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 44
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To conduct the operations of a farm of this character, bringing it to the present ad- vanced state of cultivation from the former defective condition, has required not only unbounded enterprise but also the constant
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and intelligent exercise of those qualities which, if turned in other channels, could not fail to produce marked results.
Mr. Fraizer was united in marriage with Miss Belle Marshall, of Huntington county, on the 2d of September, 1881. The demise of this lady occurred on the 6th of the same month sixteen years later, leaving not only the immediate family but a wide circle of devoted friends to mourn her loss and re- member her with tenderest emotions of sin- cere regard. She was the daughter of Sam- uel and Mary (Shull) Marshall, of Hunt- ington county, where she was born on the 24th of September, 1860. Hers was a life closely interwoven with the family to the extent of the exclusion of almost every other interest, her influence and affection direct- ing for good the two daughters of whom she was the mother. They are Lena, now the wife of John McDougle, of Van Buren, and Eva, a young lady of sixteen, still in the family circle.
February 5. 1898, Mr. Fraizer was again married, this time to Miss Lydia, daughter of Stephen and Mary Leas, of Van Buren. As mistress of the home this lady is cement- ing the affection of those many friends in whose estimation she has, from a child, held a warm place. Hers are the traits that do everything to make the home a place where love dwells, the spirit of contention not find- ing a lodgment, but the spirit of hospitality, coupled with the womanly graces of an amiable hostess, drawing in closer relation- ship the many friends of former years.
Mr. Fraizer has, from a boy, taken active interest in the growth, history and develop- ment of the nation, his reading and observa- tion leading him to attach himself to the Republican party. He has been often found
in the councils of the party, where his voice and vote are ever cast for cleaner and purer methods. For nearly fourteen vears he has served with credit on the local committees of the party, his efforts being shown in the solid ranks of the party in a township where it is much in the minority. Though never an aspirant for public honor, his interest in party success has never swerved, ever stand- ing ready to give logical and consistent rea- sons for the "faith that is in him." Fra- ternally, he holds exalted position in Odd Fellowship, having passed the chairs in the subordinate lodge and been its representa- tive to the grand lodge. He has, also, been honored as chief patriarch in the encamp- ment and representative to the grand en- campment. Both he and wife are members of the Rebekahs. They are also active in the Methodist church at Van Buren, their influ- ence being ever exerted in strengthening the already high morality of the community. Though leading a busy and active life, he finds time for pleasing recreation with the dog and gun, having already made many interesting excursions upon short hunting trips in company with congenial companions.
OSCAR E. LANDESS. !
One of the most attractive farms in Van Buren township, Grant county, Indi- ana, which demands the attention of , the traveler as he passes over the Washington pike, is that of which the proprietor is Os- car E. Landess, whose efforts over a com- paratively short period have placed it in the front rank of the well-tilled and productive estates of the community.
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For a more complete genealogy of the Landess family the inquirer is referred to the biography of Lewis Landess in another part of this volume. Oscar E. was born on the old homestead of his father, in Van Buren township, on the 10th of June, 1849, having, consequently, passed more than half of the greatest century the world has known as a resident of Van Buren township. All of his minority was spent with his father, becoming well versed in the conduct of a farm, and to the operation of which he had decided to confine his own future energies. Accordingly, soon after attaining his ma- jority, he, assisted by his father, purchased a farm adjoining the old homestead in the eastern part of the township, and to this he devoted his attention for the next four years, buying the present property in the fall of 1874. Of the one hundred acres but thirty- five was cleared, and it was not in a desirable condition. The house was of hewed logs, and this remained the home for several years, being replaced by the present handsome one in 1879. Three years later the commodious barn was erected, making ample room for the demands of the grain and stock. These buildings, standing as they do on a prom- inent site, make a fitting climax to the gen- erally well-kept and carefully planned and neatly cared-for establishment. Much of the tract at its purchase was covered with ponds and disease-breeding slashes, the reclaiming of which demanded and received an immense amount of hard labor, which was directed with well digested system. Fully forty acres was an absolute waste till this scheme of improvement had been placed in operation, the result being the addition of that much of the most fertile land to that already culti- vated, the crops produced upon it being the
heaviest grown on the entire estate. More than one thousands rods of tile have been placed beneath the surface, the drain reach- ing to all essential parts of the farm, mak- ing it one of the best and most desirable places in the community.
