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 51
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Politically Mr. Bradner is a Democrat, and though holding decided opinions and in earnest accord with his party upon the great principle for which it stands, he is not a political worker and has never sought the emoluments of office. While his atten- tion is almost wholly devoted to his busi- ness, as a young man he became affiliated with the Masonic fraternity in Lamoka Lodge, No. 463, at Tyrone, New York.
SAMUEL HOSEA KNOX.
Samuel Hosea Knox is a well-to-do farmer of Franklin township, having located in Grant county, Indiana, in 1867, and con- tributed his share toward the development of the county. He is a native of the
"Hoosier" state, having been born near Spartansburg, in Randolph county, March 9, 1842. There were three sons and six daughters in his fathers family, all of whom grew to mature years and were married. Seven are yet living. The parents, Hosea and Clementine (Evans) Knox, were both natives of North Carolina, where they were married and moved to Indiana at a very early day, settling in Randolph county, where they purchased a piece of heavy timber land, on which was a log cabin. This was their home until 1869, when the father died at the advanced age of seventy-two years. He was an ardent member of the Baptist church and for forty years was a constant sufferer from rheumatism.
Mr. Knox, the subject of these memoirs, was born and reared on the farm in Ran- dolph county, and there attended the old log school-house, in which he obtained his education. He remained at home until his twenty-third year, when, on August 6, 1865, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Eliza- beth Jackson. She was also a native of Randolph county and a daughter of James M. Jackson, who was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and came to Ran- dolph county with his father, John Jackson, in 1833, when they entered land from the government. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knox resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Emma L., who died in infancy ; Mattie, a resident of Marion ; Lilly L., wife of Vestal Reynolds, of Marion; and Harriet E., who is at home. These three living daughters are the only mem- bers of their generation bearing the name of Knox. He continued to live in his native county two years after his marriage before he located in Grant county, where he pur-
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chased one hundred and thirty acres of land in section thirty-two. There was some twelve acres of this land partly cleared when it came into his possession. Now he has one hundred and seventeen acres in fine shape for cultivation. The low lands have all been well ditched, there being about one thousand rods of tile on the farm. He is a general farmer and stock raiser and exer- cises sound judgment in the management of his property, living frugally in his youth that the industry of his early years might enable him to spend his declining years in comfort and plenty. In politics he has al- ways affiliated with the Republicans, and in religion he and his wife have long been identified with the Christian church, and Mr. Knox is a man whose character is above reproach.
ELIJAH STEBBENS.
Elijah Stebbens is a market gardener and an influential citizen of Center town- ship. Grant county, Indiana, where he has lived many years. He was born February 21. 1838, in the city of Marion, where the Wilson Bank now stands. His father. Jere- miah Stebbens, was born in New York, and, being left an orphan when a small boy, was bound out to learn the trade of a tailor. He left his native state and at Dayton, Ohio, was married and came to Indiana, settling in Marion in 1832, when he opened a tailor shop and was also postmaster for four years, meeting with well-merited success. He died May 12, 1845, when but little past middle life, leaving a wife ( nec Catherine Sheer) and eight children : of these eight children, Phebe and Rosa (twins), Mary E., Jere-
miah B. and Catherine are deceased, the sur- vivors being Elijah, George W. and Frances.
Elijah Stebbens continued to live in Ma- rion until the death of his father, when the mother, thinking it to the advantage of her small brood, moved onto a farm in Center township, where Elijah remained until his twenty-second year, when he went in debt for a farm of his own. He was married about this time. January 21, 1860, to Miss Susan Griffin and four children were added to their home, Jeremiah B .. Viola, George and Eva, all of whom are living. In 1887 he moved to the farm where he now resides, which contains twenty-five acres of land, which he has devoted to market gar- dening. He raises large quantities of all kinds of vegetables and finds a ready sale for them as soon as they are ready to put on the market. He deals only at whole- sale. In addition to the home farm he has another piece of eighty acres, all won by his industry, as he began a poor boy with , no one to assist him. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and a man whose unflinching integrity has gained him an en- viable reputation among those with whom he has had business transactions.
