USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 81
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Mr. Dodds began farming on rented land in 1867, at the time of his first marriage, and six years later bought forty acres of land in his home town- ship, where he lived until he moved to North Salem in 1913. Being a man of thrifty and frugal habits and assisted by an economical wife, he was able to add to his farm from time to time until he is now the owner of one hun- dred and thirty-four acres of fine farming land in Jackson township, Putnamı county. He has been a life-long farmer and early learned the secrets of successful agriculture. He raises all the crops common to this locality and has also given a due share of time and attention to the raising and breeding of live stock. in the handling of which he has met with splendid success. He is a practical, methodical man in all he does and his efforts have been re- warded by a due meed of success.
Mr. Dodds has been a member of the Baptist church at North Salem for many years, and is now serving as trustee and deacon in that denomination. He was a member of the building committee which repaired the old church at North Salem, making it modern in every way. An interesting incident in Mr. Dodds' career was his short career in Indianapolis. In 1873 he moved to Indianapolis, believing that he was able to live a life more suited to his liking in the city, but the panic of that year swept over the country and within a very few months he was back on the home farm again and never left it until he moved to North Salem last year. He has hosts of friends in North Salem and in the township in which he lived for so many years in Putnam county. While he has been successful in his private affairs, he has also interested him-
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self in the welfare of the community, and there is no one in the town of his residence who enjoys a greater degree of respect and esteem than does Mr. Dodds.
ARTHUR M. DAVIS.
The history of the branch of the Davis family which is represented in Hendricks county goes back to a period which antedates the organization of Indiana territory in 1800. Before the name Indiana was ever coined and while George Washington was still in his prime, Evan Davis was born June 8, 1796, near Raleigh, North Carolina. In that same state. on June 17, 1797, was born a girl by the name of Rebecca Marshall and in the historic state of North Carolina these two children grew to young manhood and young woman- hood. They were married when very young and shortly after their marriage made the long overland trip from North Carolina to Indiana, and settled in Hendricks county a year before the county was organized, in 1822. Evan Davis entered six hundred and forty acres of land in this county as soon as the land was opened by the government for sale, and added to this from time to time until, at his death, he was the owner of about two thousand acres of excellent land in this county. He died on November 9, 1854, and his wife in the year following. Evan Davis and two of his neighbors founded the first Methodist church in this county, the Salem Camp-meeting church, and con- tributed both spiritually and financially to its success. He was a large raiser of stock, principally hogs and cattle, and drove his stock overland to Madison, on the Ohio river. He brought the first shorthorned bull into this state and introduced this excellent breed of cattle to the farmer. He also raised sheep and the wool from his own sheep made the clothing for the family. In North Carolina Evan Davis owned slaves, but the girl he married was a Quaker and she was very much opposed to slavery. When they were married he promised to free all of his slaves, and before they left North Carolina for Indiana he gave them their freedom. Evan Davis built the first grist-mill in this county and later built two others, but none of them are now standing. He laid out the first graveyard in the county on his own farm and called it the Davis graveyard. At first it was devoted to the immediate family and relatives, but later charity bodies were allowed to be placed in the graveyard, through the courtesy of Mr. Davis. He was a Democrat in politics, but never held office ; he was a power spiritually in his community, and never seemed to weary of doing good for his fellow men.
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David Wesley Davis, the father of Arthur M. Davis, whose history is here portrayed, received his education in the schools of his township and later attended Antioch College, in New York state, where he took a literary course, specializing in mental psychology and general literary subjects. He also at- tended DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, and pursued literary sub- jects. David Davis was married September 9, 1858, to Amanda E. Newby, and to this marriage were born six children: Alva E., Arthur M., Emmett T., Evan B., and two who died in infancy. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, David W. Davis enlisted in Company I, Ninety-ninth Regiment of Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and served under Sherman and Thomas, participating in the famous march to the sea in the summer of 1864. He served through the Rebellion with much courage and loyalty and was mustered out of the service, without being wounded or having himself impaired. He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Belleville, Indi- ana, and a member of the Grand Army post at Danville. He is a charter member of the Methodist church at Belleville and has helped to build two or three churches in the county. In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. David W. Davis moved to Fairhope. Alabama, near Mobile, where they are now making their home. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary September 9, 1913, at the home of Arthur M. Davis, their son.
