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 72
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Some thirty years since the Society of Friends had endeavored to establish a local society in his neighborhood; the simplicity of their lives and religion holding so nearly in accord with his ideas of right and justice that he became identified with them, there- after holding membership with the society at Marion, where he generally attended. When he passed to the other shore to take a place in "Jerusalem, the golden," he did it
with the fullest faith in the reunion to former friends and the salvation for eternity of his own soul.
Thirty-seven years and more had he and his former companion traveled the pathway of life, when she was called to a higher sphere, her successor being Mrs. Dinah Jes- sup, who was, however, a sister to the former wife, and with whom he lived happily until her own demise, both of them lying in the cemetery at Union chapel and near whom his own remains were placed.
Five of eight children born to the former marriage have survived him. At his second marriage a daughter of his wife-Clara Jessup-became a member of the family, so remaining until her marriage to Charles Huff, both now being teachers in the county. Some years later another daughter-Charity -came to live with them, and is still a resi- dent in the old house, which resounded for so many years with the gleeful chatter and laughter of a number of joyous children. But a few more years and all of those who came to this wild region will have passed to a reward conferred by a higher Power, when these records will be taken down and searched for something of those who have gone. The names of many worthy men and noble women will be found, but no page will bring to relief a more worthy man than him whose life we have thus faintly por- trayed. Those who remain feel the loss of a kind friend, a warm companion and an honorable gentleman, and, may feel with that venerable man whose soul was the es- sence of poetry, that
To the past go more dead faces- Every year;
As the loved leave vacant places- Every year;
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Everywhere the sad eyes meet us, In the evening's gloom they greet us, And to come to them entreat us- Every year.
FRANCIS ASBURY BRADFORD.
Among the progressive and substantial farmers of Washington township, Grant county. Indiana, and whose desirable estate lies some seven miles to the northeast of the county seat, is Francis Asbury Brad- ford, who was born on the homestead of his father, but a short distance from his own home, on the 27th of August, 1850. Attention is called to a more complete record of his father-Isaac Bradford-on another page of this work.
The boyhood years of Francis A. were passed without much variation from the or- dinary life experienced by the country lad of that time, receiving such education as the country schools afforded, which in his case was sufficient to enable him to teach school himself, which he did for one winter term; but to which he felt that he would not care to devote his career, believing that other lines promised greater and more satisfactory results.
Twenty days before attaining his : twenty-third year, Francis .A. was joined "for better, for worse." to Miss Maria L. Landess, of whose father-Lewis Landess -the reader will find furthur mention else- where. She had just passed her twentieth year, and being a young lady of rare good sense, coupled with more than ordinary at- tractiveness, was one of the most popular girls of the community, few gatherings be- ing thought complete without her animat-
ing presence. The wisdom of his choice has been strengthened and emphasized by the passing years, she having been accorded the most fascinating and inspiriting mem- ber of a wide circle of acquaintances.
The farming operations of Francis A. Bradford began on an eighty-acre tract, for which he had gone six hundred dollars in (lebt, and which had but a small clearing with an indifferent hewed-log house, with fully one-half of the tract of no value till it was ditched. He has added another eighty acres, making the home farm a very desirable one of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he has placed in cultivation up- wards of three-fourths of the whole. more than forty acres being reclaimed from the ponds, the water covering it the greater part of the year. By the installation of a sys- tem of drainage, which he followed up with energy and perseverance. succeeding the original timber ditches with tile, he has brought the entire tract into a most fertile and productive state, the crops of all kinds grown upon it fully compensating the pro- prietor for the great labor and effort re- quired to conquer the forests and slashes.
The convenient and commodious barn was erected in 1881, the former planned improvements being brought to a climax by the building of a modern residence some six years later. The traveler, who passes over the Washington pike to the region of Van Buren, has his attention involuntarily drawn to this beautiful and attractive farm, there being none more fully meeting the requirements of a model place, along the entire road, which is lined with desirable and well-tilled farms. The fields, bearing prodigious crops, bespeak the oversight of a master mind, indicating the following of
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well-digested plans in rotation of crops and in the manner of tillage. The sleek, fat cattle grazing in the pastures, as well as the contented swine all tell the story of careful breeding and scientific handling.
