USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 25
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Young LaFollette received his early education in the Thorutown academy, entering school for the first time at the
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age of nine years, passing in five years through the primary grammar grades, finishing Ray's higher algebra, and studying geometry and Latin. His summer vacations were spent in farm work and in the village stave factory. Every dollar earned was invested in books of histories and travels. Skat- ing to an excess in severely cold weather brought on hemor- rhage of the lungs, and at the age of fourteen he was taken out of school for nearly three years. During these three years he spent most of his time reading the Thorntown library, it being at that time one of the most complete libraries in the state. In 1874 he attended for a time at the Friends' school, at Sugar Plain. In 1876 he entered the junior year of the classical course in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville. but had scarcely beguu his term when he was threatened with a relapse of the disease. He then decided to seek a milder climate, where he might hope to secure the coveted education without the certain sacrifice of his health. He determined to go to France, and in the sunny land of his forefathers seek at once health and culture.
It was certainly a great undertaking for a boy of eighteen, with but little money and no acquaintances in Europe, to go alone among strangers, trusting to make his way by his own ability. He embarked from New York, February, 1877. He studied two years in Paris at the College of France, the Acad- emy of Paris and the Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees. At the last named he took the regular polytechnic course with the view of an outdoor life, at the same time keeping up his favorite studies in metaphysics and the languages, taking the full course under Laboulaye, Franck and Guillaume Guizot, at the Col- lege of France.
To assist in maintaining himself he taught at night in the international school of languages, under the direction of Mous. At the end of two years, having regained his health, he devoted his time exclusively to languages, metaphysics and teaching. Spent some of his time at the university of Gottingen, and
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passed six months in Rome attending lectures at the Collegio Romano and studying the Latin tongues. He traveled through Germany, Bohemia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, France and England, sometimes for weeks on foot, sleeping in peasants' houses and learning by actual contact the life and speech of the people.
In 1880 he returned to Indiana, having accomplished what he had planned, and in that and the following years he taught in the Union high schools at Westfield, Hamilton County. September, 1881, he took charge of the former institution in Tippecanoe County, was elected county superintendent in March ; has been re-elected. His work as a teacher and sup- erintendent has received great praise from those who are ac- quainted with it. The Indiana School Journal, August, 1886, says of Mr. LaFollette: "He is one of the leading superin- tendents in the state. He is perhaps the most scholarly man in the field. He speaks five different languages and studied several others. He spent some years abroad studying, and owns one of the best private libraries in the state. He is a hard worker and usually accomplishes what he undertakes."
At the solicitation of many educational men who knew his eminent qualifications for the position Mr. LaFollete was a candidate for the Republican nomination for superintendent of public instruction, was nominated September 2, 1886, and after a heated contest was elected on the 2d day of November following, receiving a handsome majority over his opponent and led his ticket by above two thousand.
His studies and observations in Europe, his knowledge of literature and varied work in the different grades of public schools gives him a breadth of knowledge and personal expe- rience that especially fits him for the duties of the state super- intendency. He succeeded the Hon. John W. Holcombe, March 15, 1887, Mr. Holcombe and Mr. LaFollette being the youngest men ever elected to the state superintendeney by the people of Indiana. His friends feel confident that the educational interests of Indiana will be ably administered by
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him. That the efficiency of the office reached under his im- mediate predecessor will be maintained, and that the public schools of this great state will continue to be the pride of the people during his administration, no one who knows him can doubt.
SQUIRE LONG.
It has been a long time since Mr. Long eame to Boone County, and longer vet since he was born. The latter event occurred April 13, 1802, in Butler County, Ohio. Came to Boone County in 1835; married to Sarah Piper, in Ohio, De- cember 24, 1826; born July 12, 1807. They settled in Wash- ington Township, entering a part of his land. Mr. Long died June 18, 1842, and is buried at Thorntown ; Mrs. Long died July 9, 1883, and is also buried at Thorntown. The following are the names of their children : Samuel, married to Caroline Ball, resides in Washington Township; James C., married to Mary Busby, resides in Lebanon ; Joseph R., resides in Col- orado; Elizabeth E., married to John E. Stuckey, resides in Washington Township on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Long were both members of the Regular Baptist Church, were good and useful citizens. They were pioneers indeed. Came to the new country with strong hands and willing hearts to brave the hardships incident to a frontier life. Mr. Long was of fine physical form, large, with dark hair and eyes. He was a Democrat of the old school.
