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 112
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· When they began their wedded life it was as renters the first year, and the following spring they purchased eighty acres of land, going in debt for it. Their surroundings were the crudest, a log house with puncheon floor and stick and clay chimney was home, although it was in the forest, the only clear- ing being where the house stood. Hard and ceaseless work was required to develop this ground and get it in a suitable shape for cultivation, but all this and much more has been accomplished by the subject of this sketch and his worthy wife. Wild turkey and wolves infested the timber, but have gone the way of many other signs of those early times. The country was sparsely pop- ulated and but three public roads were laid out in this vicinity, all of the many improve- ments which may bee seen to-day having been brought to their present state of per- fection under the eyes of Mr. Newby and his wife. They have kept pace with the advancement going on around them and have kept their property in the most approved con- dition, putting up modern buildings and other improvements on all their farms, those occupied by their children as well as the homestead. They have accumulated over eight hundred and eighty acres of land in this and Mill township, the homestead hav- ing excellent barns and outbuildings and a
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fine brick residence with well-fenced fields. In addition to the farms they own sixty- six lots in Fairmount, ten acres near and nine acres in Jonesboro. This is the most creditable showing in the township and one of which they may well be proud.
Mr. Newby is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for General John C. Fre- mont. supporting each presidential candi- date on the Republican ticket since. He was an ardent admirer of Abraham Lin- coln and is a firm advocate of the present policy of the United States government as demonstrated by Mckinley. Mr. and Mrs. Newhy are steadfast in the Quaker faith, and like all true followers of that doctrine are honest, peace-loving people who do a great amount of good in a quiet, unosten- tatious manner. They have contributed towards the building fund of several church edifices in their vicinity, as well as other objects of benevolence. They have been residents of Grant county for sixty-one years and are among the most reliable and honorable of its settlers. About four years ago they reached the golden milestone in their journey together and celebrated the happy event with suitable ceremony, receiv- ing the felicitations of their many frienrs, old friends mingled with new ones, who felt that the sunshine and the rain of years had but mellowed and softened the lives of this most estimable couple, who had
Sown love, and tasted its fruitage pure; Sown peace, and reap its harvest bright; Sown sunbeams on the rock and moor, And find a harvest-home of light.
Mr. Newby has now an interest of about one thousand dollars in the Jonesboro and
Fairmount banks and he feels proud that he has accumulated as much and more prop- erty than any other person in this township.
CYRUS BAKER.
Cyrus Baker, a prosperous business man of Sims, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Clark county, Ohio, October 16, 1830. He received his preliminary education in the subscription schools in vogue at the time of his boyhood, but this has been largely supplemented by a life-time of careful read- ing and observation. His early years were spent in farming, though he did not settle down to any definite occupation for some years after arriving at the age of maturity. For some eight years he employed his win- ters in trapping and in buying and selling furs. This was a profitable business, which he combined with his farming interests. In 1862 he came to Grant county, Indiana, walking all the way from Wabash to Marion, having reached the former place by canal boat from his Buckeye home. Here he lived with his sister during the Civil war, but afterward returned to Ohio, where he en- gaged in the grocery business for a number of years. While sojourning temporarily in Grant county he purchased fifty acres of land, for which he paid six dollars per acre, and this was the nucleus to his later posses- sions in real estate.
On returning to Grant county in May. 1871, Mr. Baker exchanged this piece of land for other real estate property in Sims township, where he has since lived and has has been prominently identified with the growth and progress of his town and county.
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It was Mr. Baker who was instrumental in laying out the village of Sims and he has always manifested great interest in the de- velopment of the lively and prosperous little town. He was one of the organizers of the Sims Gas & Fuel Company, of which he has been a trustee since its organization. He also aided materially in the develop- ment of the oil and gas interests in Sims township and in the profitable utilization of the same. In political affairs he has been equally interested and zealous. For sixteen years he occupied the thankless but honor- able position of township committeeman, having always affiliated with the Republican party.
