USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 27
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LEANDER MCKINNEY.
Enjoying the luxury of a well-earned rest, Leander Mckinney is spend- ing his remaining years in peace and comfort at Burrows, Indiana. His practical nature and long years of industry have entitled him to a place in the history of his county, where, through his genial disposition and trust- worthy attitude towards all, he occupies a high position of esteem among his many friends.
Leander Mckinney, living a retired life at Burrows, Indiana, was born on June 17, 1843, in Butler county, Ohio, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Rhinearson) McKinney. He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he began working for himself, his father having died when he was but three years old. He received a good education, which he put to good use by teaching five terms of winter school, during which time he also worked at the carpenter's trade. After his marriage, Mr. Mckinney followed agriculture for about five years, and then bought forty acres of land in Washington and Jackson townships, Carroll county, where they lived about eighteen years and then sold, moving back to the old home place, whence he later moved to Rock Creek township, finally settling at Burrows in 1899. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Mckinney has been living a retired life at Burrows. Politically, he is an independent voter, but is inclined towards Democracy in politics, and has officiated in some of the township offices, among them being that of township assessor. He is the owner of four or five pieces of valuable property, giving him a good income.
John McKinney, father of the subject, was born near Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, and was a son of John McKinney, Sr. His wife was Mary Ann (Rhinearson) Mckinney. John, Sr., died when John, Jr., was three years old. After the latter grew up and was married, he settled in Butler county, Ohio, where he operated a distillery for about eight years. On October 15, 1846, he brought his family to Indiana, settling in Washington township, the subject being then but three years old. Mr. Mckinney later
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bought two hundred acres here, and both he and his wife spent their remain- ing years on the home place. He always followed farming, and, politically, was a life-long Democrat, taking an active part in politics, and serving in some of the township offices, among which were those of school trustee and township assessor, holding the latter office during three different terms. Mr. Mckinney was a thoroughly self-made man and a great reader. He had very positive views and was a prominent man in his day. Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian church at Cumberland, in the work of which he took an active interest, holding different offices in the church. To John and Mary Ann (Rhinearson) Mckinney were born nine children, eight of whom are living in 1915: Leander, aged seventy-two; Amanda, the wife of S. L. Groniger; J. B. Mckinney, who lived near Deer creek, and is now deceased; Adolph, who lives in Arkansas; S. S. Mckinney, of Logansport, Indiana; A. Q. Mckinney, who is postmaster at Clay Valley, Arkansas; Frances, who became the wife of Ira Dodds, of Cass county, and Alice, who is the wife of Harley Gustin, also of Cass county.
The paternal grandfather Mckinney was a native of Ireland, and his wife was a German woman by the name of Schultz. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, coming afterward to Ohio, where he died when John, father of the subject, was three years old. Three chil- dren were born to this union, John and two daughters, who were left as orphans when very young.
The ancestry of Mary Ann Rhinearson, mother of the subject and whose parents died when she was very young, traces back to French and English origin.
Leander Mckinney was united in marriage, on November 22, 1862, to Samantha Ryan, daughter of James and Christena (Brown) Ryan, of Rock Creek. She was born on December 6, 1848, in Rock Creek township, and was educated in the public schools of the district. To this union have been born five children: David M., who farms eighty acres at Madisonville, Indiana; Cora O., who became the wife of William C. Mullin, of Rock Creek township; Ella J., who was married to Schuyler Foster, and lives in Washington township; Ollie G., who is the wife of Rollie Snyder, who deals in hogs and lives in Rock Creek township, and Annie L., who is the widow of Ross Penn, of Flora, Indiana.
Mr. Mckinney is a broad-minded man, of unpretending bearing, who has attained special success in his vocation, and one who has always enjoyed a well-deserved popularity in the community where he has long been a resident.
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MARY C. HARDY.
