History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 143

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 143

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Charles Mischel was married in 1906 to Elizabeth Soland. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 7, 1884, and is the daughter of Victor and Agnes ( Bleuel) 'Soland. To this union have been born three children : Mary, born July 8, 1907: Clara, born June 4, 1910, and Irene, born Septem- ber 4, 1912. -

The parents of Mrs. Mischel were both born in Switzerland. They came to America in 1883 and located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her father died in that city in 1897 and her mother is now living, at the age of seventy- five. Mr. and Mrs. Soland were the parents of eight children, Annie, Agnes, Rosa, John, Victor, Aloysius. Victor and Elizabeth. Of these children, Rosa and both sons, named Victor, are deceased. All of these children, with the exception of Elizabeth, were born in Switzerland, she being the youngest of the family.

Charles Mischel and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church. In politics, he is a Democrat, but, beyond casting his ballot for the candidates of his party, he has never taken an active part in its affairs.

PETER WILLIAMS.

More than seventy years have elapsed since Peter Williams was born in Brookville township, and his whole career, with the exception of the time he spent in the service of his country in the Civil War, has been identified with this township. His parents, who were natives of Germany and early settlers in this county, were people of sterling qualities of character and transmitted to their many children these same worthy traits. After return- ing from the war, Mr. Williams settled down to the life of a farmer and for the past fifty years has been following this occupation.

Peter Williams, the son of Michael and Mary Ann (Weitz) Williams, was born in Brookville township February 14. 1843. His father was born

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in Germany, January 22, 1800, and his mother in the same country in 1809. They were married in Germany in 1832, and came to the United States, locating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1842 they located in Franklin county, Indiana, and rented a farm in Brookville township, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Michael Williams and wife were the parents of nine children: Margaret, John, Joseph, George, Mary, Peter, Adam, Josephine and Minnie. Of these children, Adam, Joseph and John are de- ceased, the latter giving his life in behalf of his country during the Civil War.

Peter Williams was reared on his father's farm in Brookville town- ship. His father bought a farm on Wolf creek about 1850 and lived there until his death, in 1877. The father of Peter Williams died in 1888. His parents were both active members of the Catholic church. The boyhood days of Mr. Williams were spent on the farm and he was reared under con- ditions which called for much hard labor. He was educated in the parochial and public schools of Franklin county, and remained at home until the open- ing of the Civil War. He enlisted as a member of Company C, Thirty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, on September 22, 1864, and was discharged in June, 1865. He was with the army of General Thomas and, among many other battles, participated in the battles of Franklin and Nash- ville. After his return to Franklin county, at the close of the war, Mr. Williams engaged in farming and this has been his occupation for the past half century. He now owns sixty acres of land, the same being the old homestead which his father bought in 1850.

Mr. Williams was married, in 1872, to Elizabeth Pflum, and to this union have been born eleven children: Louisa, born June 4, 1873; Edward, born July 29, 1874, deceased; John W., born April 1, 1876; Maggie, born November 8, 1877; Antene, born February 2, 1879, deceased; Elizabeth, born October 1, 1880; Carrie, born June 27, 1883; William J., born Febru- ary 21, 1886; Amelia, born April 10, 1889; Annie, born April 2, 1892; Ragena, born June 3, 1896.

Mrs. Williams was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, September 9, 1849, and is a daughter of Cosman and Mary Anna (Ott) Pflum. Her father was born in Germany, October 25, 1814, and her mother in the same country, August 17, 1817. After their marriage they came to Dearborn county, Indiana, settling in that county about 1842. Later they moved to Franklin county, where Mr. Pflum died in 1878, his wife surviving him until 1900. Cosman Pflum and wife were the parents of eight children: Pius, Lena, Joseph, Elizabeth, Adam, Mary, John and Eva. Of these children, only Lena, Elizabeth and Adam are living. Pius served in the Civil War with an Indiana regiment.

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Mr. Williams and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church and take an active part in the various departments of the work of their de- nomination. In politics, he has always given his support to the Democratic party, but while taking an intelligent interest in its success, he has never been active in its councils. He is one of the sterling old veterans who are still living in the county, and when the last roll call is answered he can be most appropriately listed among those men of the county who have done their duty faithfully and well.

