USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 91
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On July 30, 1874, John Edward Barrett was married to Laura Henry. of Green township, a daughter of George Henry, a farmer, living at that time on a farm adjoining the one at present owned by Mr. Barrett. George Henry started on a journey to Pike's Peak, at the time of the excitement about the gold discovery, and lost his life on the way by drowning. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were the parents of the following children : Arminta and Minnie E .. who died in infancy, and Atta Wray, lla Albert, Margaret E., James Blaine. Wilmer II., Charles 11., Flossie B. and Thomas R. Wilmer H. has been a soldier in the United States army for nine years. He is now a sergeant and is with his regiment stationed at Texas City, Texas. These children were by Mr. Barrett's first wife, who died in 1902. He was married, secondly. on Sep- tember, 1904, to Ann Eliza Newsom, born at Carthage. Indiana, the daughter of John G. and Margaret E. (Gates ) Newsom, of Rush county, Indiana. To
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this union two children were born, of whom Ada Mildred is living, and Ruth Caroline is deceased.
John E. Barrett is a "stand-pat" Republican, without any prefixes, affixes, or any qualification or apologies, whatsoever. He is a member of Eden Lodge No. 477. Free and Accepted Masons; is also a member of the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Eden, and Lodge No. 101. Order of the Eastern Star.
THOMAS M. TUCKER.
Ile to whom this sketch is dedicated is a member of one of the most highly esteemed families of Hancock county, Indiana, and has spent prac- tically his entire life in this community, where he is engaged in agricultural work. A man of sound business methods, strict integrity and undeviating attention to duty. he has met with gratifying success in his chosen field of endeavor.
Thomas M. Tucker was born on February 22, 1879, the son of Andrew T. and Elizabeth M. ( Moore) Tucker, the former of whom was born in Vir- ginia, and the latter was born in Indiana, on March 31, 1858, and in child- hood was left an orphan. Friends of the family, John E. Willis and his wife. reared the mother of the subject of this sketch in their home in Shelby county. Indiana. One brother of Elizabeth Moore died while serving in the Union army during the Civil War and two other brothers went to Indianapolis for permanent residence.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a Virginian by birth, who came to Indiana during the pioneer days with a team of oxen and a covered wagon. He settled on a tract of land he had rented in Shelby county and worked unceasingly at the occupation of clearing the land and establishing a cultivated farm. Among his first pieces of work was a log cabin erected. for the most part, by his own hands, which was only one of the many difficult pieces of labor undertaken by the first settlers in this sec- tion of the state. Among the scenes of early agricultural life Mr. Tucker and his wife reared a family consisting of three boys, Andrew, John and Isaac. and a daughter, Maggie, now Mrs. Matthew Horn.
Following the example set by his father. AAndrew Tucker turned his at- tention, upon reaching the age of manhood, to a life on the farm. He was a self-educated man, who attained success through his own individual efforts and force of character. At the time of his death, which occurred on March
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31. 1911, after he had reached the age of sixty-seven years, he owned about two hundred acres of land in Shelby county. A hard working man, a good manager and a close student of farm problems, it was only a natural conse- quence that he should have attained the degree of prominence given him before his death. Mr. Tucker was married twice, the first time to Miss Parish, who became the mother of five children, three of whom died: those who survived are Rose, who married William H. Downing, and Emma, who became the wife of William Martin. By this marriage to his second wife. who was Elizabeth Moore, the following children were born: Thomas, who is the subject of this sketch : William, Bynum, who was drowned while swim- ming in Little Sugar creek in 1904; Lilly, who became the wife of Ora Snod- grass : Nannie, who married Clarence Snodgrass; Myrtle, who married Lester Valentine : Edna, the wife of Morris Drake; Mary, the wife of Berl Russell. and two children, Nellie and Minnie, who died in early childhood. Mr. Tucker always manifested a deep interest in political affairs and in all elections supported the principles of the Democratic party. Religiously. he was a member of the Christian Union church at Carlton, where he served as deacon and where he and his wife were looked upon as among the strongest sup- porters of the church welfare. In fraternal affairs. Mr. Tucker was a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias at Fountaintown.
