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 82
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WILLIAM L. WHARTON, M. D.
Among the practicing physicians of Grant county, Indiana, none occupy a more promin- ent place than Dr. Wm. L. Wharton, a suc- cesful physician and surgeon of Matthews. whose skill and application have gained for him a reputation second to none. Being a native of Grant county, he needs no introduc- tion to the residents, but these memoirs would fail of their object was his name not included among the representative men of the county. He is a son of one of the oldest and most respected residents, William Whar- ton, of Marion, and Rachel (Graham) Wharton, 'deceased. His appearance was made June 10, 1851, when he was one of a family of eleven children, six of whom sur- vive and are honored citizens of Grant coun- ty. viz .: Helen, wife of William Walters; Mary Jane, wife of Jonathan Huey : Martha Ellen, wife of R. B. Fountain ; Dr. William L .: Rosetta M., wife of William S. Lytle : and George G., a prominent lawyer of Marion. William Wharton, the father, was able location in which to open an office and
born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February I, 1816, and moved to Indiana when he was fourteen, there to engage in teaching and in farming. He worked hard and accumu- lated five hundred acres of land, retiring from active business life in 1873, and build- ing a substantial residence in Marion which has since been his home. March 30, 1894, the kind and loving wife and mother passed to her reward, since which time Mr. Whar- ton has lived with his daughter. Mrs. Foun -. tain. He is widely known throughout the entire county where his sterling worth and upright dealing won him universal honor and good will. A more extended review appears on another page of this work.
Doctor Wharton received his primary education in the common schools and the Marion high school, after which he entered De Pauw University in the fall of 1871, taking a classical course and graduating in the class of '77. He determined to devote his life to the practice of medicine. He en- gaged in teaching school as a stepping-stone that was to lead to his medical studies. He met with an unusual degree of success in his work, being employed as principal of the Upland school during the year 1877-8, and of the Jonesboro schools in 1879-80. In the meantime, in 1878, he began to study medi- cine under Dr. Lewis Williams, of Marion, a well-known and prominent physician, who has since retired from practice. This read- ing was prosecuted with diligence for two years, and in the fall of 1880 young Whar- ton entered the Indiana Medical University, at Indianapolis, applying himself so assid- uously to his work that he had completed the full course and graduated with the class of 1882. His next step was to choose a suit-
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begin his practice. Unlike many other young professional men, he concluded to begin his career in his home locality, and chose New Cumberland, now Matthews, as his place of residence. With the promptness which has characterized all his dealings, he came at once to Matthews from the college and lost no time in establishing himself in his profession. At first time was more plenti- ful than patients, and he improved it by further study along the lines of his chosen work, but after a time there were calls for the young doctor, and so careful and pain- taking was he in the care of disease that he soon had a growing practice. As time passed the practice increased until it was both extended and lucrative and he is re- garded as authority on knotty medical points. His practice includes both general practice in medicine and surgery and his skill along these lines has been phenomenal. He has not been content to become a back number in his profession, but has kept well abreast all the new methods by a careful study, and has been quick to see and take ad- vantage of modern ideas that would benefit his practice. Conscientious and careful, he has given his whole heart to his work, and it is the kind, sympathizing friend as well as the skillful physician who visits the bedside of the invalid to alleviate his suffering.
June 26, 1877, Dr. Wharton and Miss Alice A. Chaney were made one. The lady is a native of Fort Wayne, Allen county, this state, and was born April 21, 1854, to Henry and Mary Jane ( Hilburn) Chaney. Completing the common schools and those in Marion, she entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, after which she en- gaged in teaching. She was employed in the Marion schools were she was an able
assistant for four years. Five children have been the fruit of their marriage, namely : Lelia, has completed the common schools and is now a student of the Marion Normal. She is an artist of decided ability and de- votes her time to her art, many of her oil and pastel paintings ornamenting the walls of her home show great merit; Ada gradu- ated in the class of '98 from the Matthews school and is now a student in the Marion Normal School. She intends to prepare herself for teaching; Inez is the musician of the family and is called upon to play in church and at social gatherings. She has given some lessons, although she is yet a student, having graduated from the common school in the class of 1900 and now being entered at the high school at Matthews; William and Wendell are twins. Dr. Whar- ton and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active workers in both church and Sunday- school. The Doctor is superintendent of the latter and has held the office for twelve vears. His wife is one of the teachers, and is president of the Epworth League. They stand high socially and are always ready to help advance the spiritual or moral stand- ing of the community. He is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 486, at Matthews, Lodge No. 383, Independent Oder of Odd Fellows and they are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. He is an honored member of the Grant County Medical So- ciety, organized in 1848, and belonged to the fraternal and literary societies of his college. He owns the pleasant residence in which he lives in Matthews, and is also in- terested in other real estate and is a nian of considerable means.