In addition to the features of grain grow- ing Mr. Landess raises stock in sufficient quantities to consume the crops, some fifty head of fat hogs being placed on the market annually, beside the cattle and horses. One of the earliest oil wells in this field was placed on this farm, some five years since, the product from it bringing in a comfort- able royalty to the proprietor. Others have since been developed.
Mr. Landess was married, October 10, 1872, to Miss Sarah J. Bradford, daughter of the late Isaac and Susan ( Spray) Brad- ford, and who was born on the old home in Washington township. Further mention is made of this old and worthy family in another part of this volume. The Landess family consists of two daughters, the eldest being Eva, the wife of Frank L. White, of the same township; and Lillie C., a school girl. One little girl of four years-Myrtle G .- was called from the family circle to await the after coming of the loved ones.
While the life of this gentleman has been almost wholly devoted to the operation of his farm, he has found time to take some part in the conduct of the Democratic party, being generally in its conventions, and fre- quently serving upon some of its committees. He has not sought the emoluments of public office, preferring rather to attend to his per- sonal affairs, feeling that by so doing, suc- cess was assured him.
Mrs. Landess is associated with the Union Chapel United Brethren church, in
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which she takes an active and leading part. His own views are rather in accord with Bible teachings, recognizing the benefits de- rived to the community by the moral influ- ence of the followers of the Christian re- ligion. At no important period has Mr. Landess been found wanting in the demon- stration of the most active interest in all that pertains to the advancement of the material, educational or moral prosperity of the com- munity, all that have those features predom- inating finding in him one of its most ardent supporters and adherents. Progressive in everything, he takes a lead in the improve- ment of stock, or in the application of ad- vanced methods in farming or in the adop- tion of modern machinery. No more truly alive and up-to-date citizen is to be found in the township; and none whose opinion or experience carries more weight or demands greater respect.
JOHN B. AVELINE.
John B. Aveline, eminent as a musician at Marion, Grant county, Indiana, was born on a farm six miles east of Peru, Indiana, April 15, 1861, and is a brother of Dr. F. X. Aveline, whose sketch will be found with the family genealogy on another page of this work, showing their Indian extraction.
John B. Aveline worked on the home farm until seventeen years old, when he en- tered Notre Dame ( Indiana) University, but became dissatisfied, begged permission to send his trunk home, but instead of so doing sent it to Texas, accompanying it in per- son. He already had a fair knowledge of music and joined a circus band in Texas,
with which he traveled in that state and in Arkansas, Indian Territory, etc., and from that day to the present has been continually on the road, about as follows: Barnum's circus, season of 1881 ; Lang Comedy Com- pany, 1882 ; a part of the season of 1883 with the same; in 1884 with the old Van Am- burgh show, then owned by Riche Bros .; in 1885 was under no contract, but went sight-seeing through all the Indian reserva- tions in New York, Canada and elsewhere; in 1886 traveled with an Indian doctor, who settled in Boston ; the latter part of the same season was with C. C. Lay's Indian orches- tra, the professor being a full blooded Sen- eca ; in 1887 was with the Wallace circus; in 1888 with the Bachelor & Doris circus and part of the season in the lumber dis- trict in the Alleghany river, New York; in 1889 was with the Kickapoo Medicine Com- pany, No. 132.
September 27, 1890, Prof. Aveline mar- ried, at Sweetzer, Grant county, Indiana, Miss Lena, daughter of Daniel Lindsay, who came from North Carolina to Indiana about sixty years ago and settled at Sweetser, where his daughter was born and educated. The Lindsay family was early established in North Carolina by Scotch and German an- cestors, and is now one of the most respected families in Grant county, Indiana.
