USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 26
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After the death of his first wife. Maria Kirkpatrick Polk, William L. Polk was married to Nancy Davis, who lived two and one-half miles west of Flora. By this second marriage there were born four children, all of whom are living: Franklin N. lives at Young America; Jesse A. lives at Mansfield, Illinois; Charlie lives at Kokomo, and Emma is the wife of Mitchner Pickett, of near Galveston.
Born and reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of Howard county, Indiana. Willis V. Polk lived at home until twenty-one years old. On July 15, 1882, he was married to Eliza A. Hendrix, the daughter of Zadock and Mary Hendrix, of Burlington township, Carroll county. Indiana. where he was born and reared.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Polk removed to a farm of forty acres, a part of the land upon which they now live and which has since been increased to two hundred and seventy-two acres. Mr. and Mrs. Polk have had four children, namely: Earl Lester, who died at the age of two years: Orrel I .. , a graduate of the high school, who married Okley L. Lan- dis. of Burlington. and lives on his father's farm; Mabel M., a graduate of the high school, is the wife of Clarence Stout, and they have one child, Lorlys Polk Stout; Edna G., who also is a graduate of the high school. has spent one year in college at Ashland. Ohio.
Willis V. Polk and family are members of the Brethren church at Bur- lington. Mr. Polk is a deacon in the church and has served as such for several years. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school and has taught a class for the past twenty-five years. It may be said in all truth that Mr. Polk has worthily discharged his duties in all of the affairs of life and that today he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all the people with whom he has ever come in contact, a most fitting tribute to his character and to his good works in the community where he lives.
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ORION M. WAGONER.
Among the many successful men who have won the respect and sincere regard of their fellow citizens, few are held in greater esteem than Orion M. Wagoner, farmer and stock raiser of Carrollton township. His ability in his chosen vocation has proven his worth to the community beyond a question of doubt. A descendant of those sturdy-hearted pioneers who, by their sterling qualities, have made all things possible, he has inherited the moral courage necessary to his achievement and has made full use of these powers.
Orion M. Wagoner was born on January 3, 1869, in Jackson township, Carroll county, and is the son of Isaac and Sarah C. (Bone) Wagoner. Isaac Wagoner was the son of Martin Wagoner, who came to Carroll county in the early days from Pennsylvania, and began the cultivation of land, spending the rest of his life in the county of his adoption. Isaac Wagoner, through his marriage to Sarah Bone, became the father of these children: Orion M .. and Zulema, wife of James Bridge and living on the Michigan road. Sarah (Bone) Wagoner was the daughter of Adam Bone, who was one of the early settlers of Carroll county. Adam Bone traveled from Ohio to Indiana with an ox-team, and upon his arrival settled on the section of land which now comprises the farms of David Black and William Wingard. Shortly after their marriage, Isaac Wagoner and his wife settled in Car- rollton township and later removed to Jackson, but soon returned to Car- rollton township, where they spent the rest of their lives. Sarah (Bone) Wagoner passed away on March 22, 1909, and since her death Isaac Wag- oner has resided with his daughter. whose home is located on the Michigan road, in Carrollton township.
Orion M. Wagoner was reared on the home place and received his education in the district schools of his native county. Until his marriage to Louanna Eikenberry, on March 2, 1892, he assisted with the work on the home place, but, after his marriage, began operations for himself. Lou- anna Eikenberry was the daughter of Henry D. and Susan (Smoyer) Eikenberry. Henry D. Eikenberry was born in Monroe township, Car- roll county. The Enkenberry family came from College Corner, Union county, Indiana, and most of them are living at Flora, Indiana. Henry D. Eikenberry and his wife were the parents of five children: Mettie, wife of George Allabaugh; Louanna, wife of Orion M. Wagoner; Rosella, wife of Jacob Kingery; Effie, wife of Newton Landes, and Fannie, wife of Dr. C. W. Reiff, of Idaville, Indiana.
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Orion M. Wagoner and his wife were the parents of three children, two of whom are deceased. The names of the children follow: Lee Ellis, born on February 15, 1897, and died on December 18, 1910; Roy Newton, born on April 26, 1900, and died on October 16, 1912; Laurel H., born on August 7, 1903, and now in school.
