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 64
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in Van Buren. He came into the woods, : in Camp Carrington till his discharge in there being but five acres cleared and not a January. 1864. house in sight. His first house was the His farm lies in the great Van Buren oil field; some five wells are already in action, the royalty amounting to a handsome ir come and adding materially to the ease of living and the enjoyment that comes after years devoted to the one pursuit. usual log cabin, which, by the way, is still standing, the present residence being erected ten years later. Much of the tract was wet, consisting of ponds and slashes, which it was impossible to drain adequately till the completion of the Rude Run ditch some thirty years since. He began to lay the old style timber drains, replacing this later with the more permanent and substantial tile (litches, which now reach almost every es- sential part of the farm, resulting in the making of a most desirable and productive farm. His energies have been concentrated upon this place, the result of his efforts re- claiming some seventy-five acres from the wildest and most worthless condition, and allowing him to take a commendable pride in having contributed to the general develop- ment and improvement of this section of the state to a degree that establishes him as one of the builders of the commonwealth.
Offering his services at the time of the Civil war, he was enlisted in Company C, Fifth-fourth Regiment, under Colonel Mans- field, the rendezvous being at the state cap- ital, from where they were sent to the swamps in the rear of Vicksburg, lying there and participating in the actions that pre- ceded the general siege of the city, finally taking part in the engagements during and after the fall of that stronghold. He was later assigned to duty in the regimental hos- pital as nurse and cook, being in that place at the time of his brother's death. His own health becoming shattered, he was sent home to recuperate, reporting later to headquar. ters at Indianapolis, where he was retained
Mr. Gaines was a Democrat in youth and until the stand of the party on the con- tinuance of the war took him into the Re- publican ranks, with which organization he has since acted. While he stands with that party on national affairs, his choice for men to fill local positions does not depend upon the party to which they happen to belong, recognizing merit regardless of party affil- iation. He has not been an aspirant to the offices of the township, being content to de- vote his energies more fully to the opera- tion of his estate, the greater part of which he now rents, confining his personal atten- tion to a small part of it which he has de- voted to berries and other small fruits. The Gaines family are eight children, the eldest being Mary E., the wife of John Mathias, of whom further mention is found in this volume : Lucy E. is the wife of William Landess, of Wabash county; Edmond Mor- ton, or as he is more generally known "Mort." is the present efficient deputy sher- iff at Marion : Ulysses Hogan was a former well known teacher of the county, and is now a government meat inspector located at Louisville, Kentucky; Eliza Alice is the wife of Van Corey, of Van Buren; and Susan Magdalene is Mrs. Fred Sandemann, who operates the farm. For twenty years Mr. Gaines and his estimable wife have been identified with the Friends Society at
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Marion, where they are considered among the most highly respected and agreeable com- municants.
Being content to travel the circumscribed life that opened before him with determina- tion to play well his part, holding fast to the principles of right and justice that had been inculcated into him at his mother's knee, he has ever kept to the line of action, endeavoring to so live that when the years have been all told and he passes to the courts awaiting us all he may not only be ac- corded the place of recognition there, but that some friends will hold him in memory on earth.
JOHN MATHIAS.
John Mathias, of Van Buren township, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Hock- ing county, Ohio, May 16, 1852, and in 1867 when fifteen years of age accompanied his parents to Grant county. His father was Aaron Mathias and his mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Sharon, he being the son of Peter Mathias, a representative of one of the old Pennsylvania Dutch families. Settling on a new tract of land near Landess- ville, he, having but a few acres cleared, with a small log house, began at the bottom, thereafter devoting his energies to the mak- ing of a comfortable home. His subsequent life was all passed in this vicinity, residing, in fact, on the original farm till his death, which occurred in June, 1890, at the age of sixty-seven. His widow still resides at the old homestead, being a well preserved old lady of nearly four-score of years. Their family of seven children were Sarah, wife of Thomas E. White, who owns and resides
at the old home; Michare M., of Pulaski county ; John; LaFayette, still living on a part of the old home; Rebecca Jane, who married Mark Hewitt and died at twenty- three; Joseph, of Van Buren; and Lydia, widow of William Price, of Huntington county.