WILLIAM J. LAUGHNER.
Mr. Langhner was born in Tennessee and in Green County, November 18, 1807. Was married to Catherine Hamean, No- vember 18, 1830. Miss Hamean was the daughter of Jacob Hamean, who was also born in Green County, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Langhner were married by Rev. S. E. Hinkle. To them were born twelve children. Seven are living and five
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are dead. Those living are as follows: Samuel J., Ambrose M., Anderson G., Martha E., Jacob H., Henry V., James D. Those who are dead are as follows: Mary A., Sallie E., Will- iam J., Margaret, Iranens B. Mr. and Mrs. Laughner moved from Tennessee to Clinton County, Ind., in the fall of 1843. Then to Boone County in 1849, near the town of Whitestown, when that part of the county was quite new. Mr. Laughner died July 25, 1870, and is buried at the Lutheran Cemetery, three miles east of Whitestown. The funeral sermon was preached by the late E. S. Hinkle. Mrs. Laughner is yet living at the age of seventy-six years, with her children living around her. Both were members of the Lutheran Church, as well as most of the family.
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HENRY LUCUS,
Son of Philip Luens, was born in Pennsylvania in 1813; came with his parents to Worth Township in 1836, and con- sequently were among the early settlers of that part of the county. He was in his twenty-third year when he came, just entering strong manhood, ready for the battle of life ; and it was a battle, for the outlook at that time in Worth Township was not the most flattering, to say the least. The first few years he helped develop his father's farm, teaching school in the winter, and thus acquiring a fair education that proved a great advantage to him in after life. Henry Lucus from first to last occupied a warm place in the hearts of the people with whom he moved and lived. Repeatedly was he elected as justice of the peace and township trustee. He served in all about eighteen years, with general satisfaction. He was a strong partisan, a Jack- sonian Democrat, and as such he was elected to the offices referred to above. He was nominated for county recorder in 1874 by the Democratic party, but was defeated by W. F. Morgan by a few votes less than one hundred. In person Mr. Lucus was tall, light hair and complexion, a little stooping. He did not belong to any church or society. He moved to
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Putnam County, Ind., about the year 1881, and died there in 1884 or 1885, highly esteemed there as well as in Boone County, where he lived so long and was loved so well.
JACOB S. LAFOLLETTE.
Mr. L. was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, Febru- ary 17, 1832. Son of Robert LaFollette, one of the pioneers of that county. Jacob S. was married to Sarah E. Young, September 9, 1856. Miss Young was born in Putnam County, Indiana, July 8, 1836, the daughter of William M. Young. Mr. Jacob S. LaFollette and wife moved to where they now reside, in the year 1857, on the line dividing Montgomery and Boone counties, and near Shannondale, on Muskrat, or Middle Fork of Sugar Creek, and where they own a fine farm, well cultivated. Mr. L. is one of the solid men of Boone County in every respect, and enjoys the confidence of the people to a great extent. He was in 1886 nominated to represent the county, but was defeated by a few votes, by J. H. Kelly. The following are the names of his children: Sarah J., mar- ried to Alonzo Young, resides in Montgomery County. Mary F., married to Chester Cory, resides in Jefferson Township. William R., married to Nancy C. Beck, resides in Jefferson Township. Charles C. re-ides at home.'
Mr. Jacob S. La Follette is an uncompromising Democrat, of the Jacksonian school, yet he accords to others what he takes for himself. See his and his wife's portraits in another part of this work. Mr. LaFollette has served as justice of the peace in his township four years ; also is assessor for the town- ship at this time (1887).
HON. HENRY M. MARVIN.
