USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 31
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Martin G. Haun, auditor of Carroll county, was born on October 5,
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1844, at Thorntown, Boone county, Indiana. He is the son of Shepherd B. and Thursa (McDaniel) Haun, natives of Carter county, Tennessee, and Greenbrier county, Virginia, respectively. Shepherd B. Haun came to Indiana when a young man with his parents, Abram H. and Nancy (Hyder) Haun, who settled Thorntown, Boone county. Abram H. Haun was a farmer by occupation and lived in Boone county until his death, in 1860. Shepherd B. Haun also lived in Boone county until 1862, when he removed to Warren county, Indiana. After living there for three or four years, during which period he was engaged in the milling business, he died sud- denly, on March 24, 1864. His wife died in Kokomo, Indiana. They had nine children, of whom four, George W., the eldest, Caroline, Florence and Hallie, are deceased. The living children are: Martin G .; Abram H., who lives in Williamsport, Warren county; Ella, the widow of T. T. Whitaker, of Kokomo; Katie, the wife of W. H. Swadley, of Warren county, and Mollie, the wife of John J. Sheffey, of Oakland, California.
Born and reared in Thorntown, Martin J. Haun was educated in the public schools of that town. He learned the miller's trade in his father's mill and has been engaged in this business most of the time since. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Haun enlisted in the Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served for three years in Company I. He partici- pated in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, the battles at Frank- lin and Nashville, Tennessee, and in many other skirmishes and minor encounters. After the war Mr. Haun returned to Indiana and engaged in the milling business in Warren county. Later he removed to Clinton county and, from Clinton county, to Howard county. Still later he settled in Car- roll county and now owns the Star Roller Mill, at Burlington, which he has operated for forty years. During this time he has also been engaged in the mercantile business at Burlington and has farmed. Mr. Haun owns a farm of sixty acres within one mile of Burlington. In 1886 Mr. Haun was elected trustee of Burlington township and four years later was re-elected for a second term. serving in all eight years. In 1894 he was a nominee of the Republican party for county commissioner from the third district and, having been elected, served for three years in this office. He was appointed county councilman to a term of three years and in 1906 was elected auditor of Carroll county, taking the office in 1908. In 1910 he was re-elected to the second term, which began in 1912. His repeated elections to office of trust and responsibility in this county prove better than anything else, not only his fitness for public position, but also his uprightness in discharging
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the duties of the respective offices to which he has been elected and appointed. He has given efficient service in every position and this service, better than anything else, represents the measure of the man.
In January, 1873, Martin G. Haun was married to Elizabeth McCul- lough, the daughter of Alexander McCullough, of Vevay, Indiana. Six children have been born to this happy union, as follow: James P. is cashier of the Burlington Bank, of which his father is the president; Leslie D. is engaged in the mercantile business in Burlington; Earl C. is the manager of the Star Rolling Mill at Burlington; Roy is a contractor; May is the wife of Samuel E. Rodkey, a farmer who lives east of Burlington, in Howard county ; Charles G. is employed in the auditor's office.
When the Burlington Bank was organized, nine years ago, Martin G. Haun took a prominent part in launching this financial enterprise and, for the past four years, has been president of the institution. The Burlington mill is equipped with an electric light plant, which also supplies the town of Burlington with electric light.
The Haun family comes from Methodist stock and Mr. Haun is a large contributor, not only to the Methodist church, but to all churches. In fact, he is one of the most liberal and charitable citizens now living in Car- roll county. Fraternally, Mr. Haun is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Repub- lic.
JAMES GRAY.
Whether the elements of success are innate attributes of the individual or whether they are acquired, it is impossible to determine absolutely. A study of successful careers, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting and profitable, given this uncertainty. In the career of the venerable James Gray, a retired farmer of Clay township, Carroll county, Indiana, and a veteran of the Civil War, are to be found these commendable qualities which go to make up our successful and honored citizens. He comes of a splendid American family, one which has always stood foremost for right living and industry, for education and morality, loyalty to the national government and for all that contributes to the welfare of the community. He himself gave a part of the best period of his life to the services of his country.
