USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial History of Grant County Indiana > Part 105
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John J. Howard was married in 1898 to Mrs. Ann V. Thornton, a daughter of Peter Daugherty, of Somers, Wisconsin.
Mr. Howard is a member of the Pythian Knights, with which he first became affiliated in 1898 in Summitville, and in 1902 he became a charter member of Van Buren Lodge No. 496 Knights of Pythias. He has filled a number of offices in the lodge and was manager of the exche- quer for several years.
A man of splendid qualities, Mr. Howard is one who enjoys the un- divided confidence and regard of all who share in his acquaintance, and he has played well his part in the duties of citizenship since he came to be a resident of Van Buren.
CLAUDE WILLIAMS. Born in the township of his present residence, and not far from the farm which he now occupies and cultivates, Claude Williams represents the third generation of his family in occupancy and tillage of Washington township soil. Mr. Williams is a young and pro- gressive scientific farmer. Three generations before him won prosperity from the soil in this county, and he is doing the same, and is applying the best knowledge of experience and modern generations to his work.
Mr. Williams occupies a farm on the Salem Pike in section twenty-six, the ninety-six acres of the place being all in cultivation. His father some years ago remodeled the present residence and erected a fine red frame barn, and it is a rural home with all the modern conveniences. As a crop raiser Mr. Williams has done exceptionally well. During the last years on fourteen acres he produced five hundred bushels of wheat, an aver- age of more than thirty-three bushels to the acre, thirty-three acres of corn land yielded two thousand bushels, and on twenty-four acres planted in oats he threshed fifteen hundred and eighty bushels, which is an aver- age of sixty-six bushels to the acre. His meadow yielded ten tons of hay. Mr. Williams is what is called a mixed-farmer, and feeds prac- tically all his crops to his stock, of which he raises a quantity of Poland China and Berkshire hogs.
Mr. Claude Williams was born November 3, 1882, on the old home place just three miles north of the farm he now occupies. His father, John T. Williams, one of the best known men of Grant county, now liv- ing retired in Marion, was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 22, 1844, and at the age of three years was brought to Grant county by his parents William and Alice (Hopkins) Williams.
William Williams and wife were of Welsh nativity, born March 15, 1797, and January 7, 1802, respectively. They emigrated to the United States in 1827, settling at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they lived for five years, then moved to Warren county, Ohio, and in 1847 settled in Grant county, taking up a farm in almost a wilderness, where the grandfather laid the foundation for the family prosperity. William Williams died April 15, 1883, at a very advanced age, and his wife
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passed away June 13, 1881. Their children were John T., Mary Ann, Kathryn J. and Sarah J.
John T. Williams, the father, has been a farmer most of his life and has lived in Grant county, with the exception of six months spent in the Union army, since he was three years of age. He enlisted in May 1864, in Company I of the One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Indiana Infantry, but was not called into active service. He married in 186S Susanna Middleton, who was born December 3, 1843, a daughter of William and Margaret (Strickler) Middleton. John T. Williams bought the farm on which his son Claude lives in 1898, and he also owns two hundred and forty acres of the old homestead which was settled by his father, back in the forties. In July, 1905, John T. Wil- liams moved into Marion. For a number of years prior to moving to town he was engaged in the road contracting and building business. From 1892 to 1894 he served as sheriff of Grant county, and for six years occupied the office of county commissioner. Since enlisting for the pres- ervation of the union as a boy, he has always been a loyal supporter of the Republican party. Previous to his honors as a county official he was trustee of Washington township. John T. Williams is known throughout Grant county as a square and honest man and good citizen. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. Their children number six, five of whom are living, namely : William M., in Marion; John D., on the H. M. Crev- iston place, a farmer; Mrs. Gertrude Culbertson of Washington town- ship; Mary Agnes at home; Claude, and Burrell, who on January 19, 1902, was thrown from a horse and killed.
