Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 22

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

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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).

In his home township in 1873, John Duling married Miss Lydia Ann Stout. She was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, January 10, 1854, was five years of age when the family moved to Peru, Indiana, and in 1869 came to Grant county, where she was married four years later. Her parents, William and Elizabeth B. Hinks Stout were born, the father in Guernsey county, Ohio, September 6, 1828, and the mother in Fulton county, Ohio, September 10, 1833. They were married in Ohio, and after settling in Grant county Mrs. Stout died April 19, 1875, at the birth of her last son, John. Mr. Stout was again married, moved into Jay county, Indiana, where he died in November, 1908, being then seventy-nine years of age. His widow still lives. There were no chil- dren by the second marriage, while Mrs. Duling was one of a family of twelve. children, eight of whom are still living, all married and have families of their own. William Stout was a practical mechanic, fol- lowed his trade for a number of years, was also a railroad man, and after locating in Jay county became a farmer. He and his wife were Methodist, and in politics he was a Democrat.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Duling are mentioned as follows: 1. Minnie B. is the wife of T. Burr Wilson, and they reside on Mr. Duling's farm. Their two children are Alfred Garr and Robert. 2. Capitola May is the wife of William Reasoner, and their home is on a farm in Blackford county. Their children are: Clifford, Paul, Opal, Lloyd, Howard, Arthur, and Ruth. 3. Solomon Arthur is a graduate of the State University, was a teacher for four years, then studied law, and is now engaged in practice in the state of Oklahoma. He is unmarried. 4. Pearle Blanche is the wife of Clayton Secrist, and their home is in Santa Barbara, California. Their children are Robert D. and Walter. 5. Earl William is a farmer near Indianapolis, and by his marriage to May Salmon of Fowlerton has two children, Byron M. and Meredith E.

Mr. and Mrs. Duling are active members of the Fowlerton Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Duling has served as trustee of that church and is at the present time a member of the township advisory board, and in politics is a stanch Republican. .

JAMES O. HINDS: In Green township seven miles north of Elwood is the home of James O. Hinds. Mr. Hinds and family have lived in this county nearly thirty years. When he and his wife were married and took up the task of winning a home for themselves, their start was on a rented farm. Much can be accomplished by youth and energy, when guided by worthy ambition, and now the Hinds family have a comfortable home, an improved estate, which measures up to the high values set on

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Grant county land, and among other good things which they enjoy they drive to town in a late model Buick automobile. When they made their start they were satisfied with a farm wagon as their vehicle of travel.

James O. Hinds was born in Fayette county, Indiana, June 22, 1850, a son of E. A. and Emily (Hopkins) Hinds, both of whom were born in Ohio, came to Indiana, and located in Fayette county. Later the parents moved to Rush county, Indiana, and still later in life to Tipton county, which continued to be the home of the father until his death at the advanced age of eighty-four years. There were five children in the family and two are now living. The brother of Mr. Hinds, William E. Hinds, a retired farmer of Elwood. Two of the others lived to have families of their own, and one sister died at the age of nineteen years.

James O. Hinds lived in Fayette county for a few years, and in Rush county grew up on a farm and received a common school education. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-one years old, and when he started out for himself, as a growing boy, it was in the humblest capacity of farm laborer at eight dollars a month. Then in 1871 he married Miss Annetta Barger, of Johnson county, Indiana. She was reared in Rush county, and was educated in the public schools. Mrs. Hinds is a daughter of George W. Barger and Sarah F. Helms, the former a native of Blacksburg, Virginia, and the latter was born near Muscatine, Iowa.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hinds lived in Rush county a short time, later in Johnson county, where he was a renter then returned to Rush county, and again spent some time in Johnson county. In the meantime the father of Mrs. Hinds died, and they sold their interest in the estate for one thousand dollars, a capital which gave them a good start, and about which they have accumulated their present generous prosperity. In 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Hinds moved to Grant county, locating in Green township on the estate where they still have their home.

