USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Mechanicsburg, Indiana > Part 2
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EZRA SWATY, from 1844 to 1850 was connected with the Swain flour mill. In caso he, in partner. ship with others, built the saw mill. It was proba- bly in 'ge that he and N. R. Elliott opened a lit-
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tle store with a combined cash capital of $300. This partnership lasted seven years. Then after farming one year, Mr: Swain bought the store and residence on the north-east corner. This property he sold to John C. Goodwin and Isaac Franklin in 1865, and in April of that year moved to Nobles- ville, Mr. Swain died in April, 1898; Mrs. Swain in February, 1902.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER moved from the log bouse built when he entered his land, into a new two-story frame house in 1853. This house is where Mrs. N. R. Elliott now lives.
ELZA SWAIN lived here from 1850-54. He built the house which Job Ginn now owns and occupies. This property he sold to William Sharp and moved to Liberty, Indiana, where he enlisted in the Civil War. He gave up his life in defending the Union.
JOSHUA CRISHER came in the early fifties. He was a cabinet-maker, and made burial caskets. For many years they kept hotel on South Street. They moved to Knightstown, where Mr. Crisher died.
JOHN ALSPAW, also a cabinet-maker, came from Ohio in 1856. He died in 19og at the age of nine- ty-one.
FREDERICK RENT on the first day of the year 1852 moved with his family from Ohio, to which state he had come from Pennsylvania. Both parents and
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children used the German language. He bought property of john P. Cooper, and added two rooms to the house one of which he used for a shoe- shop. Here Mr. Rent lived and worked, with the exception of the time he spent in defending the Union, until his death which occurred in 1871. Mrs. Remt lived until 1889. Who among the children of their old neighbors does not remember the bird and animal cookies with which "Granny Rent" added to theo Christmas joys ?
WHALLEY WOOD and Betsey Tucker were married in 1853. As soon as the new home, already begun. could be finished they moved into the house which has been their home for more than half a century. Mrs. Wood remembers that John D. Cooper, fa- miliarly known as "Tine," had built the "Grand- father Mann house" and had moved into it only three days before she came to her now honie: that Thomas B. Keesling had built and was occupying the Weeks home; that Mr. Maloney, a tailor, was occupying the first house east of T. B. Keesling's; that Ezra Swain lived in the W. R. Miller house: that Havilab Adamson, Win. Alexander's son-in-law, Gived in a cottage which stood on the site of W. H. Keesling's residence; that Dr. Hopkins lived where Mis. Sarah Keesling now lives; Geo. White had just built and moved into the house which Dr. William Reed afterward owned and occupied; N. R. Elliott lived where I. W. Cooper now lives: Joshua
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Mr. and Mrs. Willinar Wood,
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Crisher. Hiram Brattain and Jackson Wisehart lived on South Street; Washington Franklin lived in the Mrs. N. A. Goodwin property.
DR. JAMES BECK came to Mechanicsburg in April, 1854, and lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Kozia Upp. He was appointed Post-Master June, 1856, and served until October, '62. In 1872 he moved to Fairmount, and thence to Elwood where he died in 1882. Mrs. Beck died at Kokomo, Feb- mary 2, 1900.
LEWIS GREENARE married Marietta Wood and moved to Mechanicsburg in 1854. They moved away in 's3 but returned in '(" They went to Markleville in 1880 at which place Mr. Greenlee died in 1000. Mrs. Greenlee. now resides in Mid- dletown.
