USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 47
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On January 18, 1877, William D. Slusser was married to Mary C. Meek, the daughter of John Meek. Her father was a native of Owen county, Indiana, who came to Fountain county in an early day and here fol- lowed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Slusser became the parents of three children, namely : Almeda, the wife of Henry Leighty, lives near her father; Alena is
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the wife of Walter Hayworth and lives on an adjoining farm; Charles T. is a mechanic and automobile man. Mrs. Slusser died on October 13, 1910.
Politically, Mr. Slusser is a Democrat on national issues, though in local elections he votes for the man he decis best qualified for office. He has never been an office seeker, but has been prevailed upon to serve several terms as supervisor of Richiland towaship, in which position he rendered satisfactory service. Fraternally, Mr. Slusser has been a Mason for fifty-six years, being the oldest living initiate of liis lodge. He and his wife also joined the Order of the Eastern Star. In every relation of life Mr. Slusser has been true to his highest ideals and today uo man in his community stands higher in public estimation than he, for he has at all times stood for the best things in life and for the advancement of the community along all lines.
JOHN C. NERN.
The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now called, one of the best known farmers of Prairie township, Warren county, Indiana, and one of the community's most representative citizens-John C. Nern-was not favored by great inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this, by perseverance, industry and a wise economy, he has at- tained a comfortable station in life. His career is one that should encourage others to press on to greater achievements. When he started out in life on his own account, he set to work to overcome all difficulties that inight lay in his path to success, and the comfortable competency and the high standing which he now enjoys is the result. Earnest perseverance, careful management and a willingness to work even in the face of obstacles-these are the ele- ments which brought him prosperity, and while he has labored for his own advancement he has at the same time ever been vigilant in his efforts to for- ward the general interests of the cominunity.
John C. Nern was born on December 15, 1856, in Prairie township, War- ren county, within two miles of his present home and he has never lived at a greater distance from his birthplace. His father, John Nern, was born on February 26, 1828, in Prussia, and in 1849 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Berks county, Pennsylvania. In 1852 he came to Warren county, Indiana, where he remained until his death, which occurred on June 6, 1910. The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Anna Barberg, was born September 18, 1830, in Baden, Germany. About 1854 she came to
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Williamsport, Indiana, and here, in 1855, she met and married Mr. Nern. They began their married life here in a' very modest way, having as their capital stock or earthly possessions only their native German honesty, in- dustry and intelligence. But these elements were the secrets of their success and eventually they became the owners of two hundred and eighty acres of im- proved land, besides a good home. They became the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. Two brothers, Conrad and Frank, are now living near the subject, aud two brothers died in childhood. Mrs. Anna Nern is now making her home with her son Conrad.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Prairie township and as soon as he was old enough he assisted in the labors of the home farm. He remained with his father until he was married, when he started out in life on his account, receiving at that time some assistance from his father, as was the German custom. With this small start, the young couple energetically went to work to acquire a good farm and home, and eventually their efforts were crowned with success, as their present valuable property attests. He has exercised good judgment in his business affairs, his investments having been wisely made. During his boyhood land near him could be bought for eight dollars per acre, and he bought his home farm at forty dollars. The same lands are now held at from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars per acre. He has been active himself in en- couraging and assisting in the improvements which have brought about this remarkable increase in values.
On April 24, 1881, Mr. Nern was united in marriage with Mary A. Fry, a native of Warren county, born October 30, 1856, and the daughter of George and Margaret (Kuhns) Fry, who were of German nativity, having emigrated from the fatherland to the United States, locating in Pennsyl- vania, and coming to Warren county in 1854. They were closely identified with the development of this locality, having as pioneers done much material work in clearing the land and breaking the prairie soil. Mrs. Nern obtained a common school education and in her girlhood took an active part in the work of development, having frequently assisted in the work of the fields. To Mr. and Mrs. Nern have been born nine children, of whom six are living. namely : William H., Frank, Rose E., now Mrs. Robert Turner, Charley, Roy and Earl. The first four are married and have homes of their own, while Roy and Earl are still with their father. On August 10, 1912, Mrs. Nern passed to the silent land, at the age of fifty-five years, seven months and nine days, having been preceded in death by three children, Carrie, in 1892, aged
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three years; George, in 1897, aged one year, and Anna, in 1911, aged twenty one years.
Mr. Nern and his wife were formerly members of the Presbyterian church, but usually affiliate with and assist the Locust Grove 'Methodist Episcopal church, it-being in the neighborhood of their home. Politically, Mr. Nern is a Democrat, having been reared in that faith and holding to its principles. His own business affairs have demanded all his time and he has never sought public office. He takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, having been at all times an advocate of public improvements and has taken a leading part in road building in the township. He is a man of inflexible integrity and because of the genuine worth of his character he has earned and retains the high regard of all who know him.