Thomas M. Tucker received his elementary education in the common schools of the county in which he was reared, and his first teacher was Miss Vanie Gates, the daughter of Henry Gates. As the custom in those days gave the farm boys only schooling during the winter months, Thomas Tucker received only a meager supply of learning. The prominence he attained in the community in which he resides is due to his own endeavors and his success is the logical result of a life of consecutive industry. Mr. Tucker resides at the present time on a farm consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. The farm is in an excellent state of cultivation due to the personal efforts of the subject of this sketch, who has taken pride in fencing and draining the land and in erecting a siło. Aside from the interests of general farming, Mr. Tucker takes special interest in the raising of high grade stock. He has forty head of hogs, from twelve to fifteen head of Shorthorn cattle and eight head of horses. Mr. Tucker is a firm believer in scientific farming and uses the most modern implements in his work. His corn averages seventy-five bushels to the acre and he is also interested in the raising of clover and hay.
On March 14. 1900, Thomas M. Tucker was united in marriage to Cora E. Swain, who was born on April 12. 1876. Mrs. Tucker has become the mother of the following children: Josephine, who was born in 1902 : Marion
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Oscar, who died in early childhood, and Mildred M., who was born on Sep- tember 21, 1907.
Aside from his active duties as a farmer, Mr. Tucker has always mani- fested a true interest in those things which pertain to public welfare. He served for years on the township advisory board and in his political activities gives support to the Democratic party. As a member of the Sugar Creek Christian church, he has proved his ability as an assistant in church affairs and acts as trustee to the church to which the members of his family also beleng. In fraternal affairs, he holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Red Men's lodge, both of New Palestine.
ROBERT G. WILSON.
Robert G. Wilson was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 8. 1843. and died in Hancock county, Indiana, May 30, 1910. He was a son of William and Mary ( Gillespie ) Wilson. Some time in the early sixties he removed with his widowed mother to Cumberland, Marion county, Indiana, and, in 1868. he located in Hancock county, of which he remained a citizen until his death. He was the fifth in a family of ten children. He was married on December 20, 1870, to Mary Arnett, and to this union nine children were born, three of whom, Willie, Ila and Ina, are deceased. The living children are : Mary Jane, Anna May, Jossie Alice, Hattie E., Shady and John.
Mr. Wilson united with the old Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal church. in Butler county, Ohio, in 1865, and, on coming o Indiana, transferred his church membership to the Pleasant Grove church, in Vernon township. Han- cock county. this church then being under the pastoral charge of Reverend Philips. MI :. Wilson became a member of Oakland Lodge No. 140, Free and Accepted Masons, January 12, 1870: received his demit and became a charter member of MeCordsville Lodge No. 501. April 14, 1875. He became a mem- ber of MeCordsville Chapter No. 44. July 26. 1884, and a member of the MeCordsville Council No. 52. the same date. He was also a charter member of the MeCordsville Chapter No. 156, Order of the Eastern Star; a charter member and past chancellor of MeCordsville Lodge No. 507. Knights of Pythias, and a member of Union Temple No. 300, Pythian Sisters, Mrs. Wilson is also a member of the Eastern Star and Pythian Sisters, Mr. Wilson served two terms as county commissioner of Hancock county. He was en- gaged in farming all his life, and was the owner of three hundred acres of
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land at the time of his death. He settled on the farm adjoining that on which his widow now lives when the land was all covered with timber. With the exception of eighty acres of this land, which was inherited by his wife, Mr. Wilson purchased and paid for this farm, cleared the timber and made all the improvements by his own hard labor. To begin in the woods, clear the land and develop a farm to the splendid condition in which it is today, is an under- taking of no small magnitude.
John Wilson, son of Robert G. Wilson, was born on September 5. 1884. Ile was educated in the public schools of Vernon township, and did his share of the work on his father's farm in his early years. He was married on Sep- tember 1. 1907. to Bessie Sylvey, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. . The children of this umon are: Ralph. Arnett, Robert. George and Blanche Sylvey. John Wilson is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at MeCordsville.
