USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Blackford and Grant Counties : Indiana a chronicle of their past and present with family lineage and personal memoirs > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Grant County > Blackford and Grant Counties : Indiana a chronicle of their past and present with family lineage and personal memoirs > Part 46
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Mr. Wimpy left the school room in 1901 for a clerical position in the First National Bank, and has had continuous employment there for more than twelve years. Because other Friends have had employ- ment there it is sometimes called the Quaker Bank, and Mr. Wimpy reflects honor on the church he represents in his business relations. The city council of Marion has three times elected him a member of the library board and he is now serving his fifth year as its treasurer.
Francis H. Wimpy, his brother, married Miss Corintha Clark, daughter of Simon and Julia (Nottingham) Clark, and one daughter, Ursula Wimpy, was born to them. Francis Wimpy was a fariner, and his family had the land in Mill township where he lived when he met his death. While the original Hockett family is gone, A. N. Wimpy who represents it has many of the characteristics of his ances- tors, and is a useful man in the community.
ROBERT MCGIBBON. The story of Robert MeGibbon of Sims town- ship, Grant county, Indiana, is a story of determined effort, courage and steadfastness of purpose, which no obstacle was great enough to destroy. Mr. MeGibbon is now one of the most successful farmers and popular citizens in this part of Grant county, and when he arrived in this county he was friendless and had just ten cents in his pocket. Such a life as his should not only be an inspiration to boys handicapped by poverty but also to those more fortunate ones who have the first steps made smooth for them. Mr. MeGibbon is an influential factor in the business world of this section and he has taken an active and public spirited part in the interests of the farmers, doing much to draw them closer together.
Robert MeGibbon was born in Belfast, Ireland, on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1866, the son of Francis and Sarah (McGee) McGibbon, both of whom are now dead, having passed away in their native Ireland. He was educated in the schools of Ireland, and until he was eighteen years of age he lived in Belfast. Then the desire to see the United States and to try his fortunes in the new land, a wish he had long had, came to its fulfillment. A cousin of his, returned from the United States to settle an estate, offered to take the boy back with him. His parents were opposed to his going, and so he borrowed the money for his passage, for he felt that he would never amount to anything if he stayed in Ireland. Upon his arrival in New York City, his sole possession was an English sixpence, so his cousin paid his fare to Tipton county, Indiana, and upon his arrival he had just ten cents. He went to work for his cousin to pay him back the loan and for some time he worked on a farm in Grant county.
Until 1890 Mr. McGibbon worked on a farm in Grant county and then came the event in his life which gave him his start. He went to the Vol. II-20
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far West and there in the gold mines became a mining engineer. He was possessed of a clever brain and a turn for mechanics and soon became an expert in this work. For five years he was an engineer in the mine and quartz mill, later became chief engineer in the water works, and although holding a responsible and lucrative position, he always felt that the agricultural life was the most independent and the happiest, so he returned to Grant county and there bought the farm on section fourteen, Sims township, which he named the Esperanza Farm, the Span- ish name of which means most hopeful or most successful. He owns 219 acres of land in Sims township, which is well ditched and highly im- proved. He has erected all the buildings on the place and they are modern and well built. He is well known among breeders, as a breeder of Short Horn cattle, subject to register, and he also breeds Poland China hogs. He is a large feeder and sells his cattle almost entirely to local buyers. He lives the life of the modern farmer, with his modern house, with all the conveniences of a town house, a telephone to bring the world nearer and lastly, that boon to the farmer, an automobile.
Mr. McGibbon has never taken a very active part in politics, but he is a loyal member of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the Grant County Board of Equalization, and he has also been super- intendent of the twelve miles of gravel road through his district. He is one of the stockholders in the Farmers' Trust and Savings Bank in Marion, and he is a stockholder in the Sweetser Telephone Company. He has always been active in the farmers' organizations and is treasurer of the Grant Farmers' Institute.
