USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 13
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SETH LAUGHLIN.
At the outset of the career of the gentleman whose life record we briefly call attention of the reader to he did not seek any royal road to the goal of prosperity and independence, but began early in life to work earnestly and diligently to advance himself, and the result is that he is now numbered among the influential farmers of Jackson township, where he has a farm which has been developed from wild soil by the untiring effort of the subject.
Seth Laughlin was born October 22. 1854. in Ran- dolph county, North Carolina, and he forms one of that large class of fellow workers from the old Tar Heel state who have benefited Indiana, the state of their adop-
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tion, to such a very great extent, for among them is al- ways to be found the highest type of citizenship that the nation affords. The parents of our subject were Lind- sey and Nancy ( Briles) Laughlin, both natives of North Carolina, who came to Indiana in 1861 and remained here during the remainder of their lives, making a suc- cessful venture in farming and raising five children, only two of whom now survive, our subject and John Laugh- lin, a resident of the state of Oklahoma.
Seth Laughlin was seven years old when his par- ents brought him to this state. He worked diligently on his father's farm in Greene county. He did not go to school until nineteen years old, then attended the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. Then he taught school for eight terms, becoming one of the popular teachers of Jackson township at that time, in which all his labors in this line were confined.
In 1883 the subject was happily married to Amanda Byers, whose paternal family came to this state from Pennsylvania. Nine children were born to this union, as follows: Ora, Butler, Nannie, Lester, Frank, Harvey, Charley, Edna and Wade.
Mr. Laughlin's farm in Jackson township consists of two hundred and seventy acres, which is worth, con- servatively speaking, ten dollars per acre. It yields the subject and family a comfortable living, being product- ive and well managed. General farming is carried on. much small grain being produced. Mr. Laughlin also de- votes some attention to stock raising. Politically he is a Republican, but does not devote much time to politics. However, he always stands for the best principles and best men.
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HENRY BAKER.
An enumeration of the men who have won honor and recognition in the past and added luster to the com- munities in which they have acted their parts in life would be incomplete without due notice of the widely known and popular citizen whose biography is herewith pre- sented ; a citizen, who, by the master strokes of a vigor- ous personality and sheer force of character, has risen to an enviable place among his fellows and gained more than local repute as an enterprising and progressive man of affairs.
Henry Baker is a native of Niagara county, New York, and descended paternally from Welsh antecedents, while on the mother's side he inherits the characteristics of a long line of sterling New England ancestry. His father. Nathan Baker, was an only child, who first saw the light of day at East Hampton, Long Island, New York, and when a young man learned cabinet making and carpentry, in both of which trades he acquired great proficiency. He also served in the War of 1812 and par- ticipated in a number of engagements during his period of enlistment. Nathan Baker married in his native state, Prudence Walker, and in 1839 moved to Greene county, Indiana, where he entered land, cleared a good farm and spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1851. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the county, took an active part in the development of the community in which he resided and is remembered as a man of strong character and unblemished reputation. He was three times mar- ried and reared a family of nine children, seven of whom
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MR. AND MRS. HENRY BAKER.
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were born to his union with Prudence Walker. Nathan Baker and wife died only three weeks apart and were buried at Bloomfield when the subject was nineteen years old. In the spring of 1908 their remains were removed to the cemetery at Worthington.
Henry Baker was born August 24, 1832, and at the age of seven years accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Indiana, since which time his life has been very closely identified with the growth and development of Greene county, of which he is now in point of con- tinuous residence one of the oldest living settlers. Dur- ing his childhood and youth he became familiar with all the varied and rugged duties of pioneer life; assisted by his father and brothers to clear and improve the home farm and in the indifferent schools of those times ob- tained the rudiments of a practical education. The first school he attended was taught in a house without win- dows and as open between the logs, of which it was com- posed, as a rail pen. At that time there was not a build- ing in the county erected especially for educational pur- poses and for several years various means were resorted to to supply this need. The first heating apparatus was a large iron kettle placed in the center of the room and a fire built in it and from this was obtained the only heat they had. In due time, or about six years later, a house was built two and one-half miles from the subject's home, the aggregate cost of which did not exceed five dollars for the entire structure, the door hinges and latch being composed of wood. The huge fireplace, which occupied the greater part of one end of the building, was supplied with wood cut from day to day by the boys in attendance,
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but the chimney proved so faulty that to avoid being strangled by the large amount of smoke that escaped into the room the door had to be kept open for hours at a time to the great disconfort bi teacher and pupils. In those early days there was no systematic course of study. ani for a number of years reading was principally taught from the New Testament. though occasionally other books found their way to the school. one of which the subject remembers to have been a patent medicine dimanae.
