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 82
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 82
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 82
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The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving a district-school education in the primi- tive log cabin schoolhouse, with greased paper for windows. At the age of twenty-one he began working for himself on the farm, getting $9 per month for his labors, which was considered a good price at that day. Here he worked one season, when he began for himself as a farmer. In 1845 he went to Henry County, Iowa, where his father had previously bought eighty acres, and to which he subsequently added twenty-five acres more. Here he and his wife lived happily together for three years, when Death claimed his helpmate, after which he returned to Indiana and located on eighty acres of his father's homestead. After three or four changes he located permanently on the site of his present home, and by dint of econ- omy and industry he has accumulated property to the amount of three hundred acres, included in two farms. Besides this he has two hundred and fifty acres on section 34, and has given his children about $4,000. During the late war he speculated very extensively in land, and in this enterprise was very successful financially. In former days he be- longed to the Whig party, but on the formation of the Republican party believed its platform to be one under which the nation would prosper, and has since that time been one of its stanch sup- porters.
Mr. Morris has been four times married, his first wife being Miss Mary, daughter of James and Barbara Bennett, of Vigo County, Ind. To this young couple two children were born, both of
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whom died in infaney. The wife died in Salem, Iowa. His second wife was Rachael, the daughter of Isaae and Lydia Smith, and she bore her hus- band six children, of whom all are living but one: Lydia, Nathan, Owen, Rufus and Elizabeth. The devoted wife and mother died soon after the war. Mr. Morris was then married to Miss Rebeeea Davis, of Parke County, who was the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Hocket) Davis. She became the mother of five children: Rachael, Mary, Mar- tin, and two who died in infaney.
The home of our subjeet is now graciously pre- sided over by his amiable wife, known in her maiden days as Miss Indiana Rubbottan. Our subjeet is a man of genial nature, who easily wins friends, and throughout the community is widely and favorably known.
LBERT CORN, residing on seetion 30, Wal- nut Township, has aided in the develop- ment of Montgomery County by reelaim- ing a valuable farm from the forests that once prevailed in this region. He is a son of Will- iams Corn, who was one of the earliest settlers of the county. The father was born in Henry County, Ky., February 16, 1800, and he in turn was a son of George Corn, who was a native of Germany, and had come to this country when a young man, in season to take part in the Revolution, and his adopted country found in him a good soldier. He served faithfully throughout the war, and then spent a number of years fighting the Indians on the frontier, being actively engaged in nine cam- paigns. Ile finally retired to private life, locating in the wilds of Henry County, Ky., where he met and married Jane Williams. They made their home there until they rested from their labors in the sleep that knows no waking, his death occurring first, and hers shortly after. They reared a family of seven children: John, Sam, Singleton, Miles, Williams, Margaret and Mary Ann.
Williams Corn was married in his native connty
in 1821 to Sarah, daughter of Joseph Allen. The first few years of their wedded life were passed in Henry County, and then they departed from their old home to dwell in the wilds of Indiana. They penetrated as far north as Parke County, where they remained a year. In the fall of 1829 they eame to Montgomery County, and Mr. Corn en- tered eighty acres of land from the Government in Scott Township. He cleared a part of it, then sold it, and March 10, 1832, removed to Clark Township, where he had entered eighty acres of land and bought another tract of like size. He settled on that land, eleared away the timber, fenced it into convenient fields, and built a com- fortable house, in which he died in 1859, the county thus losing one of its most useful and re- speeted pioneers. His wife survived him until 1874, when she, too, passed away at an advanced age. She was a firm Christian and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Corn was a Whig in politics until that party's dissolution, and he then turned to the Democratic party. He was the father of twelve children, of whom eight grew to maturity, and four of them are still liv- ing. Those who died after they were grown up were Rhoda Jane Foxworthy, Elizabeth E. Reden- bough, Nancy A. Miller, and Stephen A., who died when a young man. The surviving children are: Albert; George, who lives on the old home- stead; Mrs. Sarah Eliza Redenbough, who resides at Crawfordsville; and Margaret, a widow, who re- sides in Walnut Township.