The observer can readily judge that here is a farm whose owner feels a pride in his occupation, giving it that care and attention. which, if turned in other lines of business, would almost insure most satisfactory re- turns. He conducts a farm, not simply for the money to be made, but he loves the line of business, and finds here that comfort and freedom from anxiety that scarcely ever accompanies mercantile or professional life. To successfully carry on an enterprise of this character at the present time, requires the exercise of the same qualities needed il operating a railroad or conducting a large manufacturing institution, every detail be- ing looked after with that attention that brings a most happy reward for the labor and effort bestowed.
Mr. Bradford has recently secured eighty acres of the old homestead, it being a part of the estate of which he was chosen by his father as one of the administrators. Some definite idea may be gathered of the extent of this estate and of the responsibilities resting upon the administrator, when it is learned that a bond of twenty-thousand dollars is required. His brother, Oliver, whose death occurred but recently. also chose him as the administrator of his estate, a duty which he has carried out with good faith to all concerned, his success in that matter increasing the general impression of his fitness for work of that character.
While never an aspirant for political honors Mr. Bradford has ever evinced a decided interest in the various movements
of his party, being often chosen as a delegate to the conventions and other formative bodies, where he has carried a certain degree of weight with those who are the recognized party leaders.
The Bradford family are Grace and Eulalie, the former of whom was graduatect from the common schools, obtaining the highest grade of any graduate of the town - ship for the year 1900. The youngest child is Francis Edward, and all of these are still under the parental roof; another, a foster son-Carl Bradford-was reared in the home from the age of early childhood till assuming for himself the duties incident to the support of a wife, receiving the same care and oversight that was conferred upou their own children.
No movement is made in the township that has for its object the advancement of the interests of the community, but finds in Mr. Bradford a most cordial support-the schools, the churches, and all that makes for better citizenship, having felt his in- fluence for their progress.
WILLIAM K. MENDENHALL.
In writing the biographical reviews, which are contained within the covers of this volume, pleasure is found in adding to the list the name of William K. Menden- hall, who is one of the most highly respected and successful agriculturists of Mill town- ship, Grant county, and who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 17, 1845, a son of John and Eunice ( Haisley ) Menden- hall. This family will be rememberedt among the pioneers of this county. Will- iam K. is one of eight children, having three brothers and four sisters. This was in-
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dleed a happy home circle, made all the more so by the joyous prattle of the little ones; but the death angel, whom we sometimes feel is unjust, came and took from this home the light, life and comforter, the mother. It was then that William K., who was but five years of age was brought to realize what it was to be denied the mother's love, as she, like all mothers, was ever ready to share his childish troubles and "smooth the troubled waters."
William K. Mendenhall was at this time taken by his uncle, Eli Haisley, and the separation from his parents, as well as be- ing denied the companionship of his little brothers and sisters, caused many a heart ache and many a childish cry, of which no one knew. In 1852 he came with this good uncle, who had so kindly taken the respon- sibility of rearing him, to Grant county, and who settled in Liberty township, where William K. remained until twenty-one years of age, being allowed the privilege of attending school, which was limited at that time to but a very few months during the winter season ; he also rendered valuable as- sistance on the farm, a fact which his uncle appreciated, and when time came for him to leave his adopted parental roof, his uncle gave him two colts, valued at one hundred and twenty-five dollars. He then went to farming on his own account, renting land for two years, but, with the desire to see the world and to investigate the stories of adventure, as well as success which were then so widely talked of by those who had been west, he decided to try his luck and went as far as Iowa, where he remained one year; then, wishing to further his ex- ploits he again "fokled his tent." this time going to Kansas, where he entered a home-
stead of one hundred and sixty acres, lo- cated near Independence. At the end of the third year he felt satisfied with his ex- perience in that locality and prefered his home state to that of "grasshoppers and hot winds," and returned to his old home in Grant county.
