USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 25
USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 25
USA > Indiana > Parke County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 25
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Tyre L. Hanna received his education in the common schools, and on attaining his majority entered the Franklin College at Franklin, Ind., from which institution he graduated in 1860. During the last year of his school life, he pursned his studies and at the same time acted as teacher. After completing his education our subject turned his attention to the stock business, which pursuit he followed for two years, and late in 1863 opened a store of merchandise, in which line of business he has remained ever since.
The year 1880 marked an era in the life of Mr. Hanna, as his marriage with Miss Cornelia K. Kleiser occurred at that time. To them have been born two daughters, who bid fair to grace the so- cial position which their father as a man of influ- ence and standing can give them. During the "late unpleasantness" Mr. Hanna enlisted in Com- pany B, Seventy-eighth Regiment Indiana In- fantry, but was only in service for sixty days. He has always been active in political life, adopting the Republican standard and adhering to the prin- ciples of his party with all the force of a strong and energetic character. He has served as a Coun- ty Commissioner for six years, in which position he received the warm congratulations of his friends for the broad and intelligent manner in which he filled the office, and the respect of his opponents for the manliness and spirit displayed in his official capacity. He is of a bright, frank, genial nature, a man liberal in views and acts. He has acquired his present condition in the busi- ness, social and public life of Waveland through
strict attention to the highest morality, honesty and integrity, and by diligent attention to those duties which tend to make a man a good and use- ful citizen. He has always been closely identified with the best interests of the community, and his ability to cope with details is recognized by every one with whom he comes in contact.
To the poor and needy, Mr. Hanna always ex- tends a helping hand, and the fact that fortune has smiled on his own efforts does not keep him from sympathizing with and assisting the less fortunate. The accumulation of wealth too often contracts the heart of mankind and imbues the fortunate with a spirit of selfishness which eradi- cates many admirable traits. Happy is he whose qualities of heart and mind admit of the generous feelings that endear him to his more humble neighbors. Such a man is he whose biography we have here briefly sketched, and it is to be hoped that he may be long spared to his home and the community in which he is so well known and esteemed so highly.
LEXANDER McHARGUE is one of the old settlers and prominent farmers of Union Township, Parke County. Ile was born on Horse Creek, Lawrence County, Ky., August 2, 1829 and is a son of James Mc- Hargue, a native of Carter County, Tenn., his birth having occurred January 11, 1805. When only an infant of two years he was taken by his parents to Kentucky, in which State he was reared to manhood. Our subject's paternal grandfather, who was born in South Carolina, bore the Chris- tian name of Alexander, and was in turn the son of one Alexander, a native of Ireland, of Scotch- Irish descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Phobe Arnold, was born in Carter County, Tenn., in 1808, being a daughter of Julius Arnold, whose birth also occurred in Tennessee. The marriage of James and Phoebe McHargue was cele-
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brated in Whitley County, Ky., and soon after they removed to Laurel County, of the same State, where they resided upon a farm until the year 1830, when they emigrated to Greene County, Ind. Thence they went to Coles County, Ill., but later returned to Greene County, Ind., and finally back to Laurel County, Ky., where the mother died at the age of thirty-three years. Our sub- jeet's father thien returned to Parke County, Ind., locating in Jackson Township, where he made his home until called from this life, at the age of eighty-five years. By his first union, he had a family of seven children, two daughters and five sons, and after the death of our subject's mother he married again.
Alexander Mellargue, whose name heads this sketch, is the second child and eldest son in his father's family. He was in his eighteenth year when he came to Parke County, having received his education prior to this in his native State. Landing in this county in 1847, he raised a erop by the next year, and in 1849 commenced to learn the carpenter's trade with N. Smock. He worked for six years at the business, building houses and barns in different parts of the county. Our sub- jeet located on his present farm, where he now resides, in 1856. At that time few improvements had been made and there was only a small log cabin on the place. The farm comprises one hun- dred and seventy-two and one-half aeres on sec- tions 34 and 35, most of which are under good enltivation. "Mr. MeHargue engages in general farming and stock-raising and his career as an agriculturist has been marked with success.
