USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 86
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On September 10, 1891, John R. Collins was united in marriage to Sophia Rachel Schilling, who was born in Salt Creek township, this county, daughter, of William and Minnie (Harris) Schilling, natives of Germany and old residents of Salt Creek township, the former of whom was born in 1836 and died in 1899 and the latter of whom was born in 1836 and died in 1907, who were the parents of eight children, as follow: Sophia R., who married Mr. Collins ; Henry, deceased; William, who lives on the old Schil- ling farm; Mrs. Rosa Cullicut, of this county ; Mrs. Minnie Bradewater, of Salt Creek township, this county; Edward, of the same township; Lucy, deceased, and John, also of Salt Creek township.
To John R. and Sophia Rachel (Schilling) Collins have been born six children, William, aged twenty-two, who is at home ably assisting his father in the management of the farm; Edward, Ida, Minnie, Bertha and Harry, at school.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins are members of the Methodist church and their children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Collins is quite independent in his political views, ever giving the best citizens preference in making up his ballot. He is not a member of any of the various lodges, believing that home is man's best "lodge," and takes great pleasure and comfort in his
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home. He and his good wife take a warm interest in the church and social affairs of their home community and no couple in that part of the county are held in higher regard than they. As pointed out in the beginning of this narrative, there is no better farmer anywhere in Salt Creek township than Mr. Collins, and it may be said with equal truth that no man in the township is more popular than he. or held in higher esteemn.
GEORGE F. REDELMAN.
One of the leading financial institutions of the eastern part of Decatur county is the First State Bank, of New Point, which was organized in 1906 as a national bank and on January 1, 1912, was converted into a state bank. The institution is housed in a commodious brick building owned by the company and is capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars. It now has a surplus and undivided profits of thirty-five hundred dollars and deposits of one hundred thousand dollars. The officers of the bank include John Hoff, president ; J. A. Meyer, vice-president, and George F. Redelman, cashier. The directors, besides the officers, include Edward A. Buckley, T. M. Clark. Joseph Kramer, J. H. Metz, Sr., Charles Risinger and Peter P. Schuh. During the last four years none of the officers has had more to do with the success and growth of this bank than its cashier, Mr. Redelman.
George F7. Redelman was born on November 19, 1884, in Greensburg, this county, son of Henry M. and Sarah A. (Herman) Redelman, the former of whom was born in 1854, near Millhousen, this county, on a farm, son of Matthias Redelman, a native of Germany, and the latter of whom was born near Harris City, in Decatur county. Mrs. Sarah A. (Herman) Redelman's parents, however, were natives of Germany. Henry M. Redel- man is an extensive farmer and stockman of Marion township, whose life history is told elsewhere in this volume.
Receiving his early education in the Slabtown school, in Marion town- ship, George F. Redehnan later attended the Hamburg schools, going to school in the same building and receiving instruction from the same teacher as did his father. This venerable teacher was Theodore Wilmer. After graduating from the Slabtown school when fourteen years of age, Mr. Redelman worked on the farm until twenty years old, at which time he received a license to teach school. Instead of teaching, however, he went to Indianapolis as a student of the Vorhees Business College, from which
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institution he was graduated in 1905. Subsequently he worked as a book- keeper and collector for the Badger Furniture Company at Indianapolis for one year, and was then employed on the Indianapolis Star for some time. In the fall of 1906 he returned to Decatur county, going to Greensburg as bookkeeper of the Greensburg National Bank, and on July 5. 1911, took charge of the First State Bank at New Point.
On June 18, 1913, Mr. Redelman was married to Lena Spitzmesser, of Greensburg, daughter of Leopold and Caroline Spitzmesser, to which union one son has been born. Robert George, born on April 19, 1914.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Redelman has never taken an active part in the councils of his party. He and his wife are members of the Enochs- burg Catholic church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. John at Greensburg.
George F. Redelman is still a very young man to be charged with important financial responsibility, and this proves better than anything else the estimation in which he is held by the people of this section. He enjoys not only the confidence and respect of the officers and directors of the First State Bank at New Point, but he has also maintained, since his connection with the bank, cordial relations with the patrons of the institution and the public generally and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by the people of this community.