JOHN C. Goonwix came to Mechanicsburg about 1855 and entered into partnership with L. G. Greenlee in the shoe business. He and Isaac Franklin in 1865, bought Ezra Swain's store. Mr. Franklin was Post-Master and kept the Office in the store. In 1868 Mr. Goodwin became sole owner and continued the business until his death which ocenned in 1870. Then Samuel H., the eldest son, assumed charge until of health com- pelled him to give up work. Charles S,, the sec- ond son, returned from Below, Wis., where he had received mercantile training and took charge of the
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store in 1876. A new brick building was erected 00 the site of the old store in 1880, and in 1882 the firm name became N. A. Goodwin & Sons. In 1879 Charles was married to Lizzie E. Swain. His death occurred in January, 1886. Mrs. Goodwin now resides in New Castle. John W. Goodwin the third son has continued the business. He married Lucy MeConnack, and they began housekeeping in the John L. Swain property. He bought his present home on North Street in 1885. Mr. Goodwin ordered four rocking chairs for the holiday trade in 1880. Selling these be sent in larger orders and was so successful in this line that he bought W. R. Miller's stock of furniture and later that of David Weaver. From this small beginning grew the furniture store located in the building erected by Mr. Goodwin on West Street. in 19o2. Mrs. Goodwin died May 30, 1007. Mrs. Nancy Goodwin still resides in the house which has been her home since 1869.
JONATHAN M. LEwes in 196 built the bouse non occupied by Abel Sinnett and after living in it four years sold to Calvin F. Keesling. Mr. Lewis was a carpenter and built a number of houses in town. For many years past he has lived on his farm southeast of town.
DR. JOSEPH WEEKS began practicing medicine in 1847. He was married to Susanna Swain in 1849. He moved to Mechanicsburg in '56 and
History of Mechanicsburg. 2,5
the following year bought the home in which he still resides. Mrs. Weeks died July 2, 1901. A number of successful physicians were students in his office at Mechanicsburg. Among them were Drs. William Reed, George Hasty, Jobn Need- ham, T. W. Gronendyke, J. M. Thurston, C. E. Wood, W. M. Rix, F. L. Stone, A. S. Haston. C. B. Pendleton, J. O, Lowman, Elizabeth Weeks, I. D. McCormack.
JOB GINN and Elizabeth Rent were married in 1.858 and began housekeeping in the home which. they still occupy. Mr. Ginn was one of the carly carpenters whose substantial work is still in evi- elence.
DR. W. M. Rix married Catherine Miller in 1864, They moved from here in 1873 or :74 and were living in Muncie at the time of Dr. Rix's death.
DR. GEORGE HASTY'S boyhood was spent 01. his father's farmi. Sometime during the fifties lu studied medicine under Dr. Weeks. In (8ho ho was elected to a professorship in the Cincinnat. Physio-Medical Institute. Ho practiced medicine in Mechanicsburg until 1872 when he moved to in- dianapolis where he was one of the founders of the Physio-Medical College of Indiana. Dr. Hast was connected with this college almost continuonsts until his death which occurred in 1905. MIrs, . Hasty still lives in Indianapolis.
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GEORGE WHITE married Elizabeth Keesting. After living in Mechanicsburg a few years they moved to Hamilton County but afterward returned and bought the John Keesling farm. They lived here until 1879 when they moved to Kansas. Mr. White died in 1900. Mis White resides in To- poka.
WILLIAM R. MILLER, in 1859. moved into the house which is bis present home. For many years he manufactured pumps and chairs, He also had an undertaking establishment in connection with his other work. His son L. O. Miller was in partnership with him for several years. The Mil- ler home was a favorite stopping place with the carly "circuit riders" of the M. E. church. Mrs. Miller died in October, 1904.
JACOR BROWN, a wagon maker, was located on West Street during the fifties. He sold to Lind- ley Allen. Moses Lindamood, also a wagon nink- er. was here a little later. During the fifties there lived in town Burris Personett a carpenter, James Wood a blacksmith, Joseph Groves a tinner, John D. Cooper and john P. Cooper, both carpenters, Hiram Short a mechanic.
DR. WILLIAM REED moved from Warrington and practiced medicine from 1864 to '72. Afterward he looked after his farming interests altho he contin- ned to reside in his home on East Street until his
Ezra Swain. 1822-1898.
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death which occurred February, 1901. Mrs. Reed died in 1894.