In August, 1862, the gentleman of whom we write enlisted in the defense of the Union, becom- ing a member of Company C, Sixth Indiana Cav- alry. He was in service for nine months, partici- pating in a number of hard-fought battles. He was finally discharged on account of disability. Formerly he was a Whig, but is now a staneh Re- publican. He is a thoroughly honorable and wor- thy man, one who has the entire respect and good- will of his neighbors.
On January 18, 1855, was celebrated the mar- riage of our subject and Miss Sarah Ann Martin, whose birth occurred in Union Township, of this
county, January 22, 1833. Her father, William B. Martin, a native of South Carolina. emigrated to this county in 1821. Ilis father, whose given name was John, had entered land the previous year in Union Township. The latter, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. The mother of Mrs. McHargue, whose maiden name was Harriet Kal- ley, was born in New York State, and came with her father, Daniel Kalley, to this county about the year 1822. The marriage of our worthy sub- ject and wife has been blessed with a family of two children. James B. married Sally B. Shouchs and makes his home with our subject. The other son, Jolin C. F., married Margaret Martin, and is a resident of Jackson Township.
E LIJAH EARL, a valued citizen of Attica, and for over thirty years a prominent agri- culturist of Fountain County, Ind., long since won the confidence and esteem of the entire community among whom he dwelt by the wise administration of his duties as Justice of the Peace, an official position which he held for twenty-nine consecutive years. During this long term of faith- ful service, the numerous and varied cases which came before him ever received his prompt and ju- dicial attention, and so sensible were his rulings and decisions, that the litigants seldom carried their cases to a higher court.
Our subject and his parents were American-born, but his paternal grandfather was an Englishman, who early emigrated to this country and took an active part in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Earl brought with him from old England his fam- ily, also a goodly store of enterprise and courage. In attempting to run the gauntlet of the enemy's blockade with a valuable cargo of molasses and sugar, he was captured, but he survived the perils of those troublous days and reared a family of hardy children, one of whom, James, the father of our subject, was born in Fredericksburgh, Md.,
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in 1795. Having reached man's estate, James Earl married Miss Mary B. Adams, a native of Ken- tucky, and born in 1797, where Bardstown now stands.
The father and mother of Elijah Earl settled in Ohio at an early day, and in Seneca County, of the Buckeye State, our subject was born, January 27, 1828. He was the sixth in a family of ten children, and was but four years old when his par- ents, emigrating to the westward, located in Tippe- canoe County, Ind., which portion of the State the chronicles of 1830 especially recommended to the settlers of that time, as containing much good and fertile land. Elijah was educated in the subscrip- tion schools of the county, and there grew to man- hood. In 1856, our subject was married to Miss Salome Crouse, the daughter of David H. and Rachael (Gelwicks) Crouse. Mrs. Earl's father was a native of Mechanicsburgh, Pa., where he was born in 1809. Her mother's birthplace was Chambersburgh, Pa., and the time of her birth was 1814.
Mrs. Earl, who was the eldest in a family of five children, two brothers and two sisters, can claim a distinguished ancestry. Her great-grandfather be- longed to the royal family of his native land, Saxony, Germany, and when he emigrated to Amer- ica brought with him ample means to establish him- self well in life. Among the members of the family who accompanied Otho Kraus to the New World was his little son, Justus, afterward the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Earl. Justus II. Kraus was a child when he crosssed the stormy Atlantic with his parents, and settled in Maryland, where the fam- ily resided for a time, later, in 1858, locating per- manently in Pennsylvania, which then gathered many of the wealthiest and most refined citizens within its borders.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl soon after their marriage set- tled in Warren County, but later removed to their present home. The valuable farm of one hun- dred and eighty acres upon which they reside has been brought to a high state of cultivation by its present owner. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Earl has been blessed by the birth of a large family of thirteen children, all of whom are now surviving, and six of whom still brighten the home with
their presence. The sons and daughters who have gone out from the home cirele to found homes of their own, and who are each and all useful and honored citizens, are Mary R., Victoria S., William II. and Arthur C., all four of whom are residents of California, William H. occupying a prominent position as Civil Engineer in Lassen County. The next two sons, Q. A. and M. E., are residents of Tippecanoe County, Ind., the latter being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Jennie, the wife of Arthur S. Bass, is lo- cated at Armstrong, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Earl are active members of the Presbyterian Church, and both within and outside that organization are known as possessing an intelligent liberality and deep interest in all important matters of the day. They and their family of bright, energetic chil- dren are prominent social factors in the success of benevolent and religious enterprises in Attica. In 186I our subject became a Justice of the Peace by a large majority, while Lincoln carried the pre- cinet by one vote. In the succeeding twenty-eight years his elections were carried by an almost un- animous vote, a tribute to the ability and honest impartiality which ever distinguished his various legal decisions.