PAUL MERRELL.

It is an honor of no small moment to be born of parents who were descendants of the earliest settlers in the community where one lives. We no longer worship ancestors in this country, yet many of us are proud to point to a line of forefathers who have led honorable and upright lives in the community where we were born. Paul Merrell, of Springfield township, Franklin county, Indiana, is the great-grandson of James Merrell, of New Jersey, who came to Franklin county shortly after the Revolutionary War.

Paul Merrell was born February 2, 1892, on the old homestead farm in Franklin county. His father, Arthur Merrell, was born on the same old farm. Arthur and Loretta (Menear) Merrell were the parents of eight children, James, Ethel, Earl, Alford, Charles (deceased), Paul, Orvil and Florence. Mrs. Merrell was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rogers) Menear, the former a native of Virginia and the son of Hiram Menear, who was born in Pennsylvania.

Arthur Merrell, the father of Paul Merrell, was the son of Jonathan L. Merrell and he was the son of James Merrell. At the time of his death, Arthur Merrell was the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of land. He was survived by his wife and seven children. Reference is made to these children in the sketch of Alford Merrell, a brother of Paul, whose sketch is found elsewhere in this volume.

Paul Merrell was educated in the public schools of Franklin county and in the Hamilton high school. He was married, June 18, 1913, to Hazel May Gurr, the daughter of William Gurr.

Paul Merrell is the owner of eighty acres of land in Springfield town- ship and is engaged in general farming. He is one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of this township, honored and respected by a large

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circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Merrell are active members of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Carmel and take part in all of the various activities of this organization. Paul Merrell is a worthy scion of James Merrell, who founded the family in Franklin county.

WILLIAM METZGER.

The family that remains in one locality for generations is unquestionably a powerful agent for good or evil in that community. Fortunately, the huge majority of the older families in Franklin county come of sound and sturdy stock, and they almost invariably cast the weight of their support toward the triumph of the right. A worthy representative of one of these fine old families was William Metzger, who was born in Butler township, Franklin county, on June 18, 1856. Mr. Metzger was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Brifogle) Metzger, the former of whom was born in Germany on August 16, 1824, and the latter in Franklin county June 29, 1828.

Jacob Metzger settled in Franklin county in the year 1838. Here he married, on December 13, 1849, and became the father of eight children, namely : Susan, Louisa, William, Margaret, Julie, Kate, Lizzie and Frank. Jacob Metzger was a loyal adherent of the Democratic party, and his sup- port in religious matters was given to the Methodist church.

The parents of Elizabeth Brifogle were among the earliest settlers of Franklin county, and had a large share in establishing the county's institu- tions. Elizabeth (Brifogle) Metzger died in 1904.

Born, reared and married on the farm, it was but natural that William Metzger should have a deep love for the soil and should spend his days in its successful cultivation. The farm on which he lived contained sixty-five acres.

In 1883 Mr. Metzger married Dora Croddy, who was born in Franklin county November 12, 1861, being the daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Ross) Croddy, the former of whom was born on November 24, 1834, and the latter in Rush county, Indiana. in 1837. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. Metzger and his wife, namely: Leroy, who was born on February 5. 1884, married Eva Gallamore, of Indianapolis: Ruby, born on June 10, 1889, and Sarah E., born on July 25, 1896.

In 1843 John Croddy came to Rush county, Indiana, with his parents ; they removed later to Franklin county, where they aided in establishing the

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community, and where John Croddy spent his life. John Croddy and wife were the parents of twelve children: Frank, James (dead), Mary, Dora, Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Cochran, Stella, Jennie, Annie, Orville (dead), and Ellen.

Sarah Ann Ross was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Ross and Mrs. (Wright) Ross and was one of four children, Sarah Ann, John, James and Harriet. James and John each served throughout the Civil War as Union soldiers. Andrew Jackson Ross was born in Franklin county, the son of James Ross, who was one of Franklin county's pioneers and who died in Posey township. Andrew Ross was the captain of a company of Union volunteers throughout the Civil War and his old flag is now in the historical museum in the state house at Indianapolis. For some time Andrew Ross was a justice of the peace. He died in Franklin county in 1869.

