USA > Indiana > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Indiana : With historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Volume II > Part 26
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Harry R. Pauley grew to manhood on the home farm and he worked with his father there when growing up. He received a good common school educa- tion. On October 6, 1907, he married Artie M. Catron, who was born May 21, 1889, in Clinton county. Here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools of her home community. She is a daughter of Jacob and May (Ticen) Catron, both still living.
Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Dorothy is deceased; Ruby is living; Ralph is deceased, and Wayne A. is the youngest child.
Mr. Pauley began farming when but a boy and has continued in this vocation. In 1907 he removed from Jackson township, this county, to Howard county, Indiana, where he lived until 1911, engaged in farming. In that year he returned to Clinton county and located in Owen township, where he now lives and where he owns a good farm of eighty acres, which is well improved and under a good state of cultivation, and on which stand a substantial set of buildings. He raises Shorthorn cows, Poland-China hogs and Norman horses.
Politically he is a Republican, but is not an office seeker, and in religious matters he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
SANTFORD SHEETS.
It is a good sign when so many of the residents of a county are found to have been born within its borders. It indicates that they have found right at home all the oportunities necessary for the gratifications of their ambitions in a business, political and social way, and it also indicates stability. One is reminded that "A rolling stone gathers no moss." That young man is the wisest who, when conditions will permit, remains in his native locality and addresses himself to the improvement of conditions he finds there and to his personal advancement along such lines as he may choose, selecting that for which he is best fitted by nature.
Santford Sheets, farmer of Warren township, Clinton county, was born here October 8, 1855, and he has remained here and become a successful and good citizen. He is a son of Jacob and Delilah ( Huffer ) Sheets. The father was born in Augusta county, Virginia, March 20, 1830. He was five years old when his parents removed from the Old Dominion and located in Frank- fort, Clinton county, and here he grew to manhood, received his education and spent the rest of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His education
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
was limited. He purchased eighty acres of land in Warren township, for which he paid two hundred and fifty dollars which he had earned by work- ing at twenty-five and fifty cents per day. He cleared ten acres, to fence which he carried rails on his back. He continued to work hard, the years brought success, and he became very comfortably established. Politically, he was first a Whig. He enlisted for service in the Civil war, in 1862, but served only about six months when he became ill and was discharged for disability. He returned from the war a Democrat. He reached the advanced age of eighty-three years, dying on March 6, 1913. The mother of our sub- ject, who is still living on the old home place here, being now advanced in years, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, November 16, 1835. IIer parents were among the early settlers of Clinton county.
Seven children were born to Jacob Sheets and wife: Henry, Santford, of this sketch; Milton, Noah, Elizabeth and Ida M., all four deceased, and Adam.
Santford Sheets grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education, rather limited. On October 30, 1879. he married Priscilla Beard, who was born in Clinton county, October 10, 1857, and here she was reared to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Martin and Delilah (Orbs) Beard, both parents being · now deceased.
· To our subject and wife ten children were born: Oden, born December 14, 1880, married Ola Ham; Roy, born October 16, 1882, married Goldie Armstrong; Maud, born in 1884; Russell, born September 20, 1886, married Nellie E. Wilson; Blanch, born December 30, 1888; Grace, born April 25, 1890; Claude, born January 17, 1894; Fay, born 1896; Cleo, born April 29, 1899, and Leona, born December 23, 1903.
Mr. Sheets has always farmed and has always made his home in his native township. He is now owner of a valuable and well improved place of two hundred and sixty acres on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. Forty acres of this place lies in Michigan township, the rest in Warren township. It is all tillable except about sixty- five acres. He built his own home which is on an equality with the best in the township and he has other good buildings on the place. He raises a general breed of live stock in large numbers.
Politically, Mr. Sheets is a Republican and has been more or less active in local party affairs. In 1912 he made the race for treasurer, but was defeated in the landslide. He belongs to the Masonic order at Beard, and he is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.
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616
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN H. CRUM.
