USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume II > Part 9
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WILLIAM U. LANE.
Owing to the fact that the people of the country have been flocking in such great numbers to the cities during the past decade the time has come when our urban and rural population is nearly equal. Political economists, sociologists, politicians and others are becoming alarmed at this, contending, among other things, that there are too many people to eat and too few pro- ducing things to be eaten. They warn us that our rich, virgin soils are fast becoming things of the past, and we cannot abandon the depleted farms as we cast off a worn-out garment and seek a new one. We have to stay in the occupied territory. Our grazing lands and timbered lands have been sub- divided; we no more have the free fields; our great West is occupied by settlers. Build up the neglected soil, they urge us, so that it will produce enough food for all the people. One of the citizens of Boone county who has been wise enough to remain on the farm and to so scientifically till his soil that it has been strengthened rather than depleted, is William U. Lane, of Jackson township.
Mr. Lane was born in Center township, Boone county, December 9, 1864. He is a son of Emsley J. and Isabell M. (McConaughy) Lane, the former a native of Putnam county, and the latter of Boone county. The paternal grandparents were Lewis and Emma (Jackson) Lane. Lewis Lane came to
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Indiana from Knoxville, Tennessee, about 1830, marrying in Putnam county and settling on a farm three and one-half miles southwest of Lebanon, about 1840, establishing the future home of the family. The maternal grandpar- ents, Harvey and Polly (Jamison) McConaughy, were among the first white settlers in Boone county, clearing and developing a farm here. In this locality the parents of our subject grew up and were educated in the early-day schools, and after their marriage they settled on a farm in Center township, Mr. Lane owning a farm here, but later, after the death of his father, the family removed to Jackson township. The death of Emsley Lane occurred in 1872. Her death occurred in Lebanon in 1901, at an advanced age. To these parents the following children were born: Dora A., now deceased, was the wife of Henry Yeley; Viola is the wife of Enoch Marks, of Indianapolis; Miranda A. is the wife of J. W. Jones, of Lebanon; Clara is the wife of Perry Canada, of Jackson township; Oliver M. lives in LaFayette, Indiana; William U., of this sketch ; Alma J. is the wife of William Fall, of Washing- ton township, this county.
William U. Lane grew up on the home farm and he received his educa- tion in the district schools, the Central Normal at Danville and the State Normal at Terre Haute. When fifteen years old he left home and worked by the month at farm work in his native county. When twenty years old he went to Cimarron, Gray county, Kansas, where he remained from 1885 to 1888. He homesteaded a government claim near Dodge City. Returning to Boone county, he taught school from the winter of 1888 continuously until 19II. He remained a close student and kept well abreast of the times of all that pertained to his vocation. In 1892 he was elected county surveyor, the duties of which office he filled with ability and satisfaction until 1905. In 1892 he purchased a farm in Harrison and later in Center township. He now owns ninety-two acres of fine land in Jackson township. He disposed of his other land in 1900. He has engaged in farming all the while, with the ex- ception of two years when he was county surveyor. He has been very suc- cessful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and he has an attractive home and good outbuildings.
Mr. Lane was married in September, 1892, to Myrtle Swindler, who was born in Jackson township, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Redinbaugh) Swindler, formerly of Mont- gomery county, Indiana.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Lane the following children have been born: Harold,. Hazel and Mary.
Politically, Mr. Lane has been a Republican, and, religiously, is an active member of the Christian church, in which he has been an elder since 1900.
JACOB S. MILLER.