Henry Martyn Marvin was born in Putnam County, New York, on the 6th day of November, 1821. His birthplace was on a farm and dairy, which occupation he followed until
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nineteen years of age, when he went to New York City and engaged in the grocery business for two years, or until he was twenty-one years of age, and in April, 1843, started for Indi- ana, the then " far west." At that time the railroad extended from New York City through Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; then packet boat on canal to Holidaysburg; thence portage railroad, twelve miles over the Alleghenies, to Johnstown ; thence by canal packet to Pittsburg; thence by steamboat to Cincinnatti, Ohio; thence by stage coach to Con- nersville, Fayette County, Indiana; thence afoot four miles to Harrisburg, Fayette Connty, where he made his home until he married and moved to Boone County, on the 5th day of Feb- ruary, 1845. There were no railroads west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and all kinds of travel was of the slow order. Times financially, when he came to Indiana, were very hard. Indiana was fifteen millions of dollars in debt, and could not pay principal nor interest. Almost every- body was in debt; it was trade and barter, no money. He worked for thirty-seven and a half cents per day in the month of June hoeing corn, on the White Water Valley, in 1843. Worked one month in harvest for thirteen dollars, when work was of the hardest, but very little farm machinery being in use at that time. He taught school for six months at ten dol- lars per month, and boarded around and collected the money at the end of the term for himself, and received every dollar of it; not one delinquent. Then he taught nine months for one hundred and twenty dollars, and boarded among the schol- ars and collected every dollar. He considered the White Water Valley at that time one of the finest countries in the world. . When he came to Boone County, in 1845, it was a new country. If you wanted to look off to any distance, you had to go out in the Michigan road and look north or south, or up in the sky. It was woods everywhere-north, south, east, west. What land was cleared was eighteen. inches and under, and dead trees were scattered over all the fields, and every wind tumbled them down, making hard work for the farmer
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all the time. He has cleared one hundred acres of heavy timber since he came to Boone County; ditched twice over ; fenced ever so many times. Built house and out-houses that took twenty-four thousand feet of lumber, and hanled the logs to the mill, and the lumber from the mill. Put out two orchards, and tried to fix a home comfortable to live in. In the fall of 1845 he threshed a load of wheat with horses (for there were no threshing machines then), loaded up his wagon and went to Lafayette, twenty-five miles distant. Was gone three and a half days, slept in wagon, took grub for self and horses; expenses, not a cent, and got forty-five eents per bushel for wheat, but got a barrel of salt for a dollar and a quarter. Wildeat money ; no two bills on the same bank.
In the spring of 1850, one morning in April, in going along the road on his farm, he met John L. Koms and his son Absolom, going to Lebanon. He said : "Ain't you going to Lebanon ?" He asked him what was going on at Lebanon. He said that there was to be a Democratic convention, and that they were going to nominate Marvin for the legislature and for him to go and get his horse and go with them. And sure enough he was nominated and elected by thirty-eight majority, at a cost of less than five dollars. Those were glorious, Democratic, honest times. There were twenty-two candidates for office in Boone County that year, and you would have smiled to see them all on horseback, Indian file, going through the wet prairies in Harrison Township, from one grove to another, where speaking was done by candidates for the constitutional convention, and for the legislature. Mark A. Duzan and William E. McLane were the Democratic candidates, and Judge. Cason, Bill Bowers, and Stephen Neal were the Whig and Independent candidates for the convention, and John H. Nelson and Henry M. Marvin were the candidates for the legislature on the Democratic ticket, and Joseph F. Dougherty (the best posted man on politics I ever knew), and the Rev. Keath, were the Whig candidates. Colonel Kise was elected clerk of the Circuit Court by a very small majority that year.
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As Marvin looks back over life's journey of over forty-two years in Boone County, he has no regrets, no mistakes to rec- tify, does not want to live one day of his life over again, but is thankful to God for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon him. He has seen the county grow from a wilderness, with its impassable swamps and cro-s-rail roads and log cabins, to one of the finest, richest counties in the state, with the best gravel roads, comfortable school houses and fine dwelling houses and barns; with good churches all over the county, and good, substantial public buildings; with rail- roads passing through the county east and west, north and south, everything to make man comfortable and happy. And Marvin flatters himself that he has contributed his part in bringing this all about up to this present period. You talk about pensioning soldiers for their services to their country, which is all right and proper, but where is the man more deserving than the farmer who has cleared up 100 acres of heavy timber and made it blossom as a rose, who made the country while they fought to defend it. In Washington Town- ship, Wayne County, Indiana, on the 1st of December, 1844, was married Henry M. Marvin to Emma E. Elwell, and they left the paternal home on her nineteenth birthday for their future home in Boone County, where a large family of boys and girls were born to them and where many days of joys and sorrows have passed and gone. Zelia, the oldest, married Wm. H. Dooley, April 4, 1866, and died March 6, 1867, aged twenty- one years. Laura, the second, died November 14, 1864, six- teen and one-half years of age. Eli, the third, was born August 9. 1850, and married Jennie Snyder, daughter of John Snyder, Esq, of Clinton County, Indiana. They have one son, LeGrand, eleven years of age. Martha Bell was born December 23, 1852, and died at six and a half years of age. Joseph Miner was born December 22, 1855, and died Septem- ber 13, 1882. Jesse Bright was born April 4, 1858, and mar- ried Anna Spahr, daughter of John Spahr, ex-sheriff of Boone County. They have one daughter, Helen. Ida June was
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born July 3, 1861, and died October 18, 1862. Charles Henry was born November 20, 1864, and Cord Emma, the ninth, was born the 16th of August, 1867. The last two are living with their parents at the present time. So you see that Marvin has fulfilled the scriptural injunction to increase and multiply. In fact, he has tried, in his poor way of doing his duty to God and his fellowman, and he feels thankful that he cast his lot among this people, who have always been kind, considerate and obliging, and he has a pleasant home among them where he expects to spend his days with his companion under as pleasant circumstances as usually fall to the lot of poor human nature. Thanks to this family for favors.
