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 48
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 48
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 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
Until reaching his thirteenth year William J. Gilkeson was a resident of his birthplace, but at that time came with his parents to Indiana, where he grew to man's estate. His father died about two years after their removal to Parke County, and it therefore fell to the lot of the children to im- prove and clear the land. In 1852 Mr. Gilkeson wedded Rachel, danghter of Archibald Strain, and to them was born one child, Isaac, who makes his home in Parke County. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in the spring of 1853, and six years later Mr. Gilkeson and Elizabeth Adams were united in wedlock. Mrs. Gilkeson is a daughter of Samuel Adams, who was an early set-
tler of this county, to which he migrated from Kentucky.
From the year 1859 until 1875 Mr. Gilkeson en- gaged in farming on Section 20, Adams Township, when he purchased his present farm. which com- prises sixty- five acres. He is an enterprising agri- culturist and has used the most practical as well as most modern methods in conducting his farm. He deposits his ballot in favor of the Republican nom- inees, and in religious belief supports the Presby - terian Church, of which he is a member.
To our worthy subject and wife have been born four children, the eldest of whom, William (who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church), makes his home in Texas; Samuel lives in Terre Haute, Ind .; Edna Jane is the next in order of birth, and John Thomas lives at home.
***
W ILLIAM H. HARGRAVE. Located in the midst of a rich farming community, it is not strange that the business interests of Rockville have attained a prominence unequaled in this section of country. The busi- ness men of this place, as a class, are enterprising, shrewd and far-seeing in judgment, and it is largely through their efforts that the city has be- come prominently known as a commercial center. Among the number who have contributed to this pleasing result may be mentioned William H. Hargrave, the owner and proprietor of a large furniture and undertaking establishment at Rock- ville.
October 11, 1834, Mr. Hargrave was born in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. On the pa- ternal side he is of Virginian descent, his ancestors having been early settlers in the Old Dominion. There Cornelius T. Hargrave, father of our sub- ject, was born near the city of Richmond and thence he came to Ohio about the year 1830. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Gephart took place at Cir- cleville. He engaged in farming in the Buckeye State until 1842, when he removed to Indiana and purchased a farm in Putnam County. His atten- tion was closely devoted to improving and culti-
Benj: @ Brane
425
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
vating this place, where he resided until his death at Russellville in April, 1888. His wife had passed away several years prior to his demise. In his re- ligious connections he was identified with the Presbyterian Church. A man of energy and thrift, he made a success of his agricultural oper- ations and was very prominent in Putnam County.
Mr. Hargrave was one of eight children, and was reared to manhood at the old homestead in Putnam County, Ind. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carpenter, and in 1855 he embarked in business for himself. In IS68 be came to Rockville, where he has since made his home. Here he was engaged at his trade for three years and then entered into the mill- wright business, continuing at this occupation for several years. Afterward he followed the lumber business for a number of years, and later was variously engaged until 1884, when he organized his present furniture and undertaking establish- ment. In this business he at once met with flat- tering success, and his fair dealings with all and uniform geniality of manners won for him the es- teem of his customers. He has devoted espe- cial attention to embalming, and attended Prof. Clark's school at Springfield, Ohio, for the pur- pose of securing the best possible information re- garding this important department of his business. As the result of excellent judgment, brought to bear in every line of work in which he has en- gaged, success has rewarded his efforts and he has accumulated a competency.
In Putnam County, Ind., in the fall of 1855, oc- curred the marriage of W. H. Hargrave to Miss Susan, daughter of David C. Bishop, a blacksmith residing in Portland Mills, Putnam County, Ind. Two sons and two daughters have come to bless their home. Arthur A. is the Editor of the Rock- ville Republican; Prof. Charles A. is Professor in the department of Sciences and Higher Mathe- matics in Central Normal College, at Danville; Ida Belle, a graduate of the Rockville School and the Normal School at Danville, was for some time a teacher, and is now the wife of Jesse R. Long, an attorney at Muncie, Ind. ; Loulie B., the youngest child, is at home.
