USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 93
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and he returned to his company, with which he remained until he was mus- tered out in September, 1865. During his military service, Mr. Willis took part in the terrible battle at Shiloh, being badly wounded in the right hand on the second day of the fight. He also was in the siege of Corinth, and at Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and other sanguinary engagements, besides many long and tiresome marches, and yet, in spite of his arduous service, he never spent a day or night in a hospital. According to the ยท statements of his comrades, he was a soldier of unusual valor and courage and was held in the highest esteem by his superior officers.
On his return from the army Captain Willis engaged in farming and clearing a tract on land, while operating and living on another farm. In the spring of 1875, on account of the health of himself and wife, he retired from active farming and engaged with his father at Waterloo in the book, station- ery, wall paper and notions trade, in which he engaged until September, 1877, when he came to Auburn and here engaged in the same line of business, which commanded his attention for about twenty years. He was fairly suc- cessful in this enterprise, but after the death of his wife in 1903 he went to Oklahoma for about five years, there taking up a homestead claim from the government, during which time he was again married. Returning to Auburn he retired from active business and is now living quietly in his home at this place, secure in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
On November 9, 1865, Captain Willis was united in marriage with Elizabeth J. Britton, eldest daughter of Hon. Lewis D. and Martha ( Mc- Cague) Britton, and to this union were born three children, two sons and a daughter. The wife and mother departed this life on June 29, 1901. Tlie second son, Lewis H., died at his home in Indianapolis, February 24, 1911, leaving a widow, but no children. Marion B., the eldest son, is a resident of Auburn, while the daughter, Nettie B., is the wife of William Eckhart, of Lo; Angeles, California. While a resident of Oklahoma, Captain Willis married Mrs. Maria M. Holmes. In the winter of 1867 he made a profession of religion, and has been an active and faithful member of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Auburn continuously since, having been a member of the official board for thirty-six years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, while politically, he has always affiliated with the Republican and Prohibition parties, believing that the temperance question is the greatest now before the American people and being a man of distinct convictions on the great questions of the day, on both social and economic lines. A man of forceful individuality, his probity of
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character and his genial personality have gained for him universal esteem and friendship. In the locality where he has spent practically his entire life he has always taken a leading part in the welfare of the community, having ever been willing to aid in those things which make for better educational advantages, better homes, better living and higher citizenship. Because. of his sterling qualities of character, his loyalty to his country in the time of its need and his honorable career in private life, he is eminently deserving of the en- viable standing which he now enjoys in this community.
WILLIAM McCLAREN LOCKHART.
There is a scientific historical consistency in the compilation of publica- tions of this nature, since here are perpetuated for future generations the life records of those who have been factors in the industrial and civic life of their respective communities and who have commanded the confidence and esteem of their fellow men. Such works are cumulative in value as the years fall into the abyss of time, and it is right and proper that the achievements of those who have proved themselves worthy in connection with the varied activities of their day should find such memorials as those offered in this connection.
William McClaren Lockhart was born on May 27, 1834. at Lexington, Richland county, Ohio, and was a son of James and Jane (McBride) Lock- hart. The name Lockhart is believed to have originated in Scotland in the time of Robert Bruce, the famous Scottish chieftain. Sir Stephen Lockard was charged by Robert Bruce that in case Bruce were slain in a coming en- gagement Lockard was to take his heart out and put it in a small iron casket to return to Bruce's homeland. This he did and when the troops wavered in a desperate charge he threw the casket containing the heart into the midst of the enemy and bade the troops follow the heart of Bruce. They charged bravely, thus inspired, and won the victory. Lockard recovered the heart and returned it to its home and was from that time called Lockheart instead of Lockard.