The boyhood of John Mathias was passed upon the home farm, assisting materially in the clearing and improvement of the one hundred and twenty acres that was placed in cultivation by his father, even after reach- ing his majority continuing to assist his father. He was married October 6, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Baker, widow of Jacob Baker, a former respected citizen of the community. She is a daughter of Oliver Gaines, of whom full mention is made in this work, and was herself born in Wash- ington township, being a young lady of twenty at her marriage. Since marriage Mr. Mathias has devoted himself to the home farm, in which there are forty acres; though a half-mile distant he has a second farm, including thirty-three acres of his fa- ther's former home. Upon this latter four oil wells are in flow and are considered su- perior to the average wells of this field, the royalty exceeding one hundred and fifty dol- lars per month the greater part of the past season. Of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mathias, three-an infant not named, Lydia Alice and Claude Morton-have passed on to the "other shore." Those sur- viving are Oliver Aaron, a farmer of Hunt- ington county; his wife is Miss Anna Moss, whose sister is the wife of Elmer Baker, noticed elsewhere. Nora A. Mathias is at home, being one of the most popular of the neighborhood's charming young ladies. Cora E., now the wife of William
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Schultz; while Nellie L. is a promising school girl. Idella, Emma Mildred, Grover C. and Frank D. constitute the re- mainder of an interesting and agreeable family. Mrs. Mathias was the mother of two children by the former marriage- Mary M. Baker, who has grown up as one of the family, and Clara (deceased).
Mr. Mathias and wife are identified with the Union Chapel United Brethren church, their lives being closely in accordance with the teachings of the Divine Master, and their influence for good in the community being felt in almost every home. A Dem- ocrat in party affiliation, he has been one of the township's active and influential men, having served for more than twelve years in a most responsible public position-that of supervisor. Generally a delegate to the party councils, his voice is ever given for a cleaner and purer method in the conduct of modern politics.
Mr. Mathias demonstrates in his own vigorous personality the value of virility in the ancestry, inheriting much of his own strength and endurance from his robust and trenchant forefathers. Ancestry on both parents' sides were noted for longevity, his mother's father-John Sharon-passing to his reward at eighty-six, his grandfather Mathias reaching the venerable age of nine- ty-three, and his father passing into "the sere and yellow leaf" after rounding out one year more than a full century.
Mr. and Mrs. Mathias are among the most popular of the many excellent people of their neighborhood: open-handed hos- pitality being ever extended to all, the charming graces of the amiable wife add zest to the excellent and relishing food spread before the hungry palate.
WILBER MASON WARNER, M. D.
Wilber Mason Warner, M. D., of Fair- mount, Grant county, Indiana, is of Scotch- Irish descent and his ancestors have resided in America since Colonial days. His grand- father, John Warner, was a native of Penn- sylvania and in 1826 migrated to Butler county, Ohio, making the journey from Pittsburg to Cincinnati on a raft. He was a bricklayer by trade and died in Butler county in 1890. His wife bore the maiden name of Rachael Rue and they reared eight children, viz. : Ellen, Rachael, Sally, Cath- erine died in infancy, Charles, Richard and Andrews.
Charles Warner, father of the Doctor, was born in Middleton, Ohio, and was a soldier in the Civil war, but did not get into active service. He married Caroline Griffis and five children were born unto them : Marion : Ida, wife of E. Grismer, of King's Mills, Ohio, an electrician in the King's Powder Mills: Wilber M., whose name introduces this sketch; Flora, wife of Rev. J. H. McNary, of Bowersville, Ohio, a Methodist Episcopal minister; and Clar- ence, at home.
Dr. Warner was born in Monroe, Ohio, November 23, 1868, and was graduated from the high school in 1887. He studied phar- macy and in partnership with his brother was in business. While in business he con- cluded to prepare himself for the medical profession and commenced the study of the healing art under the care and guidance of Dr. Charles Steddom, and eighteen months later entered the Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati where he was graduated March 26. 1897, and soon located at Marion, Indi- ana. In September, 1897, he removed to
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Fairmount where he has met with marked success. He confines himself to no school of treatment, but exercises his own judg- ment in the administration of remedies which his wide experience has proven to be efficacious.
November 6, 1898, he was united in marriage with Nora, daughter of O. E. and Harriet (Murray) McCandless. She was born October 22, 1873. They have one son, Merville, born August 29, 1899.
