Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 58

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

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Willis Ward, father of John E. Ward, was fifteen years old when his parents moved to Indiana, he grew up on the farm in Jefferson county, and married Sarah E. Moncrief. She represented one of the very early families established in southern Indiana, and was herself born in Jefferson county in 1832. The ancestry was Scotch, and her Vol. 11-25

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parents, Abner and Ann (Vawter) Moncrief settled in Jefferson county before the tide of white settlement had made much impression on the wilderness, and they had their full share of experience as pioneers. Abner Moncrief died in that county at the age of sixty-five, while his wife attained the remarkable age of ninety-nine years. Willis Ward and wife after their marriage lived on a farm, and were quiet and industrious people, and remained citizens of Jefferson county the rest of their lives. He died in 1891 and she in 1869, when thirty years of age. For six consecutive terms Willis Ward served as county commis- sioner, and on account of ill health declined nomination for a seventh term. He was a Republican, and both he and his wife worshiped in the Baptist faith.

John E. Ward has a brother, Charles Ward, who is a sand contractor of Indianapolis, and has three children named Josephine, Raymond and Catherine; and a sister Emma, wife of Ira Montgomery, of Madison, Indiana, a feed and produce merchant, and they have two children, Mattie and Alvin.

Mr. John E. Ward was first married at Arcola, Illinois, to Josephine Walkup, a native of Kentucky. At her death she left children: Mae, wife of J. A. Carnige, of Chicago, Illinois, and their children are : Clarence, Josephine and Helen; Charles, who died at the age of twenty years; and Everett, who died when three months old. The second wife of Mr. Ward was Miss Lamora O. Lee, and was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1863, and finished her education in the North Madi- son high schools. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have three children: Ethel died at the age of seven years. Clyde W., who finished his preliminary edu- cation in the Gas City high school and the Marion Business College, pre- pared for his profession in the Worsham Embalming College, and has since been in business with his father. He married Miss Mae Coyne December 7, 1913. Newell J., who is twelve years old, is attending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the Christian church, and he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Haymakers, the Knights of the Maccabees and has taken much part in fraternal affairs, having passed all the chairs in the various lodges, and having represented his orders in the Grand Lodges. While he gives close attention to business, he does not neglect his public responsibility, and for a time served as assessor of Mill township. In politics he is a Republican.

JAMES OTTERBEIN BATCHELOR. Now a commercial salesman with home and business headquarters at Marion, J. O. Batchelor has for a number of years been identified with educational work in Indiana, and is also known in the field of authorship, being an intelligent student of history and a writer of special ability.

James O. Batchelor was born in Randolph county, Indiana, Novem- ber 18, 1876, and belongs to a family which has been in Indiana for eighty years or more. His parents were Joseph W. and Nancy (Davis) Batch- elor. Grandfather Caswell Batchelor brought his family from North Carolina to Randolph county, Indiana, where he located among the first settlers about 1830. The Batchelors are of Scotch Irish stock. The grandfather was a substantial farmer.

Joseph W. Batchelor, father of James O., was born in Nash county, North Carolina, was a very small child when the family came to Indiana, and in this state spent all his active career at Bloomingsport, in Ran- dolph county, where he died at the age of seventy-five in 1905. By trade he was a cabinet maker, and he was also a local minister in the Methodist church. The maiden name of his first wife was Anna Vandergrift, who

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HON. JAMES O. BATCHELOR

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was the mother of three children, namely: William G., who is a rural mail carrier at Winchester, Indiana; Ezra V., who is a machinist at Indianapolis; and Josephine, now deceased. Nancy C. Davis, the second. wife of Joseph W. Batchelor, was born at Martinsville, in West Vir- ginia, and is now living at the age of sixty-three in Richmond, Indiana. She became the mother of seven children, all living but one, namely : Mrs. Emma Burton of Richmond, Indiana; Sevilla Phillips of Fountain City, Indiana; Byron, who lives on the old home place at Bloomings- port; John L., who owns the Consolidated Dairies at Richmond, Indiana; and George W., who is a butcher and baker in Canyon City, Colorado.