James Lockhart was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and was a son of William and Mary ( McClaren) Lockhart. He was left an orphan in in- fancy and was reared in the families of his father and his mother. He learned the trade of a linen weaver and at the age of twenty-five years emi-
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grated to America with his uncle, James McClaren, and family, locating in Pennsylvania. There he was for six years employed at farm work, at first for six dollars a month, and later for seven dollars a month. He then learned the trade of a distiller in the employ of James McCullough, a Presbyterian preacher. Mr. Lockhart was in religion a Protestant, having been reared in the Baptist faith and a member of that church, but in America he united with the Presbyterian church. In Ireland he had been an enthusiastic Orangeman, strongly anti-Catholic in his convictions, and after coming to America was intensely loyal to his adopted country, and, though a Democrat in principles, stood firmly for the Union, recalling that on being naturalized he had sworn to support the Constitution of the United States. His wife, Jane McBride, was a daughter of Robert and Rosamond (Greenfield) McBride, who emi- grated from the north of Ireland soon after their marriage, locating at Springfield, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Their parents both came orig- inally from Ayreshire, Scotland. Robert McBride, a brother of James McBride, was a soldier in the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of Lundy's Lane. In 1854 Robert McBride Lockhart, a brother of William C., came to DeKalb county, Indiana. and began the erection of a sawmill in Smithfield township. On December 17, 1855, William C. came here, and in the spring of 1856 their parents, James and Jane Lockhart, came here, also locating in Smithfield township. From his early childhood until arriving at his majority William C. Lockhart lived in Lexington, Ohio, where he received a little schooling. When he was about ten years of age his father was caused a heavy financial loss by a dishonest partner, which reduced him from a com- petency to an indebtedness of five hundred dollars above the value of all his property. His creditors were called together and they told him to get rid of his partner, keep his property, continue in business and pay out as best he could, they having absolute belief in his honesty and integrity. This he did and when William C. was twenty-one and his brother, Robert, twenty-three years of age, they had paid all but fifty dollars of the indebtedness and had a property of a cash value of nine hundred dollars. The financial condition of the family interfered with the education of the boys, who received but very little schooling, but they did the best they could and made the most of their opportunities. In the fall of 1854 William C. passed a teacher's examina- tion and taught school with seventy-five pupils under him, in which he was very successful, being earnestly urged to take the school another year, but this he refused. The Lockhart brothers operated the mill owned by their father, part of the time night and day and a part of the time fourteen hours
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a day, and it is related that William C. Lockhart obtained much of his needed sleep on the roof of this mill. Money was exceedingly scarce, although they worked hard, but they were greatly encouraged by the attitude of their father's creditors who had shown the utmost confidence in the integrity and ability of the family to pay out, and even when the boys had some money to pay, they told them to use the money in the business and pay when conven- ient. They eventually paid every debt in full.
At the outbreak of the great Civil war the brothers were greatly shocked at the news of the defeat of the Union forces at the battle of Bull Run, and they agreed that they should make a sacrifice for the Union. Each offered to go as a soldier, but finally it was decided that William should go. After a few days spent in settling his business affairs, he enlisted in a com- pany which he had helped to organize and of which he was made first lieu- tenant. Just at that time he was taken with typhoid fever, in which he was seriously ill and had several severe relapses. The man who took his place became a colonel inside of a year. By June, 1862, Mr. Lockhart had recuper- ated and enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth Regiment Indiana Infantry, and although he could have had a higher rank, he declined it. In the follow- ing summer he was taken ill and, after heing in the hospital, was sent home on furlough, and in the following autumn was honorably discharged over his protest because of physical disability. His heart was so enlarged that the doctor said that if he did not die soon it would be a wonder. Twenty years later Doctor Swarts told him that nothing but indomitahle will had saved his life, although he had a naturally fine physique. He was a faithful and courageous soldier, did his duty and endured many hardships while he was in the service. He was discharged on October 22, 1863, after serving four- teen months and nine days.
