USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 35
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from Indiana and died while in the service. John, another brother, lost a leg while in the service of his country.
Four children have been born into the home of our subject as follows: Rosa M., born in 1866, died 1892, was the wife of M. P. Cox, and she left one child : Charles L., born November 9, 1869, after attending the district schools from which he graduated mar- ried and is the father of two children; Thomas N. was born in De- cember, 1878, and died in infancy; Willard R., who was born in 1876, died in 1879.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Burt are consistent members of the Chris- tian church. Politically Mr. Burt is a Republican, and fraternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having filled all the chairs of the same, also a member of the Subordinate Lodge and Encampment. Mrs. Burt belongs to the Rebekahs, hav- ing filled all the chairs of the same.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Burt are among the most influential and popular citizens in their community, having long ago established rep- utations for uprightness, kindness and hospitality, being abreast of the times in every respect and always willing to give their time and substance, if need be. to further any movement looking to the better- ment of the locality where they reside whether religiously, education- ally or politically, and they are highly respected by all who know them as are also their children.
WILSON J. HIATT.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war and the leading agriculturists of Union township. Howard county, the well known and influential subject of this review is numbered. There is much
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
that is commendable in his life record, for he has been found true to duty in every relation, whether of a public or private character, and while energy and unabiding industry have been salient features of his business career, he is equally well known for his uprightness and the honorable methods he has always followed and for his loyality to any public trust reposed in him.
Wilson J. Hiatt was born in Randolph county, Indiana, June 29, 1843. the son of Richard and Charlotte (Coats) Hiatt. The Hiatts were natives of Virginia and the Coats family of South Carolina. They were among the fine old southern families of the early days. The father came from Virginia to Highland county, Ohio, and from there to Indiana, settling in Randolph county, enter- ing land there which he transformed by hard work and by dint of persevering energy into an excellent farm, making a good home for his family, and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there. Both he and Mrs. Hiatt were well known and in- Auential in that county.
To them five sons and seven daughters were born, three of whom are living in 1908. These children received careful home training and the best advantages that were possible to receive in such environments.
Wilson J. Hiatt, our subject, had scarcely no opportunities to become educated in his boyhood days, it being necessary for him to assist with the farm work and to help support the large family. but he has since developed a strong and fertile mind through general home reading and by coming in contact with the business world, so he is well versed on most current topics and is an interesting con- versationalist.
When the tocsin of war sounded and the great armies of the North were assembling to crush the rebellion that threatened the foundations of the republic. Mr. Hiatt was one of the brave and
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loyal citizens of the Hoosier state to respond to the patriotic im- pulses which he felt, and. severing home ties, he marched away for the purpose of offering his services and life, if need be, to defend the flag. enlisting in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he also served three months in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Regiment, being in the field for a period of one year, taking part in the battles of Richmond, Ken- tucky, in 1862, and he was in the famous Atlanta campaign in which he performed conspicuous service, as a result of which he re- ceived a testimonial from President Lincoln and he is now remem- bered by his government with a pension of seventeen dollars per month.
After his career in the army he returned to Randolph county and resumed active life, devoting himself to agricultural pursuits, which he carried on successfully as a result of his industry and sound judgment.
Mr. Hiatt was united in the bonds of wedlock in 1865 to Jen- netta K. Hunt, who was called to her rest in 1875 after a harmoni- ous married life of ten years. In 1877 Mr. Hiatt married Abigail Chamness, a representative of a well known family. and to this second union two children have been born, namely: Lindley T. and Mary .\ .. the latter the wife of Emery Ault. Both these children live in U'nion township and both received a common school educa- tion. They are comfortably situated in life and have many friends in this community. Mary was especially adept at her text-books. having graduated from the common schools in which she made an excellent record. Lindley T. is known as a man of strong person- ality and excellent business ideas. He is also a graduate of the common schools, having ontstripped many of his classmates who were less ambitious than he.
Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt are consistent members of the Quaker church in which they have long taken a delight.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Mr. lliatt, as might be expected, is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Kokomo, known as the Harrison Post. No. 30. In his political relations he is a loyal Republican and has taken considerable interest in local affairs, al- ways lending his support to the best candidates and being a strong believer in honesty in politics as well as in the business affairs of life. He is in 1908 the efficient justice of the peace of his com- munity, having faithfully performed the duties of the same for a period of six years. He has become well and most favorably known throughout Union township for his loyalty to the truth, his up- rightness in business, his public-spirit and his friendly disposition.
DAVID A. HELMS.
In the history of Howard county, as applying to the agricul- tural interests, the name of David A. Helms occupies a conspicuous place, for through a number of years he has been one of the repre- sentative farmers of Taylor township, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success, sooner or later, and to Mr. Helms they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well directed effort, and while he has benefited himself and community in a material way he has also been an influential factor in the ed- ticational, political and moral uplift of the community favored by his residence.