Mr. McGibbon was married on the 27th of May, 1895, to Miss Agnes Shafer, of Carroll county, Indiana. Nine children have been born of this union, two of whom are dead. Those living are as follows: Ford B., born on April 2, 1896; Loren, who was born on the 3rd of February, 1898; Raymond, whose birth occurred on May 1, 1900; Mabel, who was born on May 24, 1902; Dolores, born on the 17th of April, 1904; Pauline, whose birth took place on September 19, 1908, and Isabelle, who was born on the 24th of September, 1909. Mr. MeGibbon is a member of Swayzee Lodge, No. 637, of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.
BLOCH BROTHERS. In the general mercantile field there is no ques- tion of the precedence held by the firm of Bloch Brothers in Gas City and Upland. The firm consists of Edward and Benjamin Bloch, who are proprietors of the Golden Eagle store in Gas City and Upland, and are the chief owners in the corporation known as Gas City Mer- cantile Company of Gas City, Edward Bloch being president and Benjamin Bloch a director. They took the leading part in the organi- zation of the latter concern, which was established in 1909, to carry everything in the line of dry goods, with special attention to women's wear, including apparel and dress goods for both old and young, shoes and the other lines usually found in up-to-date and metropolitan stores of that character. The Gas City Mercantile Company has its establishment in a very eligible location on East Main street in Gas City. Just opposite and on the same street is the Bloch Brothers Golden Eagle store, which as a men's furnishing establishment has no superior in the county. It is a large, commodious and well lighted store building, and the shelves and counters are stocked with all the staple goods required by a well dressed community. The brothers opened a branch of their men's furnishing goods store at Upland in 1902. The Golden Eagle store has had a record of continuous and growing business success since it was started in 1896 by these brothers. Their store adjoins the post office building, and is a large building on
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a basis of forty-four by one hundred feet, while the Upland branch house occupies a building eighteen by fifty-five feet. The mercantile company is in a store building twenty-two by one hundred feet.
These business establishments are a monument to the industrial energy and enterprise and the reliable dealings of the two brothers, Edward and Benjamin Bloch. They are merchants in the best sense of the word, have made a close study of business detail and know not only how to attract trade, but how to hold it by scrupulous dealings and by furnishing goods which the custom wants and is satisfied with. The brothers have been associated in business since 1896, when they started their store at Gas City.
Both brothers were born in Milan, Missouri, came to Marion in Grant county in 1888, where they were reared and educated, and received valuable business training under their father, Simon Bloch, who was also for many years in the Men's furnishing goods business. He was a merchant of Marion some years before his death, in 1895. At that time he was forty-five years of age. His birth occurred in Germany, and he was of Hebrew family. He grew up in his native land, and in 1866 came to the United States, living in Chicago until 1877, and then went to Missouri, where he married Celia Brede, who was also born in Germany and of Hebrew family. She is still living, being now fifty-four years of age, and makes her home with her two sons in Gas City. The Bloch Brothers are live and energetic merchants, leaders in business affairs, and their support is counted upon for all matters that affect the substantial welfare of the community. Both affiliate with Lodge No. 428, Knights of Pythias, at Gas City, and Edward is also a member of the local lodge of Red Men. In politics they maintain an independent attitude.
JOHN W. ALLEN. Among the older residents of Grant county, none perhaps is better known than the late John W. Allen, who died at his home in Marion, November 21, 1913, in his seventy-second year. He was born in this county, lived here all of his life, and through many years was actively identified with business and political affairs. A larger share of his active career was spent in farming, but at the same time he was always ready to accept public service, and the high esteem which was given him in his life and which followed him to the grave proved that he had been an efficient public servant, an honorable busi- ness man, and a valuable factor in his community.
John W. Allen was born in Washington township of Grant county, March 19, 1842. His father was Wesley Allen and his mother was Rachael (Hicks) Allen, both of whom were natives of the state of Ohio and settled in Indiana among the pioneers. Wesley Allen was one of those sturdy frontiersman who carved out of the wilderness their little farms, and he spent his life as a farmer, dying about six- teen years ago. The mother of Mr. Allen died about ten years ago. There were eight children in his family, as follows: Solomon, San- ders, John, Sarah Ann, Ruth, Constantine, John W. and James. Of these, Sanders, Sarah Ann, Solomon and John W. are now deceased.
