USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 108
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William R. Hough was born in Wayne county. Indiana, October 9. 1833, son of Alfred and Anna ( Marine) Hough, and was reared in Elkhart county, this state, to which place his parents had moved when he was a child. He received an excellent education in his youth and his attention early was attracted to the legal profession. After having taught school two winters
NORStough
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in Lagrange county, m pursuance of his design to take up the practice of law. he entered the office of Capt. Reuben A. Riley, at Greenfield, in 1850, he then being in the twenty-third year of his age, and under that careful pre- ceptorship was presently competent to take the required examination for ad- mission to the bar. In 1858 and 1859 he acted as school examiner, having been appointed to that office for each of said years by the board of commis- sioners of this county. Upon being admitted to practice he continued his residence in Greenfield and very soon was recognized as a forceful figure at the bar of this circuit. In 1800 Mr. Hough was elected district attorney for the district comprising Hancock, Madison, Henry, Rush and Decatur counties, and for the term of two years prosecuted the pleas of the state to the satisfaction of all law abiding citizens. In 1872 he was elected, as the nominee of the Republicans of the senatorial district then composed of Han- cock and Henry counties, to a seat in the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly. While sitting in the senate Mr. Hongh performed an adorable service, not only in behalf of his district, but for the state at large, and was regarded as one of the leaders in that body. Mr. Hough was an able lawyer and during the long period of his practice at Greenfield was very successful. In 1888 he admitted to partnership with him his son, William A. Hough. who was admitted to the bar in that year, and a few years later. having ac- quired an ample competency, he retired from the general practice of the law. but continued as local counsel for the Pennsylvania Railway Company, a position which he has held since September, 1876. Since that time he has been living quietly retired at his pleasant home in Greenfield, where for many years he and his wife enjoyed countless evidences of the high regard in which they were held throughout the entire community. Mrs. Hough died on June 26, 1900.
Mrs. Hough, who before her marriage was Matikla C. MeDowell, was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, coming to America with her widowed mother and family when she was a young girl. To her union with Mr. Hough three children were born, William A., a prominent attorney of Greenfield, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume : Clarence . \ .. of Chicago, and Mary Mabel, who died at the age of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Hough were for many years, as since her death he has been, carnest in all good works hereabout and have done much to promote the better interests of their home community. Though not actively affiliated with any of the organized church bodies. Mr. Hough ever has been a liberal contributor to church and other local beneficences and has done much to help elevate the social and cultural life of the community. Mr. Hough has been an active
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member of the Republican party from the time of its organization. His religious opinions more nearly accord with doctrines of the Unitarian church than any other. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and was for many years in affiliation with the Odd Fellows.
MATTHEW L. FRANK.
Matthew L. Frank, son of Matthew S. and Nancy ( Loy) Frank, was born in Mercer county, Ohio, April 1, 1842; his father was born in New York, his mother in Ohio. The maternal grandfather was George Loy, who was a farmer in Ohio and died at his home near Sunbury, in this state. Matthew S. Frank came to Ohio with his mother and located near Sunbury. There he married and located on a tract of government land in Mercer county and engaged in farming, being one of the pioneer settlers of that county. A con- siderable part of the land on which he settled was heavily timbered and required much labor to clear and put in shape for cultivation. He was a very success- ful farmer and accumulated a large body of land during his life. He was the owner of one entire section, six hundred and forty acres, and one hundred and twenty acres in another section. Mr. Loy died at his home at this place ; his wife died some years later at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch, at the age of eighty-five years. He and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He had a family of eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, namely: Elizabeth, Nancy, George and Matthew L.