BOLIVAR ROBB.
Practically all of his life the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Warren county, Indiana, and that he is entitled to be numbered among its true pioneers is evident when we revert to the fact that he has now attained to the age of eighty-six years. His life has been one of signal usefulness and honor, and his memory links the early pioneer epoch, with its primitive surroundings and equipments, inseparably with this later era of prosperity and achievement and conditions which have marked the first decades of the glorious twentieth century. As a representative citizen of the county and one of its pioneers, it is incumbent that we enter this review of the life history of Mr. Robb.
Bolivar Robb was born near Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, on April 29, 1826, and is the oldest living member of his father's family, the other sur- vivors being William W., who lives near Williamsport, and Howard, of near Sioux City,-Iowa. There were five boys and two girls in the family. The subject's father, William Robb, entered a traet of government land just north of Williamsport in 1832, and there the children were reared. He was a man of marked mental ability and had served as associate editor of news- papers in Nashville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, and other places. After coming to Warren county he took a leading part in organizing the county and was its first treasurer and its second sheriff.
The subject distinctly remembers many of the incidents of that pioneer period when he, as a young man, witnessed the growth of a new common-
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wealth. It was in 1827, when he was but one year old, that the family came to Warren county, the Scotch-Irish hardihood and determination of his parentage being evident in their willingness to endure the hardships and privations of the frontier in order that they might secure a home. The sub- ject remembers his parents' statement that at that time they came through what later became Indianapolis and that what is now Washington street in that city was then only a inuddy ox path, full of fallen trees. His earliest playmates here were Indian boys of the Kickapoo tribe, of which Pesqua was then chief. Mr. Robb became acquainted with the first white man to live in Warren county, he having located in 1800 at Independence. At that time Indians and wild animals swarmed the woods and prairies. The building of the Covington bridge was a great event and Mr. Robb was the first person to ride a horse over the structure. Because of their early poverty, he was denied the protection of boots in winter and many times was compelled to walk through snow barefooted. There was but little money in circulation and practically all purchases were by exchange. Men often worked in summer and winter alike dressed in linen pants and shirts, cowhide boots and home- made straw or grass hats. His father imported the first sleep into this county. The early harness was made of a combination of leather and hickory bark. These and many other features of those pioneer days are indelibly impressed on Mr. Robb's mind and he is a very interesting conversationalist to one who is interested in the past history of the community.
Mr. Robb's early educational training was obtained in a little log school house, after which he took a special course in Wabash College (1843), but the failing financial affairs of his father compelled his return home and the re- linquishment of further plans for education. He engaged in teaching school, which work he followed for six years. He received what was then con- sidered high pay for a teacher, fifty dollars for a term of sixty-five days, and board himself, board costing one dollar per week. He was one of the very first college students from Warren county.
Mr. Robb during his active years always followed farming) and was numbered among the hard-working and successful farmers of his section of the county. He has been retired from active labor for many years and is now enjoying that rest which he has so richly earned.
Politically, Mr. Robb has voted the Democratic ticket for sixty-five years, but has never held public office aside from that of justice of the peace and trustee of Washington township, which latter office he accepted at the or- ganization of the township at the magnificent salary of three dollars per year,
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anl at that time he superintended the building of a school house, the con- struction of roads, and much other work of a similar nature. Religiously, he has been a member of the Christian church for seventy years.
Mr. Robb was first married on July 28, 1850, to Sarah Acus, an orphan girl born in Ohio. Three years later Mrs. Robb died, her two children hay- ing preceded her in death. On December 7, 1856, Mr. Robb married Sa- linda Crawford, the daughter of William A. and Letitia Crawford, her birth having occurred on April 18, 1836. To them was born one child on January 10, 1863, Clara Jane, who was married in 1884 and died in 1887, leaving no living children.
Thus has been recited in brief the life story of one of our honored early settlers, whose individual career and the history of his locality are closely interwoven. He has come down to us from the days of the first settlers and has played well his part in the general work of transforming the country from a wild prairie to what it is today, one of the choice agricultural sections of the Union. Through all these years he has held the confidence and respect of the people with whom he has mingled and who have esteemed him be- cause of his genuine worth.
JAMES W. KING.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost agriculturists of Warren township, Warren county, and has by his enterprise and pro- gressive methods contributed to the advancement of the community. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in his work and is well deserving of mention in the biographical department of this work.
