Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 112

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

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Preston Shields was born in Jay county, Indiana, on the 10th of June, 1859. He was reared on his father's farm in Grant county, and attended the common schools of the county, receiving a fair education. He was brought up to the life and work of the farm and it was natural that he should turn to farming as a means of earning his living. At the age of twenty-one he began to work for himself, his sole possession at this time being a team of horses. He rented his father's farm and secure in the possession of a thorough knowledge of farming set forth on the road to success or failure. That it became the former has been due to his hard work and the scientific way in which he has conducted operations on his farm. He is now the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land in Franklin township, on sections 17 and 18. He breeds high grade stock, his fine Duroc hogs being his especial pride.

Mr. Shields is one of the directors in the Farmers' State Bank at Sweetser. In politics he is a Republican and takes a keen interest in politics having been active in behalf of his party at various times. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Herbst, Indiana. In the fraternal world he is a member of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.

Mr. Shields married Hannah Freel, on the 24th of December, 1881. Mrs. Shields was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 11th of February, 1857, and she received her education in the public schools of that state. She died on the 17th of December, 1910. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shields, as follows: Ourer, who was educated in the common schools and then took a business course in the Marion Normal School, taught for a year, then married and is now a traveling salesman for Dilling and Company, of Kokomo, Indiana; Maggie, who was graduated from the public schools is now the wife of Elmer Nesbitt, of Gary, Indiana ; Glen C., after being graduated from the common schools, married Earl Clannon, of Mills township; Ruby, who is also a graduate of the public schools, is unmarried and makes her home with her father ;

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Clifford, having graduated from the grammar schools is now a student in the high school in Marion. One child died in infancy.

JOHN D. WILLIAMS. The farming interests of Washington township are capably and worthily represented by John D. Williams, who is now engaged in operating 157 acres of well-cultivated land in sections 11 and 12. He is known as one of the progressive and energetic citizens of his community, where he has resided since 1905, and is a member of an old and honored family of Grant county, members of which have long been identified with agricultural and official life here. Mr. Williams was born on his father's farm in Washington township, Grant county, Indiana, in December, 1876, and is a son of John T. and Susan (Middle- ton) Williams, and a complete review of the family will be found in the sketch of Claude Williams, elsewhere in this work.

The education of Mr. Williams was secured in district school No. 6, located not far from his birth-place, and while he secured his mental training during the winter terms, he spent the summer months in assist- ing his father. After he had finished his schooling, he continued to reside under the parental roof, being engaged in tilling the soil until removing with his parents to the city of Marion, where he resided during the two years that his father served as sheriff of Grant county. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Williams came to take the management of the property on which he now resides, which belongs to his father-in-law, Harvey M. Creviston, and which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, with the exception of a few acres left in timber. On this land, Mr. Williams produced in the season of 1912 about 600 bushels of wheat, 2,600 bushels of corn and 660 bushels of oats, and in addition sold 100 head of hogs and twelve head of cattle. He finds a ready market for his produce, and his stock brings top-notch prices. He has demonstrated his ability in matters of business, and as an agriculturist his industry, energetic efforts and modern methods stamp him as one of the leading farmers of the younger generation in his township.

On March 31, 1896, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Creviston, daughter of Harvey M. and Eldora Creviston, prominent retired residents of Marion. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, namely : Lela V., La Von D., Lucille O. and Harvey J.

Mr. Williams is a stanch supporter of Republican candidates and principles, but has not desired nor found time for public office. An energetic, alert citizen, he has taken a keen and intelligent interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community, but his con- nection therewith has been only that taken by every good and public- spirited citizen. A friend of education and morality, he is rearing his children to sturdy man and womanhood, giving them good educational advantages and fitting them for the positions which they will be expected to fill in life. He has a wide acquaintance in Washington township, as has Mrs. Williams, and both have the warm regard and esteem of a large circle of friends.