Matthew L. Frank was educated in Mercer county, Ohio, in the days of the log school house. During his school days he worked on his father's farm, and afterward engaged in farming on his own account on a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres which he purchased in Mercer county. In 1870 he sold that place and came to Indiana, and bought a farm of one hundred and fifty- seven acres in Green township. Hancock county. He afterward bought addi- tional land and now owns two hundred and sixty acres. He put up a good house and other buildings and has continued to live here ever since. He is now practically retired from active farm work but continues to have general management of his farm. He was married on April 12. 1863. to Matilda Johnston, daughter of James Johnston and wife, both of whom were born in Ireland. The children of this marriage are : Johnston H., whose biographical sketch appears in another place in this volume, and Laura Bell Keller. Mr. Frank is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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James Johnston, father of Mrs. Matthew L. Frank, was a son of James and Lutitia ( Brownlee) Johnson, natives of Ireland. His father and mother never left their native country. James Johnston was reared and edu- cated in Ireland, working on a farm until he grew to manhood's years. He continued to live in Ireland several years after his marriage. He came to America in 1851, bringing his wife and a family of eight children. He first located near Piqua, Ohio, and engaged in farming. There his wife died, and soon after he removed to Mercer county, Ohio, where he had a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He continued to make that place his home until his death. He had a brother, Matthew, who preceded him to America, bringing with him his wife and five children. They also located at Piqua and all died there. The Johnsons were Episcopalians, except Mrs. Frank, who is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church.
GEORGE W. BRATTEN.
George W. Bratten was born on April 11, 1850, in Ripley county, Indiana. He is the son of William D. Bratten and Martha ( Rounds ) Bratten. William D. Bratten was born near Baltimore, Maryland. He was a farmer and moved to Ripley county when a small child. He was the owner of a tract of land. He was a member of the Baptist church. He was twice married. His first wife, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Martha Rounds, who was a daughter of Joshua Rounds. He also moved to Ripley county, and was a landowner. He was a member of the Baptist church. William Bratten, the father of William D. Bratten, was born in Maryland and after his marriage he moved his family to Ripley county, Indiana. He was the owner of about three hundred acres of land, and was a member of the Baptist church. The children of William D. Bratten and his first wife are as follow: Julia, who is deceased : Joshua, lives in Harrisonville, Missouri; Martha, who is deceased ; Rosella, who is deceased; George W., the subject of this sketch, and Elizabeth, who is deceased. William D. Bratten married Mary Bielby, a widow, whose maiden name was Dixon, for his second wife, and the children by the second wife are as follow : Sarah, William, Orange and Geneva, who is deceased. William D. Bratten was a member of the Milan Lodge No. 41, Free and Accepted Masons. He died about 1878.
George W. Bratten was educated in the common schools in Ripley county. He was married in Marion county and lived there until about 1890, when he
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moved to Buck Creek township. Hancock county, where he bought a tract of forty acres of land which he sold in 1906. Hle now owns a tract of eighty acres in V'ernon township. Hancock county, and does general farming. He is a member of the Christian church at Oaklandon. He is also a member of Oak- landon Lodge No. 140. Free and Accepted Masons. He was married on December 26. 1879, to Mary J. Lingle, who was born in Ripley county, Novem- ber 23, 1857, and who is the daughter of John and Mary .1. ( Williamson) Lingle. John A. Lingle was a merchant at Pierceville, Indiana. Their chil- dren were Sarah. Marcellus, Mary A\ .. Jeptha and John. The grandfather of the wife of the subject of this sketch was Lawrence Lingle, who moved from South Carolina to Indiana. He was a farmer and a member of the Presby- terian church. He married Elizabeth Mock. The children of George W. Bratten are William D .. Theodosa, Fred W. and Guy G.
OTTO SCHRAMM.
Otto Schramm, one of the best-known citizens of Sugar Creek township. Hancock county. Indiana, resides on his excellent farm in that township which has the distinction of having always been the property of the Schramm family. It was pre-empted from the government by his grandfather. Jacob Schramm. the original deed conveying to him being signed by President AAndrew Jack- son. This land, which was then a complete wilderness, has through the years been brought up to a high state of cultivation and the primitive cabin home has given place to a modern nine-room residence. This residence was erected in later years by the original owner, but has been modernized by the present repre- sentative of the family.
Otto Schramm first saw the light of day on this old homestead. which is about four miles northwest of New Palestine, on May 28, 1878, son of Gustav and Nannie ( Rosener ) Schramm. Gustav Schramm was born on the same place. October 6. 1838, and died at Cumberland. March 18, 1912, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife. Nannie Rosener, was born on January 21, 1846. and died on June 30. 1907. when sixty-one years old. Gustav Schramm was a son of Jacob and Johanna ( Yunghans) Schramm, both of whom were born in Germany, where they married, and immigrated to this country about 1832.
