USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 98
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 98
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A. J. HAYS. (deceased), ex-County Auditor, was a native of Monroe County, and was born near Bloomington March 25, 1833. His parents, Lewis and Leah (Kaiser) Hays, immigrated from Tennessee to Monroe
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County, at an early day, and located on a farm near Bloomington, and afterward moved to Bruceville, Knox Co., Ind., where they remained until 1855, when the father died. A. J. Hays was the sixth child of a family of seven children, and was reared on a farm. When quite young, he attended the State University at Bloomington, and afterward went with his parents to Bruceville, where he taught school for some time. He then went to Illinois and taught several terms. Later on, he returned to Gosport, and went into the employ of H. Wampler, a general mer- chant, and soon after acted in the capacity of book-keeper, for Hays & Alexander, merchants of Gosport. In 1861, he was elected Auditor of Owen County by the Democratic party, and was re-elected in 1865, which office he filled until the time of his death, February 11, 1867. He was married to Mary E. Hancock, daughter of Calvin and Rhoda Hancock, in 1862. Every improvement, reform, educational interest, religious and charitable undertaking, found in him a constant and true champion. He was highly respected as a citizen, and efficient as an officer.
WILLIS HICKAM, attorney at law, is the second in a family of nine children, born to Edly and Martha (Bray) Hickam, natives re- spectively of Tennessee and North Carolina. He was born December 9, 1852, in Clay Township, Owen County. When seventeen years of age, he went to Mattoon, Ill., where he remained for five years, attending school. After leaving Mattoon, he taught school for two years, and afterward went to Stockton, Ill., where he took a two years' course at Lee's Academy. He was fitting himself for the study of law, and after attending school for seven years, he was local editor of the Mattoon Commercial for one year. He was then recalled to Owen County by the death of his father, which occurred December 5, 1875, to look after the estate. In the fall of 1876, he went to Bloomington, and spent one year in a law course, and in October after, he came to Spencer and studied law with Judge Franklin. In May. 1878, he formed a partner- ship with Capt. D. E. Beem, for the practice of law. He is at present one of Owen County's most successful practitioners. Mr. Hickam is now Master of the Masonic Lodge, No. 95; is an active member of the Democratic party, and is one of Owen County's most promising and ris- ing young men.
NATHAN C. HICKS, a farmer, and one of Owen County's pioneer school teachers, was born February 15, 1829, in Owen County. His parents, Jacob and Anna (Beaman) Hicks, immigrated to this country from North Carolina in 1825, and located in Jackson Township, where they bought and improved a farm, which they lived to enjoy for many years. The father died in 1860, and the mother twenty years later. Nathan is the third child of a family of twelve children. He was reared in LaFayette Township, Owen County, where he remained until he was married. In 1862, he enlisted in the Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, where he served until the close of the war, when he returned to Owen County, and taught school for some time in various places in the county. In 1868, he purchased a farm in Jackson Township, where he remained three years. He then sold his farm and engaged in the stock business, and continued in this about four years. He again went to farming in Jennings Township, this county, and afterward went to Putnam County. In one year, he returned to Owen County and located on a farm in Mor- gan Township, where he remained until 1878, when he went to White County, Ill. He now resides there on a well-improved farm. Mr. Hicks
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taught school in the time of log schoolhouses and puncheon floors. He creditably filled the offices of County Examiner and Trustee of Jennings Township for some time. He was married, in 1858, to Nancy J. Hicks, daughter of Wiley and Debby Hicks, who died in 1871. He is the father of five children by his first marriage, one of whom, A. J. Hicks, is the worthy Deputy County Clerk of Owen County, well thought of and re- spected by all who know him. In 1873, he was married to Mrs. Mary C. Beaman, widowed daughter of Clarkson Davis. By this marriage there were two children.