Dr. Warner is a member of the Knights of the Tent of Maccabees, being physician and finance keeper of the Tent at Fair- mount, and is likewise a member of the I. O. O. F.
HENRY DAWSON.
The late respected and honored citizen, Henry Dawson, of Pleasant township, Grant county, Indiana, was born February 12, 1821, in the state where all his life was passed, and was a son of William and Tabi- tha Dawson, who probably came from across the ocean. Henry Dawson was mar- ried to Lucinda Snyder, who was also born in the state and who proved to be a most valuable associate and helpmate, passing from him when in her fiftieth year. They had come to Grant county among the earliest of the settlers of Pleasant township, prob- ably about 1840, and here his death occurred at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and six days. He had secured a tract of new land and had begun in the brush and timber to carve out a home for himself and family. All the vicissitudes of a poor man in a new country were experienced by him there being times when it seemed as if his
efforts must result only in disaster and de- feat ; but with the courage and determination that had been instilled into him from a boy, he pressed on, overcoming the obstacles as they presented themselves until he had the satisfaction of knowing that at least he had secured a home, and the later assurance of a competence. For upwards of thirty years he had resided in the hewed log house first erected, building the present roomy dwelling after he had gotten his farm into a highly productive condition.
Mr. Dawson held the esteem of all who knew him, a close friendship having grown up with many others that was broken only when the hand of the Dark Angel was laid upon him and he was called from all the friends and cares of earth to assume that place prepared for him among those loved ones who had gone before. He was one of the stanch and true friends of all that made for the advancement of the community, no effort having for its object the better- ment of the neighborhood, but found him a warm supporter and earnest co-laborer
Ever ready to extend a helping hand to the needy and distressed, he constantly prac- ticed those qualities of benevolence and char- ity that meant something in the alleviation of human ills and that showed forth the kindness of heart that he ever preferred should be left in the background. He had little of the ostentatious and none of the de- sire to make himself conspicuous, but the big heart of an honest man ever characterized his daily life. He passed from earth ripe in years and full of the confidence of a peace- ful hereafter as comes to one who fulfills faithfully the duties of life that have come before him.
Of the ten children born to this worthy
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couple, six lived to maturity, those living in 1900 being Charles of Richland township; Sarah Ellen, wife of James Baird of Fulton county, Indiana; John; Ira, of Richland ; and Melvina, wife of George Rogers, of Richland township.
John Dawson, who owns and resides upon the old homestead, was born on the farm October 27, 1855. His boyhood was all passed here, receiving the advantages of the district school, and remaining with his father until his own marriage at the age of twenty-three, to Miss Mary A. White- neck, of Pleasant township, and who was a schoolmate of himself, being eighteen at the time of marriage. Two of the children born to this union still survive, being Della, wife of Oliver Stevens, of Marion, and Edna Lulu aged seven.
John Dawson rented for five years, finally buying a small farm near Sweetser, but at the death of his mother he returned to the old home. This he operated five years in connection with his father, who then retired placing him in full charge of the estate. He soon purchased the farm which comprises one hundred and five and a half acres of as fine land as can be found in this section of the county. It is under a high state of cul- tivation, being thoroughly tiled and improved in other essential respects, the crops grown upon it being second to none of the township. Mr. Dawson is an active Republican, believ- ing that the principles of that party will best conduce to the prosperity of the nation. Mrs. Dawson is identified with the Christian church at Sweetser.
He stands to-day as one of the foremost representatives of the advanced and scientific system of farming, giving every detail of the business that care and oversight that is
(lemanded in other lines of business, realizing that success comes only to him who keeps abreast of the times.
JOHN F. SMITH.
John F. Smith was born in Grant coun- ty, Indiana, December 25, 1846, and is the third in a family of nine children, seven of whom are residents of that county to- day. His parents were Henry and Rebecca (Fisher) Smith, both of whom were na- tives of Ohio. The father was a farmer in his native state, but came to Indiana and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government in Monroe town- ship at a time when the entire county was but a wilderness, and just before the tide of emigration poured in and changed the dense forests into waving fields of grain. Deer, bear, wolves and other wild game abounded and formed a good target for the unerring aim of Henry Smith. He would take his old flint-lock rifle and bag game such as the modern Nimrod fails to reach with his breech-loader. He was a Jackson Democrat. His death occurred about 1865 and that of his wife in 1880. She was a devoted member of the early Christian church.
