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 50
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means committee and was also a member of the water-works board.
Dr. Hamilton has been sent as a delegate to nearly all the important Republican con- ventions-county, state, judicial and con . gressional-since he first entered the politi- cal arena. In 1892 he was appointed one of the examiners on the United States pension board in Grant county, and he is also medi- cal examiner for several life insurance com- panies, among which are the Fidelity, of Philadelphia, the ordinary department of the Metropolitan of New York, and others, Dr. Hamilton and family are members of the First Presbyterian church in Marion, of which he is one of the trustees.
Professionally, the Doctor has met with at least a fair measure of success and is in well-to-do circumstances-the reward of his. own merit and diligence. Besides a comfort- able home in Marion, he owns other city property, a well-stocked farm north of the city, etc.
FRANCIS XAVIER AVELINE, M. D.
. The boasted genealogical history of the Anglo-Saxon race pales into insignificance before that of the American Indian. The traditional tribal history is transmitted from generation to generation with the same con- scious pride in achievements of ancestors and the same careful attention to the min- utest details. The man in whose veins flows a drop of Indian blood is justly proud of his lineage, and feels a greater interest in the achievements of remote ancestors than the does in the mixed blood of more recent and closer relationships.
Dr. Aveline is a representative of the
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once powerful tribe, the Miamis, and also demonstrates.the possibilities for culture and usefulness among men when given the oppor- tunities accorded to the children of his "pale- faced brethren." He is a son of James Av- eline, a native of Vincennes, Indiana, born of French antecedents. No doubt he was descended from the early French Huguenots who settled Vincennes and established a Catholic church there as early as 1607.
James Aveline was a merchant in Vin- cennes for many years, but spent his last days on his farm near Peru, Indiana. He died in 1875. In childhood he was captured by the Miamis and adopted as a son of the tribe, with whom he spent many years, learn- ing their language and customs, and finally marrying a beatiful Indian maiden, a grand- daughter of Louis Godfrey, then the prin- cipal chief. Her name was Elizabeth, In- dian name "Chingoquah." Eight children were born to this union, only four of whom are now living. These are Louis, a resi- dent of Texas; Dr. F. X., of this sketch; Louisa, who lives near the old home, and John B., a prominent musician in Marion. Three died in infancy or early childhood, and Catherine died in young womanhood.
Dr. Aveline was married in January, 1884, to Mrs. Hannah Prickett, whose maiden name was Atawtawta. She is a great-granddaughter of Chief Meshingo- mesia, of the "Tribes of the Ten Sections," of Grant county, Indiana. Neither herself nor the Doctor represent more than one- eighth Indian blood, yet each bears sufficient resemblance to the proud and unconquerable aborigines to fully maintain their claim to stich distinction. Their only child, who was named Elizabeth A., died at the age of three months.
Dr. Aveline was born near Peru, Indi- ana, June 8, 1857. His early years were spent at work upon his father's farm and in attendance upon the district schools. He then attended Notre Dame University for a time, thus fitting himself for the study of his chosen profession. He spent three years as a student in the office of Dr. McGrew at Lafontaine, Indiana, after which he took one course of lectures in Indiana Medical College. But the peculiarly American char- acteristic of "liberty" predominated, and he chose to complete his professional work in a college where he should not be hampered in the choice of remedies. Accordingly he entered the Eclectic Medical College of Cin- cinnati, and there completed his three years' course in 1893.
With six years of careful, systematic study, he came to Marion immediately after graduating, fully equipped for the success- ful discharge of his professional duties. Here he soon established a fine practice and gained the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He has been successful both pro- fessionally and financially.
The Doctor, as previously intimated, was reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic church, though he is not at present connected with any church organization. He has been a Democrat in political views, and was hon- ored with public office in his native county, but he has never aspired to political honors, preferring to devote his whole time and talents to professional work. He is a mem- her of Lafontaine Lodge, No. 295, A. F. & A. M.