Arthur M. Davis has lived on the old homestead farm all his life with the exception of ten years which he spent in Mexico as a mining engineer. While in Mexico, he was chosen as general manager of a group of silver mines at Parral, and learned the business by hard knocks and practical experience. He is an authority on the subject of silver mining, and has a great capacity for the detail work which naturally accompanies work of this nature. He received a common school education in his home schools and later spent one year of study in Germany. This was followed by six years of practical study in the mines of this country and Mexico. He came back from Mexico and settled on his farm on June 30, 1908, where he is now living the quiet life of a farmer. He now farms three hundred and twenty acres, the farm being a part of the same which his grandfather entered in 1822. Everything about his farm is kept in a very attractive manner, showing that its owner is a man of discriminating taste and good judgment. He raises a great deal of stock and specializes in Duroc hogs and Guernsey cattle, and ships much of his stock to distant points. He also raises shorthorn cattle and is considered a good judge of all kinds of live stock.
Mr. Davis was married August 9, 1905, to Minnie F. Little, the daughter of Thomas H. and Louisa A. ( Parsons) Little, and to this marriage has been
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born one son, Arthur Marshall, Jr. Mr. Davis is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Plainfield and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at same place. In politics, he is a stanch and active Republican and has lent his in- fluence to the support of the candidates of that party. The nature of his busi- ness has kept him from taking any active part in politics, or aspiring to any public position. Mr. Davis is a conservative business man who has proved as successful in the farming business as he did in his mining business. He has built up a name for himself in the county and township as a man who does things. He is well liked by all his neighbors and there is no one in the county who is quicker to lend a helping hand in time of trouble than he, and for this reason he is justly regarded as one of the representative men of his county.
DR. HERBERT C. SEARS.
The life of the distinguished dentist and public-spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example of well defined purpose, with ability to make that purpose subserve not only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. He has long held prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality, intel- lectual discipline of a high order and a thorough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same. He has had that rigid pro- fessional training which has enabled him to stand among the front rank of his profession in central Indiana.
Dr. Herbert C. Sears, the son of R. B. and Sarah F. (Cash) Sears, was born in Carrollton, Missouri, Jannary 6, 1878. His parents were both natives of Danville, Indiana, where his father followed the profes- sion of dentistry for twenty years. Dr. R. B. Sears traveled a great deal in his younger days and settled in Danville permanently in 1884, and continned in the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred June 13, 1909, he and his son practicing the last few years together. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and also a member of the Masonic order. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served for four years in the Fourth Indiana Cavalry. The paternal grandfather of Dr. H. C. Sears, who was Wesley B. Sears, came to this state from Kentucky, settling in Hendricks county in the early history of the state of Indiana. Dr. R. B. Sears and wife were the parents of two children, one son dying in infancy, and the other being the immediate subject of
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this sketch. The widow of Dr. R. B. Sears is now living in Indianapolis, at No. 1560 College avenue. Of the Cash family, there have been six generations in Hendricks county.
Dr. H. C. Sears received his elementary education in the Danville schools and took his professional course in the Central Dental College at · Indianapolis, commencing his active practice in 1900 in his father's office, and continued to practice in this office until the summer of 1913, since which time he has been in the Hendricks building. In his practice he has built up a reputation for good, honest work and has his share of the patronage of the county.
Doctor Sears was married on June 26, 1906, to Ina B. Conn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Conn, of Danville, and to this union there has been born one son, Herbert Edward. Doctor Sears is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, belonging to the Royal Arch chapter and the council of that order. In politics, he is affiliated with the Republican party, but the nature of his profession precludes him from taking an active interest in politics. He is a genial and unassuming man, who has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county and is rightly considered as one of the representative men of Danville and vicinity.
ELMER B. ARBUCKLE.
Among the citizens of Brown township, Hendricks county, Indiana, who are engaged in rural pursuits and who believe in following twentieth- century methods, is Elmer B. Arbuckle, farmer and stock raiser. He comes of a splendid family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits, for education and morality, and for all that contributes to the welfare of the community. Such people are welcomed anywhere, for they are empire builders and as such have pushed the frontier of civilization ever westward and onward, leaving the green, wide-reaching wilderness and the far-stretching plains populous with contented people and beautiful with green fields ; they have constituted that sterling horde which caused the great Bishop Whipple to write the memorable line "Westward the course of empire takes its way."
The subject of this sketch was born in Indianapolis, this state, on March 13, 1875, being the son of Marion and Eliza (Halloway) Arbuckle, the former of whom was also a Hoosier by birth and was the son of John and
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Elizabeth Arbuckle. Eliza Holloway was a daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Holloway and was united in marriage with Marion Arbuckle on Decem- ber 10, 1871. They took up their residence in Indianapolis, where they con- tinued to live for some time, when they came to Hendricks county and pur- chased a small tract of thirteen acres in Brown township. There Marion Arbuckle passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring on December 2, 1879. Mrs. Eliza Arbuckle is still living, residing in Lebanon, Indiana, where she owns her home and lives in comfort. She also possesses a tract of some sixty acres in this county, it being just across the highway from the holdings of the subject of this sketch. Marion Arbuckle was one of the patriotic sons of the Union who went to the front during the dark days of the sixties, having been a member of the Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Infantry.
