USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume II > Part 27
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Andrew Burns, father of our subject, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, August 29, 1795. He had more than an ordinary education for his time and taught school in Kentucky for many years, and also taught vocal music. He married Nancy, daughter of Archibald and Jane (Farris) Brown. After marriage Mr. Burns settled in Nicholas county, Kentucky,
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on a farm adjoining his father's. In 1834 he moved to Orange county, In- diana, and in 1836 he came to Boone county and settled on a farm two miles north of Lebanon. He died two years later, on his forty-third birthday. He was a hard-working pioneer citizen. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Burns was a man of stanch virtues. His chil- dren are-John B., Archibald, William W., David M., and Elvira F., all born in Nicholas county, Kentucky.
DAVID M. BURNS. -Patriot.
David M. Burns, our subject, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on his father's farm, February 10, 1832, and was but two and one-half years of age when his father settled in Indiana. After the death of his father his motlier returned to Kentucky, and afterward married Jonathan Parish, and one son was born to this union-Jonathan M. Mrs. Parish was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun, May 27, 1845.
David M. Burns received a common school education, and then attended a select school in Montgomery county, Kentucky, and afterward at Sharps-
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burg academy, his cousin, James Harvey Burns, being his teacher at both in- stitutions. The professor was a graduate of Georgetown college and an edu- cator of wide abilities and experience. David M. Burns began teaching at Wren's school-house in the select school of his cousin, as an assistant, when he was nineteen years of age, and afterward taught in Nicholas county one year. On July 1, 1852, he married, in Nicholas county, Kentucky, Elgiva J., daughter of Thomas and Jane (Grimes) Clark. Mr. Clark was from an old American family of German stock, was an old settler of Nicholas county, a prominent farmer and justice of the peace and a class leader in the Metho- dist church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children were born-Mollie C., who mar- ried Dr. Eli L. Brown, of Thorntown, and Nancy E., who married Thomas W. Huckstep, a surveyor and civil engineer of Lebanon. Both the daugh- ters were born in Boone county, where Mr. Burns settled in October. 1852. on the farm first occupied by his father. Mr. Burns lived on this farm until 1855, then resided in Lebanon until 1857, and then lived on his farm until 1886. He then returned to Lebanon where he resided until his death. He taught school the winter of 1853 in Washington township and in 1855 was principal of a department of the schools at Lebanon. He was principal of the public schools at Thorntown in the years 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862. and during this time was appointed deputy county surveyor of Boone county in 1858 and was elected county surveyor in 1860 and held this important office until 1876, the long period of sixteen years, a deputy serving under him while he was in the army. Mr. Burns was principal of the High school of Lebanon until December 10, 1863, on which date he enlisted at Lebanon in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment (Eleventh Cav- alry), under Capt. Mason S. Hamilton, Col. Robert Stewart. His service was principally in Alabama, where he served one year, when he was taken sick from exposure, and was in hospital at Nashville, Jeffersonville, Madi- son and Indianapolis, and was honorably discharged at the latter place on account of disability, April 17th, 1865. On returning to Lebanon he re- sumed teaching, and the winter of 1865-6 he taught at Mechanicsburg and the next winter at Thorntown. He taught the high grade of the Lebanon public schools in 1870, which completed his career as a teacher, after the long service of nearly twenty years. He was county surveyor from 1860 to 1876 and either attended to his duties personally or employed a deputy.
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As surveyor of Boone county for this long period he surveyed and laid out many important ditches and roads, and was especially active in his work in the gravel roads. He done the work of civil engineer for the city of Leb- anon from its organization for years. He was city engineer in 1895 and was assisted by his son-in-law, Thomas W. Huckstep from 1875. Mrs. Burns died November 12, 1881, and Mr. Burns married Margaret J., daughter of John and Sarah (Peck) Richey. Mr. Richey was born in New York, reared in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was one of the early pioneers of Boone county, coming from Ohio and locating in Tippecanoe county in 1828; and in 1835 he came to Boone county, where he entered his land in Washington township. He became an honored citizen, township trustee and a substan- tial farmer. He had one son in the Civil war, James. Mr. Richey lived to be seventy-eight years old, and died August 12, 1883, on his farm.
