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 46
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and that no room existed for reflection up- on its loyalty, had not offered his own ser- vices; but when the draft was made he was the first man to be selected in the county, and being assigned to Company K of the fa- mous Fortieth regiment, he did his duty faithfully from September, 1864, until his discharge. He participated in the actions at Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, following Hood's army to Huntsville, Alabama, where he was stricken with typhoid fever and was placed in the hospital at Nashville, later being trans- ferred to the convalescent camp at Louis- ville, where he was when discharged in June, 1865.
After disposing of his saw-mill property he located upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Huntington county, where, during the three following years, he made extensive improvements. He still owns this farm, to which he has made some additions, it now containing two hundred and sixteen acres. He is now the owner of a total of three hundred and sixty-five acres, divided into four fine farms, all of which he has improved to a greater or less extent. He has paid as high as fifty dollars per acre, and to this has added large sums in the way of building pike roads, laying tile drains and otherwise. He has ever advo- cated the making of such improvements, realizing the needs, of the best accommoda- tions for the transportation of crops and stock to markets.
While Mr. Callantine has followed gen- eral farming largely, he has made a spe- cialty of growing and handling stock. es- pecially hogs and cattle. He has taken in- terest in the county fair, being one of its stockholders and a director. He is a lover
of a fine horse, and has encouraged as far as he could the breeding of a better grade of animals, tending to the production of a high grade of stock for the county.
A Republican in his party affiliation he is not reckoned a radical one, realizing that many of the fundamental principles of a true republic are found in the great sim- plicity of the Democratic platform, though the details of the government as advocated by the Republican leaders best meets his views. His first vote was cast for Fremont in 1856, and he has ever since felt the keenest interest in the growth and strength of the party, being himself frequently found in the conventions and the councils that shape the local management.
After sharing the vicissitudes and trials of life together for nearly twenty-two years, he was called to give up the claims to fur- ther companionship of the beloved wife, who died on the 16th of May, 1883. Four daughters and two sons had been born to the union, the eldest being Emma B., the wife of Marion Wine, of the same town- ship; William H., a stockman of Bozeman, Montana, but until recently a farmer of Huntington county ; Eva M. is the wife of William Daughterty, and now with her fa- ther; Susie is the wife of Ed MaGee, of Hartford City; George married Myrtle Tippey and resides in Washington town- ship; and Azema is at home, being the effi- cient housekeeper ; she is a lady of refine- ment, and is popular in the community.
Realizing the tendency of the times and the need to counteract the weakening of the churches based on the old-time theolo- gy, Mr. Callantine has not only followed the profession he made years since, but is actively identified with Union Chapel Uni-
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ted Brethren church, where he is consid- ered one of the substantial and influential members.
Mr. Callantine is full of the enthusiasm of those whose lives are so shaped that they may be indicated as suitable examples for the youth of the community to safely fol- low, a silent and subtle influence constant- ly going from them that is felt, not only in the betterment of the business life of the neighborhood, but the moral tone of the so- ciety in which he moves is exalted. He, now that he is passing toward the four score of years, is fully entitled to take some satisfaction in the part that he has taken in the making of Grant county, in not only its material, but in its moral, religious and its educational progress. Now, as he faces the twentieth century, he may well take pride in the fact that he has not been a cipher in making the history of the nineteenth, the greatest century the world has yet known.
JESSE W. NELSON.
Among the prominent and influential citizens of Center township Grant county, Indiana, may be mentioned Jesse W. Nel- son, a gentleman who has made his way in life unaided and single handed, and whose strong personality has exerted a powerful influence on the entire community, which has been brought to its present state of pros- perity largely through his influence and zeal. Ile was born January 26, 1836, in Clinton county, Ohio, near Sabina, and was one of a family of eight children, six daugh- ters and two sons, who were the offspring of Noah and Nellie Nelson. All grew to adult years and founded families, seven sur- viving at this time. Noah Nelson came to
Grant county with his family in 1850 and settled in Center township, where he pur- chased a tract of land containing eighty acres and with no improvements whatever, paying therefor three and one-half dollars per acre. He erected a log house of hewed timber containing one room about twenty- four feet square, into which he moved with his family and began the work of converting his property into tillable land. He con- tinued to reside on that farm until 1875 when he got the western fever and went to Missouri, where he lived a few years, but later returned to his farm in Center township satisfied to make that his home during the remainder of his life. He sank into the dreamless sleep January 5. 1884, in his sev- enty-sixth year, and was laid to rest beside his wife who had crossed the river of death fourteen years before when she was in her sixty-second year.
