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 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
Mr. Leisure's parents had fourteen chil- dren, viz .: Christena, deceased; Mary, de- ceased; Sarah; John; Joseph, deceased ; Henry; Nathan J .; Elizabeth ; George M., deceased ; Lucinda, deceased ; Maria ; James P., deceased, and William.
Politically Mr. Leisure is a Democrat and his father was a great admirer of Ste- phen A. Douglas.
REV. DAVID HARRIS.
Rev. David Harris, one of the most prom- inent and highly respected citizens of Grant county, Indiana, was born in Franklin town- ship, this county, November 22, 1838, a son of Thomas Harris who was born in Guilford
554
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
county, North Carolina, and who, when but a small boy, was brought to this state by his father, Obediah Harris, he also being a na- tive of North Carolina. The mother of Rev. David Harris bore the maiden name of Mary Shugart.
Rev. David Harris was born and grew to manhood on the old homestead in Frank lin township, and received his preliminary education in the district school, the first term he attended being a subscription school held in a log school-house. He often entertains his grandchildren by telling them how he used to go to school where they had benches without backs for seats, and they so high that the little ones could not reach the floor, and how the more unfortunate ones were punished by wearing a dunce cap and stand- ing in the corner where all might see them. Those were good old-fashioned days, and happy ones too.
David Harris remained under the paren- tal roof, assisting his father in improving the old homestead and in all that his hands found to do, until December 15, 1861, at which time he was united in marriage, select- ing as his life companion the lovable and genial daughter of Harrison and Rachael Wiand, Miss Rachael, and he found in her a devoted wife and an ever ready helpmate.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. Harris with his young bride moved on to the farm which he now occupies, though with vastly different improvements, they consisting at that time of a log house and a log barn, with only about forty acres of the land cleared for cultivation. while to-day it is one of the best farms of Mill township: to this original farm he has at times added a number of acres until he owned two hundred and four acres, of which he has given his children one hundred and
four acres, all under a good state of cultiva- tion-most of this done by his individual work. It is also well tiled and ditched and the log house and barn are replaced by more modern and convenient ones.
To a union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been born six children, named in the order of birth as follows: Elmina, wife of C. W. Hockett, residing in Mill township, and the mother of two interesting children, Leoma and Georgia; Elam H., who married Miss Clara McNair, two children came to gladden this home, one living, Irl; Rhoda J., wife of Josiah T. Walthall, now residing in Mill township, and the mother of two children, Telfor and Hazel D .; Ansel R., who mar- ried Miss Minnie Jones, and who has one child, Herbet, this little family is pleasant- ly located on a farm in Mill township; Mary A., wife of Harvey H. Jay, also resides in Mill township; and David E., who married Miss Minnie C. Cox, they are the proud parents of two children, Vivian and Gathel. This constitutes a happy family, and when the children with their children gather in for a day's visit with "grandma and grand- pa" it makes a lively crowd, and one which is enjoyed by all.
Rev. David Harris is not only successful as an agriculturist but devotes much of his time and attention to the dairy business, which he has carried on in connection with general farming since 1897, having in all fifty-five cattle, forty-four of which are milch cows of the best variety, Jersey and Short- horn. In 1899 Mr. Harris had the contract of furnishing the Soldiers' Home with milk. One of the most attractive improvements on this farm is an immense barn, which Mr. Harris built in the winter of 1898 and 1899, which covers six thousand square feet, the
555
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
main portion of the building being 44×90 feet, with an ell forty-five feet square; there is also on this farm two houses and two other barns.
Mr. Harris in politics is a stanch Repub lican, casting one vote for Lincoln, a fact of which he speaks with great pride. In relig- ion Mr. and Mrs. Harris are Orthodox Friends, he being a minister in this church for twelve years, during which time he has officiated at many weddings and been a com- forter in time of death. He has also been an elder for a great many years and has held a number of other offices, and his wife is also an elder in the society. Mr. Harris is one of the oldest residents of Grant county and has performed his part in elevating it from its former wild state to its present advanced condition. In public im- provements he is ever ready to lend a helping hand, and as he is never less generous than his neighbors has well earned the good name and the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
DENNIS McVICKER.