We are always glad to honor the old pioneers, and this is as it should be, for they are deserving of every consideration; they have done so much for us of this generation, that we cannot begin to repay them, even in gratitude; in fact, we often lose sight of the great sacrifices they made for us, their descendants, and of the hardships they endured that the bounds of civilization might be pushed farther westward and outward. They had a hard time, and no mistake, combating the root-interlaced soil, the quick-growing underbrush and weeds, combating the wild creatures of the wilderness and the air, that sought to destroy their crops, domestic animals and even themselves; com- bating the skulking, treacherous red man who claimed the domain on which the pale faces settled. It is doubtful if we of today, many of us at least, would be willing to brave the wilds as did our progenitors, and wrest from a resisting Nature and bloodthirsty race the fair realms now to be seen dotted with happy homes, thriving cities and school house belfries and church spires pointing skyward. One of the worthy citizens of Boone county who has come down to us from the early pioneer period in northern Indiana is Jacob S. Miller, who has passed his four score years, and is now living quietly in the village of Thorntown, in the December of his life, who is happy be- cause he has been thrifty and has laid away a competency and also because he has lived honestly and therefore has no regrets for misdeeds.
Mr. Miller was born in Marion county, Indiana, March II, 1833. He is a son of John D. and Ann (Barkley) Miller, both natives of Georgetown, Kentucky, where they grew up, were married and lived until 1830, when the father came to Marion county, Indiana, and entered wild timber land, eighty acres, and there they lived some time, beginning life there in a log cabin, later selling out and buying one hundred and twenty acres on the line be- tween Marion and Hendricks county. There the elder Miller built a large log
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house, which is still standing, for it has always been kept in good repair. John D. Miller was a man of courage and thrift and he became owner of four hundred acres of excellent land in one tract. His death occurred in 1857, at the age of fifty-six years. His widow survived forty-six years, dying in 1902, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Their son, Charles Fremont Miller, now lives on the old home place, owning two hundred and twenty acres of the same.
Jacob S. Miller has vivid recollections of his childhood days in the far- stretching woods of what is now one of the leading agricultural sections of the state. Often his mother would take him in her lap and make long trips on horseback. When he became of proper age he assisted his father in the general work of clearing and developing the homestead, and in the brief winter months he attended the early-day subscription schools. After his father's death he remained with his mother until his marriage. He was next to the oldest of nine children, and therefore much responsibility of caring for the family fell on his shoulders. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partly-improved land, which he operated and on which he got a start in life. On August 31, 1862, he married Emma J. Armstrong, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Edward and Lydia (Mershon) Armstrong; the father was born in Ireland and the mother was a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania. The former emigrated to America when a young man, located in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and there married, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives there. The wife of our subject came to Marion county, Indiana, in 1861, and after her marriage she and our subject continued to live on his farm there seven years, then removed to near Lin- coln, Nebraska, where Mr. Miller purchased over one thousand acres of land, within three miles of the present home of William J. Bryan, secretary of the United States. There our subject farmed successfully for some time, then returned to Indiana and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Boone county, in 1881, where he remained until 1882, when he sold out and bought one hundred and fifty-four acres, which he operated with his usual success for thirteen years, being known as one of the most progressive and successful general farmers in the county. He then retired from active life, bought a well-located lot in Thorntown, on which he erected a commodious and com- fortable residence and there he and his faithful life companion now reside in comfort and quiet.
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Mr. Miller is a veteran of the Civil war. having enlisted in July, 1863. in Company D, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, but most of his service was as a guard at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He proved to be a faithful soldier and was honor- ably discharged at the close of the war.
The following children have been born to our subject and wife: Lydia H. is the wife of Charles Kendall, and they live in Greencastle, Indiana ; Dora has remained single and lives with her parents; Edward died at the age of forty-one years; John lives in Washington township, Boone county; Robert is a professor in the University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Mrs. Emma J. Miller grew to womanhood in her native state and there received a good education and before her marriage taught school for some time both in Pennsylvania and in Indiana.
Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics and has long been more or less 'influential in public affairs. He served one term as commissioner of Boone county in a very acceptable manner, and has held several minor township offices. He has been all along an advocate of good roads and has done much to encourage the same. He is a member of the George R. Thomas Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lebanon, and he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Thorntown, and no couple in this part of the county are held in higher esteem than they.
JAMES H. KIBBEY.