David A. Helms was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. March 9. 1847. the son of William and Susanna ( Shenk ) Helms. Grand- father Helms was from Kentucky. He came to Hamilton county. Indiana, about 1807. when there was only a wilderness infested by savages and wild beasts, but being a hardy pioneer, he soon had a
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farm of one hundred and sixty acres cleared and under cultivation. Here he raised his family, lived the remainder of his life and passed to the unknown beyond, his death occurring after he had reached more than three score and ten years, his wife having passed away in the sixties, leaving nine children, all of whom lived to maturity. The parents of these children were loyal Baptists. They were both scions of German stock.
William Helms, father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, and was thirteen years old when he was brought to Indiana by his parents. He attended school in the former state, completing his ed- ucation after he came to the Hoosier state, becoming a fairly well educated man. He worked on his father's farm in Hamilton county until he married at the age of twenty. In 1847 he came to Howard county and entered forty acres of land in Taylor township, which he cleared and farmed, living for a time in a house built of round poles. the only door being an opening in the wall sheltered by a quilt. He afterward built a house of hewn logs and later on erected a sub- stantial and commodious farm house, having lived in this spot con- tinuously for over half a century, dying in 1902, at the age of eighty- two years, at the time of his death owning one hundred acres. This farm is now in the hands of his second wife, who is still living in 1908, his first wife and our subject's mother having died in 1869, after becoming the mother of seven children, two of whom died in childhood, the others growing to maturity, our subject being the fourth in order of birth. His father and mother were members of the Church of God, and they lived a consecrated Christian life. The oldest son, Mark L., enlisted in the Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was killed at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, in 1861. Our subject was also one of those patriotic sons of the North who felt it his duty to respond to the call for troops to save the in- tegrity of the nation, consequently he enlisted in February, 1865,
.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
when only sixteen years old, having regretted ever since the war commenced that he was too young to take part. He served faith- fully until the close of the war and was honorably discharged.
Mr. Helms received what education he could at the district schools, but such advantages were limited. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years old. then purchased twenty acres of land on which there was a pole house, then soon afterward traded it for twenty-two acres on which there was a new log house into which he moved, here he and his young wife did their first housekeeping. He farmed here for two years, then he sold the place, buying sixty acres of heavily wooded land. On this he erected a house of hewn logs, being nearly on the identical spot where his present modern residence stands. He cleared this land and made a fine farm of it in due time. It now consists of one hundred and seven acres. He also has another farm of forty acres in Liberty township, being ten miles from his residence, one of his sons living on the last mentioned farm. With the exception of about thirteen acres it is under a high state of cultivation. The thirteen acres are in blue grass and woods-pasture. Mr. Helms builds new fences as soon as the old rail ones get out of repair. The farm is well drained with tile, the major portion of the place having been reclaimed from the swamp, which has made the most productive land in the county and is therefore of much greater market vahte per acre. Our sub- ject understands well the management of his farms, rotating the crops so as to keep the land in a high state of productiveness, it now being richer than when he first took possession of it. Most of the corn raised on the farm is fed. principally to hogs by Mr. Helms. He raises Chester Whites and Duroc crossed.
The residence on this farm is first-class, being a model farm house, and at a convenient distance are many comfortable out build- ings. A fine orchard is not far away, in fact. Mr. Helms has three
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orchards, one of cherries, one of plums and one of apples, all well kept, for he is not only a first-class farmer but also something of an horticulturist.
The subject was united in marriage in 1871 to Sarah L. Bar- rett, daughter of Milton and Mahala ( Moon ) Barrett, who were na- tives of Ohio, having come to Indiana about 1850. Two of Mrs. Barrett's brothers, Benjamin and Joseph Moon, were soldiers in the Federal ranks, having enlisted from Indiana. Joseph served through the war: while Benjamin was discharged on account of disease contracted while in line of duty.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helms, namely : Mary E., born in 1871, is the wife of Elmer Davis, of Howard coun- ty. and the mother of three children: William Eklen was born in 1872 and died in infancy. Mrs. Helms passed to her rest in 1873. She was a member of the Friends society. The subject was again married in 1874 to Nancy E. Elmore, daughter of John and Mary Jane ( Mills ) Elmore, natives of North Carolina, and who were early settlers in Howard county. Upon coming here they were obliged to live out doors until they could erect a pole house on the land which they took up. The wife of the subject was educated in the district schools. Three children have been born to this union as follows: Minnie Jane, born in 1876, died in 1887: John F .. born in 1877. is married and has two children: Orin O., born in 1879. is married.
Mr. and Mrs. Helms are members of the Seventh Day Advent- ists. The youngest son of our subject was a soldier in the Twelfth United States Infantry, stationed for some time in the Philippines. having been three years in the army, returning to the old home after his enlistment had expired, having received an honorable discharge. His stay in the tropics did not seriously impair his health.
