USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 102
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John Huber, after his marriage, took up his residence at New Palestine and in January, 1800, he began the construction of a modern twelve-room residence which is beautifully situated on Mill street, just east of the grist mill and here he, with his family, has resided for the past twenty years.
Mr. Huber is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife is also a member of this church. He is a member of New Palestine Lodge No. 404. Free and Accepted Masons. He is a Democrat in politics and was presi- dent of the town board of New Palestine for nine years and he has been secre- tary of the New Palestine Telephone Company for five years He has been a resident of Hancock county for over thirty six years. He is a well kil wa and highly respected citizen, a man of big ideals and of sterling integrity. He
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is the father of the following children : Anna A., who was born on September 15. 1886, is the wife of Dr. E. \. Hawk, of Reedville, Indiana, and they have one child. James Huber ; Carl E., who was born on March 4. 1893. and Henry G., who was born on April 28, 1899.
EDWARD FINK.
Edward Fink, a native of Sugar Creek township and one of the promi- nent and successful business men of Hancock county, was born on September 18, 1860, being the son of Henry and Louisa (Miller) Fink. Henry Fink, the son of AAndrew Fink and wife, was born in Germany on April 3. 1822, and died at Irvington in 1892. Andrew Fink, a native of Germany, was a farmer in his native country and came to America in 1834 on a sailing vessel. the trip requiring over six weeks. He landed in New York and came by team and wagon to Indiana, settling in Sugar Creek township. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. His farm was three miles west of New Palestine and here he built a log cabin. The farm was one of virgin timber and re- quired much labor to clear and make ready for crops. He and his family experienced all the hardships incident to the life of the early settler in a new country. By hard work and strict economy he succeeded in clearing his farm and making it one of the best farms in the community. He later added twenty acres to his original one hundred and sixty. It was here that Andrew Fink and his wife lived the rest of their lives. They were the parents of six children, one boy and five girls.
llenry Fink came with his parents to the home farm when a land of thir- teen years and here he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. . At the age of twenty-six he was married to Louisa Miller, who was born on No- vember 5, 1820, and died at Irvington on June 11, 1891. Mrs. Fink was the daughter of Christian Miller and wife, who came to America in 1836. They settled in the western part of Sugar Creek township, where they entered land. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters.
After his marriage. Henry Fink resided on the old homestead during his active life, and retired to Irvington in 1885. where he died some years later. Besides the home farm, Mr. Fink owned farms in other parts of the county and state, having at one time one thousand and seventy-three acres.
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He was a most successful farmer and business man. In early life he engaged in the overland freight business, driving six horses from Indianapolis to Cin- cinnati. Henry Fink and wife were the parents of five sons and two daugh- ters : Mary, deceased: Andrew, Charles, Henry, Christian, Edward and Annie, all of whom grew to maturity.
Edward Fink was born on the old homestead of his grandfather and father, the farm never being in any other name since entered from the govern- ment. Ile received his education in the old Swamp school house, after which he assisted his father on the home farm until he was married on February 18. 1885, to Emma Miller. Mrs. Fink was born in Marion county on Sep- tember 19. 1865, and is the daughter of Christian and Mary ( Meier ) Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany. The parents came to the United States in 1865 and settled in Warren township, Marion county. They re- mained on the farm until 1888, at which time they removed to Terre Haute, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of the following children: Christian, Mary, Christina, Henry, Andrew, Emma and Charles.
Soon after his marriage Edward Fink took charge of the home farm and has always lived there. In addition to the home place. Mr. Fink owns forty acres near Philadelphia, Hancock county, as well as town property in Irving- ton. Mr. Fink was one of the organizers of the New Palestine Bank, serving as vice-president, president and in 1911 was elected to the position of cashier. which he now holds.
Mr. and Mrs. Fink are the parents of one child : Marie, who is at home. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Fink is an active member of the Free and Accepted Masons at New Palestine.
SAMUEL E. WALLACE.