The biography of Mary C. Hardy is only briefly recorded in the fol- lowing recital of a few events in a useful life nobly lived. The eldest in a ·family of nine children, she early became inured to the hardships and privations of pioneer days, but these she bore with the courage and fortitude which distinguished her afterlife, when, as a widow, she again faced dif- ficult conditions. Mrs. Hardy has won many friends in and near her home, and has been successful in the work which she has undertaken to do. Mary Hardy, the widow of William Hardy, Sr., lives on her farm of one hundred and ninety acres in section 26, on rural route No. 1, Burrows, Indiana. She was born on June 18, 1855, on the farm of her father and mother in Butler county, Ohio.
The parents of Mrs. Hardy were James and Bridget Teresa (McGlynn) O'Donnell. James O'Donnell was born in County Sligo, Ire- land. He remained at his home in Ireland to take care of his mother and at the age of thirty came to this country, landing at New Orleans. He worked on a plantation for one year, and then decided to go northward, traveling by boat. Landing first at Cincinnati, he went from there to Butler county, Ohio, and here met the mother of the subject. Bridget McGlynn was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, and came to this country when a girl of nine- teen, landing in New York on July 4, 1849. She came direct to Hamilton, Ohio, where she lived for four years previous to her marriage. When married, the young couple came to Washington township, Carroll county, where they bought one hundred and twenty acres of land from Josiah Yerkes.
They became the parents of nine children, five daughters. Mary, Anna, Winnifred, Ellen and Elizabeth, and four sons, Charles, Patrick, John and a second Charles. The eldest of these children is the subject of this sketch. The second, Anna, remained single and lives with her brother, Patrick H. O'Donnell. in Chicago. Winnifred died in childhood. Ellen became the wife of C. V. Willey, of Rock Creek township, and is the mother of eight living sons and four living daughters. Elizabeth died after she reached womanhood. The elder Charles died in infancy. Patrick and John are residents of Chicago, and Charles owns a farm in Rock Creek township and the manager of his brother Patrick's farm, lying in the same vicinity.
Mary, who later became Mrs. Hardy, lived with her parents until her wedding day, which was June 23, 1881, her husband being the son of John
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and Elizabeth ( Pardner ) Hardy. On July 14, 1882, Mr. Hardy died, leaving his wife and one son, named William P. Hardy, who still lives on the home farm. Mr. Hardy was a Republican in politics.
Mrs. Hardy is a devout member of St. Vincent's Catholic church, and her son is a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus at Logansport, Indiana.
In all the relations of life Mrs. Hardy has proven herself to be a woman of high ideals and exemplary character. She is sympathetic to those in trouble. kindly in her nature, a warm, sincere friend. a good neighbor. an ardent church member and a faithful wife and mother. During her residence here, Mrs. Hardy has endeared herself to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, who prize her friendship for its true worth. Her true womanly nature has taught her the precious lesson of sorrow, and her life of unselfish service is evidence that she has learned that "every day of meet- ing sorrow superbly makes the life more grand. Every tear that falls from one's own eyes gives a deeper tenderness of look, of touch, of word that shall soothe another's woe. . Sorrow is not given that we may mourn. It is given us that, having felt, suffered, wept, we may be able to understand, love, bless."
GRANVILLE EVERETT HECK.
Granville Everett Heck, a well-known young man, now a clerk in the Delphi postoffice, is a native of that city, where he was born on March 23, 1892. He is a man of honorable impulses and temperate habits, and enjoys the confidence of a host of friends, not only in Delphi, but throughout Car- roll county.
Mr. Heck is a son of Abraham and Allie (Campbell) Heck, natives of this state. Abraham Heck is a farmer by occupation, but lives within the corporate limits of Delphi. At various times he has been engaged in differ- ent occupations. For some years he was a dairyman, but during the past few years has cultivated a farm of thirty-eight acres which he owns, near the corporation line of Delphi. Mrs. Abraham Heck was reared in the Methodist church. She has borne her husband seven children, of whom Granville Everett is the eldest. The others are, E. Fay, M. Lucille, Will- iam E., George R., Margaret J. and Vernon.
Mr. Heck's paternal grandparents were Aaron and Lavina Heck, the former of whom was killed on a railroad, after having reared a family of
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seven children, Calvin, Albert, Abraham, Hannah, Sarah, Laura and Ella. The subject's maternal grandparents were Jack and Jennie ( Paris) Camp- bell, also natives of Indiana, who reared two children, Allie and Maud, besides whom they had another child, Walter, who died early in life. Mr. Campbell died early in life. Mrs. Campbell was later married to Albert Dunn, now deceased, and she is now living at Delphi.
