Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana., Part 104

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago: Bowen
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > Indiana > Grant County > Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana. > Part 104

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Mr. Winslow was joined in marriage, at the age of twenty-four, with Miss Nina J., daughter of Henry and Olive Ann (Jack- son) Charles. This happy union was dis- solved by the death of Mrs. Winslow on October 12, 1875, one son, Verlin, being the only offspring. In 1879, Mr. Winslow contracted a second marriage, the bride be- ing Miss Adalaide Winningham, daughter of William J. and Sarah Winningham. Five children were the fruit of this union, namely : Irvin B., born February 1, 1880; Edgar L., born December 2, 1881; Mabel O., born February 14, 1890; Nina M., born February 9, 1894; and Lee, born August 21, 1897.

Mrs. Winslow was born August 18, 1858, in Randolph county, North Carolina, and was named in honor of the mother of Worth Bagley (the first officer killed in the Spanish-American war), the two families being neighbors at the time of her birth. She is of Scotch-Irish descent, her great- great-grandfather, coming with three broth- ers from their native Scotland and settling

in North Carolina, where several generations of the family were reared. Her grandfa- ther, Gaines Winningham, married a Miss Moffitt. Mrs. Winslow is a lady who pos- sesses the rare power of making every one feel at ease in her presence, and being a good conversationalist, she is both attractive and pleasant.

Mr. Winslow was always ready with his pen, writing being a study of which he was fond, and at the age of sixteen he opened a writing school and he had made that a most successful business for several years, until 1888. After the death of his first wife he entered school and once more took up his interrupted studies for a couple of terms in his township. Following this he taught three terms and was a most able and original educator. Mr. Winslow has a birthright in the Quaker church, and is one of its most faithful members. He is a strong supporter of the Republican policy, giving convincing reasons for his opinions. In 1891 he was appointed deputy assessor of this township and served until 1896, when he was elected assessor of Grant county, his term expiring November, 1900. He has made one of the most efficient and satisfactory officers ever elected to the position, and has received many flattering expressions of approbation from his opponents, regarding the commend- able discharge of his duties.

Verlin Winslow, only son born to Thomas Winslow, by his first marriage, was born May 30, 1874, and was always an exceptionally bright lad. He was an apt pupil and the youngest ever to graduate from the public schools, he being but thir- teen years old at his graduation in 1887. He then entered Purdue University and took the course there, lacking one year. He en-

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listed as a soldier in the late Spanish-Ameri- can war, but was taken sick while in camp and unable to go with his regiment when they sailed for Cuba and Porto Rico. He was discharged later for disability and re- turned to his home. He was married to Miss Alberta Farley, by whom he has one child, Nina Alberta.

ISAIAH THURSTON.

Isaiah Thurston, well and favorable known as a progressive and substantial farm- er of Fairmount township, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Shelby county, this state, November 27, 1856, and is a son of Levi and Clarissa (UpDyke) Thurston. Levi Thurston was of German parentage, but himself a native Pennsylvanian, whence he came to Shelby county, Indiana. It was while still a young man and resident of Shelby county that he met Clarissa UpDyke, of Franklin county, Indiana, and persuaded her to become his wife.

Isaiah Thurston was educated in the common schools of his native county until he reached his eighteenth year, when he left school and devoted his time to farming. It is the farm more than any other industry that keeps the wheels of commerce moving and supplies the mouths of the vast multi- tude with food. Without it business of all kinds would be at a standstill; factories would be shut down : stores closed ; and life itself would soon cease to be. The intelli- gent farmer is at the very foundation of our existence, and his life of freedom and inde- pendence, under the blue of the heavens with its sunshine and pure air, although ac- companied by toil and endurance under sum- mer heat and winter snows, is the envy of

the less fortunate man confined to office, factory, or store. Mr. Thurston engaged in general farming in his native county until 1895, when he moved to Fairmount town- ship, where he has continued in the same business.

He was married March 20, 1878, to Miss Marsella Treeon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Coughman) Treeon, the union resulting in the birth of three children, viz .: Ada Inez, who was born November 25, 1878, and married Theodore Carl Ginn; Cordia H., was born July 10, 1886; and Ernest, born February 22, 1896. Although but a few years in this vicinity, this family has drawn to itself warm friends and has established a reputation for integrity and uprightness that places it among the most respected in the county.