Samuel E. Wallace, widely known throughout Hancock county, Indiana, as a school teacher of long standing, was born on the farm where he now lives in Buck Creek township, on February 1, 1868, a son of Robert M. and Margarct ( Collins) Wallace. Robert M. Wallace was born in Abbeyville district, South Carolina, on December 9. 1821, a son of John and Ellen Elizabeth : Mccullough ) Wallace, both of whom were born in Ireland. John Wallace came to America as a young man and settled in South Carolina. where he met and married Ellen Elizabeth Mccullough, born in Ireland of
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Scotch-Irish parentage, and who was brought to this country as a girl by her parents. John Wallace was a blacksmith by trade, to which occupation he devoted his attention throughout the active years of his life. In 1831 he brought his family to Indiana, making the trip overland by wagon, and locating first in Fayette county. However, they remained there but a short time when they moved to Hancock county and bought a farm of eighty acres in Buck Creek township, being the east half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 20. On that land he erected a large double log house and a large log barn and engaged in his trade of blacksmith. It was on that farm that he passed the remainder of his life, and there, too, his wife died. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and a Democrat of the old school. John Wallace and wife were the parents of seven children, namely: John. Robert MI .. James, Enoch, Elizabeth. Nellie and Samuel, all deceased some years since.
Robert MI. Wallace was ten years of age when his parents came to In- diana and he spent the remainder of his youth in this county, with the most meager opportunities for receiving an education. However, through his own ambition and efforts he came to be a very well read man, being especially proficient in mathematics, his knowledge in this line being very largely ac- quired during spare time while at his work in a wagon shop, he having as a young man mastered the trade of wagon-maker under Harris Philpot.
Robert M. Wallace married Margaret Collins, who was also born in South Carolina. December 18, 1831. a daughter of John and Mary ( Searight ) Collins, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent. There were two children born to this union, Franklin and Margaret. John Collins married a second time, his second wife being Clarissa Evans, also born in South Carolina, but who came here directly from Tennessee. To this second union were born six children: Martin V. B., Elizabeth, James E .. Erskine. Christopher C. and Nancy, all of whom still live with the exception of Elizabeth and Erskine. Shortly after his marriage. Robert M. Wallace gave up his wagon business and engaged in farming on his father's old farm, which he purchased from the other heirs. Not long afterward he sold that place and bought eighty acres in the northeast quarter of section 24. of Buck Creek township. He also bought sold and repurchased eighty acres of the southeast quarter of section 23. which is the land on which Samuel E. Wallace now resides. Robert M. Wallace also owned at one time the west half of the northwest quarter of section 24. He was a man who led an active life and was a strong partisan of the Democratic party. However, he was never a seeker after office and declined the office of township trustee. He was Buck Creek township's first
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postmaster, the postoffice being established at his home, and he gave it the name of Mt. Comfort. Robert M. Wallace departed this life on August 19, 1881. and was survived a number of years by his widow, who died on Sep- tember 28, 1902, at the age of seventy-three years.
Samuel E. Wallace is one of a family of seven children, namely : . \n- geline, who died at the age of twenty-three ; Theodore, who died when twenty- one; John F .. Ellen E., wife of Charles O. Plessinger, with whom Samuel E. now resides ; Mary, wife of William Girt ; Samnel E. and George P. Samuel E. Wallace has passed his entire life on the one farm and as a boy attended his first school in oldl No. 4 school house, the teacher at that time being William H. Wright. After finishing the common schools he attended the Danville Normal School and later took some special instruction at the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Indianapolis. He also studied telegraphy, but never worked at it. In 1886 he took his first school, district No. 7. of Buck Creek township, and during the past thirty years he has taught every school in this township with the exception of one. For the past six years he has been teaching the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades of the Mt. Comfort central school and during the years of his school work has made friends of his pupils, who are now men and women and scattered far and wide. As a young man. Samuel Wallace gave some attention to farming, but since taking up teaching as a vocation, his work in that line has not been given much time. although he is the owner of seventy-six acres of some of Buck Creek town- ship's very best land. Mr. Wallace gives his political support to the Demo- cratic party and in every way stands high in the estimation of his large cirele of friends. As a man of influence for good in all lines he ranks with the best of Hancock county's citizens.