Granville Everett Heck, who was reared in Delphi, receiving his ele- mentary education in the graded schools of that city and graduated from the high school in 1911. During the next two years he worked on the Van- dalia railroad at Logansport and for his father in the dairy. On April 3, 1913, he was appointed as a clerk in the Delphi postoffice and still holds this position.
A short time after having been appointed to his present position, in October, 1913, Mr. Heck was married to Birdie M. Grauel, who was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, a daughter of Absalom and Emma (Edwards) Grauel. Mrs. Heck was one of eight children born to her parents, the others being, Fannie, Beatrice, Florence, Daisy, Myrtle, Margaret and Pauline. Mr. and Mrs. Granville E. Heck have had one son, Donald E. Mr. Heck is a member of Delphi Lodge No. 174, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is independent in politics.
. JOHN W. WILLIAMSON.
The late John W. Williamson was widely known in Carroll county and was one of the honored citizens and farmers of the county at the time of his death, May 11, 1915. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, the capable management of his own business and his sound judgment won for him a large measure of success and, at his death, he owned a magnificent farm in Rock Creek township, comprising two hun- dred and seventy-two acres of land. His life ably demonstrates what may be accomplished by a man of sufficient ambition and foresight. In all of the relations of life, he commanded the confidence and respect of his fellows and died full of honor, a worthy man and a worthy citizen.
The late John W. Williamson, the son of Joseph Williamson, was born in Carroll county, Indiana, on the old Williamson farm, on the north end of the place he owned at the time of his death. His father was a native of
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. WILLIAMSON.
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the country near Wolf creek, Ohio, but the family were very early settlers in Carroll county, settling here in 1829.
Mr. Williamson grew up on the old homestead farm in Carroll county and, during his youth and young manhood, passed through the- experiences which fall to the lot of the average country boy reared in a pioneer community.
On May 19, 1863, Mr. Williamson was married to Maria Munson, who was born on February 14, 1840, in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana, the daughter of Clinton and Martha ( Berkshire) Munson. Mrs. Williamson's father was a native of Genesee county, New York, and the son of Simeon Munson. The Munson family had come to America in the "Mayflower," one Capt. Thomas Munson, who was a member of the party which made up the pilgrim fathers, being the ancestors of the Munsons of Carroll county. Until comparatively recent times, the Munson family lived principally in New York state and the East. Clinton Munson grew up in New York state and, when he was a young man, came to Ohio with his mother and later went with her to Michigan. It was in Ohio that Simeon Munson was killed, accidentally, at a house raising. His widow died in Ingram county, Michigan, some years later. From Michigan, the family branched out, the members going in different directions. Three of Clinton Munson's brothers helped to build the first locks in the Wabash & Erie canal. Subsequently, Clinton Munson came to Carroll county, where he was married to Martha Berkshire, the daughter of Charles Berkshire, an early settler in Carroll county, who had come here from near Albany, Indiana. The earlier ancestors of the Berkshire family had come from England. Clinton Munson and Martha Berkshire were married in Carroll county. For a number of years he was a pioneer school teacher. When Mrs. John W. Williamson was a child of twelve years, her father followed the gold rush to California in 1852 and died there of typhus fever. His wife had died just before he started for California. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are now living, Mrs. John W. Williamson; Criscilla, the widow of Jacob Van Lue; Johanna, who lives near Sprague, Washington, and Lois, the wife of Edward Wharton, of Chicago. The deceased children are, Charles, who died in the service of his country during the Civil War, and Ruth, the wife of Joseph Armstrong. After her parents' death, Mrs. Williamson lived with an aunt until her marriage in 1863.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Williamson moved to the old Williamson place and lived with Mr. Williamson's father until they built
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the house in which Mrs. Williamson now lives. They were the parents of two children, Martha, the widow of John C. Kesseler, of New Castle, Indiana, and an infant who is deceased. Martha has one son, Williamson Dwight Kesseler, a graduate of the New Castle high school and who is now employed at Jackson, Michigan.