Mr. Baker assisted with the labor of the home farm until about twenty years of age and then turned his at- tention to the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a period of eight years. during which time he saved suf- sent from his earnings to purchase a tract of wild land. of the Cleaning and improving of which he at once ad- Dressel himself By energetic and persevering toil he soon succeeded in reducing a godly portion of his place to ciframin. besides adding many other substantial im- Drivements until in the course of a few years he not only had a fine farm with all modern accessories, but had also increased lus Holdings by the purchase of other valuable real estate in the vicinity. During his prime Mr. Baker clearel and otherwise improved two good farms, and this_ oo. fr m helyfly timberel land. which represented an amount of labor and sacrifice difficult for one unac- quainted with primitive conditions th understand or ap- preciate. It was by working early and late. frequently far into the night. by the light of his blazing log heaps. and by expending a vast amount of well directed energy that his efforts were finally rewarded and he became one
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of the leading farmers of the community. also one of its most enterprising and progressive citizens. He continued the pursuit of agriculture until 1892 when he turned his farm over to other hands and moved to Worthington. where he has since lived a retired life.
Mr. Baker has always been public spirited, and as an influential factor in the affairs of his county is a rec- ognized leader among his fellow men. His life has been singularly free from fault. and by a career of honorable endeavor he has earned the confidence of those with whom he mingles. while few of his contemporaries oc- cupy a more conspicuous place in the esteem of the public. He has always been a firm believer in the gospel of cor- rect living. and although exceeding the Scriptural allot- ment of three score and ten by six years. he is still a re- markably well preserved man physically. being free from the infirmities incident to those of his age and a stranger to nearly all the ills and pains to which human flesh is heir. In early life he formed those correct habits which have their legitimate fruitage in healthful bodies. clear brains and well balanced judgment. and he attributes much of his rugged energy and splendid vitality to the fact of his having always abstained from the use of to- bacco in all its forms. and all kinds of intoxicants. drugs. tea and coffee. and to the temperate use of the legitimate blessings with which nature so bountifully surrounded him. Mr. Baker is a Prohibitionist in politics and an earnest advocate of principles which he espouses. Al- though no seeker of public honors or emoluments of office he served several years as justice of the peace and made a creditable record in that capacity. as is attested by
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the large amount of business transacted in his court and the clearness and fairness of his rulings and decisions.
. Mr. Baker owns thirty acres close to Worthington, which supplies his home and his residence and business property in Worthington and can truthfully say that he owes no man in the world a penny. Since twenty years of age he has been a contributor to newspapers and jour- nals and has some very spicy articles, some of which will be found within this volume, and he has kept a diary for thirty-six years.
On December 3, 1858, he inarried Sarah Inman, of Greene county, daughter of Robert and Rhoda ( Wines) Inman, five children being the fruits of the union, namely: Lizzie, born April 11, 1860, died February 16th of the year following; John, born November 20, 1862, died in infancy: Nettie, born July 15, 1865, is the wife of Erastus Price, of Linton, and the mother of three liv- ing children : George L., born July 24, 1868, is engaged in the mercantile business at Worthington: Frankie, the youngest of the family and the wife of Fletcher Owen, of Worthington, was born November 9, 1870. Like her husband, Mrs. Baker is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances and possesses the qualities of head and heart that win and retain confidence and pop- ularity. She is a zealous Christian, an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church of Worthington and has been unremitting in her efforts to impress the prin- ciples of morality and true piety upon the minds and hearts not only of the members of her household, but of all with whom she comes in contact.
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JOEL HATFIELD.
He to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families of Greene county, where, by habits of industry, he has builded a comfortable home in all that this magic word implies to a man of simple and healthy tastes.
Joel Hatfield is the son of George and Elizabeth (Snider) Hatfield, having been born February 8, 1841, on the farm where he now lives. His parents were natives of Tennessee, who came to Indiana in an early day. They are described as simple, hard-working people of fine moral principles and active in church work. The father of the subject took a very active part in the Republican politics of those early days and made his influence for good felt in this field. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now ( 1908) living.
Joel Hatfield, the subject, labored on his father's farm and attended the common schools of his neighbor- hood until he was twenty years old, when he readily re- sponded to the wave of patriotism that swept over him when our martyred President called for troops to save the Union, and this subject enlisted on April 22, 1861, in Company B, Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Regiment. for a period of three months, after which he returned home for a short time, then re-enlisted when it was seen that the rebellion was growing in power, his second term of enlistment being for one year, and later re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. He served in Missouri in the campaign against General Price, rendering gallant service as corporal until he was unfortunately seized with
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rheumatism, which rendered it necessary to discharge him from the service in about a year after his enlistment. His government now remembers him with a substantial pension. Two brothers of the subject, Jerry and Jasper, were also in the army.
