USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 107
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ROBERT F. WILSON.
Robert F. Wilson was born in a log house that stood in the same place that his present summer kitchen is located. This log house was not a pre- tentious structure, as compared with the average farm residence of the pres- ent time, but this was the kind of a house in which the pioneer settlers lived and began the work of clearing the forests. In this kind of a house they reared their families, usually large families, and trained their children to habits of industry and self-dependence. Under such conditions and such environments, Robert F. Wilson began his life, in 1844. He spent his boy- hood days on the home farm, doing his share of a boy's work and, as he grew older, made a "full hand" on his father's farm. After attaining his majority he bought a farm of eighty acres, which he still owns, and on which he has continued to make his home. He put up all the present buildings on the place and has all the needed improvements on the farm. He is engaged in general farming, raising the varied crops for which his farm is well adapted.
Robert F. Wilson has been twice married. Ilis first marriage was to Dorcas Walker, in 1870. There were no children by this marriage. His second wife's maiden name was Luella Sullivan, who was born in North Carolina, to whom he was married in 1893. To this union the following chil- dren were born: Euphemia, born in 1894: Marion, born in 1896. Both of these are at home.
The paternal grandparents were Robert and Sarah ( Friend) Wilson, of North Carolina. They came to Indiana and were among the first settlers in Green township, Hancock county. They located on forty acres of land near that on which Robert F. Wilson now lives. They established a home here and here they spent the rest of their days. The maternal grandparents were Hugh and Sarah Bolden, also of North Carolina. They also were among the early pioneers of Indiana, settling on White Water River, in Hancock county, and engaged in farming for several years. In later life they moved to town and retired from active work.
The parents of Robert F. Wilson were Samuel and Elizabeth ( Bolden) Wilson, both natives of North Carolina. Both came to Indiana with their parents when they were young. Samuel Wilson had no education and grew to manhood's estate without being able to read or write. After he was mar- ried he was taught these accomplishments by his wife. He began farming on forty acres of land which he entered from the government. the same tract of land on which Robert F. Wilson now lives. He built a rough log cabin which was without a door or chimney when he and his wife moved in and
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began housekeeping. Later he traded a horse for another forty acres across the road, and some time later bought sixty acres west of this. Mr. Wilson continued to live here until his death, which occurred about twenty-five years before the death of his wife. Mrs. Wilson insisted on living in the old log house after her husband's death, and there she continued to live the remainder of her days. The children of this family were: Frances, John, who died young ; Robert F., James, Noah, William J. and Isabel.
DAVID OREN RECORD.
David Oren Record was born in Hancock county, near Eden, Indiana, on January 9. 1877. He was the son of David and Mary (Jackson) Record, who were the parents of eight children, only two of whom are living, David Oren, who is the subject of this sketch, and Charles C., who is working with his brother in the hardware business.
David Record, Sr., was born in Hancock county on February 18, 1833, where he lived until his death in 1899. He had to walk a great distance to the common schools where he received a fair education. He was engaged all his life in general farm work. He was a Democrat in politics. He was mar- ried to Mary Jackson, in Hancock county. She was born in Hancock county on April 9, 1838, and was educated in the district schools of that county. She is still living with her sons in Willow Branch, Indiana. She is a member of the United Brethren church.
David Oren Record, the subject of this sketch, secured his early education in the district schools of Hancock county and later took up general farming in which occupation he remained until in 1900. At that time he went into the livery business in which he was very successful. In connection with this livery business, Mr. Record entered into the general merchandise business with Mr. Welborn at Willow Branch. This proved to be a successful partnership which lasted for over three years, at the end of which time Mr. Record took over the hardware and implement department. In this he has specialized and has been very successful. He has the only hardware store in Willow Branch.
