USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 92
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serves all the credit for this, as he has done many a hard day's work, to say nothing of careful management and good judgment, to get his home place in its present condition. His farm is located about seven miles from South Whitley and is regarded as one of the best of its size in that section. He has made all the improvements the place con- tains and has also done most of the clearing. Besides general farming, which includes raising all the standard crops of this section, he keeps considerable live stock in the shape of hogs, sheep and cattle. He is an enter- prising man, ready to support all good causes and public enterprises, and as an all- around farmer has been a success. His po- litical affiliations have always been with the Democratic party and he has received several local honors at the hands of the voters, hav- ing been elected supervisor and assessor of the township. He stands well in the com- munity, has many friends and is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at South Whitley.
January 24, 1869, Mr. Hathaway mar- ried Mary E., daughter of Philip and Try- thena (Jones) Ward, farmers who came from Ohio at an early day and are long since dead. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway have six children: Cora, wife of Chester Rol- lins; Clinton, a resident of Warsaw; Alice, who lives at home; Charles, a farmer of Richland township: Bertha, wife of Fred Kist ; and Alma, at home. February II, 1865, Mr. Hathaway enlisted in Company I. One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the end of the war. He took part in a few skirmishes, but saw no hard service.
ALBERT D. WEBSTER.
Though most of what are called the early pioneers of Indiana have long since passed to their rest, occasionally may be found lingering at an advanced age vener- able relics of a period that has gone never to return. One of these aged men, now ninety-two years old, whose life has cov- ered Indiana's entire growth as a state, may be met with in the person of Albert Web- ster, who makes his home with his son in Richland township. During the second quarter of the nineteenth century he came to Indiana from his native state of Penn- sylvania and after temporary residence in other places, located in Whitley county in 1850. He married Sarah Elliott, settled on a farm in Richland township and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until his re- tirement from active business some years ago. Albert D. Webster, son of this pio- neer, was born in Union county, Indiana, August 3, 1845, and was a child of five years when his parents became residents of Whitley county. He grew up on this farm in the woods and did has part in the hard task of grubbing and clearing so as to make it fit for agricultural purposes. He lived in a cabin for several years and underwent all the trials incident to such a life, but finally found himself triumphant over natural dif- ficulties and the owner of a valuable and productive piece of real estate. He has al- ways been a farmer as his main business, but in early life worked occasionally at the plasterer's trade. At present Mr. Webster owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and seventy-five of which are under cultivation. The place contains some-
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valuable timber and has been greatly im- proved in recent years under the industrious management of Mr. Webster. He is fond of fine stock and the visitor is shown an excel- lent flock of Oxforddown sheep. He is re- garded as one of the successful farmers of the county and has well deserved all that has come to him during the arduous work of the last half century. He belongs to no fra- ternal order, but is a member of the Chris- tian church at Booneville, Indiana. Mr. Webster has never married but, as stated above, is taking care of his venerable father and always has a warm welcome for the friends who visit him at his hospitable home.
A. L. LANCASTER.
The family of this name is traced through a very honorable and substantial genealogy to the stanchest English yeo- manry. The original home of the ancestors of the American branch was Lancashire, England, and when the emigrant founder came over and settled in Pennsylvania they identified themselves historically with the Keystone state by giving their name to the county of Lancaster. Early in the nine- teenth century we hear of a descendant of these Pennsylvania pioneers in the person of Rex Lancaster, who had found his way to North Carolina, where he married Phari- be Henby, and later settled in Wayne coun- ty. Indiana. His children were Wright, Charles, Thomas, William H. and Mary J. William, the fourth of the children above mentioned, was born in Wayne county, Sep- tember 22, 1824. He came to Whitley
county, where he bought three hundred acres of land, but eventually increased his holdings until at one time he had one thou- sand acres. He settled in the woods and in two weeks had a cabin built, in which he lived eleven years, and in 1860 erected the house now found on this farm. He followed general farming and stock raising and met with success in his pursuits. He was a mem- ber of the Christian church, a Republican in politics and served two terms as township trustee. He married Mary A. Scarce, who bore him six children: A. L., subject of this sketch; Thomas A., a physician of Los Angeles, California; Melvin E., a resident of Eldorado Springs, Missouri: Franklin H., a farmer of Richland township; W. E., also a farmer of Richland township; and Ida B., wife of Charles Combs, of South Whitley. The father died in 1902.