Jesse W. Nelson received his elementary education in the common schools, and being of an ambitious and energetic temperament has continued acquiring knowledge through his own efforts until he has laid up a large fund of varied and useful information which places him among the most intelligent men of Grant county. He was a lad of fourteen when his father moved to Center township, and he remained at home until his marriage, which took place when he was but nineteen years old. He then accepted a situation with Jesse Johnson, of Mills township, as a farm hand, remaining with him four years, when he purchased sixty acres of land in Monroe township, where he lived until 1886. In the meantime he had been industrious and frugal, saving his money and investing in additional land until he had accumulated two hundred and twenty-four acres. This he
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traded in 1884, for four hundred acres in Monroe county, merely as a matter of spec- ulation and with no intention of making it 1:is home. In 1886 he purchased one hun- Gred acres of the farm upon which he now lives, adding an additional fifty-one acres at a subsequent period. This property is well taken care of and is one of the many pleas- ant homes for which Grant county is noted. He has been engaged in general farming and stock raising and for twenty-four years was interested largely in the agricultural business, being agent for thrashing machines and farm implements of all description, and doing a flattering business.
He is a Democrat in his political affilia- tion, but is unobtrusive, forcing his views on no person. For the past fifteen years he has been an honored member of the Seven Day Advent church of which he has been trustee for a period of fourteen years, and a zealous worker in the cause. He also takes an active interest in Grange work and was secretary of that organization for several years. He is a man who has done much for the township and is liked by every one.
In 1855 Mr. Nelson was united in mar- riage with Miss Clarissa Swisher, daughter of John Swisher, by whom he had fifteen children. Three of these died in infancy. twelve growing to adult years and ten of the number having married and reared families, there being fifteen grandchildren in the family.
JOHN B. LYTLE, M. D.
John B. Lytle, M. D., of whose geneal- ogy mention will be made further on, has been a resident of Marion, Grant county, Indiana, since 1877, and has been one of the
most enterprising, progressive, philanthropic and public-spirited of the city's population from the time of his coming until the pres- ent hour. The scope of this work permits of a brief mention only of his innumerable benevolences and energetic activity in pro- moting the material welfare of his adopted city. He has freely aided with his purse and his personal labor in alleviating the suffer- ings of the indigent, with no thought of pe- cuniary compensation, and it was he who re-organized and placed upon a useful and practical footing the city board of health, bringing it up to a high standard of excel- lence.
For eight years Dr. Lytle was health officer of Marion and one year of Grant county, and during his administration ex- ercised every sanitary precaution conducive to the public health by keeping the streets, alleys, outbuildings, etc., of the city as clean and pure as possible. Nevertheless, in 1897, while he was still in office, an epidemic of dysentry broke out among the children of Marion, many of whose parents were in im- poverished circumstances. To tide over this sad sanitary condition Doctor Lytle solicited aid from the more liberal hearted residents of the city, and succeeded in raising an emergency fund of $225 with which he hired nurses, whom he sent among the indigent, kept them on duty day and night until the disease was conquered, and thus saved many a child who otherwise would have perished.
Dr. Lytle also organized the present vital and mortuary statistic system of Marion, which includes reports of all births, deaths, cases of contagious diseases and other mat- ters, such as nuisances, etc., pertaining to the sanitary condition of the city; and the Board
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of Health now has the power to examine into, and if necessary, to suppress anything and everything that may threaten to be a detriment to the public weal. The Doctor always acted in conjunction with the State Board of Health, in which he stood high as a capable and efficient officer.
