USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 26
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with courage, patriotism, clean morality and sound common sense, doing thoroughly and well the work that he finds to do and asking praise of the man for the performance of what he believes to be his simple duty.
Mr. Starnes was born in Fountain county, Indiana, June 1. 1847. Ile is a son of Henry and Catherine ( Myers) Starnes, both natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. They devoted their lives to farming. The subject is the grandson of Thomas Starnes, who entered land in Jackson town- ship, Fountain county, in an early day and followed farming there the rest of his life. Ile was the father of eight children, namely: Charles, John. Jacob, Thomas, Henry, Margaret, Barbara and Elizabeth.
Henry Starnes, father of the subject, was educated in the public schools of Fountain county and grew up on the home farm. He began life for him- self by teaching school winters and farming summers, continuing thus for a number of years until he got a good start, then abandoned the school room and devoted the rest of his life exclusively to agricultural pursnits. When a young man he married Catherine Myers, daug ter of Daniel and Polly Myers, and they became the parents of the following children : Daniel, attorney-at- law and at this writing postmaster at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee: he was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, being a member of Company B, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry : John. the second child, is farming in Jackson township, Fountain county; Charles, subject of this sketch ; Louis is farming in Cain township; Jacob lives in Leavenworth, Kansas; Ellsworth is farming in Jackson township, Fountain county ; Elizabeth Samantha married Joseph Tinsley ; Mary maried Luther Delp, deceased; Susan married Thomas McGinnis, of Jackson township; Catherine married Cal Delp, a farmer of Parke county, Indiana; Joseph W. is deceased; Thomas is deceased ; Phraney Jane is deceased.
Henry Starnes, father of the above named children, was a Republican in politics and was at one time supervisor. He was a member of the United Brethren church. His death occurred at the age of seventy-three years and his wife died in 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Charles Starnes, Sr., grew to manhood on the home farm in Jackson township and he received his education in the common schools there. He at once took up farming for a livelihood and this has continued to be his life work, for the most part, and he is the owner of a well-kept place of eighty acres, all under cultivation and well improved. He has made a specialty of bee culture for the past thirty years, in conection with general farming, and he is widely known as one of the best informed apiarists in the Middle West, having made the subject a close study and given much time and thought to its
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every phase. He has been exceptionally successful in this line and his advice is frequently sought by others and is always heeded with gratifying result He is at this writing taking care of about one hundred colonies of bees besides his own.
Mr. Starnes was married on March 7, 1869, to Mary E. Edwards, daugh- ter of Isaac and Polly Edwards, and to this union the following children have been born: Carrie M. died when twenty-one years old; Henry I., a sketch of whom appears in this work; Lewie E. is a rural mail carrier; Effie F .. is employed in the Hillsboro postoffice.
Politically, Mr. Starnes is a Republican, and was honored by the people by being elected supervisor, the duties of which office he discharged in a man- ner that elicited the hearty approval of all concerned.
THOMAS GLASCOCK.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has long enjoyed prestige as a leading citizen o fthe community in which he resides and has been an important factor in the affairs of this locality during almost its entire history. Reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life and knowing full well , what it was to have a home far removed from the advantages of civilization in a dense forest, through which the wolves prowled and deer roamed, Mr. Glascock early became inured to hard work and has always known how to appreciate hard toil at its true value, and his career of seventy-four years has been a most honorable and commendable one in every respect. He talks most interestingly of conditions which prevailed here during his boyhood when the country was new and when people and customs were different. He has taken an active part in the growth of the locality along all lines and is one of our oldest and most highly esteemed native sons, and his name is eminently worthy of perpetuation in these pages.
Thomas Glascock was born in Fountain county, Indiana, October 16, 1838, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Christe) Glascock. The father was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, where the family have long been prominent. George Glascock, paternal grandfather of the subject, married Frances Jackson, an aunt of the great Confederate general, Stonewall Jack- son, and a near relative of Claiborne Jackson, one of the early governors of Missouri. Grandfather Glascock moved to Kentucky with his family, lo- cating at Mills Station, and he had considerable trouble with the Indians, who were still hostile when he came to the "dark and bloody ground country."
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Joseph Glascock spent his earlier years in the Blue Grass state, finally coming to Fountain county, Indiana, with John Scott, an uncle of the subject and the first white man to settle on what is now known as Scott's Prairie, for whom that section was named. It was about 1822 they came here, thus being among the very earliest settlers. Joseph Glascock had been reared and mar- ried in Kentucky, and he brought his wife and four children with him; they were George, William, Francis and Jane, all now deceased; eight other chil- dren were born to him after he came to Fountain county, thus making a fan- ily of twelve sons and daughters, the others being named, Daniel. Harrison, Elizabeth, Mandy and Indiana, all now deceased; Joseph lives at Hillsboro. this county; Thomas, of this review, being the eleventh in order of birth : and Nancy, who died when young.