IMLA W. COOPER began work as salesman i N. R. Elliott's store, March, 1866. The following Year he married Sarah E. Hunt and they began housekeeping in a cottage west of Elliot's store. This building has since been converted into a ware- room. After' a clerkship of seven years Mr. Coop- er entered into a partnership with Mr. Elliott which lasted eighteen years. They built their present home in 1883.
JAMES D. FARRELL came to Mechanicsburg in September, '66. He had a drug store on the north- west corner and resided in the house now occupied by Mrs. N. R. Elliott. Mr. Farrell and family re- turned to Middletown September,'68. There were two successive drug stores on this corner between the years 1868 and 1871, the first belonging to John Trout the Second to Ezra and Samuel Bufkin,
AMos KisLING worked in his father's saw mill and on the bome farm until his enlistment in the Civil War. Later he bought an interest in the Steam saw mill in town. He was married to Rhoda M. Swain in 1867 and the following year bois! their present home, Mr. Kisling devotes much attention to fruit-growing.
DANIEL RENT worked at the carpenter trade both before and after bis service in the Civil War,
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In 1860 be married Sarah Williams who died in '72. They began housekeeping in a cottage on the site of bis present, home which was built in '88. Mr. Rent was married to Sarah C. Graham in '74. He was appointed Post-Master in '98 and served until the Post-Office was abolished in 1907.
DR. JOHN NEEDHAM was married to Christena Keesling in 'sS. They moved to Mechanicsburg in '60 where he studied medicine in the office of Dis. Weeks and Hasty; in '62 located at New Castle: in '86 moved to California where he died July, 1904.
DAVID HODSON, a barness-maker, married Sarah Tarklesone and lived on North Street during the sixties. They moved to Anderson where Mr. Hodson died a number of years ago. Mrs. Hod- son died in 1907.
WILLIAM MCCURDY, a barness-maker, served in the Civil War. He moved to Marklevilly in 1887 where he died December, 1900. Mrs. McCurdy divd in May, 1907.
ISAAC WOOD, a blacksmith, came with his family from Ohio in 1863 and resided in the house now occupied by Abel Sinnett. He worked in partner- ship with William Wood until 1871. He then studied and practiced medicine. Their son Charles E. studied medicine, but practiced only a short time when his work was ended by death in 1874.
Exus ADAMSON lived on his taran north of town
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but taught a number of school terms here during the seventies. He was the first Superintendent of the Henry County Schools. It was probably in '72 that he was elected Superintendent to succeed Clarkson Davis who was the last man to hold the office of County Examiner, Mr. Adamson intro- duced the graded system into the district schools and was severely censured by many of the teach- ers for "trying to introduce city methods into cowy- try schools." His work stands justified today. Mr. Adamson died in 1875. Mrs. Adamson is still living.
DR. WILLIAM R. SWAIN lived here during the seventies. He served as post-master from April 1878 to September, 179. His death occurred September 8, 1879. Mrs. Swain died in 1goo.
CALVIN F. KEESLING married Martha White and located in Mechanicsburg. In 1860 he bought and occupied the house built by Jonathan M. Lewis. Later he lived on East Street. He moved to Ham- ilton County but returned in 1875 and bought the Nathan Murphy place. They lived here until 1880 when they went to Noblesville where they still re- side. -
RILEY ALEXANDER married Amanda Alspaw and during the sixties lived where Daniel Rent now lives, Mr. Alexander served in the Civil War. They now reside in Fulton County.
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JAMES ALEXANDER married Ellen, daughter of Wm. Alspaw. He lost his life in the Civil War. Mrs. Alexander afterward married W. H. Eller an at- torney, and now lives at Warsaw, Indiana.
CYRUS WOOD came to Mechanicsburg in Octo- ber, 1867, and went into partnership with Lewis Greenlee; was married to Mary Keesting, in 1869: built the house oow owned by Charles F. Keesline in 1874, and lived there until 1897 when he built their present home. He opened a harness shop in 1882 which he sold to Scott Lewis in 1906. Re- cently Mr. Wood is devoting his attention to his farming interests.