C. E. McCORD. M. D.
C. E. McCord was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, January 30, 1870. the son of Richard and Eliza J. ( Kinnaman ) McCord. Richard McCord was born in McCordsville, Indiana, in 1839. He was the son of Jacob MeCord. who was a farmer and owned one hundred and sixty acres in Hancock county. He was the father of the following children: Richard, who was the father of the subject of this sketch; Isaac, Anna, Rachel and Mary (twins), Laura. Adeline and James W. The father of Jacob McCord was Richard McCord. who was a farmer in Clermont county, Ohio, and he was the son of Elias Me-
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Cord. Elias McCord was a native of Virginia, and his father came from Scotland. Elias McCord married Elizabeth Hollingsworth. He fought in the Revolutionary War, and he carried a saber mark on his arm. He moved to Clermont county, Ohio, where he died in 1803.
Richard McCord, the father of the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and taught school for twenty years in Hancock and Ham- ilton counties, Indiana. He afterward bought a fine farm of one hundred acres, which he farmed until the time of his death, which occurred on January 7, 1894. He was a member of the United Brethren church. His wife now lives on the home place in Hamilton county. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, now deceased, who lived in Hamilton county. and who married Clementine Humbles : \. E., who lives in Hamilton county, and who married Nellie Wyant; Della, who is deceased; C. E., who is the subject of this sketch; Nettie B., who is deceased: Anna, who is deceased ; William, who is deceased, and Rosa.
C. E. McCord, who is the subject of this sketch, attended the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated in 1895. He is a member of both the county and state medical societies. He was married on January 15, 1896, to Nettie Cropper, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Solomon and Rachael Cropper. Doctor McCord began the practice of medicine in 1896 in Fortville, Indiana. The town of McCords- ville, Indiana, is named after the McCord family.
JEFFERSON C. BRUNSON.
Jefferson C. Brunson, of Fortville, Indiana, was born in Marion county. Indiana, on August 20, 1871. He is the son of Lonzo and Malinda ( DeFord) Brunson. Lonzo Brunson was born in Marion county, Indiana, and was the son of Robert Brunson, who was a farmer in Marion county. Robert Brun- son was the father of the following children: Lonzo, the father of J. C. Brun- son, the subject of this sketch : Sophronice, and Caroline. Malinda (DeFord) Brunson was the daughter of George D. DeFord. a farmer of Marion county. Mr. DeFord was one of the well known farmers of his day and was a great church man.
Lonzo Brunson received his education in the common schools. He was a farmer of Marion county and owned a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
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was drafted for service in the Civil War, but sent a substitute. He was the father of the following children : Ella. Ida, Harmon, Jefferson C., Lillie and George. He died in 1886. His wife is still living in Marion county, Indiana.
Jefferson C. Brunson was educated in the common schools of this county and was married on November 14. 1899, to Grace Johnson, a native of Marion county, who was the daughter of George and Nancy Johnson, who were farm- ers in Marion county. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The children of Jefferson C. and Grace ( Johnson) Brunson are : Fay and Caroline. Mr. Brunson farmed until 1904. when he moved to Fortville. Indiana, and went into the livery business, which he continued until 1913, when he went into the garage business. He is the agent for the Ford and Stude- baker machines. He is a man of excellent business qualities, and has a finely equipped garage. He is the owner of property in Fortville and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and also the Red Men of America.
ORVILLE L. MORROW.
Orville L. Morrow was born in Jay county, Indiana, in 1871. He is a son of S. P. and Elizabeth _1. (Grisell ) Morrow, both natives of Columbiana county, Ohio. The paternal grandfather was Eli Morrow, who followed the vocation of a farmer in Columbiana county, Ohio, the county in which he was born. On the maternal side, Orville L. Morrow is a descendant of Quakers, his mother being the daughter of Milo and Mary A. (Johnson) Grisell, of Preble county, Ohio. Her father was a farmer and a carpenter, and also engaged in teaching school in the early times. For seventeen years he served as a township trustee in Jay county, Indiana, having come to this state in 1850. In common with all who adhered to the Quaker faith, Mr. Grisell was conscientiously opposed to slavery, and he was ready at all times to declare the faith that was in him. Living at a time when the obnoxious fugitive slave law was in force, and when those aiding runaway slaves were liable to a severe penalty under that law. Mr. Grisell was one of those who dared to assume the risk in the interest of the bondmen seeking the liberty to which he was entitled, by "the laws of nature and nature's God." Ile was a member of the anti-slavery league, an organization effected for the purpose of aiding slaves to escape, and his house in Jay county was on the route usually traveled by the runaway slaves between Richmond and Ft. Wayne. It was
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known as the "underground railroad," and Mr. Grisell's house was one of the stations on that route.
