USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 85
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After marriage. John George Lantz and his young wife bravely turned their faces to the task of making a comfortable home for themselves in what was then little more than a wilderness. They first lived on the old Manche place, which they rented, and a few years later bought land about two miles northeast of New Palestine. This was heavily timbered and they first made a small clearing and erected the customary log cabin and stable of the pioneers. In later years this was replaced by a comfortable residence, good barns and the acres of wooded lands had given place to a well cleared and cultivated farm. He added to his holdings from time to time and at death was the owner
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of one thousand acres of Hancock county's good farm lands. His widow still survives, making her home with her various children.
Henry M. Lantz first saw the light of day on the old family homestead. where his childhood and youth were spent. He attended school near his home, and after school days were over, continued to assist his father in the work of his farin. When twenty-one years of age, on November 22. 1893. he was united in marriage with Maude Nichols, who was born in Indianapolis, Feb- ruary 10. 1874, a daughter of Henry C. and Mary ( Irons ) Nichols. Henry C. Nichols was born in Rush county, this state, a son of the Rev. William Nichols, a pioneer Methodist Episcopal circuit rider, and for many years operated a store in New Palestine. In that store young Lantz clerked for a short time after his marriage and the next spring rented from his father a part of the old homestead. He farmed that for about six years, or until the time of his father's death, when he moved to the old Nichols homestead, a short distance west of New Palestine. Mrs. Lantz later received a portion of this farm as her inheritance and Mr. Lantz added to it until he had one hundred and nineteen acres. He owns three hundred and ninety-nine acres in Sugar Creek township and two hundred and forty acres in Brandywine town- ship, which, with one hundred and sixty acres in Deaf Smith county, Texas. makes him the owner of eight hundred acres of land, all of which is under his personal management. Also, in addition to his home farm, he manages the balance of the three-hundred-acre Nichols homestead. putting in on an average of ninety acres to corn, with perhaps seventy-five acres to small grains. He feeds for the market from sixty to seventy hogs per annum, keeps four or five milch cows for his own use and usually has about twenty head of good graded Percheron draft horses, Mr. Lantz follows the latest improved methods of farming, judiciously dividing his attention between general farm- ing and the raising of live stock.
The Lantz residence is beautifully situated on the Brookville road, just west of New Palestine, and is a modern structure of thirteen rooms. The roomy porches, concrete drives, fine lawn and lovely grove of maples on the east give a delightful impression to the passer-by, which is fully confirmed upon entering by the comfortable and pleasing interior. There are five chil- dren in the Lantz family, namely: Donald. Frank, Mary, Kenneth and John. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lantz are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is regarded generally as one of Sugar Creek township's and Hancock county's most successful and well- known citizens and is in every respect worthy of the high esteem in which lie is held.
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LORENZO D. COOK.
Lorenzo D. Cook, a well-known and progressive farmer of Brown town- ship, this county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty aeres in 'he Wilkinson neighborhood, is a native son of Hancock county and has lived here all his life. Ile was born on a farm in Brown township, in the vicinity of his present home, April 26, 1851, son of Joel and Susanna ( Rogers ) Cook.
Joel Cook was a Virginian, born in that portion of the Old Dominion now comprised in West Virginia, on October 5, 1795: son of Daniel and Rosan ( Wilhoit) Cook, the former of whom was a son of Adam Cook, who was born at sea, while his parents were en route to this country from Germany. Daniel Cook was born in Madison county, Virginia, his family having a plantation on the same side of the Rappahannock river as the Washington family, and when eighteen years of age he threw in his lot with those of the patriots who were fighting for freedom from British rule and served in General Washington's army during the concluding years of the Revolutionary War, being present at the surrender of Cornwallis. In 1792 he was united in marriage to Rosann Wilhoit of German birth, and to that union thirteen children were born, of whom nine grew to maturity, as follow: Adam, born on June 8. 1793, who died on December 17, 1868: Joel. October 5. 1795. died on March 12. 1870: Rhoda. August 22, 1799, died on April 15. 1878: Anna, October 11, 1801. died on December 14. 1895: David. September 10. 1802. died on July 17. 1877 : Dinah. September 15. 1803. died on November 2. 1882: Cornelius, September 15, 1805, died on August 24. 1884: Jemina. May 15. 1808, died on July 27. 1883. and Ephraim, January 11. 1810, died on February 10, 1894. The progeny of these several children of Daniel Cook, the Revolutionary soldier, numbered one hundred and thirteen and the progeny of the later generation numbers five hundred and forty, great-grandchildren of the old Revolutionary patriot.