James O. Batchelor was reared in his native village of Bloomingsport, attended the public schools of Randolph county, and with an ambition for learning and his aim being to teach school, he continued to study and work until he eventually graduated from the highest institution of . learning in the state. He attended the Central Normal school at Dan- ville, Indiana, for three years, and in 1899 first matriculated in the Indiana State University, where he remained a student until 1902. He then left in order to take up teaching, and finally completed his studies there in 1908 when he was graduated with the A. B. degree. For four years Mr. Batchelor was a teacher of the district schools in Randolph county, and for five years was superintendent of schools in Farmland. At the same time he owned and published the Farmland Enterprise. During 1903-04, Mr. Batchelor was an American teacher in the Philip- pine Islands, and in 1906-07 he was principal of the Ward school in Fort Wayne and was principal of the Union City high school in 1907-08. Mr. Batchelor came to Marion as assistant superintendent, a position which he held from 1908 to 1912. Since leaving school work he has been on the road as special representative of the Osborn Paper Company of Marion.

While in college, on November 17, 1900, Mr. Batchelor married Alice Mae Engle of Winchester, Indiana, a daughter of Calvin Engle, who at the time of the marriage held the office of auditor in Randolph county. Mr. Batchelor's mother was Helen Greeley, who was a cousin of Horace Greeley, the famous editor. Mrs. Batchelor died on May, 1901, with- out children. On September 9, 1906, Mr. Batchelor married Leota M. Schultz, daughter of William E. and Cora (Alexander) Schultz of Har- risville, Indiana. They have one son, Joseph Alexander Batchelor, born August 2, 1909. Miss Leola Schultz, younger sister of Mrs. Batchelor, has her home with Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor. Mr. Batchelor has been affiliated with the Masonic Order since he was twenty-one years of age, and since the same date has been a member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his family worship in the First Methodist church at Marion. In politics he is Independent. Mr. Batchelor is a member of the Amer- ican Historical Association, and his interests and studies in history have been the source of his authorship. He is the author of a text- book on the history of Europe, now in the hands of New York publishers.

On November 5, 1913, Mr. Batchelor was elected mayor of the city of Marion on a law enforcement proposition. When asked to represent the people he declined to make it a party issue, maintaining his inde- pendence in politics, but saying he would accept such office as a popular law and order candidate, receiving support from law-abiding citizens of all political affiliations. Mr. Batchelor became mayor with a council representing all parties, and in making his appointments he recognized all of them, and thus the city government is without definite political stamp, but offenders against the law have discovered that law enforce- ment is the program of the administration. While the "fly-bob" may be necessary in detecting violations, detection has been part of the show

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and the law-abiding citizens of Marion are standing behind the adminis- tration. The election of Mayor Batchelor is discussed in the chapter on politics in the history section.

THOMAS M. COUCH. The name of Couch with its attendant family relationship is one of the best known in Grant county, especially in Jef- ferson township. Thomas M. Couch, of a younger generation, has made a splendid reputation as a farmer and stockman, and the Walnut Level stock farm in section six of Jefferson township, his home for the past twenty years is one of the best in its improvements and facilities, and value in Grant county. Mr. Couch in everything he has undertaken has made a success by reason of his good judgment and vigorous indus- try, and is a man who well deserves his influential position in the com- munity.

His father, Samuel Couch, was born not farm from Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1825, and was a child when he lost his father. His mother then took him to the home of her father, whose name was Todd, and they all at an early day came to Indiana, and settled in Jefferson township of Grant county. Samuel Couch was a boy at that time, grew up on the farm, in pioneer environment, and was trained to practical pursuits, but with little advantages from schools.

In this county Samuel Couch married Nancy Furnish, whose fam- ily name is one of the oldest and most distinguished in Grant county. She was born in Franklin county, Indiana, a daughter of Judge Ben- jamin Furnish, one of the early settlers in Grant county, who made entry to large tracts of land, and a portion of that property is now owned and occupied by his grandson Thomas M. Couch.