James W. King is the son of James and Sarah E. (Adams) King and his birth occurred at Attica, Indiana, on March 13, 1862. He attended the public schools of his home town during his boyhood, his vacation periods being spent in work on the home farm. At the age of seventeen years he was hired out to his uncle, with whom he remained until he had attained his majority. He then began working on his own account and with the end in view of becoming himself the owner of a farm, he practiced not only the most assidous industry but also the most rigid economy. By thus husbanding his income and working every day, he at length found himself the owner of a fine farm in Warren township. He is now the owner of two hundred and fourteen aeres of as good land as can be found in the township, the farm
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lying along the Independence road. He is a thoroughly practical agricultur- ist and neglects no detail of his work, the result being that he is reaping boun- tiful harvests from year to year. He has a neat and attractive residence and commodious and conveniently arranged farm buildings, while the general appearance of the place favorably impresses the passerby. In addition to tilling the soil, Mr. King gives some attention to the raising of live stock, with very satisfactory results.
Mr. King was united in marriage with Sarah Deisch, of Pern, Indiana, whose parents were natives of Germany. To this union have been born three children, Marie, Ida and Nellie, besides whom Mr. and Mrs. King are rearing Charles King, a son of his brother, W. B. King.
Fraternally, Mr. King is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his church relations are with the Baptists, to which he con- tributes of his time and means. He is a man of fine personal character and his life record here has been such as to win for him the sincere respect of all who know him.
EDWARD NIERENGARTEN. 1
It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environment, re- inoves one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and by the master strokes of his own force and vitality succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a competency and a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record of the popular citizen of Liberty township to a brief synopsis of whose life the following lines are devoted.
Edward Nierengarten is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born at Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 11, 1876, and he is the son of Peter and Mary (Kenny) Nierengarten. Peter Nierengarten, who was a mason by trade, came to Warren county, Indiana, about a quarter of a cen- tury ago and liere he entered upon the business of mason contracting, in which he was fairly successful. He was the father of fourteen children, of which number the subject of this sketch is the thirteenth in order of birth.
The subject secured part of his education in the schools of Ohio, com- pleting his studies after his removal to Indiana. The family being a large one, he was under the necessity of looking out for himself in a measure and
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during the school vacations he obtained employment as a farm hand, later being employed at the hotels at the springs. He was industrious and prac- ticed the most rigid economy so that eventually he was enabled to start in the mercantile business on a small scale. He was successful from the start and by judicious management of his affairs he has increased his stock as his patronage has increased until today he commands the largest trade in his line in the township. Courteous in his treatment of his customers, and being controlled by honest principles, he has won the friendship of all who have had dealings with him.
On August 10, 1909, Mr. Nierengarten was united in marriage with Maud Leslie, the daughter of Levi Leslie, and they are the parents of one child, Roy.
Politically. Mr. Nierengarten supports the Democratic party, while, re- ligiously, he is, favorably inclined to the Presbyterian church, to which his wife belongs. He is a man of fine personal qualities of character and is eminently deserving of the enviable position he has reached in the estimation of those who know him.
JOHN F. JUDY.
In the past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of com- mercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The con- quests now made are those of mind over matter and the victor is he who can most successfully establish, control and operate commercial interests. Mr. Judy is unquestionably one of the strongest and most influential men whose lives have been an essential part of the history of Warren county, and, indeed, of the western section of the state. Tireless energy, keen perception, hon- esty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, are the chief characteristics of the man. These, combined with everyday common sense and guided by a strong will power, are concomitants which will insure success in any undertaking.
John F. Judy was born near London, Madison county, Ohio, March 18, 1856. The father, the late Skillman Judy, was born in the same county and state, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Hunter, is now re- siding in Williamsport, Indiana. John F. Judy attended only part terms of school in several counties of Indiana and Illinois, as his parents moved often.
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JOHN F. JUDY.
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He went to the high school at Attica, Indiana, just sixty days, his last sche ing ; soon afterwards he had the best certificate that Indiana gave to sch teachers. He had done his studying in the corn fields at noons and night- He taught school for five years and liked most what were then called his bad boys and girls. They gave him something to work on -- life and snap. He never boarded away from home. He saved his money. He went a hundred miles and bought a carload of cattle, shipped them home and sold them to the then wealthiest man in the county, making more money out of that load of cat- tle than he did out of a year's teaching, so that he did not sleep good for a whole week from the awful strain of prosperity. He just waked up good and bought more cattle, and more cattle, turning hundreds annually and keeping about three hundred in stock, and making money.