Our subject was born in Henry County, Ky., but was reared mostly in this State, as he was but three years old when the family eame to Indiana, and but seven summers had passed over his head when they settled in Clark Township, where he grew to stalwart manhood under wholesome pioneer influ- ences. Ile continued to live with his parents for two years after his marriage, which occurred No- vember 23, 1848, when Rachel, daughter of Asa Randall, of Clark Township, became his wife. Iler father was a prominent pioneer farmer of that township. In November, 1850, Mr. Corn bought eighty acres of forest land on section 30, Walnut Township, and he and his wife took up their resi- dence in a little log cabin which he built, and
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which is still standing, a relie of the days when they were young together, and were working with cheerful resolution to overcome every obstacle in the upbuilding of a home and a competency. Mr. Corn labored with untiring zeal to elear his land and to get it into a good state of cultivation, and added to it by further purchase, so that he now has one hundred and twenty-four aeres of land, all in a fine condition, and supplied with all the necessary improvements. In the summer of 1869 he replaced his humble cabin home by a neat frame residenee, and has other substantial build- ings.
Mr. and Mrs. Corn have had ten children, of whom eight are still living. Joseph died when a young man, and Jonas Albert was drowned when a little boy. The children living are: Margaret, wife of John Norwood, a farmer of Madison County, Tenn; Nancy, wife of Abner Fields, a store-keeper and Postmaster in Putnam County; Mary, wife of Valadıan Martin, an engineer; Eliza, wife of James Wright, a farmer of Union Township; Rachel, wife of Charles Berry, who is employed in the spoke factory; Asa, who is represented in this volume; and George, who married Mary Jimison, and resides on the home place.
Our subjeet is prominent in religious matters as a member of the Christian Church, and holds the office of Elder in that church. His wife also be- longs to the church, and has been a member for thirty years. He is a member of Lodge No. 55, K. P., at Mace. In politics he is a Democrat.
G EORGE WEGLE, who resides on section 4, Logan Township, is a farmer who has dis- played marked thrift and enterprise in the development of his farm from the wilderness, and he is an admirable type of the German element that has done so much to extend the agricultural interests of Fountain County. He was born in Germany, in the town of Pferffenhofen, December
8. 1830, and is a son of Anthony and Mary Wegle, who were life-long residents of the German Fa- therland.
In the prime and vigor of early manhood, our subjeet left his early home, with its pleasant asso- eiations and the friends among whom he had grown up, to eross the waters that he might avail himself of the many advantages offered by this broad land to young men of energy and industry. From New York, where he had landed, he pro- ceeded to Louisville, Ky., where he worked first as a gardener, and then secured employment in a pork-paeking house. He subsequently made sev- eral trips on a steamboat to New Orleans, and one winter he spent in Louisiana in chopping wood. After that he worked one summer at farming near Louisville, and his next move was to Missouri, where he remained fourteen months. Coming thenee to Fountain County, he rented a farm of Robert Milford for about eight years. At the end of that time he came into possession of his present farm, which was then in all its natural wildness. He has worked with a persisteney and well-di- reeted energy that have brought their dne reward, and to-day his land is in a fine condition. Eighty- four aeres of it lie in Logan Township, and ninety- four and one-half aeres are in Davis Township. Mr. Wegle has cleared it, has put up good fences, built barns and other necessary buildings, and has put in six hundred rods of tile, he being one of the first to adopt this method of drainage in this neighborhood.
Our subject is blessed with a most estimable wife, to whom he was married in 1859. Mrs. Wegle bore the maiden name of Teressa Omes- meyer, and is a daughter of Francis and Made- line Omesmeyer, who came to this country from Germany. Her marriage with our subject has brought them the following children: John N., who married Tisha Wilson, and is engaged in farming in Idaho; Theodore, who lives at home with his parents; George, Jr., Henry J., Annie and Frank.
Mr. Wegle began life a poor man, and has be- come one of the substantial men of the township by his own efforts. IIe has devoted his farm prin- cipally to raising grain, but he also has some fine
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stock, including a valuable English draft stallion. He is respected greatly for his personal worth, and the Roman Catholic Church finds in him a consis- tent member, his family also adhering to that faith. Politically, he is a Democrat, and stands firmly by his party, whether it is triumphant or is under the cloud of defeat.
