USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 34
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Mr. Long is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, taking active interest in the affairs of same. For one term he served as township trustee, and at the time he assumed the office there was a large indebtedness owed by the township. When his term had ended, he had paid off and turned over to his successor in cash enough to reduce the indebtedness about one-half with-
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out having increased the tax levy. This, Mr. Long feels, was a pretty good showing and he has just cause for that opinion. He also served as road su- pervisor for two years and was on the township advisory board for two years and in the discharge of the duties of these various offices he met with almost universal approbation. Mr. Long and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, living strictly in accordance with the tenets of that faith. The family is highly respected and regarded as one of the leading families of the community, their hospitality being of that genuine order which welcomes friend and stranger alike. Mr. Long is a man of good busi- ness ability, strict integrity and fine personal address and because of his genuine worth and high character he has long enjoyed a splendid reputation in the community where he lives. He gives his support to all movements for the advancement of his fellow citizens and is numbered among the repre- sentative men of Brown township.
JOHN P. MORAN.
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled, who fly from this occupation to that, who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting their schools, churches and property. The backbone of this country is made up of those families who have made their homes; who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it, and who attend to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others; who work on steadily from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm, and who rear a fine family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people are always welcome in any country and in any community. They are wealth producers and this country is blessed with many of them, among whom is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
John P. Moran, one of the county commissioners of Hendricks county, Indiana, was born June 16, 1861, in Marion county, Indiana, the son of Peter and Bridget (Mullin) Moran, both natives of Ireland. Peter Moran was born in county Waterford, Ireland, and his wife in Galway. From their native land they went to England before their marriage and in that country they were married. After the birth of two children, they came to America
JOHN P. MORAN
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and settled in Marion county, Indiana, two miles north of Clermont. Here Peter Moran was living at the time of the Civil War, and, although he had been in the country only a short time, yet he was willing to sacrifice his life for his adopted country. Accordingly he enlisted on August 18, 1862, in Company F, Seventieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was captured and placed in Libby prison. He was one of the few men who made that memorable escape through the tunnel which was dug by the prisoners. However, he was not as fortunate as some of them, for he was recaptured and again thrown into the prison, where he shortly after- wards died. Peter Moran and his wife were the parents of four children, Mary and Ellen, who were born in England, and Hannah and John, who were born in this country.
John P. Moran was only about one year old when his father enlisted for service in the Union army and consequently never remembered seeing him. When he was four years of age his mother moved to Hendricks county, this state, and here he received his education. He was a remarkably bright youth and quickly forged his way to the front. While still a young man, he was given employment at the Boys' School at Plainfield as night watchman. He was promoted several times, was an officer four years and for twelve years was assistant superintendent of that school under T. J. Charlton. At the expiration of that time he went to Morganza, Pennsylvania, where he served under J. A. Quay for two years and eight months as first officer of the Boys' Reform School at that place. He then came back to Hendricks county, this state, and settled on a farm in Center township, where he is still living. He owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which is thoroughly modern in every respect.
Mr. Moran was married December 2, 1896, to Eliza Nevells, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tinder) Nevells, and to this marriage has been born one son, John, who is still residing with his parents.
Mr. Moran has been a life-long Democrat and has always taken an active part in politics. He is a man of education and has been frequently consulted by the leaders of his party in the county, his advice being usually followed. In 1912 his party placed him in nomination for the office of county commissioner and he was elected by a large majority, bringing to bear in this important office those excellent qualities which made him a suc- cess in his school work.
Mr. Moran and his son are earnest and devoted adherents of the Catholic church and give to it their zealous support at all times. Mrs. Moran
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is a member of the Christian church. Earnest purpose and private energy, combined with excellent judgment and every-day common sense, have made Mr. Moran a man of influence in his township and county. Starting in life with practically nothing but his keen mind and willing hands, he has won a place where he is universally regarded as one of the representative men of his county. He has been an active participant in every measure which he felt would benefit his community and has contributed in no small way to the growth of his township and county and to the advancement of its best interests.
JOSEPH H. AIRHART.
One of the most enterprising of our younger generation of farmers in Johnson county, who has believed from the outset of his career that the "wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," and that while the methods of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century we are compelled to adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers. He has been a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever per- tains to his chosen life work and he has, therefore, met with encouraging success all along the line. Judging from his past record, he will undoubtedly achieve much in the future years and take his place among the leading agri- culturists of a community noted for its fine farms and adroit husbandmen.