Dr. Lytle has always taken an abiding and active interest in the material improve- ment of Marion, and during the days of its early boom was an attendant at all business meetings, conventions and committees of the citizens held for the purpose of considering the steps necessary to be taken for the ad- vancement of the city's interests, and of these meetings he was usually the manager.
Among the individual acts toward the development of the city, the Doctor laid out J. B. Lytle's addition, consisting of sixteen lots. On this addition the Doctor erected ten or twelve dwellings, which added greatly to the beauty of that part of the city and to the great benefit and convenience of those who at that time needed new and comforta able homes.
Dr. John B. Lytle was born in Adams county, Ohio, May 17, 1835, and is a son of James and Mary (Tumbleson) Lytle. James Lytle, the father, was born near Har- risburg, Pennsylvania, in 1808; was a me- chanic : and died in Shelby county, Indiana, in 1877. Mrs. Mary Lytle, wife of James, was born in Highland county, Ohio, and also died in Shelby county, Indiana, when eighty- one years old.
In Ohio's early days, when James Lytle and two brothers came west, they located at Manchester, at that time the only landing place between Pittsburg and Cincinnati on the Ohio river. While en route the record of the family genealogy as far as written up to
that date, was lost or accidentally destroyed, but it is a well-settled fact that the ancestors of the Doctor were residents of America even as far back as Colonial days.
The children born to James and Mary (Tumbleson) Lytle comprised five sons and three daughters, of whom the Doctor is the third in order of birth, and the eldest of five now living. The other survivors are Mrs. Dr. Floyd, and the widow Louch of Shelby- ville, Indiana : T. M .. an attorney of Day- ton, Ohio, and A. J., an inventor at Sedalia, Indiana. Of the departed. Mrs. DeCamp died in Shelbyville. Indiana, in 1898; Robert, a physician, died in Salina, Ohio, in 1888. leaving a wife and four children, one now living : Richard died in the army from con- gestion of the lungs, superinduced by expo- sitre at the battle of Pittsburg Landing.
Dr. Lytle's literary education was ac- quired at West Union, Ohio, and his profes- sional training was under the tutorship of Dr. Adams, at Rome, in the same state. After two years of close study under this skilled physician. Dr. Lytle began practice at Coopersville, in the spring of 1860, re-
maining there two years, and then went to Highland county, where he successfully practiced until 1865 ; then came to Indiana, located at Flat Rock, Shelby county, and followed a general practice for some time; then removed to Shelbyville and opened a drug store, and confined himself to the treat- ment of his patients in his office until his coming to Marion, January 1. 1877, and has here since stood well with the profession, and in connection with his practice has had the best equipped drug store in the city for the greater part of the time.
The Doctor was a member of the State Medical Association many years ; has been
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a member of the I. O. O. F for thirty-five years; for twenty-three years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont in in 1856.
Dr. John B. Lytle was first united in marriage in Scioto county, Ohio, December 27, 1861, with Miss Elizabeth B. Searles, a native of Virginia and a most exemplary lady .. Yet her death was a melancholy oc- currence and a source of profound grief to her husband who in 1878 found her mortal remains cold in death, lying in her bed. There was no indication of struggle with pain of any kind, although she had expired probably four hours prior to the discovery of her lifeless body by her husband. She had been a sufferer from heart trouble for a number of years, and to heart failure was attributed her untimely demise. She left 10 offspring.
In January, 1881, Dr. Lytle married Mrs. Sarah E. Beshore, whose maiden name was McKinney, and who is a native of Marion, and who by her first marriage was the mother of two children, one of whom is still living. To the Doctor's marriage with this lady have been born two children : John B .. and J. Fielding, twins, of whom the latter died at the age of six months. John B. spent one year on the training ship "Adams" of the Pacific coast squadron, but is now at home attending school, and is also a student in pharmaceutics under his father.
JAMES M. SHIELDS.