In 1891 Mr. Aveline made an engage- ment with the Choctaw Medicine Company ; in 1892 with the Norton Modern show; in 1893 was again with the Choctaw Medicine Company : in 1894 with the Billy Mann Pa- vilion Comedy Company in Michigan; in 1895 and early part of 1896 was with Grif- fith's show; the latter part of 1896 and the whole of 1897 he passed at his home in Marion. For thirteen months in 1898-99 he
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was in the Soldiers Home Band at Marion, and in the latter part of 1899 was leader of the orchestra in the Guinivan Opera Com- pany. He is now a member of the Marion City_ Band.
Mr. Aveline has taken great interest in Indian history and tradition. The Miamis, the tribe of which he is a representative, de- scended from Little Turtle, and were lat- terly known as the Eel River Miamis, a little band of fourteen when first separated from the tribe. As a descendant of these Mr. Aveline is thè possessor of many valuable relics and state papers, among which is a solid silver medal, seven by five inches, with an engraving of George Washington and Red Jacket (chief of the Iroquois tribe) in the treaty of 1793; on the reverse side is the coat of arms of the United States.
Another medal in the possession of Mr. Aveline is commemorative of a treaty of peace between President Jackson and eight Indian tribes-the Senecas, the Miamis, the Pottawatomies and others. This medal is of solid silver, is three inches in diameter and weighs four ounces. On the obverse side is the pipe, the tomahawk and a pair of clasped hands, over which appears the words "peace and friendship," while on the reverse side is a profile of Jackson in bas-relief, sur- rounded with the words "Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, A. D. 1829."
Another interesting relic owned by Mr. Aveline is a copy on parchment of "An act concerning intercourse with Indian tribes," and this bears the names of George Wash- ington, as president, and Thomas Jefferson, as secretary of state, and is dated May 7, 1793. He also owns the original drafts of treaties with various Indian tribes during Washington's administration and signed by
Washington and Jefferson, and containing names of chiefs sent as representatives of tribes to Philadelphia, where they remained three years, negotiating treaties. Mr. Ave- line has been offered two thousand dollars for this collection, but will not sell at any price.
Among the other relics is the document signed by Washington as president, and Jefferson as secretary of state, setting apart the Eel river country to the Miamis, from which tribe Mr. Aveline is a descendant. These documents came directly through Little Turtle after the battle between that chief and General Wayne at Fort Recovery, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Aveline have been born two daughters-Forest and Mildred- aged respectively nine and three years, and both evidently endowed with a talent for music. Mr. Aveline is a member of Miami tribe, I. O. R. M., of Marion, is president of the Musicians' Union, American Federa- tion of Musicians; he is also leader of the Tyrolean orchestra of Marion. He owns a pleasant home at No. 324 East Sherman street, where his family live in comfort and happiness. Mr. Aveline is a strictly tem- perate man, is of unimpeachable integrity and of gentlemanly demeanor, and has made many warm friends from one end of the country to the other.
DR. WILLIAM B. WALLACE.
Dr. William B. Wallace, veterinary sur- geon and proprietor of the Marion Vet- erinary Hospital, of Marion, was born Au- gust 16, 1852, in Rochester, Fulton county, Indiana, to William and Mary (Burk) Wal-
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face. His grandparents were John and Mary (Campbell) Wallace, natives of Scotland. The grandfather served in the wars in Eng- land, later came to this country and located in Fulton county, where he entered land and was a successful farmer for many years. He had almost rounded out the century of life, having attained his ninety-second year, when he was gathered to his fathers. His wife was a devout and earnest member of the United Presbyterian church, and was also spared to a long life of usefulness, reaching the age of seventy-six years. Their family consisted of five sons : Hugh, John, James, William and Robert.
William, the fourth son and father of our subject, was born in Kilborken, Scotland, and was a lad of eight years when his parents established a home in the United States, in the vicinity of Kewanna, Indiana. He was reared to an agricultural life and remained at home until he was twenty-one, when he went to Rochester, this state, and embarked in the mercantile business. During the war he started a grist mill at that place, which was a very profitable venture. He operated the mill many years, until it was destroyed by fire, when he retired from active business life. He was an omniverous reader and thoroughly posted on all current topics of the day, his retentive memory enabling him to grasp and hold many facts which went to make up his well stored mind. He was a Democrat in politics and was the nominee of his party for the position of county audi- tor. but being on the minority ticket was de- feated. He died at the age of seventy-two years and was mourned as a good man and true. His wife. Mary Burk, was born in the state of Pennsylvania and came to Indiana with her parents at an early age, living on
the farm with them until her marriage with Mr. Wallace. She lived but a few years after marriage, dying at the age of twenty- five, leaving two little children to perpetuate her memory: Robert, the elder, is engaged in the manufacturing business in Rochester, Indiana.