Dr. and Mrs. Aveline own and occupy a pleasant home on Wiley and Brownlee streets in North Marion, the Doctor's office being located on an adjacent lot. His practice is
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that of general medicine and surgery. Dr. Aveline is well known in Grant county, hav- ing been a resident of the county for the last eighteen years.
JEHU P. ANDREW'S.
Jehu P. Andrews resides on his farm in Center township, Grant county, Indiana, and is a highly esteemed and respected cit zen of this vicinity which has been his home for almost half a century. He was born May 25, 1825, in Greene county, Ohio, and was one of twelve children born to Robert and Ellen (Farkner) Andrews, nine sons and three daughters, all deceased but three, viz .: Jehu P .; Hannah, widow of Levi Ar- nett and a resident of Grant county, and Stanton, who lives in Oklahoma.
Jehu P. Andrews spent his youth on the farm and obtained his education in the common schools, although that by no means was the extent of his knowledge as he has added to that primary acquirement both by observation and reading and is a well posted man of almost all matters of importance. Like his ancestors, he is wedded to the soil and has made agriculture the vocation of his SAMUEL SMALL. life, giving it his best efforts and meeting in return with a reasonable amount of success. He followed farming in his native county un- til 1853 when he settled in Grant county on the farm now owned by him in Center town- ship. He had married in Ohio Miss Salina E. Arnett, August 20, 1846, and was the father of three children, namely : Eliza, wife of James Bloxham, of Grant county; Levi J., deceased ; and Amanda J., wife of E. R. | Samuel; Martha, deceased; Sarah, now Wimer, of Swayzee. Mrs. Petty, a resident of the state of Kan-
On January 1, 1865, in answer to a call for volunteers, our subject enlisted in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Fifty-third Regi- ment for a term of three years, and was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was de- tailed to guard railroads and government property. Luckily the war was soon closed and peace declared when his company re- ceived their discharge on September 10, 1865, and he was permitted to return to the bosom of his family. He took up the neg- lected work on his farm and continued to add improvement after improvement, until from a thickly wooded land he now has eighty acres of rich ground which pays in rich harvests for the time and attention given during seedtime. He carries on gen- eral farming as he thinks a failure of crops is less apt to occur where a variety is planted than when one grain is depended on. He is a Republican in politics and an able advocate of that policy. He is an earnest worker of the Christian church, in which he is elder, and is a man of sterling worth whose vener- able hairs are honored and respected by the many who know him.
Samuel Small is one of the well known farmers of Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, who is imbued with a spirit of progression that has placed him prominently to the fore in agricultural affairs. He was horn November 25, 1831. in Henry county, Indiana, and is the eldest of four children born to Nathan and Polly Small, namely :
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sas; and Anna, now Mrs. Stephen Lane, who lives in Starke county, this state.
Nathan Small came to Grant county, in 1836, with his family and settled in what is known as the "Draper settlement," near Marion, erecting a hewed-log house in which he lived three years when he returned to Henry county. He only staid part of one winter when he returned to Marion for two years, finally settling in Franklin township on the farm now owned by Jaspar Segger. This was his home until a few years before his death, when he moved to Kokomo, where he died November 2, 1896, at the advanced age of ninety years. He was a consistent member of the Friends church, taking an active interest in the success of that organi- zation.
Samuel Small remained with his father until he was twenty-five, attending the com. mon school, which was a log one in his case, and became an industrious, thrifty man. In 1857, when he was about twenty-six years old, he was married to Miss Ruth Marshall and moved onto a piece of wild land which had been entered from the government by his father, and which is still his home. He built a log cabin of one room, eighteen by twenty-four, of hewed logs, which stood near his present home, and this was his residence until it was finally replaced by his present home. Seven children blessed their home, as follows : Ellen, Lydia, Abraham L., Em- ma. Oliver, AAnna, deceased, and one child who died in infancy. The survivors are Ellen, wife of Charles T. Lloyd; Lydia, wife of James Killey: Abraham L., a farmer; Emma, wife of Frank Jaqua; and Oliver, a farmer-all residents of Grant county. Indiana, except Lydia, who lives at Fruit Dale, Alabama. His farm contains one hun-
dred and sixty acres and not one of the one hundred and twenty acres now cleared has had hired help to do it, the work all having been accomplished by Mr. Small and his so11s. He has engaged in general farming and has also raised considerable stock, find- ing it a remunerative and pleasant employ- ment, which furnishes an available market for his grain at greatly increased prices, be- sides keeping up the fertility of the soil and increasing his harvests. He is a Republican, but has not been at all active in politics, preferring the comfort of home life to the excitement of the political arena. He con- tributed one hundred dollars each to the three railroads that run through this county, the Pan-Handle, Big Four and Narrow Gauge, and has used all honorable means to promote the welfare of the general public.