ARON FAUST, who lives on his farm on section 32, South Union Township, is one of the oldest residents of Montgomery County, a son of one of its early settlers, and himself a pioneer. He is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Bucks County October 19, 1807, one of eight children, five of whom grew to ma- turity, and of whom he and his brother Reuben, a resident of Darlington, are the only survivors.
The father of our subject, George Faust, was also born in Bucks County, the year 1770 the date of his birth, and there he was reared, and in due time was married to Mary Poll. In 1816 he re- moved to Butler County and engaged in farming on rented land. June 1, 1817, he had the mis-
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fortune to lose his wife by her untimely death. In October, 1825, he cast his lot with the pioneers who were opening up the wilds of Indiana for set- tlement. Accompanied by his family, the journey was made with wagons, as there were no railways in those days. But few had preceded Mr. Faust in his migration to these parts, and he was one of the first to locate in Montgomery County, select- ing a suitable situation for his future home on section 28, South Union Township, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land of the Government. He subsequently bought other land, and at the time of his death owned one hundred and thirty acres, besides having purchased and given eighty acres to his son, our subject. Mr. Fanst, who was of German origin, adhered to the Lutheran faith and was a conscientious member of the church. lIe exerted a good influence in the community, as is shown by the following instance: In the early days of the settlement of the country it was cus- tomary to have whisky at log-rollings. Observ- ing the baleful influence it had on his friends and neighbors, on one such occasion he mounted a pile of logs, and in an earnest speech made the bold proposition that the liquor be no more used at their gatherings. Many of his neighbors told him that no one would assist him to build his house, eut his oats, or help him in any work that they were wont to do together if he did not provide the intoxicant. But when the time came for help from others they were all there, and they worked so well without the stimulus of the liquor that none was used on such occasions from that day forth. Mr. Faust was a Whig in politics. He was always interested in all modern improvements, favored the construction of the railway in this vicinity, and watched its progress intently, but did not live to witness its completion, dying two days before that important event.
Aaron Faust was eighteen years of age when his father came to this county, and this has been his home ever since. He can look back over the long period of sixty-seven years that he has dwelt in this region to the time when it was a vast wild- erness, where Indians still made their home and panthers, wolves and other wild animals abounded. The first night after his arrival here our subject
had a little adventure in hunting deer that he has never forgotten. He and his brother-in-law, ac- companied by a neighbor, went to a deer lick to shoot some deer. They ensconsed themselves be- hind a large log, and the neighbor and brother-in- law were soon asleep. After lying awhile, Mr. Faust heard something moving in the tree above him. He nudged the slumberers, who said " Shut up, you damn fool, go to sleep." As they completed this sententious advice, a fearful scream was heard, and looking up a big panther was in the branches of the tree. They all fired, but the animal escaped, as it was not light enough to see to take good aim.
The log house that the Fausts built for their home was somewhat superior in some respects to the primitive pioneer structures in which some of the settlers lived, as it had a puncheon instead of a dirt floor, glass in the windows, and a roof made of clapboards. Our subject lived with his father until his marriage in 1830 to Miss Sarah Byrd, a daughter of George and Mary Byrd, of Warren County, Ohio, their marriage taking place in her native State. He then returned to Indiana with his bride, and they made their new home on the eiglity acres of land given him by his father in Union Township, where he still lives. Ile was pros- pered in his calling, increased the area of his farm to two hundred and twenty acres by subsequent purchase, and has a competency that enables him to live in retirement from active business. Al- though he has passed the milestone that marks a long life of eighty-five years, his mind is remark- ably clear and sound for one of his venerable age. Ile has been temperate and upright in his habits, and is deservedly held in great respect. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and in politics clings to the Democratic party.