Appreciating the fact that Mr. Hargrave pos- sesses qualifications which render him well adapted for public positions, his fellow-citizens have fre- quently called upon him to serve in official ca- pacities. For four years he served as Township Trustee and was a member of the Town Board for about the same length of time. In his political belief he is a Republican. When about nineteen years of age he united with the Presbyterian Church, and has since been a faithful member of and active worker in that denomination, which he now serves as Elder. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and has filled the positions of Master of the Lodge and High Priest of the Chapter. During the late war he saw something of active service, having enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company B, Seventy-eighth Indiana Infantry, and was Second Sergeant of his company.
****
B ENJAMIN F. CRANE is one of the later generation of farmers and stock-raisers of Fountain County, native and to the manor born, who form an important element in the maintenance of the prosperity of the county and are helping greatly to extend its wealth. He is the son of an early pioneer of this part of Indiana who played an important part in de. veloping the agricultural resources of this region. He is the proprietor of two farms in Shawnee and Vanburen Townships, and makes his home on the one situated on Section 29, Shawnee Township.
Mr. Crane is a son of James Crane, a native of Warren County, Ohio, and grandson of Jonathan Crane, who was born in the same county in the very earliest years of its settlement. His parents, who were from England, were among its first pioneer citizens. His brother, Sam, served as a scout through the Revolution, and on the mother's side two brothers were killed during the struggle for independence. James Crane was married in his native county to Ann, a daughter of Jacob Shnorf, who was a Pennsylvania Dutchman, and one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. After marriage the Cranes set out on horseback for their future
426
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
home in the wilds of Indiana, his father having been to Fountain County the year previous and entered land from the Government.
Mr. and Mrs. James Crane's first home in the state was near Stone Bluff, where they lived but a short time, and then removed to the mouth of the Shawnee, where James and his father operated a mill. They afterward sold out and James bought a farın on Lopp's Prairie, which he increased in size from time to time by further purchase until he became the owner of six hundred acres of fine land. His father spent his last days on Osborne's Prairie, where he was instrumental in a large de- gree in the upbuilding of the Christian Church, of which he was a devoted member until death closed his eyes to the scenes of earth at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. His wife departed this life at the age of eighty two years.
The father of our subject continued to live on his farm in Shawnee Township until six weeks be- fore his death, when he took up his residence at Covington, where he and his wife died shortly after in 1875, his death occurring July 16. He was one of the early members of the Christian Church at Osborne's Prairie and used his influence to promote its growth spiritually and in numbers as one of its deacons until death called him hence. His good wife was also an earnest working mem- ber of that church. In his political convictions he was a sound Republican. He was the father of eleven children, of whom three sons and three daughters grew to maturity, Benjamin F. and his brother, John D., the proprietor of the Revere Honse at Attica, being the only survivors of the family. Their brother William lived to be some thirty years old.
Benjamin F. Crane was born May 14, 1850, on the old family homestead on Lopp's Prairie, Shaw- nee Township, and his education was conducted in the local district school. He became thor- oughly familiar with farming in all its branches, and when he arrived at years of discretion he selected agriculture as the calling most suited to his tastes. After his marriage he located on the home place, his father deeding him one hundred and eighty acres of land. He subsequently bought
land of the other heirs of the estate, and had three hundred and fifty acres of the old homestead. He sold two hundred and fifteen acres of it at a good price, and buying two hundred and twenty-five acres, at the rate of $80 an acre, moved upon it in the spring of 1886, and now has under his man- agement two finely appointed and highly culti- vated farms which he devotes to general farming, raising a good class of stock. He has a fine farm residence which is well kept up. Everything about the place is neat and orderly, making it one of the pleasantest of the rural homes of this dis- trict.
November 14, 1874, is the date of the marriage of Benjamin Crane with Margaret E., daughter of William and Mary (Hawk) Irvine. Her father was born in one of the early pioneer homes of In- diana, and lived here until his removal to Ford County, Ill., where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have been blessed in their happy wedded life with the following children: James W., who is fifteen years old; Frank, who died at the age of two and one-half; Myrtle, who is eleven years old; Zua, aged nine years; Pearly, six years old; Ruth, four years of age, and Baby Julia.