PROF. JASPER L. MASSENA.
That energy and industry are essential to success, and that when embodied in en- terprise they will lead to success, has been demonstrated over and over again. This important truth is once more illustrated in the brief biographical mention of Prof. Mas- sena which is to follow. This gentleman was born near Kokomo, Howard county, In- (liana, February 3, 1863. When but a boy of thirteen he was left on his own resources, his mother dying when he was but eight years of age and his father surviving her but five years. At this time he went to live with an uncle, but remained only one year when he felt life's responsibilities resting upon him and began working by the month, which he continued to do until nineteen years
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of age. All these years he was denied the privilege of attending school, but saved his earnings and, as his expenses were small and with the aim ahead of being able some day to educate himself, he worked with a will, after which he prepared himself by further school attendance to teach a coun- try school, which he did for two years, at the end of which time he entered Danville Normal School and remained one year.
From early boyhood the inclinations of Prof. Massena were drawn toward art and he turned his attention in that direction, preferring it to teaching school, and in 1884 came to Marion as assistant to Dr. Tingley in the art department in the Marion Normal School, where he remained two years. Al- though he spent the next three years as instructor in the Marion public schools, he could not give up his chosen profession and returned to Danville Normal School, where he continued his studies one term, complet- ing his course, and was again engaged in the Marion Normal two years, then received a call from the Roseburg school, a position which he accepted and filled one year.
As sunlight and air are essential to plant life, so they are to mankind, and Prof. Mas- sena realizing this fact, removed from town to his country home, where he could en- joy the beauties of nature and gather many valuable points to further his study in art, which he continued to pursue for four years. These were pleasant years as well as profitable ones, but, like many others, he again became engaged in his chosen work and for two years was professor of art in the Hartford City schools, and in 1899 entered the Pratt Institute of Art in the city of New York, during which time he continued as professor of art in the Hartford City
schools, carrying on its details by corres- pondence.
On the 22d day of September, 1889, Mr. Massena married Miss Lucy Thomas, daugh- ter of Eli Thomas, and through this union the home of Mr. and Mrs. Massena has been brightened by two interesting children, Cleo and Cycil.
Mr. Massena has been very successful in life and owns a neat farm of sixty acres in Franklin township just outside the limits of the city of Marion, where his wife super- intends a fine green house and vegetable- growing garden, in both of which she de- serves a great deal of credit, as many of our most beautiful flowers and our earliest vegetables are her products and are enjoyed by many who are less favored in being able to raise them.
Politically, the Professor is not a party man, but casts his vote for the man who in his opinion will work for the betterment of all.
Prof. Massena stands high among the people of his town and county and is a fa- vorite among the children with which he is brought in so close contact. As a self-made and self-educated man he is one that fully carries out the truth enunciated in the intro- ductory paragraph.
WILLIAM M. WARD.
William M. Ward, a veteran of the Civil war and prominent agriculturist of Grant county, Indiana, was born in Monroe town- ship, this county, April 29, 1844. His par- ents were Jeremiah and Bethena (Cottrell) Ward, natives of West Virginia, but married in Highland county, Ohio. From Highland
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county they moved to Wayne county, Indi- ana, and in 1840 to Grant county, where they located in Monroe township, the father pur- chasing wild school land, which he improved and made his home until about 1845. About that time he moved to Center township, which was his home until his death. The death of himself and wife occurred about one week apart, he in his seventy-eighth year and she in her seventy-fifth. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to adult years and six surviving at this time, two of them, Albert O. and William M., taking part in the great Re- bellion that threatened to disrupt our coun- try.