Dr. Wallace was an infant of but three weeks old when the light of his mother's life Went out. He was taken by an aunt and kindly cared for until about nine years old, when his father took unto himself a second wife and our subject returned to the parental roof, where he remained until he had attained his majority. His education, commenced in the common schools, was con- tinued in Notre Dame College at South Bend, when he was seventeen and prosecuted there for twenty months. This was supple- mented by one term at Earlham College, at Richmond, and while his mental faculties were being thus trained his manual training was not neglected, as his vacations and spare time were spent in running the engine in his father's mill. He also began the trade of wood turning and worked at it several years after his father lost his mill by fire. It was the desire of his life to fit himself for the profession of a veterinarian, and as he was industrious and economical he managed to save enough money to take him through the veterinary college at Ontario, Canada. He entered the college in 1883 and spent four years in diligent application to his books and lectures, graduating in 1887. and at once opening an office in this city. He entered into partnership with Frank Lease, with whom he was associated one year, and has since conducted a general practice in which he has been eminently successful, his patron- age extending over a considerable territory
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where his skill as a doctor has preceded him. April 25, 1893, he purchased his present hospital and barn, which is acknowledged to be among the best in the state. The same industrious spirit that caused him to spend his college vacations in practice in Dayton and Piqua, Ohio, has incited him to achieve the highest results in his profession, and he is a recognized authority on all disease of domestic animals.
He has been very successful in his busi- ness and besides enjoying a lucrative patron- age he owns some very valuable horses. His fine trotting stallion, "Mirza," is one of the finest and most valuable horses in this section and has a record of 2:211/2, which was made in a race. Dr. Wallace is a Re- publican, but has been too much engrossed by his business to enter the political arena. He is also a member of Lodge No. 103. Knights of Pythias, of this city. The lady who bears his name and has shared with him the vicissitudes of life was formerly Miss Effie G. Shade, a native of Greenville, Ohio.
JAMES H. THOMPSON.
Of all the many pioneers who came to Grant county and secured their homes in Washington township direct from the gov- ernment but two could be found in 1890 still remaining on the tract they originally en- tered. One of those is James H. Thomp- son, the other was Daniel Bradford, now de- ccased. In his eighty-seventh year Mr. Thompson still preserves the erectness of youth and is ready to regale the visitor with interesting stories of the early years when he came to the wilderness and tried to carve out a home for himself and wife.
Mr. Thompson was born in Rockingham county. Virginia, June 29, 1814, and at the age of five years was brought to Montgom- ery county, Ohio, where he grew to ma- turity and was married, at twenty-two, to Miss Patsy McGuire. In 1835 he, in com- pany with his father and an old land spec- ulator from Virginia, came to Indiana and selected the land, going to Ft. Wayne to the land office to make the entry. The rush of men, making entries, was so great that it was three days before he could get to the officials. He then walked back to the old home in Ohio, and as soon as he could ar- range his affairs he returned, hiring a neigh- bor to haul what few goods he had. He found Jesse Barnett, who had a cabin on adjoining land, to be ready to welcome him and assisted in his preparing a cabin. His brother John also came, settling near, but soon after returned to Ohio, finding this too far from civilization. Frank, another brother, came and remained. A brother-in- law was here for a time, but returned to Preble county, Ohio, where he amassed a handsome fortune, dying in 1900. He had brought a little flour with him, but worked out for one bushel of corn for a day's work, walking three miles night and morning to and from the work, and was awfully glad to get even that to do. Others came in and much of his time was devoted to assisting them in getting cabins and in rolling logs for them, doing the greater part of the clear- ing of his own land by night. Having no team he was forced to do a great deal of hard lifting in order to get the ground in condition to cultivate ; while he cut and dug his wife would pile the grubs and burn them. The climate had much of malaria and other noxious and unhealthy conditions, and after
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getting nicely started his wife, who had cheerfully shared all the hardships, sickened and finally died. He walked back and from Ohio several times, on one of these trips ar- ranging with Miss Sarah Heeter, of Day- ton to share the, to her, new conditions of Indiana, and they were married on the 8th of September, 1842. She was one of fifteen children born to Sebastian and Elizabeth (Rerick) Heeter, and of whom but one · other is living, a brother, Jacob Heeter, of Lewisburg, Ohio. By this time he had built a hewed log house, replacing the original crude cabin, and had a pretty good home to bring his bride to. Not having a team he found it necessary to hire teams to do his own farming, and has cut and split as many as eight hundred rails in a day to assist in securing a team. The country was covered with the finest timber, which was cut and burned in order to give opportunity for the prowing of crops.