Born in Clay township, Carroll county, Indiana, on February 1, 1837,
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James Gray is the son of James, Sr., and Ruth (Barry) Gray, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and who, in 1866, came West with his wife and located in Butler county, Ohio, where they lived eight years. There they entered land from the government, cleared off the forest and built a home. Subsequently they sold out and moved to Indiana, entering land which their son, James, now owns. The father died on December 3, 1868. He was a Democrat and served several terms as township trustee. Ruth (Barry) Gray, who also was a native of Pennsylvania, bore her husband eleven children, of whom James, Jr., was the youngest.
Having received a common-school education, James Gray, Jr., was dependent upon his own resources after 1857, or just about the time he was twenty-one years of age. Up to the time of the Civil War he was engaged in farming with his father. On March 20, 1865, he enlisted under Gen. "Pap" Thomas, and was mustered out of service on August 5, 1865, at the close of the war. At the death of his father, Mr. Gray inherited some land. He purchased the interest of the other heirs and accumulated altogether three hundred acres. Most of the land has been cleared and improved and most of the buildings have been erected on the farm by its present owner.
Mr. Gray's wife, before her marriage to him, was Mrs. Sarah (More) Sheighley, the widow of R. W. Sheighley and the daughter of Eli and Angelina E. (Jones) More. Eli More was born in Virginia and, when three years of age, was brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled near Tippe- canoe, Ohio, but subsequently removed to the state of Indiana. Eli More and his brother walked to the site of the farm in Clay township now owned by his son, Shelby G. More, and entered eighty acres from the government, the deeds for which were signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1828 and 1832. Eli More was born in Virginia on September 3, 1803, and died in 1871. At the time of his death he owned altogether one hundred and seventy-three acres of land. Eli and Angelina E. (Jones) More had six children, as follow: Alfred was killed in action during the Civil War; Lucy married a Mr. Shields and died in June, 1915; Sarah married, first, Robert Sheighley, who was killed by the blowing up of the "Sultana" in the Civil War, and she afterwards married James Gray, the subject of this sketch; Shelby G. is a farmer of Clay township; Eli Clay died during his service in the Civil War; Virgil died in infancy.
Mrs. Sarah Gray died on October 18, 1898, leaving three children, namely: Shelby G., of Walton, Cass county; L. D., who lives at home with his father, and Lizzie, who also lives at home.
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Mr. Gray now owns two hundred and seventy acres of land in section 15 of Clay township. During the past fifteen years he has been living retired, his property being deeded to his children. As a Democrat he served one term as assessor of Clay township. He is a member of the Baptist church and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
WILLIAM E. BARR.
Mention is made in this volume of many worthy farmers of Carroll county, farmers who have figured in the growth and development of the agricultural life of the county, and whose interests have been identified with every phase of its progress. Among the successful farmers of Carroll county, who are now living retired is William E. Barr, of Flora, Indiana. He is the proprietor of "Hereford Stock Farm," consisting of one hundred and forty-five acres of land located nine and one-half miles northeast of Flora, in Carrollton township.
Born on July 1, 1864, in Deer Creek township, Cass county, Indiana, William E. Barr is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Crider) Barr, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and reared in Ohio. The latter was born and reared in the Keystone state. After their marriage, in Ohio, they came to Indiana about 1860, settling in the northern part of Carroll county, where Benjamin Barr lived until his death. He was a prosperous farmer and business man, and was the owner of more than three hundred acres of land. Both he and his wife were earnest and faithful members of the United Brethren church. They were the parents of five children, of whom two are living at the present time: Mary A., the wife of Levi Cripe, of Camden, Indiana, and William E. The deceased children are Ora, Jerry and Sarah.
Reared on a farm in Carrollton township, William E. Barr attended the common schools of his home neighborhood during the winter seasons, assisting his father on the home farm during the summers, until he was twenty years old. He remained at home, however. until he reached his majority, after which he rented his father's farm until 1914, at which time he built a modern home in Flora and removed to that city, where he has since lived.
