Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 10

Author: Rolland Lewis Whitson
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial History of Grant County Indiana > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Hiram A. Jones was a lifelong resident of Fairmount township, with the exception of three years spent in the army during the Civil war. He served three years in Co. C. 89th Indiana Vol. Infantry during the Civil war and had his right eye shot out in battle. After his education in the local schools, he found farming to be his best vocation in life, and from that time until his death followed the industry with thrift and energy, and steadily prospered. In 1874 he bought a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, and kept increasing his estate by judicious investment until at the time of his death he owned four hundred and seventy acres, all good land and divided into six different farms. These farms all lay in Fairmount township, excepting eighty acres in Washington township of Delaware county, and all of them were well improved with farm buildings, except one. The home place now occupied by Mrs. Jones, is an unusually attractive rural home, and the house sits in the midst of well kept grounds, and a large red barn is itself an evidence of the prosperity which has always been a feature of this homestead. The late Mr. Jones was very domestic in his tastes, and lived entirely for his family.

He was married in Jefferson township on April 21, 1867, to Miss Anna Hardy. Her birth occurred in Jefferson township January 28, 1844. She was reared and educated in that vicinity and proved herself a most competent wife and mother, having done her share in the creation of the prosperity which has been described and having given careful attention to the rearing and training of her children. She now

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HIRAM A. JONES

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY

occupies the old homestead where she and her husband located nearly forty years ago. Her parents were Walter and Jane (Dowden) Hardy, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born August 27, 1820, and her mother May 4, 1821. Their marriage was celebrated in Grant county, March 26, 1843. They began their careers as farmers in Jefferson township, and to begin with had a tract of almost raw land. They made it a highly improved and well cultivated farmstead, and there spent all their active lives. Her father died in 1887 and her mother on May 9, 1860. They belonged to the Methodist church and in politics he was Republican. The Hardy children were: Anna, Mrs. Jones; Henry, who died in infancy ; David, who died after his marriage to Mollie Moore, who is still living with her two children; Noah, who died after his marriage in Jefferson township, and left a family; Celina, who died young; Elizabeth, who died after her marriage to Joseph Boey without children; Lewis, who lives on the old homestead in Jefferson township, and has one son and two daughters; George, a resident of Indianapolis, and the father of two sons and one daughter.

To the marriage of Hiram A. Jones and wife were born eight children, whose names and brief mention of whose careers are as fol- lows: 1. Charles P. educated in the common schools, is a farmer in Fairmount township, and by his marriage to Nora Foster, has five children, Harry, Wilbur, Myrtle, Emerson and Albert. 2. Nettie J. is the wife of Elwood Rich, a farmer in Huntington county, and has three sons, Robert, William and Ralph. 3. George C. is a farmer in Delaware county, and by his marriage to Clara Haynes has three children, Inez, Everett, and Francis. 4. Della S., who is a well educated young woman, has given all her love and affection to her parents, has for a number of years had charge of the home and lives with her mother. 5. Dolly C. is the wife of Wick Leach, a son of Charles Leach, a Grant county family, whose history will be found on other pages. Wick Leach and wife lived in Fairmount township, and have children, Hazel, Adelbert, Kenneth and Robert. 6. Arthur O., is a farmer on his grandfather's farm, in Fairmount township. He married Tura Skinner, and their children are Ray and Vera. 7. Emma E. is the wife of Louis Needler, a farmer in Jefferson township and trustee of that township. Their children are Joseph and Harvey. Robert L., a farmer in Fairmount township married Lena Neal, and has a son Ralph. Mrs. Jones and family are all members of the Methodist faith.

JAMES ALLEN STRETCH, one of the early residents of Marion, was born in Salem County, New Jersey, July 15, 1817. He moved with his parents to Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, in 1823, and from Rich- mond to Henry county in 1835, where they lived on a farm. He was married July 18, 1838, to Jane Adlissa Stephenson, and lived in Henry county until 1843. when he purchased a stock of dry goods and moved the goods to Marion in wagons and opened a dry goods store on the East side of the Public Square. The family first lived in a frame build- ing standing on the corner of Adams and Third Streets, and after some time moved to the homestead on the east side of Adams Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets, now 609 South Adams Street. He sold his hry goods store after sometime in that business, and studied law ; was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which office he held for many years in addition to his business as attorney. He also became nterested in politics and was nominated by the Republicans for Clerk ¿ the Supreme Court on the State ticket, but the Democrats were suc- essful in carrying the State.