AMES HUTCHISON. To this gentleman and his associates Montgomery County is greatly indebted for its present high stand- ing as a rich and finely developed agricul- tural centre. Our subject is an adept at farming, and has one of the best managed and most orderly farms in all Union Township, situated on section 21, where he has built up an elegant modern home.
Mr. Hutchison is a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton County February 25, 1843, but the most of his life has been passed in this State and county. Ilis father was Ezekiel Hutchison, who was also born in Hamilton County, his birthplace being one of the early pioneer homes of Ohio. He grew to man's estate in the county of his nativity, and was there married to Miss Nancy Crane. After his marriage he went to farming in that county, and continued to live there until 1853. In that year he came to Indiana with his family, renting a farm in this county. Twenty years afterward he returned to his old home, and died there in 1875, his wife following him to the grave a year afterward. He was a sturdy Democrat, and held to his party until death. He was the father of twelve children, of whom six are living: William, a farmer in this State; Ezekiel, also a farmer in this State; Hannah, wife of J. Nixon, a carpenter in Ohio, and a veteran of the war; Arthur, an un- dertaker in Florida; Maggie, wife of William Kerr, who lives near the Miami River, not far from Cin- cinnati; and our subjeet. The names of those who died are Samuel, Isaiah, Mary, Price, Rebecca and George.
Our subject was nine years old when his parents
removed to this county. His education was con- ducted in the public schools, and at the age of eighteen he began his independent career in life, working at ditching, cutting rails, or anything else that would place money in his hands, whereby he might get a good start. His first venture on his own account was to lease some land on the Hunter farm, which he worked for a year. He was next employed by Mr. Wilkinson to help on the place where he now lives. Since he began farming for himself, he has displayed commendable energy, enterprise and thrift. His farm comprises one hundred and eighty and one-fourth acres of land on section 21 and he has besides forty acres west of it in the same township, all of which is finely tilled and well drained with tile. A substantial set of buildings adorn the place and on it is one of the handsomest residences in the township, which Mr. Hutchison built in 1878 or 1879. The farm is well kept up, and our subject is constantly making improvements.
Mr. Hutchison was married June 9, 1868, to Mrs. Catharine A. Wilkinson, daughter of John and Mary Ringer. Her parents were originally from Pennsylvania, whence they went to Butler County, Ohio, and from there came to Indiana and settled in Montgomery County in 1824, when the coun- try was a trackless forest. Mr. Ringer was accom- panied in his emigration by James Redden and William Rosenberry, Mr. Foster and Mr. Faust. A Mr. Lamper lived here at that time, and with the families of the gentleman just mentioned they formed the carliest settlers of the county. Mr. Ringer put up a log cabin on a quarter-section of land that he entered from the Government and went energetically to work to clear away the forest trees standing on his newly acquired domain, which he developed into a fine farm.
Mr. Ringer was married in Butler County, Ohio, to Mary, daughter of George Faust. They had a family of eleven children, of whom the following are living: Reuben, a resident of Missouri; George, of Nebraska; Joel and John, of Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Flatner, of lowa; Eliza, wife of Roy Littlefield, a merchant of California; Cornelia, Mrs. Foster, who lives in Iowa; and Catherine, wife of our subject. Mrs. Hutchison was born on the old family home-
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stead in this county June 7, 1827. She is the mo- ther of six children by her first marriage: John Wilkinson, who resides near Glenfield; Milton, a farmer; Aaron H., who lives on a farm near Craw- fordsville; James William, who lives near Craw- fordsville; Harvey, who is practicing law in Craw- fordsville; and Sarah Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Sweinger. Mrs. Hutchison is an active member of the Lutheran Church, and is a consist- ent Christian, who is greatly esteemed by the en- tire neighborhood. Mr. Hutchison -is a man of sensible views and sound convictions on all sub- jects with which he is conversant. He is especially interested in politics, and is a strong party man, cleaving to the fortunes of the Republican party.