David Oren Record married Lora E. Bridges, who was born near War- rington, Indiana, on January 27. 1880. She was the daughter of Franklin M. and Hannah (Beaver) Bridges, who are the parents of five children and who are still living on the same farm near Warrington, Indiana. To David Oren and Lora E. (Bridges) Record were born the following children : Ruth.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
who is eleven years old; Naomi, who is seven years old, and Fern, who is five years old. Mr. Record is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, and has passed through the different chairs in that lodge. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church at Name- less Creek.
JOHN CLAY WOOD.
John Clay Wood, a well-known and enterprising general insurance agent at Wilkinson, this county, is a native son of Hancock county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the city of Greenfield on October 30, 1873, son of William Spencer and Martha Ann (Garriott) Wood, the former a Virginian and the latter a native of this county, prominent and influential residents of that city.
William Spencer Wood was born in Randolph county, Virginia (now Barbour county, West Virginia ). September 26, 1838, and was reared on a farm in that county, remaining there until he came with his parents and their eight other children to Indiana in 1860. the family arriving in Hancock county on September 30 of that year. On April 7. 1864. William S. Wood was united in marriage to Martha Ann Garriott, of Warrington, this county, who was born in that neighborhood, May 13, 1844. eklest daughter of the Hon. William Lair Garriot, and a year later engaged in the grocery business at Greenfield, where he was thus engaged until 1868, in which year he formed a partnership with Matthew L. Paulus in the general hardware and agricul- tural implement business. Presently he bought his partner's interest in that business and conducted the same alone until he sold it on July 15, 1874. On January 4, 1875, he became one of the incorporators of the Citizens Bank of Greenfield and was elected vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the same. William S. Wood died on September 30, 1875. He and his wife were the parents of four children, namely: John Clay. Olive Frances, Sarah and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Martha Ann Wood was married a second time and in the early eighties she moved with her family to a farm near Cleveland, where she died on October 25. 1884. To her second union was born one child, a daughter, who is now Mrs. Frank Gibbs, of Greenfield.
William S. Wood was reared a member of the Misionary Baptist church. but later became a member of the Christian church, with which his wife was affiliated. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and was one of the charter
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members of Eureka Lodge No. 20. Knights of Pythias, at Greenfield, instituted in 1872, and was the first chancellor commander of the lodge. In 1874 he was elected grand vice chancellor of the grand lodge of Indiana. Knights of Pyth- . ias, and took a very active part in Pythian affairs.
John C. Wood was nine years old when his mother and step-father moved from Greenfield to the farm near Cleveland and he remained there until after his mother's death. He lived in various counties of Indiana until he entered the employ of the S. R. Wells Window Glass Company, with which he remained until 1901, in which year he became one of the number of employees of that firm that organized the Co-operative Glass Company of Wilkinson and established a glass factory on a site furnished by the town of Wilkinson, the town also providing free gas for the enterprise, and he has lived there ever since. In 1002 Mr. Wood engaged in the general insurance business at Wil- kinson and has ever since been very successfully engaged in that business. writing practically all the insurance taken in that town. He is an independent voter in local elections, but on national issues votes with the Prohibition party. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and take an active inter- est in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works.
Mrs. Wood, who before her marriage was Addie Pearl Kitley, was born on a farm in Marion county, this state, February 26, 1878, daughter and only child of John and Sarah A. (Willett) Kitley, the latter of whom was born in Hancock county on August 20, 1844, and to this union four children have been born, Willis Nile. Glenn Hearst, Charles .A. and Martha Pearl. Mr. Wood is a past officer of the Amalgamated Window Glass Workers and is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights and Ladies of Honor, the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
BENJAMIN PICKERING CATT.
Benjamin Pickering Catt, a well-known and up-to-date farmer of Blue River township, this county, is a native Hoosier, born in the neighboring county of Rush, September 12, 1846, son of Solomon and Cerena ( Pickering) Catt, who became carly residents of the Hopewell neighborhood in this county and there spent their last days.