Mr. Burns was one of the most prominent Masons in Boone county. He was a member of Boone Lodge No. 9, and held the offices of senior deacon, junior warden, and master at different times from 1876 for about eight years. He was also a member of the chapter-a royal arch mason and was high priest, an office which he filled with the exception of one year upward of twenty years. He was a member of the royal and select masters and also illustrious master. He was also a Knight Templar, Frankfort Commandery. Mr. Burns was also a member of the Scottish Rite, Indiana consistory of Indianapolis, which includes the thirty-second degree. Mr. Burns was grand chaplain of the grand chapter of the state of Indiana and held that office for years. He was also chaplain of the grand council of royal and select masters from 1888 to 1893. He was chaplain of the order of high priests of the state of Indiana. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burns were mem- bers of the Eastern Star, a Masonic body, and Mr. Burns worthy patron for four years. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in which he had been elder for a long period. Mr. Burns was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Rich Mountain Post No. 42, Lebanon, and was post commander. By perseverance and good management, Mr. Burns succeeded financially and was in prosperous circumstances and was highly respected in Boone county as an honest citizen. His best roll of honor was the names of his former pupils, many of whom are now promi- nent citizens and whom he assisted to become more efficient men and women. He died October 10, 1910.
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BERT ISENHOUR.
We read a great deal nowadays regarding inadequate methods of the producers on the farms and gardens to properly market their stuff, many claiming that they are not getting proper returns ; but some think the market- ing problem will be partly solved through stimulating the farmers to better methods of production, based on the psychological fact that when you can get a person to do any part of a business well he is not afterwards satisfied to do any part of it badly. There is at least one farmer of Worth town- ship, Boone county, who needs no advice along this line, for he has always tried to do well whatever he deemed worth doing at all. We refer to Bert Isenhour, one of our most careful tillers of the soil of the younger generation.
Mr. Isenhour was born in the above named township and county, on November 4, 1879. He is a son of James and Lydia (Markland) Isenhour, the father also a native of Worth township, Boone county, and the mother was born in Traders Point, Indiana. The Isenhour family was among the early settlers of this locality, and here James grew to manhood, was educated in the old-time schools, married and settled on a farm, and he and his wife became the parents of the following children: William H., who lives in Fountaintown, Indiana ; Walter J. is deceased; Bert of this sketch; Guy died when twenty-seven years of age; Cleveland lives in Whitestown, this state; Arvie is a resident of Lebanon; John lives in Worth township; Franklin, the youngest, is at home.
Bert Isenhour grew up on the home farm and received a common school education. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage on February 4, 1903, to Evelyn Keeney, who was born in Eagle township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of George Keeney, who was a native of Virginia, and who settled here many years ago. After his marriage Mr. Isenhour moved to the old home farm, his father having left it and moved to Whitestown. Our subject rents sixty-three acres from his father, which he operates in connection with forty-eight acres which he owns, and which joins the homestead. He carries on general farming and stock raising, horses, cattle and hogs, and is doing well in both departments. being a hard worker and a man of sound judgment. He is keeping the home place in good shape in every respect.
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Politically, Mr. Isenhour is a Democrat .. He belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Haymakers at Whitestown. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Whitestown.
To Mr. and Mrs. Isenhour the following children were born: Mabel Maurine, born October 6, 1903, and Helen Fay, born August 16, 1908. They are both at home, keeping house for their father, their mother having been called to her eternal rest on October 6, 1913. She was a good woman, had lots of friends and was an excellent helpmeet and kind mother.