Joel Cook was reared on the old home plantation in Virginia and received an excellent education. On June 2, 1820, he married Nancy Farley, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Capt. Matthew Farley, and in 1830 emigrated to Indiana with his family, four children having been born to him and his wife in the meantime. The family settled in Rush county, where another child was born, and two years later moved to a farm north of Lewisville. in Henry county, where Mrs. Nancy Cook died on June 2. 1835, exactly fifteen years after her wedding day, leaving five children, as follow: Matthew F .. born on April 1. 1821 : Angeline. October 15, 1823: Daniel, July 20. 1826; John F., July 15, 1829, and Jane. August 29, 1832. Later, Joel Cook left his
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Henry county farm and moved to Hancock county, settling on a homestead tract of eighty acres in Brown township. On June 1, 1838, he having then been a widower one day less than three years. he married, secondly. Susanna Rogers, daughter of Nathan Rogers, and to that union ten children were born, namely: Sarah, born on March 20, 1839: Nancy, December 27, 1840; Harrison. December 9. 1843 : Joel. April 15, 1847: Martha. February 26. 1849: Lorenzo D., the subject of this biographical sketch; Emily, July 16, 1853: El, September 18. 1855: Cassinda. December 30. 1858, and Mary. January 15. 1802. Joel Cook remained on the Brown township homestead the rest of his life, his death occurring on March 12. 1870.
Lorenzo D. Cook was reared on the paternal farm in Brown township and received his education in district school No. 1. fle early began farming on his own account and is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which is well improved and profitably operated. He has erected all the improvements on his place and has an excellent farm house, with a good barn and other farm buildings in keeping with the same. Mr. Cook married Elizabeth Reger, daughter of Manley and Geretta ( Surber) Reger, and to this union three children have been born, Milo B., who marrid Pearl Morris, and has two children, Myrtle and Russell: Porter, who married Mary F. Larkin and has two children, Ruth Virginia and Norman, and Arva Victor, who married Blanche Green. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Friends church and take an earnest interest in all movements looking to community betterment. Mr. Cook is a Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
WALTER W. MCCOLE.
Walter W. McCole, a well-known merchant tailor of Greenfield. this county, is a native Hoosier. Ile was born in Noblesville, this state. June 2. 1869. son of Major Cyrus J. and Elizabeth (Metsker) McCole, both natives of Indiana, the former of whom died at Noblesville in 1912, he then being seventy-eight years of age, and the latter of whom is still living in that city.
Major Cyrus J. McCole gained his title by promotion during his service as a soldier of the Union army in the Civil War. He was reared to a iner- cantile life at Noblesville and when the Civil War broke out enlisted for service in the Seventy-fifth Regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, presently being promoted to the captaincy of his company. He continued to rise and was mustered out at the close of the war with the rank of major of the One
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Hundred and Twelfth Indiana. Major McCole was a well-known merchant at Noblesville and continued in business there many years. He was a Repub- lican and was a past noble grand of the Noblesville lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them four children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eklest.
Walter W. MeCole was reared at Noblesville, the city of his birth, and received his schooling in the public schools of that city. He went from there to Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned the tailor's trade and in 1889 returned to Indiana and opened a tailoring establishment in Greenfield, where he ever since has been quite successfully engaged in business. Mr. MeCole not only has an extensive trade in and about Greenfield, but carries on a large mail-order business, his custom coming from all parts of Indiana. He is an enterprising and progressive business man and keeps in close touch with the general tailor- ing situation as a member of the International Tailors' Society.