On December 22, 1864, Mr. Lockhart married Elizabeth Spencer, at Shalersville, Ohio, but after a few years of happy wedded life, her death occurred on October 16, 1867, and she was buried at Waterloo, DeKalb county. She left one daughter. Jennie M., who is now the wife of James Craig Day, of Waterloo. On May 6, 1869, Mr. Lockhart married Mary E. Hickox, to whom a son was born on November 28, 1872, Robert W., who is now a successful farmer of Smithfield township, this county, and who is represented elsewhere by a personal sketch in this work. On February 6, 1884, Mrs. Mary Lockhart died of heart failure, and on October 17, 1887, Mr. Lockhart married Julia Osborn, a sister of his former wife, her death
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occurring at Waterloo on December 16, 1891. On January 4, 1894, he mar- ried Elizabeth Ames Ansley.
To revert to Mr. Lockhart's business experience, after he had sufficiently recuperated after his discharge from the army he resumed the lumber busi- ness with his brother. They operated the old sawmill and also bought hard- wood lumber at many points on the railroad and canal, which they sold at Eastern markets. They were prospered and gradually extended their busi- ness into central and southern Indiana in 1868. In December, 1869, Mr. Lockhart moved his family to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and operated his busi- ness affairs from that point, erecting a large sawmill, a well equipped planing mill and later a wood working shop. They also operated a sawmill in Parke county. Shortly prior to the panic of 1873, an invoice showed them worth ninety thousand dollars, with advantageous contracts in hand for a large amount of business. The panic came on and hit the Lockhart Brothers hard, and in addition to their financial distress, their mill in Parke county burned, as did their dry kiln at Crawfordsville. Many of their customers who owed them large sums of money failed in business and could not pay, but in spite of these discouraging conditions and though brought face to face with bank- ruptcy, they held on to an honest course in their business affairs and in the hope of helping his fortune William C. extended his operations to Iowa. Here he was successful and was beginning to recover financially, when a flood washed a big boom of logs away, entailing the loss of over twenty thousand dollars. After several years in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Lockhart disposed of ' his business interests there and in January, 1885, he returned to Craw fords- ville, and in the spring of 1886 he moved to Waterloo where he lived until his last marriage, when he moved to Fairfield township, where his death oc- curred on February 25, 1910, at the age of seventy-five years.
About 1879 or 1880, a murderous attempt was made on the life of W. C. Lockhart. Mr. Lockhart was seated at the table in his office busily en- gaged in writing, when the report of a rifle was heard and a bullet whizzed unpleasantly near his head. Some fifteen minutes were suffered to go by before investigation was made to see from where the bullet came. It was finally discovered that the person who fired the shot occupied an empty wood house just across the railroad cut and about a quarter of a mile away, and fired through a knot hole in the wall. What object the would-be assassin could have in attempting to take the life of Mr. Lockhart, is not known. One theory is, that offense was taken by some one at the active and pustifiable
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energy displayed by Mr. Lockhart on election day, he having been a regularly appointed challenger.
William Lockhart was a man of positive character and fine personality .. Though deeply interested in the welfare of the communities where he lived he persistently refused to accept public office. It is said by one who knew him well that he never said a cross word in his life, was unselfish in his dispo- sition and nobly wrought for the good of others. Fraternally, he was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and was a regular attendant and supporter of the Baptist church. He was an enthusiastic worker in the temperance cause, especially among his many employees at Crawfordsville, among whom he ex- erted a beneficent influence. His wife, who also was enthusiastic in the tem- perance work, was an active member of the order of Good Templars. Mr. Lockhart was slow to make a promise, but once given it was never broken. Modest in his attitude and demeanor, he often failed to receive the credit due him, allowing it to go to others without protest. His Irish blue eyes were symbols of truth. Although naturally hot tempered, he was strong enough to control his feelings, and because of his earnest and gentlemanly demeanor among his associates he was held in high regard. His words carried weight and his thoughtful expressions received a hearing wherever he was known. He is best thought of by those who knew him best, and in the communities where he lived he at all times enjoyed the sincere regard of all who knew him because of his high character, gentlemanly qualities and earnest desire to do that which he felt to be right.
JOHN HAMMAN.