To be a native of the Old Dominion, the "mother of presidents" has always been deemed an honor and every Viginian is ready to make known the fact that he first opened his eyes to her fair skies. He takes a great pride in his family tree. And this is not strange for that great state has been the cradle of the nation from its early settlement. It has produced scores of the nation's greatest men, Presidents, statesmen, generals and literary men. Her sons and daughters have been noted for their chivalry, their gallantry, and their genuine culture from the first, and she is a state of almost unbounded resources as well as one of our most picturesque from a physical standpoint.
One of these worthy sons is John H. Crum, well known farmer of War- ren township, Clinton county, who is a scion of an excellent old Southern family. He was born in Roanoke county, Virginia, March 24, 1859. He is a son of William M. and Elizabeth ( Kropff ) Crum. The father was born April 9, 1833, in Franklin county, Virginia, and he died August 28, 1913. The mother was born March 23, 1836, also in Virginia, and her death occurred on December 9, 1886. Wiliam M. Crum subsequently married Catherine Crum, also a native of Virginia. She is still living. These parents grew to maturity : in their native state, were educated and married there, and there Mr. Crum learned the carpenter's trade which he followd in connction with farming : through his active life. His family consisted of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Lucy J. Sheets, Martha E. Sheets, John H., of this sketch; Christopher J., Silas W., Wilbert Calvin, Winfield W., Minnie E., Emma F. and Andrew A.
? : John H. Cruni grew to manhood on the home farm in his native state, and there he received a public school education. He remained there until : 1866 when he moved to Missouri, remaining there a year, then returned to .Putnam county, and in 1874, came to Clinton county, locating in Warren $township. In 1877, he went to Kansas where he remained until August, 1.1880, when he came back to Warren township, Clinton county, and here he has been engaged continuously in farming and stock raising. He owns one i hundred and sixty acres of well improved and productive land, eighteen acres of which is in woods. He made his own improvements and lias a good home. He makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle, Duroc, Hampshire and Poland- China hogs and general purpose horses.
Mr. Crum married on December 17, 1885, Elizabeth J. Sheets, who was born March 1, 1866, in Warren township, Clinton county and here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. CRUM.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of Jacob and Delilah (Alborn) Sheets, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. The death of Mrs. Crum occurred on October 21, 1907, after a helpful and happy married life of twenty-two years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Crum twelve children were born, namely: Francis Earl, June 26, 1886; Clarence R., December 10, 1888; Charles D., December 17, 1890; Walter W., November 1, 1892; Jacob M., May 26, 1894; John R., November 30, 1896; Nancy May, December 29, 1897; Artie F., Septem- ber 27. 1899; Clifton D., September 23, 1900; Chalmer J., January 25, 1902; Neva O., June 21, 1904; and William H., October 15, 1907.
Fraternally, Mr. Crum is a member of the Masonic order at Beard. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and polit- ically, he is a Democrat. At the present time he is township assessor. He has also served as justice of the peace and as constable. As a public servant he has discharged his duties most faithfully and to the eminent satisfaction of the people.
JOHN R. BEACH.
Most men are doing well if they make a pronounced success of any one thing in this world where there are failures and failures in every vocation, and when we see a man who has succeeded at several lines of endeavor we at once stamp him as a man of rare business acumen and foresight, sound judgment and industry. John R. Beach, well-known elevator man and agriculturist of Canibria, Owen township, Clinton county, is such a man. He followed mer- chandising, the grain business, farming and stock raising all with gratifying results, and he ranks today among the substantial, progressive and influential men of this section of the county of which this history deals, and of which he has ever been deeply interested, doing whatever he could to further its inter- ests either in a material or civic way, and, being a man of unquestioned in- tegrity he has enjoyed from the outset the good will and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. Beach was born March 5, 1855, in Boone county, Indiana, near the town of Mechanicsburg. He is a son of Caleb S. and Mariah (Roseboome) Beach. The father was born March 5, 1814, in Ohio, where he spent most of his life, removing from the Buckeye state to Boone county, Indiana, in 1854. The mother of our subject was born in Butler county, Ohio, and there grew up and spent her early life. To Caleb S. Beach and wife eleven children were born : Joseph H., Mary, Catherine, Martha. Jane and Addie, are all deceased ; Sarah, Clarkson H., Emma, John R., our subject, and Ananias.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
John R. Beach received a common and high school education, attending high school at Lebanon for one term. On February 2, 1875, he married Ella Davis, daughter of Ephraim and Jane (Downing) Davis. The father was born in Boone county, Indiana, August 13, 1853, and he devoted his active life to farming. Mrs. Beach received a good common school education.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beach seven children have been born: Hallie, Cecil Clyde, Luther, Zora M., Roscoe, Opal G., and Walter C. All these are living.