There is no power more effective than the silent influence of a noble life. This truth is fully illustrated in the life of every good man, and in this sketch is presented a man well worthy of imitation by the young and rising generation. In these days of money making, when life is a constant struggle between right and wrong, it is a pleasure to lay before an intelligent reader the unsullied record of an honorable man. To the youthful it will be a use- ful lesson-an incentive to honest industry. A large class of the farmers of Boone county have led such modest and retiring lives as to be seldom heard of outside their own township. They have ever done fine work in their com- munity, but most of them have not evinced a desire to mingle in the more
MR. AND MRS. JAMES H. KIBBEY
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public matters of the county, devoting all their time and energies to the cultivation of their farms and the development of the resources of their vicinity. Such men deserve more mention than they ordinarily receive, and it is a pleasure to here present one of them in the person of James H. Kibbey, now living quietly in his cosy home in the town of Advance in his eighty- ninth year. He is one of the earliest pioneers in Jackson township, where he established his home in the wilds over sixty years ago, and remained on the same farm until his retirement from active life. During that prolonged period he took no inconspicuous part in the general development of his town- ship, in which no man has been better or more favorably known.
Mr. Kibbey was born September 9, 1825, in Greenup county, Kentucky, and is the youngest of ten children, seven sons and three, daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and after the father's death, which occurred when our subject was six years old, they all remained with their mother on the home farm. She was a woman of strong mind and high Christian sentiments and reared her children in the best manner possible. She reached the age of eighty years. These children are now all deceased except our subject, his last brother having died a quarter of a century ago. They all married and reared families of their own except one son who died when twenty-two years old. The death of the last brother occurred at the age of eighty-two years, the most advanced age any of the family attained except our subject.
When seventeen years old James H. Kibbey was selected to mark the line between Greenup and Carter counties, the latter having been newly formed, and he also carried the chain and ran the experimental line between Lawrence and Carter counties. When twenty-four years old he met Martha Ann Gill, of Bath county, Kentucky, and they were married December 4, 1849, and they have thus traversed together the rough path of life for a period of over sixty-five years, their long association being mutually helpful and happy, and although they are both far advanced in old age, they are yet active and in possession of their faculties to a remarkable degree. Mrs. Kibbey was eighty-five years old October 13, 1913. She was next to the youngest of eleven children. She has one brother, living in Illinois, who is two years her senior. Her father was a prominent citizen in the early days of the Blue Grass state at Gill Mills. He later sold his mills and land at that place and located in Fleming county, that state, and at one time he owned over five hundred acres of land there, and it was in Fleming county
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that Mr. and Mrs. Kibbey were married. Mr. Kibbey sold the home farm in 1852, and he and one of his brothers purchased over five hundred acres of land, a sawmill and a carding factory on the Little Sandy river, and on October 20, 1853, our subject sold out to his brother and removed with his wife and three children to Indiana, crossing the Ohio river on horseback. He made part of the trip through Ohio in a wagon and part on a canal and after a tedious and somewhat dangerous trip of twelve days they reached Boone county, Indiana, where they visited for a time with J. Gill and other relatives of Mrs. Kibbey, and on November 20, 1853, just one month from the time they left Kentucky, they went to housekeeping in this county, buying a lease for two years of Elijah Jackson, in order to get a house to live in, the land being unimproved. in fact most of the county was practically a wilderness. He built a house the following spring but did not move into it, having purchased eighty acres, forty acres of which was cleared and on it stood a small house, and in this he lived until he could clear a portion of his two hundred and forty-three acres which was entered from the government, near Jamestown, and which he still owns, and thus only the one transfer has ever been made in the place. This land was secured from the government by Mrs. Kibbey's father, who gave it to her. He owned large tracts in Indiana and Illinois which he divided among his children. On this land our subject and wife set to work with a will, cleared and improved it until it was one of the most valuable and desirable farms in the county and here they resided until their retirement from active life. They experienced the usual hard- ships and privations of pioneer life, but they had kind neighbors and all enjoyed the log rollings, house raisings and