Mr. Crane is numbered among our best citizens, and whatever concerns the well-being of his native county is of deep interest to him. He is a well- known figure in its religious and social circles, and the Republican party finds in him a steadfast advocate. The Osborne's Prairie Christian Church, with which his father's name is so closely asso- ciated, has in him one of its most estimable mem- bers, and he has served it as Trustee for a number of years. He is also one of the trustees of the cemetery. He has recently been elected County Commissioner.
***
AMES M. OTTERMAN. The subject of this biographical review, a native-born son of Montgomery County, is one of its most liberal-minded, enterprising and sensible farmers and stock-raisers, and his farm, on Sec- tion 22, Clark Township, is cultivated by modern
.
427
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
methods, and is a well appointed and valuable es- tate.
Mr. Ottermau was born March 20, 1850, on the old Otterman homestead in Clark Township, and is a son of Lewis Otterman, of whom a sketch ap- pears on another page of this work. Our subject received a sound education in the public schools of his native township, and when he reached manhood he selected as his life-work the calling to which he had been reared, which Horace Greeley called "the noblest of professions." He brought a mind well trained to his vocation, and has kept well abreast of the times in conducting the various farming operations to which he devotes him- self.
Mr. Otterman's father gave him a farm, and af- ter his marriage he located upon it and has ever since made it his home. It comprises over three hundred acres of land of great fertility, which is carefully cultivated so as to produce the best re- sults, and its improvements are of a high order, including a well built and commodious frame resi- dence that he erected in 1884. The marriage of Mr. Otterman with Miss Minnie F. Storer was solemnized November 15, 1885. They have a cheerful and attractive home, which is blessed by the presence of a little daughter, Lelia, who was born April 16, 1889.
Mr. Otterman is a man of strong character and high principles, and is in every way an honor to the citizenship of his native county. He is iden- tified with the Christian Church, interests himself in all its proceedings and in the Sunday-school, and actively co-operates with his pastor and fel- low-members in extending its influence and use- fulness as a religious organization, He holds sound views in politics, sympathizing with the Democrats, or with that branch of the party that pronounces for a "tariff for revenue only." He favors all reforms that will in any way benefit mankind, and is an especially strong advocate of the temperance movement, believing that the "saloon should go." He is a member of the Mont- gomery County Horse Thief Detective Association, and is active in whatever will promote the best interests of the community in general and of the farmers in particular.
L EVI T. HOLSINGER, a well-known min- ister of the German Baptist Brethren Church, is also a practical farmer of Mont- gomery County, owning and managing a good farm on Section 16, Clark Township. He was born in Henry County, this state, March 21, 1850, a son of John H. Holsinger, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., in 1820. The father was married in his native county to Sallie Teeter. Both the Holsingers and the Teeters are of Ger- man origin. John Holsinger continued to live in Pennsylvania for four years after his marriage, and then came to Indiana.
After a six months' stay in Wayne County, Mr. Holsinger removed to Henry County in the spring of 1850, and resided in Henry until 1876, when he went to Nebraska to live, settling in Fillmore County, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he devoted to farming pur- poses. He made many valuable improvements, and had a fine farm of three hundred and thirty- three acres in Indiana, previous to going to Nebraska. His wife died March 28, 1889, in Ne- braska and after that he made his home with his children until his death August 20, 1892. He was a member of the German Baptist Brethren Church, in which he also served as a minister. Politically he was a sound Republican. He was the father of three children, of whom two are living, our sub- ject, the youngest, and Jeremiah T., who was born November 27, 1845, married Mollie C., daughter of Thomas Graham, of Henry County, and now resides in Delaware County. Mr. Holsinger's daughter Maria was born May 17, 1840, married T. H. Johnson, a farmer of Henry County, and died August 29, 1891.