SYLVESTER BOND. 1
Sylvester Bond, one of the most promi- nent and successful farmers and owner of extensive sand and gravel banks,-since 1884 employed five men -of Center town- ship. is a native of this state, having been born in Huntington county, Indiana, near Pleasant Plain on the 11th day of December, 1858, the son of John W. Bond.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
Sylvester Bond was born and reared on a farm and received his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools of his native county. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and in 1879 was united in marriage with Miss Al- lena A. Jay, daughter of Jesse Jay. After their marriage Mr. Bond and bride began making a home of their own on the farm belonging to Mr. Bond's father, but re- mained there only one year when they re- moved to Pleasant Plains and for the next four years was engaged in conducting a i general store, which he did successfully, also the last three years of his stay in Pleasant Plains he served as postmaster.
In 1884 Sylvester Bond removed from Pleasant Plains to the farm where he now lives, though upon coming here he rented this farm for two years, then in partner- ship with Volney B. Jay purchased this place of twenty-two acres and carried on farm- ing under this partnership until 1889, when they dissolved. Mr. Bond now owns twen- ty-six acres of well improved land, all 1111- der a high state of cultivation. Along with farming Mr. Bond is interested in raising small fruits and devotes much of his time to this line, having three and one-half acres set out with small fruits.
Sylvester Bond and wife are the par- ents of seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Ethal died when but eight years of age; Willie died in infancy ; Wil- bur E .. a natural architect; Ora; John R .; Walter M .; and Oscar V.
In politics Mr. Bond is a life-long Re- publican and a thorough worker in his party. Mr. and Mrs. Bond are members of the Friends church and are proud to say they are such by birth right. Mr. Bond is
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member since 1896.
Socially Mr. and Mrs. Bond are among the best people of their vicinity and have the pleasure of the society of a large circle of friends.
HON. WILLIAM L. GOLDING.
Hon. William L. Gokling was a citizen of high repute, upright character, charitable disposition, and at the time of his death was the chief executive of the city of Marion
The death of Mayor Golding took place after a brief illness on Monday, September IO, 1900, and was a great shock to his fel- low citizens and friends. The people of Marion could not realize that the report was really true ; they thought of the Mayor as one in health, stalwart and strong, as when he was last seen upon the streets he was the picture of perfect health. He was a man whose physique had enabled him to force his way from a humble station in life to the highest position within the gift of the citizens. The success he attained in a so- cial, business and political way was due to his personal efforts and high ambition. He was a man who loved and was loved by the common people ; he had but little to do with the aristocrats. He loved the man who made his living by honest toil.
Although Mayor Golding was past the half-century mark in years he never grew old; he was a great admirer of the young American, and picked from the middle aged and young men his associates and com- panions.
Few men possessed a kinder heart than he, and he always responded promptly to
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the cries of any one in distress. No per- son in want ever appealed to him in vain.
William L. Golding was a native of Fayette county, Indiana, was born April 17, 1844, and was of that sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry of whom it has been said, "They are more Scotch than the Scotch them- selves."
His father, Aaron Golding, was a car- penter by trade, and when President Lincoln called for volunteers to defend the Union he was one of the first to respond, and when mustered in the service took part in the many engagements, marches and privations in which the Army of the Potomac partici- pated, serving with credit to his country until honorably discharged at the close of that memorable conflict. In 1868 he re- moved with his family to Marion and built : to that city in 1867. Subsequently he be- the first depot the Pan Handle Railroad . came a contractor and builder and while Company erected in the city, and in after years, though his health was badly impaired, owing to the many exposures and privations as a soldier, he lived to the age of three score years.
The mother of Hon. William L. Golding bore the maiden name of Cynthia Darter. She was born in Indiana, married in Fay- ette county, and died there many years ago. She was a devout Christian woman and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. By her marriage with Aaron Gold- ing she became the mother of five children, born in the following order: William L .; Almira, the wife of Francis Love: Stephen ; John : and Martha, wife of Joseph F. Butler.