W ILLIAM RAY. In all ages of the world, industry, perseverance and energy, where intelligently applied, have achieved a re- sult which could only have been gained by having one object in view, and improving every oppor- tunity to ultimately attain that object. Mr. Ray is an example of what can be accomplished when the spirit of determination is exercised in connec- tion with the everyday affairs of life. His farm- ing operations have resulted very satisfactorily, and he now controls, and is in the enjoyment of. a comfortable competency. He was born in Rich- land Township, Fountain County, Ill., in 1831, a son of Jefferson and Elsie (Smith) Ray, natives of the State of Kentucky. Jefferson Ray settled in Richland Township, of this county, at an early day, and purchased land from John Hamilton, on which he continued to reside until his death, in 1887, at which time he owned one hundred and twenty acres of as fine farming land as one need wish to see.
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The father of our subject had the following children: P. who married A. D. Sayne, and is re- siding in Butler Township; A. M., who married Jessie Powers; Jobn, a farmer, who married Kittie Cates, and died in Louisiana in 1884; Laura, who
became the wife of .James McCollister, a farmer of Fountain County; Caroline; Mary, who became the wife of Frank Marks; V., who became the wife of John Crane, a farmer of Fountain County; Vic- toria, wife of John Lane; Katherine, wife of J. Dine, a farmer of Illinois; Julia, who became the wife of Will Coffee; Creta, who became the wife of Harry Dine, a farmer of this county; and William, the subject of this sketch. The latter was mar- ried to Miss Mary J. Carpenter, daughter of Ben- jamin and Sophia Carpenter. She was born in Fountain County, Ind., in 1840, and married Mr. Ray in the early part of 1879.
Of the children born of this union, Artie, born November 19, 1879, was reared on the home farm, and educated in the public schools; Effie, born September 6, 1881, is at home, and attends the common school; Annie, born May 22, 1883, and Butler, born February 6, 1887, are at home.
Mr. Ray was educated in the common schools, and when starting out in life for himself it was but natural that he should take upon himself the duties of farming, for to that occupation he had been reared. After farming on rented land for some time, he secured enough means to enable him to purehase one hundred and ninety-three acres of land, which he has since greatly improved. His residence is a good and substantial one, and he has an excellent farm and outbuildings of all de- scriptions. He learned what hard work was in his youth, but he also learned lessons of industry, economy and steadiness, that were his stepping- stones to success in after years. All measures of morality, education, temperance and others of like nature find in him a strong advocate.
Mr. Ray and his wife are worthy members of the church, and he is liberal in the use of his means in its support, and is an active worker in the Sun- day-school. He is a Democrat in his political views, and at all times supports the men and measures of that party, but has never been an as- pirant for office, the duties of his farm fully oc- cupying his time and attention. His success as a tiller of the soil is due to the fact that attention has been given to no particular department at the expense of another, but every nook and eranny of his farm is carefully looked after, and in looking
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over his farm one is at once impressed with the idea that a man of discrimination has. the manage- ment of affairs. His upright career through life has made him a general favorite, and he numbers his friends by the score.
ILLIAM SWINDLER, an honored pioneer settler of Montgomery County, Ind., and for many years successfully engaged in the varied duties of agricultural life, has now re- tired from active work, and enjoys his well-earned rest in a pleasant home in Ladoga. He came an energetie, ambitious young man into the new State, and, overcoming all difficulties, aided in de- veloping the varied resources of its soil, and thus materially advanced its rapid growth and upward progress.
Our subject was a native of Kentucky, and was born in Shelby County in the year 1815. He was the seventh in a family of eight children, of whom he is to-day the sole survivor. llis parents were Jonathan and Letitia (Mount) Swindler, both na- tives of the State of Virginia. Making their home in the prosperous State of Kentucky, they there reared their family, and taught them the lessons of self-reliance and honesty, all the capital in life with which they could endow their intelligent and sturdy children.
The brothers and sisters of our subject were Samuel; Clayton; Mary, who became the wife of Henry Keplinger; Thomas; John; Rhoda, who was married to William Golt; and Harvey. Af- ter years of toil and changing fortunes, the wid- owed mother of our subject journeyed with her family to Indiana, and located in Montgomery County, where she entered a Government elaim of one hundred and sixty acres of unbroken prairie land. A woman of rare courage, resolution and endurance, she managed well the varied cultiva- tion of her homestead, and made the acres yield her a comfortable living and excellent return for her years of patient toil.
