USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 75
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lives on a farm three miles northwest of Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Schultz was a devoted churchman, his membership being with the Harmony Presby- terians and for many years he served his local society as elder and super- intendent of the Sunday school. He was a virile type of man and the in- fluence he exerted for good cannot be estimated. He was ambitious for the best in life and was able to inspire others with this same worthy desire.
Perry Otis Schultz received his elementary education in the district school near his childhood home and later attended Miami University located at Oxford, Ohio. After three and one-half years spent in that institution, he returned home and immediately entered upon his chosen vocation of farm- ing. He carries on general farming after most approved modern methods and the four hundred and twenty acres under his care attest his ability in this line. All of the acreage mentioned belongs to him with the exception of one hundred and twenty acres, which are owned by his mother, who makes her home since the death of her husband in College Corner, Ohio.
Mr. Schultz was united in marriage on October 29, 1895, with Miss Wealthy Hutcheson, of Oxford, Ohio, and to their union have been born two children: Eunice Echo and Harold Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are regarded as among the best citizens of the community and are of that class who exert a helpful influence upon those with whom they come in contact. They are members of the Harmony Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. Schultz gives his support to the Republican party.
FRANCIS E. MERRILL.
If a census were taken in Franklin county with a view of determining the place of nativity of the majority of the original settlers of the county, the honor no doubt would go to Butler county, Ohio. Among the prominent families of Franklin county who at an early day migrated from Butler county, Ohio, was the Merrill family, of which Francis E. Merrill, of Springfield township, is an honorable representative of the present generation.
Francis E. Merrill was born in Franklin county, Indiana, August 31, 1857, a son of James and Harriet (Stewart) Merrill, and was one of three children born to this union, the others being John Wesley and Margarette. John W. was born July 15, 1843, at St. Charles, Ohio, and married Sally Ann Hockenburry. Margarette was born January 21, 1846, and married William Miles, both now being deceased.
James Merrill, father of Francis Merrill, was born in Butler county,
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Ohio, where he received such advantages of schooling as were offered by the district schools of that community. Upon reaching manhood's estate he went to Riley, Ohio, where for some time he operated a tannery. He sold this and moved to Springfield township, this county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres which he gradually increased until at the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred acres.
James Merrill and his wife both were members of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Mt. Carmel, with which denomination they became affiliated when quite young. He was a very influential man in this community during his life and his opinions on all public matters were highly respected. Mr. Merrill died July, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight, his wife having preceded him to the grave November 28, 1882, at the age of fifty-eight.
Francis E. Merrill was educated in the common schools of this county and has followed the vocation of farming almost his entire life. On March 20, 1882, he was married to Clara Minor, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Little) Minor.
Clara Minor was one of seven children born to her parents, as follows: Almira, Mary, Amos, Clara, Addie, Minnie and Nora. Of these Amos is now living in Colorado, near Denver. Almira lives in Harrison, Ohio, and is married to Enoch Baughman. Mary married George Seal and lives at Harrison, Ohio. Addie married George Portteus. Minnie married William Muir and lives near Brookville. Nora married John Eldon and lives at Mt. Carmel, Indiana. Daniel Minor died in July, 1881, survived by his wife. Mr. Minor was a member of the Knights of Honor. His widow is a member of the Presbyterian church and still resides in this county.
To Francis E. Merrill and wife have been born four children, whom they named as follows: Charles, Laura, Ray and Park. Of these, Charles, born February 1, 1884, was married to May Holliday and lives in Springfield township; Laura S., born February 2, 1886, was married to David Hansel and lives at Bath township; Ray, who was born September 12, 1891, was married June 13, 1914, to Gayle Garner: Park, born February 19, 1894, is still single. Mr. Merrill is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. His wife worships at the Presbyterian church. The members of the Merrill family always have been active in the affairs of this community and unselfishly and disinterestedly have lent their influence to its development in all proper ways, being ever ready to participate in all movements looking to the promotion of all good causes, whether civic, moral or social, and as a consequence have gained for themselves an enviable position in the regard of their neighbors.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN W. HIMELICK.
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. For many years 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 advancement of his kind, and in the vocation to which the energies of his active years were devoted, he ranks among the representative agriculturists of the county. He won a commendable degree of material success, which now enables him to pass the declining years of his life in quiet retirement and freedom from active responsibilities.