H. HIGHT is a native of Monroe County, Ind., born January 6, 1841. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Bilbo) Hight, came from Ken- tucky to Monroe County. Ind., and settled on a farm near Bloomington. They afterward moved into Bloomington, and the father being a saddler, he followed his trade while there. He died in 1878. The mother died in 1873. H. Hight is the youngest in a family of ten children. When fourteen years of age, having acquired as good an education as the dis- trict schools afforded, he entered the State University, and after five years of hard study he graduated. He then taught school for two years in Monroe County, after which he entered the ministry, and preached in the Christian Church at Bloomington eighteen months. He then went to Ladoga, Ind., and preached there one year. He again taught one term of school in the Academy in Ladoga, and soon returned to Bloom- ington, where for two years he filled the pulpits in a number of the Christian Churches throughout the county alternately. In July, 1867, he came to Spencer and preached one year in town and spent one year in the neighboring churches in the county. In 1869, he went into the grain business with W. L. Lockhart, and remained in this business for two years. He next went into the employ of H. Halbert, a general mer- chant of Spencer, where he remained for five years, after which time he went into the grocery business in Spencer for himself, and is at present one of its most prosperous and successful business men. From 1875 to 1879, he served as City Treasurer, and for two years, 1880 to 1882, he was Councilman. In 1881, he purchased the old Beem residence of J. S. Beem, remodeled it, built a store room and is now located there. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is an active worker in the Republican party. He was married, December 11, 1862, to Amanda B. Sluss, of Bloomington, Ind. There were five children born to this union, three of whom are still living.
ORANGE MONTGOMERY HOWARD, seventh child and fourth son of Orange and Laura (Huffman) Howard, was born in Ray County, Mo., June 30, 1849. His parents were natives of Massachusetts. When seven years of age, he, with his parents, went to Council Grove, Kan., and with them lived for some time forty miles from that place, and four miles from any habitation. His parents soon moved to Atchison, Kan., where he attended one term of school, and in company with friends he went to Decatur County, Iowa, where one year later his parents followed him. They located in Leon, and it was there that Montgomery received his education. By breaking prairie, farming, and driving for the Great Western Stage Company, he made enough money to pay his expenses dur- ing some half dozen terms of school. When between the age of seven- teen and eighteen, he entered the office of the Decatur County Journal at Leon, Iowa, as an apprentice to the printing trade. He advanced rapid- ly, and was given one month off of his year of apprenticeship for good
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behavior and close application to his trade. From there he went to Ottumwa, Iowa, and worked for two months on the Copperhead. He re- turned to Leon, and was employed as foreman of the Leon Pioneer. After this he was local editor and half partner of the Democrat in Gal- latin, Mo. At this time, being troubled with deafness, he went to In- dianapolis for treatment, and while there did editorial work for the Journal of Commerce, Evening Mirror, and other papers for about two years. From there, in 1873, he went to Zanesville, Brown Co., Ind., and established the Times. He remained with that paper one year, then came to Spencer, Owen County, and purchased the Owen County Journal, which for one year he published as an independent local paper. Here in September, 1875, he was married to Mary A. Beem, daughter of Rich- ard and Celia Beem, after which he went to West Lebanon, Warren Co., Ind., where, with a former apprentice, he began the publication of the Enterprise. From there he went to Williamsport and started the War- ren Independent. In a few weeks he again went to Indianapolis, from there to Spencer, and purchased his old office December, 1876. He re- mained in Spencer two years, when he removed to Leon, Iowa, and es- tablished the Decatur County Democrat, which was soon known as the Democrat-Reporter. Two years later, he again came to Spencer, and in October, 1881, began publishing the Democrat. He is still proprietor and editor of same. In November, 1882, he was deprived of his loving help-mate, who was the mother of one child-Richard Orange. Consid- ering Mr. Howard's limited education, he may be said to be a self-made man. He has had one of the most extensive newspaper experiences of any man in the West. He has been employed as editor and publisher of sixteen newspapers, seven of which he started himself. His fre- quent changes have been brought about by business reverses, and not from a desire for notoriety.
E. B. HOWE is a native of Spencer, and was born December 11, 1845. He is the tenth in a family of twelve children born to Amon P. and Har- riet C. (Thatcher) Howe. His parents immigrated to Indiana from Ken- tucky in 1836, and located on a farm near Spencer. Three years later, they moved to Spencer and purchased the "Spencer House," which they ran for two years. They then bought a farm in Clay Township, on which they lived for many years. The father died in December, 1871. The mother is now living in Spencer. E. B. Howe was reared in Owen County until nineteen years of age, when he enlisted in One Hundred and Ninth Indiana Volunteers, served until the close of the war, and then returned home. In 1868, he entered the drug store of Dr. Wiles, to learn the business, and remained with him nearly two years. He then purchased a drug store, and continued in the business until the spring of 1876, when he sold out, went to Worthington, Ind., took charge of a drug store there, and did a flourishing business. In June, 1881, he returned to Spencer, re-purchased his former drug store, and in May, 1883, he sold out his stock, but is still residing in Spencer, an honored and respected citizen.