After his service in the army Mr. Hatfield returned home and resumed farming, and in 1864 married Dolly Brown, who was born and reared in Greene county, her parents having migrated to this state from Tennessee in an early day. To this happy union seven children were born, five of whom are still living. They are: Carey, Hiram, Kiah, Noah, Cora and Jesse. Each of these children had the advantages of an early common school education. When he was married his only earthly pos- sessions were a horse and saddle, and now he is the owner of eighty acres of good land on which is a cozy dwelling and other convenient buildings. He has made all this by his unaided efforts. Politically he is a Republican and was at one time supervisor of roads, which office he filled in a most acceptable manner. The subject is a member of the Christian church at Owensburg, Indiana, and both he and his wife are not only well known in their com- munity, but no people in Jackson township are more high- ly respected for their uprightness.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WARREN.
He to whose career we now direct attention is num- bered among the progressive farmers of Richland town-
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ship, where he has spent his life and gained a reasonable degree of prosperity through his own honest efforts in connection with the development of the natural resources of this favored section, his chief delight being in owning and maintaining up to a high state of efficiency the old Warren homestead, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Warren comes of stanch Irish lineage, being of the second generation of the family in America, his father, William Warren, having emigrated from the Em- erald Isle. The subject was born February 22, 1868. He made proper use of his time while a youth in the com- mon schools of his neighborhood and laid the foundation for the careful thinking and planning he has been obliged to do during his manhood years in order to make life a success and train his family in the paths of virtue and achievement. During the summer months he worked assiduously on his father's farm and delighted in taking care of his worthy parents until he reached manhood's estate, when he married Lizzie Neidigh, with whom he lived happily for a period of ten years, when she was called to her eternal reward. The subject's second mar- riage was to Jennie Baker, widow of Joseph Corns. She was born March 6, 1861, in Madison county, Indiana. She had received a good common school education and has proved a faithful helpmeet. She is a member of the Dunkard church. The subject's son, Areld Walter, was born August 23. 1898.
Mr. Warren, by the exercise of his splendid gifts as an agriculturist, has kept the old farm on which he now resides in a remarkably good productive state ; in fact, ite
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abundant crops from year tro year have not depleted the soil to any appreciable degree. Instead of wearing his land literally out by forcing it to produce all it will each season of the staple products, he has diversified corn with clover and other grasses, which has prevented the soil from becoming thin and washing away. Politically he is a Republican.
This sketch should not be closed until something be told the reader regarding the life of the subject's hon- ored father, William Warren, who was born July 1, 1816, in Wexford county, Ireland. When twenty-one years old he came to America, working in New York City for a time. A year later he came to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was married in 1840 to Nancy Ann Johnson, who was born near Salem, Indiana. They lived in that city for five years, where he performed the duties of book- keeper for a hardware firm. In 1845 he came to Greene county, Indiana, settling in Richland township, where he remained until his death, September 25. 1873, dying com- paratively young but not until he had made a success. He was a Republican and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the par- ents of eleven children, George W., the subject of this sketch, being the youngest.
FRANCIS M. DUGGER.
This enterprising business man and gallant ex-sol- dier, whose name has long been intimately associated
Francis M hugger
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with the industrial interests of Greene county, is an hon- ored resident of Bloomfield and a citizen of much more than local repute. The family of which he is a repre- sentative is traceable through several generations to Mark Dugger, who came to this county in a very early day, but of whose life and antecedents little is known. The Duggers have long been noted for splendid and sym- metrically developed physique. the men being unusually tall and erect, of fine presence and vigorous constitutions. while their mental and moral characteristics appear to have harmonized with their bodily powers-honorable and upright in their relations with their fellow men, scru- pulously honest in all their dealings, and possessing in a marked degree the qualities of head and heart that in- sure good citizenship. They have ever exercised a whole- some moral influence and always stood high in the es- teem of the people with whom they mingled. Thomas Dugger, father of Francis M., was born in this state in 1817. He was an honest, hard-working man, having cleared a farm from the primitive forest and devoted his life to the pursuit of agriculture, in which he was more than ordinarily successful. He accumulated a handsome competency and became one of the well-to-do men of the community in which he lived. Originally a Whig in pol- itics, he afterwards became a Republican, and for many years was an active and influential member of the Chris- tian church. Sabra Floyd, wife of Thomas Dugger. was born in 1816, in Tennessee. She bore her husband nine children, and departed this life in Bloomfield. August 26. 1903. Mr. Dugger dying at Jonesboro (now Hobbie- ville) on June 6. 1874. Of their nine children. seven
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are living at the present time, namely: Sarah, widow of J. L. Oliphant ; Hettie, widow of Ambrose Meredith ; Francis M., our subject: Elizabeth M. wife of O. B. Richeson : Nancy E., wife of J. T. Lamb; William R .. and Thaddeus H., all of whom have families and are well situated in the matter of worldly wealth. The two mem- bers of the family deceased were twin sisters, Mary and Susan, the former dying in childhood, the latter when a young woman.