On January 6. 1898, William E. Barr was married to Bertha Turley, who was born in Cass county, Indiana, March 13, 1876, and who is a
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daughter of George W. and Catherine ( Cripe ) Turley. Mrs. Barr's mother was born in Clinton county, and her father in Greene county, Indiana, the former being now deceased, while the latter is still living in Howard county, Indiana.
Altogether William E. Barr has one hundred and forty-five acres of land in Carroll county and eighty-six acres of land in Howard county, Indiana. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank, of Camden, and interested in other enterprises. Mr. Barr is a member of the United Breth- ren church, while Mrs. Barr is an adherent of the Dunkard church. Politi- cally, Mr. Barr is a Democrat.
JOHN N. WOLVERTON.
One of the familiar personages to be seen on the streets of Delphi, Carroll county, Indiana, is the venerable John N. Wolverton, a retired farmer of Carroll county, who is also interested in the bank at Yeoman. During his long life, Mr. Wolverton has been well known for his cordial and agreeable personality and, although he has had time to acquire a substantial competence, he never lacks time to be considerate of the feelings of others. Heredity and environment have much to do in conditioning a man's character and power. Fortunate, indeed, is the individual who has been born well and whose surroundings have counted for his best development. Mr. Wolverton's father was a most highly respected farmer and pioneer settler in this county and from him, no doubt, he has derived his kindly qualities of heart and head.
Born in White county, Indiana, October 26, 1838, the son of Philip Wolverton, John N. Wolverton has spent practically all of his life in this county. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania and who married there, entered two hundred acres of land in White county, Indiana, and lived on this farm until his death. He was a progressive farmer, for his day and generation, and raised a great many sheep, hogs and cattle. He added to his land from time to time until, at the time of death, he owned fourteen hundred acres. He lived to an extremely ripe old age, passing away in 1901. His beloved wife, who had accompanied him from Pennsylvania to the West. died some years previously. They were the parents of a number of children : Lou, deceased; Levi, deceased; John N., the subject of this sketch; Mary, the wife of A. Fox, of Lafayette, and Maggie, the widow of Stein Orth.
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John N. Wolverton, who had received a liberal education in the public . schools, began life on his own responsibility after reaching his majority. After working on his father's farm for three years, he purchased eighty acres of land in Carroll county, which he later sold. He then bought two hundred and forty acres seven miles from Delphi, which has been greatly improved during his proprietorshop. He farmed this land actively until about 1910, and, in the meantime, had added seventy acres. He had become interested in the bank at Yeoman. At one time, Mr. Wolverton had inherited eighty acres, but he later sold this tract of land.
In 1867 John N. Wolverton was married to Anna Ballard, the daugh- ter of Anson and Mary Jane ( Hornbock) Ballard, who were natives of White county. Indiana. They were farmers and large landowners and reared a family of five children, Doctor John, of Logansport, Indiana, deceased; Doctor Charles, of Chicago, deceased; Maggie, Susan and Ann.
To Mr. and Mrs. John N. Wolverton were born four children : Charles. who is married and a resident of Buffalo; Jennie, who married Judge McCommes, of Los Angeles, California, and has two children; Lloyd, who lives on the home farm, and Blanche, who is a graduate of the State Normal School at Terre Haute and a well-known teacher of Carroll county.
Since the death of Mr. Wolverton's wife, he has lived in Delphi, but he is fond of California and enjoys the frequent trips which he makes to that state on visits to his youngest daughter. He has enjoyed a most successful career and is a most worthy man and citizen, one whom the people of Delphi and Carroll county respect and admire as they respect and admire few other citizens in the county.
WILLIAM B. KEARNS.
William B. Kearns is a prosperous farmer of Monroe township, who is now serving his second term as a member of the board of commissioners of Carroll county, having been elected to the office as a Democrat. He is a native of the Hoosier state, his parents having immigrated from Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, to White county, Indiana, in pioneer times. On his paternal side, he is descended from Irish ancestors and on his maternal side, from Scotch ancestors.