During the Civil War. he entered the service of the government in

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1862 and was Captain of Company A, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. This Company was on duty in Grant and Blackford counties for a short time due to the activity of the "Knights of the Golden Circle." He served with his regiment in Kentucky and Tennessee, being engaged in several skirmishes, until December, 1863, when on account of sickness he resigned. He returned to Marion and after an illness of several months, recovered partially and endeavored to attend to business; was elected Magistrate again, but never entirely regained his health which he lost through hard service and exposure while in the volunteer army.

He died in Marion, June 22, 1880, and was buried in the Odd Fel- lows' Cemetery. His wife and six children, four daughters and two sons, survived him. Mrs. Stretch died in Marion, November 6, 1907, at the age of ninety-one years, having been a resident of Marion sixty-four years, where she was respected and loved by all who knew her.

Three of the six children are living, two being residents of Marion. Sarah, now Mrs. Luther McLane, for a short time after her marriage lived near Somerset, afterward moving to Rochester, Minnesota, where the family lived for many years. They now have their home near Los Angeles, California.

Linnie, widow of the late B. A. Haines, and Miss Victoria still reside in Marion.

James Quincy was born in Marion, attending the Marion Academy, and read law in his father's office and later was elected Justice of the Peace. He died in 1894 at his home here.

Mary A. came with her parents to Marion and attended the early schools here and the Marion Academy. She married James M. Pugh and lived on a farm near Mt. Olive in Pleasant Township, where she died in 1906.

John F. came with his parents to Marion in 1843, attending the early schools here and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1862, graduating in 1866. He was commissioned Second Lieu- tenant in the Tenth Infantry and served on frontier duty at Ft. Aber- crombie, Dakota (since abandoned), here commanding a detachment of mounted infantry. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant in 1867. He served on Mexican frontier at Brownsville, Texas, as Assistant Adjutant General of the District of the Rio Grande, 1867 to 1871. On duty at Military Academy at West Point as tactical officer 1871 to '76. Again he served on Frontier duty in Texas in command of Ft. Griffin and in charge of the Lipan Indians. Afterward serving as adjutant again and being stationed at Detroit, in 1884 he was promoted Captain on duty in New Mexico, and was with company on Geronimo Indian Campaign in Arizona and New Mexico. During 1889 to 1894 he served as instructor in U. S. Infantry and Cavalry schools at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Served at Chicago with company during riots in 1894, guarding Postal cars. On duty with company at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, 1894 to 1898, and went with Regiment to Cuba in 1898. Commanded company in battle of Santiago, July 1, 1898, and subsequent fighting about Santiago. In command of battalion Tenth Infantry after return to this country. Promoted Major Eighth Infantry and joined that regiment in Havana, Cuba. On duty as disbursing officer of the Island, 1899 and 1900. Left Cuba for duty with Eighth Infantry in Philippine Islands and com- manded regiment in Provinces of Batangas and Laguna until 1901. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel Twenty-eighth Infantry, joined that regi- ment in United States and returned to Philippines. Promoted to Colonel of Twenty-seventh Infantry, 1902, then in the Islands. In June of that year, he asked for and received his retirement after forty years in the service of the government. He returned to Marion where he lived,

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MRS. WILLIAM J. HOUCK

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renewing old acquaintances, until his death on August 7, 1913. He was buried beside his father and mother in the family plot in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery.