William K. Mendenhall was married in March, 1876, to Miss Caroline Shugart, who is a daughter of Cornelius and Har riet Shugart. To this union have been born three children, named in order of birth as follows: Homer S. ; Otway C. and Wal- ter K. With this family of bright and in- teresting children to gladden their hearts, Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall spent many happy years on the farm of one hundred and twen- ty acres located in Franklin township, which they purchased soon after their marriage and which when purchased resembled a wild forest more than home. and it required much time and labor to make the necessary improvements : but with time and toil they carved out of this forest a comfortable home and one where their friends spent with then many pleasant days and, where, as they look back, think of it as the most pleasant time of their lives. This farm is now a credit to its township, being under a high grade of cultivation and being also improved with two thousand rods of tiling, but Mr. Men- denhall was not satisfied with farming alone, and for the past six years has been engaged in the dairy business, in which he takes great pride in furnishing to his cus- tomers the best milk, and they knowing it is from the "Forest Grove Dairy" needs no further recommendation as to its excellency.
In politics Mr. Mendenhall is a stanch Republican and feels proud that he is ever ready to assist the party which he so earn-
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estly supports. In religion he is a wor- shiper with the Friends or Quaker church, and in which he and his wife have long been worthy and respected workers.
As before stated, Mr. Mendenhall has resided in this county for many years and is universally esteemed as an upright, hon- orable gentleman and valued citizen.
JAMES LAFAYETTE BARLEY.
James L. Barley, of the firm of Barley & Spencer, proprietors of a saw and plan- ing mill and lumber yard, and also dealers in hardware in Marion, Grant county, Indi- ana, was born in Lugar Creek, four miles east of Marion, April 5, 1851.
Henry Barley, father of James L., was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania; was there reared to farming and was married and came to Grant county, Indiana, in 1840, entered one hundred and sixty acres of heav- ily timbered land, which he subsequently de- veloped into a first-class farm. In 1869 Henry traded his farm for the Couner flour- ing-mill, three miles down the river from Marion, which mill, with the elder two of his sons, Jacob and Christopher, he operated about six years, or until his death, which occurred in 1874, when he was sixty-seven years old; a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he had been an elder for many years, although he had been reared a Lutheran, but there was no church of the latter denomination at that time in Marion, he for that reason affiliated with the former. In politics he was a stanch Democrat.
To the marriage of Henry Barley with Mary Snyder, a native of Pennsylvania,
there were born eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those who attained years of maturity were born in the following order : Jacob S., who has been twice married ; Elizabeth, who is now the widow of Philip Shira; Christopher S., who was killed in a saw-mill in 1878; Valentine, who died in 1869; Martin B., who died in 1893; Chris- tina, widow of Lyman Shira; Clara, who was married to John Steward and died in 1890; James L., whose name opens this sketch; and Althea, married to Felix Black- burn. The mother of this family died in 1875, at the age of sixty-three years, and was also a devout member of the Presby- terian church.
Nicholas Barley, father of Henry Barley, came from Germany to America in 1784, and settled in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1792. He had only fifty dollars in money when he landed, and of this he owed forty dollars for his passage. Soon after reaching Bedford county he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of wooded land on credit at four dollars per acre, to which he added from time to time until he became the owner of over a thousand acres, and was one of the most successful and prominent citi- zens of Bedford county.
October 20, 1786, Nicholas Barley mar- ried Miss Mary E. Wagner, and to this marriage were born fourteen children. Mrs. Barley died in 1835, at the age of sixty- nine years, but Mr. Barley survived until 1848, when he expired in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which he had been an elder for many years, and had assisted in erecting the first church edifice for that de- nomination in the neighborhood.
The boyhood days of James Lafayette Barley, or Lafe Barley, as he was familiarly
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called, were passed on the home farm, and in the meantime he attended the public schools until eighteen years of age, when he entered his father's mill as an assistant and worked until 1872, when he married and located in Jalapa, Grant county, where he operated a saw-mill and also ran a threshing machine until 1886, when he sold out his property, came to Marion and formed a partnership with Robert J. Spencer and established the present business, which has been most prosperously conducted up to the present time.