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WILLIAM WHARTON.
Among the notable residents of Grant county, Indiana, none are more deserving of especial mention than the venerable gen- tleman whose name appears above. He can claim a longer residence here than any other citizen can recall the time when almost this entire county was inhabited only by In- dians, very little of it having been entered by the white settler. He has noted the clear- ing away of the forest, the laying out of townships and establishment of villages, and, as the tide of immigration continued to pour in, the steady and rapid advancement along other lines, until the present day leaves little to wish for. He has seen Marion, Upland, Matthews, Hartford City, Gas City, Jones- boro and a host of other towns and cities spring into existence with a few scattering houses and grow into populous villages. Churches, school-houses and court-houses have been thickly sprinkled over the state to train the moral and mental faculties of the communities and see that justice has do- minion. Steam or electricity transport the traveler from point to point in an incredibly short space of time, leaving the ox cart with its fifteen miles a day far in the rear just as the gas and electric light does the tallow dip. Looking back over the seventy years of his residence in the county, the panorama spread out to view is both interesting and instructive. He was born in Guernsey coun- ty, Ohio, February 1. 1816, and is now in his eighty-sixth year, unusually hale and hearty for an octogenarian. His well preserved body and vigorous intellect woukl easily enable him to pass for a much younger man. He is a son of Thomas and Sarah ( Gray) Wharton, and was one of four children who
grew to maturity. Three of his uncles, Samuel, Robert and Andrew, were in the war of 1812, the later holding the rank of captain. His greatuncle, Andrew Farley, was a captain in the Revolutionary war in which his grandfather Gray also partici- pated.
William Wharton remained in Ohio un- til he was fourteen, when his parents moved to this state and located in Delaware county. They left Ohio on February 16, 1830, in a two-horse wagon, and upon arriving in Grant county our subject purchased eighty- seven acres of land from a previous settler and entered an additional forty of the gov- ernment. At that time Indians were more numerous than the white man, and an old Indian by the name of John Buckwheat used to be a frequent visitor at the Wharton home, taking his seat at the fireside in per- fect content. Deer, wolves and other wild animals were plentiful and the township of Jefferson was not organized until some three years later. The meeting called for that purpose was held in May, 1833. at the home of one Joseph Reasener, and among those present were Joseph B. Allen, Joseph Reas- ener and John Graham. Mr. Graham ( later the father-in-law of Mr. Wharton) sug- gested the name Jefferson and the votes were cast in a hat in lieu of a ballot box.