Mr. Judy's land is now worth two hundred dollars an acre. It became too valuable for grazing and Judy's business left him a farmer, which he had been all the time on rented lands. He had buyers for his work horses and his farm supplies. He made two prices, cash and time. He soon found himself short of things farmers used, and became of necessity a buyer of stuff to be used later, horses and everything a farmer uses, until the supply on hand, now about two hundred horses and two hundred wagons and buggies, are bought in car lots. Of leather, he buys a thousand dollars' worth at a time to supply the harness shop, where seven hundred dollars' worth of machinery turns out harness for the market.
The business has reached an average daily sale of nearly two thousand dollars. Mr. Judy's regular sale days at Judyville have been Wednesdays and Fridays for thirty years. Mortgages and notes have reached a bulk of twelve fect in height. if they were piled one note on top of another. A note or payment is due every twenty minutes during business hours. Mr. Judy never peddles, trades or discounts a customer's note, but keeps the note until he can pay it, one to ten or more years. He will not take a note he does not give the maker a chance to pay if he tries.
Some of the important characteristics of the subject of this sketch are revealed in the following memoranda penned by himself. He says :
"If he lets a man get into debt. and he fails, it is the taker's failure as much. often more, than the maker.
"He believes he has the best farm in the good state of Indiana, con- sidering size, and he would be glad to know of the next best, or a better one, if any, worth more than two hundred dollars per acre. Sixteen hundred acres in the Judyville farm, besides several thousand acres of cheaper land scattered over the United States and Canada.
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"He never misses a discount nor lets a note run past due with his name on it, if the holder wants the money. He never puts up collateral or security for the use of money ; there never has been a mortgage put upon record signed by John F. Judy.
"Mr. Judy uses no stimulants whatever; he says he does not need them, not even a cup of coffee. He can go all the time without other than mental stimulants; they are the cheapest and most practical. Regular in habits; can go to sleep in the car seat before the train can get out of town if it is after nine p. m. He has spent the first Monday in every month (that is, regularly) in Lafayette, Indiana, for thirty years, with not a single exception. Yet, he could not take a long trip in the United States, Mexico, Canada or Cuba without going over a railroad on which he has already traveled. He has been in all of the big cities of the above named four countries, besides travel- ing upon the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
"He enjoys good, solid reading. He does a lot of work and is not par- ticular as to the kind of work, if it is within the line of his purpose. He enjoys travel, but enjoys his work most and says the best part of every good trip is to get home again to work. He is rich in good health and is too busy with good things and the hope of good things, to consider bad things or bad prospects, further than as a guide to his own actions. He does not worry about the bad or anything that goes wrong, and is uniformly and consistently hapy, being too busy pulling on good things to open any door to let in the bad.
"He never lets a day pass that he does not reach out to the right or to the left of the path of life he is traveling, and pluck a flower or a fruit or a some- thing from nature's store, that gives some happiness for that day. Realizing that the path is sure to be thorny part of the time, he knows, as all thinking people know, that happiness may not always he directly in front of them, but there is a lot of good on either side of the path. . And Mr. Judy educates his arm to reach out, and his thought as well, and grasp some of the good things of life each day. His well developed mental reach and healthy arm (and body) are his greatest source of happiness.
"He believes 'dollar chasing,' of which he knows something, as a side line to a practical education and to the growth of a well developed body, is as good a game as bridge, euchre, horse racing, gambling, foot-ball or politics, of which he knows less, besides it is as good a developer."
Mr. Judy pays two hundred dollars a day for help, more than a thousand dollars a day for goods and horses and more than one dollar an hour for tax.
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While that is small compared with city wealth or corporation income, he is but one man, a farmer, on the land where he has always been. He has brought the town, postoffice and the railroad to him, instead of he going to them. The "Judy system" sale of autos will reach about two hundred for 1912.
Mr. Judy says his greatest wealth is his physical and mental develop- ment, which enables him to do things and to get things done. It matters little to him, whether others call it great or small. It is as big as lic is. While his principal purpose now is his health and mental growth, "dollar chasing" is his game, and with his purpose, his duty and diversion, he is spurred to health-giving action in chasing dollars and other things.
Mr. Judy has at various times owned fifty or more stores, livery stables and banks, coal mines and factories, as many as twenty stores at one time. He has made the Judyville business bigger and reduced the others to helpers, not branches. He has owned banks and been a partner in banks (his only partnership), stockholder and president, all for a bank education. Having gotten the education and experience he wanted in banking, he preferred to run his own business, rather than have a board of directors run a part of it for him. He would rather fail and know why, than to succeed and not know why or how he succeeded.
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