October 2, 1872, James L. Barley mar- ried Miss Louisa J. Gordon, a native of Virginia, and to this union have been born four children, namely: Charles G., of the firm of Harwood & Barley, bedstead manu- facturers; Albert C., of the firm of Miller & Barley, dry-goods merchants; Edith, a stenographer and bookkeeper, and making her home with her parents, and Frederick, still attending school. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Barley is a stalwart Democrat, but has never accepted office.
Mr. Barley is one of the most public- spirited, useful and progressive citizens of Marion. He was one of the promoters and organizers, and is one of the owners of the Marion Ice & Cold Storage Company, and also of the George W. Steele & Company flouring-mill, and also has an interest, to a large extent, in a hard-wood manufactur- ing company at Vincennes, owned by Haas, Spencer & Barley.
The Barley family has long and favor- ably been known in Grant county, and none has been more respected and there are sey- eral sketches of its members in this work, which the reader may easily trace by refer- ence to the index.
DR. JOHN A. MEEK.
Dr. John A. Meek is a man of scrupulous integrity and no unworthy act has ever been charge to him professionally or otherwise. He is courteous in his general intercourse, and especially so with members of the medi- cal profession, and is numbered among our oldest and worthiest physicians in Jones- boro, Grant county, Indiana. He was born December 8, 1820, in Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, but at the age of five years he with his parents moved on a farm, where he assisted his father in the farm work until twenty years of age. His preliminary edu- cation was obtained at the common schools, where he took the best advantage of his oportunity in getting an education, but the means were limited, as their terms were of but a few months in the year and the in- structors not of the best, and after com- pleting his educational career he became dis- satisfied with quiet, country life and, want- ing to see more of the world joined a party and went down the Ohio river where he became engaged in the buying and selling of wood, taking it to the city of New Or- leans by means of a flat boat ; he remained in the south one year, when he again en- gaged in farming on his father's farm, stay- ing there two years, but as his own heart's ciesire had always been to take up the pro- fession of medicine, he began reading with Dr. John M. Swallon, of Abington, Indi- ana, and there remained for three years.
Dr. John A. Meek came to Jonesboro February 14, 1848; it was then but a burgh of seventy-five inhabitants, the business por- tion of the town consisting of three stores. At this time there were no doctors located here. but in Marion were Dr. Constabul Lomox, Dr. Foster, Dr. Stephen Ayres and
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Dr. St. John, all of whom are deceased. In these days the means of travel were less commodious than now, the doctors being compelled to make their professional calls on horseback and at times to walk through forests, being unable to ride through; some of their trips were long and perilous, and the hardships endured by these good and faithful old family physicians stand as mon- uments to their memories.
Dr. John A. Meek was twice married, for his first bride he chose Miss Sarah A. Weaver, born May 20, 1820, this marriage taking place on November 27, 1842. To this union were born five children, named in or- der of birth as follows: Perry S., born No- vember II, 1843, deceased, was a soldier in the Civil war; James R., born April 24, 1845; Mary J., born May 7, 1846, now de- ceased ; Rose A., born October 4. 1848: Tohn A., Jr., born July 25, 1851, now residing in Ohio. The mother of this family passed away August 16, 1854.
On June 4, 1862, Dr. Meek was again joined in wedlock, selecting for his wife Miss Diana R. Pool, born at Petersburg, Pennsylvania, 1840, who was the daughter of John V. Pool, who came to Grant county in 1853. Ten children came to gladden this union, named in order of birth as fol- lows : Charley N., who was born August 28, 1865 ; Julia E., now deceased, was born Jan- uary 22, 1868; Allie Belle, born February 22, 1869, deceased; Amanda L., born De- cember 9, 1870, died in infancy ; Audley M., deceased, born February 4, 1873; Herman W., born June 5, 1874; William V., born August 15, 1876; Fred E., born January 19, 1880, a twin to Frank L., who is a telegraph operator at Decatur, Indiana; and Harry C., born May 29, 1884.