Mr. Wharton was united in marriage with Miss Rachael Graham on July 2. 1835. at the home of John Graham, by Joseph B. Allen, on the Lorenzo Watson property, and theirs was the first wedding solemnized in the township. He was not yet in his twen- tieth year but had long been accustomed to do a man's work and rely on himself. When he brought his bride to the land previously purchased by him there was no other land
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entered between them and Fort Wayne ex- cepting two farms just across the river. Trading was done at Muncie and was some- thing of an undertaking. Eleven children blessed their cabin home and seven grew to adult years, namely : Helen, wife of Will- iam Walters, a farmer of Grant county; Mary Jane, wife of Jonathan Huey, a res- ident of Marion and soldier in the Civil war ; Sarah Ann, deceased wife of H. M. Deeren; Martha Ellen, wife of R. B. Fountain, of Marion; Dr. William L., a prominent physi- cian and surgeon of Matthews, whose biog- raphy appears on another page; Rosetta M., wife of William S. Lytle, a painter of Ma- rion ; and George C., a student of De Pauw University and successful attorney at law lo- cated in Marion. Mrs. Wharton was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, on the 18th of January, 1817, and was a kind-hearted, earnest, Christian woman and a zeal- ous member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was an affectionate wife and mother whose teaching's will live in the hearts of her children and influence the lives of future generations. July 2, 1885, they celebrated the golden anniversary of their marriage amid the well wishes of friends, children and grandchildren, and the event is one that will long be remembered by all who participated in the joyful occasion. She was a woman of noble qualities, stanch and unyielding in her adherence to truth, and a firm friend when once her sympathies were enlisted. For almost sixty years did this estimable couple share the vicissitudes of life, and on the 30th of March, 1894, she crossed the river of time and entered into the eternal life, there to await the loved ones who are to follow after. Loved and ad- mired by all who knew her, she has left to
her children the heritage of a noble life and Christian character more valuable than silver and gold.
In his boyhood Mr. Wharton had at- tended the country school, and his English blood showed in the perseverance with which he stuck at a given task until it was mastered. He soon acquired a sufficient education to enable him to become a teacher in this and Delaware county. The first school he at- tended was of the primitive sort, built from rough logs in which light was admitted through greased paper and the room was heated from the bright log fire which blazed in the open hearth. Quill pens were consid- ered good enough for anyone, and when steel pens were introduced they were looked at askance. He received some three hun- dred and fifty dollars from his father to be- gin life and by industry and perseverance accumulated at one time five hundred acres of land in this and Delaware counties. In 1873, he retired from active life and built a substantial home in Marion where he has since resided, and which is presided over by his daughter, Mrs. Fountain, although much of his time is passed in visiting children and grandchildren, among whom he is sure of a hearty welcome, as grandfather Wharton is a prime favorite. He is a strong Repub- lican, although reared to Democracy, and has a vivid remembrance of the "wild-cat" cur- rency and the "red dog money," when a dol- lar one day often would not be worth a far- thing the next, and he has no desire to see a return of those fluctuating times. He also recalls the campaign of 1840 when "Tippe- canoe and Tyler, too," was the cry which led them on to victory. He served as coun- ty commissioner for three years, giving effi- cient service and general satisfaction in the
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discharge of his duties. He has always been , a man of firm principles and steadfastness an ardent advocate of temperance and be- lieves in educating the masses to a higher plane of moral and physical life. He is a typical gentleman of the old school, courte- ous and gentle, and his silver locks are ven- erated by old and young alike.
JOHN SANDERS.
John Sanders, ex-official of Grant coun- ty. Indiana, and leading farmer, was born March 13, 1345, in the vicinity of his pres- ent home. William Sanders, his father, was born in Ohio, September 19, 1809, and was a mechanic by trade, engaging also in agri- culture. While he was yet a child his par- ents moved to Fayette county, Indiana, where they remained until 1826, when they located in Delaware county and entered government land. This was their home until in 1832 during the Blackhawk troubles, when they came to Grant county and entered one hundred and eighty-eight acres of gov- ernment land The original deed to this land, bearing date of September 2. 1834. under the seal of Andrew Jackson, is still in a good state of preservation and hell by our subject. When they settled here the coun- try was wild and very sparsely settled, the forests abounding in wild animals, and the still more savage red man. The nearest neighbors were at Muncie, and the village of New Cumberland was platted and laid out by Robert Sanders, the grandfather of John Sanders, in 1833.
The family were of English descent and were all trained to hard work. William Sanders lived a life of great activity and was
of character. He was a Whig and took an active part in the campaign of Harrison and Tyler. He married Rachel Wharton, by whom he had five children, two daughters and John, the subject, being the only sur- vivors. Nancy J. is the widow of David Collins and resides in this township on the old homestead. Sarah married a farmer and stock-raiser of Delaware county, James H. Wills.
