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 58
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In March, 1908, Mr. Wood was married to Mande Bolt, of Cyclone, this county, and they have two children, Herbert and T. Z., Jr.
ROBERT E. BOYER.
The name of Boyer has been mentioned another place in this history, and short notice is given of the very prominent part it has played in the development-the agricultural growth in particular-of this county. Robert E. Boyer is another of that illustrious family, and has contributed much for the welfare of his fellowmen. He was not favored by a large inheritance, but by perseverance, industry and wise frugality, he has attained a comfort- able station in life. His carcer is one that should encourage others to press on to greater achievements, and overcome all difficulties that lay in the path of achievement. Born in a log cabin when methods of farming were primi- tive, Mr. Boyer has kept pace with the times and today is as modern in his methods as any agriculturist in the county or state.
Robert E. Boyer was born July 13, 1852, in a log cabin in Sugar Creek township, near, where he lives at the present time. He was the son of Leonard
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and Permillia (King) Boyer. The father was born in October, 1839. The father settled here in Sugar Creck township, and continued in farming busi- ness successfully the rest of his life. He was a native of New York state, and the mother came from Kentucky. He was a Republican in politics. Six children graced his family: Levicia, Francis M., Nancy, Celia A., Robert, and one not named. Levicia and the latter are deceased.
Robert E. Boyer obtained a fairly good education in the common schools, and then entered upon active farming, which he has followed up to the pres- ent writing. Besides general farming Mr. Boyer raises Poland China hogs, Short Horn cattle and Belgian draft horses. He owns two hundred and twenty-five acres of land which is fertile and tillable, with the exception of four acres which is in woods. The whole could be plowed easily. The estate is well fenced with wire, and the land is well tiled. The barn is noticeable to the visitor, and is said to be the best arranged in the county; the home was built by Mr. Boyer.
On December 17, 1872, Mr. Boyer was married to Martha Pickard, who was born in Sugar Creck township in 1854, the daughter of Porter and Ma- linda (Duska) Pickard, who was born in Maryland, and received a com- mon school education. The father of our subject's wife was born in New York, and is now living in this county at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Boyer died September 24, 1888, leaving four children, namely: Leondus, born October, 1873, and married Lottie Hall, and now lives north of our subject's home; Viola, born October, 1875, and married to John E. Wright, and lives on a farm south of her father's place; Orlando, born February 18, 1876, and went to Bloomington, Indiana, where he attended- Indiana Uni- versity, and married Mary E. Walker. He is one of the most progressive farmers of the township, raising extensively Poland China hogs. Manford, born in 1888, and married to Minnie Snowden.
On March 4, 1889, Mr. Boyer was married the second time to Maggy Spurgin, a native of Rush county, and is the daughter of James Spurgin, re- ceiving a common school education in the county of her birth. Seven children have been born to this last union. They are: Nellie, born 1890, married James King; Dona, married Otis King; Virgil, born 1895, at home; James, Mary, Roscoe, and Hazel.
Mr. Boyer belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Pickard, and helped to build the lodge room now occupied by them. He is also one of the organizers of the lodge of Improved Order of Red Men at Pickard and Kempton. Politically Mr. Boyer is a Progressive, and was trustee of Sugar Creek township for six years, beginning in 1894.
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THOMAS H. RUSH.
It is a pleasure to anyone at all interested in farming to see a place like Woodlawn, an excellently improved farm in Washington township, owned and operated by Thomas. H Rush, a man who has worked hard and managed well in order to advance himself, never depending upon others, like so many of his contemporaries. That being the case he can enjoy life to the full. for it is much pleasanter to spend the competence we have ourselves earned than to spend that earned by someone else.
Mr. Rush was born in Butler county, Ohio, on St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1857. He is a son of Jackson P. Rush, a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of ous subject was Elizabeth Thomas ,a native of Butler county, Ohio. The Rush family is of Dutch descent and were long prominent in their local- ity in Pennsylvania. Jackson P. died March 16, 1864, aged thirty-five years, two months and twenty-seven days. His wife, died August 12. 1864, at the early age of twenty-eight years, leaving six children, namely: William A., Jackson P., Jr., Thomas H., of this sketch; Lydia A., Eleanor and Mrs. Mary Thompson, now deceased.