To their marriage were born eight children, seven of whom are now living, namely : Lee Hinds, who is married, is a preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist church, and also a farmer of Huntington county; William Franklin, married, lives in Green township, is a preacher in Holiness Christian Church; Charles E. is married and lives in Madison county ; James A., has a family of his own and is a resident of Green township; Thomas D., has his home in Madison county; Nola B., is the wife of Samuel Noble of Madison county ; Locia F., is the wife of Joel Butner of Tipton county.

Politically Mr. Hinds gives his support to the Prohibitionist cause, and is always ready to support any movement for the improvement and welfare of his community. His home farm is under splendid cultivation, and he and his family not only have a delightful homestead but all the facilities for business like farming, can be found about their estate, and they conduct the farm as a profitable enterprise in the same way that a manufacturer would run his factory.

LUTHER S. HARRISON. Now enjoying prosperity and the esteem of friends and neighbors, at a comfortable country estate on section two of Fairmount township, Luther S. Harrison is one of the older native sons of Grant county, was born here during the later pioneer epoch, and is a graduate of one of the old-time log school houses, which some fifty years ago were so common throughout this part of the state. His life has been led along lines of industry, thrift and honesty, and practically every one in Fairmount townships knows, and has a word of kindly regard for Luther S. Harrison.

His grandfather, John Harrison was a native of Virginia. From there he moved to Ohio, and while there his death occurred in the

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prime of life as the result of an accident. In endeavoring to rescue his son, John, Jr., from underneath a falling tree, he was stricken down and killed. This branch of the Harrison family is thought to be related more or less closely with the family which produced William Henry Harrison, president of the United States during the forties. John Harrison had three children: John, Jr., Sarah, who married William Leach, and lived and died in Grant county, both of them passing away in advanced age, and after acquiring a large estate in Fairmount township.

Louis Harrison, father of Luther S. was born in Ohio between the years 1808 and 1810. During the Mexican War he served in Captain Ramsey's Company from Indiana, then reenlisted to drive pack horses in the same war, and on his return from the war settled and lived for a time in Franklin county, whither he had first settled with some kinsmen from Ohio a number of years before. When he was still young he moved to Grant county, and his first home in this vicinity was built of split rails, and was little more than a shed, covered with bark. That house stood on land now occupied by his son Luther. After a little while the rail hut was replaced with a good log house. Louis Harrison owned one hundred and sixty acres of land attained directly from the govern- ment, and spent the rest of his life in its clearing and cultivation. He died in October, 1860. His church was the Methodist, and in politics he was a Democrat. About 1841, he was married in Fairmount township of Grant county to Elizabeth Searls, who was born in Kentucky in 1814 or 1815, coming of Kentucky parents and family. She was a young woman when she came to Grant county, and a few years later her parents left Indiana, and lived the rest of their lives in Illinois. Mrs. Louis IIarrison survived her husband many years and received a pension for her husband's services in the Mexican war. Her death occurred in February, 1897, and she was likewise a member of the Methodist church. Of their five children three grew up. John Harrison died in 1901, and his son Lawrence is now living in Henry county. The daughter Rachael is the wife of Henry DeShaun of Fairmount town- ship.

Luther S. Harrison, second in age of the three children, just mentioned, was born in Fairmount township of Grant county, January 13, 1845. His early years were spent on his father's farm, and his schooling was obtained by attendance at a log cabin school. The light was admitted to the rooms through greased paper windows, and all the facilities of that primitive temple of learning were exceedingly crude, while the instruction itself was confined largely to the three R's. After reaching manhood he bought some land from his father, gradually acquiring more until his place amounted to one hundred and thirty acres. This is now one of the fine country estates of Fairmount township, nearly all of it under cultivation, and its buildings are of the very best comprising a large red barn and a comfortable white house. He is a general farmer, growing large crops of grain and forage, and feeds all the farm products to his hogs, horses and cattle. In cattle his specialty is the short-horn breed:

Mr. Harrison was first married in Fairmount township to Miss Sarah Richards, who was born in Jefferson township in 1863. She died in the prime of life from lung trouble, and left two children : Louis, born August 12, 1890, lives at home; Bessie, is the wife of Urshel Kimes, a farmer in Jefferson township, and they have one son, Thomas. In 1897, Mr. Harrison married for his second wife, Mrs. Emma Leach, whose maiden name was Ailes. She was born in Franklin county, Indiana, and is the widow of George Leach, who was killed in a saw-mill Vai 11-10

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boiler explosion. Her children by Mr. Leach were: Rev. Perry B. Leach, a minister of the Methodist church, living south of Indianapolis, and having one son and one daughter; Lulu is the wife of Carl Mittank, employed in the post office at Marion, and they have three children; Arthur, aged twenty-five lives at home with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of no church, and in politics he is an Independent Democrat.