The late John W. Williamson was an elder and deacon in the Presby- terian church at .Rock Creek for a great many years, and was identified with the Democratic party. Mrs. Williamson still retains her interest in religious work and today is known as one of the well-informed. refined and charitable women of Rock Creek township.
HENRY G. BROWN.
The desirability and attractiveness of any location lies largely in the character and industry of its inhabitants. The gentleman whose name is especially mentioned in the following brief history belongs to that class of men whose sturdy persistence and wise judgment have helped to make the agricultural industry of Carroll county famous.
Henry G. Brown, farmer, of Burrows, Indiana, was born, January 25, 1855, on the farm on which he now lives, and is a son of Gabriel and Bar- bara (Hiser) Brown. His youth was spent on his father's farm and his education was obtained at the public schools of the district. After his father's death, he bought out the interest of the other heirs in the home place, consisting of two hundred acres, located at the edge of Burrows, in Rock Creek township. Politically, Mr. Brown has always been interested in the policies of the Republican party, while his religious membership is with the Christian church of Burrows, in the work of which he has long taken an active interest, being at present a trustee and one of the deacons in the church. He is a director in both the Burrows State Bank and the telephone company.
Gabriel Brown, father of the subject, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and was bound out to a family by the name of Kauffman, when he was a small boy, being taken by them to where Dayton, Ohio, now stands. He grew up to manhood's estate and was married, at that place, to Barbara Hiser, whose parents also came overland to Ohio, locating at the present site of Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to Carroll county, Indiana, about 1833, and settled on the old Parks farm, purchasing, afterward. the
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farm which the subject now owns, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Brown was a member of the Christian church, in the work of which he always took an active interest. Politically, he was a Republican. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born ten children, only two of whom are now living, Henry G., and D. N. Brown, who lives at Sunnyside, Washington.
Henry G. Brown was united in marriage, November 23, 1877, with Elizabeth Sager, daughter of William and Criscilla (Berkshire) Sager. The children born to this union are: Bertie O., who lives on his father's farm, and William, who was married to May Wasson, by whom he has had four children, Vera, Paul, Chester and Thelma.
Having lived an industrious life, and one founded upon high principles, combined with a kind-hearted disposition, Mr. Brown has few regrets in his efforts to live up to a high standard of citizenship.
HARLEY PORTER.
"It is not what you earn, but what you save that makes you rich," so the old saying goes, but the gentleman whose name introduces the follow- ing sketch has both earned and saved, the result of which is centered in his present successful business at Burrows, which he has followed for nine years, after having tried various other vocations before finally making up his mind in which direction his qualifications pointed.
Harley Porter, proprietor of a general store at Burrows, Indiana, was born, June 10, 1880, in Jefferson township, Cass county, and is a son of Madison and Eliza (Miller) Porter. He lived at home and attended the public schools until he was seventeen years of age, when he left the paternal roof and engaged in the railroad business, which he followed for nine years, first with the Pennsylvania, then with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and his last employment in railroad work was with the Vandalia line. Giv- ing up this vocation, Mr. Porter moved his family to Burrows, where he followed the carpenter's trade for quite a length of time, after which he became interested in his present successful business. Politically, Mr. Porter has always voted the Republican ticket, while, religiously, he belongs to the Christian church. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Train- men, No. 109, at Logansport, and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he belongs to Burrows Lodge No. 495, and Rockfield Encampment No: 163, being a past noble grand in the subordinate lodge.
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Madison Porter, father of the subject, was born in Clinton township, Cass county, Indiana, and is a son of Joshua Porter. His wife was Eliza (Miller) Porter, daughter of Martin Miller. She also is a native of Clinton township, Cass county. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter were born three sons : Harley; Cloyed, who lives at Logansport, and Norbert, who lives at home with his parents. Madison and Eliza Porter still reside on their farm in Clinton township, Cass county.