Francis M. Dugger was born June 6. 1841, in Greene county, Indiana, and spent his childhood and youth on the home farm in Jackson township, remaining under the parental roof until his twentieth year. In the meantime he attended the district schools during the win- ter months, devoting the rest of the year to labor on the farm, and in this way he passed the time until the break- ing out of the Civil war. On July 28. 1861. he enlisted in Company B. Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, and imme- diately thereafter accompanied his command to the front. seeing his first service in Missouri under General Jeffer- son C. Davis. Later his regiment served in the com- mands of Fremont and Curtis, and while under the lat- ter general Mr. Dugger participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. Arkansas, and he was also in the engagement at Helena, that state. Subsequently his regiment joined Grant's army and took part in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, going thence to Texas, where he re-enlisted December 31, 1863, the entire regiment veteranizing, after which he returned home on a furlough, where he cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. Rejoining his command, which had been transferred to the army un- der General Sheridan, he was with that intrepid leader in
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all the battles of the Shenandoah Valley, and afterwards went to southwestern Georgia, where his military service terminated, with an honorable discharge, bearing date of August 28, 1865. He entered the army as a private, but later rose to the rank of brevet captain. in which capacity he continued a little over one year, but was never mus- tered in as captain, and was mustered out of the service as first sergeant.
Returning to his home at the close of the war, Mr. Dugger turned his attention to the pursuits of civil life, and in 1866 was elected sheriff of Greene county, which office he held two terms of two years each, or four years. At the expiration of his term he removed to Jonesboro, this county, where he engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, but in 1872 he was again elected to the office of sher- iff, the duties of which he discharged for a period of four years more, in all eight years, proving an able and fear- less as well as a very popular public servant, as is amply indicated by his long term of office.
In the year 1876 Mr. Dugger engaged in the grain and milling business, which from the beginning proved remunerative, and later, in 1882, he began developing the coal industry, which he conducted in connection with his other interests, producing coal principally from his own lands in Sullivan and Greene counties, associated with the late Henry T. Neal, opening what was known as the old Dugger mine, establishing the town of Dugger, which was so named in honor of Mr. Dugger. In 1885 they opened a mine named Champion in that locality, and in 1888 purchased one-half interest in the Summit mine, lo- cated just west of Linton, which they successfully ope-
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rated for several years, and opened what is known as the New Summit mine, which was sold upon the death of Henry T. Neal. Mr. Dugger then associated with his brother, William R. Dugger, opened the Sunflower mine near Dugger, and of this company our subject is the president and a heavy stockholder, with the home offices at Bloomfield, and the company is in a flourishing condi- tion. After opening the first shafts in the Greene-Sullivan coal fields he sold a portion of his grain and milling inter- ests and for some time thereafter conducted the coal in- dustry upon quite an extensive scale, opening mines at Midland, Lattas Creek and Letsinger, near Jasonville, and the Clover Leaf at Cass, all of which proved very pro- ductive and added greatly to the liberal income of which he was then the recipient. After some years he disposed of all his mining interests except the one at Dugger, which he still owns, and which now yields a daily output of twelve hundred tons.
In the meantime Mr. Dugger became interested in banking at Dugger and Bloomfield, being instrumental in organizing the Citizens' State Bank at the latter place, of which he is still president and principal stockholder, be- sides doing a general banking business at the former town in connection with merchandising. He is also interested in various other business enterprises, including the Farmers' and Mechanics' Building, Loan and Savings Association, which he organized and of which he is president, and the Linton Water Works Company, in which he is a heavy stockholder. In the management of the various lines of business in which he is engaged Mr. Dugger displays ex-
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ecutive ability of a high order, sound judgment and sa- gacity, which enable him to foresee with remarkable ac- curacy the outcome of the present action. In his under- takings he has not been content to follow the dictates of others, but invariably takes the initiative, his ability to plan and lead being recognized and appreciated by his as- sociates, who are ever ready to defer to his judgment and act in harmony with his directions. Few men of Greene county have risen to the commanding position he occu- pies, and none exceed him in the ability to turn apparent defeat into decided success, and without invidious com- parison it may truly be said that he is today not only a leader in business and industrial circles, but an influential factor in moulding and directing public opinion among his fellow citizens. He has affiliated with the Masonic fra- ternity, Lodge No. 84, including the Royal Arch degree, and also held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Bloomfield. In politics he is pronounced in his allegiance to the Republican party and in religion is identified with the Christian church, for the organiza- tion of which in 1874 Mr. Dugger was largely responsi- ble, and of which he has been an elder continuously since and contributing largely to the construction of their pres- ent church home, as well as in its support.
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