On his father's farm in Washington township John W. Allen was reared, and in the meantime received his education by attendance at the country schools. Before reaching his majority the country was set on fire by the noise of the guns of Fort Sumter, and in September, 1861, although only nineteen years of age he enlisted in Company F of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served from that time until February 1, 1866, more than four years. He was in many campaigns and notable battles, was all through the campaign
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about Vicksburg, fought at Champion Hill and Jackson, participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and as the culminating experience of his long career as a soldier was present and a fighter in the last battle of the war, fought near the Rio Grande river in southern Texas. After his honorable discharge he returned to Grant county, and began farın- ing near the old homestead. That was his home until 1884, when he retired from his close attention to business affairs and removed to Marion. His brother James now owns the old homestead. The last years of his life Mr. Allen spent in looking after his property interests in the county seat and in the country, and at Marion he had a comfort- able home, where his widow now resides, at 216 W. First street.
For eight years the late Mr. Allen served as assessor of Center township, the city of Marion being included within his jurisdiction. For two years he was deputy sheriff of the county. In his political views he always voted Republican and was active in the party. He was also a popular man in the ranks of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and at one time held the office of Senior Vice-Commander.
On October 7, 1869, Mr. Allen married Miss Eliza Culbertson, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Culbertson. She was born in Guern- sey county, Ohio, and when she was ten years of age her parents moved from that locality to Franklin county, near Columbus, Ohio. Later they came to Grant county, where Mrs. Allen met and married her hus- band. They have one son, Otto G. Allen, who made his home with his father and mother in Marion. Otto G. Allen is an attorney and gives special attention to the legal interests of the Grant Trust and Sav- ings Company. He is a graduate of the Indiana Law School, and has practiced law at Marion for twelve years. In this time he has served as deputy prosecuting attorney one term, and made a notable record for the expeditious handling of cases, seven hundred coming under his management during that time. He has been twice married. He first married Miss Lou Hamilton, a daughter of Dr. A. A. Hamilton, of Marion, and after her death married Miss Florence Riddell, who is his present wife.
JOHN O. WILLSON, ex-mayor of Marion, is one of the citizens of Marion whose long residence, success in business, and high personal character entitle them to the best distinctions in public life, where their previous record insures careful and intelligent service for the public welfare.
During the past ten years Mr. Willson has made a notable record in public affairs and has come to be known as one of the public men of Grant county who have a special faculty for getting things done and for general efficiency in all their public service. Mr. Willson in 1904 was elected to the office of city clerk on the Republican ticket. At that time the term of office was two years, but when he was reelected in 1906 the law had in the meantime been changed so that cities of the class of Marion elect their principal officials for a term of four years. In 1909 Mr. Willson became candidate in the cam- paign for the office of mayor, was elected by the people and began his official service on January 1, 1910. His terms has but lately expired, and in reviewing the four years of his service as the head of the city's affairs, it is gratifying to note the progress that his admin- istration has stood for. Those in any way familiar with the munici- pal growth of Marion during the past three years can not fail to note the large and varied accomplishments which may properly be accred- ited to the administration of Mr. Willson. Probably the foremost feature of it would be the new civic assembly hall and market house
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which was built at a cost of $50,000, and is one of the largest public buildings of its kind in Indiana. The possession of this building has been a very happy thing for Marion and a source of much pride to its citizenship. With such facilities the city and the civic organiza- tion have the means to offer inducements to large public meetings and conventions, and a number of large conventions have already been secured since the completion of the building. The construction of this hall was one of the leading measures advocated by Mr. Will- son during his campaign for mayor, and on taking office he applied himself with great energy to getting the enterprise carried out suc- cessfully. Another achievement that could be mentioned as a feature of his administration is the concrete "fill" and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad right-of-way, an undertaking which was completed at the cost of a great sum of money, and which has added much to the permanent development and improvement of the city. Mr. Willson also successfully advocated the granting of a ten-year franchise for artificial gas, and by means of this measure the city obtained the cheapest street lighting proposition in the United States.