S. P. Morrow, father of Orville L., was educated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. His wife is still living and still adheres to the Quaker faith of her ancestors. He served three years and three months in the Army of the West during the Civil War.
Orville L. Morrow was educated in the common schools of Jay county. continuing his studies through the high school, from which he graduated. In 1899 he entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute and spent three years in that institution, and then attended the Indiana University for one year. Having thus thoroughly prepared himself he engaged in teaching and fol- lowed this vocation for fourteen years in Jay and Hancock counties. He was principal of the school at McCordsville for three years and at Fortville for three years. He then gave up the business of teaching and organized the Citizens' State Bank at Fortville in 1906 and was cashier of this institution. This bank became a national bank in 1908 and Mr. Morrow continued as its cashier.
Mr. Morrow was married, in 1895. to Miss Elizabeth Stansbery, of Jay county. They have an adopted daughter, Margaret .Ann. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Knights of Pythias. He has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school in Fortville for nine years.
R. A. ALBEA.
R. A. Albea was born on July 27. 1850. He is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Hayse) .Albea. William .Albea was born on April 11, 1828, and died on May 14, 1871. He was the son of Zachariah Albea, who was born on December 6. 1794. in Maryland, and who later moved to North Carolina. where he lived on a farm for the remainder of his life. He died on June 22. 1860.
William Albea was twice married, his first wife, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Mary Elizabeth Hayse, who was born on Jan- uary 13, 1831, and who died on July 23. 1863. She was a daughter of Charles and Martha ( Rutledge ) Hayse, who were farmers in Iredell county, North Carolina. William Albea lived his entire life in North Carolina. He was a slave-owner and owned a tract of four hundred acres of land. At the time of the Civil War he was a soldier in the Southern army. To his first
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marriage were born the following children: Joseph W., who was born on June 9, 1849, and who died on June 23, 1849: R. A., the subject of this sketch. who was born on July 27. 1850: Mary J., October 20, 1852: Martha E., Au- gust 3. 1855 : Charles % .. November 18, 1857: James L., November 30, 1859). and William H., March 4. 1862. All of these latter are living and R. A., who is the subject of this sketch, came first to this state and county on February 2. 1870, and then the other brothers and a sister followed in the years to come.
After the death of Mary Elizabeth ( Hayse ) Albea in 1863, William Albea married Jane West, who was born on December 24. 1843, and who died on June 16. 1883. To this union were born the following children: A. C., who was born on December 5. 1864: Thomas M., October 2, 1866, and John W., October 2, 1870.
R. A. Albea lives in Green township on a farm of fifty-two acres, which he owns and farms himself. He does general farming. He has a 1915 model Ford car. Hle married on March 8, 1874, Mary E. Wilson, who was the daughter of James and June Wilson. Mr. Albea has not been blessed with any children. He raised a nephew. C. H. Albea, taking him when two days old, who is now twenty-one years old. He also partly raised two other boys.
QUINCY A. WRIGHT.
Quincy A. Wright, one of the prominent and influential residents of Han- cock county, was born in Tippecanoe county in 1861. the son of Lewis and Lovina ( Whelchel) Wright.
Lewis Wright was a native of Virginia, where his parents lived the greater part of their lives and died there. Lewis received his education in the public schools of his native state. After locating in Tippecanoe county Mr. Wright engaged in farming and was thus engaged during his active life. He died in Tippecanoe county. Mrs. Wright was a native of Hamilton county. having removed to Tippecanoe county in early life. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were the parents of six sons and two daughters. They were active and influ- ential members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Quincy Wright received his education in the common schools of Tippe- canoe county. After completing his education he engaged in farming and stock raising. He later engaged in the butcher business for three years, after which he became interested in a harvester company and was on the road for many years. In 1803 he located in Fortville where he has since made his
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home. Mr. Wright's wise judgment and popularity is evidenced by the fact that he was for four years township trustee and served with satisfaction to all. He later became interested in the real estate business in which work he was successful. In 1913 he was appointed postmaster of his home town, which position he still holds.