A. L. Lancaster, eldest of his father's children, was born in Wayne county, In- diana. January 8. 1849. He grew up on the farm and during his entire life has followed agricultural pursuits. He has worked hard, managed well and has met with a reasonable amount of success, which leaves him con- siderably ahead on the right side of the ledger. At the present time he owns two hundred and eighty acres of land in Rich- land township, of which two hundred are under cultivation. He has made a number of improvements on his place and greatly added to its value since he became the owner. He is a general farmer, raising the ordinary crops and live stock, but makes a special of Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is a Democrat in politics. but has neither sought nor held of- fice. In 1872 Mr. Lancaster married Nancy C .. daughter of Martin and Lucretia (Dye)
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mann, the former a Pennsylvanian by birth. who settled in Ohio at an early day. Mar- rying in the last named state, they eventu- ally removed to Whitley county and settled at Collamer, where their deaths occurred re- spectively in 1874 and 1867. Their four children were John, Louis, Andrew, and Nancy C. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have five children : Addie B., wife of William Landsdown, a carpenter of South Whitley; Erie A., who married Daisy Cullimore and lives at South Whitley; Otis H., who mar- ried Oddie Biddle and lives on his father's farm: Robert C .; and Russell, who still re- mains at home. Mrs. Lancaster is a mem- ber of the Christian church.
HENRY NORRIS.
The founder of the Whitley county fam- ily of this name was of English descent, the emigrant ancestor having come over before the Revolutionary war, and subsequently was wounded while fighting in one of the bat- tles for independence. After the conclusion of hostilities, he settled in Virginia near Winchester and there his son William was born in 1797. After growing up he mar- ried Margaret McCoy, born in Virginia in 1803. and some years later located in Co- shocton county, Ohio, of which section he became one of the early settlers. In 1843, the parents removed with their family to Whitley county and bought two hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Richland township. This location was one mile east of Whitley road, in section 22, and here they spent their lives in the occupation of farm-
ing until their respective deaths in 1872 and 1879. This couple had fourteen children, of whom four are living: Henry, William J., Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hitchcock, aud Mar- garet, wife of Jacob Gerhart, a resident of Illinois.
Henry Norris, eldest of the surviving children, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 1, 1837. He grew up on the farm and lived at the old place for a number of years after the death of his par- ents. In 1897 he took possession of the farm in section 5 in Richland township, where he is now residing. The place con- sists of two hundred acres, of which one hundred and eighty are under cultivation. and Mr. Norris has made many improve- ments. In fact, he is one of the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Whitley county, understanding the importance of rotating his crops, keeping the land fertilized and other methods which bespeak the well informed agriculturist. Mr. Norris raises Shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs and other valua- ble live stock, the feeding of which has proved profitable. Mr. Norris is a public- spirited man, does his full share in devel- oping his community and can always be de- pended upon to support worthy causes. He is a Republican in politics and served a while as county commissioner. In February, 1865, Mr. Norris enlisted in Company I, One Hun- dred and Fifty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until Sep- tember of the same year with the Union forces in the Shenandoah valley, reaching the position of corporal of his company.
In 1857 Mr. Norris married Derinda. daughter of John and Margaret (Casner) Wolford, carly pioneers of Ohio and resi-
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
dents of that state until death. By this the same. He not only achieved success as union there were seven children: John S .; Francis E., wife of Samuel Griffith, who lives at Etna Green, Indiana; Delila, de- ceased ; Winnie M., deceased in early life : Alice M., struck by a railroad train and killed while crossing the track ; Marcus mar- ried Myrtle Martin and lives on his father's farm; Lottie died at the age of nineteen. In 1895 Mr. Norris was married a second time to Jennie E., daughter of James Cor- dill, who is his present wife. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church and of the Grand Army of the Republic at South Whitley.
