USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 34
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The father of our subject was born in 1829 in Bartholomew county and received his early education in that county. working in the meantime on his father's farm, later inheriting and making a home on part of this land, but he sold out there and came to Howard county in 1869, buying the farm on which our subject and his mother now reside, which consists of one hundred and forty-seven acres. Nathan Carter lived on this farm until his death in 1903. at the age of seventy-three years. He recevied a fairly good education and was known as a public-spirited man and generous to the needy. He was
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
a Methodist in his religious affiliations. Two children were born to Nathan Carter and wife : the name of the other child beside our sub- ject is Elzie M., who is a machinist in Kokomo. He is married and has one child.
The mother of grandmother Carter was a Miss Francis, born in Virginia, but this family moved to Ohio where she and Mr. Brown- ing were married, the father being a native of Ohio. They came to Indiana in 1840 and settled in Bartholomew county, where land was entered by them and on which they farmed and lived until their death which occurred on the same day, less than six hours apart. The father reached the age of eighty-two and the mother seventy-five. The date of their deaths was 1867. They were Methodists. Mrs. Carter had two brothers in the Civil war who enlisted from Indiana, Thomas being in the Seventy-third Regiment Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in the battle of Antietam, the wound being so serious that his discharge from the service became necessary, after he had served over one year. He never recovered from the wound, hav- ing been a cripple to the present day. The other brother, Vincent. was in the Seventy-Ninth Volunteer Infantry, and he served until the close of the war. having been once captured but was exchanged.
The father of the subject was of Irish descent and the mother of English ancestry, the latter being seventy-three years old in 1908 and is living with her son, our subject. She is a woman of much more than ordinary intelligence, her memory is bright and her physical health perfect.
William T. Carter, our subject, attended school in Bartholomew and Howard counties, working in the meantime on his father's farm where he remained until his father's death in Howard county. He was sixteen years old when he moved to his present farm in Howard county where he has since remained. This farm is exceptionally well draine.1. the work having been done by the subject and his father,
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and the fences are of wood and wire, being in excellent condition. The soil has been kept up to its former productive capacity through the skillful management of our subject, who is a modern farmer in every respect. He not only feeds all the corn to stock that the place produces but purchases much additional. He believes in the use of clover to keep his land properly fertilized, always rotating his crops. He feeds hogs for the market. Poland China is his favorite breed. and he is regarded not only as one of the most up-to-date farmers in the township where his fine farm is located, but also as a man of un- usually good judgment in the selection, care and handling of all kinds of live stock.
Mr. Carter was united in mariage in 1887 to Jennie F. Belt. a native of Howard county. Her parents were natives of Ohio.
Two children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Glen A., born in 1870, is on the farm with his father; Verna B., who was born in 1880, died at the age of two years, having lost his life in a tragic and unfortunate manner, having been burned to death in a fire which destroyed the subject's barn. Mrs. Carter was called to her rest in 1882, at the early age of twenty-two years. She was a woman of many estimable traits, being a faithful Methodist. of which faith our worthy subject is also an adherent, having been an elder in the church.
Fraternally he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, lodge at Kokomo. In politics he is a Republican, long been active in the party, serving with credit on various committees. He is a man of many praiseworthy traits, being scrupulously honest in all his dealings with the business world, generous and pleasant, possess- ing rare fortitude and good judgment, advocating clean politics, wholesome living and honesty in business. Needless to add that such a man has hosts of friends and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
WILLIAM MERAND.A.
Among the citizens of Taylor township, Howard county, In- diana, who have built up a comfortable home and surrounded them- selves with valuable landed estates and personal property, few have attained a higher degree of success than the subject of this sketch. With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of mastering and with many discouragements to overcome, he has made an exceptional success in life and in his old age has the grati- fication of knowing that the community in which he has resided has been benefited by his presence and his counsel.
William Meranda was born in Fayette county. Indiana, De- cember 4, 1839, the son of Samuel and Susan ( Shinkle) Meranda. Grandfather Meranda was a native of Kentucky. Grandfather Shinkle was from Pennsylvania, the family having settled there in 1717.
The father of the subject was born in 1788. He secured a farm in his youth which he managed successfully all his life. He was in the War of 1812, also fought against the Indians at the battle of Tippecanoe, serving through each and receiving honorable dis- charges. Samuel L. Meranda, a brother of our subject, was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he died while in the service of disease contracted while in line of duty, at Louisville, Kentucky. Francis Harland, a son of our subject's sister, was also an Indiana soldier in the Union ranks, who also died of disease while in the army.