John W. Himelick was born in Bath township, Franklin county, Indiana, on August 3, 1860, near where his present home is located. He was a son of John and Mary E. (Davis) Himelick, the latter a native of Butler county, Ohio. John was born in this township, the son of Andrew and Katherine (Minnix) Himelick, the latter a native of Ireland. Andrew Himelick was born in Germany and came to this county with his parents when a young man. They located first in Preble county, Ohio, where Andrew met and married the pretty Irish lass, Katherine Minnix. In the twenties of the last century, not long after marriage, they came to this county, then in the grip of the wilderness, and entered a quarter section of land obtained from the government. Here they made their home for the balance of their lives, the farm always being known as. the Himelick place and is at the present time owned by a member of the family bearing that name. They suffered the privations and wearisome labors incidental to the lives of the early pioneers, and the little cabin home first erected gave place in later years to a more pre- tentious dwelling. Andrew Himelick died about the year 1855.
Subject's mother was a daughter of Isaac and Martha (Foster) Davis, who lived their entire lives in this section, just across the state line. They were among the leading farmers of their community, and people of more than ordinary refinement.
John W. Himelick is one of a family of six children, three of whom, Mary, Flora and Grant, have passed from this life. Those remaining are Marian, Laura and John W. The latter received his education in the schools of this section, and his father, who was well versed in the secrets of success- ful agriculture, gave him early training along that line. After reaching years of manhood, he located in Union county, this state, where he farmed for eighteen years. He owned an eighty-acre tract in that county, which he dis-
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posed of in 1900 and returned to the place of his birth. He now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, lying on the outskirts of the village of Bath, and in 1909 he erected a residence and other buildings on that side of his farm adjoining the town, and has since made his home in that enviable location.
His marriage to Rachael Dubois, of Union county, took place on Aug- ust 16, 1881, and to their union have been born two children: L. Dwight, who located on the home farm and carries on its business, and E. Ralph, who resides at Connersville, Indiana, where he is engaged in the practice of law. Mrs. Himelick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is considered one of the best esteemed and most popular women in this section. Politically, Mr. Himelick gives his support to the Republican party and while living in Union county was for six years one of its most efficient county commissioners. The Himelick family has for so many years been identified with this immediate section, that a history of one would necessarily include much concerning the other. The present railroad station at Bath is located on land originally owned by the Himelick family and to this same family credit may well be given for much that has influenced in the best way the various phases of community life in this section. Mr. Himelick, because of splendid personal characteristics and genuine worth, enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him and is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.
ORAH BRADY.
Among those persons who have by reason of their strong individual qualities, earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fel- low citizens, having by sheer force of character and persistency won their way from an humble beginning to a place of influence and prominence in the community where they are active in agricultural affairs, the subject of . this sketch is entitled to special mention in a volume of this character.
Orah Brady is a native of Bath township, Franklin county, Indiana, having been born here on May 6. 1869, and is a son of Walter and Elizabeth (Thurston) Brady, the latter of this same township and county and the former born in Butler county, Ohio. Walter Brady, subject's father, is a son of Joseph and Sarah Brady, both of whom were natives of Ireland and located in Butler county, Ohio, where for a number of years Joseph farmed
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and where his death took place. They were the parents of a large family (some ten or eleven children), most of whom grew to maturity and assumed their places in the world as men and women of influence. Walter, father of our immediate subject, mastered the carpenter trade when a young man and put his skill into many buildings throughout this section. In his day he built a number of school houses in this section and when, in later years, our sub- ject was acting as township trustee, several of these older buildings were razed to make way for more modern structures. While giving considerable time to the carpenter's trade, Walter Brady also conducted a farm, which land he had purchased from his wife's people shortly after their marriage, and which was his home until the close of his life. He was a devout member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife, and both gave generously of time and means to further the work of the local organization. Walter Brady's brother, John, was a minister of the Baptist denomination, while the rest of his brothers and sisters belonged to the Christian church.
Orah Brady received his education in the district schools near his home and was early instructed in the work of a farm. Quite naturally, therefore, he adopted the vocation of farming when he grew to manhood and gave his attention in this direction. In 1899 he purchased the farm where he now lives, which contains one hundred and sixty acres. This farm is situated about one mile north of where his mother was born, her father, Oliver Thurston, having been among the early settlers in this township. They had to reclaim their land from the grasp of the wilderness and at the time of his death, Oliver Thurston had cleared and had under cultivation one hundred and seven acres.
Orah Brady was married on December 25, 1889, to Miss Lulu F. Hitch- ner, born in Springfield township, this county, an adopted daughter of Samuel and Lucy Hitchner. Their union has been blessed with three children : Samuel Walter, Laura Edna and Howard Orah.