William M. Ward was a babe of about one year when his parents settled in Center township, where his primary education was | received in the common schools and where he grew to man's estate. He was yet at home with his parents when the call to arms was sounded and in . August, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company H, Eighth Indiana Regiment, for three years and was sent to Arkansas. At the end of six months' sery- ice he was taken ill and was placed in the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained three months before he had sufficiently re- covered to travel back home, when he was given his discharge on account of disability. i January 29, 1864. his patriotic ardor not one whit abated, he re-enlisted in Company D. One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment. and was sent to Princeton, Kentucky, to guard that post. After taking part in the engagements for eighteen or twenty months he was discharged on October 1. 1865, and returned to his home in Center township and again took up the pursuits of agricult- ure.
Mr. Ward is a practical farmer who is quick to adopt modern measures in his work when he sees they are an improve- ment over the old way. He carries on gen- eral farming and has accumulated on hun- (red and twenty acres in the farm upon which he resides and forty acres in another tract, all of which is well looked after and kept in good shape.
Mr. Ward was united in marriage, April 27. 1892, to Miss Frances A. Stebbens. daughter of Jeremiah B. Stebbens and a lady of many noble qualities of mind and heart.
Mr. Ward is a stalwart Republican, al- though he is not an active politician. He is aiso a prominent Mason, belonging to Sa- maritan Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M., of Marion, and has the entire confidence and esteem of all who have come in contact with him.
HON. ORLANDO S. JONES.
Hon. Orlando S. Jones, mayor of the city of Marion, Indiana, more familiarly known as "Jake," is a product of the Hoosier state, having been ushered into existence in this city on June 6, 1865. His father, Byron H. Jones, was a native of West Mil- ton, Miami county, Ohio, where his boy- hood days were spent on his father's farm. When a young man he went to Richmond, Indiana, where he learned the trade of a jeweler, locating in Jonesboro with his par- ents. Daniel and Millie (Jones) Jones, and about 1861 moved to Marion. He served as deputy clerk under Robert L. Jones, and in 1863 was chosen by the voice of the peo- ple to the office of county clerk, of which
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he was the incumbent four years. He had read law while in the clerk's office, and after the expiration of his term opened a law office, acted as agent for several insurance companies, and distributed justice to all of- fenders against the law for a period of twenty or more years, or up to the time of his death on September 7. 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. He was an active worker for the success of the Republican party and in religion was a Quaker.
Byron H. Jones was unite:l in marriage with Miss Rosetta M. McClure, whose fa- ther. Samuel McClure, belonged to an old and highly respected family and is repre- sented elsewhere in this book. She was born in this city and with the exception of the time spent in school passed her entire life here, passing up into the light of eternal morning on November 13, 1899, in her six- ty-first year. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and left two children, on whose hearts her image is en- shrined: Orlando S .; and Samuel Frank, who for eight or ten years was city editor of the Daily Chronicle of Marion, and for the past eight months has been stationed in the Philippine islands as superintendent of the dead letter office.
Orlando S. Jones was educated in the public schools of Marion and here spent his youthful days. When about fifteen he spent two months at work in a brick yard. Later he entered the office of L. M. Overman to learn the intracacies of surveying, re- remaining there eighteen months. Finding this employment uncongenial to his taste, he learned the trade of a plumber and tin- ner and entered the store of L. C. Beshore, where he remained fifteen years, the store changing hands three times in the interval.
September 5, 1898, he was appointed chief of the fire department and served until April 1, 1900, when he resigned to look after his private business. On September 26, of that year, he was appointed mayor to fill the un- expired term of William L. Golding, the term extending to 1902. He makes an ef- ficient officer and looks after the interest of the people in a manner which has elicited unqualified praise from all parties.