Mr. Smith was inured to toil in his youth, industry forming his main stock in trade when he began to do for himself. Little time was spared in which to gain an education, but he did attend school for a limited time in the log house heated by the old open stove and seated with benches made from plank. The first money earned by him was forty dollars made by clearing
JOHN SMITH.
LENA SMITH.
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ten acres of land for Uncle James Haines. He continued at job work, taking any hon- orable employment where he could turn an honest penny until he had a sufficient sum to purchase a piece of land. He was wed- ded to Miss Lena Beal, who bore him three children : Bertha B., a son who is deceased, and Everett Franklin, born September 12, 1900. Mrs. Smith was born in Huntington county, Indiana, and received a common- school education. She has been a wise and able assistant to her husband, and her coun- sel and help have enabled him to overcome many an · obstacle in his business career. Their first home was a tool house, and in this they remained until they built their pretty residence in 1896. This is one of the most attractive residences in the town- ship, and is convenient and modern in its appointments. Their fine barn was built first, in 1894, and is well equipped for the business to which it is adapted. He raises about one hundred hogs a year, twenty-four head of cattle, one hundred head of sheep, and six head of horses, and is regarded as one of the best business men and managers in the county. They own an estate of two hundred and forty acres, and the neat, or- derly appearance tells plainly of the thrift and industry that accumulated it.
Mr. Smith is a strong Republican, and has voted for each presidential candidate on that ticket since his first vote was cast for U. S. Grant. They are a couple whose sterling worth is appreciated and they are accorded a high place in the estimation of their neighbors. Mrs. Smith is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, takes active interest in both the church and Sunday-school, has contributed largely to their support, and formerly took an active 31
part in Epworth League work. She is a pleasant lady, a kind and loving wife, and has many friends.
CAPT. JOHN F. JONES.
Captain John F. Jones, an ex-soldier and justice of the peace and United States claim agent, residing in Fairmount, Grant county, is a native of Pendleton, Madison county, Indiana, was born March 16, 1841, and is a son of William and Hulda (Swain) Jones, both natives of Blount county, Tennessee, who were there married in 1838, and in 1840 migrated to Madison county, Indiana, Will- iam, the father, buying a farm near Pen- dleton, but shortly thereafter came to Grant county, Indiana, Mrs Jones having departed this life in Pendleton in September, 1849, at the age of thirty-six years. The father, William Jones, lived on his Grant county farm until his own death, which occurred in 1856, when he was but forty-seven years old.
The Jones family was established in America by the grandfather, Jones, who came from Wales prior to the Revolution- ary war. The children born to William and Hulda Jones were five in number, and born in the following order: Mary, now the wife of Richard Mann, of Sauk county, Wisconsin; Sarah Jane is the wife of Lewis Mann, a brother of Richard Mann, alluded to above, and lives in Wilson, Ellsworth county, Kansas; Captain John F. is the next in order; Thomas C. was a member of Com- pany C, Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and died in 1863 of typhoid fever while still in the service; Lewis is superin- tendent of the city schools at Cleveland,
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Ohio, and is well known as a tutor through- out the Buckeye state. The father next married Hannah Coggshall, by whom one daughter was born-Antoinette, wife of Al. Stewart, of Henry county, Indiana.
John F. Jones received a common-school education, and then ere he attained his ma- jority enlisted at Jonesboro, Indiana, in Company C, Eighty-ninth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and at the organization of the company was commissioned second lieu- tenant; later he was promoted to first lieu- tenant, and in December, 1863, he was pro- moted to captain, and from that time com- manded his company until the close of the war, the regiment having veteranized the same day that Lieutenant Jones was com- missioned captain. The principal engage- ments in which Captain Jones took part were the battle of Nashville, the Red River campaign against Vicksburg, and the bat- tles of Franklin, Tupelo, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and the capture of Fort Blakeley in Mobile Harbor at 5 p. m. April 9, 1865, this being the last of the war. The Captain also participated in many minor battles and in innumerable skirmishes, and was honorably discharged at Mobile, Ala- bama, in July, 1865. At the battle of Yel- low Bayou a "Johnny" attempted to bayo- net a Union soldier, but Captain Jones par- ried the thrust with his sword, thus saving the life of his comrade, but was himself badly wounded, the bayonet passing entire- ly through his foot. For this wound the Captain has been awarded a pension. Six- teen of his company were killed in this same battle, being about twenty per cent. of his command.
few months, then went to Holt county, Mis- souri, farmed a few months, then came back to Indiana, and in 1870 was elected sheriff of Grant county, serving one term, 1871-72, during which period he resided in Marion, and continued to reside there until 1875, when he settled permanently in Fairmount, and has here served as a justice of the peace for more than twenty years. In addition to filling this office, Captain Jones has also done business as a pension attorney or claim agent, and has successfully prosecuted a large number of pension claims.
