USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 30
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 30
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proved the same and here engaged successfully in general farming until his death in 1875. His family consisted of seven children, namely : William M. and Forgus T., twins, are both deceased; Milton O. lives in Troy township; John W. makes his residence in the town of Covington; Agatha C. is living with her nephew in Wabash township; Mary E. died in 1852: Albert W., subject of this sketch.
Albert W. Graham grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work during the summer months, and he received his education in the common schools in his district, after which he took up farming for his life work, which he has followed to the present time, still being actively and successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits, own- ing ninety-six and one-half acres of well improved land, which improvements he has made himself. His place is located about two miles south of Coving- ton. He has made what he lias by his own efforts.
Mr. Graham was married in 1871 to Serelda Carwile, whose parents were also early settlers of Fountain county ; in fact, they came here among the very earliest.
Politically, Mr. Graham is a Republican. He belongs to the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, also the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 4, at Covington.
Mr. Graham enlisted on August 11, 1862, in Company H. Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he saw much hard service, performing his duties as a valiant soldier for the Union. He was mustered out at Greens- boro, North Carolina, in 1865, and he was paid and discharged at Indianapo- lis, Indiana, the same year. When his first term of enlistment expired and the government soon afterward called for more volunteers he offered his services for three years more. He served under Captain LaTourette, and was a non-commissioned officer during part of his service.
JOSEPH B. THOMAS.
The majority of the residents of Fountain county are of American stock, their parents or grandparents having come to the comparatively new state of Indiana at a time when land was unimproved, and their families have preserved in all its vigor the best of the old colonial blood. He whose name heads this review is a member of one of the best examples of such families,
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and his own life in all hus relations with others has been such as to show in an ummistakable manner his own worth and abilly.
Joseph B. Thomas was born in jackson township, Fountain county, on August 13, 1859, the son of George and Juha (Summers) Thomas. George Thomas was the son of Joseph B., who was born in Virginia in 1808, later moved to Ohio, then a new state, where his son was born in1 1836, and shortly afterward he moved from Highland county, Ohio, to Fountain county, 111- diana, where he bought what was known as the William Allen farm, just across the road from the farin where the subject of this review lives, and there he spent the remainder of his days in farming, living to a respected old age. His son George followed in his footsteps, and followed farming suc- cesfully all his life. He married Julia Summers, who was born in Parke county in 1832. To this union were born five children: Joseph B .; Mary, now Mrs. Thomas Keller, of Jackson township; John W., of Cayuga, Ver- million county, an influential farmer and well-known horseman; Amanda, who lives with her brother and sister, and Sarah, who married Robert Hop- kins, of Sugar Creek township, Parke county. George Thomas died in 1891, his wife in 1904. He, like his father, was a stanch Democrat and was active in politics, being one of the leaders of the party in his community. For many years he was justice of. the peace, in which capacity he gave universal satis- faction.
Josephi B. Thomas, after completing the common schools, attended the , normal school at Ladoga, and for three winters taught in the schools of Fountain county, at no time, however, ceasing farming operations. For some years he lived in Parke county, just across the Fountain county line, and for the past twelve years he has contracted for the construction of gravel roads, having built several excellent roads in Parke county. He later returned to the old home place, on which he was brought up, and is living there in a hand- some and comfortable home. He owns two hundred and three acres of good land in this county, and one hundred and sixty acres in the Saxon district of Missouri. The most of his land is tillable, the rest being well adapted to pasturing. He raises graded stock, in which he has been successful, and caclı year ships two carloads of hogs.
In 1880 Mr. Thomas was married to Elmira Myers, the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Roach) Myers. Her father came here in early days from North Carolina with his father, Daniel Myers, who took govern- ment land in Parke county. Alexander Myers' land was situated in both Parke and Fountain counties, the county line passing through it. (See sketch
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
of W. O. B. Myers for Alexander and Daniel Myers.) To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas three children were born: George Earl, now at home; Cora, who mharried Albert Lowe, the assistant cashier and president of the Farmers Bank of Wallace; and Joseph B., Jr., at home. George Earl followed in his father's footsteps and teaches school; his sister Cora was a teacher before her marriage. !
Mr. Thomas and his father have made all the improvements on the pres- 1 ent farm, the only house on it when they obtained it being a cabin. The farm has been brought to a very profitable degree of cultivation, and Mr. Thomas has proved as successful in his farming as he has in his gravel road building. He is a man whose opinion is respected, and one well liked by all who come in contact with him. . In politics he is a Democrat and a strong party worker, but has never cared for office ; fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Wallace. He is a reader, keeping well informed on all current topics, and has a library well stocked with books.