Samuel Meranda, father of the subject, was born in Kentucky and reared there, but his early educational advantages were limited. He always followed farming and married in Brown county, Ohio. Coming to Fayette county, Indiana, he entered one hundred and
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twenty acres of land which he cleared and improved, making a good home there and rearing his family on this land, dying there July 2, 1868, at the advanced age of eighty years. He and his wife were active members of the Newlight church, in which the former was an elder for years. Eleven children were born to them, seven of whom reached maturity, five of them raising families: our subject being the tenth in order of birth. The mother was nearly seventy-eight years old at the time of her death.
William Meranda, our subject, was reared in Fayette county. this state, receiving there a district school education, remaining on his father's farm and a member of the family circle until he was twenty-one years old, when he responded to the patriotic spirit that prompted him to enlist his services in defense of the flag when the Republic was threatened with dissolution, consequently in Septem- ber, 1861, he became a member of Company L, Forty-first Indiana Regiment, Second Cavalry, going into camp at Indianapolis, where the company was drilled. The company was later sent into Ken- tucky under General MeCook. The subject was in eighteen engage- ments among which were Stone River and Perrysburg, first battle at Nashville, Bowling Green and fought during the Bragg and Buell raids in Kentucky. He was disabled and transferred to the invalid corps, in which he remained one year. He served to the end of his three years' enlistment and then was honorably discharged. After the war he returned to his old home in Fayette county, Indiana, taking charge of the farm and caring for his parents for the next three years. Then he bought a farm in Howard county, moving thereto about 1868, later selling out here and returned to Fayette county. His father having died he bought the old home farm of one hundred and twenty acres on which he farmed for three years, then sold it and returned to Howard county, buying a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Taylor township, on which he has since re-
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OF HOWARD CO! NTY.
sided. It was only partially cleared at the time he took charge of it. Mr. Meranda has cleared thirty acres himself, one hundred and fifteen acres now being under the plow, ten acres are in timber, the balance in blue grass pasture. The farm is well drained with tile, of which there are over eighteen hundred rods on this place, which the sub- ject put in himself. Since this was done crops can be raised on all the place. The fences are mostly of wood. The soil is in excellent productive condition, owing to his skillful management. He feeds his corn to cattle and hogs. His out buildings are in first class order and his dwelling house is modern and of fine appearance. The farm is considered one of the best and most desirable in Taylor township, in fact, it would be hard to find a better improved or more productive place in Howard county.
Mr. Meranda was married December 26, 1864. to Margaret Love, daughter of William and Eliza ( West) Love, natives of Ohio. Thomas Love, a brother of Mrs. Meranda, was a soldier in the Civil war in an Ohio regiment, serving three years, receiving an honor- able discharge from Company K. Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. Sylvester Love, a cousin of Mrs. Meranda, was in the same company and regiment. also served three years, receiving an honor- able discharge. Mrs. Meranda's people were farmers and spent their days in Ohio, the father living to be nearly eighty years old : the mother is living in Ohio, being eighty-nine years old in 1908. She has the active use of all her faculties. Her father was twice married, his wives having been sisters. Mrs. Meranda was of the second marriage. There were four children by his first wife and seven by his second, only one of these died in infancy. Mrs. Me- randa was the third in order of birth. All of the children by the first wife lived to maturity as did also all of the six last children.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Me- randa : Dora A., born September 24, 1865. was first the wife of
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Joseph Mugg, by whom she had two children : her second husband was Edward Finn, having also two children by this union : Eliza F., the second child. born January 31. 1867. is the widow of Vincent Hobson and the mother of three children : Offa W., born December 8. 1869. is married and living in Kokomo; Charles B., born October 27. 1872, lives in Kokomo, married and has one child : William L., born March 16, 1876, is deceased : John Arthur, born November 10, 1880, lives on his father's farm, is married and has one child.
Fraternally Mr. Meranda is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. having filled all the chairs in the local lodge. His wife belongs to the Rebekahs. They, together with all their chil- dren, belong to the Christian church, being active members. Po- litically Mr. Meranda is a loyal Republican, and he is always in hearty sympathy with any movement looking to the advancement of his community.
WILLIAM F. NEWBY.
Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely neces- sary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertain- ment of such belief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight and it sometimes seems that modesty is a sin with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable excep- tion is the case of the honorable gentleman whose life history we here present, who possesses just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold, and as a
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
result of these well and happily blended qualities Mr. Newby has won a host of friends in Monroe township, Howard county, Indi- ana, where he is well known to all classes as a man of influence, in- tegrity and business ability.
