USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery county, Indiana; with personal sketches of representative citizens, Volume II > Part 17
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Mr. Rusk is the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and sixty acres of land, mostly in this county, one eighty acre tract being in Fountain county. His present modern and attractive home was built by him. None of his land is worth less than one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
HENRY HARRISON CRIST.
It is doubtful if an American citizen can wear a greater badge of honor than the distinction of having served the government in the memorable four years of war between the states. It is a sacred family inheritance of renown, to be prized like a jewel by all future descendants, and kept bright and un- tarnished by other acts of valor, patriotism and loyalty in the interests of free government. Even in this day, when there are many of the old soldiers living, no one can see them file by with faltering steps without feeling a glow of pride and without showing them studied deference. This is as it should be. One of these is Henry Harrison Crist, one of the venerable and hon- ored citizens of Crawfordsville, the major portion of whose active life has been passed in Montgomery county, but he has lived retired for many years. He is one of the best known figures on the streets of the county seat and is held in high esteem by a very wide acquaintance.
Mr. Crist was born at Liberty, Union county, Indiana, September 27,
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1836, and he is a son of William B. and Margaret (Lafuse) Crist. The father was born in 1814 in Union county, Indiana, and was a son of George Crist who was an early settler there. In 1802 the family removed to Union county, this state, settling in the very center of the county on one hundred and sixty acres and there established a comfortable home through hard work. In 1828, William B. Crist and Margaret Lafuse were married, and to them twelve children were born, four of whom are living at this writing.
William B. Crist was a man of much influence in his community, and his advice was often sought in various matters by the pioneers. He took a great interest in public affairs and served very ably and acceptably as circuit judge of Union county three terms, and was supervisor of the poor and com- missioner of his county for some time. As a public servant he won the hearty commendation of all concerned and did much for the general good of his locality. He was an extensive contractor and builder, and employed on an average eighteen men, and for a period of about ten years he erected every house in his county. He had charge of the stone work on the Hamilton & Dayton railroad when it was constructed in this state. The death of this prominent man occurred in 1856, when comparatively young in years. Had not his career been cut short by death he would doubtless have become one of the leading men of the state. He was active in political affairs, first as a Whig and later as a Republican. Something of his public spirit and fine character may be gained from the fact that he gave the sum of two hundred dollars to every church that was built in Union county during his life time. His widow survived over a half century, dying in 1908 at a very advanced age.
Henry H. Crist received his education in a private school, and when young in years he entered business with his father, as booker, first in a hard- ware, then a grocery and later a general store. He subsequently learned the painter's trade, at which he became an expert and which he followed until 1861, having come to Crawfordsville in 1859.
When the Civil war broke out Mr. Crist proved his patriotism by enlist- ing in 1861 in the famous Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry,-the Zouaves,-under Col. Lew Wallace, who soon afterward became a briga- dier general. Our subject became a noted scout and was in charge of a successful scouting party. He went out at the commencement of the war, with the three months' volunteers, and at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment he re-enlisted, identifying himself with the Sixteenth Indiana Light Artillery, in which he served with much credit and faithfulness until the close
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of the war, participating in many memorable campaigns and hard-fought battles, and received an honorable discharge. He was in Washington, D. C. at the time of the grand review, and he was in Ford's Theater when Presi- dent Lincoln was assassinated there.
Returning to Crawfordsville after the war, Mr. Crist entered the grocery business in 1866 which he conducted with great success until 1872, when he retired from active life, and has since lived quietly in his pleasant home in Crawfordsville, surrounded by such comforts as go to make one's declining years happy.
Mr. Crist was married on November 1, 1866 to Maggie E. Wood, of Crawfordsville, but who was a native of Union county, her people being well known there. After a happy married life of forty-five years, she was called to her rest on November 16, 1911.
For some time Mr. Crist served in the city council. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, the Royal Arch Masons, Royal and Select Masters and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has long been prominent in Masonic circles, having first joined this time-honored order in 1865. Politically, he is a Progressive, and religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALLEN ELWOOD EASTLACK.
Montgomery county, Indiana, was especially fortunate in the character of her pioneers, who, save in rare instances, possessed the pluck, fortitude and genius of the true Anglo-Saxon, that race which appears to delight in difficulties, because thereby an opportunity is afforded to conquer them, which gives zest to their efforts, and this trait, perhaps, more than any other, has been responsible for the fact that they have never been defeated by any other race, and have extended their civilization to all parts of the globe. The founders of Montgomery county and those who were instrumental in her later day development, active alike in public and private affairs were brave, strong-armed, far-seeing. God-fearing, law-abiding citizens, patriotic and true to their native land, and conscientious in the discharge of their every duty toward their fellow men. Of this worthy type of citizens was the East- lack family, of which Allen Elwood Eastlack, of Crawfordsville, is one of the best known of the present generation. His parents settled here in the
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pioneer period and established the permanent home of the family, the repu- tation of which has ever been above reproach.