Joseph H. Airhart, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, considered one of the best improved farms in the county, located in the northwestern portion of Brown township, Hendricks county, Indiana, was born in Boone county, this state, on September 6, 1876. He is a son of Jacob and Mary E. (Gill) Airhart. Jacob was one of a family of six children and was brought by his parents from their native state of Virginia while he was still quite young. His father, Peter Airhart, was a son of a native of Holland who had emigrated to America in the early days and set- tled in Virginia. Upon coming to Indiana, Peter Airhart settled in Boone county, where he entered land from the government and lived thereon the rest of his life, and on that same land the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. Mary E. Gill, mother of the subject, was one of a family of seven children born to Washington and Fanny (Gibson) Gill, and was brought to the state of Indiana from their old home in Kentucky while still quite a
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small child. Her father entered land from the government in Boone county, near Advance, and there passed the remainder of his life. Jacob Airhart was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Bowman, to whom he was married in the early fifties. She lived for about ten years thereafter, leav- ing two children at the time of her death. He continued to live on the old home place after his second marriage, some time in the sixties, to Mary E. Gill, and there 'his death occurred in 1887. By his second wife he had a family of five children, of which the subject of this sketch is one.
Joseph H. Airhart was but eleven years old at the time of his father's death and three years later his mother also died. From that time on until he was twenty-one years of age, he was practically homeless, making his home with whomsoever he could secure work. In 1897 he was united in marriage with Mary E. LaFollette, a cousin of Senator LaFollette of Wis- consin. She was a daughter of Milton and Elizabeth J. (Grider) LaFol- lette, originally from Putnam county, this state. Her father died when she was four years old and the mother continued to keep up the home near Shannondale, where the present Mrs. Airhart lived until the time of her marriage to the subject. In 1898 Mr. Airhart purchased a tract of eighty acres near Lebanon, in Boone county, on which he resided for three years. He then came to Hendricks county and purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Brown township, which is considered one of the best-cared-for farms in the county, fully attesting what up-to-date scientific methods in agriculture can accomplish when coupled with energy and untir- ing effort. The vocation of the farmer is coming more and more to be re- garded as the ideal life, that in which a man has opportunity to display ability of the highest order and in which vocation he is more independent than in any other. Time was when, after a season of arduous labor. the farmer was forced to take for his produce whatever he could get; now. he makes prices himself and so rules the markets of the world.
Mr. Airhart's political preferences are with the Democratic party, of which he has been a stanch supporter for many years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 839, and the religious membership of himself and wife is with the Christian church, of which he is an earnest member. Mr. and Mrs. Airhart have one child, Fern Evadna, who remains at home. They are considered among the lead- ing citizens of their community, their home extending genuine hospitality to friend and stranger alike. Personally, Mr. Airhart is friendly, a good mixer, and wins and retains friends without effort, for he is at all times a gentleman,
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obliging, unassuming and honest to the letter in his dealings with his fellow men. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the notably systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won for him the unbounded confidence and regard of all who have formed his acquaintance.
JOHN A. ADAMS.
Among the leading citizens of Brownsburg, Hendricks county, Indiana, none stand in better repute than John A. Adams, the well-known mill and elevator man, who, by reason of his business qualifications, has done much to enhance the commercial life of the town. Also during the years of his residence there, he has taken an active part in the administration of civic affairs and has ever done all within his power to promote the moral, material and educational life of the community.
John A. Adams was born on December 23, 1853, in Washington town- ship, this county, the son of John C. and Sarah E. (Park) Adams, both of whom were born in Kentucky. John C. came from Estill county and prob- ably Sarah E. Park did also. John C. was the son of James and Eleanor Adams, who came from Kentucky and located in this county near Danville, where they engaged in farming. John C. grew up in this county and all his life was engaged in farm work, owning land in Washington township, where he lived up to the last two years of his life. These were passed in Lincoln township, where his death occurred in 1865. Sarah E. Park, his wife, was a daughter of John and Malinda ( Robinson) Park, who came from Kentucky and located in Boone county, in the early forties. She survived her husband a number of years, her death occurring in 1893.
John A. Adams passed his boyhood days on the home farm, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of that locality, later at- tending the Central Normal College, at Danville. He assisted on the home farm. and in 1886 became identified with the milling business at Browns- burg. At that time a stock company was organized, of which he was a member, and later he and Mr. Lingerman purchased the interests of the other members of the company and have since operated the mill in partnership. In 1901 they also became owners of the elevator and in 1910 remodeled the mill, adding corn shellers and a cleaning apparatus. Their mill has a capac- ity of fifty barrels daily and they make an excellent grade of flour, under the trade name of "Best Imperial." In addition to their milling and grain busi-
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ness, they also deal in coal and are numbered among the progressive business men of the town and county.
In politics, Mr. Adams is a Republican and has shown a deep interest in the welfare of the town. He has been secretary and treasurer of the town, a member of the town board and also a member of the school board, and in meeting the obligations thus devolving upon him has ever thrown his influence on the side of the greatest good to the greatest number.