Dennis McVicker has been a resident of Jefferson township too long to need an in- troduction to the people of Grant county, Indiana, and a history of the representative citizens of this community would be decided- ly incomplete were he not included in the number. He is a product of this county, having been born within its precincts May 31, 1847, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to David and Anna (Dean) McVicker. He traces his ancestors to Scot- land, in which soil the family tree was deep- rooted and whose branches have spread to all
parts of the civilized world. Two cousins left their native home in 1690 and settled in Ireland about the time the famous battle of. Boyne was fought. Their descendents, more venturesome than they, crossed the ocean and made a home in the new world, the younger generation comprising the fam- ily of Dennis McVicker. David McVicker is elsewhere represented in this work.
The old log school-house was still in vogue when Dennis McVicker began his pri- mary education, the school being kept up mainly by subscription and continuing about sixty days, and the master's rod forming atı important part in the course. He next en- tered the Normal, which was located at Leb- anon, Warren county, Ohio, and remained there three years, luring 1864-5 and 6. He was a close student and completed the classi- cal course with a general average of ninety- mine per cent. His average was even higher in the Grant county schools, reaching one hundred per cent. He spent four years as a pedagogue in this county and in 1869 en- gaged in the general merchandise business, first with a partner, later by himself. He was quite successful in this undertaking, but the close confinement was not conducive to good health and he was obliged to relin- quish the business and seek employment that would take him more into the fresh air and sunshine.
In 1872 Dennis McVicker purchased his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres paying five hundred dollars down and going in debt for the balance. Only thirty-five acres were cleared and but few improve- ments had been put on, the house being made of logs. He and his estimable wife were not afraid of work and by their united efforts they they have cleared the ground for culti-
556
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
vation, paid all the indebtedness which stood against it, erected large, modern residence and outbuildings of commodious interior and tasty design, changing it to one of the most beautiful and valuable estates in the county. It is situated about a quarter of a mile from the city limits of Upland, and the University is only about forty rods from the residence.
ty, being employed in the graded schools of Upland. Bessie, the youngest child, is a stu- dent in the seventh grade and is a bright child; she is also taking instruction in music. Burr, the only son and successor of his father, graduated from the common school in the class of '98, his average being above ninety-one per cent. He is now a stu- dent of the Upland high school. He has an inherited love of agricultural pursuits and delights in fine stock. It is safe to say he will be a valued assistant to his father in a few years.
Mr. McVicker was married November 28, 1878, to Miss Sylvana Freel, who was born October 14, 1852, in Darke county, Ohio, was a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth ( Mills) Freel and died September 6, 1900, Dennis McVicker is a Democrat and votes the national ticket, but in local affairs he is governed by the man, supporting the man best fitted for the office, regardless of his politics. He has frequently served his party in county, state and congressional conven- tions, and for fourteen years he served on the Democratic central committee in Grant 1 county. He has not aspired to office, had he done so there is no question of his success as he is a popular man among all classes and is admirably fitted to serve in an official capac- ity. He has transacted a great deal of legal 1 business for the township but public life has appealed to him in vain. He has been a busy man and his time has been too fully i occupied with private business to squander it in politics. He belongs to a number of fraternal orders, among them Arcana Lodge, No. 353. F. & .A. M., of Upland. He was exalted to the Royal Arch degree at Hart- ford City, and in his younger days was lec- turer in their school of instruction. He is a member of the Miami Wigwam, Red Men of America, and has passed all the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been one of the first to assist any project her remains being interred at Matthews, In- diana. Her parents were early settlers of Darke county and were relatives of Thomas Corwin, the famous lawyer and wit, who : lived in the early part of the nineteenth cen - try, was representative of Ohio, resigned to become its governor, and was lated United States senator and secretary of the treasury. Jesse Freel was a veteran of the Civil war and served his country faithfully and well. There were thirteen children in the family, eleven of whom are living: the mother and three of the sons reside in Marion, Indiana. as do five of the daughters, while anoth :: son makes his home in St. Louis. They are all well to do, prosperous people. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Vicker have one son and two daugh- ters, all living at home. L. Grace, the eldest of the family, graduated from the graded schools of Upland with the class of 1895, and three years later graduated from the literary department of Taylor University. She is a musician and is perfecting herself in this study by instruction from the best teachers. She is a prominent member of the literary clubs of the University and is regarded as one of the most efficient teachers in the coun .. ; which had for its object the upbuilding of the
557
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
community, and Taylor University received substantial aid during process of erection. He is a man of sterling character and his well-known principles of honor and integrity have gained for him an enviable reputation.