William F. Newby was born in the localty referred to in the preceding paragraph, May 24, 1858, and he has preferred to remain on his native hills rather than seek uncertain advantages in other states as many of his early companions have done. He is the son of Edmond J. Newby, who was born in Washington county, Indiana, November 11, 1825, the son of Joseph and Hannah ( Cosand) Newby, both natives of North Carolina, who came to Washington county, this state, in an early day, being among the pioneers who settled there. They secured wild land which they cleared and on which they made a comfortable home, having always been farmers. They both died there, rearing three sons and five daughters, the only one now living being Edmond J., father of the subject. Ed- mond J. Newby grew up in Washington county and in 1847 came to Howard county, locating in Monroe township, on section 8. He first procured one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, which he cleared and by dint of hard work transformed it into a good farm. He married Eliza E. Trueblood, of Washington county, Indiana. She was a daughter of William Penn and Anna Trueblood, both natives of North Carolina, having come to Washington county, this state, in the pioneer days, where they secured wild land and started life in a small way, but they made a good home and both died there. Edmond J. Newby by habits of industry and economy added to his land from time to time until he had a large tract. He was a Re- publican in politics and at one time ably served his township as trustee. He was an active member of the Friends church and is still living in the township. His wife passed to her rest in 1895. Ed- mond J. Newby is well known and highly esteemed for his many
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fine traits of character. He has always devoted his life to farming and during the latter part has been a breeder of shorthorn cattle: also raises fine horses and hogs. Three children constituted his family, namely : Mary, who resides at New London, this state, the wife of Jesse D. Davis, of Washington county, who is a merchant and also operates a threshing machine, also taught school for fifteen years; William F., our subject, was the second child in order of birth ; Linden J. is a farmer and stock raiser on the old home place in Monroe township. He married Laura Carey and they are the parents of two children, Mabel and Russell.
William F. Newby, our subject, attended the schools in his na- tive community where he applied himself diligently and received a good education, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He married in 1882 Merab Shirley, the accomplished (laughter of Dr. J. D. Shirley, who is now deceased, and whose wife. a Miss Seward, was a native of Ohio, while his native state was Kentucky. Mrs. Shirley is still living in 1908 at New London, this county.
Six children have been born to the subject and wife as follows : Frank C., a farmer in Monroe township, who married Cecelia Han- son ; Eva. Harry, Shirley, deceased ; Glen and Kenneth.
In 1879 the subject located on the place where he now resides, in section 13, Monroe township, and he has made many of the ex- tensive improvements of the place, bringing it up to a high state of efficiency and productiveness, carrying on general farming and stock raising in a most successful manner. He is also interested in land in South Dakota.
Mr. Newby is one of the directors and stock holders of the Howard County Fair Association and one of the leaders to get it located at Russiaville. Owing to his indomitable energy and the interest he has taken in the fair, its success has been assured from
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
the first. He is also interested in an attempt to get an electric rail- way through the county.
Although an active Republican all his mature years, Mr. Newby has never aspired to office. However, his assistance may always be relied upon in placing the best local men possible in the county offices for he believed in clean politics as well as wholesome social and home life. He is regarded as a good business man, an excellent manager, having sound judgment and foresight and he has been very successful in his business career. He keeps well abreast of the times, being well read on current topics. He has won the respect and esteem of all who know him for his friendly manner, business ability and upright living and he is regarded by all as one of the substantial citizens of Monroe township.
FLEMING JOHNSON.