GEORGE A. LOGAN.
The most pretentious country house to be found anywhere in the west- ern part of Decatur county, Indiana, is that located on the farm of George A. Logan in Clay township. This house, of nineteen rooms, is finished throughout in native wood, cut and seasoned on the farm, the walls made of bricks of clay dug on the farm, and required five years for construction, being completed about 1889. The rooms are finished in wild cherry, walnut. ash and quartered-oak, and the poplar doors are cut from native wood. Logs for the construction of the house were hauled eight miles to Burney. and the rock was quarried near Milford. Incidental material for furnishings was hauled to Greensburg and then brought back to the farm. In 1913 a beautiful concrete and brick veranda was added to the house, a veranda which circles front and sides of the house and gives it a most imposing appearance. This magnificent place is located on a farm of two hundred
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and seventy-five acres of land which was given to Mr. Logan by his father, but at that time it had no improvements. Since that time Mr. Logan has erected two large barns, a double corn-crib, tool-house and garage, all of which are painted yellow. The proprietor of this splendid estate also owns seventy-five acres north of the home farm.
George A. Logan, who may be regarded as the author and finisher of this beautiful countryside home, was born on March 7, 1862, on a farm one-fourth mile from his present home, the son of John and Eliza A. (Hungate) Logan, the former of whom was born on August 14, 1829, in Decatur county, Indiana, and died on July 16, 1912, and the latter of whom was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, on June 7, 1838. The late John A. Logan was a son of early pioneers of Decatur county. Samuel and Susanna (Howard) Logan, natives of Pennsylvania, who, in 1818, came down the Ohio river on a flat boat and who, after stopping for a time in Kentucky. settled in this county. After constructing a rude log cabin, they entered land from the government, and during their lives became very prosperous. Sam- tel and Susanna Logan were the parents of thirteen children, among whom were James, deceased : Samuel, Jr., of Letts Corners, Decatur county : John, of Greensburg; Aaron, who lives west of Greensburg, in Washington town- ship; Frank, of Topeka, Kansas; Martha Ann, who married a Doctor Hitt. now both deceased; Mrs. Margaret Jane Deen, deceased ; Mrs. Mary Hamil- ton, deceased; Mrs. Rachel Hobbs, who was the wife of the Rev. Mr. Hobbs, a Christian minister, and who died at Des Moines, Iowa, in January, 1915. The late John Logan was married to Eliza A. Hungate on January 24, 1856, and after his marriage settled on a farm in Clay township, five miles west of Greensburg. They lived. on the farm until in September, 1886, accumulating in the meantime seven hundred and forty acres of land. Mrs. Eliza E. (Hungate) Logan was a daughter of John and Eliza (Gre- gory) Hungate. natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Shelby county, Indiana, in 1840, and who later settled in Noble township, that county, where they died. John Hungate was born in 1798, and died on September 21, 1891. His wife had passed away previously, at the age of seventy- seven. They were the parents of the following children: Andrew Jackson. George Washington and Mrs. Cynthia Jones, deceased; John, who lives on the old homestead in Shelby county, Indiana: Mrs. Eliza Logan, and Cath- erine, the wife of Thomas Vaughn, deceased. John Logan and wife were the parents of three children, Orange, George Andrew and Eliza. Orange owns the old homestead farm. He was born on June 10, 1857. He mar- ried Emma Gregory, a native of Kentucky, and they have two children.
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Clem and Nellie. Eliza, born February 23, 1870, lives with her mother. She owns a farm of two hundred acres in Washington township.
After receiving a liberal education in the public schools of Decatur county, Indiana, George Logan took up farming and was so engaged until his marriage, on July 22, 1886, to Mary Hayman, a native of Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of Alfred and Minerva (Knight) Hayman, the former of whom was born on July 7, 1826, and who died June 29, 1887, and thie latter of whom was born on October 16, 1831, and who died on May 8, 187.2. Alfred and Minerva Hayman were married on March 23, 1856, in Shelby county, this state, and to this union were born two children; Everett, born on August 26, 1859, who is a resident of Waldron, and Mrs. Mary Logan, who was born on September 17, 1863.