Mr. Eastlack, of this review, was born in Crawfordsville on June 18, 1843, and he is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Haynes) Eastlack. The father was born in New Jersey, and there he spent his boyhood years, com- ing to Crawfordsville in the early thirties when there was but a handful of houses here and country roundabout was but a dense forest in which were a few scattering log huts of white settlers. The elder Eastlack was a shoe- maker by trade, which he had learned in the East and he at once began fol- lowing the same here, his services being in great demand owing to the fact that he was a high-grade workman and was honest in his dealings with his fellow men. He continued to follow his trade practically until his death. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religious matters a Methodist, and was known as a hard-working, neighborly and honorable man. His death oc- curred in 1868, and that of his wife in 1867. They were the parents of ten children, and Allen E., our subject, is the only living one.
Allen E. Eastlack grew to manhood in his native town and here re- ceived a common school education, and he was merging from boyhood into young manhood when the Civil war came on, and on March 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served very faithfully until March 22, 1865, a period of three years, during which he saw much hard service and participated in a number of engagements.
After the war he returned to Crawfordsville, and has since followed the shoemaker's trade and in which he became an expert early in life, so that his services, like those of his father, has ever been in great demand. He has spent most of his active career in his home town, however he followed his trade three years in Rushville, three years in Noblesville and several years in Waveland.
Mr. Eastlack is a member of McPherson Post, Grand Army of the Re- public at Crawfordsville. He is one of the leading members of the local Christian church, in which he is deacon and treasurer. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker.
When he was at home on veteran furlough in April, 1864, he was united in marriage to Ann Elizabeth Johnston, of Waveland, where she spent her childhood and where her family was long well known.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eastlack, namely : Foun- tain, who is living in Crawfordsville; and Rubertia, who is the wife of Dr. H. McMains, a successful physician of Baltimore, Maryland.
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HARRY LEE SCOTT.
The secret of success in the business affairs of this world is, after all, knowing how to direct the persistent energy which one expends in whatever avenue of endeavor one may select. There are, of course, other potent reasons, but they are subordinate, and it takes continuous, hard plodding to overtake the coveted goal which one sees in the distance upon starting out. Harry Lee Scott, a successful and popular commercial traveler out of Craw- fordsville, Montgomery county, where he maintains a pleasant home, has won success while yet young in years because he has worked for it diligently and conscientiously, doing the right thing at the right time and never waiting for some one else to perform what he himself should do.
Mr. Scott was born in Benton county, Indiana, on September 10, 1889, and he is a son of William M. and Harriett C. (Bradley ) Scott. The father was born January 29, 1844, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and his death occurred on July 20, 1893. The mother was born in Virginia on December 16, 1847, and her death occurred on December 17, 1905. These parents received a common school education. William M. Scott was a druggist by profession and he maintained a place of business and his home at Oxford, Indiana, where he became well established and favorably known and was highly skilled at his line of work.
Eleven children were born to William M. Scott and wife, eight of whom are still living, namely : John W., born September 8, 1866; Sanford S., born November 28, 1867; Lizzy W., born September 30, 1869: Anna, born June II, 1871 ; Myrtle, born February 18, 1875; Charles A., born March 25, 1881, and his death occurred on March 8. 1883; William E., born October 30, 1882; Elmer B., born October 30, 1882, died April 14, 1883 (he and Wil- liam E. were twins) : Erma L., April 8, 1884, died June 17, 1906; Marene G., born March 7, 1887; and Harry L., subject of this review, who is the youngest of the family.
The subject of this sketch grew in Oxford, this state and he received a good common school education, making an excellent record in the high school, subsequently taking a business course.
Mr. Scott was married on February 18, 1908, to Myrtle B. Wirt, who was born October 28, 1886 in Montgomery county, Indiana, and here she grew to womanhood and received a good education in the local schools. She is a daughter of John P. and Amanda C. (Myers) Wirt. The father was born on January 26, 1852 in this state, and his death occurred on January
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21, 1908. The mother of Mrs. Scott was born in Fountain county, Indi- ana, on January 18, 1853, and she is still living, making her home with our subject. John P. Wirt was a merchant at the town of Alamo, this county and enjoyed a large business with the surrounding country there, and later he moved to Crawfordsville where he continued in business with equal suc- cess unti: his death.
Three children have been born to John P. Wirt and wife, namely: WV. W., born November 3, 1878; Fred, born August 23, 1882; and Myrtle B., wife of Mr. Scott, of this review.
The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.