Mr. Claude Williams when a boy was reared in Washington town- ship, and attended the schools in district Nos. six and seven. When he was twenty-one years of age, in 1904, he took charge of the farm, and as the statistics already quoted indicate he has made an exceptional record as a farmer. In politics he is a Republican voter. Mr. Williams was married January 23, 1904, to Lucile Partlow, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of John Partlow, now deceased and a former resident of Butler county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one child, Kathryn, who was born October 10, 1904.
WILLIAM DOYLE. Residents of Van Buren township are wont to speak with pride-and with good reason-of their fine farms and in- dividual homesteads and of the particular facilities and improvements that are distinctive of this locality as one of the civil divisions of Grant county. Their enumeration of the many things which make life in this township better and bigger, either ends or begins with reference to the magnificent central high school, the finishing place for every boy and girl in the township, from whose doors they go out, better equipped than any of their parents at the end of school days. The township built and furnished this notable hall of learning, but more individual credit for the achievement belongs to William Doyle than any other citizen. Mr. Doyle has the reputation of being the best trustee, the township has ever had, and on the basis of his actual accomplishment while in office, there are probably none who would begrudge him that high honor.
William Doyle is one of the substantial men of Van Buren township who have devoted their careers chiefly to agriculture. He is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of fine land situated in sections thirty- four, thirty-five and thirty-three, but his residence is in the village of Van Buren. Mr. Doyle was born March 15, 1847, in the township where he now resides, and has seen this part of Grant county emerge from a wilderness to a popular and most prosperous community. His
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parents were Samuel and Mary A. (Mccluskey) Doyle. The paternal grandparents were Mathew and Mary (McMahon) Doyle, who were natives of Ireland, and settled in the state of Ohio in 1814. They had first lived in Pennsylvania and were married in Philadelphia. Samuel Doyle, the father was born where is now the city limits of Philadelphia, January 10, 1805, and his death occurred in Grant county, September 4, 1870. He was a small boy when the family moved to Ohio, and he grew up in Guernsey county, where in 1838, he married Miss Mary Mc- Cluskey, who was born at Harpers Ferry, Maryland, September 2, 1811. In 1840 the parents moved into Indiana, and became residents of Van Buren township, where they remained until their death, their home being on section thirty-four. Samuel Doyle's older brother Michael, was a Van Buren township settler in June, 1838. The Doyle family has accordingly been identified with this county from the first decade of local history. They came when the country was sparsely settled, when there were no roads, and when the settlers cut their trails through the forests. Samuel Doyle entered a quarter section of wild land, proved his industry, and eventually became possessor of six hundred acres, all of which he subsequently divided among his children. He was identified with the official affairs of the county, and was especially prominent in introducing improvements in stock and was well known as a breeder of horses. During the war he sold many horses to the government. The four children of Samuel Doyle and wife were Mary Ann Lease, of Van Buren; Thomas B., of Van Buren; William; and Michael on the old home place.
William Doyle, as a boy, was a pupil in the old school in district number eight. He recalls some of his early teachers. They were Enoch E. Camblin and George W. Camblin, the latter now being a resident of Nebraska; also Robert D. Fornshell, a former justice of the peace of Grant county ; and James Phillips of Washington township. Enoch Camblin the first mentioned is one of the oldest residents of Van Buren, being now eighty-seven years of age and a member of the octogenarian club of Grant county. When William Doyle was twenty-one years of age, his father gave him a share of the crops, and he took an interest in the management of the farm until his father's death. He then obtained a share of the land by inheritance, and he and his brother Michael bought out the other heirs, and became owner of three hundred and twenty acres. They farmed this in partnership for five years, at the end of which time they divided the property, William taking the south half. In 1875 he bought twenty acres more, and in 1891 bought forty-seven and a half acres from his brother Thomas, later bought eighty acres from his nephew and with another purchase of twenty-two acres, brought his total of land up to two hundred and eighty acres. He oversees his fine farm estate with the aid of his youngest son. That he is one of the large crop pro- ducers in Grant county, may be seen from the following record of his crops in 1912: twenty-five hundred bushels of corn; fifteen hundred bushels of oats; and thirty tons of hay. During the present season of 1913, Mr. Doyle planted fifty acres to corn, sixteen acres to oats, and thirty-two acres to wheat. Each year he sends from one hundred to one hundred and fifty hogs to market, and keep twelve head of horses to work his place. He has a nice apple orchard of four acres, and some small fruits on the farm. The season of 1911 his orchard yielded eight hundred bushels of apples. He takes much interest in the growing of fruit, and is using his influence to make Grant county a fruit growing center. He sprays his trees and cultivates them, and his care is repaid with generous fruitage. The Doyle home is in the village of Van Buren, located on Main street, and is a nice eleven room house with all the modern improvements. Mr. Doyle moved to the town in 1900. On his Vol. II-45