Mrs. Sanders was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1812. and was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Gray) Wharton, natives of Maryland and New York, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders were devout Christians, members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and reared their children in the same faith, the daughters being zealous workers in the same denomination. They attended a log church which occupied the site on which the Olive Branch cemetery now stands, and contrib- . uted liberally to the erection of the new edifice. Both parents have passed away, the father on February 17, 1879, and the mother in January, 1893
John Sanders is the only son and young- est child in his father's family and has passed over half a century of life in our midst, where he is held in esteem as an enterpris- ing. public-spirited citizen. His early life, among the undeveloped surroundings of Grant county, resulted in forming in him a strong. self-reliance and independence of others that have opened for him a career of usefulness that has resulted in inestimable good to the community. He has watched the evolution from uncultivated forest, peo- pled with red men, to fertile and cultivated fields, dotted with thriving towns and vil-
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lages, throbbing with life and teaming with activity. His early education was such as could be obtained from the public schools of his district, but being a great reader this stock of knowledge has been increased by general information on all topics of im- portance.
In August, 1862, John Sanders enlisted as a member of Company B, Eighty-fourth Indiana Regiment, at Muncie, and went into camp at Richmond, this state, under Cap- tain John H. Ellis and Colonel Nelson Trus- ler. The regiment was finally assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen- eral Rosecrans, and participated in much active service. One of the fiercest and most hotly contested battles in which he took part was fought at Chickamauga and both regi- ment and company lost heavily. A comrade, Benjamin R. Dunn, was shot by the side of Mr. Sanders, who caught the stricken man in his arms, and with the assistance of another comrade helped him off the field, but he expired some weeks later. The Grand Army post at New Cumberland was named in honor of this fallen comrade. The regiment was engaged in fighting and skir- mishing for three days, and after the battle at Chattanooga the brave boys were sta- tioned across the Cumberland river at Moc- casin Point and were under fire from the Johnnies who were located at Lookout Mountain. He took part in the engagements at Buzzard's Roost and Rocky Face, and here he received a wound which incapaci- tated him from further service. A minie ball passed through his left foot and he was taken to the field hospital at Tunnel Hill. From there he was taken in succession to Chattanooga, Nashville, Louisville and Evansville, where he was considered suffi-
ciently canvalescent to return home, and was given his discharge May 29, 1865.
Returning home he took up his inter- rupted work and on October 14, 1866, was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Rea- sener, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dunn) Reasener. She was born in Dela- ware county, this state, October 27, 1849, and has four brothers and sisters living, of whom the popular Banker Reasener, of Ma- rion, is one. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. Those living are Geneva, who is classed among the most efficient and capable instructors of the coun- ty and is a lady of superior intelligence and great force of character. She graduated from the public school in 1889, successfully passed the teachers' examination, received her certificate and taught one term of school. Entering the Marion high school she was a student there two terms and then matriculat- ed in Fairmount Academy, from which she graduated in the class of 1896. Since then she has been employed in the public schools in this county.
She was united in marriage December 27, 1900, to Walter L. Jay, and at present resides in Indianapolis. William F., the only son, graduated from the common school in 1895 and Fairmount Academy two years later. His determination to engage in ag- ricultural work has been very gratifying to his father, as he is a young man of prac- tical ideas who will be of great assistance to his father in managing the farm, and is bound to succeed in what he undertakes; Bernice R., the youngest, who completed the common school in 1899 and is a student in the Fairmount high school, is also tak- ing instruction in music and promises to excel her sister in this branch.
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.After his marriage Mr. Sanders moved on his father's farm and resided there twen- ty-four years, when he was elected sheriff in 1890. He next moved to Marion and re- sided there two years. When his term of office expired he moved to Fairmount and resided there until the spring of 1894, when he moved to his present home on the Fair- mount pike, which consists of eighty acres. The house is of modern make and with the other improvements presents a very attract- ive appearance. Mr. Sanders also owns one hundred and twenty-five acres of the old original homestead.
The family belongs to the Presbyterian church and take a prominent part in the work of that organization. They assisted in erect- ing the present church edifice at Matthews, where they hold membership.