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Logan have only one child, Harrison A., who was born on June 14, 1887. He lives at home with his parents on the farm and is engaged in farming with his father, who is extensively engaged in dairying. The dairy is located on the north farm, where Mr. Logan has a herd of Jerseys, varying from twenty to thirty in number, and ships his products to the Polk Dairy Company, of Indianapolis.
Mr. Logan is a Democrat, but has never been active in political affairs, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his agricultural interests. Mrs. Logan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Adams and Mr. Logan is identified with Milford Lodge No. 94, Free and Accepted Masons. His son, Harrison A., is a member of the same Masonic fraternity. and of Adams lodge of Odd Fellows, and of Greensburg lodge, Fraternal . Order of Eagles, and Greensburg Lodge. Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. and Mrs. Logan are hospitable entertainers, and Mr. Logan is known in this community and throughout Decatur county as a hail fellow, well met: broad-minded, good-hearted, a hustler and an optimist.
RANDOLPH STARK.
To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and respected even from childhood deserves more than naming. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke in public politics and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighbors, but to take the same position by dint of the practice of an upright life and without a craving f exaltation and popularity, is worthy of the highest praise and commendation. . Probably no citizen of Decatur county occupies a higher place in theesteem
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of the community at large than "Uncle" Randolph Stark, of New Point, Salt Creek township. He is respected and honored by all who know him because of his exemplary daily life, each day having been one above criticism and passed upon in the light of true manhood. Strong and forceful in his relations with his fellowmen, he has not only made his presence felt, but has also gained the good will and confidence of his associates and the general public, ever retaining his reputation among men for integrity and high character, no matter how trying the circumstances, and never losing that dignity which is the birthright of a gentleman.
Randolph Stark, now retired and living in the pleasant little village of New Point, was born on October 14, 1838, in Clermont county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Charity ( Meeker ) Stark, natives of New York and New Jersey, respectively. John Stark was the son of John Stark, whose father was Gen. John Stark, of Revolutionary fame, whose words, "There are the redcoats! We must beat them today or Mollie Stark is a widow," are historical. In 1850 John and Charity Stark came from Ohio to Indiana, settling in Salt Creek township, Decatur county, where they resided nearly a half century, their deaths occurring in 1889. They were the parents of the following children : Mary Jane, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Jane Hollensbe. of Clarksburg; Mrs. Harriet Morrow, of Hidalgo, Illinois; Leander, who died in 1891 ; Alvira. deceased : Randolph, the subject of this sketch ; James, who died in 1912; William H., of New Point, this county; John P., who died at the age of twelve years; Charles Foster, deceased; and Mrs. Maria Sample and Mrs. Melissa Freeland, twins, both deceased. John Stark followed the dual occupation of farmer and lumberman and was successful in both. He was a man of splendid qualities of character and stood high in the com- munity where he so long resided.
Randolph Stark was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the district schools. At the early age of eighteen years. he engaged in the lumber business on his own account and was in partnership with his brother, Leander, for many years. They owned the New Point mills for over twenty years and at one time operated many mills scattered over different counties, the firm of Stark Brothers being one of the most important concerns of its kind in southern Indiana. So widely recognized is Mr. Stark's connection with the growth of New Point that he is fre- quently called "The Father of New Point." He has always had the keenest interest in the welfare of this community and in many substantial ways has contributed to its welfare and upbuilding. After sixty years of an honored and successful career, he has retired from active business affairs, but.
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although nearly seventy-seven years of age, is still hale and hearty. One of the interesting and pleasing incidents in Mr. Stark's later life was the post card shower of which he was the recipient on November 13, 1910, the occa- sion being his seventy-second birthday anniversary. These cards, many hundreds in number, represented every state in the Union and were received from Odd Fellow lodges, war veterans, various publications and many emi- nent public men, including President Taft, ex-Vice-President Charles W. Fairbanks, Senator Albert J. Beveridge and other prominent men. One of the fine things in connection with Mr. Stark's life is the fact that he has never uttered an oath nor touched liquor or tobacco in any form. He is also a total abstainer from coffee and tea.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Randolph Stark enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, with which he served one hundred days and later, when General Morgan made his famous raids through southern Indiana, Mr. Stark again enlisted, assisting in repelling the invaders.