The paternal grandfather, George Glascock, returned to Kentucky, where his death occurred, but his wife died in Indiana.
Joseph Glascock, father of the subject, settled in Van Buren township, entered land from the government which he cleared and improved into a good farm and on this he established the permanent home of the family and spent the rest of his life there. This land is now owned by W. R. Greenley, of Covington. Joseph Glascock was a man of considerable influence in the affairs of the community and he was county commissioner for a period of eigliteen years, filling the office in a manner that won the hearty approval of all. He was also secured to settle up forty-seven estates, which he did to the credit of himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Thomas Glascock grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the common schools, and early in life he took up farming, which he has inade his life work, being actively and successfully engaged in this vocation until 1905, when he retired and moved to Kingman, where he resides at this writing, surrounded by every comfort as a result of his earlier years of industry and good management.
Mr. Glascock was married on December 15, 1859, to Sarah A. Booc, daughter of John and Jane (Moffett) Booe, he a native of South Carolina and she of Ireland. She was brought to America when six weeks old, the voyage in an old-fashioned vessel requiring six weeks. From South Carolina these parents came to Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, thence to Foun- tain county, locating on Scott's Prairie. Thomas Glascock owns the old Booe farm, of one hundred and thirty acres, which James Bove entered from the government.
There were nine children in the family of John Booe and wife, namely : Elmir ?. Elnora Adeline, Jefferson and Alexander Lee are all deceased ;
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Savanah lives at Hansford, California: Sarah Ann was the sixth in order of birth; Eliza Jane and Arthur are both dee sed; James R. is a druggist at Cayuga, Indiana.
Besides the old Booe farm Thomas Glascock also owns valuable and well located land in Mill Creek township, all well inproved and very pre- ductive. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in religious matters belongs to the Christian Disciples church, being an clder in the same.
Four children were born to Thomas Glascock and wife. namely : Kate, who married E. L. Furr, of Veedersburg: Harry H., who married Jenie C. Bodine, is a progressive young man of affairs, with modern ideas and with a bright future; he is a breeder of fine horses, keeping a number of excellent animals on hand, which are greatly admired by all who see them, and he is doing a thriving business, and is popular throughout the community, being a man of industry, good habits and obliging nature. A sketch of his wife's people will be found in that of James Bodine, appearing on another page of this work. Two children have been born to Harry H. Glascock and wife, Mary Catherine and Thomas Zekiel.
The third child born to Thomas Glascock and wife was Viola, who married V. E. Baker, a printer of Cincinnati, Ohio; Edna Glascock, the youngest child, married Benjamin Rowlett, who is in the United States mail service, making his home at Kingman, this county. Two of the subject's children died in infancy.
The Glascock family is one of the best known and most highly respected of the county.
WILLIAM TAYLOR WILLETT.
While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the futil- ity of effort is often noticeable and results from the fact that it is not con- bined with sound judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and unremitting, never acquires a competence, but when his labor is well directed, prosperity always follows. Mr. Willett is one whose work has been supplemented by careful management, and today he is one of those who have triumphed over adverse conditions and won success, being now num- bered among the representative farmers of Shawnee township.
William T. Willett is a native son of Indiana, having been born at Cory- don on the 12th of September, 1872. His parents are Jolin Boone and Mary (Zenor) Willett, the latter being a sister of ex-Congressman Zenor, of this
WILLIAM T. WILLETT.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
state. On both the paternal and maternal lines, the subject is descended from sterling pioncer stock, the Boones having been related to Daniel Boone, the noted frontiersman, while members of the Zenor family assisted in the con- struction of the state constitution of Indiana.
Jolin Boone Willett received hus carly education in the common schools of Harrison county and followed " mning all his life. About fifteen years ago he came to Warren county, where he now lives, and is extensively engaged in farming. A Democrat in politics, he took an active part in local campaigns and through two elections he rendered effective service as chairman of the county central committee. To him and his wife were born six children, namely : William T., the subject of this sketch; Richard Phillip, who died at the age of twenty-two years; George L. and James are farmers in Warren county ; Sallie is the wife of William Head, a successful farmer in Warren county ; Harriet is the wife of Oscar Pauley, a business man at Jasonville. The latter is a well known Democrat and has served as trustee of his township and in other minor offices. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Harri- son county, and at the age of eigliteen years he came to Warren county, In- diana, and for six years was employed by his uncle on the Walter (). Gres- ham farm. He then began farming for himself on the Miller farm, in Jordan township, commencing on a small scale and increasing gradually until at length he was farming over seven hundred acres of land at a time. In March, 1906, Mr. Willett came to Fountain county and located in Shawnee town- ship, where he now resides and operates a fan of two hundred and twenty- five acres, besides which he owns one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Van Buren township. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his methods and the general appearance of his place indicates that he possesses judgment and discrimina- tion of a high order. The place is well improved and is very productive. In addition to the raising of a general line of cereals, Mr. Willett gives some attention to the raising of live stock, which he has found a profitable source of income.
