USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 2
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Mr. Langton was born in Wooster, Ohio, April 30, 1837, but spent most of his life in Indiana. He is the son of David and Mary (Black) Langton, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, early in life. Later moving to the Hoosier state, David Langton enlisted his services in the defense of the Union at Logansport, but before he could see active service at the front fell sick and was discharged for dis- ability, thus being deprived of his desire to render service to his country. He and his wife were the parents of three children, namely: James J., the subject of this sketch: Martha, the wife of James Denney, of Scotland, Indiana; Bruce, who gave his life for his country, hav- ing been killed in battle during the Civil war. David Langton passed away at his home in Logansport in De- cember, 1865. Mrs. Langton's death occurred in her native community-Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio.
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James Jefferson Langton received what education he could from the rural schools. He was left motherless when a small boy and later lived with his aunt. Jane Rus- sell, with whom he remained until the feeling that his country needed his services in her dark days of trial, consequently he enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, on August 1, 1863, and efficiently served as a teamster until he was honorably discharged February 27, 1864, not having taken part in any battle, somewhat to his regret, but he felt that his work was just as essential as that of the man behind the gun, and, indeed, he should receive the same honor. After the war Mr. Langton settled on a farm near Scotland, Greene county, Indiana, later buying forty acres of land in Daviess county, this state, and while he never farmed on an extensive scale, he did in a most praiseworthy manner what tasks he found to do and was reasonably successful throughout his life. On Feb- ruary 14, 1866, he was united in marriage with Rachel M. Garrett, daughter of Andrew and Jane (Walker) Garrett, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio with their parents, marrying in the last named state, and where, in Athens county, the wife of our subject was born. Mr. Garrett was a cooper by trade, which he plied in Marion county, Ohio, until the spring of 1864, when he moved with his family to Taylor township. Greene county, Indiana, where he continued his trade. He was a stanch Republican, and both Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were members of the United Presbyterian church. They raised the following children: Nancy, who married An-
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drew Brown, both deceased; Margaret, who married James Wallace, both deceased; Mary Ann, who became the wife of William Baird, is dead, as is also her hus- band; Rachel M. is the wife of the subject : John W., who makes his home with Mrs. Langton, and has been en- gaged as a farmer and nurseryman, married Martha Hand, of Ohio, after which they came to. Greene county, Indiana, where she died. He was a gallant soldier in the Federal ranks in the sixties, after which he made his home in Martin county and in Scotland, this state. John W. has the following children : Mary A., William, Frank, Calvin, Minnie and Allie. Jemima Garrett was first married to Barney Rienhart. Her second husband was William Jackson and her third marriage was to F. Hall. She is now living in Boulder, Colorado. Mr. Gar- rett passed away in Martin county, Indiana, in 1868. Mrs. Garrett was called to her reward from Ohio.
After 1866 James J. Langton and wife lived three miles west of Scotland, Indiana, for a period of seven years, and then moved to Scotland in 1873, where he engaged in the broom making business until his death, which occurred January 27, 1907, after having made a comfortable home for his family and gained the honor that all such well ordered lives should receive. Mrs. Langton lives at Scotland.
Mr. and Mrs. Langton had but one child, Bruce F .. now a well known merchant in Bloomfield, this county, being a dealer in dry goods and gents' furnishings. He was born November 6, 1871, and educated in the com- mon schools, also took two courses in normal work, and taught music for seven years with marked success. He
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subsequently engaged in business in Scotland, and later lived in Indianapolis for eighteen months, where he clerked for William H. Block & Company, and where he increased his knowledge of this line of business. In 1903 he purchased an interest in the business of F. R. Van Meter, and under the firm style of Van Meter & Langton conducted a successful business for two years, when the junior member of the firm retired, but only for a month, when he opened up with an entirely new stock, and has since conducted a thriving business entirely on his own account, showing that he has pronounced innate busi- ness traits that make for success in the business world. In 1894 he chose a life partner, Anna B. Ingles, and one bright and interesting child, Marian Lillian, has blessed their home as a result of this union. Bruce Langton is a loyal Republican and he and his estimable wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.
CHRISTIAN DANIELSON.