other such events in those times. Much of the land was low and wet and had to be properly drained before it could be utilized. About 1856 a meeting was held at old Union church and there was formed the Eel River Association, articles drawn up and signed, directors elected and plans formulated for the purpose of constructing a large ditch to drain the vicinity effectively. Mr. Kibbey was one of the directors. It was a big undertaking for the pioneers, but was carried out successfully at an expense of twelve thousand dollars, the work requiring several years. An unfortunate contract with the builder of the ditch involved the directors heavily in debt, and added to this, reverses visited Mr. Kibbey in 1876, such as cholera killing a large number of his hogs, and he was forced to go into bankruptcy, and he gave up everything he had but two old horses and about
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five acres of corn. His health also failed at this time and the future was. very unpromising. He rented his land and went to Kansas, remaining there. two years, during which he regained his health and returned to Boone county. He went to work with his usual industry and by close application and the exercise of sound judgment prospered and in due course of time paid all his. indebtedness, and since then he has accumulated a comfortable competency and is one of the substantial men of his township. He retired from active work on his farm in 1894, purchased a home in the town of Lebanon and there he and his wife lived serenely for nine years. He built a fine residence on his farm about 1870. His fine farm contains two hundred and twenty- three acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kibbey nine children were born, three of whom died in early life. The oldest daughter died in Grangeville, Idaho, in August, 1889; Ephraim, the oldest son, died in April, 1912; the other two sons and two daughters are Mrs. Mary G. Burk; William P. lives in Advance; Mrs. Chearereda H. Utterback : James G. lives near the old home. Jane, Ephraim's. widow has a good farm and lives close to the old home. Our subject and wife have twenty-three grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
In order to give his three oldest children better educational advantages, Mr. Kibbey moved to Lebanon in 1866, renting his farm for two years, then returned to the same. The eldest daughter who went to Grangeville, Idaho, to reside in 1878, visited her parents in 1888, and they returned to Grange- ville with her for a short visit. They went from there to Portland, Oregon, to visit relatives and while in that state visited the Pacific ocean and in all two months in the West.
While living in Lebanon, Mrs. Kibbey received a fall from which she suffered a broken hip and for a time the doctors thought she would not re- cover but with proper care, she was spared but is still using one crutch. When Mrs. Kibbey was able to drive around, they moved to Advance in order to- be nearer their children and are residing there at the present time. On the fourth of December, Mr. and Mrs. Kibbey were married sixty-five years.
Politically, Mr. Kibbey was originally a Whig until 1853, and he voted for Gen. Zachariah Taylor for President. He has voted the Democratic ticket the latter part of his life. He served as trustee of Jackson township three terms, and was justice of the peace four years, discharging his duties
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in each capacity very acceptably. He and his wife have been active mem- bers of the Christian church at old Union in Jackson township for many years. He has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past fifty- two years, and is one of the oldest members of this order in the state, also is a member of the Encampment. He holds his membership in the Luther Lodge, No. 227 at Jamestown, of the former, and is a member of Rebekah Lodge, No. 277 at Jamestown. His wife also joined this order in 1866, they being charter members of the same which, so far as known is the oldest lodge of this order in the state. It was in 1861 that Mr. Kibbey joined the Odd Fellows, and he and Corbin are the only two living members of the camp organization. Mr. Kibbey's eyesight returned after wearing glasses for half a century and he now has excellent sight and reads without glasses. The many friends of this grand old couple appreciate their honorable, hos- pitable and useful lives and wish them many days yet of serene and happy hours before they are summoned to their rewards in the great Beyond.
JOHN W. MORRISON.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to com- mand the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the well-known agriculturist whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled and popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of Sugar Creek township, Boone county, where he has always main- tained his home and where he has labored not only for his own individual advancement and that of his immediate family, but also for the improve- ment of the entire community whose interests he has ever had at heart and which he is now ably serving as township trustee. Mr. Morrison comes of an old pioneer family, members of which have done their full share in the advancement of this locality and have been well known here for over a half century.