Shadrich H. Arnett. father of Mrs. Mary ( Arnett ) Wilson, was born on September 3. 1811, in Franklin county, Indiana, and came to Hancock county with his brother, William Arnett, in 1831. He settled in Buck Creek township and continued to live there until his death, which occurred on Feb- ruary 13, 1879. Mr. Arnett was a prominent and influential citizen of the town- ship and commanded the respect and confidence of the community in which he lived. He served as township trustee for several years and, during the Civil War, was enrolling officer of the township. He was an active and influ- ential member of the Masonic order. In early life he was identified with the Baptist church, but had no church affiliation in his later life. He acquired a large estate through his industry and energy in his active years. In personal appearance he was of fair complexion ; in physique he was strong. portly and athletic, weighing over two hundred pounds. His children were: Sarah . \ .. Mary. Isabella. Elizabeth, Lucinda and William H.
William Wilson, father of Robert G. Wilson, was born in Erie, Penn- sylvania, in 1811. He was a son of John and Jane ( Canahan ) Wilson, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Butler county, Ohio, when William was a child. They settled on a farm and spent the remainder of their days in that county. William Wilson was educated in the schools of Butler county. Ohio, and his life vocation was that of a farmer in Butler county, where he spent his entire life. He was married about 1835 to Mary E. Gillespie. a native of Butler county, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Mary ( Robinson) Gillespie. They were both natives of Ohio, and both died in Butler county of that state. Robert Gillespie was a soldier in the War of 1812. The Wilsons and Gillespies were Democrats.
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Mary ( Gillespie ) Wilson, and her entire family, came to Marion county. Indiana, about 1866, and located first near Cumberland. About two years later they removed to a location near MeCordsville, in the Steel neighborhood, in Buck Creek township, Hancock county. There the widow died, living at the time of her death at the home of her son-in-law, Erskine Collins. At the time of her death she owned eighty acres of land in Buck Creek township : Her children were : Jane. John. Robert. Martha, Hannah, Amanda, AAdeleide and William. They were members of the Presbyterian church.
JOSEPH OSBON.
Joseph Osbon is a native of Hancock county, having been born on a farm adjoining the one he now owns in Green township, in 1855. and is the son of C. G. and Sarah Prater ( Martin ) Osbon, the father being a native of Kentucky and the mother having been born in Ohio.
Jackson Osbon, the father of C. G. Osbon, was one of the early pioneers of the county, having settled in Center township, where he was engaged in farming. He was at one time one of the county officials. John and Elizabeth Martin, the maternal grandparents of Joseph Osbon, were also early settlers in the county and they, too, settled in Center township. They came to the country when it was one vast wilderness. Here they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. There was no house for the family, so they lived in the wagon until the log cabin was erected and ready to occupy.
C. G. Osbon received his education in the rural schools of the township and later learned the blacksmith trade. He followed his trade for many years and was also engaged in farming. He owned eighty acres on which he had his shop. Much of the land was cleared by himself as well as the erection of the buildings. He was considered the best smith in the county, in that day. He was perhaps the only man in the county who ever welded. successfully, a sickle bar to a reaping machine.
To C. G. Osbon and wife were born the following children: Jasper. who served in the Fifty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War : Amanda, Roena. Joseph. Clara and Martha.
Joseph Oshon received his education in the schools of Green township. After leaving school he removed to an adjoining farm, in 1875, where he has since made his home. He owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of well Improved land. The buildings, which were all erected by him, are substantial and modern.
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On December 20, 1874, Joseph Osbon was united in marriage to Rebecca Hunt. the daughter of John and Mary Hunt. To this union two children were born: Sarah Lucinda, the wife of A. W. Keller, a farmer of Green township, and Marie, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Keller are the parents of one child, Ada Margaret.
ELWOOD BARNARD.
Elwood Barnard, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Hancock county as well as one of the leading manufacturers of high-grade sorghum in the United States, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Green township, this county, October 1,1860, son of Robert Young and Polly ( Hopper) Barnard, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Indiana or Virginia, who for years were among the best-known and most highly respected residents of Green township.