In June, 1885. Walter W. McCole was united in marriage to Hattie Beecher, who was born at Greenfield, daughter of Fred and California (Offutt ) Beecher, and to this union two children have been born, Elizabeth and Frederick. Mr. McCole is "independent" in his political views. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
JOHN F. McCRAY.
John F. McCray, a well-known and progressive farmer of Brown town- ship, this county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty acres in the Wilkinson neighborhood. is a native of Hancock county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Brown township, not far from his present home, November 5, 1866, son of John and Mary F. ( Brown ) McCray. prominent residents of that community.
John McCray was born in Fayette county, this state. November 19, 1827. son of Moses and Jane (Sparks) McCray, natives of North Carolina, the former of whom was born in 1794 and the latter in January, 1801, who were the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten lived to maturity. Phineas. Mary William, Rachel, John, Stephen, James, Martha, Nancy and Moses, The eller Moses McCray emigrated with his family from North Carolina to Indiana and settled in Fayette county, coming thence, in 1835, to Hancock county. He
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homesteaded a tract of land in Brown township and presently became one of the most extensive landowners in the county. the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land. He was active in the work of organizing the pioneer com- munity into a civic entity, was one of the first school teachers in Brown town- ship and helped to build the first Primitive Baptist church in that vicinity, being a charter member of the same. In his political faith he was an ardent Whig and was active in the early political affairs of the county. Moses McCray died on May 5, 1883. His wife had long preceded him, her death having occurred on December 12. 1864.
John McCray was seven or eight years old when his parents moved from Fayette county to Hancock county in 1835 and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm, doing his part in the development of his father's extensive interests thereabout. He early began farming on his own account and event- ually became the owner of about five hundred acres of excellent land. In 1854 he married Mary F. Brown, who was born in Culpeper county, Virginia. March 17. 1831, daughter of Samuel B. and Jemima J. Brown, the former of whom, born at Winchester, New Hampshire, April 22. 1785, died at his home in this county, April 26, 1863, and the latter. born in Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, in 1796, died on January 19. 1874. John McCray and his wife were among the charter members of the Nameless Creek church and later became charter members of the Warrington Christian church. Mr. McCray was not only active and influential in the religious life of the community. but took an active part in political affairs. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican upon the organization of that party and remained devoted to the principles of that party. He died on May 9. 1915. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch is the fifth in order of birth, the others being Alice, Mary J .. Samuel N .. Anna, Harriet. Martha J. and Leora Frances, the latter of whom is engaged in teaching in California.
John F. McCray was reared on the home farm in Brown township and received his schooling in the neighborhood school. He carly began farming on his own account and is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and thirty acres lying in the vicinity of his old home. Ile i- engaged in general farming and has been quite successful, his farm presenting many evidences of his thoroughgoing and progressive methods.
In October, 1880. John F. McCray was united in marriage to Mary J. Addison, daughter of S. M. and Elizabeth Addison, of this county, and to this union two children have been born, daughters both. Harriet E., who died at the age of nineteen years, and Essie F., who is a member of Hancock
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county's admirable teaching force, a teacher in the schools of her home town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. McCray and Miss McCray are members of the Christian church at Warrington and take an earnest interest in the various social and cultural activities of their home community. Mr. McCray is a Republican and takes a good citizen's part in the political affairs of the county, but is not included in the office-seeking class.
JAMES H. BUSSELL.
James H. Bussell, county commissioner of Hancock county, a well-known and progressive farmer of Brown township, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Brown township, not far from the site of his present home, July 9. 1863. son of Martin P. and Sarah ( McQuerry) Bussell, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of this county.
