USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 45
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(IV) James, of the aforesaid children, was born in 1750 and died on December 9, 1809. He married Nancy Dunham, the daughter of John and Keziah Dunham, of Westfield, Essex (now Union) county, New Jersey. She was born in 1751 and died on April 26, 1826. Their children were as fol- lows: Sarah, Marsh, Keziah, Samuel, Elizabeth, Jane, Benjamin, Isaac, Phoebe and Susan.
(V) Keziah Tappan was born in 1778 and died on January 28, 1860. In 1798 she became the wife of Jonathan Crane, the son of Joseph and Ruth Crane, mentioned in a preceding paragraph.
Thence the generations are (VI) Joseph, and (VII) Elijah, the im- mediate subject of this review.
Elijah Crane was born on May 13, 1841, in Fountain county, Indiana, and in his boyhood he was given the advantage of a common school educa-
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tion, and as soon as old enough he became the assistant of his father, who ran a saw-mill. He learned the business thoroughly and in 1866, upon the death of his father, he succeeded to the business and for over forty years was widely known as one of the best saw-mill men in this section of the state. Besides his mill property, Mr. Crane is the owner of two store properties, a good dwelling and the home in which he lives at Pine Village.
At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Crane's patriotic spirit was aroused and, on April 23, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, under Capt. Alex Rice, and he saw over three years of active service in defense of the flag. He took part in a number of the most im- portant battles of the war, among which were Green Brier, Shiloh, Stone River and Missionary Ridge, besides many minor engagements and skirm- ishes. He rendered valiant and faithful service to his country in her hour of need and on June 25, 1864, he received an honorable discharge. Mr. Crome keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic at Pine Village,
On November 6, 1864, Elijah Crane was married to Louisa C. Glover, who was born July 29, 1844, the daughter of Clayborne and Margaret (Johnston) Glover. They have become the parents of the following children : Wentworth W., born July 30, 1866, married Julia A. Clawson on October 21, 1886, she being the daughter of Allan and Caroline Clawson; they became the parents of two children, a son, born May 26, 1889, and Lulu May, born May 15, 1891. Joseph O. Crane, who was born on April 23, 1868, married Catherine Ward, the daughter of Samuel and Effie Ward, on February 3, 1891; they have two children, Glenn, born December 25, 1891, and Hazel, born March 13, 1894. Orie C. Crane, born November 13, 1869, lives with his father. A boy, born January 13, 1871, died January 24, 1871. Herbert Crane, born February 13, 1872, married Cora Mills. Frederick Crane, born August 6, 1874, married, first, to Stella Andrews, second to Maud Dickie. Hattie Crane, born March 10, 1878, became the wife of Freeman Bowling. Mabel G. Crane, born September 29, 1881, died April 27, 1908, at the age of twenty-six years six months and twenty-seven days. On December 25, 1900, she had married Frank E. White, and to them came a son, Preston Atherton White, born December 27, 1901.
Politically, Elijah Crane has voted according to the dictates of his conscience and, feeling that the temperance question was the most important issue before the American people, he has consistently supported the Prohibi- tion party in all national elections. In local elections he votes for the best
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man. His religious membership is with the Christian church, of which is a faithful supporter and a member of the board of trustees. Fraternally, he belongs to the time-honored order of Freemasonry, and in his daily life he exemplifies the sublime precepts of that order.
Mr. Crane is a man who has justly earned the esteem and confidence of his fellow men and is a progressive, neighborly, genial and broad-minded gentleman who ranks among Warren county's best citizens.
S. B. LABAW.
Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are worthy of record. By a few general observations may be conveyed some idea of the characteristics and worthy career of S. B. LaBaw, for many years a well known farmer of Fountain county, Indiana, who is now living in honor- able retirement in his pleasant home in Attica, having, through his industry and perseverance, accumulated a competency. He has pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unostentatious manner which never courts publicity, attending strictly to his own affairs, doing the right as he understands it and keeping his conscience void of offense towards God and man. It is not a mat- ter of wonderment that the elements of a solid and practical nature, which unite in his composition, should win him a conspicuous place in his community, when we learn that he comes of a sterling family, a family that believed not only in keeping busy along legitimate lines of endeavor, but also in living up to the highest standard of citizenship in every respect.
S. B. LaBaw was born on July 15, 1841, in Shawnee township, Fountain county, Indiana, and he is the son of Benjamin and Phoebe (Crane) LaBaw. The subject's paternal grandfather, David LaBaw, lived the earlier part of his life in Ohio, later moving to Indiana where he died. Benjamin LaBaw and his wife are now both deceased, he having passed away a short time after the close of the Civil war. He had been a successful farmer and stock raiser and stood high in the community in which he lived. To him and his wife were born twelve children, of whom eight are still living.