WILLIAM J. HOUCK. As Lincoln once said relative to his own par- entage and youth, the conditions which compassed the early years of William Jackson Houck were those implied in the "short and simple annals of the poor," but he had the will to do and to dare and has thus proved himself able to overcome obstacles, master circumstances and push his way forward to the goal of worthy and distinctive success, as is evident when it is stated that he is numbered among the able and representative members of the bar of Grant county, where he has main- tained his home since his childhood days and where he has measured fully to the demands of the metewand of popular confidence and esteem. He is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Marion, the county seat, and has not only achieved pronounced success and precedence in his chosen profession but also is known as a pro- gressive, liberal and influential citizen. He has passed the half-century mark and has made the years count for good in all the relations of his life, his accomplishment standing the more to his honor because it has represented entirely the concrete results of his own energy, determination and ability.

Mr. Houck was born in Jay county, Indiana, and the place of his nativity was a primative log cabin of the type common to the pioneer era, his parents and other kins-folk having been in the poorest of finan- cial circumstances, so that early felt the lash of necessity, which quick- ened his ambition and vitalized his mental and physical powers. He was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, all of whom are living except one. The parents, Samuel B. and Mary Ann (Iiams) Houck, were both natives of Ohio, where the respective families settled in the pioneer days. Samuel B. Boyd was born in Butler county, that state, and his wife was born near Sandusky, Erie county. After coming to Indiana Samuel Houck followed the vocation of teamster, in Jay county, for two years, at the expiration of which, in the autumn of 1864, he came with his family to Grant county and established his home in Marion. He followed teaming and other modest vocations and the financial returns for his labors were barely adequate to make pro- vision for the necessities of his family. . He was a man of integrity and industry and while his career was not marked by dramatic incidents or great temporal success he lived up to his possibilities under existing conditions and thus merited and received the respect of his fellow men. He passed the closing years of his life at Jonesboro, this county, where he died in 1908, at a venerable age, his cherished and devoted wife having passed to the life eternal two years previously.

William J. Houck is indebted for his early educational discipline to the public schools of Marion and Jonesboro, this county, and in se- curing a more liberal education he had the definite spur of personal desire and ambition, so that he depended upon his own exertions in defraying the expenses of his collegiate course. When but fifteen years of age he began teaching in the district schools, and that he does not place a specially high estimate upon his scholastic ability at the time is shown by the fact that he states that he "kept rather than taught school." Experience proved effective, however, and he made good the handicap, with the result that he was successful in the pedagogic pro- fession, through the medium of which he paid his college expenses. He finally entered Ridgeville College, at Ridgeville, Randolph county, an Vol. II-5

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institution that has now passed out of existence, and in the same he was graduated in June, 1880, with the degree of Bachelor of Science (et seq. M. S.). After leaving college Mr. Houck passed two years as a teacher in the public schools near Cincinnati, Ohio, and simultaneously he pursued his studies in the Cincinnati Law School, his ambition being one of action and definite purpose. After completing the prescribed course in the law school Mr. Houck returned to Indiana and entered the office of Judge Haines, of Portland, Jay county, and there he was admitted to the bar of his native state in the year 1880. He forthwith entered upon the practice of his profession, but shortly afterward, in June, 1881, he was deflected from the same, as he was elected superin- tendent of schools for Jay county, the place of his birth. Thus was shown forth conclusively that he was not like the prophet and without honor in his own country. He gave an effective administration, did much to systematize and advance the work of the schools of the county and the popular estimate placed upon his services was manifest in his re-election in 1883 and again in 1885, so that he served three successive terms, at the expiration of the last of which the county board of trustees failed to elect a successor, with the result that he continued the incum- bent about six months after the close of his regular term and then re- signed the office.

Resuming the active practice of law at Portland, Jay county, Mr. Houck there remained until September, 1889, when he purchased the weekly newspaper known as the Marion Democrat and returned to the county seat of Grant county. He removed the plant of his paper to new quarters and in its first issue under his regime he changed its title to the Marion Leader. He successfully continued as editor and publisher of the Leader until the autumn of 1895, and brought the paper up to a high standard in its editorial and news departments and as an exponent of local interests. It is still published under the name which he con- ferred and is one of the influential papers of this section of the state. After his retirement from the field of journalism Mr. Houck resumed the practice of his profession, to which he has since given his entire time and attention and in connection with which he has become one of the representative members of the bar of Grant county, and of the state, with a large and important clientage and with the highest reputa- tion for ability and resourcefulness as a trial lawyer and conservative counselor.