Mr. Faust's first wife died in April. 1847. Of their six children three are living: Mary, wife of Thomas Serface, of Piatt County, III .; George B., a resident of Crawfordsville; and John M., of Union Township. August 14, 1848, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Crane, danghter of Simeon Crane, one of the pioneer teachers of Indiana. He settled south of the home of J. L. Davis at an early day, and he and his wife
Alexander Buchanan
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reared a large family of children. Mrs. Faust de- parted this life in 1886, leaving one daughter, Sarah, wife of James F. Keplinger. She is de- ceased.
LEXANDER BUCHANAN for forty-five years has been Justice of the Peace in Washington Township, Parke County. Politically he was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, of which he was one of the charter members. At the time of his father's death, which occurred on March 29, 1838, our subject came into possession of the old homestead, which consisted of about three hundred and twenty acres, and to this he, with his son Joseph, has added two hundred and eighty acres. As a farmer his career has been very successful and he has laid up sufficient to surround his de- clining years with every comfort. lle was born in the year 1813, in Mercer County, Ky., and is the son of James and Margaret (McCampbell) Bu- chanan.
The father was a son of George and Margaret (McAfee) Buchanan, the former of whom was born in Virginia. The Buchanan and McAfee families both had representatives in the Revolutionary War. George Buchanan was a Whig in politics and was engaged in battle with the Indians several times. Ile was reared under the old roof-tree, but having a step-mother he started out to make his own living when quite young. He had but one own brother, David, who died when young, but had two half-brothers, William and John. In his native State he married the daughter of James McAfec, and shortly after went to Kentucky, where he entered Government land in Mercer County. His death occurred about the year 1812, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, which he helped to establish in Mercer County. Ile reared a family of ten children, of whom James was the oldest, the others being John, Alexander, George, Polly (Mrs. William Provine), Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Carr),
Jane (Mrs. James McCampbell), Ann (wife of Joseph Woods), Naney (Mrs. Thomas Gilkerson), and Dorcas, wife of Joseph Woods, who is a cousin of Mrs. Ann Woods' husband.
Our subject's father was born in Virginia and went to Kentucky when about eighteen years of age, living with his uncle McAfee. He purchased land in Mercer County and followed farming during his life-time, though he was in the milling business for a short time with his brother. He was first married in Kentucky, when Rebecca Armstrong became his wife. They had four children: Mar- garet, wife of Mathiew. Taylor; John, George and Robert, all deceased. After the death of this wife Mr. Buchanan married the lady who became our subject's mother. Of her three children, two died in infancy, and our subject is the only survivor. The father left Kentucky, and on his arrival in Parke County, entered land of the Government, this being in 1820. The following year, in October, he brought his family in wagons to the place which was his home until his death, March 29, 1838. Ile was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, as was his family for generations past. He was a man of intelligence, had a good education for those days of limited advantages, and was a Whig in politics.
The gentleman of whom this is a brief biography lived with his parents until their death. Ile was married, in 1839, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Ben- jamnin and Margaret (Youel) Allen, who were natives of the Old Dominion, while Mrs. Buchanan came from the Blue Grass region. The Allen family were early settlers of this county, to which they came about the year 1831, settling in this vieinity. Four children came to bless the heartli- stone of our subject: Joseph C .; Elizabeth J., wife of John MeMutry; William Y., who wedded Mary Mitchell; and one who died in infancy. Joseph, the eldest son, who in 1865 was chosen as County Surveyor by the Republicans and held this impor- tant position for two years, was married, in 1874, to Miss Eliza E. McCampbell. She was the daugh- ter of John M. and Nancy A. McCampbell, natives of Kentucky and Parke County, Ind., respectively, while Mrs. Buchanan was born in this county. They have had three children. One died in early
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childhood and the others are William W. and James C. Elizabeth lives within a few miles of her father's home and has a little son and daugh- ter: Walter D. and Mary E. William, the young- est of the family, lives on a portion of the old homestead. which he farms, and has one child, Freddie A. The sons, like their father, are stal- wart Republicans and are influential citizens of the community in which their home is made.