JOHN L. SWAIN, son of Elza Swain, came 10 Mechanicsburg soon after the close of the Civil War in which he served. He was married to Re- becca Alspaw, October, 1869. For many years he has followed his trade as plasterer and brick-layer.
WILLIAM H. KEESLING taught in the Mechanics- burg school as assistant to L. P. Mitchell in 1869- '70. In October, 1870, he was married to Sarah J. Cooper who died June, 1881. Mr. Keesling opened a grocery store' September 1, (8yr, on the north- west corner in the building erected by T. B. Kees- ling in 1849. During the summer of 1871 the building had been lengthened and the I. O. O. F. had added a second story to be used as a hall. Five years later, Mr. Keesling added a hardware department in an adjoining building. This build-
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ing; had been moved to its present site and was originally the two-story farm house of George Kees- ling. Both buildings and a large part of the stock of goods was barned in the disastrous fire of De- cember igor. Mr. Keesling continued business in the Odd Fellows' Block on South Street until 1905 when he removed his goods to the south-east cor- ner, his present location, ' He lived for a number of years in a cottage on the site of his present home which was built in 1884. W. H. Keesling was married to Nan Janett Miller February 18, 1883.
DR. JOHN E. CANADAY in November, 1872, canie to Mechanicsburg to succeed the late Dr. George Hasty who was moving to Indianapolis. Dr. Can- aday remembers that he came the day after Gen- eral Grant was elected president. He bought the home which Dr. Hasty had built, and remained in Mechanicsburg until after the death of Mrs. Can- aday which occurred in 1874. Dr. Canaday after- ward abandoned the profession of medicine for business and is now a member of the firm of Ritchie, Stein and Canaday. furniture dealers at Anderson.
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JACOB FATIC, a stock buver, married Margaret Beck. They sold the farm which Isaac Myer now owns and built, in 1872, the brick residence which was their home notil Mr. Fatic's death in 1898.
ANTHONY S. HUSTON was married to Sarah A.
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Wecks November, 1872; bought and moved into the Rent property in '73; studied medicine; moved to Pendleton in 1876 where he remained until '89 when he located in Anderson. Dr. Huston died December, 1894.
GEORGE D. RENT and Sarah Perry were married in 1868, but soon moved . near Pendleton, Indiana, where they are still living.
JAMES Mc CORMACK, in the spring of 1873, bought an interest in the saw mill and moved to town; in '74 bought Dr. Canaday's property and moved into it; in '82 or '83 sold his interest in the mill to John R. Elliott, and in '85 moved to Cadiz. Mr. and Mrs. McCormack are now living at Kennard.
DR. F. L. STONE studied medicine in Dr. Weeks' office, and located here in August, 1874. He left in '79, but returned in r885 and remained until De- cember, 188g, when they moved to Pendleton their present home. Dr. Stone married AnnaSwain.
JOHN GREENLER came from Franklin County 1869. He bought J. C. Goodwin's property on North Street and resided there until he moved to Elwood in '79. Mr. Greenlee died in too2, and Mrs. Greenlee survived him only a few months.
MICHAEL MANN came to Mechanicsburg io 1865 or '66. Mrs. Mann died in 1870. A few years later Mr. Mann married Mrs. Sarah Hawkins. After her death "Grandfather" went to live with relatives.
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and his life was almost rounded out to a century.
WILLIAM HINSHAW sold his farm north of town and, in January, 1876, moved to the "Rent prop- erty," bought of A. S. Huston. Mr. Hinshaw died in May of the same year, and his wife, Mary Key-Hinshaw, died August, 1897. The two daugh- ters, Eliza and Jennie Hinshaw still live in this home.
WILLIAM A. GREENLEE married Isadore Kees- ling, He owned a shoe shop, and served as post- master from 1876-78. Mr. Greenlee is now a har- ness dealer in Middletown.