Mr. Sanders is a stanch Republican and has been closely connected with public life for many years. He has represented his party in county, congressional and state conventions, aiming to secure good men for nomination to office, and in 1886 he was elected trustee of Jefferson township. He was re-elected in 1888 and served until 1890, when he was chosen by election as sheriff of the county. He then removed to Marion, where he resided during his term of office. He has been one of the most capable and faithful sheriffs the county has ever known and discharged the duties devolv- ing upon him in so energetic and diplomatic a manner as to bring him the sanction and approval of both parties. Fearless of per- sonal danger, he has proved himself worthy the confidence reposed in him by rigidly car- rying out the laws of the state. As town- ship trustee he has never been excelled. The work at the time of his election was far
more responsible that at this time, as the advisory board has since been created to confer with the trustees and share the re- sponsibility. During his incumbency he caused to be erected five brick school build- ings, pushed the good-roads work and fa- vored public improvement by all honorable means in his power. He is a member of New Cumberland Lodge, No. 383. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Cumber- land, and passed through all the chairs. He belongs to Wheeler Encampment, No. 125, and Olive Lodge, No. 447, Daughters of Rebekah, of which his wife and elder daugh- ter are also members. The son William is also an Odd Fellow and member of the Re- bekahs. Mr. Sanders is an honored mem- ber of Benjamin R. Dunn Post. No. 440, G. A. R., of which he was charter member and commander. With his wife and daugh- ter he attended the Thirty-fourth National Encampment of that body in Chicago dur- ing the past summer (1900), and witnessed one of the most successful and enjoyable meetings they ever held.
SAMUEL WISE.
Samuel Wise is one of the most skilled mechanics in Grant county, Indiana, and is a reputable citizen of Upland. He is a son of Jacob and grandson of Daniel Wise, the latter of whom will be remembered by many as a man of genial disposition and dignified demeanor whose early life was given to in- dustry, and whose habits of thrift and economy were powerful aids in bringing about the present prosperous status of the county. Daniel Wise was born in Pennsyl-
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: vania August 30, 1805, and in his younger days combined farming with the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he had learned. When a man of middle age he came to this state and settled in Jefferson township, where he purchased a quarter-section of timber, there being no prairie. This land was cleared and in time became one of the most attractive farms in the locality. Be- fore leaving his native state he had mar- ried Catherine Bickel and two of their chil- dren are left to perpetuate their memory : Jacob, the father of Samuel, the subject ; and Henry a substantial farmer of Mills township. Both grandparents reached an exceeding old age, the grandfather being in his ninetieth and the grandmother in her eighty-eighth year when overtaken by death. Their lives have marked an era of prosperity and development in the state that is almost incredible. They held membership in the German Lutheran church and were people who stood high in the community and were held in veneration.
Jacob Wise, the father of Samuel, was born February 15, 1833, and was educated in the common schools. He was reared to habits of industry and has always followed farming. He is to-day regarded as one of the most practical farmers of the age and has accumulated a competency which will enable him to spend his remaining days in comfort and ease. The partner of his life who has assisted in this success was Miss Elizabeth Marine. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 15, 1836, and is a daughter of Asa and Lydia (Huff) Marine, both re- spected residents of this township. There was a large family of them but only four are now living, namely: Jonathan, Mrs. Wise, Daniel and Sallie. The latter is liv-
ing in Anderson, this state, the wife of H. Kizer, and the brothers are both farmers near here. She is a woman of broad experi- ence and pleasant manners, whose generous heart has prompted many a kindly deed and whose children idolize her. Both parents have exerted a powerful influence for good in the lives of their children and have the satisfaction of seeing them occupy places of respect in the estimation of the public. They have contributed to all worthy objects and have been untiring in their efforts to advance the general good of their community. Of the nine children which composed their household eight are living and all have fol- lowed in the footsteps of their parents in that they are farmers or wives of farmers, except the youngest daughter who is yet a student. They are: Samuel, whose name heads this article; Mary Jane, wife of Jesse Stanley; Solomon; Daniel; Frank, who is unmarried and lives with his parents ; Lydia, the wife of George Himelich; Elmer; and Alice.
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