On January 15, 1897, Mr. Willett was married to Emily Shade, the daughter of Lafayette Shade, of Hillsboro, and they have become the parents of four children, namely : Clive, Clifford, Ivan and Dorothy.
Politically, Mr. Willett is a stanch Democrat and gives a loyal support to his party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, having been venerable consul and the present banker of his camp. He is also a member of the Lafayette Lodge No. 143, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and president of the American Horsethief Detective Association, and
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a man of fine personal qualities and genial disposition, though entirely unassuming, and his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He has ever stood for the highest inter- ests of the communities in which he has lived and is always found on the right side of every moral question, his excellent record having gained for him the respect of all.
HERMAN NEHRIG.
It is doubtful if any people that go to make up our cosmopolitan popula- tion have better habits of life than those who came originally from the great German empire, and their descendants. These descendants are distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will eventually make that country great among the nations of the earth. When with these two qualities are coupled the other attributes of com- mon sense and correct habits, as most all German descendants . em to possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it in the front rank of the nations of the earth in the scale of elevated humanity. Of this excellent people came the Nehrig family, one of the best known of War- ren county, and of whom Herman Nehrig, the well-known blacksmith and hardware merchant of Williamsport, is a worthy representative. He has been a diligent worker in his chosen field of endeavor and has been rewarded with gratifying success, and, having minded well his own affairs and kept the even tenor of his way through the years, he has earned the good will and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances.
Herman Nehrig was born on June 4,- 1870, in Lafayette, Indiana, and is the son of Eli and Christina (Smith) Nehrig. Eli Nehrig was born in Ger- many, where he received his education and was reared to the age of eighteen years. At the age mentioned he came to the United States, having a desire to better his condition and having heard much of the splendid opportunities afforded in this country. A brother living in Lafayette, Indiana, induced him to locate there, where for a time he was employed as a butcher. Subsequently, under the tutelage of his uncle, he became a tailor and worked at that trade up to the time of his death. He was the father of fourteen children, five of whom are dead, the subject of this sketch being the fourth in order of birth. Most of the surviving members of this family now live in Lafayette.
Herman Nehrig secured a good education in the schools of Lafayette and remained there until in August, 1894, when he came to Williamsport and
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started out on his own account. He started in business on a small scale and by carefully watching all details and husbanding his resources he soon found himself in a healthy financial condition. His business habits had won for him a good credit, one of the biggest assets a young man can possess, and this he lias never abused. He had learned the trade of a blacksmith while living in Lafayette and here he opened a shop, where he was soon in command of his full share of the public patronage. He is an expert horseshoer and also carries a good hardware stock, in all of which lines he is successful. He has been rewarded with prosperity and besides his business in town, he owns forty- three acres of splendid farm land, which has been a source of considerable income.
On September 18, 1895, Mr. Nehrig was married to Ina Prather, the daughter of Jerry and Anna (Slifer) Prather, the father having been a suc- cessful farmer in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Nehrig have been born four children, Loris, Arol, Keith and Mary M.
Fraternally, Mr. Nehrig is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while religiously, the family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nehrig's popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending in- tegrity, unabating energ; and industry that never flags.
SAMUEL J. PURNELL.
There is a great difference between the business ideas of a half century ago and those of the present time. In former times there was little or no co-operation among business men. Partnerships were small and the business was confined to lines wholly different from those of this day. Among the business men of Fountain county who have shown themselves capable of con- ducting alone an important enterprise under modern methods is Samuel J. Purnell, proprietor of a popular general store at Veedersburg, and a man of progressive ideas in all things.
Mr. Purnell was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, in 1858. He is the son of llenry A. and Nancy E. Justice. The father was born while his par- ents were on the road from Kentucky to their new home in the Middle West, while they were encamped a week, as they were making the overland trip in wagon in the early days. The mother was also from Kentucky. They settled three miles south of Hillsboro, and were pioneers in Fountain
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
country. The paternal grandfather of the subject also came through in a wagon from Kentucky to this country. His family consisted of twelve chil- dren, of whom Henry A., father of the subject, was the ninth in order of birth. For a completer sketch of the earlier members of this well known old family the reader is directed to the sketch of Dr. Purnell, in this work. Henry A. Purnell, mentioned above, grew to manhood in this community and he received his education in the common schools of those early times, then took up farming, which he made his life work, following this vocation successfully until his death. The Justice family removed from Kentucky to Parke county, Indiana, in an early day, also and there the maternal grand- parents of the subjec. spent the balance of their lives.