The marriage of Captin Jones took place at Kokomo, Indiana, in 1870, when Miss Jennie Winslow became his bride. This lady was born in Fairmount in 1850, and is a daughter of H. W. Winslow, of whom a life sketch is presented on another page of this work. Six children have been born to this marriage, three of whom still sur- vive-Beatrice, Verling and Thed; Maud, Robert and an unnamed infant have passed away.
Captain Jones has long been identified with the Republican party, and has served many years as a member of the county and local committees, and in religion he and family are members of the Society of Friends. Fraternally Captain Jones is a member of Beeson Post, No. 386, G. A. R. Socially the family stand very high.
HUGH WALKER WINSLOW.
Hugh Walker Winslow, liveryman, live- stock dealer and prominent citizen of Fair- mount, Grant county, Indiana, is a native
After his discharge Captain Jones re- turned to Jonesboro, Indiana, remained a of Randolph county, North Carolina, born
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near Ashboro January 16, 1827, and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Henley) Win- slow, also natives of the old North state.
Henry Winslow, paternal grandfather of Hugh W. Winslow, was likewise a na- tive of North Carolina, was a young man in the days of the Revolutionary war, was a member of the Society of Friends (or Quakers), and was a slaveholder. There was a decree issued by the Friends Society about this time by which all slaves were to be emancipated if owned by Friends, and in compliance with this decree Henry Win- slow "spoke" three hundred slaves into freedom.
Of the brothers and sisters of John Win- slow, Thomas, Jesse, Henry, William, Eliza- beth, Susannah, Sarah, Miriam and Nancy came from North Carolina to Grant county, Indiana, between the years of 1835 and 1840, and from these are descended the numerous Winslows to be found in this county and township. The immediate family of Hugh W. Winslow comprised five brothers and three sisters, the eldest of whom, Jesse Hen- ley, died in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of sixty-five years; Hugh W. was the second in order of birth; Henry resides in Fair- mount; William L. died in Kansas City in 1900; Hezekiahı lives in Oregon; Mary is the wife of John Needham, at Shenandoalı, Iowa; Susannah died in Spiceland, Henry county, Indiana, when fourteen years old ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Rush, resides in Fair- mount.
Hugh Walker Winslow secured a good common-school education, chiefly in North Carolina, his first business occupation was that of stage driving between Marion and Anderson for fourteen years. His was the only public conveyance in this section of the
country until after the close of the Civil war. He next drifted into the livery busi- ness, which he has followed with encourag- ing success for twenty-six years. He owns a fine brick barn, 120x66 feet on the ground floor, has accommodations for about one hundred horses. He gives constant employ- ment to four men, besides his son, and his own services are in constant demand. He has dozens of superb vehicles, and at any. moment can supply a patron with a splendid turn-out.
Hugh W. Winslow was married in 1848 to Miss Martha Newsom, a native of his own neighborhood in North Carolina, and a daughter of Luke and Elizabeth (Hill) Newsom, a prominent Quaker family that settled in Rush county, Indiana, in 1835. To this marriage were born seven sons and two daughters, the eldest, Seth by name, was killed in June, 1897, in a railroad wreck at Thorntown, Boone county, Indiana, he being an engineer on the Big Four Railroad and married; Robert is also a railroad en- gineer and resides at Elkhart, Indiana; Ja- bez N. is engaged in business with his fa- ther, and has a wife and three children; John, also employed in the father's livery stable, is a married man; Hezekiah, an en- gineer, resides in Fairmount; Wintford re- sides at Converse and is a tailor; Oliver is a traveling agent on the Big Four Rail- road; Jennie Jones, the oldest of the fam- ily, resides in Fairmount; and Elizabeth Wright lives in Kansas.
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