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farm he has another good ten room house, which replaced a residence burned down in 1882. He also has a large barn and excellent outbuild- ings, and everything owned by Mr. Doyle shows progressive manage- ment and adequate care. . Mr. Doyle is one of the sterling Democrats of Grant county. In 1894 he was elected to the office of township assessor, and held that posi- tion for six years. In 1900 he was elected trustee, serving until 1904. In 1908 he was again elected, and is now holding over until 1915. Thus he has had the official supervision of the erection of what is regarded as the finest high school building in a rural community in northern Indiana. The Van Buren school was put up at a cost of fifty-thousand dollars. As trustee, Mr. Doyle visited several cities, and finally decided upon a modern eleven room building, which is complete in every respect. It has wide halls, hardwood finish and tiled floors, and the building throughout is supplied with every convenience and comfort, and all the facilities for first-class work.
For the past thirty years Mr. Doyle has been affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His church is the Christian. In 1870 he married Miss Sarah J. Hayes a daughter of William Hayes of Grant county. Six children were born to their marriage, and four are now living: Mary, who is the wife of Henry C. Ferguson of Van Buren township; Albert N., is a member of the State Board of Accountants and resides in Marion; Ida M. is deceased; Deborah Weimer, is deceased; Violet Y. Easton, lives in Bartlettsville, Oklahoma; Lavanner C., is on the home farm.
WILLIAM B. WHITE. Of the large number of successful men now active in affairs in Grant county, it is a noteworthy fact that con- siderable proportion of them started out in life with practical no backing in the way of capital, nor with any special influences outside of themselves to insure their successful advancement. By hard work, close management, unflagging attention to details, and by honorable dealings they have secured many of those prizes for which men are striving everywhere over the world, and one who has special distinction in this class is Mr. William B. White, a prosperous farmer of Pleasant township.
Mr. White was born in Wabash county, Indiana, March 15, 1850, a son of Hazel and Martha A. (Rigdon) White. Both parents were Kentuckians by birth, grew up in their native state, and married there and in 1846 became settlers in Wabash county among the pioneers. Wabash county continued to be their home until their death. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, noted as follows: Eliza, wife of Thomas Scott; America, widow of Hiram K. Hendricks; Thomas White of Wabash county; Emeline, wife of Thomas White (not relatives) living in Kansas; William B .; Basil White of Wabash county; Jackson White of Wabash county.
On the old home farm in Wabash county, William B. White grew up and most of his early recollections and associations are centered about that place. He attended the public schools of the county during the winter seasons until he was eighteen years of age, and then con- tinued to assist his father on the home farm until he had reached his majority. The beginning of his prosperity and active career was when he hired his services out to farmers by the month, and in that way he gradually accumulated a little capital for his independent start. He and a brother then rented land and farmed together for several years until their resources were advanced by the ownership of considerable stock and other property.
In March, 1877, William B. White married Mary B. Campbell, who
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was born March 20, 1857. They have become the parents of eight children, a fine family of useful young men and women, noted as follows: Ovid White, who graduated from the common school branches, and also attended school at Marion and the Normal College, married Opal Riggs, and they have one child, Miriam. Ethel, a graduate of the common schools, is the wife of Charles Clark, they have one child, Mary Helene. Blanche, who graduated from the common schools, attended Marion High School and graduated from the Marion Business College; she is the wife of Ralph Thornberg. Roy, a graduate of the common schools, married Hazel Dunn. Lucy, graduated from the local schools and the Marion High School, lives at home. Clarence, Bernice, and Margaret complete the family circle. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Jalapa. In politics Mr. White gives his staunch support to Democratic doctrines. He is the owner of one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Pleasant township, and does a prosperous business as a farmer and stock raiser.