William B. Kearns, who resides on a farm four miles south and west of Flora in Monroe township, Carroll county, was born near Burnettsville,
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in White county, Indiana, February 19, 1867. He is the son of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Lynch) Kearns, both of whom immigrated to White county, Indiana, from Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, after their marriage. The Kearns family had come from Scotland and the Lynch family from Ireland. Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Lynch) Kearns purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of land near Burnettsville and lived upon the farm for five years, when they moved to a farm of two hundred acres west of Monticello, where they lived for five years. They then traded for one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Monroe township, Carroll county, where their son, William B. Kearns, now lives. They lived on this farm for ten years, until 1876, when Thomas Kearns was accidentally killed. At the time he was engaged in conducting a general store and elevator at Bring- hurst. His widow lived on the farm until 1898, when all of the buildings burned. She then bought one hundred and eight acres in Clinton county, near Moran, where she now lives with her daughter, Mary E.
Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Lynch) Kearns were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Fred H. and an infant are deceased. The living children are Berdelia Nelson, who mar- ried Oscar Williams, of Bloomington; William B., the subject of this sketch; Harry H., a farmer of Clinton county ; Mary E., who lives with her mother; Grace C., the wife of Woodson Immel, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Thomas A., of Flora.
William B. Kearns received a good common-school education in the public schools and afterward attended a business college in Indianapolis, from which he was graduated. Upon graduating from business college, Mr. Kearns engaged in farming and now owns one hundred and thirty acres of land.
On September 8, 1891, William B. Kearns was married to Sadie F. Unroe, the daughter of Adam Unroe, who was born in Virginia and who accompanied her parents to Indiana when eighteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Kearns have been the parents of eight children, five of whom are living. Two of the deceased children are Edna C. and Fred H. The living children are Alma A., Mable E., Hilda C. and Virginia M., all of whom are at home, and Robert D., who manages the home farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Kearns are members of the Presbyterian church at Flora. Fraternally, Mr. Kearns is a thirty-second-degree Scottish-rite Mason and a member of Murat Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis. Mr. Kearns is a Democrat and has been active in the councils of his party all of his life. His election to the important office of county commissioner,
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in one sense, is a reward for his faithful service as a worker in the ranks of his party. His election to a second term in this important office is a fitting tribute to the efficiency of his first administration and to the satisfaction which he gave to the people of Carroll county.
JOSEPH W. FOUST.
Joseph W. Foust, retired farmer of Rockfield, Indiana, was born on July 17, 1857, on a farm in Adams township, Carroll county, and is a son of William H., and Catherine ( Rigle) Faust. His early youth was spent on a farm in Adams township, where he attended the district schools for a short period, being compelled to discontinue his studies that he might assist with the farm work. At the age of twenty-one years he started to earn his own living, working by the month on a farm, and being thrifty, he con- tinued to prosper until he was enabled to purchase his present farm, consist- ing of one hundred and eighty-two acres, located twelve miles northeast of Delphi, Indiana, all of which he acquired unaided. Being an observing man, Mr. Foust has gained a great deal of information which has partially made up for the education sacrificed in his earlier days. Politically, he gives his active interest in behalf of the Democratic party, having served as trustee of Adams township for a period of six years. Fraternally, he belongs to Rock- field Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the encampment. Mr. Foust moved to Rockfield on March 16, 1915. He is a stockholder in the Burnettsville State Bank, and a stockholder in the Rockfield Bank and the Co-operative Elevator Company of Rockfield, and also the Burlington State Bank.
William H. Foust, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tennessee in 1820, where he spent his youth, coming to Carroll county in 1840, and settling on the banks of the Wabash river near Tipton, and later moved to Adams township, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, Catherine (Rigle) Foust, was born in Ohio, and came to Indiana with her parents, who settled in Adams township, where she was married. She is now living in Cass county, Indiana. Mr. Foust had nothing when he started out for himself, but at the time of his death was fairly well-to-do, owning sixty acres of good farm land. Mr. and Mrs. Foust were devout .
members of the Dunkard church, and were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living in 1915: Joseph W., William H., a farmer, living in
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Cass county, Indiana; David W., who follows carpentering in Minnesota; Etta E., who became the wife of John Hathaway.