The Doctor had been in continuous prac- tice from 1848 until 1862, when he answered to the call of the nation when he joined the Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry, serving as assistant surgeon ; but here he remained only two years, being discharged on account of disability, much to his disappointment. While in the service he did duty in a number of southern states, principally in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, and was with Gen- eral Banks on the Red River expedition. After his return he was welcomed home by his many friends and patrons, and again became engaged in his chosen profession.
In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. Mrs. Meek is an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
Dr. John A. Meek is one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, and has well earned the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
OLIVER SMITH DAVIS.
Oliver Smith. Davis, a prominent dairy- man of Grant county, Indiana, was born in Liberty township, that county, November 9, 1851, and is a son of George and Charlotte (Baldwin) Davis. George Davis was a na- tive of Ohio, who came at an early day to Wayne county, Indiana, with his father, Joseph Davis, who had entered government land near Richmond. George was the fa- ther of ten children, eight of whom grew to adult years; six of these are still living and have families, viz .: Franklin W .; Mary; Oliver; Nathan ; Catherine; and Jo- seph. In later years George Davis moved from Wayne to Grant county, where he is a highly respected citizen.
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Oliver S. Davis was educated in the dis- trict schools and grew to manhood on his father's farm, remaining at home until his marriage in 1872, when he moved to a rented farm in Center township. His wife was Miss Evangeline Jay, daughter of Denny and Anna Jay. Four children were the fruit of this marriage, namely : Herman L., who resides in Center township: Melvin, de- ceased ; Harvey W. ; and Ida, all living at home. He remained one year on this rented farm and then purchased it, continuing to make it his home until 1882, in the mean- time clearing and otherwise improving it. In 1882 he took up his residence on the place where he now lives, placing thereon all the fine improvements now seen there. He owns ninety acres, all told, fifty-one in the home place, all of which has been ditched and tiled by him, making it one of the best farms in the county. He carried on general farm- ing until 1899 when he saw an opportunity to increase his income by engaging in dairy- ing and has since conducted the College Park Dairy. He keeps a good class of graded cattle and has worked up a large patronage from the superior quality of the milk furnished. He still does general farm- ing and has engaged in hog raising quite ex- rensively, having now seventy head on his farm, and has made all he owns. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Friends church. His reputation for hon- esty and fair dealing is of the best, and he is quite popular among his neighbors.
HOWARD CROMWELL HAINES, M. D
Howard Cromwell Haines, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Sims township, Grant county, Indiana, was born
in Straightout, Highland county, Ohio, Oc- tober 15, 1853, and is a son of William and Avaline (Thompson ) Haines.
William Haines, grandfather of the Doc- tor, was born in eastern Pennsylvania in 1780. and there passed his entire life as a farmer. His son, also named William and the father of the Doctor, served an appren- ticeship of seven years at tanning, but never received one cent for his time and labor. Afterwards, however, at Leesburg, High- land county, Ohio, he did an extensive bus- iness in his line for at least eleven years. By two marriages, William, the Doctor's father, begat twenty children, nine of whom were born by his first wife and were named : Hylinda, who was married to Judge Haines; Ellen, now Mrs. Joseph Winters; Isaac, who (lied in the army and was buried at Little Rock, Arkansas; Ruth Ann, married to Dr. Watson; Sarah, the wife of L. Perdue ; Jane, wife of Royal Denny; Elizabeth, married to Cyrus Stanley, county recorder ; an infant that died unnamed, and Louretta, who died at the age of three years. To his second mar- riage. the mother of the Doctor and the daughter of John and Rebecca Thompson, there have been born eleven children, viz. : Joel V., Hanson F. and Mary Rebecca (twins), the later of whom is the wife of Rev. D. Carter, of Toledo, Ohio: Laura A., wife of ex-judge Hettington of the superior court of Jay county and residing at Port- land: Emma V., now Mrs. Richard R. Adair, of Chattanooga, Tennessee : Ida married to Frank Hale, of Findlay, Ohio; Alice, who is the wife of David Crabbs, a merchant of Gib- son City, Illinois: Nannie, who died when sixteen years old; Emmett, the fifth child, died at the age of two years, and William, the seventh child, died when three months
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