Mr. Scott made his start in life in the west, later returned to Indiana and attended the Iles-De Vor Business College at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated in 1907 and at that time took a position with the Lehigh Portland Cement Company as traveling salesman, his territory being in Indiana and he is still with this concern, having given eminent satisfaction, being regarded by his employers as one of the most trustworthy and com- petent men, and he has done much to increase the prestige of the company in this state.
Mr. Scott owns a modern and attractive bungalow in Crawfordsville.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Crawfordsville. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and during the last campaign he allied himself with the Progressive party.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON.
The name of William H. Johnston has long been well known in legal circles of western Indiana, where he is a leader of the bar and a progressive citizen, a man who stands high with all classes owing to his interest in the development of Crawfordsville and Montgomery county, his ability as a law- yer and his courtesy and integrity. He is entirely unassuming and a pleasant man to know.
Mr. Johnston was born near Greencastle, Indiana, on June 9, 1858. He is a son of Archibald and Sarah (Keller) Johnston. The father was born in North Carolina on August 28, 1810, and the mother's birth occurred near Corydon, Indiana, on August 19, 1816. Archibald Johnston devoted the earlier part of his life to farming, in fact, this continued to be his chief voca- tion until late in life, however, much of his time in later years was given to public office, he having been for many years prominent in political matters.
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He served his locality as state senator and representative for eleven sessions. He made a most praiseworthy record as a legislator, winning the high esteem of his constituents and doing a great work for the locality which he repre- sented. He was a leader in Democratic politics, was a forceful and popular public speaker, and one of the best known men of his day and generation in western Indiana. His death occurred on December 30, 1884, at Crawfords- ville, whither he had moved two years prior to his death. He had owned and operated a fine farm in Franklin township, and he carried on general farm- ing and stock raising on a large scale. He was a member of the Old School Baptist church, and a man of fine character. The death of his wife occurred on August 18, 1900.
William H. Johnston received his early education in the Darlington Academy, later entering the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881, from the law department, having made an excellent record in the same.
After his graduation, he came to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and entered the profession in partnership with his brother. Charles Johnston, and has since been successfully engaged in the general practice, having built up an extensive and lucrative clientele. He has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession, and is what might be properly termed an analytical lawyer. He is painstaking, alert, exhaustive, always goes into court well prepared, and has the interests of his clients at heart. He is a logical and earnest pleader and has great weight with juries, and has a good record as a winner of cases.
Mr. Johnston is prominent in politics, a leader in the local affairs of the Democratic party, of which he has been county chairman, also a member of the state committee. He was elected state senator in 1900 and represented this county and Putnam in the legislature from that year until 1904 in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satis- faction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment, doing much for the permanent good of the locality and the state in general.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1886 to Ella May McMullen, daughter of James W. and Julia A. (Hubbard) McMullen, a well known family of Frankfort, Indiana. Mrs. Johnston grew to womanhood in and near Darlington and attended school at that place, but some time before her mar- riage moved with her parents to Frankfort, where she was married, and where her mother still resides.
The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of one child. Lois June Johnston Kirkpatrick, living with her husband away from home.
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GEORGE W. CORN, SR.
Among those who came to Montgomery county, Indiana, when the country was in its primitive wildness, infested by wild animals, numerous and ferocious, and when the scarcely less wild, but more savage red men, had not long been gone to other hunting grounds, was the Corn family, the pro- genitors of the gentleman whose name forms the introduction of this sketch, having invaded the wilderness here eighty-six years ago, and from that re- mote day to the present time the name has been a familiar sound over this locality. They performed well their parts in the work of developing the country from the primeval woods to one of the foremost agricultural sections in the great Hoosier state, and the elder Corns, together with the other early actors in the great drama which witnessed the passing of the old and the intro- duction of the new conditions in which are now the fine farms and thriving towns of this county are deserving of every consideration. We of today can- not pay such sterling characters too great a meed of praise, in view of the sacrifices they made in order that their descendants and others of a later day should enjoy the blessings of life, only a few of which they were permitted to have.
George W. Corn was born on the farm where he now lives in Section 5, Clark township, Montgomery county, February 20, 1841, and here he has been content to spend his life. He is a son of Williams and Sarah (Allen) Corn. Williams Corn was born in Henry county, Kentucky, February 16, 1800, and was a son of George and Rhoda Corn. Sarah B. Allen was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 16, 1799, and in that state she and Mr. Corn grew to maturity, received a meagre educational training and were mar- ried. They removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1827, at which time they had three children, namely : Rhoda Jane, born February 28, 1824; Albert, born November 9, 1825, and Elizabeth E., born October 2, 1827, the latter an infant, two or three months old. They bought a farm in Section 6, Scott township, southeast of what is now the village of New Market, in 1827. They found a country little improved. There were lots of deer and wolves. Soon after their settlement the father had to return to Kentucky, leaving his wife with her small children. The wolves surrounded the house at night and with their unearthly howling struck terror to the hearts of the timid inmates. Indians, now friendly to the whites, often went up and down Cornstalk creek which touches the land on which this family settled.