Joseph W. Foust was united in marriage on October 24. 1880, with Isadore Burge, daughter of Washington and Rebecca (Jones) Burge. She was born on November 6, 1861, in Cass county, Indiana, where she obtained her education in the public schools. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Foust. Harry, born on November 14, 1882, was graduated from the public schools, and was united in marriage with Goldie Gates. They reside on a farm in Jefferson township. Fannie became the wife of Elias C. Patty. She was graduated from the public schools at Muncie, and is also a graduate in music from the Normal school at Marion. Nella was graduated from the high school, after which she spent three years at Normal school, and has been teaching for the past three years.
Mr. Foust is a member of Rockfield Lodge No. 301, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Foust and Fannie are members of the New Dunkard. Nella Foust is a Presbyterian.
Having established a firm reputation for honesty of purpose, Mr. Foust stands as one of the highly respected citizens of Rockfield.
HEZEKIAH ROBISON.
The gradually decreasing list of Civil War veterans includes the name of Hezekiah Robison, who served his country well and faithfully, and whose many experiences in battle would make a story of great interest. Mr. Robison's soldierly qualities did not cease with the closing of the Civil War, for he returned home and bravely took up his life work with great energy.
Hezekiah Robison, farmer. Burrows, Indiana, was born on September 10, 1843, in Pennsylvania, and is a son of John P. and Sarah (McCrum) Robison. He grew to manhood on a farm in Rock Creek township, and received a good education at the public schools.
When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Robison enlisted in Company A. Forty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, October 5, 1861, with Judge Gould as captain, later lieutenant-colonel. At the time of his enlist- ment. his schoolmate, Alfred H. Hardy, also enlisted, and was killed on July 19, 1863, at Jackson, Mississippi. Mr. Robison was in the First Brigade, Twelfth Division, Thirteenth Corps, and participated in the Vicks- burg campaign. The services of his regiment commenced at Cairo, and
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extended to the Gulf of Mexico, being the first regiment in the city of Mem- phis, and taking part in the battle of White River, under the command of Colonel Fitch, and was present at the fall of Vicksburg, his services cover- ing from October 5, 1861, to December 1, 1864, during which time he never received a scratch, and was never home during that time. Mr. Robison's regiment was engaged in thirty-seven battles in all, and the remaining mem- bers still hold an annual reunion, of which the subject of this sketch was made permanent secretary in 1905. He is the best informed of any mem- ber in the regiment, having traveled extensively in thirty-seven states of the Union.
Mr. Robison has always been a stanch Republican, in the politics of which party he has been active. Fraternally, he belongs to Samuel H. Stewart Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which post he has held the office of commander. He is a director of the Carroll County Loan and Trust Company at Delphi, Indiana, and also owns considerable stock in the Farmers and Merchants Bank, at Logansport, and the State Savings and Trust Company of Indianapolis. Indiana, and has made all he owns through his own efforts.
John P. Robison, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, December 13. 1809. His wife, Sarah (McCrum) Robison, was born in October, 1811, and was a native of the same state, where they grew up and were united in marriage, coming to Carroll county, October 24, 1846, and driving all the way by wagon. In the spring of 1847, they settled on a farm in Rock Creek township, and lived there until their death. John P. Robison was an entergetic and prosperous man, and a good citizen. His religious membership was with the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder. His death occurred on August 22, 1904, his wife having died on July 23, 1868. To this marriage were born ten children, seven of whom are living in 1915: Margaret, Joseph M., John I .. , Hezekiah, Catherine, William and Sarah. Margaret Robison became the wife of William W. Whorton, of Logansport, Indiana. Joseph M. Robison is single, and lives in the West; John L. Robison is a resident of Burbank, California. He went to the Civil War in Company F. Forty-sixth Indiana, enlisting on October 7, 1861, and serving until December 1, 1864. Catherine Robison is the widow of the Rev. F. McBurney, of Mexico, Pennsylvania: William Robison lives near South Bend, Indiana. Sarah Robison is the wife of R. S. Miller, of Logansport.
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