J. E. FINE.
In the growth of almost every community in the middle West, one may trace three stages, occupying the first three generations. First, the pioneer clears the forest and builds the first log cabin, introducing agriculture on a small scale. His son builds a comfortable house on the place in the next generation, and begins to improve the farm implements and extend his lands. His son, in the third stage of growth, when he stays on the old place, turns his attention not only to general farming raising of stock, and cultivating the ground to the highest extent, but to larger affairs around him, and we find him taking an active part in building up financial institutions in the country, and encouraging large mercantile enterprises.
This has been true in the Fine family. The grandfather of J. E. Fine left Davidson county, North Carolina, and came to Indiana in 1829 when his son David was only twelve years of age. He took government land in Jack- son township, Fountain county, and the family still carefully treasures the old sheepskin deed, which was issued at that time. He died there in 1856, having done his share of the work in the new country. His son David's edu- cation was limited, but he learned from stern contact with nature the invalu- able lessons which prepared him to continue the struggle in the new country with credit to himself and family. He married Mary Myers, who was born
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near his old home in Davidson county, North Carolina, in 1823, and she nobly seconded his efforts until his death in 1899. She survived him thirteen years, dying in February, 1912, at the age of eighty-eight, and was as bright at the time of her death as when she was young. Her loss is keenly felt by J. E. Fine and his family. David and Mary Fine had seven children, three of whom died in their infancy. Susan married Joseph Wert, a carpenter in Wallace, Indiana. Rachel married Albert Roberts, a notary in Wallace, Indiana. George, John and Noah are all deceased. J. E. Fine was born in Fountain county, Jackson township, on the old homestead February 14, 1859. He was educated in the common schools and also took a business course, one term, at Wabash College, after which he taught in the district school in Jackson township for seven terms.
In 1881 Mr. Fine married Mariah Keller, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Clodfeller) Keller. Mr. Keller was born in Jackson township and has farmed all of his life. He is now living in Wallace, Indiana. They have four children: Austin married Atha Osborn, and lives at Wallace; Flossie, Earl and Clarence are at home.
When he was only a young man J. E. Fine was assessor of Jackson town- ship for four years. He then entered the general merchandise business in Wallace. He was very prosperous and kept his store there for ten years. After that he engaged in the undertaking and furniture business for eight years, constantly increasing his financial worth. From 1901 to 1905 he was trustee of Jackson township. Then he established The Farmers Bank at Wallace, Indiana, in 1907, with a capital of ten thousand dollars, the only bank in the place. He is cashier of the bank, A. B. Lowe being the president, and William H. Gray, a wealthy farmer of Jackson township, being the vice- president.
Mr. Fine is a Democrat, a member of the Lutheran church, and a Mason at Wallace. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, part of which is the old homestead, first settled by his grandfather and is one of the most highly cultivated and productive pieces of land in the county. He also owns eight-one acres of land in Texas, near the Markham oil fields, which will probably be a great source of wealth to his family. 1
Here we see a man who has always been active in all the walks of life. Although only fifty-three years of age, he has accomplished more than most men do in a life-time. He has been a successful farmer, has built up two prosperous mercantile businesses, and established a bank, which was much needed in his community, and superintends all its affairs. It will be well if the fourth generation can carry as well as he has the line of progress started by their forefathers.
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JAMES BODINE.
In all that constituted good citizenship and true manhood the late James Bodine, for many years one of the substantial agriculturists of Fountain county, was a notable example and none stood higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community. His career was characterized by duty faithfully done and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts he acquired a liberal share of this world's goods, besides earning a reputation which has never been clouded by the commission of a single unworthy act. He was a man of good judgment and pronounced views and while he kept himself well informed upon current events and taking a lively interest in all public affairs of his township and county, he never had any desire to change the quiet and contented life on the cozy farm for the distractions and cares which usually come to the man who fills official station. He was a man of courage and exemplary habits and his pleasant home was known to his many friends as a place of old-time hospitality and his kindness to all was most pronounced.
James Bodine was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 12, 1825, and he spent his boyhood years on the farm where he helped with the general work, and he received such education as the common schools of that time afforded. Early in life he began farming and this continued his chief life work. He came to Fountain county, Indiana, arriving here on June 8, 1830, and in due course of time had an excellent farm which he managed in a man- ner that yielded a very comfortable annual income. As a general farmer and stock raiser he had no superiors in Wabash township. He built several sets of improvements on his farm, and his son, Robert, is now living on part of the old homestead. The subject believed in progressive methods in agriculture and he skillfully rotated his crops and manipulated the soil of his valuable farm so that it retained its original fertility. He always handled a good grade of live stock.
Mr. Bodine was married in 1859 to Mary Campbell, daughter of Joseph Campbell, a native of Ohio, whose death occurred at the age of seventy-four years. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bodine: Flora, Robert, Jennie, Tom, Florence O., Edward, and one who died in infancy.