After his marriage Mr. Holsinger established his home in his native county, and devoted him- self to farming and to teaching music. He was naturally gifted as a musician, and had cultivated his talents in that direction. He taught for three years there, and then opened a boot and shoe store in Blackford County, at Montpelier, which he conducted for nearly a year. In 1876 he removed with his family to Nebraska, and first located in Fair County, where he engaged in carpentering. He followed that trade three years, and at the end
428
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of that time his father gave him a part of his farm in Fillmore County. He lived on it a year and a half, and then returned to Indiana, and for awhile he was employed in contracting and building, with his residence at Oakville.
In March, 1884, Mr. Holsinger purchased a third interest in some saw and planing mills, which were completely demolished the first of the follow- ing April by the great tornado that swept through the town. This entailed a great loss on Mr. Hol- singer and his partners, but they rebuilt the mills and he took a half interest in them, which he re- tained until 1888, when he disposed of his share in the concern at a good price, and coming to Montgomery County, bought the farm upon which he now lives, of E. Pearson. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved and finely cultivated land, and is amply supplied with every accessory for carrying on agriculture.
In 1871 Mr. Holsinger was married to Mary A., daughter of Jacob Kern, who was a mechanic of Oakville, Delaware County. They have been blessed in their happy marriage with several chil- dren: Merton, who was born May 26, 1873, and is already in the ministry of the German Baptist Brethren Church as a young preacher of much promise; Edna Emma, born May 4, 1876; Harley B., born May 29, 1880; Franklin R., born January 13, 1882; Jeremiah N., born July 12, 1884; Gracie D., born August 21, 1886, and Mary Anna, born November 30, 1887.
Mr. Holsinger has long been prominently identi- fied with the German Baptist Brethren Church as one of its most earnest and useful ministers, hav- ing been an expounder of the Gospel according to the doctrines of that faith ever since he was licensed to preach September 21, 1878. He has charge of the Sugar Creek Church, in Hancock County, and he also preaches to numerous other congregations. He is a power in the church, both in the pulpit and as an active missionary, dis- tributing tracts and in other ways disseminating the religious truths that he holds so dear, besides being an active worker in the Sunday-school and Superintendent of the distribution of tracts. In politics he acts according to the dictates of his conscience and is not bound by party ties.
EORGE W. HUTSON. Prominent among the farmers of Howard Township, Parke County, is the subject of this biographical sketch. He resides on Section 20, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits to a great ex- tent. A native of Mercer County, Ky., he was born March 30, 1844, to William Hutson, a native of Virginia, who came to Kentucky and settled in Mercer County, where he died when our subject was nine years old. His wife's name, before mar- riage, was Mary Wiggon. She was also a native of Kentucky, and the result of her marriage was the birth of five children, four of whom are living. They are William, a farmer of Howard Township, this county; Green, a prominent agriculturist of Allen County, Kans .; John P., who runs a farm in Howard Township, and George, our subject. Thomas, another of the children of this family, died at the age of thirty years. The mother of our subject is still living and makes her home in Howard Township. After the death of her hus- band she migrated to Indiana in 1854 and located first in Washington Township, where she lived for two years, then removing to this township.
George W. Hutson has spent almost his entire lifetime in this county, and at the age of twenty- two years married a Miss Jane Blacketer, who is the daughter of Samuel Blacketer, a farmer of Union Township. Mrs. Hutson was born and reared in Union Township, where she received a common school education. After his marriage Mr. Hutson located in this township, where he followed farming for a time and soon after moved to Fountain County, locating in Jackson Township, where he lived for two years. At that period he removed to Howard Township, where he lived for six years, and then resided in Union Township for six years. Subsequently he located permanently on the farm which he now occupies, where he has worked faithfully and energetically to earn a live- lihood for himself, wife, and a large family of children, who are as follows: Harvey, deceased; William, who married Ida Lawson, and now resides in Parke County on the Wabash river; John W., who is farming in this township; Mary, wife of John Kelley of Fountain County; Arty, Middy and Perry, who are all at home, and Cecile.