Mr. Beach began life for himself on the farm where he remained until January 1, 1876, when he went into the mercantile business at Mechanicsburg, he following it for thirteen years and enjoying a large trade. Then he moved to Thorntown, this state, and bought grain one year, then went into the hard- ware and implement business there, which he followed with his usual success for a period of twelve years. In 1900, having traded his stock of hardware for a farm, he moved to Forest, Indiana, and operated a farm near there five years, then came to Cambria, Clinton county, and purchased the elevator and twenty-five acres of land nearby. He also owns ninety-three acres east of Col- fax and one hundred and fifty-five acres west of Winamac, Ind. He devotes most of his attention to his elevator and does a large and growing business, which extends over a wide territory. It has a capacity of twenty thousand bushels. He buys and sells all kinds of grain and is one of the best-known men in this line of business in this section of the state. He also sells clover and other . seeds. He buys and feeds large numbers of sheep annually.
Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Thorntown, and religiously is a member of the Methodist church.
JOHN SHEETS.
In Owen township, Clinton county, lives John Sheets, another of the old soldiers whom it is a delight to honor. They are getting fewer and fewer in numbers and their march is not as quick and full of meaning and fire as it was fifty years ago, when they were fighting for the perpetuity of the Union. But it thrills one to see them in their old uniforms, with their tattered flags flying and their forms bent as they hobble along on their canes at reunions, or on Me- morial Day or on the Fourth of July. And how interesting it is to hear them tell the story of the dreadful hardships they endured in the hospitals or on the harrassing marches, or in the battles and skirmishes, or in the prison hells of the Southern Confederacy. But their time is short now, so all persons should
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
join in honoring them for the sacrifices they made when they were young and full of the love of life, but which was offered free on the altar of their country.
John Sheets was born August 13, 1842, in Union township, Clinton county. He is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Shaffer ) Sheets, who came to this section of the Hoosier state when it was a wild stretch of forest and un- known to the world in general, or at least very little known, and here estab- lished the future home of the family, The father of our subject was born in Virginia, as was also the mother, and there they grew to maturity and were married. Subsequently they removed to Clinton county, where they spent the rest of their lives. Both have long been deceased, the mother dying November 20, 1871. The elder Sheets was a German and he could not read English. He devoted his life to farming, was first a Democrat and later a Republican. His family consisted of eleven children, three of whom are still living, namely : John, of this sketch: Andrew, and Mrs. Rebecca Ryan.
'John Sheets grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a com- mon school education. On August 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Sev- enty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Collins, and later he served under Captains Brown and McIntire. He spent three years in the army and took part in some of the fiercest engagements of the war, including Hoo- ver's Gap, Chattanooga, and the many battles in the memorable siege of At- lanta, but was not under Sherman. He went back with General Thomas to Nashville. He proved to be a most faithful soldier for the Union, and was honorably discharged July 6, 1865.
After his return home from the army Mr. Sheets resumed farming, which he has followed ever since. He owns a valuable place in Owen township, con- sisting of eighty acres, all tillable but two acres, and it has been well improved. He built his own home. He makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs.
Mr. Sheets was married April 13, 1866, to Lovina E. Harris, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 6, 1843. She is a daughter of Jonas and Isabelle (Horsman) Harris. The father was born December 23, 1815.