ARTHUR W. JAY. One of the thriving and well-kept farms of Liberty township is the property of Arthur W. Jay, who has here been operating in the agricultural enterprise for some years. His earlier vocation was that of a teacher, but his inherent love of the soil and his strong natural qualifications for the life of a husbandman induced him to give up his educational work, and he has since been devoting himself to the upbuild- ing of his farming property, known as "The Pines," and located five miles south of The Square in Marion, in Liberty township. No more

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highly esteemed man and citizen maintains a residence in Liberty town- ship than Mr. Jay, and with his family, he shares in the unqualified friendship of the best people of the community.

Arthur W. Jay was born in Mill township, Grant county, on February 3, 1856, and he is a son of Denny and Anna (Cogshell) Jay. The father was born on a farm in Miami county, Ohio, while the mother is a native daughter of Indiana, born in Wayne county, and coming with her parents as an infant to Grant county, making the journey in her mother's arms on horseback. The father was a boy of six years when his parents migrated to Grant county, Indiana, from Ohio, and thus the family are entitled to especial consideration as pioneers of the most distinctive order. These children grew to young manhood and womanhood and were married while yet young in years. They were people of the staunchest integrity, their religious faith being that of the Friends, or Quakers, and the tenor of their daily lives being maintained well up to the standard set by these vigorous Puritan people. They had a family of five children, named as follows: Riley J. is a resident of Fairmount; Eva is the wife of Oliver Davis, of Center township; Arthur W., the third born, is the subject of this review; Gulie is the wife of Bennett Shugart of Franklin township; and Harvey J., who lives in Mill town- ship, Grant county.

Arthur W. Jay was reared in Mill and Liberty townships and his education was gained in the district schools, and in Amboy Academy and Earlham College. He was fitted for the teaching profession and took up that work in Grant county when he had finished his college training, and had he elected to carry the work forward, it is highly probable that he would have made a distinctive success therein, for he displayed the possession of no little talent along those lines. The call of the soil, however, was stronger than he cared to resist and he in time turned his mind and energies to the development and maintenance of a farm, in which enterprise he has since continued with a generous measure of success.

Mr. Jay married Flora Clark, a daughter of Simon and Julia (Not- tingham) Clark, the marriage occurring on October 9, 1879. Mrs. Jay was reared in Grant county, and here educated, and like her husband, has a wide acquaintance hereabouts .. They went housekeeping in Mill township, and the house is still standing where they initiated their wedded careers. Mr. Jay then was the owner of a small place of about fifty acres, but his holdings have increased very materially since that time.

Two children were born to them : Carl S. J., a student in the Normal College at South Marion, who is married to Nellie Warrenberg, and has one child; and Iona J., who is a graduate of the Marion Normal College and is the wife of Professor Harry L. Foreman, of Bloomington, Indiana. Prof. Foreman is a graduate of the state University, with the degree of A. B., and is one of the successful and rising educators of the state.

The family are members of the Friends' Church, Mr. Jay being an elder for years. Politically, he gives his material and moral support to the Prohibition party, and his citizenship is one of the highest order, calculated to wield an influence of the most genuine and praiseworthy nature.

PETER HEGNER. One of the best known men in Grant county, Indi- ana, is Peter Hegner. He has lived in this section for many years, and is now trustee of Franklin township. He has been engaged in various kinds of business here in the county and has also been a farmer for many years. Inheriting from his German ancestry the qualities of

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industry and thrift, he has succeeded in life where another man might have failed, for he began life with little save prospects. In his public duties he has carried on the work in accordance with the same high ideals that he has maintained in his private and business life and the respect and esteem which is accorded him is evidence of the satisfaction which he has given to those who elected him to office.