On March 13, 1864, Randolph Stark was married to Rosetta Showalter, who was born in Jackson county, Indiana, on August 3, 1844, the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hollensbe) Showalter, natives of England. Mrs. Stark's parents eloped from England when Mary Showalter was only fourteen years of age. The Showalters later came to America, locating in Decatur county, about 1845. Late in Mr. and Mrs. Stark's lives there were born to them two children, a son and a daughter, the elder, the son, dying in infancy. The daughter, Cora, is a talented musician, having studied under the most competent instructors, both in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. For the past two years she has been conducting musicales and recitals in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Highly accomplished as a musical performer, and equally successful as a teacher, she is esteemed highly in musical circles of the cities where she is called.
Mr. Stark has always given his support to the Republican party and has been honored by his fellow citizens, having served as trustee of Salt Creek township for six years. His fraternal relations are with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, hie belonging to the lodge of that order at New Point. He assisted in building the New Point Christian church and has been one of its most faithful and earnest supporters. He takes an active part in the affairs of this church and served the communion for forty years. Mr. Stark possesses a rare equanimity of temper and is noted for his kind- ness of heart, qualities which have won for him the sincere regard of all who know him. Ilis nature is genial and cordial and his manner attractive.
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His mind is rich and cultivated by a life of reading and observation. He has no personal enemies and provokes no one to enmity, for the simplicity and cordiality of his nature and manner invite friendship and forbid enmity. He is a hospitable man and cordially responds to all social claims, his home, one of the most commodious and attractive in New Point, being favorite stopping places for many friends.
SAMUEL CLARK.
When the pioneer emigrant, John Clark, came to Decatur county, Indiana, with his wife in 1823, and entered a quarter section of land in Marion township, he might not have been conscious of the fact that he was here establishing a homestead for his posterity which would remain in the family at least to the fourth generation. The present farm of Samuel Clark in Marion township, which comprises three hundred and ninety-two acres, includes the quarter section of land entered by John Clark, his grandfather, in 1824. Since the latter's time this farm has been owned successfully by the son, William Clark, and at present by the grandson, Samuel, the subject of this sketch.
Samuel Clark, who now lives in Greensburg, but supervises his farm, was born on September 16, 1859, the son of William and Rebecca ( Cassel- dine ) (Newman) Clark, the former of whom was born on September 22, 1807, and who died. April 1, 1893, and the latter of whom was born, June 10, 1817, and who died about three years before the passing of her husband, on November 14, 1890. Born at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Rebecca Cassel- dine was descended originally from North Carolina stock. Her husband, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, was the son of John Clark, a native of Maryland, born in 1768, and who died in 1860. He came from his home near Blackhorse Tavern, in Maryland, on horseback to Kentucky, and there was married to Mary Beckett, and in 1823 came on to Decatur county, entering a quarter-section tract in Marion township. The next year he returned to Kentucky and removed with his family permanently to this state. Each winter, however, he returned to Kentucky and cut cord wood. In his younger days he had been a fireman on a river steamer and with others had inade several trips to New Orleans by flat-boat with various kinds of produce, walking all the way back home. He was a strong, sturdy character and one fitted to found a home in the Hoosier wilderness. He and his wife reared a
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family of eleven children, Joseph, Robert, William, James, Richard, Thomas, Walker, Jolin, Nancy, Eliza and Susan, all of whom are deceased, Richard having died in August, 1913.
When William Clark reached maturity he purchased the old home farm, and during his lifetime accumulated altogether about four hundred acres of land in one tract. He also owned eighty acres south of Greensburg, or in all four hundred and eighty acres. He was a strong Republican. To Will- iam and Rebecca (Casseldine) Clark were born three children: Eliza J., who lives with her brother, Samuel, the subject of this sketch; Nancy A., who died on April 7, 1894. and Samuel.