I. N. ARMSTRONG.
I. N. Armstrong, for many years a well-known farmer and a practical blacksmith of Sugar Creek township, Boone county, Indiana, was born in the state of Ohio in the year 1824. His father, Christopher Armstrong. died in 1834, having lost his wife some years previously, our subject thus be- coming an orphan at the early age of ten years. The parents were church members, and carefully reared their three children to a life of morality as long as they were spared to them, and instilled such lessons of usefulness and industry as made their offspring the valued members of society they after- ward became. The family settled early in Franklin county, Indiana, and in Metamora, that county, I. N. Armstrong served an apprenticeship of four years at blacksmithing, becoming an adept at the trade. From Metamora ยท he moved to New Trenton, in the same county, where, for twelve years, he followed his trade with much pecuniary profit. While a resident of New Trenton he married, in 1844, Miss Mary Sparks, a native of Franklin county, born in 1825. This marriage was blessed with four children, namely : Charles A., who died an infant; George, also deceased; Frank, now a hard- ware merchant at Thorntown and Willie, a babe that died when five weeks old. Relinquishing his trade in New Trenton for the pursuit of agriculture, Mr. Armstrong traded off his establishment for a farm of 160 acres in the vicinity and cultivated it for ten years, and then came to Boone county, in 1866, and bought a farm of 160 acres, which he partially improved, but in a short time moved to Colfax, Clinton county, Indiana, and followed his trade for eight years; he then returned to his farm in Boone county, on which he
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resided two years. He again became tired of farm life and moved back to Colfax where, in partnership with his son, Frank, he went into the hardware business. Four years later, he returned to his farm in Boone county. Mr. Armstrong's death occurred in Thorntown on June 10, 1909, and Mrs. Arm- strong passed away a few years later, her death occurring August 5, 1913. Religiously, Mr. Armstrong affiliated with the Presbyterian church and politically was a Democrat.
THEODORE CHARLES WALTZ.
Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such be- lief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggres- sive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight and it some- times seems that modesty is a sin with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable exception is the case of Theodore Charles Waltz, the talented photo- grapher of Lebanon, Boone county, who seems to possess just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the world's affairs and at the same time not appear overbold; and as a result of these well and happily blended qualities, Mr. Waltz has won a host of friends here, being known as a man of integrity and ability.
Mr. Waltz was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, November 30, 1875. He is a son of John and Annie (Webb) Waltz. The father was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, February 2, 1827, and was a son of Henry and Hannah Waltz. Henry Waltz was a native of Pennsylvania and was a pioneer of Switzerland county, Indiana. John Waltz devoted his life to farming, for the most part. However, he followed the river some and was a pilot on a steamboat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Madison, Indi- ana to New Orleans, when river commerce was in its prime in America, and steamboat captains and pilots were regarded as men of far greater im- portance than they are today, when boats form a small part of our means
MR. AND MRS. T. C. WALTZ AND DAUGHTER
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of transportation. The death of John Waltz occurred in April, 1907. Politically, he was a Republican, and in religious matters a Presbyterian. He belonged to the Masonic order, attaining the Knights Templar degree. His wife, Anna Webb, was a native of Maryland, born April 15, 1836, and her death occurred February 23, 1893.
Theodore C. Waltz grew up on the farm where he worked when a boy, and he received a common school education. He worked on the farm until 1897, then learned photography and located at Greenwood, Indiana, where he was later married to Zerelda M. Daily, July 17, 1902. He maintained a well patronized gallery at Greenwood for three years, then in 1900 went to Summitville, this state, where he remained one year, and although he had a good business there, he desired a larger field for the exercise of his talents and came to Lebanon, but not long thereafter went to Columbus, Indiana, where he followed the carpenter's trade until 1907, when he again established himself in Lebanon and has remained there to the present time. His studio is well patronized and he ranks with the leading photographers in this sec- tion of the state. He is a close observer of the progress made in his field of endeavor and keeps well up-to-date and many of his customers come from remote parts of the county, and all receive fair and courteous treatment and his work is not only high-grade but promptly done. Mrs. Waltz has been an active factor in building up the large and lucrative business that the Waltz studio enjoys. She is a lady of culture and refinement and stands high socially, having a very large acquaintance in Boone county. Mrs. Waltz is a true helpmeet in every sense, ably assisting at the studio besides caring for the model home where old time hospitality is enjoyed by their numerous friends.