Elmer B. Arbuckle was one of a family of three children and remained at home until the time of his marriage, November 26, 1898, to Naomi Hud- dleston, daughter of Fielding and Elizabeth (Patterson) Huddleston, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky, the son of William and Susan (Phillips) Huddleston. The family were prominent in their community, being prosperous slave holders, with a large plantation. Fielding Huddleston came to Indiana when he was about thirty years old and located in Hendricks county, where he purchased land in the northwestern part of Lincoln town- ship. Elizabeth Patterson, mother of Mrs. Elmer B. Arbuckle, was a daugh- ter of Daniel and Sarah ( McDaniel) Patterson and the mother of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Arbuckle have two children living and one, Annis Hester, died when eight years old. Clarence William and Edith frene are the two remaining, both of whom are with the parents. Mr. Arbuckle has associated with him his son, now twelve years of age, and, despite his extreme youth, the lad shows remarkable intelligence in acquiring information re- garding the origin, care, etc., of the different classes of high-grade live stock on the farm, giving particular attention to the hogs. Mr. Arbuckle makes a specialty of spotted Poland China hogs and exhibits at all the state fairs in the Central West and East. He comes in contact and competition with the very best breeders of this class of live stock and prides himself on the fact that he always gets a generous share of the ribbons. He has the distinction of being the originator of the improved spotted Poland China breed and was instrumental in having a history of the hog written, which proves interesting to the layman as well as fancier. In this history the hog was traced to its origin and developments and improvements noted from time to time. Mr.
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Arbuckle also has a thoroughbred Percheron stallion, but has not had him on exhibit for about three years. He is also interested in poultry, having many fine birds and specializing on single comb buff Orpingtons. These he ex- hibits at all the big poultry shows of the world and has an enviable record for his pens. Mr. Arbuckle has attained merited distinction in his chosen field of endeavor, due in no small measure to his excellent business ability and the untiring energy and unfailing determination to win out. He stands today well to the front of those engaged in this class of work and has in train- ing his capable young son, who is in a fair way to accomplish still greater things.
Mr. Arbuckle's fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Improved Order of Red Men, and in the workings of these various societies he takes an interest. While not a member of any church society, his sympathies are with the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Arbuckle is an active member. In every avenue of life's activities he has performed his part to the best of his ability, believing that anything worth doing at all is worth doing well, the result being that he has won and retains to a notable degree the sincere respect and confidence of all who know him. He has a vast number of acquaintances, among whom are many loyal, stanch and devoted friends, and wherever he goes he receives a hearty welcome. His life has been filled with activity and usefulness, while his sincere interest in the moral and material welfare of the community has gained for him a conspicuous place among the leading men of the county. Because of his high personal character and his genuine worth as a man and a citizen, he is specifically entitled to mention in a work of this character.
WILLIAM N. LAKIN.
The record of William N. Lakin contains many points of more than ordinary interest. As a mere lad of eighteen he enlisted for service in the Civil War and saw two years of service. As a public official, he ranks as one of the most efficient which Hendricks county has ever had, while as a private citizen and business man his reputation has been above reproach and in all the years which he has lived in this county his life has been replete with well defined purposes and he has so carried himself in his daily life that he has won the influential place in business circles and the high personal standing
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among his fellow citizens which is his today. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have resulted not only in gaining the con- fidence of those with whom he has had dealings, but also the building up of a large and prosperous business.
. William N. Lakin, the son of William H. and Lucinda (Sargeant) Lakin, was born in Shelby county, Illinois, on February 9, 1845. His father was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, March 22, 1814, and his mother was a native of Virginia, her birth having occurred on September 17, 1816. His grand- father, Joseph Lakin, came from Maryland and settled in Indiana, dying in Hamilton county in 1838. His wife, Margaret Simmons, died in 1850. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Lakin were John and Mary Sargeant, he a native of Virginia and she of Kentucky. They moved to Illinois in an early day, and there his wife's death occurred in 1821, while he died in 1840. Joseph and Margaret (Simmons) Lakin reared a family of fourteen children, the father of William N. Lakin being the eleventh child in order of birth.
William H. Lakin, the father of William N. Lakin, moved from Illinois to Boone county, Indiana, in 1846, when the subject of this sketch was about one year old, and continued to reside there until 1859, when he permanently settled in Hendricks county, at Plainfield .. Here he continued in the black- smithing business until his death, in 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, his wife having preceded him in death about two years previous, in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Lakin were the parents of ten children, William N. being the fifth child in order of birth. Five of these children are still living in 1913.