RILEY CRANFORD. With the happiness which comes from the posses- sion of a good home and with a retrospect over a long and varied suc- cession of years, Mr. Cranford resides on section fourteen of Fair- mount township, on the rural mail route number sixteen out of Jones- boro. His residence in Grant county goes back about thirty years and he is especially loyal to this county, because here he has won his real prosperity and enjoyed many of the pleasantest associations of his life.

Riley Cranford was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, De- cember 13, 1836, a son of Leonard and Naomi (Riley) Cranford. Leonard Cranford was a son of Kidd Cranford, who married a Miss Hull, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, where they lived and died, farmers by occupation, and Methodists in religion. So far as known no members of the family ever held a slave, and there was a disposition on the part of the early members to oppose the institution of slavery. Leonard Cranford and wife followed farming all their lives and the former died in his native county about 1870 at the age of seventy-one. His wife had died there when thirty-five years of age. After her death Leonard Cranford married Lucy Nelson, a native of the same county. She survived her husband some years and died aged seventy-four. By the second marriage there was one daughter, who is now married and has a large family. Riley Cranford was the fourth in a family of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters. The sons, besides Riley were: Harris, Elsevan, and Nixon, while the daughters were Adaline, and Mary. The sons Elsevan and Nixon were forced into the Confederate army, and the latter was killed in battle, while the former was in one engagement so severely wounded that he died soon afterwards. Both were unmarried.

Riley Cranford grew up in his native county, and in 1860 was mar- ried there. In 1863 he was threatened with the same enforced enlist- ment which had taken his two brothers away to the front, and as he was strongly opposed to the war in principles, left the country with William Moffitt, and by careful management they succeeded in getting across the lines into the north, crossing the Potomac River and finding refuge in Pennsylvania, among a Quaker settlement. There they were made to feel at home, and were given work. In Pennsylvania, Riley Cranford worked for one year, and then came west to Wayne county, Indiana, and later moved to Henry county in the same state. In 1882 he moved to Grant county, and made a beginning of his prosperity by the pur- chase of forty acres of land. This was increased subsequently by twenty- two acres more, and by his thrift and energy the entire farm is highly developed and very profitable. His principal crops are corn, wheat, timothy, clover, and practically all his grain is fed on the place so that he maintains the fertility of the soil year after year. His homestead is comfortable both to the outward view and as to its interior furnish- ings. There is a good white house and a red barn completes the picture.

Mr. Cranford was married in his native county, in 1860 to Miss Laura A. Bingham. She was born in Randolph county, August 22. 1836. After her husband was forced to leave the country and go north, she remained at the old home until the fall of 1865, when he returned and

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they then moved out to Indiana. Her parents were William and Mary (Lafferty) Bingham, who were born and spent all their lives in Ran- dolph county. They were farmers by occupation, and members of the Methodist church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cranford are as fol- lows. 1. Mary is the wife of James Griffin, their home is in Marion, and they lost their only child, Burr, at the age of seventeen. 2. Julia is the wife of William Smith, living in Marion, and their children are Goldy, Delight, and Minnie. 3. William is now employed in a factory at Gas City, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Cranford are Methodists, and in politics he is a Republican.