The present efficient superintendent of schools in Greene county was born in Denmark, November 16, 1853. the son of Johan and Anna (Lillianskjosld) Danielson. The father of our subject was attorney general of Schle- wig and died in 1873. His wife, mother of our subject, died in 1859. They were both earnest, consecrated Chris- tians, members of the Lutheran church. Two children were born to them-Christian, the subject of this sketch, and Secelia, wife of a Mr. Lever, now living in Copen- hagen, Denmark.
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Our subject graduated with honors from the Uni- versity of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1873. Though only twenty years of age when he graduated, yet, as is the custom in Denmark, he had devoted himself closely to his student life, resulting in an education of the highest type.
He immigrated to America in 1874, landing first in New York, but afterwards settling in Baltimore, Mary- land. Here he labored at anything he could get to do. and business was at a low tide on account of the severe panic of 1873. He remained here about two years, when he went to Lynchburg. Virginia. Being full of energy and grit, he willingly turned his attention to anything that would give him honest employment, so he engaged as a farm hand, other kinds of labor being scarce. In this capacity he labored for about seven years before a change came. Besides the hard times, he encountered the difficulty of learning a new language, which to one whose mother tongue is not English is no easy task. Continuing his labors on the farm, he came to Indiana in 1878, and to Greene county in 1881, working on a farm in Highland township for two years. His first and only change was to teaching, and in this, like every other work to which he applied his head and hand, success came to him in an eminent degree. For four years he taught in Marco, and Bloomfield, seeing his ability and success in this rising young man, sought his service in their public schools. He was made principal of their high school, in which capacity he continued for seven years. He then went to Owensburg, having been elected to the superintendency, which he held for three years; thence to Switz City, where he served in the same capac-
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ity for seven years. In June, 1907, he was elected to the office of county superintendent, which office he now holds, and is praised by all for his efficiency and energy in try- ing to raise still higher the already high standard of Greene county schools.
While in Bloomfield he was married to Susan Ful- ler, daughter of David and Elizabeth Fuller. She was born in Smith township and her parents are now both dead. Her father was an early settler of the county and at the time of his death owned a large farm.
To Mr. and Mrs. Danielson were born three chil- dren-Olaf Hogarth, born at Bloomfield, July 30, 1890; Rolf Segurd, born at Owensburg, June 13, 1896, and Harrold Fuller, born at Solsberry, June 16, 1898.
The family seems to be true to their early training. Mr. Danielson is a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife continues true to the Baptist faith. He is a member of the Masonic order, and a Republican in poli- tics. His first vote was for Hayes and Wheeler.
The success attained by our subject is a lesson to all-an illustration of what can be done when determina- tion and grit get behind a purpose in life to push it along. Other honors are yet in store for him. He has won for himself the confidence and high esteem of the people of the entire county.
WILLIAM L. HERRINGTON.
William L. Herrington is among the few who find their native community good enough to spend their lives
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in, so he has remained in Richland township, Greene county, since his birth, November 7, 1860. After receiv- ing a common school education and living at home until he was twenty-two years old, he located two and one- half miles northwest of Bloomfield, Indiana, where he farmed for seventeen years. In 1901 he was appointed superintendent of the Greene county poor asylum, and is now serving his fourth term. He is generally popular in his native county, being an active worker in the Dem- ocratic party, a Presbyterian and a member of the Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 230, of Bloomfield. It is said by many that no other man has filled the office he now holds so well as he.
The subject was married on March 18, 1844, to Camma Workman, of Highland township. They have no children. His wife is the daughter of Henry and Sa- rah ( Buckner) Workman, of Highland township, Greene county. Mr. Workman married the second time, choos- ing for a wife Mahela Buckner, who is still living in Bloomfield. He was a farmer. Both he and his first wife are now deceased.
Lewis Herrington, father of the subject, lived in Monroe county, Indiana, and married Caroline Miller, of near Dayton, Ohio. He had little chance to go to school and at the age of fourteen years went to live with George Bradford, where he remained for nine years, after which he took up farming in Richland township. Greene county. Later he went to Illinois, but returned to his old com- munity in Greene county, Indiana, where he continued farming. He was a Democrat and a Presbyterian. He died about 1887 and his wife died in 1895. They are
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survived by four children-the subject of this sketch, Samuel H., a farmer in Fountain county, Indiana, who married Martha Bailes ; Thomas N., now in Los Angeles, California, formerly of Colorado and Kansas. He is an express messenger and married Prudence Thompson. Pearl is the wife of Harry Doyle, of Richland township, Greene county.