Orion M. Wagoner has always been a hard-working man, but his many duties on the farm have not prevented him from taking active interest in other matters. He is a member of Fountain City Lodge No. 280, Knights of Pythias, at Flora, and a member of the Presbyterian church at Wheeling, in which he is an active deacon. In political faith he is a Democrat and a stanch supporter of the party principles. His farm of eighty acres bears witness to his industry as a farmer and his life to his qualities as a man.
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PHARES D. ROBESON.
One of the natives of Carroll county, who, like his worthy parents, has been content to follow a well-directed course throughout life, is Phares D. Robeson. Born and reared on the farm, he has devoted his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits and has made an honored record to hand down to his children. Although encountering obstacles and disappoint- ments, he has refused to become disheartened, but has pressed forward, until he is now one of the leading farmers in this county. Mr. Robeson, a retired farmer, living in Camden for the past eleven years, is at present engaged in the horse business with his son, Earl Robeson. He is the owner of twenty-two and a half acres in the vicinity of Camden, where he is well and favorably known. Mr. Robeson was born in Jackson township, Car- roll county, on November 28, 1846. The son of Andrew and Nancy (Stombaugh) Robeson, he comes of a prominent and wealthy family. Nancy Stombaugh, his mother, who was of German descent, was married in Pennsylvania and came from Juniata county to the home of Andrew Robeson's brother. John, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he worked in the Robeson woolen factory on Wild Cat creek. Afterward he managed a woolen-mill in Musselman until he traded his interest in it for a farm in Jackson township. During his residence in Carroll county, he owned nine hundred acres of valuable farm land. He was a member of the Lutheran church, in which, during his later years, he took an active interest. He was a Republican and for many years was justice of the peace. During the
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Civil War he was enrolling officer. Because of his genial nature, which attracted friends everywhere and by reason of his prominence and influence, he was looked upon as one of the city fathers and was known as "Squire." Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robeson only three are living, these being Mahlon, of Deer Creek; Phares D .; Plato, a retired farmer living in Camden and owning large farms in section 14, township 25, range I, west.
Going back another generation in this interesting family, it is found that Andrew, who was born on a farm near Tyrone, in Blair county, Penn- sylvania, on December 21, 1814, was the son of Andrew Robeson, a native- born Scotchman. Andrew Robeson, Sr., who came to America when a young man, locating in Pennsylvania, worked at first on farms, although he was an expert in woolen manufacture. He later operated the woolen-mill in Tyrone on the Juniata river. His wife was an Irish girl, named Roeman Dennis, who came to this country with her parents and lived at Tyrone. Andrew Robeson continued in the milling business the remainder of his life and taught his young son and namesake the secrets of the trade. After his marriage, Andrew, Jr., came to this country and immediately settled in Tippecanoe county, his subsequent activities being as described above.
Phares D. Robeson remained at home during his youth, doing farm work and receiving such education as the country schools afforded at that time. In his twenty-second year, on October 27, 1869, he was married to Pauline Kendall, a daughter of George and Lucinda Kendall, who were early settlers in Rock Creek township. After their marriage they moved to a section of the farm belonging to Mr. Robeson's father, and there they set up housekeeping. At the end of three years his father bought another farm and on this they lived until they removed to town, improving and clearing the land, which was a tract consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1904 Mr. Robeson and his family moved to Camden and eight years later sold the farm, which is now owned by Alexander Jones.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robeson: Frank is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky, and is connected with the Illinois Central railroad; Catherine is the wife of Charles Rice, who lives in Camden and is in the government service: Irene died at the age of three years; Earl married Hettie Spivey, and to them were born two children, Miles, who is now engaged in the livery business at home, and Thelma.
Phares Robeson, like his distinguished father, is interested actively in politics, being a member of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Robeson
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are members of and contribute generously to the Lutheran church of Cam- den. They fill an important place in the community in which they have lived so many years, and have shown practical interest in its welfare by supporting its worthy enterprises. Mr. Robeson is a man whom to know is to admire. He attracts friends by his genial nature and sincerity, and his high moral standards have given him the respect of all who are fortun- ate enough to know him.