JOHN MURPHY,
A resident of Union Township, and who owns a fine farm on the Michigan road one mile south of Northfield, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 26, 1827; married to Hulda Elwell September 23, 1846, in Wayne County, Indiana. Came to Boone County in 1847, settling on the farm where he now resides and where he owns one of the best farms in the county. The following are his children's names: Amelia, died at the age of seventeen years, is buried at the Ross Cem- etery, in Union Township; Robert died at the age of eight years, buried same place ; Sarah E. died at the age of seven years, is also buried at Ross Cemetery ; Ollie, married to Walter Kennedy, is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery; Emma died in infancy ; Elmer died at the age of twelve years ; Alice D. lives at home ; Lilly L. also lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy both belong to the Adventist Church, and have given liberally of their time and means to build up this society and church house in Northfield. Long may they live.
THOMAS S. METCALF
Was born in Favette County, Kentucky, October 16, 1818; was married to Mary Brown December 22, 1848, in Owen
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County, Kentucky, and came to Boone County, Indiana, in 1849. He located in Lebanon, where he worked many years at blacksmithing in company with James Wysong. Mr. Metcalf now resides in Washington Township near "Pike's Crossing." The following are his children's names: Alice, married to Samuel Boyland, died at Lafayette, September 5, 1873; Simon lives at home ; . Mary, married to Amos Huston, resides at Thorntown, Ind .; Susan, married to Martin Van- tyle, resides near Kirkland; Amanda, married to William Starks, died at Lafayette, Ind., June 7, 1876 ; Emma, married to David Henry, resides in Lebanon; Thomas M. lives at home; Annie, married to Jacob Wills, resides near "Pike's Crossing ;" Judah, Minnie, Samuel J. and John died in in- fancy. Mr. Metcalf is a real Kentuekian. It was our good luck to call at his hospitable home during the canvass for this work, and was kindly entertained by this good family.
JAMES M. MARTIN
Was born in Montgomery County, Ind., August 30, 1839. Was married to Caroline Varner December 7, 1859. Two children were born to them-Mary J., born December 17, 1867, married to Ambrose C. Smith ; Roda L., born Jannary 11, 1879. Mr. Martin was married the second time to Ella C. Smith January 13, 1876. Childrens' names by this mar- riage : Clara D., born October 3, 1876 ; Ella A., born Octo- ber 29, 1879; James E., born September 18, 1881; John R., born September 10, 1883. One child died in infancy, March 29, 1886. Mrs. Martin was born in Putnam County, Ind., December 17, 1853. Mr. Martin's first wife died June 25, 1874, and is buried in Finley Cemetery in Montgomery County. James M. Martin and his present wife belong to the M. E. Church. Mr. Martin is one of the solid men of Boone; owns 500 acres of choice land in Jackson Township, eight miles southwest of Lebanon and five miles northeast of Jamestown. He has splendid buildings, and everything
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denotes thrift and good husbandry. He began life a poor young man, determined to succeed in life, and he has done so to a great degree. He is among the wealthy men of the county. In his " make-up" he is social, fond of company. and enjoys life. See his portrait in another part of this work. . Mr. Martin is engaged in stock raising and dealing ex- tensively.
JAMES A. MCDONALD.