John Hamman, who for many years has been numbered among the most enterprising and influential citizens of Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born on December 29, 1851, on his father's farm in the northeast quarter of section 16, this township. He is a son of Thomas, Sr., and Elizabeth (Shuyler) Hamman, a prominent pioneer family of Smith- field township, who are represented on other pages of this work, in connection with the sketch of the subject's brother, Thomas Hamman, therefore they will not be referred to farther in this connection.
John Hamman was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the common schools of that neighborhood. On attaining manhood's years
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he was given some material help by his father, who assisted him in his first farming operations. Situated as he was, some young men would have leaned all the more on a father's kindness and indulgence, and possibly have stultified their own usefulness and limited their own sphere of activities. Not so with John Hamman. He at once threw himself energetically into the active affairs of life, took advantage of the opportunities before him and, with keen foresight, unstinted energy and the exercise of sound common sense, entered upon the task of clearing, draining and improving the one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he is now living in section 9, Smithfield township, and which corners on his father's farm. That he has made the proposition a paying one is a matter of common knowledge in the community where he is known. He has always managed his affairs accord- ing to the most up-to-date ideas and never hesitated to adopt new methods when their superiority over old ones has been demonstrated, and he hesitates at no innovation when he believes it to be a step forward. In later years Mr. Hamman has bought more land adjoining his original farm and is now the owner of two hundred and twelve acres in sections 16 and 17. After he had his land all cleared, paid for and thoroughly tiled and improved, he con- tinued his habits of thrift and industry, and instead of a debtor, he event- ually became a creditor. Realizing and appreciating what had been done for him and knowing what a little assistance often means in the accomplishment of anything, Mr. Hamman has been of material help to others in their efforts to buy farms and improve them. He has loaned money where he deemed the request for it a worthy one, has allowed his debtors every advantage con- sistent with sound business methods, and in this way has been an important factor in the development and progress of the community. He is generally looked upon as one of the successful and substantial farmers of DeKalb county. enjoying a wide acquaintance throughout this section and has en- joyed for many years the highest esteem of all who know him, this being ac- centuated by the fact that he never oppresses the worthy debtor who is unable to pay, but who shows a disposition to take care of his obligations. Mr. Hamman's success has come to him as the well earned reward of cease- less industry, wise economy, careful foresight and habits of investigating thoroughly every proposition before deciding upon his course of action.
On March 15, 1883, Mr. Hamman married Lydia Rohm, the daughter of Simon and Mary (Harsh) Rohm. After finishing the common schools Mrs. Hamman was a student in the high school, in the normal school at Waterloo, and about 1878 began teaching school, being employed at school
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No. 10 in Smithfield township, No. 1 in Grant township, and again at No. Io in Smithfield. She is a lady of refinement and culture, and possesses to an eminent degree those qualities of mind and heart which win and retain warm friendships. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamman have been born two children, Ezra Clyde and Effie Teresa, both of whom are at home. Mr. Hamman is a man of high ideals and his support is given unreservedly to those movements which are for the advancement of the community, morally, educationally, socially or materially, and he is deserving of the splendid success which has characterized his career.
FRANK ALBRIGHT.
Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have gained a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading farmer and stock raiser of the township in which he resides and a man of decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been exerted for the ad- vancement of his kind, and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted he ranks among the representative agriculturists of the county.
Frank Albright, who was born on May 27, 1873, in a log cabin on the old Albright homestead in Smithfield township, is one of the representative citizens of Smithfield township, and because of his splendid material success and his exalted personal character he is eminently entitled to specific mention here. He comes of a sterling old pioneer family, being the son of Henry and Christiana (Dentz) Albright. Henry Albright was born on March 25, 1844, in Coshocton county, Ohio, the son of Philip and Catherine (Bickel) Albright. His father, who was a native of Ohio, was a farmer, operating one hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He sold this tract in 1865, and moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, in the spring of 1866, buying one hundred and eighteen and three-quarter acres of land here, known as the Squire Rutan farm, to which he gave his undivided attention until his death, which occurred in September, 1872. His wife, who also was a native of Ohio, was a woman of splendid character and transmitted to her children those characteristics which made for respected manhood and womanhood. Two years after the death of her husband, the home farm was sold and she spent her remaining days with her son, Philip, her death occurring in 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Albright were born nine children, one of whom died in infancy. the others
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being Eve, Barbara, Catherine, Sarah, Elizabeth, Susan, Philip and Henry. Of these, Elizabeth, Philip and Henry are the only survivors. Elizabeth has been twice married, first to Joseph Lower, and second to John Camp, who is a successful farmer. To them have been born seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the surviving members of the family being William, Frank, James, Albert, Ira and"Belle; Philip married Katherine Bickel, and they live in Ashley, this county, Mr. Albright being now retired from active farm work; they have two children, Oren and Mahala.