Solomon Catt, the son of one of the earliest settlers in Hancock county, was born on a pioneer farm near the present site of Cleveland. in this county,
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in 1818. He was reared there, but later went over into Rush county, where for some years he was engaged in the cooperage business. There he married Cerena Pickering, who was born in Ohio and whose parents had settled in Rush county at an early date. As a cooper Solomon Catt accumulated eight hundred dollars and in 1854 came with his family over into Hancock county and paid that sum for eighty acres of land in the Hopewell settlement, giving a shot-gun for "boot." There he erected a hewed-log house and established his home, he and his wife spending the rest of their lives in this county. In addition to the labors of clearing and improving his farm. Solomon Catt con- tinued for some time after settling here to ply his trade as a cooper and many barrels were turned out of the shop he set up on his place. He increased his land holdings and presently became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres surrounding his home. He and his wife were earnest members of the Friends church and aided in the organization of the church in the vicinity of their home, Mr. Catt shaving the boards that entered into the construction of the first edifice erected by that meeting. He also was one of the first officers of the meeting and in all ways did well his part in the formative period of the now well-established community. Originally a Whig, he became a Republi- can upon the formation of that party and ever remained stanchly loyal to the principles of his party. Solomon Catt lived to a good old age, his death occur- ring in August, 1901. His widow survived him for thirteen years, her death occurring in 1914, she then being eighty-eight years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow: Rebecca Ann, who died about thirty years ago; Lucinda, who married Joseph L. Binford and died about 1908: Eli O., who lives in this county; Harvey, who lives in Rush county ; Mark A., living in North Dakota: Riley A., a resident of this county, and Nathan, who went to the front as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, enlisting when he was sixteen years of age, and died of typhoid fever at Murfreesboro while in the service.
Benjamin P. Catt's early youth was spent at Knightstown, where his father conducted a cooper shop, and there he received his first schooling in a log school house which stood where the present central school building at Knightstown stands. He was eight years old when his parents came over into Hancock county and his schooling here was continued in the school estab- lished at Hopewell by his mother's brother, William Pickering. He was an active assistant in the work of developing the home farm and grew up strong. active and vigorous. Benjamin Pickering Catt went west and was away from the old home for twenty-five years, at the end of which time he returned and
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bought twenty-five acres of land, where he now lives, paying for the same one thousand dollars. He later added an adjoining tract of fifteen acres and to that, presently, another tract of forty-four acres. For the last four-acre tract he added to his place he paid the sum of eight hundred and twenty-five dollars. Mr. Catt is a progressive and up-to-date farmer and his place is admirably improved. He has a modern nine-room house, piped for gas: cement walks about the place ; a wind-mill and farm buildings in keeping, and his farm is under excellent cultivation.
Mr. Catt is a birthright member of the Friends church and has always con- tributed to the support of the same. He is a Republican and has always sup- ported that party. During the ascendancy of the Populist party he was appointed a delegate to the Omaha convention of that party which gave Will- iam J. Bryan the nomination for President, but he declined to accept the honor.
JOHN F. JOHNSON.
John F. Johnson, for years one of the leading merchants of Fortville, this county, president of the First National Bank of that city, for twelve years or more a member of the local school board and in all ways interested in the promotion of the best interests of his home town, is a native of Ohio, but has been a resident of Fortville ever since beginning his business career and has long been thoroughly identified with the business interests of that thriving little city and with those of central Indiana in general. He was born on a farm in Van Wert county, Ohio, June 28, 1873. His father, Wilson Johnson, was born in Salisbury. North Carolina, and his mother, Calinda J. ( Mills) Johnson, in Van Wert county, Ohio.
Wilson Johnson was but a boy when his parents moved from North Carolina to Van Wert county, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood on a farm. When the Civil War broke cut he enlisted for service in Company G. Fiftieth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until mustered out at the close of the war. After his marriage he lived on a farm in Van Wert county for some years and then moved to Willshire, in that same county, where for some years he conducted a dry goods store. He later engaged in the mill and elevator business. He died in May, 1879. His wife died in March, 1913. They were the parents of two sons, John F. and Walter P. Johnson, the latter married Lulu B. Bean and lives in Adams county. this state.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
John F. Johnson was reared in his native county in Ohio and received his elementary education in the public schools of Willshire, supplementing the same by a course in the School of Pharmacy at Ada, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1894. In 1807 he came to Hancock county and located at Fort- ville, where he opened a drug store, and has ever since been engaged in the drug business in that city, long having been regarded as one of the leading merchants of that place. Mr. Johnson has given close attention to the general business conditions of his home town ever since locating there and since the year 1911 has been president of the First National Bank of Fortville.