JOHN E. KIBBEY. One of the historical farms of Grant county is the Kibbey homestead in section thirty-three of Jefferson township. In the early days the Muncie Pike, which passes in front of the door, was a much traveled thoroughfare, and throughout all the months of the year was thronged from morning until night with wagons and vehicles of all descriptions. The place was then occupied by a man named Crawford, who conducted the old house as a tavern or inn, and the name assigned to it was one taken from revolutionary and colonial annals, and was "Black Horse Tavern." For the past forty years or more the old place has been in the possession of the Kibbey family, and it was successively the farm enterprise of Jonah Kibbey and then of his son, the late John E. Kibbey. Mrs. John E. Kibbey and her children now reside there in comfort and plenty, and are among the popular people of Jefferson township.

The late John E. Kibbey was born in Clinton county, Ohio, May 25, 1850, and was fifty-four years of age when death took him from his activities in Jefferson township, on August 24, 1904. His parents were Jonah and Rebecca (Garrison) Kibbey, both natives of Ohio, where they were married. Jonah Kibbey was a son of Ephraim Kibbey, one of the early settlers and prosperous farmers and prominent citizens of Clinton county, Ohio. He died there in old age, and owned a large amount of land. His son, Jonah Kibbey, was also a well-to-do farmer in Clinton county, and about 1870 sold out his possessions there and moved to Indiana. In Jefferson township he bought one hundred and sixty acres lying in sections thirty-two and thirty-three, and there con- tinued his prosperous career until his death in 1892. At that time he was an old man, and his years had been fruitful in both material circumstances and the finer things of character and influence. He was a Republican in politics, and in religion was not an active churchman, though a man who believed in the best features of religious life. His wife, Rebecca, preceded him in death several years. There were four sons and two daughters in the family, and all of them married and had children. Paul, of Liberty township; Mrs. Florence Hinckley, of Fairmount City ; and Mrs. Ellen Wright, of North Dakota, are the children still living.

John E. Kibbey was educated in Clinton county, Ohio, and was about twenty years of age when the family moved to Grant county. Here he lived and learned the lessons of industry and thrift, was well tramed in principles of honest dealing, and chose farming as his regu- lar vocation. On the death of his father, he became owner of this old homestead, and afterwards built a fine red barn and other out build- ings which are such conspicuous and valuable features of the estate. The creek which waters the farm still bears the name of John Craw- ford, the original owner of the land and proprietor of the old Black Horse Tavern. John E. Kibbey was a man who took an active part

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in local matters, was an intelligent and public spirited character, and held a high place in the esteem of his neighbors. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic Lodge, and the Improved Order of Red Men, and had held chairs in these different fraternities. In politics he was a Republican.

On January 1, 1873, in Jefferson township, John E. Kibbey married Olive Carter. Mrs. Kibbey who survives her husband has the distinc- tion of having been born in a log cabin home in Jefferson township. The date of her birth was December 19, 1852, and she was reared and has always considered Jefferson township her home. Though a com- paratively young woman, she has within the scope of her early expe- rience, many pioneer facts, and when a young girl she did many tasks of the old-fashioned housekeeper, such as spinning yarn, etc. Her par- ents were Ira J. and Eliza Ann (Corn) Carter. Her father was born in Zanesville, Ohio, March 15, 1822, and died March 21, 1899, in Jeffer- son township, of Grant county. Her mother was born in Rush county, Indiana, June 5, 1825, and is still living, quite active, although neces- sarily feeling the weight of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter were married in 1845, in Rush county, and in that same year began their married life in Jefferson township, of Grant county, locating on new land, and after a few years established their home on another place in the same township. They lived long and active and useful lives, were Methodists in religion and Mr. Carter was a Democrat in politics.

·The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John E. Kibbey are mentioned as follows: Clarence A., who lives in Marion, and married Mary Bar- ley ; Everet A., who now owns and occupies a part of the homestead, and by his marriage to Sarah C. Throckmorton has the following chil- dren : Lloyd T., Eva L., Paul K. and Mary O .; Ira E., who lives on his mother's farm in Jefferson township, married Maud Carmin, and has two children, Everett L. and Opal A .; Charles P., who now runs the home farm for his mother, is unmarried; Rowland C., who is un- married and is in the oil fields of California; Cora A., who is a success- ful teacher in Matthews; Bessie A., who died in infancy; Clinton J., died at the age of four years; John R. is a senior in the Matthews high school, and Carrie E., a junior student in the high school. Mrs. Kib- bey and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

BEN O. PHILLIPS. Chief of police of the Marion police department since 1909, the record of Mr. Phillips is one that has been a matter of much commendation and praise among the local citizens. He has been commended for the manner in which he has enforced the law, without partiality or favoritism, and in all his duties has performed his work with a quiet efficiency which means a great deal to the welfare and moral safe-guarding of a city. Marion, under Chief Phillips, has been regarded as the inferior of no Indiana city in its police department.