SOLOMON WISE.

Solomon Wise belongs to the younger element of Grant county, Indiana, and his practical ideas and modern methods employed in carrying on his farm have done much to place farming on a higher basis in this community. He was born August 1, 1860, and comes from one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Jefferson town- ship. The Wise family were among the earliest setlers in Grant county, the grand- father, Daniel Wise, coming here in 1848. He was of German stock and was a native of Pennsylvania where he worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner and also en- gaged in farming. He purchased a quarter- section of land in Jefferson township, which he at once set about improving and culti- vating. But two sons survive him. The son, Jacob, is the father of Solomon, and is

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also a native of Pennsylvania, born Febru- ary 15, 1833. He was a lad of fifteen when his parents moved to this state and a more extended account of his early life is given on another page of this work. He was mar- ried March 13, 1856, to Miss Elizabetlı Marine, daughter of Asa and Lydia (Huff) Marine. They are well known residents of this township where their upright, honorable conduct through life have placed them in high esteem among their acquaintances. They are earnest members of the Christian church and their family have been reared in the paths of rectitude and honor, and so well have these principles been inculcated in their minds that they have grown into men and women who are a credit to their parents and the communities in which they reside. There were nine children, eight of whom are still living, namely : Samuel, a resident of this township who combines farming and the work of a mechanic; Mary Jane is the wife of Jesse Stanley, a farmer; Solomon, our subject; Daniel, also a farmer; Frank, who resides with his parents and helps with the estate; Lydia, wife of George Himelich ; Elmer, a farmer of Monroe township; and Alice, who is at home.

Solomon Wise attended the district school during his boyhood and assisted with the farm duties. His inherent aptitude for the pursuits of agriculture has placed him among the front ranks of progressive farm- ers and has enabled him to acquire a con- siderable property. He owns about two hun- dred and fifty acres in Fairmount and Jef- ferson townships which is admirably adapted to the culture of all kinds of farm products and yields large returns for the labor and care bestowed upon it.

Another family who belonged to the pio-

neers of the state is that of James Johnson, who came here during the '405 and is one of the largest land owners of the county. They are people of prominence and high so- cial standing. One of their children was Miss Emma Jolínson, who attended the district school and grew to young womanhood in our midst. She was born September 20, 1860, and from childhood has had the happy faculty of making strong friendships. Among the number who were permitted to enter the inner circle of friendship was Solomon Wise, and a stronger sentiment soon led to an engagement which culmin- ated in their marriage on June 13, 1883. A son and daughter were given to add bright- ness to their fireside, but the son was taken to blossom in the heavenly kingdom. The daughter, Ethel, is a bright little girl and a source of comfort and happiness to her parents. She has a decided talent for music which is being cultivated under the best in- structors, and indeed, Mr. and Mrs. Wise believe only in the best instructors in either music or school, and give their hearty sup- port to the advancement of modern methods in education. They are liberal contributors to the Jefferson Christian church, of which they are attendants and in which Mrs. Wise holds a membership. Mr. Wise is a Demo- crat and keeps well posted on the issues of the day.

SAMUEL BAIR.

Samuel Bair, the proprietor of the "Clover Leaf" dairy, has in the space of a few years made for himself a reputation second to none as a successful and capable dairyman. No other business comes in so close touch with the people, and has so great

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a bearing upon the general health and happi- ness of a community as does that which supplies their consumption of milk and cream. It is not only necessary that kine of the right kind be used but that the great- est skill and judgment be constantly exer- cised in their feeding and handling. In no other occupation is the old adage that "clean- Imess is next to Godliness" so forcibly dem- onstrated as in this, and is behooves the consumer to know something of the conduct of the dairy that supplies the milk he uses.