Martin P. Bussell was born on December 21, 1827, son of William Bussell and wife, natives of North Carolina, and was but two years old when his parents came to Indiana in 1829 and settled in Wayne county. Ten years later they moved over into Hancock county and settled in Brown township. where Martin P. Bussell, upon growing to manhood, bought a forty-acre farm, which he later enlarged, by purchase, to one hundred and sixty acres and became a substantial farmer. In 1852 Martin P. Bussell married Sarah MeQuerry, who was born in Brown township, this county, daughter of James McQuerry and wife, and to that union fourteen children were born, as fol- low : Rachael, Sarah, William P., Martha, Allen, Lonisa, James H . John R .. Margaret, Edith, Alice and Joseph E., all of whom lived to maturity save Margaret and Joseph, who died in early youth, and two died in infancy. Martin P. Bussell was a Democrat and he and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church, their children being reared in that faith. Martin P'. Russell died on February 21. 1807.
James HT. Bussell was reared on the paternal farm in Brown township. receiving his education in the neighboring school, and early began farming for himself. He has a well-kept farm of eighty acres, all the improvements on which have been erected by himself, and he and his family are very pleas- antly situated. Mr. Bussell is a Democrat and for years has given his active attention to local political affairs. In 1910 he was elected county commis- sioner from his district and was re-elected in 1912, thus serving two tering in that important office.
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On October 17, 1885, James HI. Bussell was united in marriage to Dora Baer, who was born on September 15. 1862, daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Johnson ) Baer, and to this union five children have been born, namely : William E .. a rising young attorney of Greenfield, who, after his graduation from the Greenfield high school, attended Indiana University, later entering the Indiana Law School, from which he was graduated; Stella, who is a member of the excellent teaching corps of the Hancock county public schools. and Daisy, Howard and Olen. Mr. and Mrs. Bussell are active members of the United Brethren church at Sugar Grove and Mr. Bussell has held all the offices in that church, being the present superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Wilkinson lodge of the Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
JOHN E. SMITH.
John E. Smith, one of Brandywine township's best-known and most progressive farmers, is a native son of Hancock county, having been born on a pioneer farm in the township in which he still lives and where he has spent all his life, October 17. 1850, son of Robert and Mary ( Powers) Smith, both members of pioneer families in this section of Indiana, who established their home in Brandywine township, this county, about the year 1840, and there reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, useful citizens of the community.
Robert Smith was born in Virginia. January 26. 1808, son of Daniel and Isabel (Gilson) Smith, the former of whom, also a Virginian, was born on January 9. 1785, and the latter, of South Carolina, January 18. 1783, who came to Indiana in pioneer days and settled in Fayette county. On April 29. 1841. Robert Smith was united in marriage at Connersville, this state, to Mary Powers, daughter of William and Margaret ( Hendricks) Powers, the former of whom was the son of Peter and Mary Hendricks, natives of Ten- nessee. After his marriage, Robert Smith homesteaded a tract of eighty acres of land in Brandywine township, this county, erected a log cabin on the same and there established his home, his father also entering a tract in the same neiglibrohood. Robert Smith was a good farmer and soon had his place cleared and under cultivation. As he prospered he added to his land holdings, until he presently became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres. He built a substantial brick house, the brick for the
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same being made on his farm, and his family became very comfortably situ- ated. Ilis father died on December 29, 1848, and his mother died on August 15, 1864. Robert Smith was a stanch Democrat and he and his wife were charter members of the church at Mt. Lebanon. He died on July 22. 1877, and his widow survived him for more than twenty years. her death occurring on October 3. 1899. They were the parents of ten children, namely : William P .. born on March 2. 1842, who died on March 25, 1870; Margaret I., June 10, 1844, who died on April 28, 1851; Marshall T., June 4. 1846: Mary J .. October 22, 1848: John E., the subject of this biographical sketch; Robert A .. January 10. 1853; Malinda. April 10, 1855. who married William Thompson : Sarah Alice, who married Robert 11. Archey : AAndrew J., October 1. 1859. who died in Texas, and Iduna May, May it. 1862, who married J. H. Barrett, and is a teacher in the public schools at Greenfield.