William N. Lakin spent his boyhood days in Boone county, coming to Plainfield with his parents, in 1859 when he was fifteen years of age. He started in as a small boy in his father's blacksmith shop, and before he joined the army, at the age of eighteen, he was an expert smith. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three months, the term of his enlistment. Immediately after the expiration of his three-months service he enlisted in Company A, One Hun- dred Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His second enlist- ment was for six months, but he served eight months before he was mustered out. During this time he saw service in eastern Tennessee. At the expira- tion of his second enlistment in February, 1864, he was mustered out and returned to his home, but immediately re-enlisted in the Second Indiana Battery of heavy artillery, and was sent with his command to Nashville,
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Tennessee. He took part in the battle of Nashville and after that performed guard duty until the close of the war. Immediately after being mustered out of the service he returned to his home county and established a black- smith shop in Plainfield, which he conducted until 1868, when he moved to Danville, where he continued to follow his trade as a blacksmith for a few years, after which he removed to Coatesville, this county, where he opened a blacksmith shop and later went into the buggy, implement and harness busi- ness, which he still continues. He has been very successful in his line of endeavor and has built up a large and lucrative trade in Coatesville and the surrounding community.
Mr. Lakin was married in September, 1867, to Betty J. Cooke, of Hamilton county, this state, the daughter of Joshua and Hannah Cooke, and she died in 1870, leaving no children. In 1872 Mr. Lakin was married to Louisa C. Gamble, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Gamble, of Coates- ville, and to this second marriage there has been born one child, Otto. Mr. Lakin has been a life-long Republican and has always taken an active interest in local politics. An indication of his popularity and the respect with which he is regarded in the county is shown in the fact that he was elected as treasurer of Hendricks county in 1898. He filled this responsible position to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county. He is financially inter- ested in the First National Bank, of Coatesville, being a director in that institution. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Coatesville. Mr. and Mrs. Lakin are highly respected members of society and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem them for their many good qualities.
Otto F. Lakin, son of W. N. Lakin, was born in Coatesville, October 23, 1872, and spent his boyhood in that town. After graduating from the Coatesville high school he attended DePauw University for two years, after which he was in attendance at a business college at Indianapolis. After spend- ing some years in Indianapolis he came to Coatesville in 1894 and worked for his father. He then took up the undertaking business and now has a furni- ture store in connection with his undertaking establishment. His store is stocked with fine, up-to-date furniture, and in all lines of his business he is thoroughly modern in his methods and ideas.
Mr. Lakin was married in 1896 to Maude McAnich, the daughter of S. W. and Agnes McAnich, and to this union there have been born three children, Agnes, Russell and Mary Catherine.
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Fraternally, Otto Lakin is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the degrees of the Royal Arch chapter; the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has occupied all the offices in the lodge, and holds membership also in the Knights of Pythias.
DANIEL SIGLER HAZLEWOOD.
Among the prosperous farmers of Hendricks county, Indiana, who have descended from distinguished ancestry is Daniel Sigler Hazlewood. His grandfather was one of the first pioneers to settle in this county. Daniel S. Hazlewood was born September 9, 1873, near Hazlewood, Liberty township, Hendricks county, Indiana, his birth occurring in a log cabin on the old home farm which was erected by his father. His parents were James B. and Jane (Stout) Carter Hazlewood.
James B. Hazlewood was also born near Hazlewood on August 16, 1837, and was the son of Daniel Hazlewood, who was a native of Virginia, and when a young man came to Kentucky, where he married, and soon after his marriage he came to Liberty township, this county, with his two children, James and Benjamin. He entered land from the government and later added to his first entry until he was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in the township. He was a skillful mechanic and followed this trade at his home and in the town of Hazlewood. He and his family were all members of the Missionary Baptist church. Mary Alspaugh, the mother of James B. Hazlewood, was a daughter of Isaac Alspaugh, who was a native of Kentucky.
James B. Hazlewood was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Jane (Stout ) Carter, the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Ruston) Stout. Jonathan Stout was a native of North Carolina and came to this county in an early day with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. James Hazlewood were the parents of three children : Logan, deceased; Mrs. Addie Kivitt, deceased, and Daniel Sigler. whose history is here presented. Daniel Hazlewood, the grandfather of Daniel Sigler, whose history is here presented, had a family of six children : Benjamin; Joseph; James, the father of the subject; Mary, deceased ; Jane, who died in early youth, and one who died at the age of nine years. James Hazlewood spent his boyhood days in this county and his whole life was spent on the farm where he was born. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Grangers organization which arose in this state in the seventies.
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