Peter Hegner was born in Peru, Indiana, on the 3rd of August, 1860, the son of Paul and Catharine (Walters) Hegner. Both of his parents were born, reared and educated in their native land, Germany. When Paul Hegner came to the United States he first located in Michi- gan and later came to Peru, Indiana. Here he met his future wife, who had come here on landing after her trip from Germany. She was at the time working for a German family near Peru. After they were married the young couple went to live in Peru, residing there for four years, and they then moved to a farm near Bunker Hill, Indiana. Here Mr. Hegner bought forty acres of land, all timbered, and set to work to clear the land and get it under cultivation. This farm was in Deer Creek township and here they lived until Mrs. Hegner's death. Mr. Hegner married again in 1882 and after this he moved to Howard county, Indiana, where he lived until his death. Of his children by his first wife seven lived to maturity, and of these Peter Hegner was the next to the eldest.

Peter Hegner received his education in the district schools of Miami county, Indiana, attending school in the winter and working on the farm in summer. He had thus acquired a very fair education by the time he was ready to leave school and go to work. He did not leave his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, and then he went to work on a farm in Howard county. He worked here until he was twenty-three and then leaving the farm he went into the meat and grocery business at Kokomo, Indiana. He made considerable money in this business and was thus engaged until 1894.

It was in the latter year that he came to Marion, and locating in West Marion, he again engaged in the meat and grocery business. For six years he was one of the successful merchants of this place and then he was elected trustee of Franklin township, and sold out his business. After his term as trustee expired in 1904 he went into the coal business in West Marion and was also engaged in farming in that vicinity. He continued in this way until 1908 when he was again elected trustee of Franklin township. He is now serving in this office and his term does not expire until 1915.

In his political beliefs Mr. Hegner affiliates with the Republican party and he has been active in party politics in local affairs. He was at one time candidate for the nomination of county commissioner of Grant county. In the world of secret societies Mr. Hegner is a member of the Ben Hur and Neptune orders, having insurance in the first named. In religious matters both he and his family are members of the West Ninth Street Methodist Episcopal church in Marion. He is one of the trustees and is recording steward of the church as well as being active in the work of the Sunday school.

Mr. Hegner was married in October, 1891, to Miss Jennie Foreman. She was born in Boone, Iowa, on the 24th of January, 1871, and at the age of five years she was bereft of her mother. She received her educa- tion in Ohio and in 1886 came to Kokomo, Indiana where she met and married Mr. Hegner. Three children have been born of this union, namely, Paul and Pauline, twins, who were born on August 5, 1892, and Elizabeth, who was born on November 25, 1897. Paul is a graduate of the common schools and of the Marion high school, and he has taught Vol. II-48

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three terms of school. Pauline is a graduate of the grammar school and she is now at home, while Elizabeth, having completed the work of the grammar school is now a student in the high school in Marion.

C. W. SPIKER. A career of marked prosperity and quiet usefulness in many ways has been the part of C. W. Spiker in Grant county, where he has lived for forty years. He began for himself as a boy of fifteen, working for wages, a hired hand, and by persistent labor and good man- agement finally promoted himself to a degree of success such as many might envy. His home is a well improved and attractive farm, in sec- tion twenty-four of Sims township, two miles west and one mile north of Swayzee on the Spiker Pike.

C. W. Spiker is a native of Virginia, where he was born March 31, 1858, a son of John and Catherine (Baker) Spiker. The parents came to Indiana, but after a brief residence were not satisfied with the country and returned to their native state, where the mother is still living at an advanced age.

Mr. C. W. Spiker spent the first fifteen years of his life in old Virginia, where he attended the public schools. He then came with his parents to Grant county, Indiana, and at that age began for himself as a farm hand, working for monthly wages. He found Grant county to his liking and remained here after his parents had gone back to Virginia. While still a young man in 1877, he married Letitia E. Maple, who was born on the farm which she and her husband now occupy in Sims town- ship. She grew up and received her education in Grant county, and from the common schools entered the Amboy schools. She qualified her- self for teaching and followed that vocation for a brief while before her marriage. The six children in their family are mentioned as follows: Marshall, who graduated from the Marion Normal College and has taught school, but is now a farmer in Sims township; Isaac is a graduate of the same school, and is assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Swayzee; Orville is a graduate of the common schools and lives at home; Clayton is thirteen years old and has completed his course in the common schools; Lawrence is still a school boy; Bessie, an older daugh- ter, has a common school education and is the wife of Ashley Smith, their home being in Howard county, Indiana.

