Pennsylvania.
Henry Broomfieldl Shull, father of the subject of this review, was born in Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1789, and (lied in Montpelier, Indiana, in December, 1856; he was the third child of the family. At an early age Henry B. Shull began learn- ing the carpenter trade, and later learned cabinetmaking, eventually becoming proprie- tor of a shop of his own.
In 1828 he removed to Huntington coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and carried on business, first at Hollidaysburg and later at Franks- town. In the meantime he had been resolv- ing the plan of making the west his home, and thus he laid the foundation for his chil- dren's future prosperity. Accordingly, in 1834, he began the journey to Indiana, and located at Milton, Wayne county, that state. Then he engaged in merchandising, being associated with John Crum, under the firm name of Crum & Shull; he also ran a hotel and farmed a small acreage. Finally dis- posing of his dry goods business, he engaged in the drug trade, and his children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps in this respect. He closed out his store in Mil- ton in 1839 and assumed charge of a hotel at Cambridge City, the same county, which he conducted for one year only, returning to Milton in October, 1840, where he resumed the drug and hotel business. In 1848 he closed out permanently his business in Mil- ton and purchased ninety acres of land four
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miles southeast of Indianapolis upon which he at once located. In the spring of 1853 he disposed of this farm and purchased sixty- three acres in Harrison township, Blackford county, Indiana, where he made his home during the last days of his busy life. This farm is now a part of the site of Montpelier:
Mr. Shull was always of a deeply relig- ious turn of mind. Both he and his esti- mable wife were members of the Presbyte rian church until 1846, when they joined the Christian church under the ministra- tions of Rev. Ben Franklin, a minister of great power in his day. Mr. Shull was al- ways active in church affairs, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church. Politi- cally he was a Whig and a warm friend of Henry Clay, whom he occasionally enter- tained while the "great commoner" was on political tours. Local politics, however, had but small interest for Mr. Shull other than to elicit his support for the best candidate regardless of party, but on national ques- tions he was a strong believer in the princi- ples of his party and woukl make a hard fig to secure its success.
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