In 1885 Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Jennie S. Wells, who was born in Middle township, this county, a daughter of Simon and Nancy S. (Smith) Wells. The Wells family came to this county at an early day, being numbered among its pioneers. Their original home was North Caro- lina. The Smith family came.to this county from Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have one son living, Harold W., who is attending Indiana University, at Bloomington, and is a promising young man. Mr. Adams' fraternal affiliations are with the time honored body of Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Adams is an honest, unassuming man of affairs, who earnestly desires to adequately fill his place in life and be of lasting assistance to those whose lives touch his.
CHARLES TANSEL.
In preparing a review of a man's life, it is not the biographer's part to give voice to a man's modest opinion of himself and what he has done, but rather it is his part to leave upon record the verdict establishing his char- acter, which is the consensus of opinion among his friends and neighbors. "Actions speak louder than words" is a true saying, and while a man might give voice to the most lofty principles, his life must be in accordance with them else the words carry no weight. The subject of this sketch is held in high regard by those with whom he comes in contact and it is, therefore, ap- parent that throughout the years his manner of living has been such as to win this high tribute.
Charles Tansel was born on September 16, 1860, in the western part of Marion county, near the town of Clermont, being the son of Peyton and Mary (Myers) Tansel. Peyton Tansel was born in Kentucky in 1821 and at the age of eight years was brought to Indiana by his parents, who settled along Fall creek, north of Indianapolis. After staying there a short time,
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they came to the western part of Marion county and there made their per- manent home. Here it was that Peyton passed his boyhood days, grew to manhood and married. He was thrice married, his first wife being a Miss Patterson, who died in a few years, leaving a son and daughter. His second wife was Mary Myers, the mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, who died when the subject was a babe of two years. Later Peyton Tansel married Mary Moon and to their union were born three children, two of whom died in infancy and one son, Tinsley, survives. Peyton Tansel's en- tire life was spent in the western part of Marion county and there his death occurred in 1903, his widow surviving until 1906, having continued to live through her widowhood on the homestead.
Charles Tansel remained under the paternal roof, assisting his father in the work about the homestead, until the time of his marriage, in March, 1899, to Emma Tucker, who was born in Shelby county, this state, a daugh- ter of Cornelius Frazier and Phoebe (Brant) Tucker, both natives of Shelby county. Cornelius Frazier Tucker was a son of James Tucker, a pioneer citi- zen of that county who had acquired considerable land there and for many years before his death was regarded as one of the leading citizens of the community. Phoebe Brant, mother of Mrs. Tansel, was a daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Chance) Brant, and died when her daughter Emma was six years old. Frazier Tucker then married Martha Blake and in 1884 moved a short distance east of Clermont, where they purchased a farm and lived there until 1905, when they retired from the active duties of farm life and went to Clermont to end their days in quietness. He lived but two months after leaving the farm and his widow passed away on Christmas day, 1912, in the city of Indianapolis. Emma Tucker remained with her father until the time of her marriage to the subject, and immediately afterwards they established their home on the farm where they now reside in Lincoln town- ship, this county. This farm comprises eighty acres and on it Mr. Tansel carries on general farming and kindred interests. To Mr. and Mrs. Tansel has been born one son, Herbert, whose birth occurred in 1900. Mrs. Tansel was one of a family of three children; a baby brother died when two years old and the third member is Mary, wife of Oliver P. Morgan, who lives in Clermont.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Tansel are devout members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and give liberally of their time and means to further the cause of that society. They are both quiet and unassuming in manner and cordial in their relations with friends and neighbors. Mr. Tansel stands as an ex-
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ample of what may be accomplished by any man who is not afraid to work and will put brains into whatever he does. By honest effort and thrift he has amassed a competence and his kindliness and good nature have endeared him to the large number of people with whom he comes in contact.
LUCIAN G. FUNKHOUSER.
Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have gained a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading farmer and stock raiser of the township in which he resides and a man of decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been exerted for the advancement of his kind and in the vocation to which his energies are de- voted he ranks among the representative agriculturists of the county.
Lucian G. Funkhouser, who is successfully operating his farm of eighty acres in Brown township, Hendricks county, devoting especial attention to his excellent strain of Poland China hogs, is a native of this county, having been born June 22, 1867, not far from his present place of residence. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy E. (King) Funkhouser, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, coming to Indiana in his boyhood with his parents, who settled in Hendricks county, near the center of Brown township, where they purchased a farm of eighty acres. Joseph F., who was the son of Mar- tin F., lived at home until the time of his marriage. when he made his home for a time on rented ground, later purchasing a farm, a portion of which is included in the farm now owned by the immediate subject of this sketch. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy.