SYLVANUS JOSLIN was born in Owen County, Ind., in 1830. His parents, Amasa and Mary (Allen) Joslin, were married in Spencer, Owen County, in 1824. His father came here early in 1824, and engaged in the practice of medicine, which he continued for two years, when he died. He was the first doctor who ever practiced medicine in Spencer. The mother died in 1862. Sylvanus Joslin was the third in a family of
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six children, and was reared in Spencer until 1844, when he with his mother went to a farm in Washington Township, where they lived until 1852, when they returned to Spencer, and remained there for ten years. In 1852, he engaged in the tinner's trade, which he continued to work at for several years. He was married in April, 1855, to Sarah E. Patterson, a native. of Kentucky. One year later, he moved to Owen County and farmed for six years, after which he moved to Spencer. In 1860, he was appointed Constable, which office he held for thirteen years. He was then appointed Deputy Sheriff of Owen County, and after serving for four years, he went into the grain business, and has been doing a lucra- tive business ever since. Politically he is a Republican. He is a worthy citizen, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
THEODORE KEENE was born is Belmont County, Ohio, Decem- ber 15, 1838. His parents, Henry and Maria (Ring) Keene, came to Owen County early in life, and settled near Rattlesnake Creek, in Morgan Township, where they remained until their deaths. Theodore is the youngest in a family of ten children, and was reared in Ohio, where he received a good education. When twenty years of age, he came to Gos- port, Owen County, and soon after went to his brother's farm in Monroe Township. He remained there for a short time, and then went into the employ of Capt. Secrest, in Washington Township, Owen County. That same fall he returned to Ohio, and after staying there for three years, came back, and again engaged in farming with his brother, near Spencer, where he remained for several years. He and his brother afterward pur- chased the ferry across the White River at Spencer, and one year later he purchased his brother's interest, and continued in the business for about six years. He farmed for about three years after that, when he bought a saloon in Spencer, which he ran for five years, and then sold it in December, 1882. He is now keeping a restaurant, is very favorably situated for the business, and is prospering. He was married, in May, 1868, to Mary E. McNaught, daughter of Col. T. A. McNaught, an old settler of Owen County. By this union there is one child-Rosa L. The mother died in 1879, and Mr. Keene was next married, in 1881, to Lucy Lucas, a native of Owen County. Mr. Keene is a stanch Demo- crat.
JAMES KING, County Clerk, is a native of Carroll County, Ohio, and was born June 11, 1841. His parents, Thomas and Margaret (Car- nahan) King, moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and located in Carroll County, where they are now living. James King is the eldest of a fam- ily of eight children, and lived in Carroll County until twenty years of age, when he came to Owen County, and lived with his uncle on a farm for eight years. In 1868, he was elected County Surveyor, which office he filled for eight years, and then resigned to go to farming, which he did for six years. In 1882, he was elected County Clerk by the Demo- cratic party, and at present fills this office. He was married, in Owen County, in 1870, to Fannie J. Hall, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Wiles) Hall. By this union there have been five children, four of whom are still living. Mr. King is one of the leading Democratic politicians of Owen County. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, has occupied prominent positions in this order, and is one of the most lib- eral contributors to all public improvements and benevolent enterprises, being a man of solid worth, courteous, upright, and possessing superior business and social attributes.