The family are members of the Methodist Protestant church, in which Mr. Spiker has served as trustee. A Republican in politics, he has never held any office, but has always interested himself in good local government. He has served as a director in the Swayzee National Bank, and was one of the organizers and is still a stock holder in that institu- tion. He is also a stock holder in the Sims Telephone Company.

LEWIS O. POE. In the prime of life, prosperous and commanding the respect of all, such is the good fortune of Lewis O. Poe. Mr. Poe has been for many years a prominent farmer of Grant county, Indiana, and his success has not been easily won. As a boy he was known as a hard worker and after he reached manhood he worked all the harder to secure a comfortable livelihood for himself and his family. A man of fine principles, an independent thinker, he is of the best type of American farmer, the men who are the strength of the nation today.

The father of Lewis O. Poe is Robert L. Poe, who is still living and makes his home in Franklin township. He married Hannah Cabe and she is also living. Six children have been born to this couple, of whom Lewis O. is the eldest. The others are, Eli, who is a resident of this township; William and Elizabeth, who are twins, the latter being the wife of Oliver Small of Liberty, while her twin brother lives in

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Franklin township; Washtella, who married William Edwards, of Frank- lin township; and Sandy, who also lives in Franklin township.

Lewis O. Poe was born in Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, on the 10th of May, 1867. He grew up on his father's farm and as soon as he was old enough was sent to the district school. He attended school thereafter every winter, but in the summer his services were in demand on the farm, and this was the way his life passed until he was about fifteen years old. He then began to work for himself, hiring to neigh- boring farmers by the day and month when not needed on the farm at home.

This was all changed when on the 17th of September, 1890, he married Miss Etta Small, a daughter of Lemuel Small and Amanda (Fleming) Small, her mother being a native of Richland township and her father of Franklin township, Grant county. Mrs. Poe was born in Franklin township on the 29th of May, 1874, and she was reared and educated in her native township. After his marriage, Mr. Poe settled on the Hogs- ton farm in Franklin township and here they resided for fifteen years. This farm was rented and it was their ambition to save enough money to buy a farm of their own. Mr. Poe was a good farmer, and his wife was a good manager and so they prospered and in 1900 were able to buy their present farm, whither they moved in March, 1906. This farm is located on section ten of Franklin township and lies four miles south- west of Marion on the Marion and Kokomo Traction Line. Here in addi- tion to raising products of a general nature, Mr. Poe makes a specialty of raising fine melons, potatoes and tomatoes and he has gained a fine reputation for the quality of his products. His land comprises ninety- six acres and is under high cultivation.

Mr. Poe, in his political beliefs, is a member of the Prohibition party, and he and his family are members of the Friends church. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Poe, as follows: George, who is a gradu- ate of the public schools and is now at home helping his father on the farm; Lemuel A., who married Ruby Sample, and resides in West Marion; Nanna, who is the wife of Lewis Sharp and lives in Franklin township, is a graduate of the public schools; Verna, Pearl and Berneil live at home.

A. E. REECE. One of the successful farmers of Grant county, Indiana, is A. E. Reece, of Franklin township. A quiet and unassuming man, one would never realize that he had accomplished anything in the world to hear him tell of his life, but from his neighbors and fellow citizens, one can gain an idea of the high respect in which he is held, due not only to the successful battle he has fought with life, but also to his own fine character.

A. E. Reece was born in Adams county, Ohio, on the 31st of March, 1866, the son of John Reece and Ruth (Eyler) Reece. John Reece was born in Adams county, Ohio, and his wife was a native of Brown county, in the same state. They were reared in their native state and were married in Adams county where they lived until they came to .Indiana and located in Grant county. This was in 1874 and like most men of his time he was a farmer, but he was also a man of some education, and was not only a school teacher but a musician as well. He and his wife were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living. A. E. Reece and his brother, Thomas, who lives at Sweetser, Indiana, a painter and printer, and unmarried.