John O. Willson was born in the city of Maryland, September 21, 1869, a son of Gilbert and Margaret (Brownlee) Willson, both of whom were natives of New York state. The mother, who is a daugh- ter of Judge John Brownlee, a representative of one of the fine old families of this locality, is now living at the age of seventy-five years. The father, who was a grain and stock dealer, died in 1895 at the age of fifty-eight. The three children in the family were: John O .; Hiram B., who died in 1902, and Laura F., who is a clerk in the county clerk's office.
John O. Willson received his early education in the common schools of Marion, but he left off his studies at a comparatively early age in order to enter upon the practical affairs of life. When he was four- teen years of age he became a clerk in Blumenthal's clothing store, and was in the same capacity for Goldwaith & Son, and subsequently was with Barney Freund's mens' furnishing store. His next experi- ence was as a shipping clerk at the Holiday's Bicycle Works, where he remained for three years, and was then for two years employed as shipping clerk with the Mccullough & Wilson Frnit Jar Works.
Mr. Willson, on March 2, 1910, married Miss Elizabeth (Steele) Dun, of Columbus, Ohio, a daughter of John G. Dun, who was pro- prietor of the Hotel Vendome in that city. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Willson are Margaret Ann and Elizabeth Jane.
Mr. Willson is a director of the Mecca Club, one of the leading social organizations of Marion, and is also a member of the Marion Country Club, the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, and an honorary member of the Orioles. He and his wife are communicants of the Episcopal church.
OSCAR E. HAYNES. One of the large farmers of Grant county, Indi- ana, who is also a native of this county, is Oscar E. Haynes, of Sims town- ship. He has spent his life in his present occupation and although he is now only in his prime he has devoted himself to his vocation with so much energy and industry that he is now one of the most prosperous farmers in the township. He is a man of many friends and is highly respected for his honesty and strength of character.
The father of Oscar E. Haynes was William H. Haynes, who was born in the state of Virginia. He came to Indiana with his parents in 1848 when he was nine years of age. They located in Wabash county, and his father entered land in Richland township, where he lived until
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his death. William H. Haynes grew up on his father's farm and received little education, for educational facilities in those days were very poor. He married Miss Anna Rife, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Indiana at the age of seventeen years. She was well educated for the time and was a teacher. William H. Haynes became a farmer and has so continued throughout his life. He and his wife are both living in Pleasant township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Haynes, as follows: Cora, who is the wife of Samuel Frantz, of Wabash county. Indiana; Oscar E .; Minnie, who is unmar- ried and lives at home; and Charles, who is married and lives in Rich- land township.
Oscar E. Haynes was born in Pleasant township, Grant county, Indi- ana, on the 15th of January, 1869. He grew up on this farm, attending the common schools of the township. He remained at home until he was of age and then he worked at farming by the year. This continued until his marriage, a period of four years. Since that time he has been farm- ing for himself. He and wife now own 162 acres of land in Sims town- ship, the larger share of which has been put under cultivation by Mr. Haynes himself. Their farm, which is known as the Lumbo Farm, is located on sections 11 and 14, two miles north and a half mile east of Swayzee, Indiana, on the Shanahan pike. Mr. Haynes operates a modern farm, engaged in general farming and stock raising, and in addition to other modern improvements he is the owner of a Haynes antomobile. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Trust & Saving Co., of Marion, Indiana, and his wife is a stockholder in the Sweetser State Bank at Sweetser, Indiana.
Mr. Haynes is a member of the Republican party, and he and his family are members of the Church of the Brethren, he being one of the trustees of the chnrel.
It was in 1894 that Mr. Haynes was married to Miss Amanda Min- nick, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Minnick, both deceased. She was reared in Richland township, Grant county, and after being graduated from the township schools, attended Mount Morris College in Illinois. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Haynes: Ira, who is a graduate of the common schools and of Swayzee high school, was born on the 15th of May, 1896; Walter, who has been graduated from the gram- mar school and is now through his third year in the high school; Ralph, who is eight years of age; Jason, who is four years old, and Susan, who was born on July 1, 1912.