William L. Golding at the age of four- teen years began work at the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father. and was about seventeen years old when he lost his mother, but the carly teachings of
that earnest Christian woman left their mark and molded the acts of his future life. He being the eldest child and the father being in the army at the time of the mother's death, it devolved upon him to do much toward the support of the family, which he did by working as a farm hand and car- penter. However, in the spring of 1865, truly ardent patriotism swelled within his bosom and he enrolled his name as a de- fender of the Union, was mustered into serv- ice as private in the One Hundred and Forty- seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in the commissary department until August, when he was discharged under gen- eral order. Returning to Indiana he re- sumed work at his trade, which he followed for some years at Marion, after removing
thus engaged was appointed city marshal and later deputy sheriff. In 1882 Mr. Gold- ing was employed by J. N. Turner & Co., lumber merchants, as manager, and later purchased an interest in the business. A few years later the plant was destroyed by fire. after which Mr. Gokling started a lum- ler yard on the same premises. His cap- ital was small, but he conducted his busi- ness with such care and honesty as to make a marked success, and continued in it until the date of his death.
Politically Mr. Golding was a Republi- can, was a member of the city council for four years and during his incumbency of the office aided in organizing the city fire department and in buying all the horses and the entire equipment. After being nominat- ed in 1898 as the party's candidate for the office of mayor he was elected, receiving the largest majority ever given a candidate for
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that office. Fraternally he was a member of the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R., all of which attended his funeral, which was the largest ever witnessed in the city.
In a business way Mr. Golding exer- cised sound judgment and rare insight, which, combined with most scrupulous in tegrity, made his name synonomous with all that is upright and honorable in the business world; his ready and clear comprehension of business transactions, his ability to read character and his strict sense of justice won for him many warm friends as well as the confidence of those more intimately asso- ciated with him. No transaction was so minute as to escape his observation, never- theless, he never stooped to little things and always manifested a broad and liberal spirit in his relations with his fellow men. Few if any of his contemporaries accomplished as much as he for the general good of the community, and his death came as a per- sonal bereavement to the many who knew him so long and so well. That he may have made mistakes during a residence in one place of a third of a century is to be ex- pected, but compared with the many virtues which adorned his life they were few ; what imperfections he may have had are now covered with the broad mantle of charity, as is his body with the green turf of the beautiful cemetery where he sleeps so well, while his virtues, more enduring than marble shaft or granite obelisk, will ever live, an enduring monument in the hearts of his fel- low men.
The marriage of William L. Golding took place October 2, 1867, when Miss De- light Price became his wife. She is a native of Marion, born May 2, 1849, being a
daughter of Richard and Catherine ( Rohrer) Price, who were born in Ohio but came to Grant county in an early day. Mr. Price clied in Marion at the age of eighty-seven, and Mrs. Price at the age of eighty-four years, members of the Dunkard Society and the parents of four children beside Mrs. Golding: Grace, the wife of Thomas Lytle; Estella, married to James Bockius; Stephen ; and Earl.
Mrs. Golding is a woman of kindly dis- position, and while not blind to the short- comings of others would see the good rather than evil, and thoroughly believes in the ultimate victory of right over combined forces of the ungodly. By her judicious advice and wise counsel she assisted her hus- band during his long and varied business experience and he was ever ready to give her due credit for much of the success which he attained in life. She is a member of the Christian church and has instilled the prin- ciples of honesty and morality in her chil- dren.
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JOSHUA A. LADD.
Joshua A. Ladd has been a resident of Franklin township, Grant county, nearly all his life, and was born July 4, 1876, on the same farm on which his father was born in 1852. His grandfather, Samuel Ladd, was a native of Wayne county, Indiana, where the great-grandfather had entered govern- ment land. Charles S. Ladd, the father, married Miss Annie R. Marshall, Joshua being the only offspring. Both parents died in 1877, the mother being called to her re- ward when Joshua was but six months old. They were farmers.