Orah Brady came of a family of eight children and has a twin sister, Orpha. The other children are: Angeline, Andrew Hickson, Laura, Joseph, Elmer and Alva Johnson, the twins being next to the youngest in order of birth. Mr. Brady had the misfortune to have been born with a crippled foot, but through an operation and the wearing of braces, the defect was remedied. He is looked upon as one of the substantial citizens of this community and can well point with pride to the fact that he has made his own way in the world, alone and unaided, and in the face of many obstacles. It is only the man of true strength of character who can win his way against odds and the fact that Mr. Brady is held in such high esteem in his community, attests the
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fact that his true worth is appreciated by those who know him best. He and family are members of the Harmony Presbyterian church and in politics is a Democrat, having served two years as township supervisor and is now town- ship trustee of Bath township. He is serving his community as faithfully as did his father before him and is in turn leaving to posterity the impress of an honorable and industrious life.
THOMAS W. VANNESS.
In the history of Franklin county, Indiana, as applying to the agricul- tural interests, particularly of Bath township, the name of Thomas W. Van- ness occupies a conspicuous place, for through a number of years in the earlier history of this section he was one of the leading farmers,-progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success and to Mr. Vanness they brought a satisfactory reward and at the same time benefited the community in a material way as well as along ethical lines.
Mr. Vanness was born in Ohio on Indian creek on October 29, 1822, where his death occurred. He received his education in the early subscription schools of his home locality and through the years of his boyhood was trained by his father in the work of the farm home. He continued to reside with his parents until the time of the discovery of gold in California in 1849, when, with many other ambitious youths and men from this section, he started out on the perilous over-land journey toward that land of promise. He reached his destination in safety, and there spent five years, meeting with fair success. After his return home, on February 25, 1859, he was united in marriage with Jane H. Riggs, who was born and raised in the vicinity of his home, and who was the daughter of Matthew and Mary Magdalen ( Reif) Riggs. Matthew Riggs was one of the leading men of his day in his home community, being a school teacher for many years and a man who did much toward elevating the general tone of community life. Such service as he rendered was sorely needed in pioneer communities, where sordid considerations and hard work had a tendency to crush the finer, rarer graces. Mr. Riggs later moved to Indiana, where his death occurred. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Vanness came to Franklin county, where he purchased a tract containing one hundred and ten acres in Bath township, later adding fifty additional acres. The build- ings which he erected were above the average for that time in this section and are still standing. Here they farmed for many years, meeting with ex- cellent success and on this farm home the widow still resides.
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Mr. and Mrs. Vanness were the parents of six children, namely: John P., who resides in Oxford, Ohio, as does also the youngest son, Robert W. Mary Magdalen, the third child, died at the age of six years, and Matthew, the fifth child, is also deceased. Gideon E., second child in order of birth, remains on the home farm with the mother, and Lucy Jane is Mrs. Coffee, residing in Bath township, this county.
Mrs. Vanness recalls with interest that when a child she attended the same school for a time with Benjamin Harrison, former President of the United States, and once during an old-fashioned spelling bee she out-spelled him, forcing him to take a seat. She has lived in this section for so many · years, has seen the wonderful growth of progress and many are the interest- ing stories she has to relate of former days. She enjoys comparatively good health, considering her age and is in full possession of her faculties.
JOHN ELMER ABBOTT.
Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Franklin county none stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article. For many years he has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county, meeting with a grati- fying degree of success, while at the same time he has attained an enviable degree of esteem in the regard of his neighbors. He is among the up-to-date farmers of his community and conducts his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located in Bath township, along lines approved by modern science and experiment. He also pays considerable attention to the raising of live stock in addition to his general farm work and because of the honorable life he has led and the worthy example he has set the younger generation, he is regarded as one of Franklin county's representative citizens and, therefore, is worthy of special mention in a book of this character.
John Elmer Abbott is a native of this county, having first seen the light of day on his father's farm in Springfield township, on June 3, 1869, a son of Joseph and Eleanor (Vanausdall) Abbott. Joseph was born in 1840, also in Springfield township, his parents being John and Elizabeth Abbott, both natives of Ohio, who came to this section of the country probably as early as 1830. They journeyed overland to this section, where, in Springfield town- ship, they secured land, on which they made their home the balance of their lives. This original home place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres,
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and after it was paid for and in a good state of cultivation, John Abbott purchased another tract of equal size and was, therefore, the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres of land at the time of his death. Joseph Abbott, father of our immediate subject, received but a limited education in the early subscription schools of this section and early took to farming. He was successful in his labors and now owns two hundred and forty acres in Springfield township. He has spent practically his entire life on the farm, all in fact with the exception of two years, and in 1909 retired from the active labors of past years and took up his residence in Oxford, where he still lives. He is a man well and widely known and highly respected, who fulfills a useful place in community life. He was for many years township assessor of Springfield township and in both public and private capacity rendered much helpful service to friends and neighbors. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in that faith reared his family.