LEVI M. KEESLING was in Kentucky from 1875 10 '77. He was salesman in W. H. Keesling's store from 1879 to 1895. He moved to Middletown in '95 and is there engaged in the grocery business.
DAVID WEAVER, a cabinet-maker, came to Me- chanicsburg in August, 1879, and moved to Wil- kinson in '86. He now resides in Middletown.
LUTHER O. MILLER married Florence Wood in 1878: lived in the John C. Goodwin property and later in the property now occupied by Abel Sinnett. They moved to Middletown in 1892, and recently located in Muncie. Mr. Miller is a contractor and builder.
GEORGE W. Upp and family came from Ohio to Indiana in 1872 and moved to. Mechanicsburg in
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1878. Mr. Upp, who had served in the Civil War , died in 1879. Mrs. Upp is still living on East Street.
J. M. NEWKIRK came to Mechanicsburg in 1879 and remained until '89. Captain Newkirk died in Yorktown, Indiana, July 26, 1906. Mrs. Newkirk resides in Anderson.
WILLIAM D. BROWN, a blacksmith, came in 1875. He married Emma L., daughter of Enos Adamson. They lived here from 1878 until 1880. They now reside in Middletown.
ALONZO BROWN came here in the winter of 1879 and for more than a voar carried the mail between this place and Middletown. They lived at Markle- ville a short time then returned and Mr. Brown clerked in Dr. Moore's drug store. He soon bought the store and kept it until '93, when he sold the stock of goods to Allen Fatic. Mr. Brown and family reside on South Street in the home built in 1905.
DR. CURTIS B. PENDLETON studied' medicine o the office of Dr. Weeks and attended the Physio- Medical College of Indiana. He began the prac- tice of medicine in 1880. He married Flora Reed and commenced housekeeping on East Street. Then. they moved to the house now occupied by Mrs. Sarah Keesling where they lived until 1887. That year he built a residence on North Street which, in 1903, he sold to Dr. W. L. Misener. He then
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built a home on his farm west of town where they now reside.
DR. JORN W. MOORE married Bettie Keesling in 1869. He came from New Castle and began to practice medicine here in February, 1880. He lived where Abel Sinnett now lives and had a drug store and office on West Street. September, 1885, he re- turned to New Castle where Mis. Moore died. Dr. Moore is now located at Mexico, Indiana.
DR. ELIZABETH WEEKS studied medicine in her father's office. She graduated from the Physio- Medical College of Indiana, in 1886 after which she practiced medicine in Mechanicsburg. Her death occurred in August, 1904.
JACOB ZIRKLE married Mary Willimons April, 1881. They began housekeeping in the fall of that year in a house which stood east of their present home bitt upon the same lot. Mr. and Mrs. Zir- kle took charge of the local switch-board of the Mechanicsburg. Markleville and Emporia Telephone Co. March 14, 1901, and still hold the position. Their home, in which the telephone switch-board was located, was burned January, 1904. and was immediately rebuilt.
CURTIS ELLIOTT and Laura Lovett were married in 1883 and went to housekeeping on East Street. Mr. Elliott died in 1890, and Mrs. Elliot in 1893.
B. K. PICKERING and Cora Wood were married
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in 1893. They moved to Noblesville in November '98, and returned to Mechanicsburg in March, 1907.
CHARLES F. KEESLING was married to Minnie Showalter in 1884 and the following year moved to Mechanicsburg. After spending nearly two years in Minnesota they returned and Mr. Keesling worked at the carpenter trade from '88 to '98. He bought the Cyrus Wood property in "97. He bought James Ellison's store on the south-east corner. In 1904-5 he erected a large business building and occupied the first floor with a general store. The second floor was purchased by the I. O. R. M. Mr. Keesling sold his interest to Scott Lewis in the spring of '97 and moved to Oakland California,
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GEORGE COOPER and Minnie McCurdy were mar- ried in 188@. They lived for a time in the John L. Swain property. Their present home is at Ge- neva, Indiana.