James Herrington was the subject's grandfather. He was a native of Kentucky and married Sarah Under- wood, of Lawrence county, Indiana. He came to the latter state and settled in Greene county, where he man- aged a farm for many years. He married a second wife, Elizabeth Scott, and they moved to Clark county, Illi- nois, where they both died. James Herrington had six children, three by each wife. They are Lewis, John, Perry, George, James and Mary.
John Miller was the subject's maternal grandfather, a native of Philadelphia. He married Elnora Imboden and they went to Ohio, settling near Dayton. Later they came to Richland township. Greene county, Indiana, and secured two hundred and forty acres of land, where they lived for eleven years. He was a farmer and black- smith. He retired in 1890 and moved to Bloomfield, In- diana, where he died in 1902. His second wife was Eliz- abeth Barton, of South Carolina. She died in 1904 in Worthington. He had nine children, all by his first wife. They were: Mariah, living near Tulip, Indiana; Cath- erine, living in Highland township; Elizabeth, living in Bloomfield ; Leah lives in Bloomington ; Caroline, mother of the subject : Mary lives in Bloomfield: Henry lives near Tulip; John, deceased; David.
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WILLIAM L. SLINKARD.
Men of general excellence in every station of life- men of industry, of integrity, of high principle, of ster- ling honesty of purpose-deserve and command the spon- taneous homage of their fellow men.
Notably conspicuous among the learned and distin- guished men of Greene county is William L. Slinkard, of Bloomfield, a lawyer of repute, whose brilliant success has given him a state reputation. Gifted with talents beyond the measure of that given to the average individual, he has acquitted himself with exceptional honor as an advocate before judge and jury, and in those other spheres of duty and usefulness which the highest citizenship entails he has gained for himself the confidence and esteem of all who know him. Possessing a strong individuality, unimpaired vigor, discreet judgment and generous impulses, qualities that lead to positions of honor and trust-he has dis- charged the important public and private trusts that have come to him with marked devotion and absolute fidelity.
Coming from a long line of honorable ancestry, whose early training inculcated a strict devotion to life's plain and simple virtues, he has struggled from humble surroundings to a commanding place in the world of af- fairs, and by his own achievements has gained a compe- tency before reaching the meridian of life.
William L. Slinkard is a native of Cass township, Greene county. Indiana, where he was born February 19. 1864. He is a son of Nathan V. and Sarah E. Slinkard. an appropriate sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He was reared and worked on the farm, spend-
H, Lelinkand
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ing his boyhood amid the environments of rural life. He attended the village schools, completing the entire course, and later attended the normal school at Bloomfield, after which he taught school for several years. He then took up the study of law, reading with Rose & Short, of Bloom- field, and attended law school at the University of Vir- ginia. When twenty-one years old he was admitted to the Bloomfield bar, and has ever since been one of its lead- ing members. He was appointed deputy prosecuting at- torney for the fourteenth judicial circuit in 1886 and his diligence in prosecuting offenders gained for him his party's nomination for prosecuting attorney in 1890. He was duly elected and re-elected in 1892. His administra- tion of this office and his zealous regard for the public morals gained for him a wide reputation as an able and fearless lawyer, and when he retired from office he easily secured a clientele second to none in the county. Mr. Slinkard is a Democrat of the progressive type, and served as presidential elector in 1896. He was his party's nomi- nee in 1906 for joint state senator from Monroe, Owen and Greene counties, and reduced the Republican majority from twelve hundred to seven hundred. 1212271
William L. Slinkard was married on June 2, 1897. to Pearl Cravens, daughter of Dr. Samuel C. and Mary L. Cravens. She was born and raised in Bloomfield, is a graduate of the Bloomfield high school, and is a social favorite in the best circles of society. Born to this union are three daughters, Esther, Ruth and Naomi, all living. and one son dead, William Cravens Slinkard.
Fraternally Mr. Slinkard is a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Red Men and Encamp-
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ment, and Elks, having been through all the chairs except those of the Masons and Elks. He is a member of the Lutheran and his wife of the Presbyterian church.
EMERY F. HAXTON.