SHADRICK LAWSON. Now one of the most prosperous farmer citizens of Pleasant township, Grant county, Indiana, and a citizen whose services have often contributed to the advancement and public welfare of his local community, Shadrick Lawson began his career practically without any of the material equipment and capital which are supposed to be necessary to successful industry. He is one of the substantial men upon whom the solid prosperity and civic progress of Grant county depend, and though still comparatively a young man built up a good estate, and a place of high esteem in his home vicinity of Pleasant township.
Shadrick Lawson was born in the township where he now lives, September 27, 1874, a son of Nathan E., and Esther A. (Stelts) Lawson. Both parents now live in Kosciusko county, Indiana. Of their family of ten children seven are still living, mentioned as follows: Edward of Decatur, Indiana; Shadrick; Nellie, wife of George Silvers of Marion; Arr, unmarried; Alta, wife of Thomas Sims of Andrews, Huntington county, Indiana ; Lurley, wife of Homar Simmons, who lives near Jalapa; and Lawrence, a single man living in Pleasant township. The family were long members of the Methodist Protestant church at Jalapa.
Shadrick Lawson grew to manhood in Pleasant township, was a boy whose experiences were similar to those of many others brought up in like conditions and surroundings, and received a fair equipment of education in the local schools. He laid the foundation for his own home by his marriage on August 18, 1896, to Mary Prickett, a daughter of Geo. and Hulda Prickett, of Pleasant township. Their three children are Mabel, a graduate of the local schools and who has had two years of instruction in the high school' at LaFountain, Indiana. Roy, born March 29, 1900, has passed the county examinations in the common schools. George N. was born July 29, 1904.
Mr. Lawson is a Democrat in politics. His farm comprises one hundred and twenty-eight acres of highly cultivated and improved land, and he engages in the general farming and stock raising business with much success. In all his dealings with his neighbors he has been honor- able and a man of the highest integrity, and is accordingly respected in his vicinity.
SYLVESTER C. HENDRICKS. For a period of more than fifty-five years the Hendricks family have been known and respected through their citizenship and industry in Grant county. As farmers and mer- chants they have always made their own way, and prospered, while in the communities in which their lives have been passed they have never failed to hold up their share of civic and social responsibilities and
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obligations. Mr. Sylvester C. Hendricks has long been prominent as a farmer, fruit grower and merchant at Fox Station in Pleasant town- ship, where he and his son operate the principal mercantile establish- ment in that vicinity, and are large property owners.
Sylvester C. Hendricks is a native of Pleasant township in Grant county where he was born January 13, 1859. His parents were William E. and Matilda (Sigler) Hendricks, who came from Warren county, Indiana, to Grant county, in 1857. Both parents are now deceased. The father was a man who started his career without wealth or influence, but at the end of his active labors possessed three hundred acres of land. He was a Republican voter, and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. There were four children, all living in 1913, Sylvester C., being the oldest. Grant is a farmer in Pleasant township; Laura is unmarried, and Annie is the wife of James Dove of Pleasant township.