Robert Young Barnard was born in Fredell county, North Carolina. January 3, 1814, eighth in descent from Thomas Barnard, one of the original purchasers of Nantucket Island. He came to Indiana in his youth with his parents and grew to manhood in this state. He married Polly Hopper, who was born near the town of Milton, in Wayne county, this state. September 2, 1819. and settled on a farm in Green township, near Eden, in this county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, her death occurring on February 6, 1898, and his on August 11. 1902. They were earnest mem- bers of the Society of Friends and helpful and useful members of the com- munity in which they spent many years.
Elwood Barnard was reared on the paternal farm in Green township and completed his schooling in Spiceland Academy. When twenty-three years of age he married and began farming on his own account. Twenty- five years ago he began the manufacture of sorghum on his home farm on rural route No. 5. out of Greenfield, and ever since has made a specialty of that line, long having been recognized as one of the leading producers of grade sorghum in this country. Not only does he raise a large acreage of cane on his own place, but encourages the growth of cane among the farmers of this county generally, his big plant being able to take care of a vast amount of cane during the season, providing a ready market for that product here- about. The capacity of the Barnard sorghum factory is twelve hundred gallons a day and the average number of gallons turned out in season is
ELWOOD BARNARD
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above thirty-one thousand. Mr. Barnard also is an extensive dealer in cane seed and seed oats and the Barnard farm is one of the best managed and most productive in this part of the state.
On October 18. 1883, at Spiceland, Elwood Barnard was united in mar- riage to Ola Gordon, who was born near Knightstown, this state, November 27, 1865, and to this union five children have been born, four daughters and one son, Ethel, Olive, Helen, Anna and Robert G. Olive Barnard married Fred Ayres and lives on rural route No. 5. out of Greenfield, and Anna Bar- nard married Don Fitzgerald and lives at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard are members of the Society of Friends and take a warm interest in the gen- eral good works of their home community. Mr. Barnard is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the Indianapolis consistory. Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite: a noble of Murat Temple. AAncient Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis; past master of Eden Lodge No. 477. Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Eden Chapter No. 119. Royal Arch Masons; member of McCordsville Council, Royal and Select Masons : past eminent commander of Greenfield Commandery No. 39. Knights Tem- plar, and grand king of the grand chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of Indiana.
The sorghum manufactured by Mr. Barnard is considered by those who know as the finest grade produced. This product was exhibited at the world's fair in Chicago under the auspices of the department of agriculture of the United States government and this department chose Mr. Barnard's product as the best to exhibit.
AUGUST LANGENBERGER.
.August Langenberger, farmer of Sugar Creek township, Hancock county, Indiana, is a native of that same township, born on his father's farm on March 15, 1843. He is a son of William and Charlotte ( Hespi) Lan- genberger. both natives of Germany, where they were married. William Langenberger was born on March 2, 1800, and died at his home in Sugar Creek township in 1872. Charlotte Ilespa was born on February 21, 1804. and lived to the advanced age of ninety-five, departing this life May 1. 1899. William Langenberger received a good education in his youth and mastered the baker's art while still a young man. He made three trips in all to America. locating in Indianapolis on his first two trips, where he worked at the carpenter trade, and one the third trip he brought his wife and family, consisting of
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three children. They were on the water seven weeks, landed at New York and made the trip to Indiana overland in a wagon. William Langenberger had by that time decided he would be a farmer and chose Hancock county as his future home. Arriving here he entered eighty acres of land from the government, at a cost of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, same being the east half of the southwest quarter of section 12, of Sugar Creek town- ship. This land was heavily timbered and his first task was to make a clear- ing on which he erected a hewn log cabin of two rooms and also a log stable. Then for many years he and his family lived the life of the pioneer and by persistent effort he got forty acres of his farm under cultivation, and lived to see better days dawn for the citizens of his community. Politically, he was first a Whig and later espoused the cause of the Republican party. William Langenberger lived an active life and passed away on March 2, 1872.
August Langenberger is the sole surviving member of a family of five children. Matilda was the wife of George Youngerman ; Emily was the wife of William Stegg; Fred died in childhood, and George lost his life while at the front during the Civil War, as a private in Company D .. Seventy-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. AAugust was born and grew to man- hood on the family homestead in this county, receiving his education at the old log school house located on the Bunge farm and also attended the German school on the Brookville road. As a young man he became proficient at the carpenter trade and also did considerable cement and brick work, both in ad- dition to his farm work.