Otto Schramm passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead. pur- suing his studies at the German school and after completing his studies at that institution, he graduated in the common schools. He remained at home. assist-
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ing his father and did not marry until thirty years of age. On June 21, 1908, he was united in matrimony with Amalia Markworth, born at Wyandotte, Michigan, near Detroit, December 6. 1884, a daughter of Godfrey and Marie (Brinkmeir) Markworth. Godfrey Markworth is a native of Perry county, Missouri, while his wife was born in Germany, and both now make their home with Mr. Schramm. After marriage Otto Schramm brought his bride to the old homestead and there they have continued to reside. Four children have been born to them: Armin, born on May 2, 1909: Esther, July 26, 1910; Norma, January 24, 1913, and Gustav, February 11, 1914.
Mr. Schramm carries on general farming along methods most approved by scientific investigation and attributes his success in his business to the fact that he keeps the fertility of his land up to the highest standard by feeding all the grain produced on the place and selling the live stock. He averages about thirteen head of dairy cattle, some of which are high grade Polled Durhams. keeps six to eight head of good grade Percheron draft horses and feeds annually for the market about sixty hogs. By balancing his grain production and live stock in the manner described, he keeps his land in excellent condition and his yield per acre of corn and other grain runs a little higher than the average.
Mr. Schramm and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, which society he has served as treasurer and trustee. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party, but is really independent in his inclinations. He takes more than a passive interest in public affairs and has served as secretary-treasurer of the German Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In all things he is highly progressive and respected by all who have the pleas- ure of his acquaintance.
WILLIAM THOMAS COOPER.
William Thomas Cooper was born in Green township, Hancock county. January 15, 1867. He is a son of William and Miami ( Cass) Cooper, both natives of North Carolina. llis paternal grandparents were Veicent and Almira Cooper, the grandfather a native of North Carolina, the grandmother of Ohio They came to Indiana at an early day and were among the early settlers of Hancock county. The eller Cooper entered government land in Green township, all of which was timber land without improvements of any kind. He built a cabin and began life in Indiana in the woods. He cleared the land of the heavy growth of timber, built a comfortable house in which
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to live and put up all the other buildings on this farm. He added other acres to his real estate hoklings from year to year and at the time of his death he was the owner of a body of land comprising three hundred and fifty acres. The maternal grandparents were also among the early settlers of Green town- ship, Hancock county.
William Cooper was educated in the schools of Hancock county and his life vocation was that of a farmer. He was the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and thirty-six acres, forty of which was a part of the old home place owned by his father. He served as a soldier during the Civil War in an In- diana regiment. He had a family of six children.
William T. Cooper was educated in the public schools of Green township, Hancock county, and worked on his father's farm in his early years. Later he began farming on his own account and has followed that business all his life. He now owns a farm of eighty acres on which he lives in a comfortable home. He was married in 1904 to Mrs. Martha L. (Hunt) Shipley, and to this union one daughter, Mary Lucile, was born. Mrs. Cooper's first husband was Willard Shipley : Salina was the one daughter by this marriage. Mr. Cooper's only fraternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
BENJAMIN G. FAUT.
Benjamin G. Faut, farmer, living near Finley. Hancock county. Indiana, was born in the town of New Palestine, February 14, 1867, son of Ernest W. and Mary (Manche) Faut, the latter a native of Hancock county.