The political convictions of Mr. Metzger were in accord with those of the Democratic party, although he never sought office. The consistent life of Mr. Metzger won him an exalted place in the regard of all who knew him, his success being enhanced by a faithful helpmate.

GEORGE R. LANNING.

Three score and five years have elapsed since George R. Lanning was born in Franklin county, Indiana, and all of these years have been spent within the limits of this county. His parents were pioneer settlers of the county, and the members of the family have always interested themselves in those measures which stand for the advancement of civilization along all lines. Mr. Lanning has engaged in farming since his marriage and with very satisfactory results. The forty years of his married life have brought to him and his good wife the satisfaction of having lived useful lives. They have reared a family of children to lives of usefulness and honor, and in turn have seen their children married and rearing families of their own.

George R. Lanning, the son of John H. and Letha Ann (O'Neal) Lan- ning, was born in Butler township, Franklin county, Indiana, November 3, 1850. They reared a large family of seventeen children: Reuben, Sarah Jane, James, Mary, George R., Hester, William, Joseph, Katura, David, Nancy, Aaron, Etta, Amanda, Rosa, John and Arvilla.

John H. Lanning, the father of John R., was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1822, and came with his parents, Reuben and Sarah (Groff)

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Lanning, to this county when he was a small lad. His parents stopped for a time in Pennsylvania on their road westward, but eventually located in Franklin county and lived here the remainder of their lives. Grandfather Lanning died about 1864, while his widow survived him until 1871. The father of George R. Lanning was born in Franklin county, on Wolf creek, in 1827. John H. Lanning was a cooper by trade, but gave most of his at- tention to farming after locating in this county. He died in 1899, and his widow survived him until March, 1914. Mrs. Lanning was a member of the United Bretliren church. The maternal grandparents of George R. Lanning were early settlers in Franklin county. Later in life, Thomas O'Neal located near Driftwood, Indiana, and there his death occurred.

George R. Lanning was educated in the public schools of Oak Forest in his home township. He has lived on his present farm for about thirty- one years. It consists of seventy-three acres and under his skillful manage- ment has yielded satisfactory returns year after year.

Mr. Lanning was married, September 24, 1874, to Hannah E. Martin. She was born in Franklin county, September 25, 1852, and is a daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Warren) Martin. To this union have been born five children, Allen Martin, Clara, George C., Edith and Florine. Allen Martin, born October 15, 1876, married Ida Baughman, and has three children, Wil- lard, Elmer and Mildred. Clara, born October 6, 1881, is the wife of Alex- ander Lacy, and has three children, Ernest Clifford, Ruth Anna and Milford Jasper. George C., born August 20, 1883, married Ella James. Edith, born August 5, 1885, is the wife of Horace Ward, and has two daughters, Hazel Florine and Geneva. Florine, the youngest child, was born May 31, 1887, is the wife of Albert Sherwood, and has two children, Everett Edward and Anna Edith.

Stephen Martin, the father of Mrs. Lanning, was born in Franklin county, September 1, 1818, while the mother of Mrs. Lanning was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1820. Stephen Martin is a half brother of John F. Martin, whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. Stepheni Mar- tin and Sarah Warren were married in 1839, and to this union were born six children, Permelia Anna, Mary Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Rhoda Catherine and Ann Eliza. Mr. Martin died in 1852, while his widow sur- vived him until June 25, 1904.

Mr. Lanning and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and give it their hearty support at all times. He has never cared to take an active part in political affairs. His conduct of affairs has been such as to merit the high esteem in which he is held by all of those with whom he has been associated.

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L. A. YOUNTS.

One of the strong characteristics of the native population of Franklin county is its splendid quality of thrift. This may be attributed to many sources, but, undoubtedly, comes from the German vein that has been so marked in the early population of Franklin county and vicinity. One of the prominent citizens of Franklin county of this day, who is of German descent, is L. A. Younts, who lives in Fairfield township.

L. A. Younts was born in Fairfield township, March 5, 1872, the son of W. H. and Mary (Masters) Younts, to whom were born the following children : Phoebe, L. A., Quincy, Emma, Jasper and Josephine. Phoebe married O. A. Davis and resides in Fayette county, Indiana. Quincy mar- ried Carrie G. Goshen and lives in Fairfield township, this county. Emma remains single. Jasper married Laura Bonning. Josephine married Herbert Hustedt.