In about two years Williams Corn sold his first place and moved to the
GEORGE W. CORN, SR.
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present Corn homestead, occupied by our subject. They bought the eighty acres on which the house stands west of the present road, and entered from the government an adjoining eighty, directly east of it, the two eighties com- prising the northwestern one-fourth of Section 5. Only five or six acres of this second farm had been cleared, and it was enclosed with a brush fence, and there had been built a little log cabin near a spring. Here Mr. Corn quickly built of hewn logs a larger and more comfortable dwelling, and in 1843 he built another and still better house, and in this he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They worked hard and cleared and developed the place and became very well fixed as farmers of that early day.
To Williams Corn and wife were born nine children after they located in this county, making their family a large one, twelve in all, with the three elder who first opened their eyes to the sky in the Blue Grass state. The ones born here were : Nancy A., born October 26, 1829; Mary Ann, born May 14, 1831; Margaret D., born May 1, 1833; Sarah Eliza, born April 16, 1835; John W., born August 12, 1837; William, born July 23, 1838; Stephen A., born August 15, 1839; Martha E., born August 23, 1842; and our subject, George W.
The death of Williams Corn occurred on November 11, 1859, having been fifty-nine years old the previous February. He was a hard-working, honest man, who preferred to remain at home, never seeking office, although loyal in his support of the Whig party. He was assisted in his hard work of clearing and developing the farm by his older sons and daughters. The good wife also worked hard, spun and wove until late in the night to make clothes for her children, even George W., the next to the youngest child, remembers well the two linen clothes. But they were a contented family and lived as comfortably as others in those days hardships. The mother was called to her rest on May 4, 1874. She was a member of the Baptist church.
The paternal grandfather, George Corn, was a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to the United States when young and settled in the wilds of Kentucky, from which state he enlisted for service in the war of 1812, in which he fought as a private.
Of the twelve children of Williams Corn and wife, George W., our sub- ject, is the only one living at this writing. He grew up on the home farm on which he has spent his life. During his more than seventy years' residence here he has noted and taken part in great changes, the country round about presenting an altogether different aspect from what it did in his early boy- hood. He did not have an opportunity to receive more than a few years'
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training in the common schools of his district. His mother made her home with him during her widowhood years. There were six other heirs of the homestead and from time to time he bought their interests until he now owns the entire home farm, which contains one hundred and ninety acres, which he has kept well improved and carefully tilled so that it has lost none of its old- time fertility and productiveness. In 1880 he built the present substantial home in which he now resides. General farming and stock raising are car- ried on. i
Mr. Corn was married on December 24, 1863 to Hulda Jane Williams, daughter of Bryan and Elizabeth (Castle) Williams. She was born and reared in Union township, this county, east of Whitesville. Her paternal grandfather, Stephen Williams, came from North Carolina and was a pioneer settler in the east part of this county, in an early day, and here established the permanent home of the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Corn had two children, a son who died in infancy and a daughter, Valletta Lillian, who is now the wife of William M. Frantz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Frantz live on the farm with Mr. Corn.
The death of Mrs. Corn occurred on September 9, 1905. She was a woman of kindly impulses, charitably inclined, unselfish, and had many true friends.
Mr. Corn is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 54, at Ladoga. He has never striven to be a politician, however, he was nominated by the Democrats in 1894 for county commissioner and though defeated with his ticket made an excellent race.
EDGAR A. RICE.
That the career of such a man as Edgar A. Rice, the former efficient and popular incumbent of the office of county clerk of Montgomery county, besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men whose substantial reputation rests upon their attainments and character must ex- ert a wholesome influence upon the rising generation. While transmitting to future generations the brief chronicle of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling into the minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and station are sure rewards of individual exertion. He was for a
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number of years one of the popular educators of this locality, and has shown himself to be a public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Rice was born on February 24, 1877, in Union township, Mont- gomery county, Indiana, and he is a son of William A. and Martha E. (Hipes) Rice. The father was born on December 29, 1838, in Kentucky, from which state he removed to Indiana in 1852, locating in Montgomery county where he became well established and well known. His death oc- curred on August 11, 1911. The mother of our subject was born on March 9, 1850, in Virginia, and her parents removed to Indiana when she was a child. Thus in this state the parents of our subject grew to maturity, re- ceived a meager education in the common schools and here were married, and spent their lives engaged in agricultural pursuits. They became the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: James, is deceased; Charles, lives in Danville; Henry was next in order; Edgar A., of this review; Bessie, is deceased; John W. and Clay M. were the youngest.
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