429
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Hutson owns eighty acres of land where he lives, about one-half of which is improved and in a fair state of cultivation. Politically, he is a strong Democrat, and at the present time holds the office of Assessor of his township, to which po- sition he has been elected for four successive terms. Socially, he has been a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. Mr. Hutson is an honest man, noted for his many worthy traits of character, which have made him a popular and respected citizen of this township and county.
****
OHN HUTCHINGS, deceased, an intelligent and able pioneer farmer and life-long resi- dent of the state of Indiana, passed peace- fully to his rest upon the old homestead in Montgomery County in the early spring of 1889. Born in Butler County, October 15, 1819, the greater part of his life was devoted to the pursuit of agriculture, and for over thirty years he was actively identified with the farming interests of Montgomery County. Upright and honorable throughout his life, a true American citizen, warmly advocating educational advancement and progressive in his ideas, his death was mourned as a public loss by the entire county.
The immediate ancestors of John Hutchings were natives of the "sunny south," but the founders of the Hutchings family in America were Welshmen. They were people of rugged honesty of character, intelligent and industrious, and emigrated to the New World, not only to make their fortunes, but because of the true liberty and independence they might there enjoy. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Hutchings bravely served throughout the Revolutionary War, enduring for seven years and six months the pri- vations, sacrifices and suffering shared by the noble patriots of those troublous days. Peace having been declared the veteran soldier returned to home and family and there resumed the even tenor of his ways.
Among the children of this brave defender of right and justice was the father of our subject, William Hutchings, who grew to manhood in the
-
southern home of his parents and married Miss Jane McCain, afterward emigrating to Indiana and settled in Butler County, in which portion of the state our subject was born. John was but a little lad when his parents removed with their family to Fayette County, where he grew to mature years. In 1842 he was joined in the holy bonds of matri- mony with Martha Lemon, a daughter of Elisha and Ruth (Allinger) Lemon, both natives of Ken- tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon were married in their native state, but almost immediately removed to Indiana, settling in Oxford, Butler County, in the early days of pioneer privations and experi- ence.
In 1856 Mr. Hutchings came with his wife to Montgomery County and located on the homestead where they passed so many pleasant and useful years, and where he died surrounded by a family of devoted children. John Hutchings and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in whose work, social, religious and be- nevolent, they ever took an active interest. Their children were trained in the habits of industry and self reliance, and all lived to years of maturity, secure in the respect and confidence of their friends and neighbors.
The sons and daughters of this family circle are nine in number. Louisa J., the eldest born, was married to Henry Hurd; Mary is the wife of Thomas Sutton; William G. now manages the old home farm; Miranda is the wife of J. C. Martin, of Craig, Neb .; Engenia is the widow of James Grimes; Belle is the wife of Dr. William Lott, of Hamilton County; John is a resident of Rector, Ark .; Eva married Crayton Kimbler; Allie died and left no family.
William G. Hutchings, the third child and eldest son, was born in the year 1847. His birth-place was in Fayette County, where all but two of the brothers and sisters were born. William Hutch- ings received an excellent common-school educa- tion in the immediate neighborhood of his home, his father being mainly instrumental in the erec- tion of the building which gathered within its walls the children of the district. In 1871 this son of our subject was married to Miss Armenia Craig, daughter of Campbell Craig. The husband
430
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and wife have been blessed with a family of four bright and interesting children. Mr. Hutchings is an ambitious and enterprising citizen and an ex- cellent business man. Having been thoroughly trained in agricultural duties, his first business venture was farming, in which work he profitably continued for some years. After a time he engaged in merchandising in Mace and there remained three years.
An excellent business opportunity then offering in Arkansas he removed to that state and there, in 1883, successfully carried on both a milling and merchandising enterprise. In 1887 he sold out and next located in Cowley County, Kans. Here Mr. Hutchings invested in two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, which farming property he still owns. In 1889 he returned to the old home- stead, and his father having died, took charge of the farm, which he manages with great success. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings and their family are all connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as were their parents before them. Mr. Hutch- ings is a Republican in sentiment and casts his vote with the party. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, and in and out of this order he has a host of friends.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.