Thomas H. Rush was reared by an uncle, John Allen, of Madison town- ship, where he had a good home and received every consideration. Ile re- ceived his education in the public schools, and he assisted his uncle with his work on the farm.
September 29, 1879, Mr. Rush married Malinda Ohl, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 1, 1858. She is a daughter of Edward Ohl and wife. The Ohls have long been residents of this locality. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, but reared near Mansfield, Ohio, his nearest neighbor being three miles distant. Bear and deer were plentiful in his community. He married Mary A. Rodocker. Mrs. Ohl was born in Pennsylvania in 1835. Mr. Ohil finally moved to Clinton county, Indiana, where he bought a good farm of one hundred and ten acres. His family consisted of eight children, three of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Howard Allen, Malinda, wife of Mr. Rush of this sketch, and Mrs. Alice Harshman, Samuel, Jacob and Charles all died in childhood; Luvina died when sixteen years old; Rachel A. is deceased. The death of the mother occurred in 1892 at the age of fifty- eight years two months. The father is still living, having attained the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. He has devoted his life to farming. He is a member of the Reformed church of Mulberry.
Mr. Rush has been a farmer all his life and is now owner of eighty acres of excellent land in Washington township. He has a good home.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Rush these children have been born: Mary Agnes, wife of Curtis Thompson, of Washington township, and they have one son, Harold Rush Thompson; William H. Rush died in 1897 at the age of six- teen years two months and fourteen days. He was a young man of much promise, a fine student and of exemplary character.
Politically, Mr. Rush is a Republican, His wife belongs to the Reformed church at Mulberry.
MILO F. HART.
The medical profession in Clinton county has a worthy and competent representative in the person of Dr. Milo F. Hart, whose popularity and suc- cess since locating in Kirklin, Indiana, has won him many friends and ad- mirers and has given him a prominent position among the medical men of this part of the state. He has ever been faithful to his duty, and has respond- ed to every demand made upon him, even if by so doing he impaired his own health and happiness. The profession of the physician is an exacting one, but Dr. Hart has "kept a stiff upper lip," and rendered himself invaluable to the community.
Dr. Hart was born in Sugar Creek township, Clinton county, October 7, 1882, the son of David E. and Mary (Cobb) Hart. David Hart is also a native of Indiana, having been born December 5, 1840. The mother comes from the Quaker state and was born there on August 31, 1845. She still resides on a farm in Sugar Creek township. David Hart was a farmer, and a highly successful one, having started life with nothing and ending his eventful life with one hundred and ten acres of the best land in the county, all in modern shape. He was a Republican politically. Milo F. Hart was one of a family of eleven children, namely: Dora, John A., Wesley, Edward, Effie, Milo, Silvia and Murray, living, and three dead.
Milo F. Hart received a common school education and also a high school course. Later he attended for one year the normal college at Danville, In- diana. He spent four subsequent years in the study of his profession; one year at a Louisville, Kentucky, medical college and three years at the Indiana Medical College in Indianapolis, where he graduated with the class of 1909. After two years' practice in the city of Indianapolis he moved to Kirklin, Indiana. This was on May 20, 1911, and since that date he has built up a large practice, which his ability and industry bids fair to make even larger.
On September 7, 1910, Dr. Hart was married to Bonnie Tichenor, a
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young girl born in Tipton county, Indiana, on March 22, 1891, the daughter of Marion J. Tichenor .. Mrs. Hart received a common school education, also had a thorough course in the high school of her county. No children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Hart.
Fraternally, Dr. Ilart is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an enthusiastic member and is well liked by all the members of the members of the Kirklin lodge. He is a Republican and is working hard to make the party of today what it was in the past.
CHARLES WESLEY FISHER.
There are men in every community who have builded their lives from conditions that seemed utterly hopeless. Although hundreds perish as a re- sult failing to win out in the long race, there are some who make a success, and when they do, the quality of the success is sure and lasting. Mr. Fisher, by dint of perserving effort, has overcome many obstacles in life, even when they came at a time when he was least prepared to cope with them. Not- withstanding he has found opportunity to enjoy some of the pleasures of life, and in this fact has found recompense for an unusually large number of reverses.