The family are prominent in social cir- cies and are the center of all neighborhood gatherings. Although but little past the golden mile-stone Mr. McVicker has seen wonderful growth and development within the county. The log school-house of his boyhood has given way to neat brick and frame structures with comfortable furnish- ings. The iron horse traverses the estate from boundary to boundary over a network of roads, and the journey which is to-day completed in a few minutes then took a day or more. In those days the grain was hauled to Muncie by wagon over dirt roads that were often well night impassable. Now the farmer has the pike road to travel to the near- by market, or if his goods are to be sent ot a distance, he has his choice of a dozen mar- kets, and can get his goods to their destin- ation and receive pay therefore without leav- ing home. Electric lights illuminate the cities and larger towns, while friends who are miles apart may readily converse with each other in ordinary tones. These are a few of the many changes which has come under the observation of Mr. McVicker during his residence in Indiana, and it is worthy of observation that he has kept pace with the improvements.
DR. SAMUEL S. HORNE.
One who traces his ancestry back to that sturdy race of people emigrating from Scot- land, Dr. Samuel S. Horne, Sr .- his father
having been born in Dumfries, in 1807, a son of William Horne, who was a Presbyter- ian minister-received his education at Edin- burgh where he took up the study of law, but became interested in "the new world" and came to Canada where he married Miss Mary P. Armstrong, who was also of Scotch descent being born in Edinburgh. After their marriage they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he entered the Medical Col- lege and also attended a course of lectures, after which he began the practice of medi- cine in Switzerland county. Indiana, remain- ing there until the spring of 1848, when he brought his family to Grant county, chosing Jonesboro as his new home, where he con- tinued the practice of medicine until called from this earth to the realms above.
During his many years of practice in Grant county, the elder Dr. Horne became widely known and has spent many a cold winter's night riding on horseback, guilded by Indian trails or cow paths to the homes where lay the loved ones who entrusted their lives to his care. He was gentle and kind in the sick-room, a fact which made him very popular. Not only did he practice in Jonesboro and Grant county, but re- ceived many calls from Delaware, Madison and Howard counties and as far south as Regdon, making these long trips on horse. back a practice in which he continued, seldom preferring a buggy. With all this exposure he always enjoyed the best of health and felt that the outdoor exercise was beneficial to him, but he found in later years that he could not stand what he once did, and for two years previous to his death he was denied the privilege of attending to his work which he had so faithfully done for a quarter of a century, and departed this life in April, 1874.
558
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
He lived a devoted Christian, being a life. long member of the Presbyterian church, in which he and his wife were active and de- voted members.
Eleven children graced the Doctor's home, named in the order of birth as follows : William, deceased, who was master mechanic and engineer, he also served his country dur- ing the war of the Rebellion and was placed as engineer in the Mississippi river squad- ron; Margaret marired G. W. Wiley, and departed this life in 1882; Mary P. died in 1886, the wife of Mr. William L. Shoe. maker ; Robert H. is engaged in the drug bus- iness in Marion ; Isabelle, now Mrs. Ephraim B. Wheeler; of Indianapolis; Marion mar- ried Dr. John Mckinstry and died in 1882. Samuel S., our subject, of which further mention will be given; Catharine, widow of Robert Jay residing in Marion ; John who is engaged in the produce business in Ma- rion; Lizzie, wife of S. . G Baldwin, who has charge of a large insurance business, also residing in Marion ; and the last born died in infancy. The mother of this interesting family passed away in 1856. The father was again joined in wedlock, this time se- lecting as his wife Miss Caroline Simons. To this union one child was born, Charles E., now a resident of Jonesboro.