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JACOB KIPHART, County Recorder, is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and was born January 28, 1835. His parents, Henry and Sally (Teeters) Kiphart, came from Kentucky to Indiana, about 1834, and lo- cated in Johnson County, where they entered 375 acres of land, built a cabin, and began to clear the wilderness. Twenty years later, they sold out and moved to Iowa, where they remained until their deaths-the mother dying in 1876, and the father three years later. Mr. Kiphart is the ninth of eleven children. He was reared in Johnson County, and when seventeen years of age, went to Iowa with his parents. He soon after returned to Owen County, and farmed for six years, after which he moved to Gosport, this county, and went to carpentering. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Artillery, under Capt. Day, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He then returned home, and continued to work at his trade until 1873, when he came to Spencer and remained for three years. In 1876, he moved to Iowa, and while working in a stone quarry, a large stone fell on his left leg, com- pletely crushing it, so that it had to be amputated below the knee. In 1878, he returned to Spencer, and was elected County Recorder, and for four years faithfully performed the duties of that office. He was mar- ried, in September, 1854, to Elizabeth Goff, daughter of Josephus and Annie Goff. By this union there were nine children, all of whom are still living.
J. F. LAWSON, druggist, a native of Owen County, was born in Washington Township, September 30, 1850. His parents, Meridith and Amanda J. (Glover) Lawson, are old residents of Owen County, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Owen County. The mother died in 1873; the father still lives in Washington Township. J. F. Law- son is the eldest in a family of six children, and was reared in Washing- ton Township, Owen County. When sixteen years of age, he went into the employ of J. W. Alexander, a dry goods merchant of Gosport, and remained with him for four years. He afterward went into partnership with Dr. Wooden, of Gosport, in a drug store. They did business there for about five years, when Mr. Lawson sold out and came to Spencer,
and in February, 1878, went into the drug business here. He is now pleasantly located, and doing a flourishing trade on the north side of the square. In October, 1873, he married Cassie Lease, daughter of H. W. and Harriet Lease, old and respected citizens of Owen County. Mr. Lawson is a member of the K. of P., Lodge No. 99. He is also a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES A. LAYMAN, druggist, is a native of Illinois, born Decem- ber 2, 1859. His parents were John and Louisa (Hill) Layman, the former a native of Owen County, Ind .; located in Washington Township after marriage, where he remained until 1866, when both he and his wife died of consumption, their deaths occurring but a short time apart. James A. is the second son in a family of three children, and at the time of his parents' death was but seven years old. He lived until nineteen years of age in Greene County with D. Ellett. At that time his kind benefactor dying, he came to Spencer, and attended school until his education was in a manner completed. In September, 1882, he went into partnership with E. B. Howe in the drug business. In March of the following year, he purchased the other half interest, and at present is the proprietor of the leading drug store in Spencer. It is fitted with a full and complete line of drugs, notions, books, etc, and is
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doing a successful business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 323, and is one of Spencer's most prosperous young men.
WILLIAM LAYMAN is the fifth son and eighth child of Rev. Alfred and Elizabeth (Randolph) Layman, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively, and was born January 10, 1849, in Shelby County, Ind. His parents were married in October, 1832, after which they settled in Shelby County on a forty-acre farm, and lived for about five years. After this they came to Owen County and located near Gosport on eighty acres of land. After four years, they returned to Shelby County and remained for some time, returning to Owen County in 1843, and purchasing 170 of the 375 acres of land upon which they now live. William Layman was reared in Washington Township, where he received an ordinary education. He farmed during the years 1871 to 1881, and then went to Gosport, where he remained for a short time. He then came to Spencer and formed a partnership with James Layman in the livery business. In a few months he sold his interest and went into the grocery business. Five months later, he again entered the livery busi- ness, and is so engaged at present. He was united by marriage to Ara- bel Shurley, a native of Owen County. They have two children-Ottie M. and Daisy M. Mr. Layman and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is politically a member of the Democratic party, an honor- able man, and well thought of by his many acquaintances.