NEWTON F. WATSON.
The emigrant ancestor of the Whitley county family of this name was James Wat- son, a native of Ireland, who came over during the latter half of the eighteenth cen- tury and settled in Maryland. He married there and reared a family, with whom he em- igrated to Ohio and located in the vicinity of Columbus. Thomas Watson, one of the sons, after growing up became a resident of Fairfield county, where he obtained suc- cess in agricultural pursuits. He had sev- eral children and among them a son named Eli, who was born in Fairfield county, Jan- uary 14. 1826. After growing up he mar- ried Amanda Hare, of German descent, with whom he emigrated to Indiana and settled in Whitley county, when it was still a wild and but little improved section of the state. He bought land in Jefferson township and went through all the "agony and bloody sweat" incident to the clearing and improving of
a farmer, but rose to local influence as a leader first in the Whig and afterwards in the Republican party. His religious affilia- tions were with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was not only an active member but a generous contributor to the local congregation. Altogether he was a most excellent citizen in every way, es- teemed during life and at the time of his death, April 17, 1899, had accumulated a handsome estate, consisting of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres and other property. He had four children : Thomas D., a prosperous farmer of Jefferson town- ship: Newton F., the subject of this sketch ; Jacob B., who died at the age of twenty years; and William M., who also died in early manhood. Newton F. Watson. sec- ond in the above list, was born in Whitley county, Indiana, October 26, 1859. His early training was that of a farm boy and he profited by it in the acquisition of those industrious habits and knowledge of prac- tical affairs so useful in after life. In early manhood he removed to Kansas and spent six years there as a resident of Gray county. From his boyhood he manifested a taste and interest in politics and had always been an active supporter of Republican policies, as well as a leader in the affairs of his party. He served one term as clerk of Gray county, but later determined to return to his old home, which offered better opportunities for the prosecution of his business and political ambitions. He became the owner by inher- itance of the old home place in Jefferson township, but since taking possession has doubled the original amount of land and now has two hundred and fifty-four acres,
746
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
the larger part of which is under cultiva- tion. He has greatly improved the estate in every way, as is attested by the commo- dious brick residence, good barn and other outbuildings, well kept lawn and up-to-date fencing, ditching and tiling. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is admitted to be one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of the county. His gen- eral popularity and influence is shown by the fact that in 1904 he was elected as joint representative from his district in the state legislature and received the endorsement of a re-election on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1906, being his own successor. He was an industrious and painstaking member of the law-making body and bore a part in the important legislation that emanated from the session of 1904-05. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Dunfee Lodge, No. 765, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1884 Mr. Watson married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Michel Kiser, of Jefferson town- ship, but has no children.
ISAAC M. HARSHBARGER.
The gentleman whose name introduces this memoir stands well to the front among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Whitley county and as a neighbor and citi- zen his actions and influence have ever tend- ed to the advancement of the community and welfare of those with whom he has min- gled. Isaac M. Harshbarger was born at Hillsborough, Highland county, Ohio, in 1850. His father, Daniel Harshbarger, was born in Pennsylvania in 1823 and six years
later went to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he married Anna A. Holliday, whose par- ents emigrated from England to the United States in an early day and settled in the Buckeye state. About the year 1856 Daniel Harshbarger moved his family to Whitley county, Indiana, from which time until his death in 1894 he was a successful farmer and representative citizen of Cleveland township, where in addition to the pursuit of agriculture he devoted considerable time to plastering and bricklaying, both of which trades he mastered when a woung man. At the time of his death he owned a well im- proved farm of one hundred and ten acres,. besides valuable personal property, all of which represented the labor of his own hands and brain. He was long a zealous and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Republican in poli- tics, though never an active partisan. Dan- iel and Anna A. Harshbarger reared a fam- ily of thirteen children, all but one of whom are living, their names being as follows : Elizabeth. deceased : I. M .. Mary, John W., Thomas S., Eliza, Ellen, W. E., Lydia, Har- riet, Lincoln, Huldah and Mark.
