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 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
J. L. CUSTER.
233
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
After the death of George W. Custer, his widow married Samuel Malcom, and re- moved to Indiana, and later settled at Ma- rion, where she died. By her marriage with Mr. Malcom, she became the mother of one daughter, Martha, who was born September 24, 1854, now Mrs. W. Reed, of Marion. The mother died February 18, 1874.
The subject of this memoir was not yet eleven years old when his father died. A year or two later his mother married a sec- ond time and the family removed to Indi- ana, settling in Grant county, where young Custer attended school and assisted in the work on the home farm until fourteen years of age, when he left the parental roof and entered the battle of life for himself. Dur- ing the following three or four years he worked at whatever presented itself. He worked as a farm hand, followed the tow- path of the canal, worked as an apprentice at the trade of carpenter, printer, and at other vocations ; but none of this satisfied his ambition. He then returned to Marion, at- tended school, and soon became a teacher. He was of only medium height, slender and not strong, but when President Lincoln called for volunteers, he responded, and May 15, 1861, was mustered into service as private in Company I, Twelfth Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry. However, he saw no ac- tive service, and July 24, of the same year, he was discharged on account of physical disability. He then entered Wabash Col- lege and pursued his studies about one year, when, on account of the death of his step- father, he returned home. In 1863 he was enrolled into the United States service, and served in the office of the Provost Marshal until the latter part of the year, when he was honorably discharged from service. 14
He next taught two terms of school in Ohio, after which he read law in the office of Judge John Brownlee and Judge John M. Wallace, of Marion, and on March 14, 1864, was admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of his profession.
He was twice elected District Attorney for the Fourteenth Judicial District, and served four years in that capacity as Prose- cuting Attorney, his first commission bear- ing date of November 2, 1868, and the second October 24, 1870. In 1886 he was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and came within about fifty votes of elec- tion in a strong Democratic district. In 1890 he was elected Judge of the Forty- eighth Judicial Circuit, his commission as Judge bearing date of November 16, 1890,. and served with honor and credit during a. term of six years, from November 17, 1892. Since the expiration of his term of office,. he has given his attention to the generali practice of law. Besides being a member of the Grant County Bar, he has been twice elected president of the Grant County Bar Association, and is now a member of the State Bar Association. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of this state on February 21, 1872, and later was admitted to practice in the United States Courts.
Judge Custer owns the plant of the Cus- ter Electric Manufacturing Company, which manufactures various electrical and other appliances, including gas engines; he is also proprietor of the Custer Lumber Com- pany at Gas City. He has a comfortable home at No. 514 South Boots street, and owns other city property, all of which is the accumulation of his labor.
June 22, 1865, he was married to Angela
234
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
T. Leas, daughter of Daniel and Nancy Leas, and three children are the fruits of this union : George D., a glass cutter ; Burr, a machinist, in charge of the Custer Manu- facturing Company ; and Robert J., a grad- uate of Purdue University, is a civil en- gineer.
Judge and Mrs. Custer are members of the Presbyterian church, in which the Judge was for many years an elder, and in 1880 he was a delegate from the Muncie Pres- bytery of that church to the Presbyterian General Assembly, which met at Madison, Wisconsin.
ELI THOMAS.
Eli Thomas, a retired farmer of Marion, Indiana, was born in Randolph county Au- gust 31, 1825, and traces his ancestry to one of two brothers who came to America from Wales about the year 1700. They were William and George Thomas, who set- tled in South Carolina, where they bought land. George was unmarried and it is to William that Eli Thomas traces his origin. The immediate ancestors were Jesse and Hannah (Cox) Thomas, the father born in South Carolina September 9, 1796, and the mother a native of North Carolina.