Dr. Samuel S. Horne, Jr., was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May 30, 1844, and when but four years of age was brought by his parents to Jonesboro, Grant county, In- diana. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Jonesboro. thus forming the first "stepping stone" for a higher class of study, to which was added a course in the Spiceland Academy, after which he completed his education in Wa- bash College. He was a devoted student.
-
and made much of the advantages offered him. He had but one aim in life, that of following his father in his life's profes- sion, and after leaving college went into the office with his father and began the study of medicine. In his father he found an ever ready helper, always willing to as- sist him in getting over the hard obstacles which came in his way. To finish his stud- ies he entered the Medical College of Ohio, where he graduated with honors in the class of 1869, after which he came to Jones- boro and formed a partnership with his father, who was quite advanced in years and who appreciated the fact that he now had one to relieve him of many long and ar- duous trips. They retained this partner- ship until the death of the father, since which time he, in connection with his gen- eral practice, conducted a drug store and from 1872 to 1876 was in partnership with his brother Robert, in 1893 he formed a partnership with G. W. Mckinney.
Dr. Samuel S. Horne selected as his life companion the lovable and genial daughter of John Zeek, Miss Loretta, in whom he has found a faithful wife and a devoted mother. Two children were born to glad- den these parents, but the death angel came and took from them Orrin, their first born, when he was but seven years of age; this was their first great sorrow and one which was hard for them to bear; to be denied the pleasure of those good-night kisses and the childish prattle, made their home a lonely one indeed. Their last born. Isabelle, is now the wife of F. A. Lucas, and is estab- lished in a pleasant home in Jonesboro.
Dr. Horne, though he has passed the half century mark, is an energetic and up- to-date gentleman ever ready to profit by
559
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
the experience of others and keeping abreast with the times, professionally and socially. He devotes much time to medical societies, being a member of the Grant County Medi- cal Society, Delaware, Delaware District cal Society, Delaware District, The Indiana State Medical Society and The American Medical Association, in all of which he is a valuable member and an ardent worker.
Fraternally he is quite popular, being a member of the Masonic Order, Jonesboro Lodge No. 101, and Marion Chapter R. A. M., of Marion; is a member of the Elks Lodge, and also is prominently identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Jonesboro. He especially enjoys the social features of these societies and is ever ready to lend a helping hand in their behalf.
Politically the Doctor is a Democrat. Mrs. Horne is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which she is an active worker.
It is befitting to say that Dr. Horne is finishing the work begun by his father, and is characterized by a humane sympathy and kindness which, taken together with his integrity and honor, have gained for him the esteem of all.
ISAAC BRADFORD (DECEASED).
Isaac Bradford, whose death occurred on the 4th of June, 1900, after a very brief illness, the disease-diabetes-having de- veloped quite suddenly, was one of the most successful as well as one of the larger farm- ers of the county, where he had been in active operation more than half of the past century, having come to the county in 1844, following his father, George W. Bradford,
who had come two years previously, and of whom more extended mention is made in connection of other members of the family.
Hardy county, Virginia, was the place of the birth of Isaac and the date June 2, 1816, thus having, at his death, entered his eighty-fifth year. In the month of Novem- ber, after passing his twentieth year, he left the old Virginia home and rode on horse- back to Clinton county, Ohio, as is recorded in his old memorandum book, which he kept with considerable care and which is now preserved by his son Asbury. He had early formed the habits of doing things in a care- ful, methodical manner, and had even re- tained much of the copy of the work he did while in school, which, while not of the most advanced, afforded him a most excel- lent training for his future business life. Much attention was paid by the teachers of those days to the excellence of copy work, much stress being paid to neatness of hand writing, which his old books shows to have been quite well executed. He secured a place at nine dollars per month, the employ- ment being ordinary farm labor, his wages, however, being immediately increased to fourteen dollars, at which it remained for a period of six years that he continued for the one man.