Judge Furnish was not only a land owner and extensive farmer, but a man of prominence in local and county politics, was elected to the office of county judge and served for a number of years in that capacity. His death occurred when he was fifty-six years of age and he is buried in the Harmony cemetery at Matthews. Mr. Furnish married Tamer Corn, who survived him and died when above ninety-three years of age, and they are buried side by side in the Harmony Cemetery. Mr. Furnish and wife were among the organizers of the Primitive Baptist Church at Matthews, and were leaders in church affairs, and in local soci- eties and benevolent activities. The Judge was a Democrat, and one of the best known members of that party during his lifetime.

After their marriage Samuel Couch and wife began life on a farm in section six of Jefferson township, and there developed a splendid estate. Samuel Couch died on the old homestead, December 2, 1891, and his wife survived him just a decade, passing away in the old home December 26, 1901. She was born in Franklin county September 5, 1831, came to Grant county with her parents in 1837, and was married to Mr. Couch January 26, 1854. She was likewise for many years an active member of the Baptist church. Samuel Couch and wife had five sons and two daughters, and all are living except Nettie V. who died February 13, 1888. The others are: Sallie, wife of William H. Lind- sey, of Fairmount; Benjamin W., who is a farmer in Washington town- ship of Delaware county and has several children : Thomas M .; Joseph W., who is a carpenter living in Matthews, and has a family of one son and a daughter; Absolom G., who owns and occupies the old home- stead where his parents and his grandparents lived and died and who has seven children of his own; Orlando H., who is a prosperous agri- culturist in Jefferson township and has a family of four sons and two daughters.

Thomas M. Couch was born on the old homestead above described,

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on August 13, 1860. His youth was passed during the decades of the sixties and seventies, and his advantages were supplied by the public school of the country. On reaching manhood he chose farming as his vocation, and there has seldom been a year when he has not prospered and added a little bit to his store. His farm of seventy-nine acres ad- joins the old home place, his property is excellently improved and has a substantial barn, a comfortable white house of nine rooms, and good water and other comforts and facilities are supplied on every hand. Mr. Couch grows a great deal of fruit and feeds all his crops to his high grade live stock. He raises hogs, and is perhaps best known as a breeder of Belgian horses. His young stallion Mack is one of the finest horses in the state.

Mr. Couch was married in Henry county to Miss Emma A. John- son, who was born, reared and educated, near Springport in that county, a daughter of Jesse F. and Zilpha (Covalt) Johnson. The Johnsons were among the early settlers of Henry county, and also the Covalts. Mrs. Johnson died on the old homestead in Henry county in 1905, when nearly seventy years of age, and her husband passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Couch, in September, 1910, being then seventy- nine years of age. They were active members and workers in the Prim- itive Baptist church, and Mr. Johnson was a Democrat. Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Couch one died in infancy and the other is Ora. Ora Couch was born April 26, 1891, was educated in the high school, graduating with the class of 1911, and now lives at Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Couch are working members in the Matthews Harmony Baptist church, of which he has been church clerk since April, 1909. In politics he supports the Democratic candidate and believes in the basic principles of that party.

BURTNEY R. JONES. Among the most respected residents of Grant county, Indiana, is Burtney R. Jones. He was born in this section of the state and has lived here all of his life, being a member of a family that is well known throughout the northern part of Indiana. He has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer and has opened up and developed much valuable property in Grant county, not only farming lands but also city realty, and although he has now retired from busi- ness he is still keenly interested in the life of the community and his advice is frequently asked in matters of public concern.

Burtney R. Jones is the only surviving member of the family of Joseph and Catharine (McCormick) Jones. His father was born on the 15th of April, 1816, and grew up in his native state of Ohio. When he was a young man he removed from Preble county, Ohio, to Grant county, Indiana, this being in 1833. In 1839, on the 15th of Novem- ber, Joseph Jones was married to Catharine McCormick. His wife was a daughter of Robert and Anna McCormick, who had been the first set- tlers in Fairmount township, Grant county, Indiana, settling here on August 15, 1829, and coming from Fayette county, Indiana. Joseph Jones died as a comparatively young man, on the 16th of September, 1856, and his wife died on the 4th of December, 1889. They were both prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and took an active part in these early pioneer days of northern Indiana.