Mrs. Bodine is the owner of four hundred and fifty acres in Van Buren township, a finely improved and valuable place which she leases to renters, it being one of the desirable farms of that vicinity. She lives on the old home 1 place in Wabash township.
Politically, Mr. Bodine was a Democrat, but he was never very active in
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JAMES BODINE.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
public affairs, and held no political offices. His death occurred on August 27, 1908, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, after a useful and suc- cessful life.
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DR. CHARLES A. CAPLINGER.
No service to mankind can be rendered greater than to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and disease-stricken; no warfare more important to the interests of the human race can be waged than that against disease and sick- ness. To this service and this warfare Dr. Charles A. Caplinger has given his life, and his success can best be told by those grateful persons whom he has raised from beds of pain and brought again into the pursuits of life and happiness.
Dr. Caplinger was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on November 12, 1861, the son of Clayton and Mary (Strange) Caplinger. His father was born in Montgomery county in 1825, the son of Henry Caplinger, who came to Montgomery county in 1824 from Shelby county, Kentucky. Henry Caplinger was a farmer ,and teamster, and in those days before the advent of railroads hauled produce all over the state, his loads often consisting of dried fruits and peaches. He was of Dutch descent, and was a man well adapted to the hardships of pioneer days. Clayton Caplinger was a farmer and the operator of a saw-mill. He spent an active and energetic life and died in Montgomery county in 1889, his wife following him the same year, passing away on October Ist, her seventieth birthday. She was a native of Ohio. They were the parents of five children: William H., deceased; James F., a farmer of Newmarket, Indiana; John M., deceased; Charles A .; and Martin, who died in infancy. Clayton Caplinger was trustee of Scott township for six years, and for fourteen years assessor of Montgomery county. He was an active member of the Grange.
Charles A. Caplinger attended the common schools of Montgomery county, and later the old Medical College of Indiana. He took up practice at Marshall, Indiana, in 1881, and for nineteen years remained there, remov- ing, in 1900, to. Wallace, his present location. In 1877 he was married to Nancy Burgess, who bore him three children : Harley M., deceased; Theoph- ilus P., who graduated from the Indiana Medical College in the class of 1907, and is now assisting his father in practice; and Mary Ruby, who mar- ried John Ewbank, a teacher in the Veedersburg high school. In 1899 Dr.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Caplinger was married a second time, to Mrs. Cerinda Michaels, and is the father of two children by this marriage, Nellie Pauline and Charles A., Jr., who are two bright and interesting young people.
In politics Dr. Caplinger is independent. For some years he has been a justice of the peace, and has served faithfully in that capacity in spite of his professional duties. He is a member of the Parke County, Indiana State and American Medical Association. His practice extends over a wide territory and keeps him and his son in active employment. Dr. Caplinger is a man who takes much interest in the general welfare of the community, and is highly public-spirited, while his known integrity, his sound judgment, and his position put him in a situation to advise the people of his neighborhood, and aid them with the fruits of his experience and his education. He is a member of the Disciples church and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, and the Masons.
JOHN C. GOODIN.
Farming offers many rewards to the young man who perseveres in fol- lowing it, for though at times unquestionably he must work hard, yet he is at most times in the healthful out-of-doors, in surroundings the most conducive to happiness and longevity, and he is pre-eminently the most independent in his occupation of any man in America to-day. He is his own master, can himself order his hours of working, himself manage his work entirely, and then the results, whether good or bad, can be ascribed to no one else but him- .self.
One of the well-known and energetic farmers of Jackson township is John C. Goodin, who was born in that township on May 27, 1866, the son of William and Emmeline (Black) Goodin. His father was a native of Ohio, moved at an early date to this county, served his country faithfully in the Civil war, and passed from this life when his son John C. was very young. He was the father of three children: Florence, who married William Samp- son and is living in Crawfordsville; Thomas who died at the age of three, and John C., the subject of this review.
John C. Goodin was educated in the common schools of Jackson town- ship and began farming as soon as he was big enough to work. He now owns eighty acres of land, all of which is tillable, on which he farms generally and
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raises graded stock. He has given the greater portion of his time in the working seasons to a threshing machine, for eighteen years having been the owner of a machine, and each season threshing a large portion o: the grain raised in the township. For five years he lived in Montgomery county, and there he began to thresh. He has a reputation as one of the ablest and most energetic threshers in the county.
On October 28, 1894, Mr. Goodin was married to Eva Sampson, the daughter of Thomas and Susan (Vice) Sampson. Her parents were early settlers of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where her father was a farmer. Her father is dead, her mother is living in Crawfordsville.