W. H. Younts, the father of L. A., was also born in this county in Springfield township, the son of Iron Younts, who early came to Franklin county from North Carolina, where he settled on what is now known as the old Younts homestead, ninety acres of which he bought from Meyer Erb. Iron Younts was married twice and had six children : Sarah Ann, Hobard, Henrietta, Levi, William H. and Eliza. William H., father of L. A., was educated in the district schools of this county and spent the earlier part of his life on his father's farm, helping in the work on the farm. He was a deep student and early mastered the intricacies of surveying and for thirty years of his life served as county surveyor of this county. He was widely acquainted throughout this part of the state and his professional services were greatly in demand. He was an active Democrat in politics and his fraternal affiliations were with the Free and Accepted Masons in which he was prominently identified.

L. A. Younts, who was born and educated in this county, is known in a great many avenues of industry and is perhaps better known as a successful farmer. He was educated in the common schools of Franklin county and has followed farming the greater part of his life. On March 20, 1896, he was married to Mary C. Tucker, the daughter of William and Frances (Panker) Tucker.

William Tucker, the father of Mrs. Younts, was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he gave distinguished service. He was a member of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to second lieutenant under Capt. William D. Laurel. He was wounded and lay

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on the battlefield several hours before being transferred to the hospital for medical treatment. He returned from the war and settled in this county, where he was well liked and greatly esteemed for his military records and his services to the community in general. He was a member of the Baptist church and was an ardent member of the Republican party. He was enthusiastic in the councils of that party and was one of its active standard bearers in Franklin county.

After their marriage, in 1896, L. A. Younts and wife removed to the farm on which they now live, consisting of two hundred and sixteen acres of very 'good farm land. Here he engaged in general agricultural lines, though specializing in Holstein cattle, and has achieved considerable promin- ence for the excellent breed of cattle raised on his farm. Mr. Younts is prominently identified with several fraternal orders. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His wife is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Younts is a direct descendant of Peter Younts, who was born in Germany and came to this country, being the founder of the Younts family in America. The Younts family have always borne a splendid repu- tation and have always been considered among the best families of Franklin county.

CHARLES N. McCONNELL.

Many men have contributed to the agricultural prosperity of Franklin county. Charles N. McConnell, an enterprising farmer of near Laurel, Indi- ana, is one of the best known and most highly respected men of the com- munity where he resides. Mr. McConnell has not only made a success of farming, but throughout his life he has taken an interest in the welfare of his community and few more men have contributed more than he to the friendly, neighborly spirit of his community.

Charles N. McConnell was born March 8, 1880, in Delaware county, Indiana, the son of Abraham and Frances (Heath) McConnell, the former a native of Delaware county, Indiana, born June 17, 1848, and the latter a native of the same county, born July 10, 1848.

Abraham McConnell is a farmer by occupation and owns a farm of eighty acres in Delaware county. He is now living retired in Muncie, Indi- ana. 'Abraham McConnell was educated in the common schools. His father died, leaving his mother with six children, and, being the eldest child

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and then only twelve years of age, he had to assist his mother in caring for the other children. Mr. McConnell was a soldier in the Civil War, a mem- ber of Company E. Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was one of the sergeants of the company. Mr. McConnell was in eight hard battles, besides a number of skirmishes. He was shot through the right cheek, January 1, 1863, at Stone's River, Tennessee, and on June 23, 1864, he was shot through the left shoulder and right hand at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia. Mr. McConnell has belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic for many years and has served as chaplain for about five years. He has always voted the Republican ticket and was township assessor from 1868 to 1870. Mr. McConnell was married, March 16, 1870, to Frances Ellen Heath, a daughter of Harvey and Minta Heath, who were farmers and who came from Virginia to Delaware county. Harvey Heath died in 1904, at the age of ninety-four, and his wife died in 1905, at the age of ninety-four. Mrs. McConnell died May 14. 1886. By this marriage there were seven children : Desse, Bertha, Rettie, Harvey, Curtis, Charles N. and Jessie. Mr. McCon- nell was married a second time to Lizzie Gossit, of Henry county, and one child, Mabel. was born to this union.