On October 20, 1897. John F. Johnson was united in marriage to Ada R. Bobilya, daughter of George L. Bobilya and wife, of Willshire, Ohio, and to this union four children were born, Valeria M., Bessie G., Vehna Jane and Margaret Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same. as well as in local good works generally, ever earnest promoters of all move- ments designed to advance the welfare of the community at large. Mr. John- son is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these two popular organizations.
MACK WARRUM.
Mack Warrum, sheriff of Hancock county, is a native son of this county and a member of one of the first families to settle in this section of the state. He was born on a farm in Jackson township. December 7, 1870, son of Noble and Maria ( Wood) Warrum, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Virginia.
Noble Warrum was born on a pioneer farm near the then village of Rich- mond, in Wayne county, this state, on July 8, 1818, and was but a lad when his parents came over into Hancock county, where his father entered for set- tlement the first bit of "Congress land" ever homesteaded in this county and established his home in the then wilderness of Jackson township. Grandfather Harmon Warrum was an energetic pioneer and prospered in his land ventures, as did his son. Noble, the latter eventually becoming the owner of thirteen hundred acres of land in this county. Harmon Warrum entered claim to the last bit of government land open in Hancock county. Noble Warrum main- tained his home in Jackson township until his retirement from the active duties of the farm, when he moved to Greenfield, where he spent his last days, hi-
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death occurring on February 9. 1899. Noble Warrum was thrice married. his first wife, who was Rosanna Williams, daughter of Richard Williams, and whom he married on February 16, 1842, dying on August 27, 1862, leaving one son. Richard, who is living in Greenfield. On April 18, 1863. he married. secondly, Maria A. Wood, who was born in Virginia, daughter of Wyttee Wood, and who died on December 27. 1873, leaving three sons and one daugh- ter, Noble, Henry, Mack and Roseann, the latter of whom, born in 1868, died at the age of nineteen years. On December 19, 1877. the senior Noble War- rum married Mary Jane Cory, daughter of Adam Cory, of Madison county. this state, who died in 1903 without issue. The sons of Noble and Maria (Wood) Warrum have all done well and have made their mark in public life. The junior Noble Warrum, born in 1865. is now postmaster of Salt Lake City, Utah. Henry Warrum, born in 1867. is one of the best-known lawyers in Indianapolis and Mack is sheriff of Hancock county. Their father was a Democrat of the true Jefferson-Jackson school and they were reared in that political faith. Even before he was "of age" the elder Noble Warrum was appointed, in 1839, assessor of Hancock county and had to wait until he had attained his majority before he could enter upon the duties of the office. Four years later he was elected to succeed himself as assessor and during his long incumbency in that office did a good work in this county. In 1860 he was elected to represent his district in the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly and was afterward thrice re-elected to a seat in the House, his long legislative service proving of great value to his constituents and to the state at large. In 1856 he became a Mason and ever thereafter took a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He was a Universalist in his religious faith.