Ernest W. Faut was born in Bremen, Germany, March 30. 1835, and was one of a large family of children. He received a good common school education in his native city and while still a youth mastered the blacksmith trade. In the year 1852 or 1853. when seventeen or cighteen years old, he came to America with a second cousin. They were on the water nine weeks and landed in New Orleans, from which point they came up the Mississippi river by boat to St. Louis, where young Faut followed his trade for about two years He then came to Hancock county, still relying on his trade as a means of livelihood and when twenty-five years of age was united in marriage with Mary Manche. They took up their residence in New Palestine, where he conducted a blacksmith shop for the next twelve years. In the meantime he purchased a tract of twenty acres about one-half mile north of New Palestine and eighty acres in another piece a short distance east of the town. These he
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later sold and in 1872 bought his farm of one hundred and sixty acres about a mile east of New Palestine, where he took up the vocation of farming and passed his remaining days. About one-third of the land was cleared when he bought it and there was a log cabin and stable. He energetically set about clearing the balance of his land and draining it and in 1876 erected a large and commodious residence of nine rooms, the brick for which he burned him- self the previous summer. He also built large barns and other outbuildings in keeping with the general character of the place. He purchased land from time to time until at his death he owned between nine hundred and one thou- sand acres and was considered one of the most successful farmers of the county. His death occurred on September 17. 1908, at the age of seventy- three, his wife having preceded him into the Great Beyond some four years, in December of 1904. Both were devout members of the German Methodist Episcopal church of New Palestine, and from the time he became a citizen of this community he gave his political support to the Democratic party. Ernest W. Faut and wife were the parents of six children, as follow : William, who died at the age of three years ; Fannie E., wife of Chris Schilling ; Ben- jamin G., the immediate subject of this sketch; Julia L., wife of Edward Rauschaupt; Anna Belle, who died when twelve years of age, and Walter, residing near New Palestine.
Benjamin G. Faut spent his earliest years in New Palestine and was four years of age when his parents moved to the farm, where he grew to manhood. He received his education in old No. 6 school, known as the "Gates" school and his first teacher was Vinnie Gates. He was early taught by his father to help with the work of the farm and from the time his studies were completed until twenty-four years of age, he was his father's assistant. On November 22, 1891, he was united in marriage with Jennie N. Richman, born in Sugar Creek township on the old Richman place in January of 1874. a daughter of Anton F. and Mary ( Meier) Richman, both from early pioneer families of this section. There were six children in the Richman family, but three of whom survive: Charles, Flora, wife of William Lantz, and Jennie N.
About five years after marriage, Benjamin G. Faut bought eighty acres, part of the old Brandenburg homestead, for fifty-five dollars per acre, and his next purchase was with his father, being the Grove Service farin of eighty- seven and one-half acres in Brandywine township. for which a price of forty dollars per acre was paid. Ilis next purchase was a tract of forty acres from the Knierilum heirs, for which he paid one hundred and eighteen dollars per acre. He next bought the old Freeman place of one hundred and forty-five acres, in 1911, paying one hundred and ten dollars per acre. These various
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tracts, with the one hundred and eighty acres inherited from his father's estate. make Mr. Faut's holdings total five hundred and forty-five acres and he has under his personal management all but about two hundred acres. The home place has a beautiful and modern residence of ten rooms surrounded by an attractive lawn and trees. There is also a substantial barn, forty by sixty. good double corn-crib and granary, buggy shed and garage, all in perfect keeping with the surroundings. Mr. Faut divides his attention between gen- eral farming and the raising of live stock, and is uniformly successful with his crops. He feeds on an average of one hundred and twenty-five hogs for the market annually, favoring the Duroc-Jersey breed. He has on an average of from twenty-five to thirty head of cattle with twenty head of good grade Percheron horses, including colts.
There are four children in the Faut family: Mabel, wife of John Faut, residing in Sugar Creek township: Ezra, Hazel and Flora, all single and at home with the parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Faut are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at New Palestine, of which society he serves as trustee, secretary and treasurer. He is also vice-president and director of the New Palestine Bank and is connected with other business interests. Politically. he gives his support to the Democratic party and is well and favorably known as one of the more substantial citizens of the township. He enjoys the con- fidence and respect of all who know him.
DANIEL M. COLLINGWOOD.
Daniel M. Collingwood was born in Decatur county, Indiana, in 1868. He received his education in the public schools of Rush county and soon after completing his education entered the saw-mill business with his father. He has devoted his life to the operation of mills and the lumber business. He was for a short time interested in the operation of a threshing machine.
When but a lad, Mr. Collingwood came with his parents to Hancock county where they were engaged in the mill and lumber business. For one year he operated a mill at Willow Branch and previous to that time he had been interested in mills throughout the county.