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determinations and perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, and only the men who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the influential farmer and representative citizen of Honey Creek town- ship, Howard county, Indiana, whose name forms the caption of this review, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
Fleming Johnson was born in Stark county. Ohio, September
30
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24. 1833, the son of Robert and Milley ( Stanley ) Johnson, natives of Virginia, where they grew to maturity, moving to Ohio in 1826 and being married in Columbiana county in 1832. They moved to Stark county, Ohio, and secured one hundred acres of land which had never been under cultivation. But the land was soon cleared. Mr. Johnson, being a rugged, hard working man, and a home was here established, the land becoming highly productive under his skillful management. He devoted his life to farming. In politics he was a Whig and in his religious affiliations he subscribed to the Friends church. In 1853 the parents of the subject came to Howard county, Indiana, and settled in Honey Creek township and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land which was wild and there were no roa.is leading from it to the outside world, but the same energy and tact was applied to its development that characterized the re- claiming of their farm in the old Buckeye state and the new farm was soon a comfortable place on which to live. Eighty acres of this land was cleared and Mr. Johnson remained here until his death in March. 1800. Mrs. Johnson having survived him until September, 1801, when she, too, passed to the spirit land. They were very strict with their children, rearing them in the way they would be of the greatest benefit to their neighbors as well as to themselves. There were eight in number, named in order of birth as follows: Flem- ing, our subject : Dempsy died in December, 1906: Jonathan who is living in Hamilton county, Indiana : Asenath, who married Ben- jamin Terrell, living in Ohio; Abraham, who died in 1906. lived at Young America, Indiana, having been in the saw mill and lumber business ; Lewis, who resides in Greentown; Elizabeth, who is now dleceased, married Simeon Mendenhall: William, who is living at Kokomo, Indiana.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and the high school where he applied himself diligently and became
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
well educated, having taught school in a most satisfactory manner for three years. He was united in marriage March 15, 1855, to Rachel Bundy, of Rush county. Indiana. She was called from her earthly labors in March, 1904. She was a woman of many praise- worthy traits and proved at all times a faithful helpmeet. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of ten children, namely: Elva. who is living at home; Charles, a farmer in Harrison township, this county ; John is also farming in the same locality ; Laura is the wife of Albert Lindley, of Honey Creek township; Millie is the wife of Charles Carter, of Honey Creek township : Sarah is the wife of John Bowers, of Middletown, Indiana; Joseph is a farmer in Honey Creek township ; Abram has always lived at home, devoting his life to farming and operating a threshing machine; Margaret married Samuel Turner, of Russiaville, Indiana ; Martha is living at home.
After the subject married he located with his wife on the farm where he still lives, the old homestead of his father. The subject has made all the improvements on the place and he has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two acres, of which one hundred are under a high state of cultivation. He has skillfully rotated his crops and kept his fiells fertilized until the land has retained its original strength and is today one of the best farms in this com- munity. Mr. Johnson has always been a farmer and stock raiser, being an excellent judge of live stock, especially horses and cattle and he raises all kinds of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. He has also, in connection with his farming interests, successfully operated a threshing machine for over forty years, becoming widely known as one of the best men in this line in the country.
Mr. Johnson is an independent voter, but his support is always for the best issues and the best men, for he believes in honesty in public affairs just as strongly as in private life. Ile is a member of the Friends church. He is well read on current and general topics
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and is an interesting conversationalist. He is well preserved for a man of his years. He is well known and has a host of warm friends as a result of his upright and industrious life.
JASPER M. BURT.
Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of hus- bandry. The free out-of-door life of the farm has a decided tend- ency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-re- liance which characterizes true manhood and no truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life inspiring labor of the fiekls. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation's great warriors, re- nowned statesmen and distinguished men of letters, were born on the farm and were indebted largely to its early influence for the distinction which they have attained.
Jasper M. Burt was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 23, 1843. the son of Daniel and Clementine (Smith) Burt, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. As early as 1816 the Burt family came to Union county, this state, when that section was in the primeval forest. Settling on a farm there they developed it by hard work, making a comfortable home.
The father of the subject spent his boyhood days in Pennsyl- vania and came with his parents to Union county, Indiana, receiv- ing there a common school education, the best that such early times afforded. When a young man he engaged in the saw mill business. but his principal life work has been devoted to farming in Henry county, especially. He came to Howard county in 1860, buying the
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farm on which our subject has lived since he was sixteen years old. however, Mr. Burt did not have an opportunity to develop this farm, having been summoned from his earthly labors in November, 1860, at the age of sixty years, having been born in 1800. This farm was all in the woods with the exception of five or six acres when the Burt family first took possession of it and the only buildings on the land was a small log house and stable. It consisted of one hundred and eighty acres, but eighty acres were sold by our subject and he did all the clearing and made the improvements. The first drains were made of timber. The mother of the subject reached the age of seventy-eight years. Daniel Burt was three times married and had seven children by his first wife, one by his second wife and three by his third wife, of whom our subject was the oldest.
Jasper M. Burt, our subject. attended the district schools in Henry county and later in Howard county, working on the farm during the summer months in both counties. Having taken charge of his father's farm at his death, he has continned the management of the same up to the present time, having placed the fields under a splendid system of fencing and erected substantial and commodious buildings on the place. The sixty acres which he now manages are highly improved, well drained and in every respect is a model farm. showing thrift and good management.
The domestic life of our subject dates from 1865, when he was united in marriage with Hannah M. Sally, daughter of Looney L. and Procena ( Rice) Sally. the former a native of Ohio and the lat- ter of Indiana, the former having been a soldier in the Federal ranks during the war between the states, having enlisted from Indiana. serving four years with distinction, receiving at the close of the war an honorable discharge. His regiment. the Fifty-first Indiana In- fantry, was commanded by Colonel Straight. William Burt, the oldest son of our subject's father, was also a soldier, having enlisted
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