Mr. Fisher was born on January 22, 1882, in Clinton county, Indiana, and was the son of James and Molly (Pyles) Fisher, the father a native of Clinton county, and the mother having been born in Avery, Indiana. The father was a railroader and teamster and died in about the year of 1885. He is buried at Russiaville, Indiana.
Our subject was handicapped in youth by being the sole support of his widowed mother. This duty, although a pleasurable one, worked many hard- ships with him. He was prevented from attending the regular common schools, and the education he obtained was the result of night work alone.
For several years Mr. Fisher followed the occupation of teamster, and . for a period of three years was in the railroad business. He was unfortunate in being hurt in a wreck while working in the latter capacity, and was com- pelled to give this vocation up. In 1908 he went to farming, and two years later entered upon the horse business, which he has continued ever since. This last trade consists of breaking horses which are ungovernable, that is, kickers, runaways, and balkers; he also undertakes the training of track horses. Mr. Fisher has been very successful in this business, and has made
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for himself a reputation in this section of the county. Mr. Fisher owns three lots on the east edge of town, upon which he has his home and large stable. Mr. Fisher is paying for these possessions and will soon have them as his sole property.
In 1903 he was married to Viva Krisher the daughter of Jolin and Plesa Krisher farmers of Clinton county. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been born three boys, namely: Harry John, Mervil Charles and Orville Paul.
Politically, our subject is a Democrat, but has never sought public office. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of the World.
JESSE BLAINE NEALIS
In a county like Clinton, where there are so many men of excellent moral character, pronounced business ability and social nature, it would be hard indeed to determine who would be most worthy. There are some, however, who are generally conceded by their neighbors to take a place in the front ranks of usefulness and influence. Such is the gentleman above named, who manifests an abiding interest in the development of the community in which he lives, and who, while managing his own affairs in so prudent a manner as to take his place among the solid men of the county, yet finds time to serve his fellow men in various ways.
Jesse Blaine Nealis was born in Boone county, Indiana, on July 19, 1885, and is the son of Richard A. and Leota (Ransdell) Nealis. Richard Nealis was born in the same county in July, 1856, the son of Trim and Nancy Ncalis. Trim was among the first men to settle in Boone county, and there built up a home in the forest and cleared the land. He and his wife both died prior to the beginning of the Civil war.
Richard was also a follower of the agricultural business all of his life, possessing seventy-five acres of excellent and well-improved land. Richard Nealis bore the reputation of an industrious worker and sympathetic friend while he lived ,and he was a distinct force in the upbuilding of the community in which he resided, ever working for its betterment and development. He married Leota Ransdell in the early 80's, and she is still living on the farm in Kirklin township. Mr. Nealis died in 1904. Richard Nealis was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Knights of Pythias; politically, he was a Republican, and religiously was a member of the Christian church.
Jesse Blaine Nealis received a common school education in his youth
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His first step into the commercial world was when he began working on the farm, and buying and selling horses on the side. Ile was very successful in the pursuit of this trade, and rapidly accumulated enough money to buy his present livery business in July, 1913. Mr. Nealis keeps twelve head of horses at this time, and is able to give the very best and prompt service. Not only does lie provide good service from his own stock, but has ample standing room for the farmers who came into the city, at one time having sheltered one hundred and fifty head of horses at once. The citizens of Frankfort are glad to patronize Mr. Nealis, for they are assured of honest and fair treat- ment ; the policy of overcharge and short service has never had a place in the conduct of Mr. Nealis' affairs. In politics, Mr Nealis is a loyal Repub- lican, and in religious matters is an Universalist.
In January, 1911, Mr. Nealis was married to Lucile Morrison, a dangh- ter of William and Hattie Morrison, of Frankfort. She was born at Mid- dlefork, Indiana, on June 1, 1893.
GEORGE M. THOMPSON.
Clinton county, Indiana, is characterized by her full share of the lon- ored and faithful element who have done so much toward its development and upbuilding and the establishing and maintenance of the institutions of civilizations in this fertile and well-favored section. In this work are com- piled many biographical sketches of this class of citizens, and it is not in the least too early to record in print the principal items in the lives of such honest people, giving honor to whom honor is due. The Thompson family is one de- serving special notice, one of its best-known members being George M. Thompson, farmer of Michigan township, of which he is a native, his birth having occurred here on May 7, 1870.