In 1887, Quincy A. Wright was united in marriage to Josie B. Watts, of Madison county. They are the parents of three children: Floyd, Fred and Chloe. Quincy A. Wright is a Free and Accepted Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Pythian Sisters and the Eastern Star. Mrs. Wright is also a member of the last two mentioned orders.
WILLIAM A. SCOTT.
William A. Scott was born on January 1. 1856. He was married on March 4, 1881, to Rachel Kitchell, who was the daughter of Squire and Nancy (Carlson) Kitchell, of Shelby county. Squire Kitchell came overland from Maryland to Shelby county, and was one of the early settlers of the county. Squire and Nancy Kitchell were the parents of the following children : Rachel, John, Percy, Calvin, Henry, Lizzie and Rebecca. Rachel Kitchell was born and raised in Shelby county. She received her education there and was mar- ried there. Her father and mother were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. William A. and Rachel ( Kitchell) Scott are the parents of the following children: Grace, who was born on August 26, 1882, who married William Valentine and they have the following children, Thelma. Donald, Zola and Wilmena; Nellie. December 11. 1883, who married William Brandenburg and they have one child. Lavon; Maggie, August 30. 1885, and who died at the age of four years ; Wilbur, February 28, 1889, who married Pearl Barrett and they have one child, Olive: Myrtle, September 16. 1894. who married Luther Jacobi, and Harry, February 10, 1899.
William A. Scott was educated in the common schools. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage. He then rented land in the neigh- borhood until in 1900 he bought a tract of forty acres of land. In 1906 he bought another tract and he now owns one hundred and nine acres of fine farming land, which he has brought to a high state of improvement.
Mr. Scott is a Democrat in politics. He has always been an active politi- cal worker as well as a progressive worker for community interests. He led a losing fight to have the township schools centralized. He served as precinct
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committeeman of his party from 1908 to 1914. He is a strong supporter of the Christian church at Sugar Creek, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Fountaintown. Mr. Scott has served as township trustee.
LARKIN W. CROUCH.
Larkin W. Crouch was born in Washington county, Tennessee, March 6. 1843, and died on March 31, 1916. He was the son of James M. and Susanna (Bowman) Crouch, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Washington county, Tennessee. John and Sarah Crouch were the grand- parents of Larkin W. Crouch on the paternal side. They were Virginians. lived on a farm, and were members of the Christian church.
On the maternal side, the grandparents were Joseph and Elizabeth Bow- man, both of whom were born in Virginia and died in Tennessee. Joseph Bowman was a farmer and was the owner of thirty-one slaves, whom he set Tree at the time of his death. The maternal grandparents were Dunkards. James M. Crouch, father of the late Larkin W. Crouch, was born in Washing- ton county, Tennessee, and lived in that county all his life, following the oc- cupation of a farmer. He had a family of thirteen children. The family were members of the Christian church.
Larkin W. Crouch was educated in the schools of his neighborhood. in Tennessee, and became a contractor and builder, and continued in that line of business after coming to Fortville, Indiana, in October, 1804. He was actively engaged in this business for a period of fifty-two years. In 1870 he started a lumber yard and planing-mill in Fortville, and continued this busi- ness, in connection with his contracting business, until 1880, when he disposed of the planing-mill and afterwards devoted his time exclusively to contracting and building.
Mr. Crouch became a member of the Christian church, at Boors Creek church, in Tennessee, in 1859. When he came to Fortville there was but one other person in the place who was a member of that denomination. \ few additions were made to this number in a short time, and with these Mr. Crouch organized a congregation and began the work of building a church. in 1871. There were twenty-three charter members of this organization, fif- teen men and eight women, and four states were represented in this mem- brship, namely: Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. His passing re- moves the last survivor of the charter members. The congregation was or-
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