Our subject is in principle a Prohibitionist and by his ad-
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
vocacy of wholesome living, pure politics and honesty in business he has long enjoyed the undivided respect and esteem of all who know him. being regarded as one of Howard county's most sub- stantial and worthy citizens.
JOHN B. MOORMAN.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by rea- son of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such men always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To the energetic and enterprising class the subject of this review very properly belongs. Having never been seized with the roaming desires that have led many of Howard county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other states, where they have sought their fortunes. Mr. Moorman has devoted his life to industries at home and has succeeded remarkably well. as we shall see by a study of his life history.
John B. Moorman was born in Union township. Howard county, Indiana, March 4. 1858, the son of Chuza and Rachel ( Fellow) Moorman. The Moorman family first came to Wayne county and later to Grant county, this state, finally moving to How- ard county. The subject's father was four years old when he came to Grant county, and when he was twenty-four years old he came to Union township. this county, and here he lived near Jonesboro. for a number of years. He became well known, having been a
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Quaker preacher. He met his death accidentally in a gas well, one of the first that was drilled in Howard county. The mother of the subject was the second wife of his father. There were four chil- dren in the family, three sons and one daughter, namely: John B., Amanda J .. wife of Henry Tolle, of Tipton county, Indiana ; C. D. and C. O. C. D. is a telegraph operator in Oklahoma and C. O. is living on a farm in Tipton county, this state.
John B. Moorman, our subject, was reared on a farm where he assisted with the work during the summer months, attending school in the winter until he was nineteen years old.
The domestic life of the subject dates from 1877, when he was happily married to Martha A. Jackson, of Howard county, a daugh- ter of a well known family. To this union eleven children have been born. all but one surviving in 1908, the family consisting of eight sons and two daughters, namely: Omer L .. Lulu M., Lewis A., Frank L .. Tristrum L .. Russell L .. James L., Deva A., Wilbur L., and Garald L.
In politics our subject is a Prohibitionist, but he at one time affiliated with the Republican party. In the fall of 1904 he was nominated for trustee on the Prohibitionist ticket. The Democrats did not nominate a candidate and Mr. Moorman was elected by eleven votes. The township is largely Republican. He is the pres- ent trustee and is exercising the duties of the office in a manner to reflect credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Moorman resides on a portion of the old homestead, where he owns forty acres of well improved land.
He is a inan of sterling qualities and is highly honored by all who know him as a result of his public-spirit, honesty in business and his advocacy of wholesome living and his support of all move- ments looking to the betterment of his community and county. He is pleasant and kindly disposed and it is not too much to say that
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
no man in Howard county is held in higher esteem by those who know him best.
FREDERICK YOUNGMAN.
Germany has contributed some of her best citizens to the United States-men who have here entered into the spirit of our institu- tions and have not only gained pecuniary independence for them- selves, but have also been a distinct acquisition to our population. In taking up this review of the life of the worthy gentleman whose name appears above, the biographer calls attention to one who has by a life of earnest and consecutive endeavor won for himself the sincere respect of all who have come in contact with him. For many years he has been a potent factor in the civic and industrial life of Howard county, where no man stands higher in the estima- tion of the people.
Frederick Youngman was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 18. 1845. the son of Michael and Margaret ( Peisch) Youngman. The subject's grandparents were natives of Bavaria, but this family was originally of French stock. Our subject was the oldest of his father's family, and was brought to America when nine years oldl. his father settling in Ripley county, Indiana, where he lived the balance of his days, on his fine farm there. When eleven years old he held the great Napoleon's horse while the general went into his father's tavern. When the emperor returned he gave the boy a five franc piece. The father of the subject was drafted in the German army, where he served for six years as a private soldier. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was commissioned an officer of cavalry which he held acceptably for ten years, then resigned and returned home, where he married at the age of forty. Three sons
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were born to the subject's father and mother, all of whom are living in 1908, two in Indiana and one in Champaign county, Illinois. Their father passed away when about eighty-three years old, their mother having died when about fifty-eight years old. The second son. a brother of our subject, owns the old home farm and other land to the amount of four hundred acres. Their parents were Roman Catholics and all three children adhere to that faith.