The ancestral history of Cyrus Baker is a matter of interest, as well as special honor to himself. The man who can trace his lineage to Revolutionary sires and a race of patriots from the far-away day to the pres- ent has a genealogy of which any true Amer- ican may justly feel proud. The family his- tory is as follows : He is a son of John and Susanna (Norman) Baker. Father was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, De- cember 25, 1788, and died November 3, 1859. The grandfather of this venerable pioneer came from Germany in early co- lonial days and settled in the Jamestown col- ony. His son, Henry Baker, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and fought under General Washington, and, tradition says, was present at the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis at Yorktown. Henry Baker, men- tioned here, married Martilina Shank. The father of Cyrus Baker was a soldier in the second war with England and was wounded at Fort Jefferson, Ohio, in a fight with In- dian allies of the British government. As a result of this wound he lost a foot and
was a pensioner during the remainder of his life.
Cyrus Baker was married on the 9th of June, 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Rachel Harris, a daughter of Nathaniel and Pinniah (Elliott) Harris. Miss Harris was born July 12, 1842, and received a good education in the public schools. She, too, is a representative of Revolutionary stock. Her family is of Scotch-Irish descent, es- tablished in America by her great-grandfa- ther, who settled in North Carolina. There her grandfather, William Harris, was born and became a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolution. Her maternal grand- father, Pritlow Elliott was also a soldier in the war for American independence. An uncle of her father spent seven years in cap- tivity among the Indians, and on his return he was not recognized by his wife and fam- ily, they believing him dead.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Baker con- sists of five children, whose names are given below: Mary E., the eldest, was born June 15, 1873. She is now the wife of Cyrus Osborn and they have two daughters, Lillian L. and Florence; Ellen M., who was born October 14, 1874, became the wife of Estes Bailey. They have two sons, Vaughn D. and Tass; Eber J. was born April 12, 1875; Ida S., the wife of William H. Bailey, was born May 15, 1877. Their two children are named Rosella Chloe and Mary Dace; Thomas E., the youngest of the family, was born July 27, 1881.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have given their children the best of educational advantages and they are all highly intellectual and cul- tured people. The married members of the family are settled around the parental home and are in comfortable circumstances and
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happy domestic relations. The family sus- tain very high social standing in the com- munity and are rated among the best citi- zens of the county. Cyrus Baker is a gentle- man of affable and pleasing manner, whose years rest so lightly upon him that the casual observer would never receive the impression that he has already passed the "three-score and ten" milestone on life's journey. His has been an active and busy life in which all has not been sunshine, neither has he had serious misfortune. His efforts in the busi- ness world have been measurably success- ful and his ample possessions are the result of his own and his estimable wife's business tact, industry and good management. As- suredly no family in Grant county has a prouder ancestral record, or is more worthy of representation in a volume dedicated to the life history of the leading families. Space is cheerfully given to this fairly complete resume of the family history, and it is be- lieved that its careful preservation and trans- mission to future generations will prove a source of pleasure and profit to those who may read it in future ages.
HENRY JONES.
Henry Jones, a prosperous farmer of Green township, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Henry county, this state, February 26, 1842. He is a son of John and Mary (Loudenback) Jones, natives of South Caro- lina and Virginia, respectively, and first lo- cated in Fayette county, Indiana.
Henry Jones was educated in the public schools of his native county. At the age of twenty-three he came to Grant county and
engaged in farming, a profession which he has followed successfully since. The farm upon which he now lives comprises two hun- dred and forty acres of land in a high state of cultivation. Excellent farm buildings, in- cluding a modern frame dwelling house, add to the value of the premises and adorn the surroundings. Mr. Jones also owns a valuable tract of ninety acres located two miles north of the homestead. The product of this valuable property yields a handsome annual income from stock and grain. The average revenue from the sale of hogs and cattle amounts to a snug little fortune, some hundred head of the former and seventy. head of the latter being marketed annually. Beyond question the Jones farm is the best and most valuable in Green township.