Mr. Jones is also interested in agricult- ure, owning a fine farm of ninety acres four miles from the city. His wife was formerly Miss Bernice Gage, a native of Richmond and the daughter of Ira Gage, the popular traveling salesman of Marion. Mr. Jones is a stanch Republican, but numbers his friends among both political parties, his genial nature making him a general favorite. He is a member of Grant Lodge, No. 103, Knights of Pythias.
J. J. BRADNER.
Among the many industries demanding more than a passing notice is that of which J. J. Bradner is the proprietor. While it is, like many others in Marion, but a few years old, it has contributed materially to the prosperity and improvement of that part of the city in which it is located.
Some eleven years ago Mr. Bradner erected his present establishment on West Second street and embarked in the manu- facture of bee-keepers' supplies. Investing about $5,000 in the building, machinery and stock, his facilities for the manufacturing of the standard goods in that particular line and other specialties were of the first order.
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At present, besides making all kinds of bee- keepers' supplies, he makes a specialty of lock-cornered boxes, and deals in lumber, builders' hardware and, in fact, all kinds of building material. Giving particular atten- tion to the cutting of veneers, his establish- ment has attained a wide reputation for the excellence of its products in this line.
Mr. Bradner was born at Bellvale, Orange county, New York, but was reared however, in Schuyler county. His father being a manufacturer of lumber and fanning mills, he became familiar with the details of both. Thirty years ago the production of fanning mills was an important and lu- crative business. Many improvements were secured by patents, the son turning his at- tention more directly to the selling as well as manufacture of them. Upon the disposal. of such patents to builders, his services were at times secured to successfully operate them. At Findlay, Ohio, he was asked to remain ten days, but before the expiration of that time was urged to remain and superintend the manufacture of fanning-mills by a large firm, and to give it his personal inspection. He remained with this establishment for three years, becoming, after the second year, a stockholder. Disposing of his interest, he went to Florida and started the manufac- ture of bee-keepers' supplies at the town of Quincy. In less than two years he was solicited by his former Findlay associates to return and save the old business from disaster. He completely reorganized the business, and besides continuing the manu- facturing of mills, also added the feature of his southern business.
Upon the development of the gas in- dustry he, realizing its great benefits to Find- lay, sought in a town in the gas region of In-
diana, where similar conditions existed, and where he believed like results would en- sue. After visiting various places, he was attracted by the admirable prospects at Ma- rion, his investigations finally resulting in his purchase of a fifty-acre tract, which, at that time was nearly a mile from the city. In this movement his friends used every ar- gument to dissuade him, his father-in-law, especially, being a practical real-estate man. He paid one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, which seemed an absurd thing to do, but the wisdom of his judgment has been long since verified, the development of the city, and consequent increase in the value of this property, having far surpassed his ex- pectations.
Bradner's addition, lying between Sec- ond street and Spencer avenue, was platted into one hundred and two lots, of which more than one-half have been sold. The plan followed by Mr. Bradner generally has been to build tasty and comfortable homes and to sell them upon easy terms. Besides the improvement to the property, adding to the wealth of the whole. this plan has enabled dozens of laboring men to se- cure homes of their own, and most of these have already completed their payments. Mr. Bradner's original idea was simply a specu- lative one, but as soon as the truth of his supposition as to the expansion of Marion was proven he decided to remove from Findlay and devote his presence and atten- tion to this city.
With the clear business judgment that has come from years of closest contact with shrewd business men and the management of various industries he has constantly given his interests at Marion that personal super- vision that has insured a successful result,
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whether in the line of manufacture and building or in the successful handling of real estate, and he commands the confidence and respect of all those citizens with whom he holds business relations.
J. J. Bradner was married at Findlay, Ohio, to Miss Ida H., daughter of Hon. A. P. Byal, one of the best known public men and influential citizens of that city, and who had served two terms in the house of representatives from Hancock county. and was also a member of the Ohio constitu- tional convention. To this union have been born four children, viz : James P., who grad- uated in the class of 1899, from Purdue University, receiving his degree as an elec- trical engineer. He is at present officiating as such with the Union Traction Company at Fairmount. Clarence, Carrie and Don are at home, the two former having had advantages of a course in the high school.
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