Five sons were born to Joseph and Catharine Jones, Burtney R. Jones being the third in order of birth. The eldest son, George W. Jones was born on the 25th of September, 1841, and served in the Fifty- fourth Indiana Regiment during the Civil war. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863 but was paroled the following June. His parole was of little moment to him, however, for

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he died at Annapolis, Maryland, July 25, 1863. He married Sarah J. Secrist, October 17, 1861. Hiram A. Jones, the second son, was born October 17, 1843. He also served in the Civil war, being a soldier in the Eighty-ninth Indiana Regiment from August, 1862, until August, 1865. He had his right eye shot out in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, on April 9, 1864, but continued to serve until the end of the war. He was married on April 21, 1867, to Anna Hardy and died on March 31, 1908. Robert L. Jones, the fourth son, was born September 1, 1849. He became sheriff of Grant county in November, 1888, and on December 9, of the same year, after successfully capturing an escaped horse thief, he was shot and died from the wounds, on the 11th of December. He was away from home at the time and died at Jerome in Howard county, Indiana. He married Louisa C. Jadden, on the 25th of September, 1870, and left two sons, Sanford C., of Marion, In- diana, and Robert P., of Whitefish, Montana. Joseph A. Jones, the youngest son, was born on March 5, 1852. He was married to Sarah J. Whitson on the 7th of January, 1885, and she died February 8, 1890. He died on April 25, 1893, at the home of his brother, Burtney R. Jones, in Marion.

Burtney R. Jones was born on the 2nd of October, 1846, at the old Robert McCormick Hotel, which stood at the crossing of the Fort Wayne, Muncie and Indianapolis state roads. This was the first house to be built in Fairmount township and was erected by his maternal grand- father. His mother entered eighty acres of land from the government on August 5, 1837, and Burtney Jones grew up on the farm. He was married to Eliza J. Duling, a daughter of Solomon and Jane Duling, on the 9th of December, 1869, and after his marriage settled on eighty acres of timber land in section twenty-four in Fairmount township. Here he built a house of hewed logs and there lived until the death of his wife on April 12, 1872. She left one child, Minnie A., who was born on November 7, 1871, but the baby died on August 31, 1872. Mr. Jones continued as a farmer and made a decided success of it. He lived on the farm which his mother had homesteaded and to which he had added until 1881 when he came to Marion and here he has resided ever since.

He married Sina M. Duling, who was also a daughter of Solomon and Jane Duling, on September 1, 1887, and to this union have been born two children, namely, Edith D. Jones, who was born on the 31st of July, 1890, and Burtney Ralph, whose birth took place on September 1, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Jones together own two hundred and sixty acres of valuable farming land in Grant county, located in Fairmount, Jef- ferson and Center townships. Mr. Jones has himself cleared and brought into cultivation one hundred and twenty-five acres of Grant county land. They also own three valuable pieces of residence prop- erty in the city of Marion which they have developed and improved, and which is considered some of the best paying property in the city.

JESSE JOHNSON. As owners of large landed estates, as substantial farmers who have brought the latent resources of the soil to productive- ness, perhaps no one family in Grant county has operated so exten- sively as that of Johnson, one of the best known members of which is Mr. Jesse Johnson of Mill township.

Mr. Johnson's early ancestors in America are thought to have been of Scotch origin, but they had lived in Pennsylvania since before the Revolution, and little is known concerning the founders of the name in that state. His grandfather was John Johnson, a native of Penn- sylvania, who died there when an old man. He was a farmer by occu-