Henry Jones was married March 2, 1873, to Miss Nancy Jane, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Rader) Funks, natives of Virginia. Her paternal grandfather was born in Penn- sylvania and maternal grandfather was a native of Maryland. Mrs. Jones' paternal family consisted of six children, named as follows: George W., John J., William H., Napolia H .. Permelia R. (now Mrs. Newton Jones), and Nancy Jane. The eldest and youngest of her brothers are deceased. Henry Jones is a representative of a family. of eleven children, viz .: Elizabeth (now Mrs. John Richman), Newton, Phillip, Adamı (deceased), James (deceased), Mary (now Mrs. Charles Conn), Mrs. Cyrus was Jane Cathron, Henry, John, Barbara (Mrs. P. Bowers), and Daniel. The others are variously located and engaged in life's strug- gles on their own account.
Henry Jones, of this review, is a man who stands very high in the community where all of his mature years have been
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spent. He is a recognized leader in local politics and wields a potent influence in the counsels of Democracy. Though not an of- fice seeker in any sense he has nevertheless been honored by election to local offices of trust and responsibility. In matters of re- ligion Mr. Jones is independent. He be- lieves in the principle of "free thought and free speech" in religious affairs as well as in matters of lesser importance. He spends his time in a general superintendence of ihs extensive estate and gives steady employ- ment to two men on the farm.
Such in brief is the outline of a life rec- ord well worthy of representation in a vol- ume devoted to a history of the leading families of Grant county.
JOHN GOSSOM.
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John Gossom, a greatly respected farmer of Green township, Grant county, son of William and Martha ( Burbridge) Gossom, was born July 4, 1822, in Ross county, Ohio. His early education was quite limited, but he set out with a strong will to accom- plish something in this world, came to Green township, Grant county, and among swamps, brush and timber purchased some land and for several years it was very hard for him. He finally succeeded in making headway and purchased more land, amounting at one time to about three hundred acres. All this he has divided among his children, but eighty acres, the old home with fine barns and an elegant brick residence, which he has retained for the benefit and comfort of him- self and wife in their old age. 54
On August 18, 1847, John Gossom mar- ried Mary, daughter of Peter and Mariah (Legg) Shepler, by whom he has had eight children, viz .: Elizabeth A., born July 2, 1848 (Mrs. John Kilgore) ; Thomas B., born February 8, 1850; Oliver J., born Nevember 18, 1852; John E., born April 22, 1855; Savannah (Mrs. James A. Jones) ; and three who died in infancy.
Mrs. Gossom's people were from Penn- sylvania and were of German descent on the mother's side and of Scotch descent on the father's side; were early settlers of Wash- ington county and were of Revolutionary stock.
Mr. Gossom's great-grandfather was also a soldier of the Revolution. His son John married and had four children: Nancy (Mrs. Warren), two other daughters and William, the father of John, the subject.
William Gossom married Martha Bur- bage and had the following children: Julia A. (Mrs. Samuel Griffith) ; Malinda (Mrs. Samuel Frue) ; John, the subject of this sketch; Jane, deceased; Margaret (Mrs. Alex. Wiley); Sarah (Mrs. William Jacobs) ; Nancy (Mrs. George Moore) ; William ; and two infants that died unnamed.
PETER LANE.
Peter Lane, a native of Brown county, Ohio, born on the 4th of October, 1842, is a son of Mordicai and Charity (Foster) Lane, who reared a family of eight children, of whom Peter is the eldest. Five of the family are dead. The names are as follows : Peter, Rachel, Christian, John, Joseph, Eliz- abeth, Mary Ann and Ruth A. The two
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last named were twins. Mary is desceased and Ruth is now Mrs. B. F. Hale. Rachel, Christian, John and Joseph are also dead.
The Lane family is descended from Eng- lish ancestors and in America was first es- tablished in Maryland. His grandfather, Peter Lane, removed from Maryland to Ohio in the pioneer days. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
The Foster family, as represented by the mother of Peter Lane, came from German stock, and the American branch was first established in Pennsylvania. They were among the early colonists in the Keystone state and the maternal grandfather, Chris- tian Foster, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. He married Miss Fritz, who bore him eleven children, viz. : Henry, Val- entine, John, Jonathan, David, Jacob, Isaac, Barbara, Mary Ann, Rachel, and one died unnamed in early infancy.