Mr. Houck, as may well be imagined in connection with a man of his character and experience, is staunchly fortified in his opinions con- cerning matters of public polity, both in a local and general sense, and he has long been one of the influential figures in the councils of the Demo- cratic party in central Indiana. In 1886 he lacked only eleven votes of being nominated for the office of clerk of the supreme court of the state, and two years later he was the Democratic nominee for representative of his district in the state senate, said district comprising Grant and Madison counties, his defeat being compassed by normal political ex- igencies, for the district had at that time a decisive Republican ma- jority. In 1900 at the Democratic convention for the Eleventh con- gressional district Mr. Houck, against his own volition and desire, was virtually compelled to accept nomination for congress. His defeat was a foregone conclusion, but he made a spirited and effective campaign through his district and succeeded in reducing the majority of his op- ponent 3,000 votes, though the district had a normal Republican majority of eight thousand. Mr. Houck is a most vigorous and convincing po- litical speaker and his services have been enlisted by his party in various

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campaigns in the state, though he has permitted nothing to defleet him from his profession and the demands of his large and representative practice. As a citizen he shows a vital and helpful interest in all that touches the welfare of his home city, county and state and his influence and aid are given to worthy enterprises and measures projected for their good, as well as that of humanity in general. He has unqualified affection for his native state and deep appreciation of the sturdy pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundations upon which has been reared the great superstructure of advanced civilization and prosperity. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Tribe of Ben Hur.

On the 21st of June, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Houck to Miss Eliza C. Shrack, who was born and reared at Dunkirk, Jay county, this state, where her husband taught school for two years. She presides most graciously over the attractive home in Marion and the same is a center of generous hospitality. Mrs. Houck is the only child of James H. and Nancy R. Shrack, who are now living in the same home with Mr. and Mrs. Houck where they have always lived as one family. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have no children.

EDGAR L. GOLDTHWAIT. As one of the old families of Grant county there are numerous references to the Goldthwaits in the historicai vol- ume of the Centennial History and also the sketches of the other branches of that family, so prominently identified with the business and civic life of the community. The following is a brief outline of the ancestry and career of Edgar Louis Goldthwait, who has been best known in Grant county as an editor and publisher.

The founder of his family in the United States was Thomas Gold- thwait, who was born at Goldthwaite, Yorkshire, West Riding, in 1610, and emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1628. He died March 1, 1683. This first ancestor married Rachael Leach of Salem. From this ancestor the line is traced as follows: Samuel, son of Thomas, was born in 1637 and died in 1714, and lived his life at Salem. Samuel, son of Samuel, was born in 1668 and died in 1748, and also spent his life in Salem. Thomas, of Petersham, Massachusetts, born 1738, served all through the Revolutionary war, after several years' service in the French- Indian wars. Thomas, a son of the latter, lived from 1768 to 1829, his birthplace having been Long Meadow, Massachusetts. In Fairfield county, Ohio, he married Mary Crawford, who lived from 1785 to 1847. When a widow with seven children she emigrated to Marion, Indiana, in 1836.

The father of Edgar L. Goldthwait was Oliver Goldthwait, who was born in 1812 and died in 1872. He was married April 11, 1847, to Marilla Ellen Eward, who was born at Carlisle, Kentucky, September 22, 1830, and died December 31, 1862. Oliver Goldthwait was a car- penter by trade, a man of high moral character, was liberally edu- cated, and was devoted to his church. His wife, Ellen, was a diligent student, an omnivorous reader, and especially charming in conver- sational ability. Her ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Kentucky, and of Scotch stock.

Edgar L. Goldthwait was born in Grant county, August 7, 1850. When twelve years of age he began an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, and was connected with that trade and the business of publish- ing and editorial work for forty years. Mr. Goldthwait is especially remembered for his long connection of sixteen years as editor of the

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Marion Chronicle. In politics he has always been a Republican, and his church is the Congregational.