Lucian G. Funkhouser remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, having received his education in the schools of Hendricks county. In 1890 he was united in marriage with Myra E. Crane, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Cox) Crane, of Boone county, and at that time built the house which has since been their home. James Crane, father of Mrs. Funkhouser, was a native of the Hoosier state and the son of Stephen and Mary (Ross) Crane. Stephen Crane was a native of Ohio and the son of John and Letitia Crane. Mary Ross Crane was a daughter of John Ross and was of Scotch ancestry. Elizabeth Cox Crane, mother of Mrs. Funk- houser, was born in the state of Kentucky and was the daughter of John and Rebecca (Howard) Cox, both native to Kentucky. Rebecca Howard was a
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daughter of Ellen (Ford) Howard, of Baltimore, Maryland. James Crane served a short time in the War of the Rebellion. He was a member of Com- pany A, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in service three months. After returning home, he went to Colorado where he engaged in labors in the gold fields. He and his wife were the parents of four chil- dren, Myra E. remaining at home until the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Funkhouser have been born seven children, five of whom are liv- ing. Sallie, one of the daughters, is the wife of Carl Herring, the son of Philip and America (Walker) Herring, of Brown township, where the young people reside just south of Mr. Funkhouser's home. There still re- main under the parental roof Hazel, Mary, Loyal and Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Funkhouser are both members of the Christian church and give liberally of their time and means toward its support. Their home is the center of an interesting social life and both children and parents have a wide circle of friends by whom they are much admired. Mr. Funkhouser is a most companionable gentleman, honorable and reliable in all his deal- ings, and he ranks among the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of the community in which he resides, manifesting an active interest in whatever pertains to the progress of his county and co-operates with others in for- warding all measures whereby his fellowmen may be benefited. Because of his high principles and his success in life, he is held in high favor by his fel- low citizens.
ALFRED S. LINEINGER.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Hendricks county would be incomplete without specific mention of the well known and popular gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. A member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of this locality and for many years a public- spirited man of affairs, he has stamped the impress of his individuality upon the community and added luster to the honorable name which he bears, hav- ing always been actuated by a spirit of fairness in his dealings with the world in general and leaving no stone unturned whereby he might benefit his own condition as well as that of his friends and the favored section of the great commonwealth in which he has been content to spend his life. Straightfor- ward and unassuming, genial and obliging, Mr. Lineinger enjoys the good will and respect of a wide circle of friends throughout this part of the state.
Alfred S. Lineinger, ex-county commissioner, is a native of this county,
ALFRED S. LINEINGER
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born on July 1, 1853, the son of Aaron and Margaret (Duzan) Lineinger, the former of whom was a native of Ross county, Ohio, born July 28, 1822, and the eighth child in a family of twelve children. Margaret Duzan was a native of Kentucky, having been brought to this state when quite young. Her parents first settled in Monroe county, coming to Hendricks in 1825. She was born March 17, 1814, in Fleming county, Kentucky, and departed this life March 31, 1895.
Aaron Lineinger left his boyhood home in Ohio at the age of twenty- one years and, in company with Jacob M. Duzan, went to Iowa. There they remained but one year, engaging in agricultural work, when they came east- ward to Indiana and settled in this county. In Center township they pur- chased eighty acres of land in equal partnership, for which they paid four hundred dollars. Two years later Aaron bought out Duzan's interest for eight hundred dollars. Duzan left for Middle township, where he purchased eighty acres of land for the price he had received from Aaron Lineinger for his forty acres. Aaron Lineinger remained on this farm for the remainder of his life, carrying on general farming with particular attention paid to grain and stock. He deeded this land to the subject about 1902 and there his death occurred on December 22, 1912. He had been a helpless invalid the latter part of his life, and at his death was survived by his brother John, who departed this life, January 14, 1914, in his ninetieth year. On July 21, 1848, Aaron Lineinger was united in marriage with Margaret Duzan and to this union were born two children, Samantha, who became Mrs. Ensminger, and the immediate subject of this sketch. Aaron Lineinger was a man of studious habits and excellent business qualifications, an affectionate husband and father and a kind and helpful neighbor. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. many of whom were warmly endeared to him by various acts of kindness. He was a stanch Republican, but was never the incumbent of any public office. His fraternal affiliation was with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he had been a member since 1864. While not a member of any church, he had been reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and gave much assist- ance to that society in various ways. His was a well-rounded, well-balanced life. While seeking primarily the welfare of himself and those nearest to him, he never forgot the claims of his less fortunate brethren and through- out his life here he took an active part in any movement having as its ulti- mate object the betterment of the moral, educational or material life of the community.
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