A careful inspection by the writer of the establishment, known all over the city as the "Clover Leaf" dairy confirmed the favorable reports often heard as to the care with which it is carried on. The twenty- five cows used here are of the choicest breeds, being selected by the proprietor especially for their milk-producing quali- ties, the quantity not being the great- est consideration. They are fed with that .exact precision that long experience has taught to be the most desirable, the ma- terials being chosen and fed with regard to the essential chemical constituents of suit- ably flavored and enrichened milk and cream. This is one of the features of successful · dairying not generally understood, few hav- ing more than the faintest conception of the · care with which a first-class up-to-date dairy is conducted in this one particular. Most modern dairies are now supplied with silos for the holding of ensilage, which has proven its worth, when fed in suitable combination with certain ground feeds, as one of the greatest milk producers. Bran, corn and oats are all used to advantage by Mr. Bair, hav- ing proven of value when scientifically fed. Probably that one feature, which most easily affects the flavor and quality of milk, is the

care exercised by the employees in the pro- cess of milking and in the handling of the product. Herein lies the superiority of Mr. Bair's popular establishment, minutest care being constantly taken that every receptacle used in milking and in the cooling and aerating process be kept scrupulously clean and sweet. The cows are made to stand on a plank floor, which is cleaned after each milking, and no pains or labor is spared to prevent the introduction of any noxious or objectionable flavors from reaching the milk. The "Clover Leaf" has already a well-estab- lished patronage, which has kept the proprie- tor's wits at work to seek means of keeping up with the demands of a growing business. The excellence of its product is the basis of the present prosperous business Mr. Bair feeling that, when a business has been at- tained upon the merits of the product alone. there can be little danger of other than con- tinue:l prosperity. One of the best flowing wells of the county is used to supply the water drank by the animals-the water be- ing one of the most productive sources of strong or noxious flavors, when the animals are allowed the use of streams or other sur- face water.

The establishment is fully supplied with gas-engine pumps, etc., all the machinery fittings being of the latest and most ap- proved patterns.

Mr. Bair does not rest a reputation upon age or the fact of many years of experience as a proprietor, but upon the fact of being an honest, faithful, careful, conscientious man, whose every effort is to the end of mak- ing a success based upon giving patrons the best that is to be secured of the product in which he deals. Inspection by any patron or public authority is invited, no effort be-

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ing evinced to cover up defects ; but, on the other hand, every feature of the entire es- tablishment is shown, even though it is not yet completed, as the plans of the proprietor contemplate. Devoting his entire time and attention to the business, every detail is con- stantly under his personal supervision and inspection.

Mr. Bair is a native of Allen county, coming to Grant in 1892. He was for some years in the employ of G. W. Stoddard, with whom he became familiar with dairy interests and to whom he gives much of the credit of his present prosperous and growing business.

His wife was Miss Lettie Brown, of Whitley county, Indiana, and they have four children-Jesse, Clarence, Clyde and Edna.

MRS. EMMA L. RATLIFF.

Mrs. Emma L. Ratliff, the subject of this review, is a daughter of Samuel and Lacy Ann (Weesner) Knight, natives of Grant county, Indiana. They have always lived here. They had three children, Eliza- beth, being the eldest. She married Harvey Ratliff and resides on a .farm six miles south of Marion. Cortez, the youngest of the trio, rsides on Thirtieth street, in this city, a surveyor and civil engineer by oc- cupation.

Emma L. Ratliff, the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison county, Indi- ana, near Fairmount, where her early years were spent, and where she grew to young womanhood, but received her elementary ed- ucation at Fairmount. After her early mar- riage, however, she still continued her edu- cational work, she and husband attending school, or being engaged in teaching for a

number of years. In 1879 she wedded Charles L. Ratliff, a son of John and Sarah (Pierson) Ratliff, old settlers of Grant county, and one of the prominent families of Marión.

Charles L. Ratliff was born on a farm near Marion, received a liberal education in his young manhood, and took a decided in- clination toward educational and literary work. He was a graduate of two business colleges, and was one of the founders of Marion College, where he was employed in teaching until failing health compelled his retirement. He was also admitted to the bar of Grant county as an attorney at law.

He took his family to Colorado on two or three different occasions, hoping that the altitude would prove beneficial; but the in- sidious disease consumption had too firmly established itself, and he died in his wife's arms at his parental home on West Sixth street, in January, 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff had an interesting family of one son and two daughters; the eldest, Orville, died at nine years. He was a lovely boy who had already learned the virtues of obedience and proper maternal regard. The daughters are Grace Belle, and Georgia Anna.