The early life of Isaac M. Harshbarger was without noteworthy incidents. On at- taining his majority he turned his attention to agriculture, which calling he has since followed with success. In 1871 he married Miss Amanda, daughter of Fred and Susan (Jenkins) Pence, the father a Virginian by birth and an early settler of Champaign county, Ohio, where he resided until his re- moval to Whitley county, Indiana, in 1852. purchasing the farm in South Whitley town- ship which his son now owns. In 1882 he changed his residence to South Whitley,
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
where he lived in retirement during the re- mainder of his days, departing this life in 1897, his wife having died in 1891, after bearing him eleven children. Mr. Harsh- barger's farm, consisting of one hundred and nineteen acres of fertile soil, is situated two and one-half miles south of South Whitley and contains some of the best im- provements in the community. Eighty acres are under cultivation, the remainder being devoted to pasturage. Mr. Harshbarger has not been sparing of his means in im- proving and making his place pleasing and attractive. His dwelling is a commodious, modern structure, well supplied with the conveniences and comforts which render rural life desirable and the large barn con- structed after the most convenient plans affords ample shelter and protection to the fine domestic animals with which the farm is stocked. Mr. Harshbarger devotes consid- erable attention to the breeding and raising of fine live stock, especially shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs, of which he keeps large numbers. He also takes pride in his horses, which he raises for general purposes and through his efforts a general interest in the value of improved stock has been aroused among his neighbors and through- out the community. Mr. and Mrs. Harshi- barger have had three children: Etta, de- ceased; Fred, whose biography appears elsewhere in these pages; and Eva, who is still a member of the home circle. Mr. Harshbarger is a Republican, but in local affairs often votes for the best qualified can- didate, regardless of party. With his wife he is a member of the United Brethren church and deeply interested in its work. To the best of his ability he has aided the prog-
ress of his township and county, faithfully performing the duties of citizenship and dis- charging with commendable fidelity every trust reposed in him by his fellowmen.
THOMAS M. HUGHES.
The above named is a well known citizen of Cleveland township, a leading farmer and an ex-soldier of the once great army that is being rapidly disintegrated by the remorse- less hand of time. His ancestors were Welsh, his grandftaher, Richard Hughes,. being a native of Wales, coming to America a number of years ago and settling in Penn- sylvania. Nathan Hughes, son of Richard, was born in Greene county and married Isa- belle, daughter of David Grimes, whose an- cestors were among the early pioneers of Pennsylvania. Nathan Hughes moved to Ohio in an early day and there spent the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1839. Some time after his death, his widow came to Whitley county with her son, Thomas M., at whose home she passed from earth in 1871. The family of Nathan and Isabelle. Hughes consisted of three children: Wil- liam G., David H. and Thomas M., the last named being the only survivor.
Thomas M. Hughes was born January 12, 1837, in Knox county, Ohio, and spent his childhood and youth in his native state, receiving his education in such schools as the country at that time afforded. When about sixteen years of age he came to Noble county, Indiana, where he remained vari- ously employed until the breaking out of the- Civil war and in 1861 enlisted in the Thir-
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
teenth Regiment, Indiana Infantry, with which he served three years, during the greater part of which time his regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumber- land. He took part in all the campaigns and participated in a number of battles, among which were Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga and Cor- inth, besides many minor engagements and skirmishes. in all of which he bore the part of a brave and gallant soldier, who shirked no responsibility nor hesitated to go where duty called. At the expiration of his period of enlistment, January 19, 1865, he was honorably discharged and immediately thereafter returned to Indiana and spent the ensuing four years in Smith township. Whitley county. At the end of that time he engaged in the lumber business, which he carried on for several years in different parts of the county. moving his sawmill from place to place as circumstances re- quired.