Peter Lane was educated in the public schools of Brown county, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen became an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, but before the comple- tion of the stipulated period of apprentice- ship he left the forge and the peaceful pur- suits of civil life and enlisted as a member of Company I, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. This occurred on the 12th of Au- gust, 1862, and he was assigned to duty with the Army of the Potomac. He was a member of the garrison at Harper's Ferry which was surrendered in September, 1862. Mr. Lane's health failed and after eight weeks in hospital at Camp Douglas, Illinois, he received an honorable discharge from the service. After fully recovering his health Mr. Lane entered the employ of the United States government and worked at his trade at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, until the close
of the war. The government shops were closed there on the 15th of April. 1865. During his absence Mr. Lane's parents had moved to Grant county, Indiana, and he here found his paternal home on returning from his post. With the exception of four years, when he was in business at West Liberty, Howard county, he has been a resident of Grant county since 1865. For the most part he has followed his trade of blacksmithing. He erected the first shop in Point Isabel and operated the business there for some five years. He was also employed as a clerk in merchandising for about five years.
In 1890 Mr. Lane purchased eighty acres of land in Green township and since that date he has been identified with agricultural interests and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was married July 22, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Horine, a daughter of Jefferson N. and Mary (Dean) Horine, descendants of German ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have had twelve children born to them. They are: Mordecai, William W., Anda T., Mary O., Ella M., Mark, Lee and Dee, twins, Joseph B., Edgar A. and Edith, twins, and Guy W. Of these Anda T., Mary O., Lee, Dee and Edith are de- ceased.
Mr. Lane has been prominently identi- fied with the I. O. O. F. for many years, holding membership in Point Isabel Lodge, No. 510, where he has passed all the prin- cipal official stations and represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state. He joined the G. A. R. post at Swayzee and maintained his standing there until the post disbanded by reason of the depletion of its . ranks below the minimum number of mem- bers because of deaths, removals, lapses, etc.
The Lane family is one of high stand-
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ing in the neighborhood in which they have resided so many years. In the business and social affairs of the community they occupy a conspicuous and honored position, and the subject of this sketch possesses the confidence and esteem of all who know him. In busi- ness affairs he is always upright and hon- orable, while he wields a potent influence in the political and social affairs of Green township.
JOSEPH F. MARSHALL.
Joseph F. Marshall was born in Boone county, Indiana, February 1, 1843. When he was five years old his parents moved to Grant county and there he attended school. When he was sixteen he left school and en- gaged in life's work on his own account. He has been identified with agricultural pursuits for the most part, though he earned a livelihood by day labor for about six years. He is a son of Joshua and Tamar (Osborne) Marshall. They are natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. When his father was a boy of fifteen he came to Indiana, where he married and spent the re- mainder of his life. Both parents died in Franklin township, Grant county.
During the Civil war Joseph F. Marshall served as a member of Company G, Twen- ty-third Indiana Infantry. His enlistment occurred on the 20th of September, 1864. and he served until July 11, 1865, when he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. His military life was spent principally in doing guard duty, picketing and skirmish- ing in the vicinity of Dalton, Georgia.
On his return from the war Mr. Mar- shall re-engaged in farming, and on the 28th
of November, 1866, he wedded Miss Sarah C. Elliott, who was born in this state and is a daughter of Samuel Elliott. Mr. and Nirs. Marshall have a family of nine chil- dren, viz .: Irene, born October 21, 1867, and is now the wife of John Mathews; Jesse L., born February 12, 1869; John W., born October 17, 1871; Margaret J., born August 28, 1873, married to John Loer; Joseph H., born Nevember 4, 1875; Ruth, born February 5, 1878, and married Roleigh Bloxham; James A., born June 28, 1878; Letha A., born April 23, 1891 ; Delpha and Alpha, twins, born February 8, 1894, the last named dying April 18, 1894.
Joseph F. Marshall of this review is one of the substantial men of the community in which he lives. He bears the reputation of an honorable, upright citizen whose word is as good as his bond. The family sustain high social standing and is rated among the best families in the neighborhood. Mr. Marshall has served his township in some of the responsible official positions, in which he clearly demonstrated the wisdom of the se- lection. His efforts in life have been crowned with reasonable success. Though he does not boast of great riches he very sensibly concludes that there are other con- siderations than the accumulation of wealth which are of paramount importance in the life work of the people.