The untimely death of Charles Ratliff was an event greatly deplored by all who knew him. He was a man of great ambi- tion and high aspirations. He was a care- ful, systematic student, a zealous devotee to science and pure literature. In his per- sonal habits and daily walk he was most pure and consistent. He discountenanced slang and frivolity, and reveled in pure thought and language. Mr. Ratliff was not an adherent to any church creed or doc- trine; neither was he wholly orthodox in

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religious views. His doctrine was that of freedom of thought and action in all cases when the rights of these were not jeopard- ized. He believed that disease was more an outgrowth of defective mentality, than de- fective physical organism. Though no doubt the primary cause of his death was pulmon- ary disease, complicated with other physical ailments, yet he would never speak of di- sease or anything relative to discord, hold- ing that only the pure in mind shall see God. He never recognized the change but fell asleep to awaken in another sphere of exist- tence. But when assured that death was near, he begged his devoted wife to never speak of him as dead as he maintained to her that he was not dead but simply gone into an invisible metamorphoss, to be ever present with her, and this thought, though considered by some to be very ambiguous and visionary, is to her a source of great com- fort.

And what is life at most, except what we make it? Assuredly it is a straight-laced creed which would deny a poor sorrowing family this one solace.

JOHN W. CLOUD.

John W. Cloud, of Van Buren town- ship, Grant county, Indiana, was born on the 20th of October, 1844, on land entered from the government, in Wells county, by his father, the scene of his advent into the world being the primitive cabin erected by his father upon first coming to the state. His parents were Joseph and Sarah ( Sharpe ) Cloud, he being born in Pennsyl- vania February 1, 1804, and she having come into the world in Clinton county, Ohio,

in March, 1811. They were united in 1828 and were the parents of eleven children- Stogdan, James, Augustus and Martha, who were born in Ohio; Margaret, born in Rush county, Indiana; and Thomas, Henry, John, Nathaniel and Susan, born in Wells county.

Sixty years ago, when they first migrated to the wilds of Indiana, the country had not begun to emerge from the wilderness con- dition, the 'wilds being yet inhabited by the animals of the forest, and the red men still being frequent visitors at the rude homes of the few brave settlers. Wells county, especially, presented scenes of the wildest nature, there being as yet but few places within its precincts where the white man had established himself in the little round log cabin, indicating the location of some adventuresome spirit who, accompanied by a no less brave woman, had hoped to se- cure for himself, and possibly for his chil- dren, a permanent home, even though the conditions of living and the hopes of ad- vancement were of the most discouraging nature. Possessed to a large degree of those elements that almost insured success in whatever line or effort he might choose, Joseph Cloud set himself to the task of making a suitable home, and through the course of an honorable and useful life de- voted his attentions to the accomplishment of the main object of his coming, and lived to have the satisfaction that comes to the man who has done his duty in a straight- forward and consistent manner.

When John W. Cloud was about four years of age his mother was called to the other shore; and not long after his father married Mrs. Jane Matheney, the widow of John Matheney, who had come to the

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town of Van Buren some years before and secured a part of the tract of land that was later embodied in the Cloud homestead. His wife had not come at the time, and, in fact, he sichened and died before she came, she having remained in the older home tin- til her husband had provided a home for her and the five children. After the death of her husband she brought her little fam- ily to the new home and resided on the tract until her marriage to Mr. Cloud. Her children were Benjamin, Sarah, Jane, John and Nancy, of whom the two youngest (laughters are still living, Jane being the wife of Jacob Powles and residing on the old Matheney homestead, and Nancy being the wife of James Cloud, her step-brother, and now residing in Kansas.

Joseph Cloud and this estimable lady were widely and favorably known in this section of the county, where they are re- membered for their many excellent quali- ties of head and heart. They rest side by side in the old Corey cemetery, where many of the earliest settlers of the community are buried, as well as several of their own family. This old burying-ground is one of the best known land-marks of the coun- ty, and here but a small stone marks the last resting spot of many a noble man and woman whose hearts beat with true pat- riotism for their country and whose lives were constant examples of Christian forti- tude and splendid self-sacrifice. Too soon will the last vestige or trace of these pio- neers be obliterated, when the simple rec- ord, traced with unskilled fingers and often elaborated with rude rhyme, be worn away by the constant effort of time and the ele- ments. He had cleared and otherwise im- proved the present home of his son, with