The subject of this sketch was given the advantage of a good common school education and the vacation periods were spent in work on the home 1 farm. He has always applied himself to the pursuit of agriculture and during his active years he was considered one of the leading farmers of his neighbor- hood. He became the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of good land,
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S. B. La Bau
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practically all of which is under cultivation. Mr. LaBaw made permanent and substantial improvements on his place, much draining and tiling being re- quired, but he ever maintained the place at the highest standard of agricul- tural excellence. He carried on general farming and stock raising. He is now living in Attica, having relinquished the onerous labors of the farm and en- joying now that rest which he so richly earned.
During the progress of the Civil war, Mr. LaBaw gave evidence of his patriotic spirit by enlisting, under the last call for volunteers, in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Attica, under Captain Dice. However, he saw no active service in the field, though ready to go when called. He had three brothers in the Union army during that war, all of whom laid down their lives on the altar of their country.
Mr. LaBaw has been married three times, his present wife, to whom he was married on July 18, 1912, having borne the maiden name of Susan Hud- son. She was born in 1858 in Newtown, Indiana. The subject is the father of two children, namely : Emery G., who is a farmer and cement worker, mar- ried Annie Davidson and they live in Attica; Lily married William F. Clark, a farmer at Aylesworth, Indiana.
Politically, Mr. LeBaw is a Prohibitionist believing that the temperance question is the greatest and most important before the American people. His religious affiliation is with the Christian church, of which he is a liberal sup- porter. He is a man of good parts and has always enjoyed the sincere re- spect of his acquaintances, being a man who has stood for the best interests of the community.
JOSEPH W. ST. JOHN.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Warren county within the pages of this work, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identi- fied with its progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well- being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name ap- pears above, peculiar interest attaching to his career from the fact that his entire life has been spent within the borders of this county.
Joseph W. St. John comes of an old pioneer family of Warren county. His paternal grandfather, John St. John, was born in New York on February (49)
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2, 1750, and in 1798 moved to Ohio, locating near Ft. Ancient, in Warren county, where he died. The subject's father, Seth St. John, was a native of the state of New York, born on September 23, 1792, came from Ohio to War- ren county, Indiana, in 1830, residing here until his death, which occurred on August 21, 1874. The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Ruth A. Richards, was born in Pennsylvania on April 12, 1808, and she passed away on January 1, 1859. These parents were blessed with nineteen children, of which number three are still living, the subject of this sketch being the young- est. Seth St. John received a common school education in his youth and he always tilled the soil as a means of livelihood. He was a veteran of two wars, the second war with England in 1812 and the Mexican war of 1847. Dur- ing his early days he had taught school to some extent. He was a man of strong mentality and left his impress on the community in which he lived.
Joseph W. St. John was born on June 26, 1852, and received a common school education. He was reared on a farm and as soon as old enough he applied himself to agricultural work, along which line of endeavor he achieved a gratifying degree of success, so that about ten years ago he was able to relinquish the active work of the farm and is now enjoying a well-earned respite from the strenuous labor which characterized his active years. He was a hard-working man, neglecting no detail of his farm work, and was eminently regarded by his fellow agriculturists. He is the owner of one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, about half of which is under cultivation, the balance being devoted to pasture.
On April 1, 1872, Mr. St. John was married to Harriett C. Kiger, who was born in Benton county, Indiana, on November 25, 1854, the daughter of Jacob Kiger. To Mr. and Mrs. St. John have been born four children, namely: Seth, who married Lily Shaffer, is living about two miles from Pine Village; Anna Irene is the wife of John C. Fetzer, a mechanic, and they reside in Illinois; Jacob Warren, who is a farmer near Pine Village, married Pearl Milligan; his farm has been owned by the St. John family continuously since 1830; Virga C. is the wife of Otto Shaffer, a farmer near Pine Village.
Politically, Mr. St. John has always been an uncompromising supporter of the Republican party, but has never been a seeker after the honors or emoluments of public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Daughters of Pocahontas at Pine Village. A man of pleasing personality, Mr. St. John has won and retains the friendship of all who know him.
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JOHN H. CRAWFORD.
It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forthi the praises of the historian or the cheers and the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things and very few are great in many things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve fame who before that had no reputation be- yond the limits of their neighborhoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among the citizens of Warren county, Indiana, who have achieved success along steady lines of action is the subject of this sketch.
John H. Crawford was born on June 22 1855, in Benton county, Indiana, and is the son of James and Nancy (Lemon) Crawford. The subject's paternal grandfather was numbered among the pioneers of Warren county, having come here in 1830 from Dayton, Ohio. James Crawford was born in Dayton, Ohio, on June 1, 1808, and died in October, 1867, while his wife, who was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on May 31, 1865. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are living. The father fol- lowed farming all his life and was fairly successful in his efforts.