AMES MILTON LIVENGOOD, who resides on section 31, Cain Township, is a native- born son of Fountain County, and is classed among its most worthy citizens. He is a son of the Rev. John P. Livengood, and a grand- son of Thomas Livengood, both of whom were well known among the pioneer settlers of this county. The Rev. John P. Livengood was born in 1819 in Davidson County, N. C., which was also the birthplace of his father. The family, however, was of German origin. The grandfather of our subject was a wheelwright by trade, and he also manufactured chairs and reels. Ile finally left his old home with his family, and, coming to Indiana, settled in its primeval forests and made a new home for himself and his dear ones. He first located on land on section 16, Jackson Town- ship, but he afterward purchased land on another section in the same township, and there passed his remaining days, clearing a goodly farm with the aid of his children. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was a truly consistent Christian. His first wife was Eva Shuler, a daughter of Peter Shuler, a pioneer of the county in which his son-in-law was born. Thomas Livengood's second marriage was with Elizabeth Keeling.
Rev. John Livengood was the eldest of his fa- ther's seventeen children. Ilis early years were passed in his native county, and there he obtained his schooling, but he was mainly self-educated. Before he attained to manhood he came to this
county with: his father, and was of great assist- ance to him in the hard pioneer labor necessitated in hewing out a farm from the wilderness. He was of a religious nature, was strongly drawn to the ministry, and gave himself to earnest study to qualify himself to preach. He became an influen- tial minister of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was active in his holy calling until his death, which occurred October 7, 1859, in Mont- gomery County, Ind. His mortal remains were deposited in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church, in Franklin Township. His first wife was Lurana, a daughter of Christian Myers. His second wife was Martha Jane Keeting; his third was Elizabeth M., a daughter of John Gunther; and his fourth wife was Christina, a daughter of Mathias Sap- penfield. By the first marriage there were two children: our subject and his sister, Maria J., who was the wife of Michael S. Day. The following children were born of the second marriage: Wil- son M., of Jackson Township; William I., de- ceased; Ephraim A., a resident of Darlington, Montgomery County; Thomas R., of Jackson Township; and Elizabeth E., who lives on the old Livengood homestead. By the third marriage there was one child born that died in infancy. The children of the fourth marriage are: Mary M., wife of James Burks, of Parke County; and Charles A., who resides in Parke County.
James M. Livengood, of whom we write, was born September 19, 1841, in Jackson Township. Ile was reared and educated partly in his native township and partly in Franklin Township. Mont- gomery County, the family returning to Jackson Township after the father died. After his father's death young James began to learn the trade of a blacksmith. For a year after he had acquired his trade he was engaged in making reaping-machines. He then went to Jacksonville and was employed there for seven years. While in that city he be- came acquainted with Miss Sarah .I. Grimes, a daughter of C. H1. Grimes, and the friendship that sprang up between them resulted in marriage. Mrs. Livengood's father was a prominent farmer of Jackson Township, and one of its early settlers, who had come there from North Carolina. He was active in its public life, serving as Trustee and As-
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sessor and in other official capacities. Mr. and Mrs. Livengood have had six children, all of whom are living: William L., who was born September 13, 1863, and married Miss Carrie E. Stephenson, of Veedersburgh; Lonella Alice, who married John B. Inlow, of Veedersburgh; Louella C., who married James H. Collins; Flora E., who lives with her par- ents; Edgar F. and Elsie Pearl.
After he left Jacksonville our subject bought forty acres of land in Cain Township, which tract is still in his possession, and is in a well-improved condition, and he has here a comfortable home. He has continued at his trade as a blacksmith, and has also operated a sawmill for the past twenty- one years, doing an extensive and profitable busi- ness in both cases. He is a man of sterling char- acter, of shrewd, round-about common-sense, who occupies a high place in his community and is identified with various movements calculated to benefit it materially and morally. He is a promi- nent member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit As- sociation, and was the first Vice-President of his lodge. He is a leading member of the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, has been one of its Deacons, and has acted as Secretary of the society for many years. Politically, he is an undeniable Democrat.
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