On April 16, 1865, at the age of twenty-two. August Langenberger was united in marriage with Matilda Schreiber, who was born in Warren town- ship. Marion county, April 12, 1842, a daughter of John and Anna Barbara ( Stumpf) Schreiber, both natives of Germany. John Schreiber was born on January 30. 1709. in Germany, and died at his home in Marion county, March 14. 1860. at the age of sixty-one years. Anna Barbara Stumpf was born in Hesse-Darmstadt on February 12. 1812, and died on May 14, 1870, through an accident, being struck by a railway train. There were six children in the Schreiber family, as follow: AAdolph, deceased : Matilda, wife of the subject of this sketch : Jackson, who died when eight years old: August, Caroline and Luis. At the time of their marriage, August Langenberger and wife took up their residence on his father's farm, which he rented from the father until the time of the latter's death, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs and has continued to make his home on the place. Shortly after marriage he erected a comfortable seven-room house, in which he has continued to dwell for the past fifty years.
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Mr. Langenberger holds the respect of his fellow citizens by virtue of his life of faithful attention to the duty next to hand and his wish to advance the welfare of his community whenever possible. He is one of that fast-thinking rank of pioneer citizens who have been permitted to live to see the glorious changes which have been brought about in this county and none can be more appreciative than he. Mr. Langenberger has been a life-long Republican. There were ten children in the Langenberger family, as follows: Adolph, de- ceased, who left one child. Dora: Annie, who died at the age of twenty months; William lives at home; John resides in Cumberland: Maggie, wife of Charles Bardonner; Julia, now Mrs. Lawrence Dinkel; Emma, deceased ; Cora, deceased ; Olga, at home, and Bertha, wife of William Weidenhaupt.
WILLIAM SCHWIER.
William Schwier, who is known as one of the representative agricul- turalists of Hancock county, as well as one of its progressive citizens, was born on June 2, 1860, in Westphalia, Germany, and is the son of Frederick and Coraline ( Rutar) Schwier. Frederick Schwier was born in 1826 and died in 1883. following a useful career as an expert brick-maker and farmer. His wife survived him but five years, her death occurring in the fall of 1888, on Tipton county, Indiana. They were the parents of one child. William, al- though another child was born to the wife by a former marriage, namely, Henry Stuber.
William Schwier received his early education in his native land, follow- ing which he engaged in farm labor for two years and then in the brick- making for three years. He then became a fisherman on the Holland herring boats in the North sea until June 4, 1884, at which time he emigrated to America, disembarking at New York and immediately coming to Sugar Creek township, of this county. Remaining here for six months, he then removed to Tipton county. Indiana, where he purchased forty acres of land and con- tinned to cultivate the soil for eight years. In the spring of 1892, he returned to Sugar Creek township and purchased forty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 23. also fifty acres in the northeast quarter of section 20. Five years later the place containing fifty acres was sold and forty acres were purchased in the southeast quarter of section 14. He next sold the first forty acres in section 23. and purchased sixty acres adjoining his home place. Here he has resided since 1898, continuing to make improvements until the place
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now has a splendid barn, forty-eight by seventy-eight, an eighty-five-ton silo, a double corn-crib and a good seven-room house, also an old house of six rooms.
On December 8. 1883. William Schwier and Eleanor Rosener, daughter of Christian and Christina ( Wesling) Rosener, were united in marriage, and ten children have blessed their union: William, married Nettie Eikman and they are the parents of one child, Frederick; Mary, became the wife of Louis Ortel and they have one child. Volga : Elizabeth, Carl, Henry, Herman. Emma, Amelia, Otto and Eddie. Eleanor ( Rosener) Schwier was born on March 28, 1861. in Westphalia, Germany, and immigrated to this country with her husband, her parents having remained in Germany until death. She, as well as her husband, is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which denomination he has served as trustee. In his political life, William Schwier is a faithful follower of the Democratic party. Beside his own property of one hundred acres, he rents one hundred acres and devotes the two places to the raising of corn and small grain, as well as horses, cattle and hogs.
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