Jams M. Shields, of Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, is worthy of especial recognition as a representative of the men
who began at the bottom and worked their way up to affluence and comfortable circum- stances. He was born September 17, 1824, near Spring Valley, in Greene county, Ohio, and was there reared on a farm and educated in the common schools which were kept by subscription and conducted in a log school- house, the floor of which was puncheon. At the age of twenty-one he obtained a posi- tion as fireman on the Little Miami Railroad, remaining in that capacity three years when he was promoted to the position of engineer on the road. In the spring of 1853 he went to Lawrenceburg to work on the Cincinnati and Indianapolis road (now the Big Four), and was there three years when he abandoned railroading for the peaceful occupation of agriculture. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Jay county, which he cleared and tiled during the two years he lived there, and then sold it and moved to Clinton county where he remained until 1862 when he came to Franklin township. Sev- en years later he bought a farm which he still owns and upon which he resided for a quarter of a century, leaving it in 1894 to occupy his present comfortable quarters. The homestead comprises eighty acres of fine farm land and the care and cultivation of it is Mr. Shield's chief pleasure.
On November 9, 1850, was solemnized the nuptials of James M. Shields and Miss Margaret Cline, a marriage that has been fruitful of the greatest blessings. Fifty years have passed since they began sharing together the vicissitudes of life, children have grown up around their fireside, and have made homes of their own, adding to the joys of their parents by their sturdy and hon- orable conduct in life. These children are : Hannah, wife of John Fenstermaker; An-
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nie, wife of Philip Pugh; Preston; Benja- min, a trustee of this township; John; Em- ma, wife of William Brock, of Marion; Arthur, at home; and Maggie, wife of Mor- ley Smith, a resident of Marion, Mr. Shelds is an unflinching Republican in politics and in religion a strict Presbyterian.
JESSE TILDEN BRADFORD.
.Among the more progressive and sub- stantial farmers and reputable citizens of Washington township. Grant county, Indi, ana, is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this article. He is a most worthy representative of one of the families whose members have been identified with almost every one of the important improvements and developments that have had a bearing upon the growth and the making of Grant county. It is conceded upon every hand that no family has been in closer touch with all that has been marked in the history of the county. In the early days, when the attention of the whole nation was directed to the working of that institution known as the underground railroad, and those who sought freedom from human servitude were in need of assistance, more than one of the Bradfords were found ready with the needed service, many a black man or woman finally · placing his feet upon the soil that knew not slavery helped on his way by some member of the family, one of whose worthiest mem- bers we propose to briefly consider.
Those material things that have most added to the wealth and improvement of the county have found no more earnest sup- porters and advocates than the Bradfords: the present system of pike roads and the
railroads themselves having had the early promotion advanced by a Bradford. The particular one of the family now under con- sideration was born in Hardy county, West Virginia, the county now being known as Grant. His natal day was the 20th of Jan- uary, 1836, and his parents were George W. and Elizabeth (Chell) Bradford. The former was born in Virginia, being the son of English parents, they having come orig- inally from London. Jesse is the youngest living of twenty children. By a former marriage his father had four children, of whom all are now deceased. Of the sixteen children born to Elizabeth, Henry, Joseph and Jesse are the only surviving sons. Of the five living daughters, Catherine is the wife of David Shuff, of Washington town- ship; Mary Jane is Mrs. Oliver Gaines, of Van Buren : Elizabeth Ann is the widow of Amos Harlan, of Huntington county ; and Rachael is the widow of Joseph McNamar, of Cumberland, Maryland. On the 13th of October, 1843, the family arrived in Grant county, the elder sons already having set- tled here. The mode of conveyance was by a four and a two-horse wagon. They. set- tled on land the father had secured four years previously. Part of that old home place is now owned by Jesse, whose original farm adjoined the old homestead. The start was made in the woods, the first house be- ing the ordinary one-room hewed log house, with its stick chimney and other similar primitive arrangements. Here George lived and died, the latter event occurring in 1855, after a residence of twelve years. He was in his seventy-third year, preceding his wife to the great unknown some twenty years, she surviving until reaching the ripe age of eighty. Her latter years were largely
Jesse I Bradford
angie S. Bradford
ت
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passed in Huntington county, though she was interred beside her husband in the old cemetery that is on the old farm, commonly known as Fairview, in which he was the first to be laid. He was one of the pushing business men whose efforts did so much to improve and advance the interests of the community. Had his lines been cast in other fields of endeavor, he would doubtless have made a far more brilliant mark in the world, for he possessed to an eminent degree those essential qualities so needed in enterprises of pith and merit. Reared under the teach- ings of Democracy, he became an ardent supporter of that doctrine, taking a decided stand against that terrible institution, slav- ery, that did so much to the hurt of this coun- try. However, when the leaders of the party seemed to side in with the slave holders, he took more of an independent position, ever advocating the true doctrine of democracy, that contemplates the enlargement of the rights and prerogatives of the individual. The old house erected by him in 1843, is still standing and in use as a residence.