In the meantime, on the 10th of Decem- ber, 1840, Isaac Bradford was united in matrimony to Miss Susan Spray, who had been born in Warren county, Ohio, and who was some seven years his junior. Subse- quent to the completion of six years as a laborer he rented his employer's farm, which he operated for three years, during which time he made substantial progress from the financial standpoint. By this time his elder half-brothers-Leonard, John, George and
/
560
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
Daniel-as well as his father and even other members of the family, had come to Grant county, Indiana, and hearing favorable re- ports from them he resolved that he, too, would join the western movement, as he had some four years before he made the removal came out to inspect the country, entering a tract of land, for which the old land patents made out on regulation parchment and signed by the then president-Martin Van Buren-and bearing the date of 1840. are still kept in the family archives by his chil- dren. With wife and two children, the youngest an infant in arms, he made the journey to the new home, bringing all the necessary household furniture and utensils. While erecting a hewed-log house, which, by the way, is still standing, he lived with his father some four miles distant, but in a short time he was able to move into his own house. which stood in the midst of heavy timber, the entire tract of land still being in its virgin condition.
This immediate section of the country lies rather flat and level, so much so that the most essential thing to do in starting a farm was the means of getting rid of the surplus water that during much of the year nearly covered the entire surface. By co- operation with such few other settlers as had come into the region he secured. after a deal of labor and effort, a suitable outlet to carry off the water, when he couldl clear a few acres, feeling that he would receive some benefit from its cultivation. The culti- vation of the tract under such conditions was greatly in contrast to what he had been accustomed to in Ohio, but having started in to make a farm with the conditions ap- parent, he was not of the stuff that was hable to shirk the responsibility, and pushed
on till he could see the greater part of those serious difficulties overcome. He laid a great deal of the old style timber ditches. the only means of insuring the returns in a crop for the labor in clearing, planting and cultivation. In the course of years this was all replaced by the more modern style of tile drains, the entire farm being underlaid with hundreds of rods of such draining. which continues to attend to the demands, and by which means the former swamps and ponds have been transformed into the most fertile and productive fields. He re- ciaimed from the forest about one hundred acres, although he became the proprietor of something like four hundred acres beside the homestead. However, this was nearly all distributed among his children as they ar- rived at maturity, his plan being to give each about fourteen hundred dollars, to which he later added until he had provided each with what he counted as two thousand dollars.
Mr. Bradford ever adhered to the sys- tematic manner of conducting his business, everything being done in its proper season and in a certain manner, so that he was gen- erally recognized as the most methodical man of the entire community. Realizing the value of the better grades of stock he took an active part in the development of his own stock, feeling considerable pride in knowing that the neighborhood was bene- fited by his efforts in that direction. He made stock-growing and feeding the main features of his operations, though he raised large quantities of the ordinary grains of the state.
He never allowed his business to lag. but took care that it moved according to his premeditated plans, though he was not a
56
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
hard man with those who were employed by him, remembering his own experience as a hired hand, and realizing the encourage- ment that an employe often needs.
Retaining his mental faculties with un- diminished vigor he continued to carry on his own operations, not relegating any feat- ure of an extensive business to others, who would have gladly relieved him of the oner- ous responsibility. His determination was to so continue to the end, which he did with unabated virility until the grim destroyer appeared and laid hold on him with an in- sidious and fatal disease, by which he soon saw he was to be overcome.
With due regard to the disposition of his estate he made all necessary arrange- ments, naming his son Asbury as one of the administrators to make the final disposal and settlement, which was done in accordance with his own expressed desires. While he had not aspired to political recognition he ever retained a close relation to the Republi- can party, believing that its principles most clearly expressed his own views as to the advancement of the nation's welfare, and never swerving from confidence in the man- agement of public affairs so long as such men as had founded the great party were at the head of the nation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.