CURTIS REED married Anna Brown and began housekeeping on East Street. He built a home there in 1887 which he sold to U. G, Lewis in '95. They then moved to their farm west of town.
THOMAS ARTHUR GOODWIN was married to Goor- giana Howard in 1888. They built a home on North Street in 1890, and moved to Indianapolis, their present home, in September, 1900.
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SAMUEL COOPER and Nannie Smith were married in 1800. They are now living in Pendleton.
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EVE KRESLING, daughter of George and Eliza- beth Keesling, in 1878 built a home on North Street which she occupied umil her death, in May, 1907. Her mother, "Aunt Betsey" as she was at- fectionatels called by all the neighbors, died An- gust, 1876.
AMBROSE E. FINK lived in Mechanicsburg for a few years then returned to Tyner City. Ind., Where he owns an onion farm,
SERANOS B. WERMELD came to Mechanicsburg and helped drill our first gas well in 1838. He married Jessie Cooper and they kept house on North Street until 1902 when they bought their present home, the Elibo Swain propertys
JOE N. COOPER devoted his attention to farm- ing and stock raising. He married Laura True, blood and they began housekeeping where John Farmer now lives. They afterward moved to South Street where they lived until Mr. Cooper's death September 16, 1904. Mrs. Cooper now lives in the home which she built on East Street in mos,
Woman H. Commins served as salesman in N. R. Elliott's store for a few years and later was with the Lewis Brothers. He married Meari Cooper and they began housekeeping on East Street Ont soon bought and moved into the Thomas Has- ay house. Mr. Commains and the Lewis Brothers engaged in the baggy and farm implement pade,
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and in 1897 he bought U. G. ,Lewis' interest in the dry goods store. In '1903 he began work as traveling salesman for a carriage company and moved to Richmond in August, 1906, where he is inter- ested in a carriage factory.
WILLIAM ELLISON moved to Mechanicsburg March, 1894. but continued to look after his farm tor a time. Their daughter, Esta, died May. 19oo. Mrs. Ellison died May, 1902. Mr. Ellison was en- gaged for a time in the dry goods business, and clerked in Lewis' store for awhile. He had charge of the mail hack for several years and was serv- ing when the Star Route was discontinued. Mr. El- lison was married to Miss Mattie Painter in 1906 and moved to his farm near Middletown.
JAMES ELLISON married Mary Elliott. He clerked for N. R. Elliott and later owned a store on the south-east corner. He afterward moved to Markle -. ville where he owned a store. Mr. Ellison is now farming in southern Indiana.
WILLIAM WISEHEART, a veteran of the Civil War, has been a resident of Mechanicsburg for a number of years.
WALTER LOWERY came to town Febmary, 1892. He bought the "Grandfather Mann house" and oc- cupied it until it was destroyed by fire January, 1904.
EVERETT BROWN married Dora Cook and began housekeeping in the house which his grandfather
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had built in 1851. Mr. Brown now lives in Broad Ripple, Indiana. -
Scary LEWIS married Laura Cook and after farming for a time moved to Mechanicsburg in 1894 where he and his brother U. G. Lewis had bought the N. R. Elliott store, They, in partnership with W. H. Cummins, put up a building adjoining the store and began to deal in, vehicles and farming implements. U. G. Lewis sold his interest to the others in 1897. W. H. Ciummins retired in 1004 leaving Scott Lewis sole proprietor. Since then Mr. . Lewis has put up another building and enlarged his stock. In the spring of 3907 Mr. Lewis bought Charles F. Kevsling's store.
ULYSSES G. LEWIS married Lucy Koesting? was in partnership with Scott Lewis from Idos until 1897; bought Curtis Reed's property on East Street in 1895 and resided there until 1897 when he sold his interest in the store and moved to Markleville. Mr. Lewis died September, 1897.
FRANK STRAFGR was married to Drie Rent, 1899, They went to housekeeping Igor, in the cottage north of Amos Kisling's. In 1903 they bought the 7. A. Goodwin property and have since resided There.
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