A. E. Reece attended the public schools in his native county in Ohio for one term before coming to Indiana, and his education was completed in the schools of the latter state. When he first began life he owned a

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team of horses and he first rented land. He was a renter for some time before he was able to save the money to purchase a place of his own. He is now the owner of a fine place of 105 acres, and raises splendid crops. He is also a stock raiser, and deals in stock to some extent. In Sweetser he is connected with the business world as a stockholder and a member of the directorate of the Farmers' State Bank.

In politics he is a member of the Democratic party and he has served as precinct committeeman of his township for four years. His fraternal interests are with the Ancient Order of Gleaners.

Mr. Reece was married to Della Sharp in 1891 and they had one daughter, Fay, who is now the wife of Will H. Brown, a farmer of Rich- land township, Grant county. Mrs. Della Reece died in 1908 and Mr. Reece married a second time in 1912, his wife being Miss Lizzie Goff. They have no children.

JAMES HIGHLEY. In 1847 James Highley and wife came to Richland township, Grant county, Indiana, and settled upon a tract of land in. the wilderness, the land being located at the northwest corner of section twenty-three in Richland township. He entered this land from the government at that time, although it was not put up for sale until 1848, at which time he bought it in. That land consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and James Highley and wife continued to live on the farm, cleared it up, ditched, drained and in other ways improved it, and there Mrs. Highley, the widow of James Highley, still lives. She owns the homestead, which is one of the few, if not the only farm in Grant county that is owned by one of the parties who originally entered the land. James Highley and wife had been married only a few months, when they moved to Grant county, and they worked hard together, prospered, reared a family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and when James Highley died July 6, 1891, he was mourned by hundreds of his neighbors and fellow citizens.

James Highley was born in Virginia. His father was also named James, and moved from Virginia to Union county, Indiana, when the son James was seven years of age. There the latter attended the local log schools of pioneer times, underwent practically all the hardships incidental to country life in the early days, and on May 9, 1847, married Sarah Meyers, a daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Kingery) Meyers. Sarah (Meyers) Highley was born and reared in Union county, Indiana. Her father, Samuel Meyers, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, came to what is now Union county, Indiana, with his parents, as a small boy. His wife, Susanna Kingery Meyers, was born in Virginia, also in 1804, and in 1806, when two years of age, came with her parents to what is now Union county. Samuel Meyers, the father of Mrs. James Highley, died when the latter was a small child, but her mother lived many years, always a widow and died at the advanced age of eighty-seven. In August, 1848, James Highley and wife, a bride and groom of only a few months, came to Grant county and settled on the farm where Mr. Highley remained until his death, and where Mrs. Highley still lives, hale and hearty, and with mental faculties unimpaired at the age of eighty-three years. Her son, Daniel M. Highley, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume, manages the old homestead for his mother. James Highley and wife were hard-working, God-fearing and prosperous citizens, and accumulated over four hundred acres of some of the most valuable land in Sims and Richland townships. The land has been divided among the children and sold, except for the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres where Mrs. Highley has her home. The ownership of this place is still in her name.

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JAMES HIGHLEY

MRS. JAMES HIGHLEY

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James Highley and wife were the parents of seven children, as fol- lows: David F .; Samuel M .; Daniel M .; Lydia, deceased; Clayburn; Martha, wife of William Eller; and Jacob M. The family are members of the Christian church.

JAMES C. LEWIS. Grant county is a wide-awake and progressive agri- cultural community, and the modern ideas and facilities have been intro- duced by many of the most successful farmers in this vicinity. One of these is James C. Lewis, proprietor of the Electric View Farm, on section nineteen in Franklin township, seven miles southwest of the county seat of Marion. This is a rural home betokening the thrift and independent enterprise of its owner. The farm is well situated as to market, and the King and Martin gravel road runs past the place affording easy access to town and market.

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Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 112

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

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