After the death of his mother, William Swindler received this now valuable land as his inheritance, and it still remains in his possession. Soon after his arrival in Montgomery County, our subject learned his trade of carpenter in Crawfordsville from the pioneer carpenter and bnilder, Ephraim Griffith, widely known in the early days. Mr. Swindler continued actively engaged in carpenter work in Crawfordsville for several years, but the leading business of his life has been farming, in which pursuit he achieved practical success. Aside from the one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead, he also owns a fine traet of forty acres, and has highly improved his holdings.
Our subject has three times entered the bonds of matrimony. His first wife was Miss America Beatly, by whom he had three children, all of whom are deceased. His wife died in 1843, and after some time had elapsed he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret IIughes, who became the mother of three children, only one surviving to mature years. In 1872 his second wife passed away, and again Mr. Swindler was left alone. His third wife was Mrs. Susannah (Benson) Ilimes. There were no children of this marriage.
The one child of our subject who arrived at mature years was a son, Henry Swindler, a well- known and prosperous farmer, and an honest, up- right citizen, now cultivating the soil of the old homestead and engaging in general agricultural duties. Mr. Swindler, being an only son, enjoyed most excellent educational advantages. Born in 1857, he early attended the primary schools of the neighborhood, but at the proper age he was sent to Wabashı College and afterward completed his studies at the university in Warren County, under the auspices of the United Brethren Church.
In 1877 he was married to Miss Kelsey, daugh- ter of William Kelsey, a pioneer settler of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Swindler are the happy par- ents of five bright, promising children, who will all enjoy ample opportunity for storing their minds with useful knowledge. The family are all attendants at the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the father and mother are both active and working members. Mr. and Mrs. Swindler have passed their lives near their present home, and
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have a large circle of old-time friends and acquaint- ances, whose esteem and confidence they enjoy. They are progressive people, and are well informed on all current matters of interest, ever lending their influence for the advancement of right and justice.
Our subject, William Swindler, is a member of the United Brethren Church, and thus he and his son belong to different religious organizations, but both are united upon political issues, and both vote the Republican ticket. Henry Swindler is a member of the Knights of Pythias at New Market, and is one of the foremost in his immediate neighborhood in all good work.
W ILLIAM HALSTEAD, a prominent stock- raiser of standard-bred horses and Short- horn cattle, and also widely known as a general agriculturist of Madison Township, Mont- gomery County, is a descendant of a long line of eminent ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Reu- ben Halstead, married Miss Preston, a Southern lady. The husband and wife were both natives of North Carolina, but, hoping to improve their for- tunes, removed at an early day to Ohio, then the land of promise to many emigrants from other States. Here also located a brother of Grandfather Halstead, Griffin Halstead by name. This gentle- man, great-uncle to our subject, was the father of the celebrated editor and politician, Murat Hal- stead, now one of the leading and representative men of Ohio.
In Butler County of the Buckeye State, Grand- father and Grandmother Halstead reared their chil- dren. Josiah P., father of our subject, enjoyed ex- ceptional educational advantages, attending good preparatory schools, and finally gradnating with honor from the college located in his native coun- ty. His studies completed, he gave his time and attention to business duties, and having fitted himself for their performance, soon married Miss Rebecca Wilson, who became the mother of six
children, of whom our subject was the fifth in or- der of birth. Death called no little ones from the household circle. One after another the sons and daughters attained mature age and went out to found homes and families of their own.
Sarah, the eldest-born, is the wife of J. W. Kirk- patrick, an old resident of Madison Township; Rebecca J. married Daniel Bennett, and by him had one child, Mr. Bennett died, and his widow became the wife of William Dunkle, of Linden. John L. A., now deceased, left a family in Vigo County. Caroline was married to Edward Cole- man, and died leaving one child. William, our subject, was the next child; and Clara L. is now the wife of Daniel Wilson, of Linden. The three daughters and one son now living reside within easy distance of each other, and much enjoy the mutual interchange of early recollections, which bind together the scattered members of the pio- neer home in the West.
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