Until his removal to Greensburg, Indiana, Samuel Clark had always lived on the farm where he was born. In March, 1915, Mr. Clark removed to north Greensburg, but still raises hogs and many cattle on the farm, which is immune from cholera and all other hog diseases. There have been altogether six different houses on the farm, but. one burned, and there are only two left, these having supplanted pioneer structures. The house in which Mr. Clark himself lived was built in 1865.
On January 3, 1895, Samuel Clark was married to Susanna Clemons, who was born on October 4, 1866, in Dearborn county, Indiana, is the daughter of Frederick and Louise (Krummel) Clemons, natives of Ger- many, who came to this country when young people and who were married in Dearborn county. After their marriage they removed to Ripley county, and settled near Napoleon, where they died. A great-grandfather of the Clark children on their maternal side fought with and was killed while fighting under General Washington at the memorable defeat of General Braddock during the French and Indian wars.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Clark have been born four children, as follow : Helen, born on October 31. 1895: Bertha, 1900, died in 1902; Nesbit, Decem- ber 21, 1904, and Chauncey Howard, April 2. 1907.
All the members of the Clark family, except Mr. Clark, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Clark himself attends church. At the formation of the Progressive party in 1912 Mr. Clark identified himself with this party, and since then has been actively identified with the organiza- tion of the party. He is an enthusiastic admirer of Colonel Roosevelt and also of former Senator Beveridge.
Samuel Clark takes a great interest in the farm which has come down to him from his grandfather, and is anxious that the farm be kept in the family for several generations to come. He is devoting his life not only to- the business of farming, but to rearing his children to honorable and useful
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lives, for which he has every reason to expect that they will carry on the work so successfully carried forward by their father, grandfather and great- grandfather in this county. Here in old Decatur county the name of Clark is synonymous with industry, honesty, sobriety and intelligent citizenship. and Samuel Clark is a worthy exponent of these principles.
CHARLES W. WORLAND.
Under the operation of the American system of politics there are few evidences of personal popularity more convincing in their expression than the returns given at the polls. When the election returns give to a candidate for a responsible and important county office the largest majority ever returned for any candidate of the party on whose ticket his name is represented in that county, this indisputable and very tangible evidence may be accepted as creat- ing a very fair presumption of a most complimentary personal following on the part of that favored candidate. These thoughts are suggested by a review of the returns of the last election in Decatur county, in which County Commissioner C. W. Worland, of Clay township, was re-elected by the largest majority ever given a Democratic candidate for county commissioner in the history of this county. Not only that, but Mr. Worland has the further distinction of being the only Democratic county commissioner who was ever re-elected in Decatur county. His popularity in the vicinity of his home was amply demonstrated by the fact that. although his precinct is naturally heavily Republican, Mr. Worland carried the same by a majority of fifty-seven votes, an expression of confidence and esteem on the part of his neighbors that must have been exceedingly gratifying to the candidate. All agreed, how- ever, that this expression was well deserved, for in the administration of the affairs of the county commissioner's office, Mr. Worland had displayed a degree of sagacity, sound business judgment and keen executive ability that very properly called for his retention in this important office, and there were many who announced, at the opening of his second campaign, that his re- election was a foregone conclusion, a forecast which the returns proved to be quite accurate. Commissioner Worland is one of the best-known men in Decatur county. He owns a fine farm of one hundred acres in Clay town- ship, admirably tilled and prudently managed; the studious attention given to the management of his own affairs having been one of the strongest recom- mendations urged in behalf of his candidacy during the two campaigns he successfully conducted for the office which he now holds.
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CHARLES W. WORLAND AND FAMILY.
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Charles W. Worland was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on January 20, 1862, son of William Leo and Nancy Ellen (Barnes) Worland, the former of whom was born on September 6, 1834, and died in July, 1903, and the latter of whom was born on July 16, 1843, and died on October 17, 1890, Mr. Worland dying at Shelbyville, Indiana, and Mrs. Worland dying at Letts Corner, this county. William L. Worland was born in Kentucky, son of Leo WV. Worland, of Scottish ancestry, who, in an early day moved from Kentucky to Indiana and spent the rest of his life in this state. Nancy Ellen Barnes was a daughter of Elijah and Polly (Gregory) Barnes, whose last days also were spent in this county.
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