The McConnell family came from Ireland in the eighteenth century. One of the ancestors of the family served throughout the Revolutionary War and was wounded in the thigh during his services in the Continental army. He was a teamster after the war and located at a place called Sweet Water, Kentucky. Later he moved to Delaware county, Indiana, and there died. He left a large family of children that eventually scattered over different parts of the United States. This ancestor of the present McCon- nell family married a woman by the name of Covault, who was of Welsh descent, but who was born in Ohio. She came to Delaware county, Indiana, when a small child.

Charles N. McConnell was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He is a farmer by occupation. On January 23, 1912, he came to Posey township, Franklin county, Indiana, and purchased eighty acres of land. He has improved this farm by the erection of fences and new build- ings of various kinds. One of the late substantial improvements is a large silo.

Mr. McConnell was married in 1902 to Josephine Williams, who was born on August 31, 1877, in Laurel, Indiana. She is the daughter of Oliver Harrison Perry and Martha Jane (Spencer) Williams, the former born in Metamora township, Franklin county, Indiana. Mrs. McConnell's father is a baker by trade. He was a member of Company C, Thirteenth Indiana

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Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War and served three years. He is deceased and his wife died in 1912, at the age of sixty-four years. They had four children, Walter, Indiana, Josephine and Lola.

In politics, Mr. McConnell is a Republican. He and his wife are active and devoted members of the United Brethren church. Mr. McConnell un- doubtedly deserves to rank as one of the representative farmers of Franklin county.

WILLIAM ELDON.

There are several hundred different occupations at the present time, but there is only one of all this number that is absolutely necessary to man's existence. The three things without which man cannot live are food, cloth- ing and shelter, and it is the farmer who not only controls the food supply, but also holds the clothing products of the world in his hands. His is the only occupation which can exist independently of all others. An increasing number of our best farming men are taking agricultural courses in college, thereby fitting themselves the better for scientific farming. The profession has taken on increased dignity within the part few years and more and more of our young men are applying themselves to scientific farming. The farmer of today has the immense advantage of working with machinery which ren- ders his work free from many of its former disadvantages. Franklin county has hundreds of splendid farmers, and among them William Eldon holds a worthy place.

William Eldon was born May 11, 1876, in Brookville, Indiana, the son of Gilbert G. and Anna (Gant) Eldon. Mr. Eldon is engaged in the occu- pation of farming, having charge of seventy-eight acres, to which place he moved in 1913. The Eldon family were among the vanguards of pioneers who early came to this part of the country. They originally came from England. where for generations they were engaged in farming. William Eldon was born at the old Eldon homestead, his father also having been born at this place, July 29, 1841. He was a son of John Eldon and one of three brothers who came to this country from England. The paternal grandfather of Gilbert G. Eldon was John B. Eldon, of England, who married Margaret Van Camp. Their children were William, Thomas, George, Joseph and John. Of these, John, George, Thomas and Joseph immigrated to America and William died in England. In 1820 Thomas Eldon arrived in this county, followed by Joseph and John in 1821. George remained in England, but

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came to this country also in 1849. John, Thomas and Joseph entered one hundred and twenty acres apiece, which they began to clear and cultivate. Joseph married Nancy Terry, of this county, and they lived on their farm all of their lives. John Eldon, the grandfather of William Eldon, was mar- ried about 1830 to Mary Wynn and by this union there was one child, who died in infancy, the mother dying in the same year. Mr. Eldon later mar- ried Margaret Van Camp and to them were born three children: Thomas, born May 22, 1836, and died July 6, 1913; Rebecca, born February 7, 1843, and Gilbert G. Thomas married Mary Russell and continued to live in Brook- ville until his death, survived by his wife. Rebecca was married August 1I, 1868, to Martin Holiday, and they are still living in Springfield township. Gilbert G. married Anna Gant. daughter of William Gant, of this county, and to this union were born three children, Eva, John and William. The mother of these children died February 4, 1898. Of the children, Eva, who was born August 27, 1870, died December 4, 1870; John, who was born October 3, 1871, married Nora Miner and has one daughter, Marjorie.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 143

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648