Emery F. Haxton was born in Owen county, Indi- mit, in 1859. and was educated in the public schools of that county, working on his father's farm until 1892. when he came to Worthington, Indiana, and entered the hardware business, which he worked at for over two years. He was then in the drug business and later a traveling salesman. He later entered the hotel business and has been proprietor of the Williams House in Worthington since April 9. 1907. He was married in January, 1882. to Mary McClarren, a native of Greene county, and the daughter of John F. and Elizabeth ( Williams) McClar- ren. They have one child. Estill R., who is a merchant in Jasonville, Indiana. E. F. Haxton is a Republican and was township trustee for six years. He is an Odd Fellow, having filled all the chairs in the local lodge, and is a member of the grand lodge and grand encampment. Mrs. Haxton is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Alexander C. Haxton was the father of the subject. a native of Ohio, who married Mary Harstine, a native of Pennsylvania. They had four children, namely: E. F., subject of this sketch: Laura, wife of Albert Daller, of Indianapolis: Harvey D., now a real estate and in- surance dealer in Worthington, Indiana : Catherine, wife
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of Merton C. Bentley, of Chicago. A. C. Haxton was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in many of the hardest-fought engagements of the war-Gettysburg. Shiloh, Missionary Ridge and Look- out Mountain. He was badly wounded at the last named battle and was never again able to go to the front, but was on detached duty at Indianapolis. He was mustered out in March, 1865, and is now living in Indianapolis, an invalid, being absolutely helpless from the effects of his wounds. However, he does not regret his service to his country.
The grandfather of the subject, Richard G. Haxton, was of Irish descent. He came to Ohio and later to Owen county, Indiana. In 1842 he entered land there, where he farmed the remainder of his life, and died in 1890. The subject's grandfather Harstine was a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Owen county, Indiana, about 1840, where he spent his life and died in 1877.
The subject has always been regarded as an honest, upright and industrious citizen.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER TERRY.
Some very interesting historical facts are brought to light by taking a glimpse into the ancestral records of William A. Terry, one of Worthington's representa- tive citizens. He was born in Muhlenberg county, Ken- tucky, being the son of George W. and Nancy A. ( Shel-
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ton) Terry. His father was born in Virginia, having come to Kentucky with his parents when fourteen years of age.
William's great-grandfather, Miles Terry, was prac- tically one of the colonial settlers, locating first in Con- necticut, coming later to Virginia, and there ended his days. His nephew, Eli Terry, and his son were the old original clock makers of the time. He took part in the Revolutionary war, and was with Washingotn at the sur- render at Yorktown, where he was wounded, from the ef- fects of which he afterward died. The following alludes to George Terry, grandfather of the subject. It was at his home church that the association of the Baptist church met when that denomination became divided, and it was there that Alexander Campbell withdrew from the asso- ciation. In his home were drawn up the resolutions de- nouncing the church doctrine of Alexander Campbell.
William's grandfather, Thomas Terry, born in 1791. was a soldier in the War of 1812. Out of a family of nine children, four are still living, in 1908, the oldest of whom is Rev. George W. Terry, father of our subject. Another, one of the four, Azel M., was a soldier in the Civil war. and was a member of the Eleventh Kentucky Infantry. His home is still in that state. Thomas G., another of the family, was also a member of the Kentucky regiment of mounted infantry, and here contracted a disease from which he died.
The Rev. George W. Terry has had a most com- mendable career as a minister, being ordained in 1857. and is a graduate of the old Baptist University at Chi- cago. In July, 1907, he preached his fiftieth anniversary
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sermon, and is still filling his pulpit, at the age of eighty- three. He too, was a soldier in the Civil war, having en- listed in 1862, in the Ninty-seventh Indiana Infantry and later became regimental chaplain. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Jackson, Mississippi; Re- saca, Chickasaw Mountain, Atlanta, Savannah, Benton- ville and others. He was mustered out in July, 1865. He has preached over eleven thousand sermons and has bap- tized about fourteen hundred persons. In his younger days he practiced law, having been licensed as an attorney while in Kentucky, in 1854.
On the maternal side we find also some interesting records. Grandfather John Shelton came from North Carolina and settled finally in Kentucky. He followed farming and owned some slaves. He gained a wide reputation as a hunter, and took active part in many In- dian wars. While at Point Commerce, he was sent with his command to re-inforce General Harrison at Tippe- canoe.