Sylvester C. Henderson spent his boyhood on the old homestead in Pleasant township, and when his presence was not required by home duties he attended the common schools with sufficient regularity to give him a fair equipment in book learning. When he was twenty-one he started out for himself, and from year to year has been getting ahead. Early in his career he married Agnes Holman, a daughter of William Holman. They are the parents of one son, William C. Hendricks, Jr., who was born August 6, 1882. After getting a common school training he was a student in the Marion high school, and has for a number of years been associated with his father in farming and mercantile enter- prise. He was married to Hallie Druckemiller. They have two chil- dren: Agnes L., born in 1910 and Catherine, born June 3, 1913. In 1911 Mr. S. C. Hendricks and son formed a partnership, the title of which is S. C. Hendricks & Son, and under this name they operate a general store, and handle coal, grain and hay at Fox Station. A farm of twenty-three and a half acres at Fox Station is also included within the partnership enterprise. In politics the son has taken a stand in the Republican interests while the father has for many years staunchly supported the Democracy. The junior Mr. Hendricks is a member of the Methodist Church in Marion. The father and son have a very pro- ductive fruit farm at Fox Station, besides other fruits, raising con- siderable quantities of cherries, and also some strawberries.
WILLIAM O. LAWRENCE. In Pleasant township Mr. Lawrence is regarded as one of the most capable farmers and stock raisers in that locality. His home has been in Grant county since 1900, and for a number of years previous to that he lived in Huntington county. His career has encouragement for young men who start without resources except those contained in themselves. He was a renter for several years, prospered in every undertaking, and thriftily turned his surplus into more land until he found himself independent, and with better provision for the future of himself and family than most men have at the close of a long lifetime.
William O. Lawrence was born in Adams county, Ohio, June 25, 1862, a son of Philip and Jemima J. (Hull) Lawrence. His father died in Huntington county, Indiana, where the mother still lives on the old home place. There were five children in the family, four daughters and one son. The daughters were: Lizzie E., wife of Fred Dumbauld, of Huntington county; Flora, C., wife of S. J. Brubaker, of Fort Wayne; Ida B., wife of James F. Thompson, of Huntington county ; Ora A., who is unmarried and lives at McNatt, Indiana.
William O. Lawrence grew up in Huntington county, and during his boyhood learned the lessons of toil and honesty from his parents,
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at the same time acquiring a fairly substantial book education in the local schools. When he was twenty-one years old he started out for himself and made considerable progress towards independence before he was married. On October 2, 1888, he married May Alspach, who was born in Huntington county, Indiana, January 30, 1865, and grew up and was educated in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have lived in different sections of Indiana and he has conducted stores in various parts of the state. Since 1902, however, he has farmed. Prior to that time for seven years he conducted a store in Marion and for nine years ran a store in Farrville, this county. Both have been diligent workers and good managers, and while providing the comforts for themselves and children, and giving special attention to the liberal training of their son and daughter, have at the same time been able to advance their capital and general prosperity until they are now practically inde- pendent. Their two children are : Norval C., a graduate of the common schools, and now his father's capable assistant on the home farm; Jessie Fay, born March 18, 1906, and a student in the local schools. The fam- ily are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Jalapa, and in politics Mr. Lawrence is a Democrat and has served on the township advisory board. His farm, which he has occupied since 1905, comprises one hundred and forty-eight acres, and is well improved with a comfort- able residence, good barns, fences, kept in thorough repair, and the fields indicate a high state of cultivation.
WILLIAM D. TODD. On rural mail route No. 15 out of Jonesboro, and seven miles from the town of Fairmount, is situated the excellent farm estate of William D. Todd in Liberty township. Mr. Todd is one of the younger and progressive farmers of Grant county, all his training and experiences have identified him with agricultural life, and he has al- ready become recognized as one of the best in his business in Liberty township. While he raises the general crops, he gives special attention to the keeping of first class stock, and has employed the methods and applied his own energy and industry in such a way as not only to pro- duce a good annual revenue from his farm, but also increase its value much beyond what it was worth when he first came into possession of it. William D. Todd was born in Center township of Rush county, Indi- ana, October 13, 1878, one of the five children of John and Mary E. (Powell) Todd. Only two of the children are now living, and Mr. Todd's brother is Bert S. Todd, also of Liberty township. The Todd family was established in America a number of generations ago, having come originally from Ireland, and later members became early settlers of Indiana. Mr. William D. Todd was one year old when his parents moved to Liberty township of Grant county, and he grew up in that township, received his education in the local schools, and secured a sub- stantial training for life by working on the farm in the summer, and attending school in the winter.
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