whom his latter years were passed, his death occurring at the age of seventy-two, hav- ing survived his companion about three years. No children resulted from the second union, but four of the younger children by his first wife received a commendable train- ing at her hands and take pleasure in tes- tifying to her great worth and excellent character. The eight Cloud children living at the opening of the twentieth century are widely scattered, but two beside John W. being's residents of this state. They are Mar- garet, wife of Henry Crawford, of Van Buren, and Martha, who is Mrs. George Geiser, of Wells county. All the remainder are in western states, two being in Kansas, one in Iowa and one in Washington, all being farmers or mechanics.

John W. Cloud remained with his fa- ther until the latter's death, assisting in the clearing and operation of a productive and valuable farm. Receiving part of the home- stead, he has now a fine farm of eighty acres, the residence having been erected by his father, in connection with himself. He has made extensive improvements, especial- ly in the line of drainage, having laid up- wards of one thousand rods of tile, thus eenhancing the productiveness of the estate to a great extent. While he has grown all the crops usually found in this section, he has, during the past few years, paid special attention to the breeding and growing of pure Chester White hogs, realizing a satis- faction in seeing the stock of his neighbor- hood much improved in consequence.

Being of a methodical and studious na+ ture, Mr. Cloud has made the operation of his farm correspond with the most modern ideas of recognized leaders in agriculture, following a proven method of crop rotation

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and keeping the necessary quantity of stock to consume the grain and other products of the fields, thus preventing deterioration of the soil and insuring the greatest return for the care and labor bestowed.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Cloud was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J. Welch, daughter of David and Susan Welch, and who was born in the township where all her life has been passed. She is some four years his junior, and as a young lady was one of the most popular and at- tractive of the many girls of the communi- ty. The passing years have not dimin- ished the charming traits of this cultured lady, the freshness of youth but having rip- ened into the more matronly and matured culture of the mother and agreeable com- panion. The eldest of the seven children who call her mother is Ethan, a farmer of Wells county; Lucinda is the wife of Will- iam Opson, of Van Buren; and Sarah is the wife of Homer Dillman, of Wells coun- ty. Those at home are Oren M., Emery, Del- mer and Dolphus, the latter two being twins.

Like his father, who held tenaciously to the principles of rock-ribbed Democracy and who served his township as its trustee, John W. has continued an uninterrupted re- lation to the party, having for years served on the various committees and being found frequently in the party conventions.

Lying in the celebrated oil field, his farm has four good wells in active operation, the royalty from them adding materially to ; the general income of the proprietor.

CHRISTOPHER BELL.

AAmong those men who are recognized as land-marks, either for long residence. prominence in religious or political move-

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ments or through having a specially interest- ing career, none is more extendedly known within the confines of Van Buren than he whose career is herewith presented-Chris- topher Bell, or, as he is more generally known, "Kit" Bell. Mr. Bell is a thorough- bred Scotchman, having first seen the light of day among the hills of Dumfrieshire on the 21st of October, 1832. His father was David Bell, and his mother Elizabeth Deans, who was probably connected with the great- est of Scotch heroines, Jennie Deans. While Christopher was yet a child in arms they came to America, settling ten miles east of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, and twenty miles from Cincinnati, where the perma- nent home was made, and where the parents chied at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

At the age of seventeen, in 1849, in company with his brother, whose health demanded a change. "Kit" started to cross the plains, great numbers going at that time from Cincinnati to the gold fields of Cali- fornia. After spending ninety days of the summer on the route, they reached the mine at Downieville, on the north fork of the Yuba river, and at once began the work of prospecting along the Yuba river. For a time the results were eminently satisfac- tory, panning out as high as one hundred and fifty dollars per day; but the approach of winter demanded a change and they sought the Macalama river. The fortunes of the brothers were quite varied, they be- ing at times well provided and again at low ebb. Christopher continued in this line of life for seventeen years, filled with all the excitement that the most ambitious novel- reading boy of to-day might wish. He vis- ited every mining place in the entire Rocky

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Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana., Part 104

Author: Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago: Bowen Number of Pages: 1000

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago: Bowen
Number of Pages: 1000