Mr. Thompson is a son of Bennett and Elizabeth (Cook) Thompson. The father was born in 1833, and his death occurred in 1903. The mother of our subject was born in 1842 and she was called to her eternal rest in 1900. She was a native of Indiana. These parents received a common school edu- cation and they spent their lives engaged in general farming, owning a valu- able place in Michigan township, where they were well and favorably known. Politically, Mr. Thompson was a Democrat, but he was never much of a public man, preferring his home and farm, which claimed most of his at- tention. His family consisted of five children, all living but one, namely:
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Alice, who married a Mr. Tillman ; Emma is deccased ; Dora was next in or- der of birth; George M., of this review, and Jolm A., the youngest.
George M. Thompson grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked when a boy. He received his education in the public schools of his district, and early in life he turned his attention to farming, which he has continued to follow, having had the good fortune to still live on the farm where he was reared. He owns sixty acres which he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation. It is all well tiled. Most of the im- provements were first made by his father. He has a good residence and such outbuildings as his needs require. He keeps Jersey cows, mixed hogs and all-purpose horses.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat, but not especially active. In religious matters he belongs to the Methodist Protestant church.
Mr. Thompson was married on May 5, 1895, to Hetta Skidmore, who was born in Warren township, Clinton county, November 15, 1870. She is a daughter of A. W. and Margaret (Ford) Skidmore. These parents are now both deceased. They were highly honored people in Warren township wher they lived on a farm, and where Mrs. Thompson was reared to woman- hood and educated.
Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Harry, born February 14, 1896; Ralph and Clarence.
LEE C. HORLACHER.
The following is a brief sketch of the life of one who, by close attention to business has achieved marked success while yet young in years and has risen to an honorable position among the enterprising men in the city with which his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful and lucky accident and no tragic situation. Mr. Horlacher is a man of honest convictions and sincere purposes, his upright career and wholesome moral influence making him re- spected by all who have come into contact with him.
Lec C. Horlacher, well known coal dealer of Frankfort, Clinton county, was born September 27, 1879, in Washington township, this county. He is a son of D. C. and Martha E. (Jacobs) Horlacher. The father was born in Jefferson, Clinton county, in 1844, and the mother was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in 1858. Levi Horlacher, paternal grandfather, was born in
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Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Clinton county, Indiana, in the early thirties, being among the pioneers of Jefferson, and from that remote day to this the Horlachers have been highly esteemed here for their industry and public spirit. D. C. Horlacher and wife are still living on the old home place west of Jefferson, owning one hundred acres of good land there D. C. Horlacher has spent his life engaged in general farming and stock raising, but it now living practically retired.
Lee C. Horlacher grew to manhood on the home farm and did his full share of the general work there when a boy, and lie received a good common school education, and was graduated from the high school at Frankfort, with the class of 1899. He then spent two years in the Michigan Medical College at Battle Creek, Michigan, 1898 and 1899, and was graduated from that institution as a trained nurse, after which he spent a year as trained nurse in Connersville in the sanitarium there. Believing that a business career held more of promise to him, he abandoned his profession, and in 1903 went on the road as a coal salesman for the Indiana Fuel Supply Company, of Indianapolis, with which he remained four years, giving eminent satisfaction to his employers, in the meantime learning the ins and outs of the coal busi- ness. Thus in 1907, when he decided to open a coal business of his own, he was successful from the first. His first venture was on Bunnell street, Frank- fort, where he remained two years, at the end of which time he had to move on account of the property there being sold. He then moved to his present location, 550 West Morrison street, where he has a well equipped office and is doing a much larger and rapidly growing business, both wholesale and re- tail. He handles all grades of coal and fuel. Prompt and honest service are his watchwords. He built in the summer of 1913 a large ware and store house for the Acme-Evans flour mills of Indianapolis, also the Pillsbury Milling Company of Minneapolis, whose products are handled in this terri- tory through him. Although a very busy man with his own affairs he finds time to look after and successfully operate his father's farm.
Politically, Mr. Horlacher is a Democrat. He belongs to the Travelers' Protective Association, the Indiana Business Men's Association, and in rc- ligious matters is a Seventh Day Adventist.
Our subject has one sister, Mrs. Rena E. Stocker, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Stocker is a locomotive engineer, running out of that city.