MELVILLE LOFTIN, merchant, a native of Indiana, is the second of seven children born to Sample and Margaret J. (Patterson) Loftin, Southerners by birth. Melville was born at Indianapolis in July, 1853. His parents came to Indianapolis in an early day, and located in Marion County, where his father, who was a graduate of Rush College, Chicago, practiced medicine until 1862, when he removed to Hamilton County, Ind. There he remained for nine months, after which he returned to Marion County, and located in Maywood, where he at present resides. His wife died in 1881. Melville was reared at Noblesville, Ind., until thirteen years of age, up to which time he attended school there, and then went with his parents to Maywood. He attended the old North- western University at Indianapolis for some time, and afterward gradu- ated at the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College at Indianapolis. He read law for eighteen months, and then went to the Southwest, where he remained one year. After this he returned to his home, and acted as - Treasurer of Monroe County for two years. In September, 1881, he came to Spencer and engaged in the general merchandise business. Six months later, his stock was destroyed by fre, and in April, 1882, Mr. Loftin started his present flourishing general merchandising establish- ment. He was married, September 15, 1881, to Lola C. Hoover, a native of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They have one child-Grace. Mr. Loftin is a member of the K. of P., and is also a stanch as well as active member of the Democratic party. He is an intelligent and genial gentleman, and quite worthy of the patronage which is so liberally bestowed upon him.
ISAAC S. LUCAS, proprietor of the " Lucas House" in Spencer, is a native of North Carolina, and was born March 26, 1820. When thir- teen years of age, his parents, Marady and Dica (Sugg) Lucas, natives of North Carolina, came to Owen County, Ind., where both died, the mother in 1837, and the father in 1880. Isaac S. was the third child in a very large family. When he was twenty-two years of age, he married Sarah F. Haltom, a native of Owen County, who bore him two children,
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and died in 1852; one year later, he married Matilda Haltom, a sister of his first wife. They had but one child, which child, with its mother, died in 1855. In 1857, he was married to Ellen Cochran, the daughter of Campbell Crochran, an old pioneer of Owen County; she died in 1858. He was next married, in 1859, to Elizabeth S. Kelleen, a native of Ohio. By this union there is one child, a daughter, Alice, who has attained con- siderable success as an artist. Mr. Lucas farmed until 1865, when he was elected Sheriff of Owen County, which office he filled creditably for five years, and then went into a stone quarry, which he conducted for one year. In 1871, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served for four years. He then purchased the hotel in Spencer, where he is at present located. Mr. Lucas is an active member of the Democratic party. He is the worthy Secretary of the K. & L. of H., a respected member of the A. F. & A. M., and has been a zealous member and co-worker in the Baptist Church since 1842.
OLIVER P. MCAULEY, County Superintendent, a native of Noble County, Ohio, was born May 15, 1854. His parents, John and Lydia A. (Sprague) McAuley, immigrated to Indiana from Ohio in 1867, and located in Lafayette Township, Owen County, on a farm. About 1873, they removed to a farm two and a half miles south of Vandalia, where they at present reside. Oliver is the eldest child in a very large family, and was reared in Noble County until he was thirteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Owen County, and for several years worked on a farm in the summer and attended a district school in the winter. For three years he attended school at Valparaiso during a part of each year, and taught during the remainder of the year. After fin- ishing school at Valparaiso, he taught in Owen County until 1880, when he was obliged, on account of ill health, to quit teaching. He then went to his father-in-law's farm in Lafayette Township, where he remained until June, 1881, when he was elected County Superintendent on the Democratic ticket, and removed to Spencer. Being always industrious and studious, he acquired a good education, and is now considered one of Owen County's best educators. He was married, March 25. 1879, at the old home farm of the bride's parents in Lafayette Township, to Ada Moffett, daughter of Silas and Eliza Moffett, old and prominent resi- dents of Owen County. To this union there have been born two children -Silas R. (deceased) and Cyrus E. Mr. McAuley is a prominent mem- ber of the Democratic party.
WILLIAM H. McGUIRE, a native of Owen County, Ind., was born October 8, 1833. His parents, Alfred and Hannah (Jackson) McGuire, came from Kentucky to Owen County in a very early day, and located in Washington Township. The father died in Brown County in 1874, the mother in Spencer in 1883. William is the eldest in a family of fourteen children, and was reared in Brown County, on the old home farm; received a good education, and when twenty-one years of age came to Owen County and located on a farm near Spencer. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, as drummer, and was in the following engagements: Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Land- ing, Corinth, and others. He served nearly two years, and was finally discharged on account of disability. He then returned to his home near Spencer, where he remained until 1875; then removed to Mooresville. He stayed but a short time, and then came back to his farm, which he traded for a farm in Clay County. He soon after traded this farm for
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