Nine children have been born to our subject and wife: Edward, born March 21, 1867; Newton, January 13, 1869; Albert, November 24, 1870; Oscar, November 8, 1872; Oliver C., October 27, 1874: Nancy, September 9, 1876; Belle, November 12, 1878: Amanda, July 4, 1880; John B., December 22, 1884. They are all living and well situated in life.
Mr. Sheets is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Also a mem- ber of the Masons and G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN W. THOMAS.
Owen township, Clinton county, can boast of a mimber of native born farmers who, by their thrift, perseverance and good management, have forged to the front rank of Clinton county argiculturists, and of these the name of John W. Thomas, now living in retirement, should be included, as all will agree who know him well and have had occasion to observe his methods of farming and stock raising which have been of the best and most advanced, and have therefore rendered it possible for him to spend his old age quietly and surrounded by all the comforts of life.
Mr. Thomas was born in the above named township and county, January 4. 1859, on the farm where he is now residing. He is a son of Purnal K. and Eliza (Merrick) Thomas. The father was born in Ohio, April 25, 1818, and there he grew to manhood, his wife having also been a native of that state. They were married in Franklin county, Indiana, and soon after they removed to Clinton county, establishing the future home of the family in what is now Owen township, and here they worked hard to develop a farm from the wilder- ness. His first wife dying in 1865, the elder Thomas later married Elizabeth Anderson. Six children were born by his first wife and four hy his second wife. All of the first six are living, namely : Levi, Mrs. Helen Catron, Willian D., Indiana H., John W., and Laura M. The children by the second marriage were Sarah N., Jennie Belle. Purnal .A., and Hughy B.
Purnal K. Thomas was a Republican in his earlier life, later a Democrat. He devoted his entire active life to general farming and was one of the sub- stantial men of his community.
John W. Thomas grew up on the home farm where he worked hard when he became of proper age, and he received his education in the district schools. On February 20, 1883, he married Eda E. Ricker, who was born in Michigan township, Clinton county, April 23, 1864, and here she was reared to woman- hood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of James and Amanda (Popejoy) Ricker. The father was born May 21, 1855. in the state of Tennessee, from which he came to Clinton county in an early day and here developed a good farm by his industry. Here he still resides, making his home with his children, being now advanced in years. His wife was horn August 30, 1838, in Indiana, and her death occurred October 6, 1905.
The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.
Mr. Thomas began farming for himself when a young man and this has continued to be his chief life work. He has prospered with advancing years and is now owner of a productive and valuable farm of three hundred and
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
fifty-five acres, all in Owen township, all tillable but abont seventy-five acres, which is in good timber and blue grass. His land is well tiled and otherwise well improved, and he has a commodious and attractive home and substantial outbuildings. He carried on general farming and stock raising on an ex- tensive scale for many years and accumulated a comfortable competency. lle devoted much of his attention to buying, feeding and selling livestock of vari- ons kinds. His farm is now rented, he merely overseeing it in a general way.
Politically he is a Democrat, and religiously a Universalist, and is a trustee in the local church.
A. S. CAMPBELL.
The biographer has learned that a great number of Owen township's farmers were born and reared within her boundaries, and we are glad to note that this is the case, because it shows stability, a trait that all people must possess who would win in the battle of life in any vocation, farming being not by any means the only one. It also shows that this is a fine township from every standpoint, else her sons would not have cared to remain here, but would have sought more promising fields elsewhere. Among the number of progressive native born citizens of this township who are devoting their brawn and brain to tilling the soil the name of A. S. Campbell should certainly be in- cluded, as all who know him well will readily acquiesce in such a statement, the reasons being too obvious to need comment here. Suffice it to say that he came of one of our excellent pioneer families, who redeemed the county of Clinton from the virgin wilderness.
Mr. Campbell was born in the above named township and county on Sep- tember 22, 1850. He is a son of Mark and Agnes (Barclay) Campbell. The father was born in January, 1818, in Pennsylvania, and there also the mother was born in 1822. There they grew to maturity, receiving limited educational advantages in the old-time schools, and there they were married, removing soon thereafter to Clinton county and establishing the future home of the family in Owen township. Here they worked hard, economized and left a good property for their children, and here they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1894, the good wife surviving sixteen years, dying in 1910. They were the parents of five children : Elias, A. S., our subject ; Mrs. Sarah Boyle, William and Oliver, the two last deceased.