ELDER ENOCH E. ANDERSON.
Elder Enoch E. Anderson, one of the widely known and truly representative citi- zens of Van Buren township and whose in- fluence has been constantly exerted in the
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line of better and more exalted morality, higher and broader education and general advancement of the community, was born in the township where the greater part of his life has been passed on the 17th of January, 1850. His father was Isaac Anderson, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and who come to Indiana as a young man about 1837. Two of his brothers-William and Samuel- came later, the former being killed by the fall of a tree not long after. His family were reared here, but one of them now liv- ing, and he in the state of Kansas. Samuel made a permanent home in Wells county, where he became an influential citizen.
August 14, 1841, Isaac was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Camblin, the daugh- ter of Enoch and Margaret Camblin, and the sister of Enoch Camblin now residing at the village of Van Buren, and of whom it was hoped a more extended account could be had in this work. There is little doubt that the entertainment in those early days for the youth of the community was fully as agreeable as of to-day, though it was attained with more trouble, or at least was attended with less attempt at style. The means of travel was mainly on horseback, but with the conditions of the new country there was an open-hearted hospitality not found now, and the social side of living was free from the little envies that so often mar the gather- ings of the present. Not having any great amount of means it became necessary for the young married couple to begin their wedded life upon rented ground, their first efforts being on the tract that later became their own. For nearly forty years they worked hand in hand improving a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, rearing a large family, their communion being finally
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broken by the death of the husband on the gth of February, 1879, at the age of sixty- seven. He was one of the earliest members of the Christian church at Van Buren, which was organized about 1858, the first meetings being held in the old Black Creek log school- house located at what is now known as Farr- ville. He remained active in the affairs of the church, which was removed to the vil- lage of Van Buren about 1876, the society now being one of the strongest in the town- ship. The lady who shared the vicissitudes of pioneer life and whose exertions ably sec- onded her husband's endeavors, is still liv- ing in the same residence that was built by their united efforts in 1861. She is a re- markably well preserved lady, whose seventy- eight years weigh lightly, the vigor of mind and elasticity of body being but slightly di- minished by the passing of time. Now that she has entered upon the twentieth century she can well take pride in the thought that she was not a cipher in the greatest and most remarkable century known in the history of the world, but that she not only witnessed the transformation but assisted in the devel- opment of one portion of the country, being one of the few still living who took active part in changing the wilderness into the ad- vanced condition of to-day. She is the mother of eleven children, all of whom reached maturity and one only-Samuel W. -having passed before her to the farther shore. He offered his services to the gov- ernment at the outbreak of the Civil war, serving seven months in the Twelfth Indi- ana. At the organization of the One Hun- (Ired and Fifty-third he again responded to the call, going into the trenches at Vicks- burg, where he was so exposed that his health became so shattered that he was sent home,
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but his death occurred before reaching the old scenes, the end coming at Jonesboro. Seven of the family are still residents of Van Buren, the youngest daughter-Mrs. Effie Harvey-residing with her mother on the old homestead. Enoch Anderson re- mained with his parents till past his ma- jority, having received such advantages as the home schools afforded. He was mar- ried at the age of twenty-one, on February 16, 1871, to Miss Oliva Elizabethi Lees, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Foster) Lees, whose mother is still residing in the neighborhood at the advanced age of ninety years and retaining to a remarkable degree the strength of earlier faculties, through which she had been a prominent assistant in the years past in making and building up the interests of the community. She is one of the oldest of the county's old residents, hav- ing arrived in the county among the earliest, her son Frank, who is now past seventy, be- ing but an infant in arms at the time of her coming. It was while living in Marion that Mrs. Anderson was born, being six years old upon coming to Van Buren. Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Anderson be- gan their operation on the present farm of sixty acres, which was formerly part of his father's homestead and is located in the oil field. Here much effort has been exerted in making improvements, especially in the way of drainage, tiling, etc. For several years Mr. Anderson acted with the Republican party, though latterly he is pronounced in his adherence to the Prohibition party, the ideas being more in accord with his own as to the great needs of the country. He is active in the demands of the party organ- ization, working to the end of a more perfect and advanced civilization.
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