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After the death of his parents, Mr. Ladd was taken by his grandmother Marshall, who reared him to manhood and provided him with a superior education. His primary training was taken in the common schools after which he attended Fairmount Acad- emy and the Marion Normal School. On leaving school he adopted the calling of his ancestors and purchased thirty-seven acres of land, added the seventy inherited from his father, making one hundred and seven acres which are devoted to general farming. and he has shown the wisdom of introducing new ideas into the business and getting out of the old ruts. He is of genial, social tem- perament and is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and an active worker in the Friends church.
After his mother's death, the father went to Texas for his health and died in Wise county about four months later ; the grand- parents and subject were also in Texas, but after the death of the father, the grandpar- ents returned to Grant county, Indiana, and it: 1881 went to Kansas and lived there till 1885, when they returned to Indiana where Joshua A. has since lived in Grant county. ; of America was first founded in Vermont,
Joshua .1. Ladd married, in 1898, Miss Ada, daughter of David and Nancy Farley. She was born in Franklin township, Janu- ary 26, 1881. This union has been blessed with two children, Lena O., and Georgia E.
JOSEPH W. STUDLEY, M. D.
Joseph W. Studley, M. D., one of the leading and most popular of the physicians and surgeons of Marion, Indiana, with his office in the Columbian block, a native of Fishersburg, Madison county, was born Oc-
tober 2, 1850, and received his elementary education in the public schools and later attended the Noblesville Academy, where he passed the years of 1873 and 1874. In the last mentioned year he entered the study of medicine under Dr. H. G. Fisher, of Iishersburg, was under his tutorship nearly two years and in 1875-76 was a student in the Chicago Medical College. For four years, from 1876-80, he was in active prac- tice ; subsequently he completed his profes- sional studies in the Medical College of In- diana, being graduated at Indianapolis March 5, 1881. During twenty-four years of active work in his profession he has had an experience seldom vouchsafed to practi- tioners of his age, and the last seven years of this experience have been had in the city of Marion. For seventeen and a half years he practiced in Wabash county and is still an honored member of the Wabash County Medical Society.
Dr. Joseph W. Studley is a son of D. E. and Ruth (Castor) Studley, the former of whom was a native of New York state and the latter of Ohio. The Studley family where the paternal grandfather of the Doc- tor was born of Scotch-Irish ancestors The great-grandparents of Mrs. Ruth (Cas- tor) Studley were natives of Germany. D. E. Studley passed his life principally as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and died near Fishersburg in May, 1874, at the age of sixty-six years, but the mother had been called away in June, 1872. These parents had born to them ten children, of whom seven still survive, viz. : Calvin Wes- ley, a farmer and stock-dealer in Chetopa, Kansas, and served three years in Company E. Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, during
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the Civil war; Dadus E., who served four years in the same company and regiment, is now living in Chicago; Charles C. is a justice of the peace and lives on the site of the family home in Lapel, Indiana, from which he ran away to join the army and served over two years in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. All these boys escaped being wounded, but were dis- abled by relapse of measles. The daughters are Mrs. Olive Huffman, of Michigan; Mary, wife of John Sears, an ex-soldier and residing in Lapel, Indiana; and Margaret, wife of John Alden and living in Ohio. Dr. Joseph W. is the youngest of the family. The deceased children were Sanford, who ciied with typhoid fever at the age of about fifty years, leaving a family at Chetopa, Kan- sas; Cyrus, who died of the same disease at the age of twenty-one, unmarried; and Martha J., who married Arnold Elston in 1859 and died in 1881.
During the Civil war Dr. Joseph W. and his brother Cyrus were left to care for the family, the other brothers being in the army, and the father, who was in rather delicate health, being away most of the time attending to his ministerial duties. These two lads, the elder only in his teens, were called upon to do the work of men on the farm. From that time to the present Dr. Studley has been self-sustaining. He worked his way through school and was deprived of many school privileges enjoyed by others of his tender years by reason of his family necessities. He taught school a few terms, saving his earnings to pay his way in col- lege. While there he accepted whatever employment was offered, with the same ob- ject in view. After two years in medical college he engaged in practice for four
years, returning to complete his medical ed- ucation with the means thus acquired. As the years passed and prosperity seemed to smile on him, he launched out in other busi- ness enterprises, but was unfortunate. At one time he lost everything, including a stock of drugs, in a destructive fire, and at another time he was broken up in business through too much confidence in his fellow men. He then decided to direct himself strictly to his profession, in which he has in a measure retrived his losses. He owns a fine home in Marion and enjoys a large and lucrative practice. His professional success has been phenomenal and his practice has largely exceeded his most sanguine hopes. His practice is general, though he gives special attention to malignant diseases, in the treatment of which he has met with marked success. But as a general practitioner he holds an enviable position among the suc- cessful physicians of Marion.