William, our subject, was educated in the public schools of Monroe county, and remained upon the home farm until twenty-four years of age. He then rented a farm for himself, continuing thereon for ten years, after which he purchased a farm of eighty acres, operating it in connection with a sawmill. In 1894 he disposed of these and removed to Worthington. He then bought some coal land and for three years gave this his attention. Upon disposing of this, he went into the marble business, and was joined later by his brother. The firm is now enjoy- ing a very satisfactory volume of business.
On March 4. 1877. Mr. Terry was united in matri-
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mony with Mary Teague, who was born in Morgan coun- ty, Indiana, and is the daughter of Solomon and Melinda ( Duckworth) Teague. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Teague, the latter was the widow of John Dittemon.
Our subject and wife have the following children : Estella, wife of Scott Dodson; Mamie, born in 1884 and wife of Marion Mast. Miner, twin brother to Mamie. died in infancy; Lennie, born in 1887, is the wife of Henry Goens, and is the mother of two children.
Mr. and Mrs. Terry are members of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Terry is both deacon and trustee. He has also been a teacher and superintendent of the Sun- day school for many years. He is an active worker in the orders of Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. in both of which he has held important offices. He is a Republican, and Mr. Terry has demonstrated his pa- triotism by an upright career and loyalty to the principles of brotherhood in his daily contact with men.
DAVID SANDERS FAULK.
Among the representative men of Greene county who have added character and stability to the community and contributed largely of means and influence to its material advancement, the name of David S. Faulk is deserving of especial mention. Broad minded and liberal in his views of men and things, he has made his presence felt for good, and now after a long and useful career he can look back over his past life and find little therein to contrast
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and much to commend. Mr. Faulk's ancestors were among the early pioneers of North Carolina, in which state his grandparents on both sides of the family were born. Grandfather Faulk spent his entire life in his na- tive commonwealth and died there many years ago. Charles Faulk, the subject's father, also a Carolinian by birth and a farmer by occupation, married Mary Fiscus, whose parents moved to Indiana as early as 1826 and settled in Owen county on a quarter section of land which Mr. Fiscus purchased from the government. In due time this land was cleared and improved, and on it Mr. and Mrs. Fiscus made their home until their deaths which occurred in the years 1872 and 1873, respectively.
Charles Faulk spent the greater part of his life in Owen county, where he owned a farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres, which he cultivated until called to the other world in the year 1848. He and his good wife, zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, did much to introduce religion into the community they assisted in founding, and are remembered as a most excel- lent and God-fearing couple, many of whose virtues have been reproduced in their descendants.
David S. Faulk is a native of Indiana and dates his birth from August 20, 1840, having first seen the light of day on the family homestead in Owen county. He at- tended the schools of his neighborhood as opportunities permitted, but when a mere youth, was obliged to assume the responsibility of the farm's management by reason of the death of his father and to this he devoted his attention until his mother's second marriage, when, at the age of seventeen he began working for himself as a farmhand.
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Two years later he purchased his first real estate, consist- ing of twenty acres, on which he erected a small house and commenced improving. until, in due time, he had the entire area reduced to cultivation and here he lived until responding to the President's call for volunteers to assist in putting down the rebellion, enlisting August 13, 1862, in Company F. Ninty-seventh Indiana Infantry, with which he served until mustered out June 9. 1865, and dur- ing the time experienced in full measure, the vicissitudes and horrors of warfare, taking part in a number of noted battles in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and other states, including the engagements at Jackson, Knoxville and Missionary Ridge and various other actions of the Atlanta campaign, among which were Resaca, Dalton, New Hope Church and Kenesaw Mountain, where he became physically disabled, resulting from vaccination which necessitated hospital treatment of a number of weeks' duration. When sufficiently recovered to rejoin his command he again saw active duty at the battle of Griswoldville, Georgia, where he was twice wounded, and also participated in the engagement of Savannah, Geor- gia, in the reduction of Columbia, South Carolina. After being mustered out of service on the date above indicated, Mr. Faulk returned to Owen county, Indiana, and re- sumed the pursuit of agriculture, but, within a short time sold his little farm and during the following nine years tilled the soil as a renter. He then purchased five town lots in Forsyth, Illinois, and ten acres of land nearby, also a farm of one hundred and forty-nine acres in Greene coun- ty, to which he subsequently added forty acres and moved to this place where he continued to reside until 1894, when
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