DAVID BLACK.
It is one of the principal functions of this publication to accord recog- nition to those men who represent the various lines of commercial, agricul- tural or professional activities of their respective localities. Such men con- tribute to the commercial supremacy of their county and state.' Based upon such standards, there is propriety in giving consideration to the man whose name heads this article. David Black, a prominent farmer and stock raiser, living near Flora, was born on his father's farm in Carrollton township, Carroll county, on April 8, 1848. He now lives on his farm, one and a half miles northwest of Wheeling, on rural route number 1, the farm consisting of eighty acres.
David Black is the son of Robert and Martha (Love) Black, the former of whom came to this locality with his wife in the fall of 1848. The Black family is of Scotch descent. After establishing their home in this town- ship, they spent the remainder of their lives here. Seven children were born to this couple, the two eldest of whom are dead: William died in August, 1914, and Phenia died when an infant; the third born in this home is the subject of this sketch; his brother, James, who was the next born, passed away at the age of twenty; Martha, the wife of George Moore, is also dead; Arminda became the wife of A. D. Wood, of Carrollton town- ship; John Black lives in Camden.
David Black lived with his parents until his marriage to Belle Bone, which took place on February 19, 1873. Mrs. Black is the daughter ot Adam Bone, a native of Carrollton township. In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Black moved to Kansas, where Mr. Black farmed for five years. They then returned to Carrollton township and rented a farm for five or six years, then moved to his present home. They lived there until 1913 and then moved to Flora, residing there until the death of Mrs. Black, which occurred on March 29, 1915. Mr. Black then returned to the farm with his daugh-
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ter. At one time he owned eighty acres in this county and a similar amount in Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Black were the parents of three children : Carlos E. graduated from the common schools and attended the State Nor- mal School; he served during the Spanish-American War and now lives in Chicago; Maude is the wife of William Wingard, who lives on the home farm; after graduating at Wheeling she was for four years a teacher in the township schools; the youngest son, Clifford, died at the age of three years.
After retiring from active farm work, Mr. Black occupied part of his time making further improvements, including the building of a modern barn. He is a member of the Wheeling Presbyterian church, of which he was a deacon for fourteen years. He votes the Democratic ticket.
Fortunate in being the descendant from sturdy Scotch ancestors, Mr. Black has fulfilled the traditions of his family, for he has improved every foot of ground which he has owned and has, by strict adherence to business, developed his resources so as to bring success to himself and happiness to the lives of his family and friends.
ROLLIE SNYDER.
Among the successful farmers of Rock Creek township, Carroll county, is Rollie Snyder, who owns a farm of one hundred and one acres, located on the Wabash Valley traction line, one and one-half miles west of Burrows. Mr. Snyder's farm is known as the Center View farm. Born on Decem- ber 6, 1868, in Rock Creek township, Mr. Snyder is the son of P. C. and Eliza (Cook) Snyder, the former of whom was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, as was also his wife. They grew up on a farm in Franklin county, and, after their marriage, came, in 1864, to Deer Creek township, Carroll county, where for ten years they rented a farm. Afterwards P. C. Snyder purchased eighty acres of land in Rock Creek township and there lived for about fifteen years, when he purchased about one hundred and sixty acres of land, including the farm upon which his son, Rollie, now lives. Later he sold this farm to his son and purchased forty acres one mile south, where he lived until his death. This second farm was known as the "Rupp Forty." Mrs. Snyder preceded her husband in death, he dying in 1907 and she in 1903. They had nine children, three of whom are now living: Frank lives on the Rupp farm in Rock Creek township; Ellie is
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the wife of William Plank, who resides two miles east of Rockfield, in Rock Creek township; Rollie is the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Snyder lived at home with his parents and was educated in the common schools. On December 29, 1897, he was married to Mary O. Mckinney, the daughter of Leander Mckinney, a well-known citizen of this county. After their marriage they settled on the farm where they now live and in 1901 purchased the farm. Mr. Snyder is engaged in the business of raising thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs and is one of the largest hog raisers in Carroll county.