Ben O. Phillips was born October 31, 1871, near Newport, Kentucky, a son of George and Jane (Hulley) Phillips, the father a native of Germany. He came to America when a young man and located in Kentucky. By trade he was a cooper, but spent most of his life as a farmer, and is now living at Madison, Indiana, to which city he removed many years ago. During the Civil war he fought for the cause of the Union in his adopted land. The mother passed away about thirteen years ago. They were the parents of a large family of ten children, all of whom are still living, and named as follows: Robert Phillips, who lives near Madison; Ben O .; Edward, of Madison; Thomas, of Marion; William, of Madison; Otto and Bert, twins, and living in

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Madison; Ida, wife of Dennis Hines, of Madison; Bertha Cline, of Madison; and George Phillips, of Indianapolis.

Mr. Ben O. Phillips received his early education at Newport and at Madison, chiefly in the latter city, and began his career as a farmer, working on a farm until he was twenty years of age. He then came to Indianapolis, and spent several years in a bicycle factory there. In 1895 similar employment in the Halliday bicycle factory at Marion brought him to this city, where he has had his home ever since. After several years in the bicycle shops, in 1892, he entered the police service as a patrolman, and in time was appointed captain, and then two years later, in 1909, was made chief of police.

Mr. Phillips was married March 29, 1893, to Oliva Butter. They had been school companions together in Madison, and their friendship was continued into later life, until their marriage at Indianapolis. The five children of their union are: Irene, Velma, Frank, Edith, Benjamin. Mr. Phillips is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Crew of Neptune, and the Knights of Pythias.

ELKANAH HULLEY. For a long period of years the name of Hulley has been associated with Grant county life and affairs. In the follow- ing sketch are contained the essential facts in the career of Mr. Elkanah Hulley and also many related items of family history and local associations, so that the article becomes a brief but valuable chapter in this centennial history.

While he has been a citizen of Marion since May 29,.1871, Elkanah Hulley is a native of Switzerland county, Indiana. His childhood and early manhood were passed in the vicinity of Vevay, and although the "Hoosier Schoolmaster" was published the year he left Switzerland county, Mr. Hulley is very familiar with scenes described in the story. The Hulley and Eggleston families were acquainted there. None of Mr. Hulley's immediate relatives have had permanent residence in Marion, although two brothers and a sister have lived temporarily in. Grant county. He was very much interested in the Centennial Home- coming week at Vevay, at which point settlement was made in 1813, and all exiles were invited to meet again.

When Mr. Hulley came to Marion it was to work in the foundry and machine shop operated by his uncle, Samuel Hulley, and his cousin, Joseph Hulley. While he was connected with the foundry he was on the payroll, rented a half interest and later owned a half interest in it, but when Grant county industrial affairs were revolutionized in 1887, by the discovery of natural gas, he sold his interest in the foundry and became extension superintendent of the Citizens' Gas Company. He operated a stone quarry and crusher on the Draper-Williams land for a year and a half, but his public work has been as superintendent of the Marion Municipal Water Plant described in the special chapter on water systems of the county.

Elected to a vacancy to fill out an unexpired term of six months on the Marion school board, Mr. Hulley was seven times reelected and served as school trustee at a very important time when the city was increasing rapidly in population and business ability was required at the hands of the board-an increased school population and not enough school buildings for the requirement. While the Central building on the site of the old seminary is opposite his home on Adams street, the prevailing opinion that Mr. Hulley was instrumental in securing the town clock is a mistake. He was at the time opposed to it, but it was placed there as a result of petition by tax payers, and the city council ordered the school board to include the clock in the plans of the build-

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Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 22

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

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