BENJAMIN JONES LUDLUM. As county assessor Benjamin J. Ludlum is a county official who not only performs with fidelity and efficiency the usual routine of duties, but has also brought to his office special vitality and a spirit of service which has resulted in a great improve- ment of the office, increasing its value to the county and the county's citizenship.
Benjamin Jones Ludlum, who has been a resident of Grant county for a quarter of a century, was born in Butlerville, Warren county, Ohio, March 26, 1870. His parents, Dr. B. F. and Elizabeth (Jones) Ludlum, were both born in Warren county, Ohio, and Dr. Ludlum came to Marion, Indiana, in 1886, practicing his profession here until his retirement a few years ago. He now lives retired with Benjamin J. at the age of seventy-eight. He was born in June, 1835. At one time he served as county health officer. The mother died in 1882, and of the four children in the family, only one other is now living, John C. Ludlum, whose home is at Lebanon in Warren county, Ohio.
Benjamin Jones Ludlum received his education in the common
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schools of Warren county, Ohio, until the removal of the family to Marion, where he finished in the high school. He also attended the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, where in 1889 he grad- uated in the scientific course, and in 1890 in the classical course. His first professional activities were in the educational field, and he was a teacher in Grant county, for a while was connected with the Marion Normal School, and was in the country schools for seven years. His next occupation was practical farming, and he lived on a farm three years, and then became associated with Mr. J. B. McClain as manager or foreman of the dray and transfer line operated by that gentleman in Marion. He remained in this business for a number of years, until November, 1910, when he was elected county assessor of Grant county on the Republican ticket. He took up his official duties in January of the following year, his term of office running for four years. In the assessor's office Mr. Ludlum, among other changes and improve- ments, has card-indexed all the records of mortgages, and this system has proved its value in greatly facilitating the work of the township assessor.
For the past three years Mr. Ludlum has been connected with the Marion Fair Association, for two years having been superintendent of privileges. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being chancellor commander, and is chancellor com- mander of the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Benevolent Crew of Neptunes, and the Sons of Veterans.
On June 16, 1892, Mr. Ludlum married Estelle Davies, of Hunting- ton county, Indiana. Her parents died when she was very young and she was reared in the home of Isaiah Dill from the time she was four years of age. The six children now living of Mr. and Mrs. Ludlum are: Mrs. Lillian Scott, of Franklin township, Grant county; Miss Estelle ; Harrison Mckinley; Emma; Evangeline; and Roberta. One child, Elizabeth, died in infancy.
JAMES H. POSTON. Recently retired from a long career as a mer- chant in Marion, Mr. Poston is now enjoying the latter-end of a well spent life, and is devoting some of his leisure and experience to the welfare of his city in the city council.
James H. Poston was born July 9, 1853, at LaFontaine, in Wabash county. His parents were Aaron F. and Nancy (Braustetter) Poston, both of whom had been born in Rush county, Indiana. From that county they moved to Wabash county, about 1845, and there the father began his business career as a cabinet maker. During the last five or six years of his life he followed merchandising and the dry goods busi- ness at LaFontaine. His death occurred at the age of twenty-nine, in 1859, when his son, James H., was five years old. The father was a Republican in politics, having joined the party at its inception. The four children in his family were: Arkansas, wife of H. M. Sailors, of Kokomo, and formerly county clerk of Howard county; W. G. Poston, who is a farmer in Wabash county ; James H .; H. E. Poston, who died in Marion, in January, 1911. The mother, after her husband's death, married F. T. Taylor of LaFontaine, and they both spent the rest of their years in that vicinity, where her death occurred in 1899, and his in March, 1910, at the age of ninety-three years. They had no children by their marriage.
James H. Poston as a boy attended the public schools at LaFontaine in Wabash county, and when it came time for him to take up a practical occupation of his own he began as a carpenter. He worked at that trade until he was thirty-five and then became identified with the dry goods
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