John and Lydia Thomas, the grandpar- ents of Eli Thomas, started from South Carolina for Indiana about 1808, but stopped one or two years in Highland county, Ohio, on account of the Indian uprising in Indi- ana. Coming to Wayne county, they set- tled nine miles north of Richmond, the grandfather and five brothers entering land from the government, upon which they lived several years. In 1831 he came to Grant
county and purchased a farm about one mile south of Marion, where the power- house now stands. This farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land and was his home until he was called to his home on high at the age of seventy-eight years. He was an industrious man and was reas- onably successful in his business. He and his wife were Quakers and were conscien- tious, upright people. She was a native of South Carolina and survived her husband many years, dying at the advanced age of eighty-five.
Jesse Thomas, father of present subject, was but a small lad when his father came to Wayne county, this state. He remained at home until he had reached man's estate, when he learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked for many years. March 30, 1829, he came to this county and pur- chased one hundred and five acres of land in what is now North Marion, paying one dollar and one quarter per acre for it. It was covered with timber and he was among the first white men to settle there, although there were plenty of Indians, some of them remaining many years on Pipe creek. He built a log cabin, in which they lived two years, and during the second year Mrs. Thomas had an adventure which would be to the liking of very few ladies. She went into the timber one evening in search of their cows when she lost her way and was unable to retrace her steps. Wandering around she came to a horse that had a bell on. She grasped the collar around his neck and she held to the animal all night that she might have the benefit of his company and also in the vain hope that the bell might attract the attention of those who were out searching for her. Thus she passed the en-
235
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
tire night, and it was not until eight o'clock the next morning that the anxious searchers were rewarded by finding her. The cattle were turned out in the timber to graze and would sometime wander quite a ways from home. While out one day hunting his cat- tle Mr. Thomas shot and killed a large yel- low rattlesnake which measured six feet three inches in length and was the largest native snake ever killed here. This was of such unusual size that he had the skin stuffed in order to preserve it to show what the new country could show. After living a few years on his first property he purchased eighty acres in what is now South Marion and. made that his home because it was nearer the church which had recently been built there. A few years later when Marion was laid out he sold his first farm of one hun- dred and five acres for twelve hundred dol- lars and at once invested the money in other land in the vicinity at one dollar and one ·quarter per acre. In 1852 he erected a good brick residence and at one time owned over one thousand acres of land. But one county road was laid out when he first settled here, but many more speedily followed as new homes sprang up in the forest. He was a Quaker and a strong abolitionist, assisting in the underground railway and by every means in his power to ease the load which rested on the black shoulders in the south. He was very successful in business. On March 30, 1859, just thirty years after he located in the county, he laid down the burden of life and entered into the life ever- lasting.
His wife, Hannah Cox, was a native of North Carolina and came with her parents to Wayne county, this state, in 1810, where they purchased land. The father, Jeremiah
Cox, entered the land which later formed part of the present site of Richmond, Indi- ana, the balance being the property of one John Smith. Mr. Cox disposed of his land and moved to Randolph county, on White river, where he erected a mill which he op- erated during the remainder of his life. He had also built the first mill at Richmond. Mrs. Thomas, his wife, was also of the same religious faith and lived to the age of seventy years. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in in- fancy. Those living to adult years were as follows: Jeremiah, a farmer of this township, who died at the age of fifty-four years; Enoch, who owns and operates a large flour mill at Markle, Huntington county ; Eli, our subject; Hulda, who mar- ried Jacob Vataw and died in early life, aged about twenty-six years; Mary, wife of George Shugart, a prominent farmer of Franklin township, whose biography will be found on another page; John, who died in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1897, in his sixty-fifth year; Robert, who died in 1880, at the age of forty-three years; Hannah and Noah, still living.
Eli Thomas was a child of three and one-half years when his parents moved on their farm which is now included in the corporate limits of Marion. He remained at home until he had attained his majority, when his father gave him eighty acres of land, situated two miles south of the court house, and but little improved. He spent the following year in clearing and improving the property and then disposed of it to good advantage and purchased one hundred and sixty acres three miles south of Marion, paying ten dollars per acre therefor. He lived on this place fifteen years and accumu-
236
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
i
lated three hundred and fifty acres in one piece and also bought his father's old home- stead of eighty acres, now in the corporation of Marion. He has since sold part of this for two hundred dollars per acre, making his home on the same until December 7, 1887, when he erected his pleasant home in Marion, where he has since resided.