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had four children, namely: Ruth is a student in the first year of the high school; Lee died at the age of nine months; Everett, who is eight years old, is attending school; Mack is an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of the Presbyterian church at Burrows. Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics, and is highly respected in Carroll county, where he is well known and where he has spent all of his life
GEORGE W. SHANKLIN.
The Union soldier of the great war between the states builded wiser than he knew. Through the suffering and the wasting hardships, and through the horrors of prison pens, he laid the superstructure of this great temple of human freedom which we know today as the United States of America. Among the valiant soldiers of the great Hoosier commonwealth, who had a part in that memorable struggle, is George W. Shanklin, who, on September 10, 1861, with his brother, R. P. Shanklin, of Frankfort, enlisted in Company H, Third Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Alfred Gattis, and served three years with the Army of the Cumberland under Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas. Although he had enlisted as a private at the outbreak of the war. he was a sergeant when mustered out of service. This splendid citizen has lived to rear and to educate a large family of chil- dren and, in his long and useful life, has accumulated a handsome fortune, comprising in part over seven hundred acres of land, all in one body and situated in Democrat township. Not only is he prominent as a farmer, but he is likewise conspicuous in the fraternal and religious circles of the county. From 1886 to 1892 he served two terms as commissioner of Carroll county, having been elected to the office as a Republican. In the responsibilities and duties of peace, he gave service equal to the liberal measure he bestowed upon the field of battle in defense of his country.
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE W. SHANKLIN.
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GEORGE W. SHANKLIN.
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George W. Shanklin is a native of the township where he lives, having been born three and one-half miles northeast of Cutler, December 5, 1841. He is the son of John S. and Sarah G. (Young) Shanklin, both of whom were born in 1811 in Monroe county, West Virginia, and who, in turn, were the son and daughter of native-born American parents. The Youngs and Shanklins were originally of English and Irish origin. Sarah G. Young's mother, Agnes (Sims) Young, was the only one of the older generation who ever came to Carroll county. For many years she lived with her daughter in this state, having become a widow when still a young woman. She was considered the best Bible student in Carroll county during her day and generation.
John S. and Sarah G. (Young) Shanklin grew up in Monroe county, West Virginia, and were married in that county, where they farmed for a brief period after their marriage. Before any children were born to them, they came to Carroll county in 1835, entering some five or six hundred acres of land, to which they later added. There was four hundred acres of land in one body.
The late John S. Shanklin was a prominent citizen of Carroll county. He served as county commissioner in 1858 and was an elder in the Presby- terian church for more than forty years. Of the eight children born to John S. and Sarah G. (Young) Shanklin, all grew to maturity. Five are now living, R. P., who is in the wholesale grocery business in Frankfort; George W., the subject of this sketch; Andrew Y., who is a resident of Democrat township on the old homestead; Virginia E., who is the widow of R. T. Lung, of Kokomo; J. C., who is president of the First National Bank, of Frankfort. The deceased children are, Mary Ann, who was the wife of David Wilson; Agnes Y., who was the wife of Jonathan McCarty, and William N., who married Hattie Thomas, who now lives in Bringhurst. The father of these children, John S. Shanklin, died at the age of seventy- seven, in 1888, but his wife had preceded him twenty years, passing away in 1868. During the last years of his life, he lived quietly on the farm, the land being operated at this time by his son, William N.
After serving three years in the army, in which George W. was promoted to the rank of sergeant and his brother, R. P., to the rank of lieutenant, they returned to Carroll county and, for a time, taught school in the county. George W. Shanklin taught for five terms. On September 18, 1867, Mr. Shanklin was married to Mary H. Wilson, the daughter of Anthony Wilson, a well-known citizen of the county.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shanklin moved to the farm where
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they now live, but which has been greatly improved during the intervening years. `In 1872 Mr. Shanklin built a magnificent barn and five years later built a large brick house, in which the family has lived ever since. They have gradually increased the farm until it now comprises more than seven hundred acres ..