The subject of this sketchi received a fairly good education in the com- mon schools and when old enough applied his efforts to farming, which has in the main been his life work. He is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred and twenty of which are in Warren county, In- diana, and the balance in Texas, while he and his wife jointly own four hun- dred and forty acres in Warren county. The land is practically all in culti- vation and Mr. Crawford has made many permanent and substantial im- provements and otherwise maintained the land at the highest standard of agricultural excellence. He is practical and progressive in his ideas, being willing to adopt new methods when their feasibility has been demonstrated by experience. He has followed a general line of farming and has given some attention to the raising of live stock.
Mr. Crawford has always taken a deep interest in the advancement of the community's best interests and was active in the organization of the Bank of Pence, which opened its doors for business in October, 1904. The bank has a capital of twenty thousand dollars and is numbered among the
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strong financial institutions of this part of the county, much of its remarkable success being due to the influence and personal efforts of Mr. Crawford.
On January 1, 1882, Mr. Crawford was married to Virginia C. Good- wine, who was born in Warren county on February 11, 1861. This union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, namely: Gladys, deceased : Nellie, Mrs. McLaughlin, lives in this county, her husband being a farmer ; Maude is the wife of Lew Carpenter, a farmer in this county ; Ruth is the wife of Hobart Sloan, of this county; Fred, deceased; Owen and Beulah are at home.
Politically, Mr. Crawford gives his support to the Republican party and at one time served his township as trustee. Fraternally, he is a Freemason, holding membership in the lodge at Hedrick. He is an active member of the Christian church, of which he is a trustee, and his liberal attitude towards the church is evidenced in the fact that the present edifice was built largely through his own generosity, he having been the largest contributor towards defraying its cost. He is a man among men, standing "four square to every wind that blows," and those who know him best esteem him the most highly.
ORA J. GOODWINE.
It is with a great degree of satisfaction to the biographer when he ad- verts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes, are still matters for the future to determine. For a number of years the subject of this sketch has directed his efforts towards the goal of success in Warren county and by patient continuance has won pronounced success.
Ora J. Goodwine, whose fine farm is located in Prairie township, War- ren county, was born in Jordan township, this county, on June 1, 1875. His father, Horace G. Goodwine, who was born near West Lebanon, Indiana. is now living in Lafayette, Indiana, and his mother, Mary A. (Briggs) Goodwine, who was born near West Lebanon, is now living in Danville, Illinois.
Ora J. Goodwine obtained his education in the common schools and was reared on his father's farm, on which he has spent practically all his life. He
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is now operating the place and because of his up-to-date methods and inde- fatigable industry, he is meeting with a very gratifying degree of success. The place presents an inviting appearance, the farm buildings and fences being kept in good repair, while the fertile soil produces abundant crops in response to his intelligent cultivation. He raises all the crops common to this locality and also gives some attention to the raising of live stock, which is a source of no small part of his income.
On October 24, 1897, Mr. Goodwine married Lenora Willette, who was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on July 4, 1877, the daughter of J. H. and Sarah (Zenor) Willette. Her parents removed to Warren county in 1887 and are still residents of the county. This union has been blessed in the birth of five children, namely: Buryl, born in 1898; Lucile, in 1902; Bernice, in 1904; Horace, in 1905; Gertrude, who was born in 1900, died in June, 1903.
Politically, Mr. Goodwine renders his allegiance to the Republican party on national issues, but in local elections he does not feel bound by party ties and votes for the men and the principles that meet with his approval. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Camp No. 3677, Modern Woodmen of America, at Ambia, Indiana. He and his wife are active and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They move in the best social circles of the neighborhood and are well liked by all who know them. Mr. Goodwine is an advocate of all movements having for their object the betterment of the community in any way.
JOHN M. MEEKER.
The prosperity and substantial welfare of a town or county are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of their business men. It is progressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real history of a community, and their influence in shaping and directing its varied interests is difficult to estimate. John M. Meeker, one of our worthiest native sons, most substantial agriculturists and widely known citizens, has long ranked among the leading men of affairs of Fountain county, and it is to such enter- prising spirits as he that this locality is indebted for its marked and continuous growth and for the high position it occupies as a center of agriculture, live stock and industrial activity. To Mr. Meeker also belongs the credit of hav- ing served his country faithfully during one of the greatest wars of which history has made record, and as a member of the gallant army that crushed the hosts of treason and made impossible any further recurrence of rebellion he is entitled to the respect and honor of every citizen living under the folds
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of the Stars and Stripes. He has always been held in the highest esteem by the people of this locality owing to his life of industry, public spirit and exemplary habits, and thus for many reasons he is eminently entitled to a conspicuous place in the pages of the present biographical compendium.