In 1915 Collingwood Brothers engaged in the elevator business at Willow Branch in addition to their other interests. They bought the elevator from a Mr. Kinder, the former owner. Mr. Collingwood resides in Indianapolis. where he has lived for the past seven years.
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On January 4, 1894. Daniel M. Collingwood was united in marriage to Ruby McDongal. of Knightstown, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Collingwood are active members of the Third Christian church, of Indianapolis.
HARRY L. FLETCHER.
Harry L. Fletcher, trustee of Blue River township. this county, one of the best-known farmers of that part of the county and who for thirteeen years was engaged in the teaching profession. is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Harrison county, that state, February 1, 1866, son of Benjamin F. and Louisa (Farmer) Fletcher, both natives of the Blue Grass state, the former of whom, born in 1812, died in 1878 and the latter, born in 1819, died in 1894.
Benjamin Fletcher was born and reared on a Kentucky farm and when a young man came to Indiana, settling in Rush county, where he married a Miss Dickey, a native of this state, and established his home in Rush county. To that union six children were born, Robert, Marion, Anna, Vashti, Dora and Caroline. The mother of these children died and Mr. Fletcher returned to Kentucky, where, in 1856, he married Louisa Farmer and settled in Har- rison county, that state. To that union five children were born, those besides the subject of this sketch being Oliver, Jefferson, John and Arthur, the latter two of whom are now deceased. When the Civil War broke out Benjamin Fletcher enlisted for service in the Confederate army and was with Gen. John Morgan and was captured in Kentucky. Mr. Fletcher was sent to the Union military prison at Rock Island and was confined there two years. At the close of the war he returned home and resumed his farming operations and was thus engaged the rest of his life.
Harry L. Fletcher was reared on the home farm in Harrison county, receiving his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, which he supplemented by two years of attendance at a private school, after which he entered the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. He then entered upon his career as a teacher and was thus engaged for thirteen years. After his graduation he went West and was for two years engaged as a teacher in Colorado. He then returned to Kentucky and was engaged as a teacher at Claysville in that state for nine years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to a real-estate firm in Texas, with which he was engaged for two years, later coming to Indiana and locating in Rush county, where he
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taught school for two years, or until in March, 1912, when he came to Han- cock county and bought the eighty-acre farm on which he is now living in Blue River township and where he and his family are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Fletcher is a Democrat and at the last election was elected to the office of township trustee, in which capacity he is now serving the interests of the people of Blue River township, enjoying the distinction of being the second Democratic trustee ever elected in that township.
In 1892 Harry L. Fletcher was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary E. Florea, who was born in Rush county, this state, daughter of John and Isa- bella Dearinger, and who was the mother of one child, a son. Olina, by her first marriage. To this union three children have been born, Inez, born in 1903: John, 1905. and Lucia, 1908, who are in attendance at the consolidated school at Westland. Mr. Fletcher is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and Mrs. Fletcher is a member of the Old School Baptist church, both taking an active part in the various social and cultural activities of their com- munity. Mr. Fletcher is one of the charter members of the lodge of the Im- proved Order of Red Men at Homer, in Rush county, and takes a warm in- terest in the affairs of that organization.
WILLIAM .A. WOOD.
William .A. Wood, former clerk of Hancock county, a well-known re- tired farmer of Brandywine township, who for many years was one of the most popular and successful school teachers in this county and who now, in the genial "sunset time" of his life, still comforted by the constant companion- ship of his good wife, ever a competent and valiable helpmeet in all his un- dertakings, enjoying the ample rewards of a life well spent in earnest en- deavor. is a Virginian by birth, but a most loyal Hoosier by adoption and has been a resident of this county since the days of his young manhood. He was born in Cabell county, Virginia, a section of the Old Dominion now comprised in West Virginia, September 3, 1841, son of the Rev. Wythael A. and Elizabeth ( Moore) Wood, both natives of that state, the former born of Scotch-Irish descent in Fluvanma county. April 7. 1802, and the latter of English parentage. March 10. 1814, who later became prominent and in- fluential residents of Hancock county, where their last days were spent.
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