After coming to DeKalb county, Henry Albright worked at odd jobs for about six years, and then for a year rented a farm of eighty acres known as the Jake Myers farm. He subsequently sold the stock from this place and bought a farm of forty-five acres, where his son Frank, the immediate subject of this sketch, now resides, and to which he later added thirty-two and two- thirds acres. It was then heavily timbered, the only improvements being a good log house. However, Mr. Albright with courage and enterprise, entered upon the task of developing and improving the place, and successfully oper- ated it from 1873 to 1910, when he sold it to Jack Albright, a son, and re- turned to the old homestead farm, of which he bought twelve acres. He is still actively engaged in the farming of this tract and is numbered among the active and successful men of his locality. His son. Brown, bought his grand- father's place of one hundred and eighteen acres of the Samuel Bonebrake heirs, to whom it was sold after the death of Philip Albright, the residence on the farm having been built by the Bonebrake heirs. On October 15, 1865, Henry Albright married Christiana Bentz, the daughter of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Hamman) Bentz. Her father, who was a native of Germany, came to America in young manhood with his parents and settled in Ohio, where he became a farmer and remained active in that vocation until the time of his death in 1867. His wife, who was born in Ohio in 1843, spent her entire life in that state. To them were born thirteen children, Margaret, John, Jacob, George. Philip, Elizabeth. Adeline, Lucinda. Catherine, Sarah. Christ- iana, Henry and Daniel, of whom Margaret and Christiana are the only sur- vivors. Margaret has been twice married, first to Henry Ringler and second to Mathias Wile, both of whom are deceased, and she now lives in Colorado. She became the mother of three children bv her first marriage, and five chil- dren by the second. To Henry and Christiana (Bentz) Albright were born five children. namely: Jackson, a farmer near Waterloo, who married Della Stroh, and they Have had several children, one of whom is deceased : Brown,
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who lives on the homestead farm, married Dona Shaw, and they have six chil- dren; Mary Ellen became the wife of William Grate, a farmer near Ashley, and they are the parents of five children; Libbie is the wife of John Freed, a farmer in Fairfield township, and they are the parents of three children.
Politically, Henry Albright was a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, while, religiously, he is a member of the Christian church, of which he has been a deacon for many years.
Frank Albright received his education in the schools of Smithfield town- ship and has spent his entire life on the farm. His early boyhood experiences were as a worker on various farms throughout DeKalb county, and that he has been successful in his vocation goes without saying, for he enjoys a most excellent reputation as an enterprising and successful farmer. Some time after his marriage Mr. Albright rented the old Whetzel farm near Sedan and operated the place for about two years, when he then bought forty acres of William Hinman, the land being practically all swamp and underbrush. To the draining and tiling of this tract Mr. Albright devoted his attention and eventually developed it into one of the most productive and valuable farms in the township. The land as a farm had no buildings on it when he took possession, but he has converted it into one of the best improved places in the locality, the residence, barns, and other necessary outbuildings all bearing evi- dence of the good taste and sound judgment of the owner. In March, 1912, Mr. Albright bought seventy-six acres of land from his brother, Jackson, his present residence and buildings being on the latter tract. Among other lines of agriculture, Mr. Albright devotes considerable time and attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, which he has found to be a profitable ad- junct to the modern farm.
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