He was first married to Miss Anna, daughter of Isaac Schooley, and a native of Wayne county, who came with her par- ents to this county about 1835. She was a member of the Friends church and died in January, 1853, leaving two little children to the father's care. Both are residents of this county, Sylvanus on one of the .homesteads, and Marcus, a farmer and minister near here. Mr. Thomas was next married to Miss Milly Willcuts, of Wayne county, whose parents moved to this locality when she was a small child. She was a member of the Friends church and at her death, which occurred September 20, 1876, she left four children : one died in infancy. Thomas C. died in June, 1888, at the age of twenty-one years ; Jesse R. is a farmer of Center township; Alvin J. owns and operates a stock farm in Mills township; and Lucy, the wife of Jas- per Massena, a farmer of Franklin town- ship, an efficient teacher in the public schools. On November 30, 1840, oc- curred the birth of Miss Minerva M. Thomas, the present wife of our subject. She is a daughter of Milton Thomas and was born four miles south of Marion, near where she has always lived since. Both she and her husband are members of the Friends church and are consistent in their religion. Mr. Thomas stands high in the community and has been frequently chosen to admin- ister on estates, his well-known honor and |
integrity making him a desirable executor. He has been very successful in life and be- sides giving to each of his children seventy acres of land, he owns three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas; two hundred and eighty in this county, near Marion; the property on which he resides; another resi- dence property, which he rents, and several valuable vacant lots in this city.
REV. FREELEY ROHRER.
Rev. Freeley Rohrer, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Marion, was born near Dayton, Ohio, August 13, 1869. His grandfather, Samuel Rohrer, located in Ohio in 1838, being one of the earlier residents of the state. His ancestry was of Swiss origin, although his own birth occurred in Pennsylvania. He was of a thrifty nature, his exertions in the operation of a farm resulting in the acquisition of a handsome competence. A Lutheran in his religious life, he was active in the building and main- tenance of the church of that denomination in the city of Dayton, in the vicinity of which his life was passed. He reached the ripe age of eighty-five, carrying to the grave the highest esteem of all who knew him.
Samuel H., the father of Rev. Freeley Rohrer, was born on the old homestead in the same brick house in which his son was born, and which had been erected in an early day by his father. He chose for his life companion Miss Harriet Wiggim, daughter of John Wiggin, of Scotch-Irish ancestry and Irish birth, who came to the United States in the year 1818, when but six years of age, in company with his par- ents. He was married, in Miami county,
237
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
Ohio, to Esther Dille, who was born in Vir- ginia. After some years spent in Miami county he removed to Dayton where he was engaged in the manufacture of flour for some years, but is better recalled by the people of to-day as the superintendent of the work- house, having had charge of that institution for several years prior to his demise, at the age of sixty-eight years. When Freeley was a lad of fourteen his parents removed to the city of Dayton, his father embarking in the mercantile pursuits, with which he has re- tained more or less connection to the pres- ent, though he is now living retired, still retaining the old Rohrer homestead.
Entering the Dayton schools at the age of fourteen, young Freeley continuel at- tendance until he had completed the full high school course in the class of 1888. His standing was high, class honors being granted him. He soon after matriculated in Heidelberg University at Tiffin, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891, having completed the four years' course in three years. Standing fifth in a class of thirty a class distinction was accorded him here also. Having already made choice of a profession, he entered upon the special preparation in the systematic study of the- ology and philosophy in McCormick The- ological Seminary at Chicago, finishing the course with the class of 1894. About the same time Heidelberg, his alma-mater, hon- ored him with the degree of A. M. As a student he had preached during the latter part of his course to two congregations in Wisconsin, having begun his active pub- lic ministry in 1892. The license to preach was granted him by the Presbytery of Chi- cago May 1, 1893, the day of the opening of the World's Fair, his final ordination oc-
curring at Paulding, Ohio, May the 8th, 1894, by the Presbytery of Maumee. His first regular charge as pastor was at Pauld- ing, where he remained two and one-half years. His relations with the people at that place were most cordial, the spiritual life of the congregation being much de- veloped and emphasized. The present handsome edifice was planned for, and suit- able steps taken to begin the operations of building, committees arranged for, etc. The ideas suggested by him were embodied in the structure, and when it was completed he was asked to preach the dedicatory sermon, which he did on the 21st of May, 1899. November 1, 1896, he began his work at Marion, being now in the fifth year of his pastorate here.