Joshua Porter, the paternal grandfather, was an early pioneer in Ohio, coming to Clinton township, Cass county, not long afterward, and made that location his permanent home, spending the remainder of his life there. Martin Miller, the maternal grandfather, was of German lineage. He came from Pennsylvania and settled in Clinton township, Cass county, where he spent a number of years, and whence he moved to the old Thomas Dillard place, where he lived until his death.
Harley Porter was united in marriage. February 9, 1903, with Jose- phine Dodds, daughter of Andrew Dodds, of Clinton township, Cass county. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been born four children: Mildred, deceased; Madeline, a student at school; Gale and William Wayne, who are both at home. Mr. Porter carries with him the spirit of optimism and encourage- ment and is always equal to any emergency of an ordinary character.
MARTIN M. POPEJOY.
Self-made men, who have attained success by reason of their personal qualities and who have left the impress of their individuality upon the busi- ness and material development of their home community, exert a powerful influence for good and. unwittingly perhaps, build monuments more endur- ing than marble obelisks or granite shafts. Such a man is Martin M. Pope- joy, sheriff of Carroll county and one of the honored citizens in this part of the great Hoosier state.
Martin M. Popejoy was born in the village of Middlefork, Clinton county, Indiana, September 14, 1871. His parents, John and Nancy (McAdams) Popejoy, were natives of Clinton county, Indiana, and Ohio, respectively. John Popejoy was reared in Clinton county, but lived for about five years in Illinois. Subsequently, he returned to Indiana and set- tled in Cass county, and still later moved to Carroll county, settling on the old Berntrader farm, where he died in 1898, at the age of seventy-seven
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years. He was always a farmer. His wife is still living and is now seventy- six years old. She resided at Rockfield. The Popejoy family were mem- bers of the Methodist church and Mrs. John Popejoy still retains her mem- bership in this church. John and Nancy (McAdams) Popejoy were the parents of seven children, who grew to maturity: Jennie, the wife of Franklin John, of near Rockfield; Flora B., the wife of Lincoln Laird, a resident of southern Indiana; William, deceased; Minnie, the twin sister of William, who is now the wife of Noah Barnard, of near Russiaville, Indi- ana; Martin M., the subject of this sketch; George W., a resident of Deer Creek, and Andrew J., of the same township. John Popejoy was twice married. Previous to his marriage to Nancy McAdams, he had married a Miss Norris, by whom one child was born, James L., who lives near Ross- ville.
The paternal grandfather of Martin M. Popejoy was Madison Pope- joy, who married a Miss Whiteman. They were natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Clinton county, where they died well advanced in years. They were the parents of six children, John A., Amanda, Dutch, Julia, Jennie and William. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Popejoy were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Clinton county, Indiana, where they died in the prime of life. They were the parents of a family of five chil- dren, Nancy R., James (who was killed in the Civil War), William, Sallie and Rebecca.
Martin M. Popejoy was reared on his father's farm in Clinton county. He attended the country schools of Clinton county, where he received a good common-school education, living at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven years. After his marriage. Mr. Popejoy rented a farm, but lived on the home place for several years. In 1893 he moved to Carroll county and rented the old Berntrader farm. Later he moved to Tippecanoe township and, still later, to Deer Creek township, where he lived on the Pollard farm for four years. In 1912 Mr. Popejoy was elected sheriff of Carroll county, assuming the office on January 1. 1913. In 1914 he was re-elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate for any county office in the history of Carroll county.
In 1901 Mr. Popejoy was married to Mary Clark, who was born near Argus, Indiana, in 1880. Mrs. Popejoy's parents were natives of Indiana. Her mother died when she was a child, but her father is still living. He is now at the Soldiers' Home at Lafayette, Indiana, having been a soldier in the Civil War, in which he served three and one-half years as a private. Mr. and Mrs. Popejoy have one daughter, Dorothy M.
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Martin M. Popejoy has always been an enthusiastic Democrat and a man of wide influence in the councils of his party in Carroll county. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Mount Olive Lodge No. 48, Free and Accepted Masons, at Delphi; Young America Lodge No. 548, Knights of Pythias, and of the Uniform Rank of this order, and also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men. Mrs. Popejoy is a member of the Baptist church, but Mr. Popejoy is a member of the Lutheran church.
ALFRED H. BREWER.
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