Mr. Horlacher was married, on March 26, 1903, to Florence A. Smith, daughter of M. M. Smith, of Los Angeles, California, a successful con- tractor and builder there. Besides Mrs. Horlacher, Mr. Smith has two other
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children, Charles W. Lee, of Los Angeles, and Bessie Way, of Pomona, Cali- fornia.
To our subject and wife one child has been born, Elizabeth R., whose birth occurred on January 26, 1909.
ALONZO E. HARSHMAN.
This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other class as a producer of wealth, and there is a rapidly growing sentiment among the dwellers of the great cities that the rural districts are the best. So they are going back to the soil in ever-increasing numbers, for they not only find a greater independence, but really have more of the good things of life, not the least of which is better health of both body and mind. The farmer does not have to put forth such strenuous efforts to feed himself and family. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright sunshine and the life giving rains and handling Nature's' gifts rightly, reaps the rewards that always come to patient, persistent toil. One of this number is Alonzo E. Harshman, owner of Jersey Ridge farm, four miles south of Mulberry in Washington township, and a scion of one of the early pioneer families of Clinton county.
Mr. Harshman was born in Madison township near Mt. Pleasant church, January 15, 1866, on the farm which Henry Harshman, Sr., entered upon coming to Clinton county.
Mr. Harshman's great grandfather was Peter Harshman who came to this country from Germany and fought in a Virginia regiment in the Revolu- tionary war for seven years. Ilis grandfather was Henry Harshman, Sr., who was born in Rockingham county, Virgina, December 22, 1897, but came to Ohio with his father while yet a mere boy, although very young he fought during the latter part of the war of 1812. In 1818, near Xenia, Ohio, he married Mary Magdalene Fogle, who was born to Michael and Mary Fogle, German settlers, in Maryland, February 8, 1800. In 1829, Henry Harshman, Sr., brought his family to Clinton county and settled on the above named farm. Many hardships were endured during this journey and they en- countered many difficulties in crossing the new fertile Twelve Mile Prairie to get to this hill farm, where spring water which was thought to be necessary was found. It was there that Henry C. Harshman, Jr., the youngest of the family, was born, February 3, 1841. Two years later, the death of Henry
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Harshman, Sr., occurred on this farm and he was buried in the Seager ceme- tery.
On January 5, 1865, Henry C. Harshman, Jr., married Kate Shockey, a school teacher, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, April 18, 1847 She being of French descent, was the daughter of George B. Shockey and Mary (Miller) Shockey. He brought his wife to his mother's home which he after- wards bought. It was here that Alonzo E. was born, and when he was two years old his father bought a farm in the adjoining section of the same town- ship and lived there and reared his family of nine, they being Alonzo E., the subject of this sketch; Bertha, who married Fairfax Grice of Washington township; Lettie (died December 16, 1906), who married Sanford N. Mer- cer; Frank, Richard, Laurence, who died in infancy; Albert, Harry and Katie, who married Walter Ayres.
The death of the father of the above named children occurred Septem- ber 25, 1902. He had a reputation for honesty and uprightness among all who knew him and was a member of the Mulberry M. E. church. The mother of this family died July 28, 1911. She was a woman of sterling character, one whose influence was always on the side of right, both in her home and in the community. She was a member of the Mt. Pleasant United Presbyterian church.
Alonzo E. Harshman grew to manhood on the home farm and received a common school education. On March 6, 1889, he married Lucinda C. Pot- ter, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 10, 1862. She was a daughter of Jonathan Potter and Lucy (Addison) Potter. Her maternal an- cestors were English, her grandfather Archibald Addison came from England and married Mary Meader on Nantucket island; then they came to Cincin- nati, where Lucy Addison was born February 14, 1819, later they moved to Butler county, Ohio. It was there Jonathan Potter, who was born October 29, 1818, at Middletown, Ohio, married Lucy Addison in December, 1839; to them were born twelve children, nine of whom lived to be grown: Sarah (dec.), Archibald, Frances E. (dec.), Lewis C. (dec.), Mary (dec.), Ann Eliza, Alfred T. (dec.), Aaron F. and Lucinda C. The family came to Wayne county, Illinois, in 1868. On March 2, 1875, Mr. Potter died, and his wife died December 11, 1887. Mr. Potter was a farmer by occupation; both he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Harshman has in her possession the family Bible which is more than a hun- dred years old.
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