It is superfluous to say that his rela- tions to the people of Marion are of the most cordial and harmonious nature, the per- sonality of Mr. Rohrer being such that all are drawn unconsciously toward him, the sympathies, not only of the congregation but of the entire community, being enlisted in the progress of the work. His efforts to advance the growth and success of his parish have redounded in most satisfactory enlargement of the congregation and the strengthening of the general christian work in the city. An increase of upwards of one hundred members on the church books brings the membership up to about three hundred and fifty. A marked improvement is notic- able in the growth in christian character and an enlarged interest in the incidental under- takings of the congregation. Among other local efforts established by Rev. Rohrer is an important mission Sunday-school in the west end of the city, in which are found more than three hundred pupils enrolled.
238
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
The society owns its own building, and in every respect is in a most flourishing con- dition.
The relation borne to the general work of the church by Mr. Rohrer is of an im- portant nature, having been selected to serve as moderator of Muncie presbytery, a posi- tion that much strengthened his popularity with all the ministers of this field. He was chosen chairman of the Home mission com- mittee of Muncie Presbytery and is secretary of the Home mission committee of the Synod of Indiana. These two important positions place him in the closest relation to the church throughout the state, and the work accom- plished in this connection is well worth & careful retrospect. What is recognized as the "Indiana plan" has been in effective op- eration in the state for ten years with most satisfactory results. This simply contem- plates carrying of the mission work in the state by the state itself, or rather that the Synod of Indiana should be self-sustaining rather than to be a burden on the general assembly. Twelve years since the state drew two thousand dollars from the general board to carry on the mission work, in addition to the three thousand raised by itself. In the year 1900 eleven thousand, five hundred dollars were raised for home work and six- teen thousand dollars set aside into an en- dowment fund, beside contributing to the general board over ten thousand dollars. In the ten years this plan has been in effective operation two hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars have been raised within the synod, of which forty-one thousand dol- lars is in the endowment fund for future use in the same line of work. Ninety-six thousand dollars has been turned over to the general fund from the mission board, so
that the Synod of Indiana has shown most astonishing strides, not only in becoming self-sustaining, but in the great assistance it has rendered to the mission work as con- ducted by the general board. These results have simply been attained on the part of the church in this state by the systematic and harmonious co-operation of the great majority of the ministers of the church, ably seconded by the congregations. This plan has produced large results in the pres- bytery, as well as in the synod, in that it has been extensively copied elsewhere, and seven of the eight presbyteries of the state are now self-sustaining against but two twelve years ago. At that time forty-three missionaries were employed and eighty-five churches re- ceived aid, where at the present there are seventy missionaries and one hundred and thirty-five churches are assisted. Salaries have been raised, an increase of twenty- seven thousand membership is shown in the state, and in many ways the wisdom of the plan of operation is indicated. Plans sim- ilar to the "Indiana plan" have been adopted in six other states, who have in consequence become self-sustaining, the work in each taking on new and vigorous life. The de- velopment of this work has drawn heavily upon the time and energy of Mr. Rohrer, not, however, to the detriment of his local undertakings which contemplate the adop- tion of features in church management that will largely tend to make the relations of the congregation and the general society of the city more intimate and cordial.
Mr. Rohrer is actively identified with many of those social and fraternal societies that make better and more loyal citizenship. He is looked upon as a worker in the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and
239
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
in the Sons of Veterans, his connection there being based upon his father serving three years in the army and being a prisoner of war in Libby prison for some months.