Our subject attended school one summer and one winter in Bavaria and also attended school in Ripley county, Indiana, for a part of two winters, also two terms of a German school when twelve years old, when he began working out, having been employed by one man in Decatur county for six years, during which time he learned tile making, having turned out the first machine-made tile ever pro- duced in Indiana. The first year he worked out he received eight dollars per month, and the most he received during any part of the six years was thirteen dollars per month. . At the breaking out of the war between the states he was receiving forty dollars per month making tile. Then he same to Howard county and received sixty dollars per month and he loaned the money he had saved to the man who owned the factory and when the season was over could not col- lect anything, so he went to Louisville and worked in a meat pack- ing house, but the following year he worked for the same tile man and employed his brother and his team for which he paid out of his share in his father's farm, the sum of six hundred dollars, and this. together with the amount he had previously loaned the owner of the factory, together with his services went into a note. Then he went to Boone county and with a partner started a tile factory, which in time was sold out and our subject then bought the factory in How- ard county which he successfully operated for fourteen years. It was located on a portion of his present farm in Taylor township. During that period he had gradually accumulated about two hun-
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
dred and seventy-five acres of land and after discontinuing the man- facture of tile he went to farming. Being thrifty and a good man- ager he has added to this until he now has a fine farm of three hun- dred and seventy-five acres, all but twenty-five acres of which are in cultivation, the number of acres specified being in blue grass and timbered pasture. Mr. Youngman cleared thirty acres of this land. which he has "stumped", in fact. he has brought his farm up to an average of any in Howard county. He manufactured and laid the tile which has rendered this the best drained farin in this district. The major part of the place is fenced with wire and no better build- ings are to be found on any farm in the township than those the sub- ject had erected on his farm. These buildings consist of three large barns and three dwelling houses, all in perfect repair. One of these houses is a large and commodious brick, in which his son-in-law re- sides and conducts the farm. Our subject lives in a modern and nicely furnished farm house on the main pike and the place gives every indication of good management, thrift and prosperity, being one of the state's model farms.
Mr. Youngman feeds all the corn the place produces, often buying additional corn to feed. He formerly fed both cattle and hogs quite extensively, but he is now feeding sheep and hogs, buy- ing sheep and lambs in the West and prepares them for market. He rotates his crops with clover every third year and keeps his soil in high productiveness, being as rich today as when he took charge of it. however he uses no commercial fertilizers.
Mr. Youngman was united in marriage in April. 1870. to Eva Hoyer, daughter of John .A. and Margaret ( Peetz) Hoyer. both natives of Bavaria, who came to America, settling in Ripley county. Indiana, in 1852, on a farm, buying a farm where the father of Mrs. Youngman still resides, the mother having died at the age of
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seventy-four years. The father is now ( 1908) about seventy-seven years old.
Three daughters have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Luna, born in 1870, now the wife of Lewis Becker, living in Tipton county, and the parents of one child : Rosa, born in 1874. the wife of George Becker, a brother to the husband of the oldest daughter. and who also lives in Howard county, being the parents of one child; Nellie, born in 1880, is the wife of Ed Grishaw, now living in the home house and managing the subject's farm.
Mr. Youngman is a Mason in his fraternal relations and a Democrat politically. No man in this section of the state stands higher in public esteem, having always led a life of uprightness and been strictly honest in his dealings with his fellow men, besides aid- ing in any way possible the advancement of his community.
GEORGE NEW KIRK.
In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment we find an unconscious recognition in the intrinsic worth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. The gentleman to whom the biographer now calls the reader's attention was not favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this, by perseverance, industry and wise economy, he has attained a comfortable station in life, making his influence felt for good in his community in Liberty township. Howard county, where he has long maintained his home, and because of the honorable career he has known here and also be- cause of the fact that he is numbered among those patriotic sons of
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
the North who assisted in saving the Union's integrity in the dark day's of the sixties, he is eminently worthy of a place in this book.
George Newkirk was born in Adams county, Ohio, November 5, 1842. the son of Cyrus and Cassie ( Phillips) Newkirk, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. The subject's lineage is of Scotch, English and German blood. Cyrus Newkirk, who spent his life as a farmer, became a man of influence in his community, and was known as a devoted Christian, having been a member of the Baptist church.
George Newkirk, our subject, was ten years old when he came to Indiana in 1852, locating in Grant county. He received a good education, having attended the common schools and later a college at Tipton, this state.
Our subject was only nineteen years old when he felt his call to duty in defending the flag, consequently he enlisted in 1862 in Com- pany H. One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he was with this regiment when it took part in the following engage- ments: Hartsville. Mellon. Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge, Graysville, Ringgokl, Tunnel Hill. Rocky Face Ridge, Adairsville, Dalton, Resaca, Ackworth, Cassville. New Hope Church, Pickett's Mills, Culp's Farm, Big Shanty, Lost Moun- tain, Pine Mountain, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Chattahoochee River, Ezra Church, Utoby Creek. Jonesboro, Altoona, the march to the sea with Sherman, Ebenezer Church, Savannah, Sisters Ferry, through the Carolinas, Barnsville Court House, Fayetteville, Averysboro, Bentonville and Smithfield. Although the subject was in the most exposed places in many of the above named engagements and picked up the flag many times after it had been shot down he was never wounded. He was mustered out June 24. 1865, in Kentucky.
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