John E. Smith was born in the little old log house in which his parents began housekeeping and was a good-sized boy when the new brick house was built, he taking a hand in moulding the bricks which entered into the con- struction of the same. His schooling was obtained in the district school of his home neighborhood, where he learned the "rudiments" amid conditions common to the schools of that period in rural Indiana, his first teacher being Sylvanus Gard. From early youth he was an able assistant in the work of developing the home farm and remained at home until his marriage. after which he rented land and presently bought twenty-five acres that originally belonged to his father, paying one thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars for the same, besides which his father also had given him a tract of fifteen acres. After paying for that tract he continued to enlarge his land holdings until now he has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres surrounding his home: an undivided one-third interest in one hundred and ten acres four miles south and a half interest in thirty acres northeast ; also forty acres north of his home. His sister is now the owner of the old home- stead their grandfather entered upon locating in this county, the place never having been out of the family. Mr. Smith has improved his farm in fine shape and has a modern ten-room house, one of the best in the township. heated by furance and piped for water and gas, and the other improvements about the place are in keeping with the same. He has four barns, a windmill and other excellent farm buildings, the whole place being operated along the most improved lines of modern agriculture. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and gives his close attention to local political affairs. Good roads with him have been matters of the utmost importance and he has done much toward ad- vancing the cause of better highways hereabout. In 1874 he was elected
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road supervisor for his district and has served, off and on, in that capacity a number of times since.
John E. Smith has been twice married. His first wife, who was Dora Wilkins, died on June 14. 1887. a few days after the birth of her only child, a son, Robert E., and on October 17. 1900, Mr. Smith married, secondly. Launa B. Ellsbury, daughter of Richard and Jennie ( Hendricks ) Ellsbury. Mrs. Smith is a member of the church at Mt. Lebanon and Mr. Smith is one of the supporters of the church, both giving their earnest attention to neigh- borhood good works.
Robert Earl Smith, only son of John E. Smith, is living across the road to the north from his father's home and is farming a place of forty acres very successfully, utilizing modern methods in his farm operations. He has a sub- stantial concrete house and his farm equipment is in full keeping with the same, including a gasoline engine. Robert E. Smith married Mollie Brown, daughter of Robert and Jennie Brown, and has one child, a son. John Robert, born on March 28. 1909.
JOHN H. CARLTON.
John HI. Carlton was born in Hancock county on June 6. 1873. He is the son of James and Mary ( Power) Carlton. James Carlton was born in Ireland and married Mary Power, who was born in Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Jacob Power, who was a farmer and who spent his last days in Hancock county. Indiana. The father of James Carlton was Daniel Carl- ton, who was born in Ireland and who came to America with his family. He was a farmer and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Nancy McElroy, and they had the following children : Samuel, David. John N .. Mary P., Eliza Ann, Thomas, James, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. and Ellen. James Carlton received little education. He was three years old when he was brought to America by his parents. He is a farmer and owns a tract of one hundred and thirty acres in Center township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is the father of the following children : John H., who is the subject of this sketch ; Charles, who lives in Center township and who married Iva Cox; Marshall, who lives in Center township and who married Blanche Harland.
John 11. Carlton was educated in the common schools of Hancock county, Indiana, and farmed until about 1900. He is a Democrat in politics.
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and was sheriff of this county for four years, from 1905 to 1900. He lived in Greenfield during the time he was sheriff, and moved to Maxwell in 1909 and since then has been in the grain and elevator business with Frank Bran- denburg, of Greenfield, Indiana.
John 11. Carlton was united in marriage to Minnie Cooper, who was born in Maxwell, Indiana, the daughter of E. L. and Louise ( Roberts) Cooper, the former of whom had a general merchandise store in Maxwell for twenty years. Mr. Carlton is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, and of the Improved Order of Red Men.
CHARLES T. PAULEY.
Charles T. Pauley, the son of Joseph and Catherine ( Snider ) Pauley. was born on the farm in Green township on October 28. 1851. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother was born in Pennsylvania. The Spiders were of German origin and moved to Madison county in early life. and died there.
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