Subject's mother, Eleanor Van Ausdall, was a daughter of George and Hannah (Van Ausdall) Van Ausdall, and was born on the family homestead in Butler county, Ohio, in 1841. Her family were early settlers in Butler county, where for a goodly number of years they were accounted among its better class of farmers. Both parents died on the homestead and lie buried in Mount Carmel.
John Elmer Abbott was one of a family of six children, the others being: Florence J., Chester, Luretta, Ellis and Clarence. Our subject is the third child in order of birth and when a boy received a somewhat limited education in the early district schools of this section. He took up farming at an early age, having been trained in the work of the home farm from early boyhood. He remained in Springfield township until 1906, when he purchased land in Bath township and has since made that his home. On May II, 1893, Mr. Abbott was united in marriage with Lou Cox, and to their union have been born three children. The eldest child was a daughter, Ethel, now deceased, and those remaining are Mabel and Roy, both of whom are at home with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Abbott gives his support to the Democratic party, while he has never been a seeker after office nor has he taken any active interest in political circles. His fraternal affiliation is held with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the local lodge in Mixersville, while hisreligious attend- ance is with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Abbott is one of those stalwart men whose quiet lives and honorable living mark them as representative citi- zens of any community. He has never brought himself before the public in
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any spectacular manner, but his quiet persistence along legitimate lines has not only won success for himself but has set him as an example for the younger lives in this section.
CHARLES V. WILSON.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is now directed, is among the favorably known and repre- sentative citizens of Bath township, Franklin county, Indiana. He has con- tributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality and during the course of an honorable career has been fairly successful in his enterprises, having been a man of honesty of purpose and is, therefore, well deserving of mention in this volume.
Charles V. Wilson was born in Union county, this state, south of the town of Roseburg, on January 28, 1874, son of Sarah Wilson, who was born in Union township, Union county. Sarah Wilson was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Swafford) Wilson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter born in Union county, this state.
Charles V. received his education in the district schools near his home in this county and shortly after his marriage he, in company with his uncle, Robert M. Wilson, commenced the manufacture of tile in Bath township. This they continued for some time, meeting with considerable success, but abandoned the enterprise to take up the vocation of farming. In 1904 he pur- chased his present farm, of some eighty acres, and there he has made his home ever since, carrying on general farming.
Mr. Wilson was married on February 9, 1896, to Bertha M. Bassett, of Bath township, daughter of David and Matilda (Fry) Bassett, farmers for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have no children of their own and have with them Orville Garrod, a nephew of Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Wilson and fam- ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are unusually active in the work of that organization. Mr. Wilson has twice served as Sunday school superintendent and is also steward and trustee of his church. Politi- cally, he is a member of the Republican party and was in 1914 elected town- ship trustee of Bath township. He is one of the best citizens of this com- munity and is every ready and willing to do anything in his power to advance the interests of his friends and neighbors along social, moral, educational or material lines. He has throughout his life shown himself to be a man of
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honor and integrity and is, therefore, held in high esteem by those who know him.
David D. Bassett, father of Mrs. Wilson, was born near Fairfield, Franklin county, Indiana, on August 31, 1832, a son of Nathaniel and Eliza (Dubois) Bassett, the latter a native of New Jersey, and the former having been born at Little Rock, Arkansas. He located near Fairfield, where for a number of years he was among the leading farmers of that section, and there died. On January 1, 1856, he was united in marriage with Matilda C. Fry, a daughter of Philip and Catherine ( Butler) Fry. Philip Fry was born in Virginia and died in Bath township on June 14, 1896, in his eighty-ninth year. He was married to Catherine Butler in 1830, her death occurring in 1887. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters. He was a devout churchman, and was originally a member of the United Brethren church, but later became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
David D. Bassett received a somewhat limited education in the schools of Fairfield township and was all his life a farmer. However, he did not give all his attention to that enterprise, for he was also a manufacturer of tiling and was also in the butcher business for a time. He was a man of industry and enterprise, who met with much success in his various undertak- ings. He was the father of four children, namely: John, Alice, Mary D. and Bertha May, the latter being the wife of our immediate subject.
FRANK HANSEL.
The character of a community is determined in a large measure by a comparatively few of its citizens. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to live, if its reputa- tion for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading families have been high and that their influence has been such as to mold the characters and shape the lives of those with whom they have mingled. Although the subject of this sketch has led a quiet and unassuming life, with no ambition for public office or leadership, his manner of living has been such as to place him in the front rank of such men. The straightforward and upright course of his daily life has won for him the esteem of those who have known him for years, for his entire life has been spent on the farm where he now resides.
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