John W. Morrison was born in the above-named township and county January II, 1860. He is a son of Robert and Priscilla (Loveless) Morrison. the father a native of Sugar Creek township, this county, and the mother
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was born in Ohio, from which state also came the paternal grandparents, John and Ann Morrison, both being natives of the Buckeye state, where they grew up and were married, coming to Indiana among the early settlers. The maternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth (Wadkins) Loveless, were also natives of Ohio and spent their earlier years there, removing to Sugar Creek township, this county, in a very early day, and here the parents of our subject grew to maturity, were educated in the old-time subscription schools and were married, beginning housekeeping on a farm in Sugar Creek town- ship. The father was born in 1834 and his death occurred in 1891. He was a successful farmer, owning at one time a fine farm of three hundred acres. Since his death his widow has lived among her children. She was born in 1823, and is therefore now ninety-one years of age. To Robert Morrison and wife three children were born, namely: John W., of this review; Everett, who lives in Perry township, this county ; and Mary, who marrfied Grant Riley, died in 19II.
John W. Morrison was reared on the home farm, where he worked when a boy and he received his education in the district schools. He remained with his parents on the homestead, in Sugar Creek township, until his mar- riage, September 17, 1880, to Belle Larsh, who was born in this township and county, and here grew to womanhood and was educated. . She is a daugh- ter of William and Emeline (Greene) Larsh, he a native of Ohio and she of Sugar Creek township, this county. The grandfather, Tolover Larsh, was born in Ohio, as was also Grandfather David Greene, and they were both early settlers in this section of Indiana.
After his marriage, John W. Morrison moved to a farm which he pur- chased in Sugar Creek township, and on this place carried on general farming and stock raising in a successful manner for a period of twenty-six years, then sold out and purchased the eighty-acre homestead of his wife's parents, where he was equally successful as a general farmer and stock raiser until 1909, when he rented the place and has since given his attention to the duties of his official position, that of township trustee, to which he was elected in the autumn of 1908, and has served continuously ever since, making a record that is highly commendable in every respect. He is a Republican in politics and has been faithful in his support of the party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, No. 113, at Thorntown, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 489, at Colfax; and the Knights of the Maccabees at Col-
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fax. He was for many years identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, but in 1909 he joined the Society of Friends.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morrison the following children were born: Emeline, who died when twelve years old; Carl died in infancy; Kenneth died when thirteen years old.
Mr. Morrison has been very successful in his life work and is regarded as one of the influential men of his township.
CHARLES F. WELCH.
It is the dictate of our natures, no less than of enlightened social policy, to honor those whose lives have contributed in any way to the good of their community and their associates; to bedew with affectionate tears the silent urn of departed worth and value; to unburden the fullness of the surcharged heart eulogium upon deceased benefactors, and to rehearse their noble deeds for the benefit of those who may come after us. It has been the commendable ·custom of all ages and all nations. Hence the following feeble tribute to one of our best citizens. In contemplating the many estimable qualities of the late Charles F. Welch, of Thorntown, Boone county, integrity and industry appear as prominent characteristics-an integrity that no personal or other consideration could swerve, and an industry that knew no rest while anything remained undone. He was one of those men who, when a given task was accomplished, would throw off all care, retire to his home and devote him- self to domestic and social enjoyments, for which he had a great relish. His temper was calm and equitable, and his manners were emphatically those of the gentleman,-plain, simple, unselfish,-despising sham and pretense of all kinds. His devotion to every duty was intense, while his perception of truth and worth was almost intuitive. In his estimate of these he was seldom mis- taken, and while his opinions were strong, he was always open to conviction, and when satisfied that they were erroneous his concessions were graceful and unqualified. Mr. Welch, in short. was a man whom to know was to respect and admire, and when he was summoned to the Silent Land, his loss was keenly felt by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
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