Never much of a hunter, not owning a gun, Mr. Thompson remembers though of killing one monster deer, having borrowed a gun of Daniel Creviston. For several years he kept up the work of clearing land, deaden- ing timber, making rails, etc., for others, the small income from his own place requiring that he earn what he could in this way. He has lived on the present farm for sixty-five years, being now in the fourth house he has erected upon it, and this was built some twenty-four years since. His barn was erected in 1861, and at the time was doubt- less the best and largest in the county. He cleared and improved two hundred and eighty acres for himself, beside what he did for others, though he has in recent years given away something like one hundred acres to his son. In his efforts at improving the
farm he has laid miles of tile, reclaiming large tracts from an absolutely worthless condition, placing it into as fine farming . land as can be found. He has ever taken a stand for better roads and all that pertains to the betterment of the county, having paid upwards of twenty-four hundred dollars for the building of pike roads alone. He voted at the first election held in the townsh" when but eight ballots were cast, but himself remaining of that number.
Always a Democrat, he has not taken a specially active part in the conduct of pub- lic affairs, preferring to attend to the duties of the home rather than to look after more general matters.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, of whom all but one at- tained mature years. Of these John is a prosperous farmer of Huntington county, having received considerable help of his fa- ther in getting the farm; George resides on an adjoining farm, where he has a very de- sirable home: Frank died at twenty-four, his early life having all been passed with his parents. The daughters are Vertillious, wife of Henry Carl, who is now living with her parents, devoting her attentions largely to their comfort and companionship. Mr. Carl is operating the homestead, both himself and wife doing all possible to alleviate the responsibilities of the aged couple. Mrs. Carl is a lady of rare good sense and judg- ment, and feeling the gratitude that is due her parents for what they have done for her is now devoting her time for the few years remaining to them to the contribution of that love and care that is due from one who feels the promptings of a just and hon- est filial affection. She has one daughter, Cora, the wife of John Beekman. Martha
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is the wife of Henry Peterson, a carpenter of Marion; and Betsy Ann is Mrs. Dean Ridley, of Union City, Indiana.
Mr. Thompson has an unusual peculiar- ity, that of possessing to a remarkable de- gree the natural magnetism that becomes prominent in a few individuals. In his case it has been more noticeable in the effect upon vegetation, and hundreds of well attested cases go to show that if he plants a sapling or sprout of any kind it will surely grow, it never having failed after repeated trials. Mr. Thompson has been an important factor in the growth and development of the county's wealth and prosperity, few men ever having lived who have done so much to bring the wilderness up to a condition of fertility and productiveness. Possessed of those qualities of heart and head that were a necessity in the early days, when all were dependent upon each other, he has not allowed the condition of independence and wealth to take away those excellent traits, but on the other hand the passing years have ripened and cultivated the points that have made his name a house- hold word, for his well known generosity, hospitality and Christian character. Now, as he stands at the threshold of a new cen- tury, he can but take much satisfaction and pleasure in the contemplation of the part he has taken in making the history of this sec- tion of the great state, whose greatness has come to it during the years he has lived therein.
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