Mack Warrum grew up on the old home in Jackson township, receiving his early education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, sup- plementing the same by a course'in the Greenfield high school. after which he went West to "grow up with the country" and traveled for a year, gaining a rather comprehensive acquaintance with the Western conditions. He then returned home and in 1889, he then being nineteen years of age, enlisted in the United States regular army, in which he served for three years, seeing service first at Columbus, Ohio, and then with Battery I. Fifth Artillery, at Alcatraz. near San Francisco. Upon the termination of his term of service in Sep- tember. 1891, he returned home and for some time was variously engaged. including a few years spent as a "lumber jack" in the Michigan woods. In 1897 Mr. Warrum was united in marriage in Greenfield to Annie Farrell, who was born in New York City on March 13, 1880. and who had accompanied her father, William Farrell, to Greenfield when he arrived there to take
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charge of the work of constructing the court house. The next year the Span- ish-American War broke out and Mack Warrum enlisted for service in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served, as a part of the Second Brigade, until the regiment was mustered out at Indianapolis on November 4. following. Upon the conchision of his military service Mr. Warrum moved onto a farm he had meantime acquired in Blue River township, this county, where he lived until 1909, in which year he bought another place over in Sugar Creek township, to which he moved, and there he remained until the time of his election to the office of sheriff of Hancock county in 1912, when he moved to Greenfickl and occupied the sheriff's residence. Sheriff Warrum was re-elected in 1914 and is now serving his second term. Sheriff Warrum is a Democrat and is a member of the Elks, the Eagles, the Red Men and the Haymakers. He and his wife are attendants at the Christian church.
CHARLES L. TINDALL.
Charles L. Tindall is of Scotch-English' descent. The very early history of the family has never been traced. Mr. Tindall's great-grandfather. George Tindall, was a soldier in the War of 1812. His grandfather. John W. Tindall. was a native of Ohio and moved to Wayne county, Indiana, about 1821. John T. Tindall, his father, was born on February 5. 1844. in Wayne county, Indiana. His mother, Mary E. Tindall, was a daughter of Johnson and Eliza- beth Evans, was born on July 22, 1853. in Marshall county, Indiana. John T. Tindall and Mary E. Evans were married on December 29, 1870, at Plymouth. Indiana, and established their home at Greenfield in January, 1871. They are the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons. Charles L. Tindall is the oldest son. He was born at Greenfield. July 21, 1877. and has lived all his life in his native city. Ile was educated in the public schools of Greenfield, and graduated from the Greenfieldl high school in June, 1894. For a period of five years thereafter he found employment at the foundry of the Home Stove Company, at Greenfield, learning the trade of stove mounting. In July, 1899. he began reading law in the office of Edward W. Felt. After three or four months he entered the law office of March & Cook, where he remained as a student until the fall of 1001. He was admitted to the bar. April 23, 1900, upon motion of William Ward Cook. In the fall of 19or he entered the senior class of the law department of the University of Indianapolis.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
graduating on May 23, 1902. He opened a law office in Greenfield in June. following, and has since that time been engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. During the past five or six years he has been engaged in the practice with his brother, George Tindall. under the firm name of Tindall & Tindall. In 1904 he became the Democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney of the eighteenth judicial circuit, and was elected, receiving a greater majority than any other candidate on the ticket. He was re-elected in 1906. and served until January 1, 1909. As prosecutor, he was fearless and aggressive, and at the close of his service in this office his reputation as a trial lawyer was estab- lished. In the constellation of trial lawyers of the Hancock bar, his star has taken its place with those of Walpole, Gooding, Offutt and Cook. He is resourceful and industrious, and as a master of trial tactics, probably has few superiors in the state. From 1910-14 he served as city attorney of the city of Greenfield, and in August. 1915, was elected a member of the Greenfield school board.
Charles L. Tindall was married on October 23, 1907, to Goldendean Fin- ley, of Greenfield. His home has been blessed with two children : Charles George, age six years, and Evelyn, age five years. Fraternally, Mr. Tindall is affiliated with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men and Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
HON. WILLIAM R. HOUGH.
No biographical history of Hancock county would be complete without fitting reference to the life and the services of the Hon. William R. Hough. a venerable and highly respected citizen of Greenfield. and who for many years was regarded as a leader of the bar of the Hancock circuit court. a former state senator and ever foremost in promoting the best interests of the community of which he has been a very vital factor since the year 1856. a period of six decades, during which time he has been a witness to, and an active participant in. the wonderful development that has marked this region within the past generation or more.
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