In December, 1886, Mr. Goldthwait married Candace Zombro. She was born in Urbana, Ohio, February 19, 1860, a daughter of John Thomas and Rebecca (Brown) Zombro. Mr. and Mrs. Goldthwait are the parents of a fine family of eight children, all of whom are living, and whose names and dates of births are as follows: Mary Agnes, October 21, 1887; George Edgar, October 18, 1889; Margaret, January 15, 1892; James Sweetser, March 27, 1894; John Louis, March 19, 1896; Rebecca, March 7, 1898; Robert Stuart, March 30, 1900; and Marilla Ellen, June 11, 1905. Mr. Goldthwait is of the eighth genera- tion of the family in this country.

KENTON RULEY WIGGER. While the name Wigger has been in the Marion business directory so long that it is a household word in Grant county, and is as familiar to the trade as any landmark about the public square, the original Wigger business house was located in Jonesboro. It was in 1852 that Harman Wigger came with his uncle, Aaron Abel, from Germany, and in 1859 he established the business in Jonesboro that has always been associated with the Wigger family name in Grant county.

When Mr. Wigger concluded to remain in America his parents fol- lowed him two years later, and located at Union City, where they ended their days although some of the relatives still live there. When Harman Wigger was prospecting for a location he chose Jonesboro rather than Marion because of the Whiteneck tanyard located there, and William Whiteneck offered special inducements to him. He was a saddler and harness maker, and Mr. Whiteneck wanted a home market for the output of his tannery. Mr. Wigger could have leather at any time and in any quantity, and for twenty-four years he continued the saddle and harness business in Jonesboro, where he accumulated both town and farm prop- erty, and where he was married and raised up his family.

One year after coming to Jonesboro Mr. Wigger married Mary Jane Whitson, and one daughter, Mrs. Nora A. W. Tucker, was born to them. Mrs. Wigger did not live long and later he married Sarah Jane Ruley, whe became the mother of Kenton Ruley Wigger, named at the beginning of this Wigger family sketch. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Wigger married her sister, Eliza M. Ruley. The daughter, Nora, married Henry Tucker, of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and on the death of her husband she returned to the home of her father. Kenton R. Wigger married Miriam A. Wallace (see Wallace family) and one daughter, Miriam Louise, was born to them. Harman Wigger married three times and all were Jonesboro women. The first wife is mentioned in the Whitson family sketch, and all that remain of the Ruley family from which Kenton Ruley Wigger is descended are Mrs. Margaret Ruley Willman of Jonesboro and Mrs. Mary Ruley Weddington of Indianapolis.

When Burtney W. Ruley came from Virginia he located on a farm in Mill, and after serving the county as treasurer (see chapter on Civil Government) he returned from Marion to this farm, where he built a farm home very unusual in that day-a typical Virginia manor in Grant county. This old homestead is now owned by Henry Wise and the house still stands there-back from the road, although built along the old Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne State road crossing the Mississinewa at Ink's ford, but finally the roads were placed on section lines and the house was near the center of the farm-and there are people living who still remember it as the Ruley farm, although the Ruley family had retired to Jonesboro (Gas City was not then on the map), and the

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Ruley homestead in town was on the site of the Rothinghouse drug store-a well remembered landmark of the town.

Harman Wigger was successful as a harness dealer, and after a few years Marion business men invited him to change his location and open a harness store in Marion. The Whiteneck tannery served his purpose well, and he regarded Jonesboro as a better town and along in the sixties there was frequent agitation of changing the location of the county seat-Jonesboro nearer the center of Grant county. Instead of moving to Marion then, Mr. Wigger induced a younger brother, J. H. Wigger, to open such a store in 1864, and he helped him establish a business that, with changed conditions-notably, the building of the Marion and Liberty (Strawtown) pike, made the Marion store more profitable than the stand in Jonesboro. The Whiteneck tannery burned

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Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 10

Author: Rolland Lewis Whitson Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Rolland Lewis Whitson
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1034