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pation, and among his children was John Jr. John Johnson Jr. grew up in Pennsylvania, was married there and with his bride set out to become a pioneer in Ohio. They located in what was then Guernsey county, but on land now included in Noble county. He was like many of the pioneers skilled in the use of his rifle, and with that he killed a great many deer, and by selling the skins and the hindquarters accu- mulated enough money to buy his first forty acres of wild land, paying cash for it. In that way may he be said to have laid the foundation of the large Johnson fortune as land holders. In Ohio he worked out his destiny as an early settler, and one of the shrewdest business men of his time. His hardship and experiences would make a fascinating story, if told in detail, and he was one of the strong men of his generation. He planned and planted one of the first orchards in Noble county, and that orchard was famous for miles around during his lifetime. In the meantime his children had been growing up about him, and as popula- tion was getting close in that part of Ohio he looked westward in plan- ning homes for the younger members of the family. With this in view, in 1835, he came to Grant county, and entered half a section of land in Jefferson township, it being his intention that this should be a place for his sons to test the quality of their characters as home builders in much the same manner as had been done some years before in Ohio. He also secured some government land in Delaware county, and as the years followed, he gradually sent one son after the other to Indiana, affording each one an opportunity to prosper. In securing large tracts of land in Indiana he was actuated not by desire for speculation, and he was never a speculator in the sense in which many were in those times, his sole ambition being to provide an outlet for the energies of his growing family. After getting land in this section of Indiana, he re- turned to Ohio, and he and his wife continued to live and labor in that state until they died in Noble county. Both were then at a good old age, and they lie buried side by side in Noble county. His wife's maiden name was Mary Burns, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Of their eleven chil- dren, some died young, but most of them came to Grant or Delaware county, Indiana. Of these James Johnson, a brother of Jesse, became one of the largest land holders in Grant county, owning about three thousand acres here. He is now deceased, and more complete infor- mation regarding him will be found in the sketch of his son Noah John- son, elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Jesse Johnson was born in Noble county, Ohio, August 8, 1824. He grew up there, had a common school education, and when a young man came to Grant county, where he has applied his efforts so success- fully as to accumulate a splendid estate. Mr. Johnson has not confined his investments all in one locality, and is the owner of property in sev- eral states. His home farm comprises one hundred and forty acres in section twenty-five of Mill township. In the state of Missouri, he has two hundred and eighty acres, in one tract near Carrollton, and a place of one hundred and forty-six acres near Norburn, both in Carroll county. He owns one hundred and seventy-five acres on the Mississinewa River, in Jefferson township, and its improvements include a splendid barn and a good house. Another farm on which he pays taxes, embraces three hundred and ninety-six acres, all well improved and valuable property, in Monroe township of Grant county. Near Fox station in this county he has three hundred and forty acres, and owns one hundred and sixty acres near North Judson, in Pulaski county. While he was attending the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, he acquired by purchase, seventy- three acres in DuPage county, Illinois, and still owns that tract. Mr. Johnson has never invested in land haphazard, but always judiciously,

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and has selected only the most productive soil, and his chief industry has been the raising of the cereal crops and live stock, especially sheep. There are few men in the middle west who have made a more complete success as farmers and stockmen than Jesse Johnson and his name is well known among men in many localities. What he has accomplished represents a fine natural ability and a long continued application of the industry and judgment which may be said to be native in the family stock.

Mr. Johnson has never married, and is spending his last years at the home place above mentioned, in the household of Mr. John Ludlow and wife. Mr. Ludlow operates this farm, and has been in charge for the last four years, having come here from Madison county, Indiana, where he was born and reared. He was married in Madison county to Miss Alta Worley, of the same county. They are the parents of four children : Eva, Edna, Wilbur and Howard.

CLARKSON WILLCUTS, whose death, on the 27th of January, 1912, deprived his home city and county of one of their best beloved and noblest citizens, was a life-long resident of Grant county, Indiana. A man of prominence in every phase of the life of the community, his wisdom and the experience of years made him a leader in business, religious and civic affairs. He lived what might be called a quiet life, and it was only after his death that people realized how greatly they had depended on his judgment and firm strength of character. On the occasion of his funeral the text of the sermon was "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel." This expressed most truly the feeling of his fellow citizens.

The son of Clark and Eunice (Hall) Willcuts, Clarkson Willcuts was born near the old Isaac Jay homestead, southeast of the city of Marion, on the 2d of August, 1840. His parents were early settlers in this county, and the lad grew up on his father's farm. He received his education in Grant county, and upon its completion he entered upon his life as a farmer. All of his years were spent in farming and stock rais- ing and in a number of business pursuits, he being at one time engaged in the lumber and grain business.

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Centennial History of Grant County Indiana, Part 58

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

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