Mr. and Mrs. Shanklin have been the parents of six children, of whom only two are now living, Alice Viola, John Anthony, Olive Belle, Sarah Glenn, one who died in infancy and Bessie Leonore Bordner. Alice Viola, deceased, married John Pullen and left five children, one having died pre- viously ; the five living children are, Mary H., George Bert, Charles Leon, Miriam Glenn and Olive Viola. John Anthony died at the age of two years. Olive Belle, who was a graduate of the Wesleyan College for Women at Oxford, Ohio, married Frank D. McEllroy, a teacher in Crawfordsville, who now lives in Hammond. At the time of her death, she left one child, who later died. Sarah Glenn, who is a graduate of the University, of Wooster, is the wife of Doctor Quinn, of Burlington. Bessie Leonore, who is a graduate of the university at Lake Forest and the wife of W. H. Bordner, a farmer of Democrat township, has two children, Mary Cath- erine and William Shanklin.
Not only is Mr. Shanklin a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has served as commander of the post for two terms, but he is also a member of Cutler Lodge No. 571, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church at Cutler and has been prominently identified with the Republican party in Carroll county all of his life.
CHARLES E. LENON.
A well-known American writer has said that "The farm is, and must always remain, the chief source of our country's wealth, strength and power, as well as the cradle of our ablest men." If this statement is true, every good farmer is a benefactor to the race, because his work is creative. The charge of parasitism, therefore, can never be laid at his door. Charles E. Lenon was born on the farm where he now lives, the date being August 13, 1871. His farm of forty acres is situated on rural route number 2, one and a half miles east of Camden. The subject of this sketch is the present trustee of this township and is the son of Levi and Lucy (Wright) Lenon ..
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Levi Lenon was the son of John Lenon, and was born one-half mile east of what is now known as the Neible farm, on February 12, 1833. John Lenon was born in Butler county and was the son of John Lenon, a native of Germany. The latter emigrated to the United States and located in Butler county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. The history of the family in Indiana dates from the time when John Lenon, Jr., located himself and family in Jackson township, west of Camden, and here he lived the remainder of his life, becoming possessed of much of this world's goods. His son, Levi, was married to Lucy Wright, who lived on the adjoining farm east, and for two years the young husband lived with his wife's peo- ple. He then purchased the present property, where he lived for fifty-two years. He was a Democrat in politics, in which party he was quite active, but never held public office. He was one of the most highly respected men of the township. John Lenon, Jr., was the father of fifteen children, of whom Levi was the youngest boy. One of these, Samuel, still survives and lives in Camden, having reached the eighty-sixth milestone of his life. Levi and Lucy Lenon became the parents of eight children, five of whom are liv- ing. These are, Matthew M., of Camden; Charles E., the subject of this biography; J. O., of Lafayette; Mary, the widow of Frank Trivett, of Camden, and S. J., of Culver, Indiana. Those who have passed away are Cordelia, who died at the age of eighteen; Willie, who died in infancy, and Franklin A., who died when a lad of sixteen.
. Charles Lenon lived at home and worked on the farm until his mar- riage, having received his education in the country schools. After the death of his father, on January 9. 1913, he returned to the home farm, where he has lived ever since. On June 26, 1895. the marriage of Mr. Lenon and M. J. Parkins was consummated, the bride being the daughter of Elizabeth Eckerle. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lenon made their home three miles east of their present residence. They are the parents of three chil- dren, Rufus E., who lives at home, and who will graduate from the high school in 1916: Leta Bernice, who is in the third year in high school, and Charles Raymond. who lives at home with his parents.
Mr. Lenon is a Free and Accepted Mason, belonging to Mt. Zion Lodge No. 211; and is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 151, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Camden. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge and represented the lodge on three different occasions in the grand lodge. He and his family are members of the Camden Baptist church. Mr. Lenon is a prominent Democrat and at present is township trustee.
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Every community has its men of vision and of responsibility. To these the people look for a confirmation of their views or, at least, for representation in organizations that reflect the general trend of thought and achievement. In making the statement that Charles E. Lenon is such a mạn, the editor is but seeking to put him in his rightful place in the estima- tion of the public.
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