Mrs. Waltz was born September 8, 1886, and is a daughter of Charles D. and Maude E. (Parcels) Daily. Her father was born September 16. 1856, at New Carlisle, Ohio, and is a son of Charles R. and Mary A. Daily. Both parents of Mrs. Waltz are still living. The grandparents of Mrs. Waltz were Charles R. Daily, born December 23, 1810, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, and Mary Ann (Hay) Daily, who was born July 17, 1831. Soon after marriage they moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, but later re- moving to New Carlisle, Ohio, where Americus C. Daily, ex-auditor of state
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was born. They located in Lebanon in 1879, where they lived until their deaths, Mr. Daily's occurring November 2, 1893, and his wife's January 28, 1898. The Daily family is most favorably known throughout Boone county.
Politically, Mr. Waltz is a Republican and in religious matters, Mr. Waltz and family attend church and Sunday school at the First Baptist church.
SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH.
Samuel Hollingsworth, one of the very early settlers of Jefferson town- ship, Boone county, Indiana, was a native of this state, having been born in Union county, February 6, 1816. His parents were Isaiah and Patience (Smith) Hollingsworth, natives of North Carolina and of English descent. Isaiah came to Indiana in 1800, when the now state was a territory, and he may be fully termed a pioneer. In 1833, he came to Boone county, where he lived a pure and industrious existence until his final relief from earthly cares in 1873, his wife joining him in 1877 in that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler e'er yet returned." The lamented parents had born to them ten children, named as follows: Joseph, Newton. Eber. Samuel, Hannah, Caroline, Smith, Anna, Sarah and Mary.
Samuel Hollingsworth was reared by his father to a thorough knowl- edge of agriculture and consequently made a success in life as a farmer. His marriage took place in January, 1841, to Miss Fanny Alexander, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Denny) Alexander. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth were Mary J., wife of George Miller and William W., who was married January 14, 1879, to Mary Chambers, of Kentucky. After the marriage of Mr. Hollingsworth he settled down to the solid life of a farmer in the wilderness of Indiana, where, at that time, Indians were about as numerous as the wild animals, and of the two infest- ments, the latter were the more preferable, inasmuch as they afforded a source of food. His first presidential vote was for the old "hero of Tippe- canoe," William H. Harrison, but, after the dissolution of the Whig party, he became a stanch Republican. Mr. Hollingsworth's death occurred in March, 1894 at the age of seventy-eight years.
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STRANGE N. CRAGUN.
Strange N. Cragun, the well-known and efficient ex-editor and owner of the Lebanon (Indiana) Patriot, springs from sturdy Scotch-Irish ances- try, his great-grandfather having come from the north of Ireland in an early day and having settled in Virginia. His son, Elisha Cragun, grand- father of Strange N., was born in that state, but was among the pioneers of the southeast part of Rush county, Indiana, whence, in 1835, he came to Boone county and located in Eagle township, but afterward went west with his family and died at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The family, however, con- tinued their journey westward and settled in Utah, where members of them still live. Hiram Cragun, son of Elisha and father of Strange N., was born in Rush county, Indiana, near the Franklin county line, December 8, 1816, was reared a farmer, and was nineteen years of age when he accompanied his father to Boone county. The farm on which they here settled was very heavily timbered, and Hiram, who was a very industrious and hard-working man, did a vast amount of work in assisting his father in clearing away the fine black walnut trees and in burning them in piles to get rid of them. Hiram was married in Boone county to Reiter, daughter of Robert Dooley, and to this union were born nine children, of whom seven grew to maturity, viz .: Josephine, Neb, Melvina, George C., Hiram, Strange N., and Lorenzo D. The farm owned by Hiram Cragun comprised two hundred forty-five acres, and on this he lived until 1884, when he died at the age of sixty-six years, universally respected. He was a Democrat in politics until the firing on Fort Sumter, when he became a strong Republican and an ardent Union man ; he was also a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln. With his wife, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years was a class leader of the Pleasant View society, which he assisted in founding, and which first met in the "little brick" school-house in the northeast part of Eagle township; he was a man of high character, very exact, and held hy- pocrisy in utter abhorrence.