Mr. Meeker was born in Richland township, Fountain county, Indiana, November 6, 1839. He is the son of Usual H. and Sal (Dudley) Meeker, who came from the state of New York to Indiana when young and were married in Union county, Indiana. They lived in Darke county, Ohio, for some time, and from there removed to Fountain county, Indiana, in 1835, locating in Richland township on the old Stephen Voorhees farm. The country was then sparsely settled and little improved, and here they exper- ienced many of the hardships of pioneer life, but, persevering, they in time had a comfortable home and a good farm and were among the highly re- spected and influential citizens here of the earlier days. Grandfather Voor- hees raised Usual Meeker in Ohio. He procured forty acres which he settled on, clearing and developing it and followed farming all his life, also handled considerable live stock. In the family of Grandfather Mannon Meeker there were eleven children. Grandfather John Dudley had a family of six children. To Usual Meeker and wife nine children were born, namely: Jere- miah, who died in infancy; Sarah Angeline, now deceased, married Daniel Carpenter, and she became the mother of seven children; Mary Ellen died when three years of age; John M., of this sketch, was fourth in order of birth; Johanna, who married Henry B. Jones, is a widow; Jacob R. died in 1873; James died February 21, 1909; Miarah married Judge Bookwalter, of Danville, this state; Theodore Marston lives in Attica, Indiana.
John M. Meeker grew to manhood on the home farm and there he as- sisted with the general work when a boy, and he received a good practical education in the common schools. Early in life he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, which he has continued to follow with ever- increasing success to the present time, being still active, although well past his three score and ten years; but, having been a man of robust constitution and clean personal habits, he has retained his capacities to a remarkable de- gree and is hale and hearty, every faculty alert and as strong and virile as ever. He is now living in a beautiful and commodious home in the town of Veedersburg, to which he removed from his farm in 1902. He is the owner of one thousand acres of as fine land as the county affords, located in Foun- tain township, in the vicinity of Stone Bluff. It is under a high state of cul- tivation and improvement, for Mr. Meeker is a man of progressive ideas along farming lines as well as general citizenship and he has not been slow to
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adopt modern methods of agriculture, having made a careful study of every- thing that pertains to his vocation. He has added new buildings from time to time on his place until he now has a splendid set, including a large and con- venient dwelling. He has handled live stock of various kinds in large num- bers, making a specialty. of Duroc-Jersey hogs. He has accumulated a hand- some competency through his close application and good management, and is at this writing the largest taxpayer in Fountain county. He has been president of the Shawnee Telephone Company since it was first organized, ten or twelve years ago.
Mr. Meeker was married, first, in 1864, to Amanda McClain, daughter of Robert and Jane McClain, of Virginia, who came here among the early pioneers. To the subject and his first wife nine children were born, namely : Euree married Joseph L. Remster, of Stone Bluff; Eva is deceased; Joie mar- ried Sam Leath, of Attica; the fourth child died in infancy ; Anna, deceased, married William Madigan, of Veedersburg; Tabitha married George Stucker ; Holford lives at Stone Bluff; Edna married Stephen J. Foster, of Richland township; the youngest is deceased.
The wife and mother passed away in 1883, and in 1884 Mr. Meeker was united in marriage with Jennie Wright, daughter of Josepli and Mar- garet Wright, also of Virginia, though Mrs. Wright was born in Indiana. The Wright family was of Irish descent. Three children were born to the subject and his last wife, namely: The first two died in infancy; Juanita, who married Professor Morgan, of Danville, Illinois, a son of Judge Morgan, lives at home.
Mr. Meeker has been a trustee of Union Christian College at Merom, Indiana, for the past twenty years, and his influence has been strong for its upbuilding and general prestige. He has been a member of the advisory board since there has been one. He is a member of the Christian church at Sterling and is secretary of the congregation, in fact, has long been one of the pillars and liberal supporters of the same. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he has sought to carry its high precepts into his every-day life. Politically, he is a Republican, and while he has always been most loyal to its principles, he has never been much of a public man, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his extensive farming industry. He had the honor of casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, the day he was twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Meeker responded to the call for troops to save the Union, and on August 9, 1862, enlisted in Company H, Seventy-second Mounted Infantry, and he saw considerable hard service in many an important engagement in
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the Army of the Cumberland, under Capt. R. B. Hanna. He was honorably discharged and mustered out in 1863, and is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. ITis son, Holford Meeker, is a veteran of the Spanish- American war, having enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in 1901.
The Meekers have always ranked among the leading families of Foun- tain county and vicinity.
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