The marriage of Dr. Studley took place June 17, 1875, in his native town, to Miss Lamira V. Milburn, a native of Madison county, Indiana, and to this union have been born five children, viz .: Clifton W., who has been pursuing medical studies in the office of his father for two years; Charles B., who died at the age of three months; Chella V., married to Frank Hess, a native of Montpelier, Indiana, and by trade a ma- chinist; Clara aged ten years; and Cecil, aged two.
Dr. Studley is a member of Metosinia Lodge, No. 533, I. O. O. F., at Lafon- taine, Indiana, of which he is a past grand and has been the representative to the grand lodge. He has been an active and zealous Republican all his life, as are also his brothers.
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NIXON WINSLOW.
It is truly a source of gratification to him who looks back upon a well-spent life, and can conscientiously say : "I have wronged no man." "I have tried to make the world better for having lived in it," and with the inspiration of the Apostle, to ex- claim, "I have fought a good fight-I have finished my course."
The name of Nixon Winslow is in Fair- mount, Indiana, the synonym for honesty, integrity and high moral stamina. For a period of sixty-four years he has been a fa- miliar figure upon the streets of Fairmount. No man in Grant county is better or more favorably known. His life is an open book before the people. In all these years he has been the same quiet, unobtrusive, con- scientious citizen. His public spirit and en terprising disposition, though exercised in a quiet, unassuming manner, has been a forceful element in the upbuilding of the varied interests of Fairmount and Grant county. The town of Fairmount owes much of its prosperity to the enterprising dispo- sition of a few of its citizens, among whom may be classed the subject of this review.
Mr. Winslow's life has been largely con- fined to agricultural pursuits, and his desire is to be still classed with the farmers. In 1893, however, he assisted in organizing the Citizens' Exchange Bank of Fairmount. Mr. Winslow was chosen president, and has so continued to the present time. But the bank has undergone various changes. At first there were fourteen citizens of Fair- mount and vicinity connected with it as in- corporators. Now three men, namely : Nixon Winslow, John Selby, and A. A. Ulrey own and control it.
William C. Winslow, now deceased, was the first cashier. He was succeeded by his brother, John Winslow, who is also dead. John Selby is the present cashier. The bank transacts a careful, conservative business, and is regarded as one of the solid financial successes of the county. Its depositors are amply secured through the personal respon- sibility of the gentlemen controlling it. This institution has had a very successful career.
Mr. Winslow is also president of the Fairmount Mining & Gas Company, and a leading stockholder in the corporation. This institution supplies the fuel and light to the town of Fairmount. Incidentally, it may be remarked, that on the development of gas in the vicinity, Mr. Winslow, to- gether with the holders of realty in the vicinity was much benefited, financially, through the enhancement of values.
But perhaps the most interesting part of Mr. Winslow's life, when reviewed in re- trospective, are the years of his childhood. Born in North Carolina, his parents removed to Grant county, Indiana, in 1836, he being then but five years old. Here he grew to manhood, amid the environments of pio- neer life. The family home was established in the woods on land entered from the gov- ernment which is now in the suburbs of the town of Fairmount. He attended the prim- itive schools of those early days, and remem- bers also that the "masters' " qualifications were often measured by his muscle and abil- ity to wield a birch, rather than superior educational attainments. He remembers the crude log school house, round logs with clap-board roof, held on by weights, for nails were a luxury in those days; the puncheon floor, the wide fire-place where whole forests were reduced to ashes. The fuel was con-
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