A. S. Campbell grew to manhood on the old homestead, doing his share of the general work there when he was old enough. He received a common
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. CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
school education. On June 5. 1882, he married Laura Franklin, who was born in Carroll county, Indiana, April 16, 1862. She was a daughter of Nelson and Mary (Thompson ) Franklin. She grew to womanhood in her native locality and received a common school education. Her death occurred on September I, 1902, after a mutually happy and helpful married life of twenty years. She was a woman of many commendable personal traits and was beloved by a wide circle of friends.
Two children were born to our subject and wife: Mrs. Ethel White, born October 18, 1883, and Mrs. Blanchie Douglass, born July 11, 1888. They grew up in Owen township and received good common school educations here.
Mr. Campbell went to farming for himself early in life and has made a success beyond the average person in that exacting field of endeavor. He is owner of a valuable and productive farm of two hundred acres, all under culti- vation but fifty acres. It is well tiled and otherwise properly improved, and he has a large house and barn. He carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and is regarded as one of the county's best agriculturists. He built his own honie and made the present improvements, for the most part. He is a Republican, but is not active in politics.
JACOB A. BOZWORTH.
Among the men of Clinton county who has appreciated present day opportunities and have profited his ingenuity and persistency as an agricul- turist and stock raiser as a result of the exceptionally favorable conditions existing in the locality of which this volume treats is Jacob A. Bozworth, who, like many of our leading citizens hails from the great Buckeye state, but, like the rest of his countrymen, had the sagacity for seeing better opportunities in the newer country. That he made no mistake by casting his lot with us is seen from the fact that he has been enabled to retire from active life and spend his old age in the midst of comfort and plenty as a result of his good management and close application.
Mr. Bozworth was born August 22, 1850 in Preble county, O. He is a son of William and Polly J. (Shaffer ) Bozworth, a fine old pioneer family, mentioned in detail on other pages of this volume, hence their records will not be repeated here.
Jacob A. Bozworth was reared on the home farm where he worked hard
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools receiving a practical education, about the same as most of his contemporaries.
Mr. Bozworth was married April 25. 1877 to Jerusha A. Beck, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, .August 19, 1854. She is a daughter of William and Lucinda (Summers) Beck, both natives of Augusta county, Virginia. In 1856 they started to Iowa, but spent the winter of that year in Illinois, and there the wife died of typhoid fever and was buried at Mon- mouth. The father, with his two children, then went to a brother in Iowa, and, later, to another brother in Indiana, where he took for his second wife, 'Mrs. P. M. Brown, of Clinton county. They located on a farm one-half mile east of Gettingsville, and here Mrs. Bozworth grew to womanhood and re- ceived her education in the common schools and the Normal school at Frank- fort, after which she taught school for a few years with much success.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bozworth: Mrs. Lucy Young, born in 1878; Rufus B., born in 1880, died in 1897; and Annis, born in 1883, married to Rolla Colby, and now living on our subject's farm.
Jacob A. Bozworth began farming for himself early in life and each suc- ceeding year found him further advanced until he became one of the leading general farmers of Owen township where he has lived since early childhood. He is owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all tillable but about eighteen acres, which is in woods. Mr. Bozworth built his own comfortable and substantial home and outbuildings and cleared most of his land, his place being known as Oregon Farm. This farm was bought by Wm. Bozworth, the father, a few years after the war. There was a deadening on it and the brothers cleared a small field and had it in corn when they read an article in a newspaper telling of corn that grew in the state of Oregon, sixteen feet to the tassel and ten and one-half feet to the ear. A short time afterwards corn was found on this farm which was a trifle taller than that mentioned in the newspaper story and some six inches higher to the ear. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and his son-in-law operates the place, he living retired. He has made a specialty of raising Hereford cattle, Duroc hogs, draft and Belgium horses.
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