Strange N. Cragun was born July 24, 1857, on his father's farm in Eagle township, Boone county, Indiana. He received his preparatory edu- cation in the common schools, and this was supplemented by a course of three years at the Zionsville academy and one term at Purdue University.
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He became a teacher in Boone county at the age of seventeen, in 1874, and taught in the district schools of Worth township, and in the graded school at Zionsville-four years in all-and then had charge of the graded school of Reelsville, Putnam county, Indiana, for one year. In the spring of 1879, while on a visit to Purdue University, Mr. Cragun went before the board of examiners of candidates for admission to West Point Military Academy, and from thirty-one applicants from the ninth congressional district he was selected for the important and distinguished appointment. At West Point he was obliged to undergo another examination, and of the one hundred sixty applicants he was one of the one hundred twenty to pass the severe ordeal. On the twentieth of June following (1879) he reported at West Point and was admitted to the class of 1883, but two years later, on account of impaired eyesight, he was obliged to tender his resignation.
In the spring of 1881, Mr. Cragun returned to Boone county and ac- cepted the principalship of the Whitestown graded schools for one year, when he was called to Zionsville, to form a joint principalship with W. B. Alford, which lasted one year. He then went to Lebanon, and for four years was principal of the high school. In 1887 Mr. Cragun was elected county superintendent of schools, a position he filled four years and three months, serving out the unexpired term of Harvey M. LaFollette and twice thereafter elected for full terms. During his administration, he brought the schools up to a high standard and introduced new courses of study, secur- ing uniformity in the grading of the schools, making the township insti- tute much more effective, and achieving the reputation of being an excellent disciplinarian both as a teacher and a superintendent. He was strict, but impartial, in his examination of teachers, and reduced the number of licenses nearly one-half, extending the policy of his predecessor, Mr. LaFollette.
May 2, 1891, Mr. Cragun bought the Lebanon Patriot, the oldest news- paper in Boone county, that has been published continuously, dating its birth from 1857. It is Republican in its politics and is independent and out- spoken in the advocacy of the principles of that party, and in its discussion of local and county questions and measures. Mr. Cragun greatly increased its subscription list, this increase arising from the improvement he made in its leading articles and the higher plane on which he placed the literary se- lections, as well as the completeness to which he brought the news columns. As its name indicates, the journal was indeed patriotic in all things under his
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management. He sold the Patriot in 1913 but still does some news and editorial work on journals throughout the state.
On June 17, 1883, Mr. Cragun was united in matrimony with Miss Addie M., daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Beeler) Booher, at Whites- town, Indiana and to this felicitous union have been born three children- Ethel and Opal, twins, and Dwight, the last named born October 5, 1891. This happy little family, however, was rudely broken into by the taking away of Opal at the age of six and a half years.
Mr. Cragun is a member of Boone Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons ; Lebanon Chapter No. 39, Royal Arch Masons; Indiana Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons; Murat Temple of Shriners, Indianapolis; also Lebanon Lodge No. 45, Knights of Pythias; also with his wife, of Lebanon Chapter No. 23, Order of Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Cragun are mem- bers of the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church at Lebanon, and he is a member of the board of trustees. Mr. Cragun resides in a commodious and substantial residence, much admired for its tastefulness and beauty of ar- chitecture.
While now living a somewhat retired life, Mr. Cragun is nevertheless associated in a number of ways with the business life of his county and city. He is treasurer of the Lebanon school board and serving his second term; has been director of the First National Bank of Lebanon for more than a dozen years; was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Loan & Trust Com- pany of same city in 1899, and ever since one of its directors. He is now one of the jury commissioners of the county, and was recently admitted to the bar, although it is not his purpose to enter actively into the practice of law. He and his family are highly respected, and move in the best social circles of the county.
Mrs. Reiter Cragun Bowers, mother of Maj. S. N. Cragun, of Lebanon, passed away April 27, 1914, at her home in Zionsville, this county. She had been in poor health for several years but her last illness extended over a period of only two days. Bronchial pneumonia was the immediate cause of her demise.
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