Jesse T. Bradford remained at home till arriving at the age of twenty, at about which time his father died. His brother Noah and himself managed the farm till it was sold. At the age of twenty-five he had been mar- ried to Miss Lucy J. Gaines, the sister of Oliver Gaines, whom his own sister had espoused. He soon after settled on his pres- ent farm, securing nearly sixty acres of his father's estate. He has now a most excellent farm of 293 acres. In buying land he has not been scared by a reasonable indebtedness. knowing that the exercise of those traits of industry, thrift and economy would quickly enable him to clear the incumbrance. He has paid what would be considered high
prices for land, the entire acreage averaging about forty dollars per acre. He has him- self cleared quite a large tract, and in a dozen ways making valuable improvements. Though the farm was naturally well drained, he has placed a great deal of tile, believing that money so expended, would repay a hand- some interest. The residence and outbuild- ings are of the best, the general effect of the entire farm, crowned by handsome and com- modious buildings, being such as to excite the admiration of the beholder. His opera -; tions are what are generally termed mixed farming, large crops of the standard grains and grasses being produced. The farm being especially well adapted to the growing of stock, he has turned his attention largely to that feature, finding the breeding and growing of sheep particularly profitable. In addition to the home farm he owns a desira- ble little farm of sixty acres near Van Buren, which he has also considerably improved.
While he was reared in the faith of the Republican party and remained in its ranks for many years, he finally affiliated with the Prohibitionist party in 1884, and ever since has been found active in the councils of the party. He has often served the party as del- egate to the various conventions, including the county, district and state. In the days when efforts were being put forth to assist runaway slaves, he did his share in helping them toward their destination.
In the fall of 1862 Mr. Bradford enlisted in Company C, Fifty-four Indiana Volun- teers, under Col. Mansfield, and was assigned to the department of the Mississippi. The following year the regiment saw active serv- ice about Vicksburg, being participants in all the events that occurred during that mem- orable siege. They were then sent to New
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Orleans and Arkansas Post. After some three months confinement in hospital at New Orleans, Mr. Bradford was discharged in December, 1863.
The death of his wife occurred in 1874, leaving four children, of whom one died in infancy; Elmer G. died November, 1899, aged thirty-six years. He was a carpenter and farmer, and was a man whose death left a wide circle of friends to mourn. His widow and family reside on the farm of his father in Van Burnen township; Walter J. Bradford is a farmer near Landesville; and Oscar C. is a bookkeeper at Warren, Indiana. The lady who later became Mrs. Bradford was Miss Angie Silver, of Montgomery county, Ohio. Their four living children are Frank S., Clarence W., Ernest B., and Clin- ton B. F .; an infant is dead. Of.these Clar- ence C. is a well-known teacher of Washing- ton township. Mrs. Bradford is a member of Fairview Wesleyan church, which, erected in 1862, stands on part of the old Bradford homestead.
Few more wide-awake men than the above named gentleman are to be found in Grant county, certainly none who have been so persistently connected with every move . ment whose object was the betterment of the county. Being widely recognized as a capable and level-headed business man, his counsel has been often sought in matters per taining to the general welfare. Standing in every juncture, over and above board, he has not hesitated to let the world know his views. which it is conceded by all have usually heeli of a reliable and substantial character. It is to such men that much of the present pros- perous condition of the county is due, men whose position is unassailable, whose char- acter is unimpeachable.
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