He finally disposed of his lumber inter- ests in 1888, purchased land in Cleveland township and turned his attention to agri- culture, which vocation he has since fol- lowed with gratifying financial results. At the present time he owns a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres, of which eighty are in cultivation, and his improvements, includ- ing buildings, fencing and drainage, are among the best in this part of the county. Mr. Ilughes is a progressive farmer of ad- vanced ideas, cultivates the soil according to the most approved methods and being a systematic manager, his labors have always redounded to his financial advantage, being at this time one of the well-to-do men of the township.
In 1867 Mr. Hughes was married to Miss Clara, daughter of William and Sa- rah (Wolf) Cleland, the union being blessed with four children : Effie, wife of Ira Miller, a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad ; Artie, wife of Roy Miller, an undertaker of South Whitley; Gertrude, who married Russel McConnell, of the same place; and Fannie, wife of Clyde B. McConnell, who assists in operating the farm. Mr. Hughes is a pronounced Republican and has ever taken an active interest in party affairs. He served as sheriff of Whitley county from 1894 to 1896, besides being elected at dif- ferent times to various minor offices, includ- ing the county advisory board, in which ca- pacity his services were greatly appreci- ated. He belongs to Post No. 90, Grand Army of the Republic, at South Whitley and with his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN THOMPSON.
This enterprising farmer and public-spir- ited citizen is a native of Whitley county, Indiana, born in Richland township Decem- ber 22, 1859. His father, B. F. Thompson, a native of New York, went to Ohio and from there came to Whitley county, settling in Richland township in 1836, where he purchased land and in due time became one of the progressive farmers and leading citi- zens of the community. He married Ma- tilda Rodebaugh, who bore him five chil- dren: Warren died in childhood; Benjamin F .; Augustus, a resident of Richland town- ship; Elder, of South Bend: and Electa. deceased wife of A. P. Smith, of North
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Manchester. The father, who died in 1898, was long one of the influential men of Whitley county, a leader of the local Democ- racy, and served eight years as a member of the board of county commissioners, be- sides holding different minor positions. In business matters he was more than ordin- arily successful, owning at one time over twelve hundred acres of highly improved land, in addition to which he had other large interests. Benjamin F. Thompson, his second son, was reared and educated in the county of his birth and received the usual training of farm boys. After reaching his majority he became a farmer and has suc- ceeded well in this calling.
Mr. Thompson has a beautiful farm five miles from South Whitley, on which he has resided since 1886, making numerous im- provements in the meantime and bringing his place to a high state of tillage. By a system of drainage, consisting of fifteen hundred rods of eight and twelve-inch tiling, the productiveness of his land has been greatly increased and by the judicious ex- penditure of no small sum of money in buildings and other improvements, he has added much to the beauty of the farm, mak- ing it one of the most attractive and desir- able homes in the township. Of his one hundred and ninety acres, one hundred and twenty-five are under a successful state of cultivation, the rest consisting of pasture and woodland, and on the latter is a fine sugar orchard of six hundred maple trees, which yield every spring a large quantity of excellent syrup, the demand for which is always in excess of the supply. Like his father, Mr. Thompson is essentially a man of the people, with the best interests of his
fellow citizens at heart, and from his youth has kept in touch with political and public matters, being one of the leading Democrats of his township and an influential factor in the counsels of his party. He is identified with the Masonic Order, belonging to the lodge at Larwill, his aim having, ever been to square his life according to the principles of the brotherhood and to exemplify in his relations with the world the high ideals which it inculcates.
In 1883 Mr. Thompson married Emma, daughter of Christie and Elizabeth (Rob- erts) Hayden, who were from Ohio and among the early pioneers of Whitley county, moving here in 1836. David, father of Chris- tie Hayden, became one of the largest land- owners and most successful farmers in this part of the state, his realty at one time amounting to thirteen hundred acres, the greatest part of which was improved under his direction and became quite valuable. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have a family of seven children: Hazel, Maurice, Karl, Ralph, Electa, Mary and Fred, all living and with their parents, constituting a happy and har- monious household.
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