This old pioneer first looked out on this world August 8, 1824. He was born in Nicholas County, Ky. He first removed from that state when a boy of nine years. Lived in Decatur County, Ind., till 1834, when he became a citizen of this county, where he has ever since resided, first settling in Clinton Township. Mr. McDonald was married to Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of Jesse Perkins, one of the pioneers of Boone County. This marriage occurred April 15, 1847. The following are their children's names: John R., married to Eliza Turner ; Charlotte, married to Joseph Kersey, of Wash- ington Township; Hugh, married to Mary Lindley ; Mary A., married to Peter Cox; she is deceased, and buried in Hopewell Cemetery, at the age of twenty-five years ; Robert M., lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mc. are members of the Presbyterian Church, at Hopewell. Mrs. McDonald was born in Rush County, August 26, 1822. Her mother's name before marriage was Charlotte Herndon. Mr. Mc.'s parents' names were Hugh McDonald and Gizeller Riley.
WILLIAM McLEAN.
Mr. McLean was one of the early citizens of Boone County. He was born November 30, 1805, in the state of Pennsylvania. Married to Mariah Jones November 9, 1824, in Wayne County, Ind., and came to this county in 1832. Mr. McLean was from first to last a prominent man in the county, served as a mem-
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ber of the constitutional convention in 1852, and other minor offices. In person he was fine looking, full six feet high, blue eyes, fair complexion. He died December 19, 1870, and is buried at Westport Cemetery in Laporte County, Ind. Mrs. McLean is yet living, a well preserved old lady, residing with Washington Gibson in Jamestown. The following are the names of William and Mariah McLean's children: James W., resides in Kansas; Samuel R., killed at Fort Gibson ; William C., died in hospital in Gallatin, Tenn .; Margaret J., married to G. W. Gibson, resides in Jamestown; Mary E., married to E. Clemens, resides in Illinois ; Sarah E., married to D. Piersol (deceased), buried in Laporte County, Ind .; Anna M., married to Brice Huston, resides in Chicago; Emily D., married to Jiles Cochran, resides in Wabash County, Ind. Mrs. McLean was born in Green County, Tenn., April 3, 1809.
SAMUEL MCLEAN
Was born in Pennsylvania; married to Mary Smith. Came to Boone County in the year 1831, and settled in Jackson Township near the Montgomery County line. Mr. McLean served several years as probate judge for Boone County with credit to all. He died in 1862, and is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Jackson Township. Mrs. McLean died in 1864, and is buried at the same cemetery. In person Mr. MeLean was a large, fine looking man, fair complexion and light hair, weighing nearly 200 pounds. John and James McLean, grand- sons, reside in Jackson Township; both are substantial farm- ers and citizens of the county. Their father's name was Charles McLean. He died in November, 1864, and is buried at the Porter Cemetery.
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JAMES McCANN
This old, highly esteemed pioneer was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1787; married to Elizabeth Cunningham ( who was born in Kentucky, 1793 ), in the state of Kentucky, about the year 1811. Came to Boone County in 1833, where Mr. Me- Cann enter 160 acres of land, part of which is now owned by his son William, in Center Township. Mr. McCann was elected county recorder in 1842. Served about ten years to the great satisfaction of all. He died in May, 1870 ; is buried. at the Lebanon Cemetery. His wife died in July, 1883, and is also buried at the same cemetery. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Cann were members of the Christian Church, and were de- voted to the work of christianity. No more worthy couple ever lived in the county than they. Died highly esteemed by all who were acquainted with them. The county and church in their death lost two good citizens. The following are their children's names: John P., resides in Center Township; Robert C., resides in Jefferson six miles west of Lebanon ; William G., resides in Center ; Margaret (deceased) ; Nancy, resides in Jefferson Township; Mary, resides in Center Town- ship. In person Mr. McCann was of medium size, dark com- plexion and hair.
HON. STEPHEN NEAL.
Stephen Neal, the seventh child of John and Priscilla Neal, was born on the 11th of June, A. D., 1817, in Pittsyl- vania County, State of Virginia. In the autumn of 1819 his father and family moved from Virginia to Bath County, Ky. His father's occupation was farming, and the subject of this sketch was trained in the pur-uit of farming until he was eighteen years of age. His mother having died when he was in his fifteenth year, his father thenceforth gave him his time. Up to the time of his mother's death he had had only a few
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