Sammuel Purnell grew up on the home farm and received his education in the public schools. He devoted his earlier life to farming, thien moved to Ladoga, where he again attended school, also went to school at Waveland, this state, after which he turned his attention to merchandising, which busi- ness he has continued with ever-increasing success to the present time. He is now the owner of a very well known store in Veedersburg, where he car- ries a large and carefully selected stock of general merchandise. his cus- tomers coming from a wide district, and here they always find courteous and kind treatment and reasonable prices.
Mr. Purnell was married in 1880 to Odessa Furr, daughter of Samson and Frances (Hesler) Furr, who came from Kentucky in an early day and here became very comfortably established. Jacob Furr, father of Samson Furr, was for a number of years justice of the peace, who, in pioneer times, went to Kentucky with an ox team, and hauled Samuel Purnell, grandfather of the subject, and his family to Fountain county, Indiana. Five children were born to Samson and Frances Furr, two of whom are living at this writ- ing, namely : Odessa, wife of Mr. Purnell, and Mrs. I. N. Kerr, of Veeders- burg.
Charles Furr, who was a member of the Purdue football team and one of the best players that university ever turned out, was killed in an accident in Indianapolis in 1904.
Three children have been born to Samuel J. Purnell and wife, namely : Fred S., who married Elizabeth Shoaf, and they live in Attica; he wa's graduated from the State University of Indiana in 1900 and he has chosen the law as his profession, being very successful in this field. He is consid- ered one of the best speakers in western Indiana. He has been called back to the university to address the law students on several different occasions. Myrtle and Ifelen Purnell are assisting their father in the store and living at home.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Mr. Purnell is a member of the Christian Disciple church, and frater- nally he belongs to Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 246, at Veedersburg. lle has been township trustee of his township and was also township assessor for two terms, filling these offices in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people. . Politically, he is loyal to the Republican party.
WILLIAM M. NUSS.
The subject of this review is one of the representative farmers and stock men of the eastern part of Fountain county, and by his own indomitable efforts has acquired a valuable farm and desirable residence properties in and around the village of Newtown, Richland township. He has always beer known as an alert, progressive and broad-minded man, who, in his labors, has never permitted himself to follow in the rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus secured the maximum returns from his efforts while he has so ordered his course at all times as to command the con- fidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business methods and advocating whatever tends to pro- mote the public welfare in any way.
William M. Nuss was born in Pennsylvania, January 21, 1852. He is the son of Franklin and Susan (Dimmick) Nuss, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and there spent their earlier years. They came to Fountain county, Indiana, in 1858, when their son, William M., of this review, was six years old, locating in Newtown. There they resided two years, then moved to a farm in Richland township, where they established the family home and there the elder Nuss died in September, 1880. His widow survived thirty-two years, and is now, advanced in age, making her home with her daughter on the old farmstead.
Eight children were born to Franklin Nuss and wife, named as follows: William M., of this sketch, who is the oldest; Andrew H. died in 1890; Lewis F. died in 1912; James lives in California; Loyd and Rufus both died young; Walter lives near Marion, Indiana; Clara married Alex Bell and they live on the old home place.
. Franklin Nuss was a Democrat, but he never sought or held public office, being a quiet, home man. He was for a few years a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and religiously belonged to the Presbyterian church.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
William M. Nuss grew to manhood on the home farin and he received a good education in the common schools of this county. In March, 1880, he was united in marriage with Rista Duncan, daughter of Edward and Lucinda (Hauts) Duncan. Her father was a native of Indiana and was among the early residents of Fountain county where he engaged in farming most of his life, finally moving to Newtown, dying there a year later, August 17, 1895. His family consisted of seven children, named as follows: Rista, wife of Mr. Nuss, of this sketch; Louisa is deccased; the third and fourth children died in infancy ; Joseph L. is also deceased; Drusilla married Dawson Beadle, and they live on a farm in Logan township; Melvin died when young.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Nuss has been without issne.
Mr. Nuss has been very successful in his life work and he is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and nine acres in Richland township, and also three valuable lots in Newtown. He has kept his place well improved and on it stand a pleasant, well-furnished home, a good barn and other substantial outbuildings, including a cement hog-house. cement corn-crib and his lawn is covered with shrubbery and shade trees, through which lead cement walks. He has six large sugar trees and a young grove of poplars. Near his place is forty acres of good land wliich his mother owns. Mr. Nuss is living in Newtown, where he moved in January, 1911. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he is broad in his religious views, attending all the churches.
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