Mr. Rohrer was married, at Dayton, Ohio, June 27, 1894, to Miss Lillie A., daughter of David W. Miller, the well known superintendent of construction at the Na- tional Soldiers Home at that place. This lady received her education in the Dayton high school and in the normal school, and was a teacher in the public schools four years prior to her marriage. She has entered most harmoniously into the work of her husband. her pleasing personality making her services highly appreciated by all with whom she has come in contact. They have one son and one daughter: Robert William., aged six, and Dorothy Delight, an infant.
Much of the effectiveness of the minis- trations of Mr. Rohrer lies in the pleasing and powerful utterances in the pulpit, where he is at his best. He has little of the com- mon affectation of the pulpit orator, but with an ease of delivery that adds to the strength of the discourse, carries the congregation with him, the result being the increase of popularity so well deserved. Mr. Rohrer holds to advanced views on all matters of re- ligious growth and extension. He has little sympathy, however, with those thinkers whose attacks on the Bible through the so- called "higher criticism" would disarrange the entire system of accepted theology. His modification of the confession of faith would not eliminate any of the old and accepted doctrines but rather would simplify the statements that misconception of the true meaning might be avoided. He would also rewrite those time-tried articles, converting them into modern English, thus bringing
them into closer touch with the life and ex- pression of the twentieth century. He sees no need of a radical revision of creed such as would obliterate those old beliefs that gave so much comfort and consolation to our ancestors, believing them to be sufficient for the needs of modern people. Though adhering to the old beliefs and with no sym- pathy with the idea of radical modification of the teaching, he would so enlarge upon the actual work done that the relat ons of the church to the world would make the church more a factor in the life of the entire community.
JOHN WILSON.
John Wilson, present deputy county auditor of Grant county, Indiana, was born in Liberty township, July 3. 1853, and is a son of Cyrus and Pharaba (Overman) Wilson.
Cyrus Wilson was born in North Caro- lina and came to Grant county, Indiana, when he was but eighteen years old, in 1838, and located in Fairmount; but in 1840 removed to Liberty township, where he purchased and resided upon a farm the remainder of his days. He was married in Grant county, and to his marriage were born three children, viz. : Ephraim O., a bio- graphical writer; John, whose name opens this sketch; and Rhoda, deceased. Cyrus Wilson was well educated in his youth, taught school in his younger days, made his mark, and was very prominent locally. He was well to do as a farmer, and at the time of his death, in 1864, was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land. He was a member of the Society of
240
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
Friends, and in politics was a Republican. His widow survived him until December 23, 1893, when she was also called away, in the faith of the Society of Friends.
John Wilson, the subject proper of this sketch, attended the common schools of his county until sixteen years of age, and when seventeen years old went to Amboy, Miami county, where he was employed in general merchandising until 1882. He then came to Marion, in April of that year, and July 10, 1882, was appointed deputy auditor un- der Joseph W. Stout, and served under him in this capacity until November, 1882. Stout's term then expired, and John Wil- son was appointed by the auditor elect, John M. Turner, as his deputy, and served until November, 1887; then under John W. Miles until November, 1891; then under George A. Osborn until November, 1895, when he was himself elected county audi- tor on the Republican ticket without oppo- sition, the poll numbering two thousand six hundred and eighty-five votes. He filled the office of auditor until November, 1899, when he was succeeded in the position by George A. Modlin, by whom he was restored to his old position of deputy -an office he still holds, and for which h's long experience peculiarly qualifies him. Mr. Wilson has previously held a minor office or two under Republican auspices, having been postmaster at Amboy for four years, and a justice of the peace two years.
John Wilson was joined in matrimony, in Marion, December 4. 1875, with Rachael Hollingsworth, who was born in Wiscon- sin in September, 1856, and is a daughter of Eli and Huldah ( Jones ) Hollingsworth. To Mr. Wilson and wife have been born three children, viz. : Maud, Wilmer, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.