In politics Mr. Goodin is a Democrat and an active party worker, and that he enjoys the respect and confidence of the community is shown by the fact that he was elected the trustee of Jackson township in 1908. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Masons, having his membership in the latter order at Wallace. Mr. Goodin has a good house and barn, having erected all the buildings on his farm. He is a man known more widely than most residents of the township, popular with all who know him, and a wide-awake, up-to-date, energetic and public spirited citizen of sterling character.
HENRY ALDERSON.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was a progressive farmer and stock raiser of Fulton township, Fountain county, and was a man who lived a quiet and law-abiding life, which won the respect and good will of his neighbors and friends, and, having worked hard and been a care- ful student of agriculture, he won well merited success along his chosen line of endeavor and was at his death the possessor of one of the valuable and up- to-date farmsteads in the southwestern part of the county on the picturesque Silver Island, where he had a comfortable home and was enjoying life.
Henry Alderson was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, December 7, 1852, and died September 5, 1912. He was the son of John S. and Sarah (Lunger) Alderson, who were early settlers of Vermillion county, and who were the parents of four children, namely: Mary and Harris are both de- ceased; Henry, subject of this sketch; and Frank, who is the youngest of the family.
Henry Alderson was reared on the farm and when but a boy he turned his attention to farming and made this his life work. He received his educa-
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tion in the common schools of Fountain county and received a very practical education. He worked hard and was economical 'as a young man and in due course of time was able to purchase a fine farm of one hundred and sevent. acres on Silver Island, Fulton township, nearly all of which is tillable, and here his family still resides, he having brought his place up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. Here he was very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, always keeping a good grade of live stock, and he had a good home and substantial outbuildings and all the modern con- veniences, all of which he obtained by his own hard work and good nrinage- ment, for he never had much outside help, and he was therefore deserving of much credit as a self-made man.
Mr. Alderson was married in 1879 to Phoebe Ann Hobart, daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Spalding) Hobart, her parents having been early settlers of Fountain county, having come here from Ohio in a day when the country was unimproved and neighbors were few, and here they established the future home of the family by hard work, and they were known as ex- cellent people.
Seven children were born to the subject and wife, namely: Harrison, who lives on Silver Island; Benjamin makes his home at Salem, Illinois; George was next in order of birth; Elsie married Claude Babb, and they live at Cates, this county ; William, Edgar and Russell Lee all live at home.
Politically, Mr. Alderson was a Republican, but he never held office nor - was an office seeker.
COLUMBUS YOUNG.
It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in his church, hear his views on public questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus become competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." Throughout Fountain county there is nothing heard concerning Columbus Young, well known farmer and popular citizen of Fountain township, but good words. He has passed his entire life in this locality and therefore his
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worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the important events of his life in these pages.
Mr. Young was born in Cain township, this county. August 19. 1847. He is the son of George and Nancy ( Frazier) Young, both parents natives of Kentucky where they grew to maturity and were married, and when young they can .. from the Blue Grass state to Fountain county, Indiana, by wagon, when roads were mere trails and the country was wild and sparsely settled. Here they began life as true pioneers and endured bravely the hardships of the first settlers, and in due course of time had a good home. They were the parents of two children, Columbus, of this review, and James Wesley, who lives in Jackson township.
Columbus Young grew to manhood on the home farm and when but a boy he knew the meaning of hard work. He received his early education in the common schools of the county, and he took up farming for his life work when a young man. He has met with encouraging success all along the line and has secured a good home, a very productive farm and a competency to insure his declining years free from want. He is the owner of one hundred and forty-two acres, all tillable land and under an excellent state of improve- mient and cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has a pleasant home and good outbuildings, all as a result of his own honest and persistent efforts. In October, 1907, he retired from active work and is now living at Cates.
Politically, Mr. Young is a Democrat, and has always been loyal in the support of the same. He has been a member of the advisory board in Fulton and Jackson townships for the past ten or twelve years.
Mr. Young was married March 14, 1869, to Allethe Lowe, daughter of George and Mary (Gruilliams) Lowe, old settlers of Fountain county. Mrs. Young's father was from Kentucky and her mother from Tennessee. They came here among the pioneers, entered land from the government and built a cabin in the woods. Mr. Lowe cleared his land and in time had an ex- cellent home here. There were no roads here in those days, and wild beasts and game were in abundance. It was necessary to safely corral the sheep at night to keep the wolves from destroying them. At one time Mr. Lowe made a trip on horseback to Rockville, a distance of twenty miles, and carried a large kettle home from there, to make maple syrup.
Two children have been born to Mr. Young and wife, Lawrence, de- ceased, and Jolin Wesley, who married Minnie Livengood and is living at Cates, this county.
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