DANIEL C. GORDON was born in Ohio in 1839. His parents, William and Mary Ann (Cartwright) Gordon, were natives of the same State, and were born in 1811 and 1814, and married in 1834. About 1841, the family moved to Cass County, Ind., and in 1856 came to this township. In February, 1861, Daniel C. Gordon married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Rachael (Flora) Kuns, of Carroll County, Ind., and born November 1, 1841. To this union was born one child, Moses M., March 13, 1864. After his marriage, Mr. Gordon moved to Ford County, Ill., but returned in 1866. In 1868, he went into mercantile business in company with his brother, Moses M., at Francesville, and at one time was robbed of $1,300 worth of goods. He now resides on the farm he purchased when he first came to the township. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Gordon were born and named in the following order: Moses M., May 13, 1836; James S., December 6, 1837; Thomas, October 7, 1840 (deceased); Mary E., April 6, 1842 (deceased); William, January 27, 1844 (died in the army); Rachael A., February 4, 1846; Wilson, May 18, 1851, and John W., December 11, 1853.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Beaver Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


GEORGE W. HANCOCK, son of Micaga and Mary (Long) Hancock, was born in Richland County, Ohio, February 28, 1827. When about ten years of age, his father took him to Marion County, where he was reared on a farm up to the age of twenty. The family then moved to Wabash County, this State, and thence to Salem Township, this county. January 23, 1856, Mr. Hancock was married to Mary Catherine Laton, who has borne him the following children: A girl, May 22, 1858, who died in infancy; Eliza, born July 13 1860; Alice, March 6, 1863; George F. and Sarah (twins), September 23, 1865; Clarissa, April 16, 1867; Amanda, July 30, 1870; Emeline, January 30, 1873; Charles E., February 8, 1875; Oliver, November 4, 1878; and Delia, June 7, 1881. in 1875, Mr. Hancock came to this township and bought eighty acres of land, and is now engaged in stock-raising and general farming. In politics, he is a Democrat.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Beaver Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


ISAAC D. WHITE (deceased) was born in Ohio in 1836, and came to this township with his father in 1841. His early years were passed on the home farm and in attending at the old log schoolhouse a few terms. In 1861, he married Mrs. Lucretia Griems, a widow with five children - Aaron, John, Berry, William (all now deceased), and Mary J. This lady born Mr. White three children - Lavina, Samuel L. B. and Melissa M. In March, 1865, Mr. White departed this life, a member of the United Brethren Church. His widow resides on the home farm, and is assisted in its management by her son Samuel.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Beaver Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


LEVI WHITE was born in this township June 19, 1849, and is the son of William and Mary E. (Hilderbrand) White, natives of Ohio, and born in 1816 and 1817, respectively. They came to this county at an early day, when the Indians still held possession. The father died when Levi was but twelve years of age, and the cares of the farm devolved chiefly upon the latter. November 27, 1870, he married Isabella Carnes, of Madison County, Ohio, who has borne him four children - Aaron L., born April 27, 1872; Elva, October 4, 1873; Ella M., July 1, 1875; and Olive, October 1, 1882. Mr. White is now living in one and one-half story frame he built in 1880 on his 40-acre lot in Section 27. His brothers and sisters were born and named as follows: Nathan C., January 27, 1837; Henry, October 30, 1838, died in the army; John, born November 12, 1840, died in the army; George W., born January 14, 1842, died of disease contracted in the army; Eliza A., born January 27, 1845; Christian, May 19, 1847, deceased; Esther, born May 19, 1851, deceased; Sarah J., born April 18, 1853; Isaac William, February 18, 1855, deceased; Mary E., born September 10, 1857; Joseph, November 28, 1859; and Melissa (deceased) and Samuel (twins), born December 31, 1861.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Beaver Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


SETH WIDENER was born in Ohio in 1829, and came to this county with his father in 1839. He assisted on the farm until 1858, when he married Nancy Parsons, who bore him three children - Johnson, Maria and James, the last named deceased. In 1862, Mrs. Widener died, and in the fall of 1863 he married Maria Hildreth, who has borne him seven children - Frank, William, Josephine, Samuel, David, Seth and Leonard. In 1880, Mr. Widener took up his residence on rented land in this township, and is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Beaver Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


JOHN COOPER was born in Logansport, Cass Co., Ind., December 18, 1851, one of seven children born to William and Mary (Weible) Cooper, the former a native of Delaware, and the latter of Germany. When but seventeen years of age, William Cooper came to Pulaski County, and learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for several years. He was married in Fulton County, Ind.., and in 1850 moved to Logansport, and thence, in 1854, to Harrison Township, this county, where he bought a small farm. In March, 1858, he sold and came to this township, purchased another farm, and here died April 10, 1870. John Cooper received a fair, common school education, and worked on the home farm until nineteen years old. He then went to Benton County, Ind., where he worked on a farm by the month for three years, and then returned to Pulaski. In 1881, he purchased his present home in this township. He was married, January 23, 1878, to Lydia E. Bennett, a native of Huntington County, Ind. In politics, Mr. Cooper is a Democrat, and he is the present Assessor of the township.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Franklin Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


ANDREW S. HACKETT was born on the eastern shore of Maryland December 22, 1814, and is one of the eleven children born to Tilman and Catherine (Walker) Hackett, natives respectively of Maryland and Delaware. Tilman Hackett was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married in Delaware, where he farmed for eight years. Returning to Maryland, he farmed until the summer of 1836, when he brought his family to this county, then a part of White. He pre-empted 160 acres in what is now Monroe Township, but did not receive his patent until 1841. He was the fourth settler within the present limits of Pulaski County, and here died in 1847. Andrew S. Hackett, until twenty-five years of age, remained with his father, after which, for several years, he farmed on shares. In 1837, he went to Kansas, but returned the next year, and bought a farm in Monroe Township. This he sold in 1872, and bought a half-interest in a farm in the north part of this township. In 1881, he sold this interest, and bought the place on which he now lives. Mr. Hackett was first married to Rebecca Pearson, a native of Ohio, who bore him seven children - none now living. Mrs. Hackett died in 1846, a member of the Christian Church. In 1861, he married Mrs. Mary A. (Carr) Barker, a native of Virginia, who bore him two children, and died in 1869. She, also, was a member of the Christian Church. In April, 1873, he married Mrs. Martha A. (Doan) Hall, and this lady is also a member of the Christian Church.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Franklin Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


E. PATTISON, son of George and Ann (Dunton) Pattison, was born in Kentucky in 1813. In 1827, the parents came to Fayette County, this State, and in 1870 removed to Madison County, where they died. E Pattison resided in Fayette County until 1839, when he removed to Blackford County. He was married, in Fayette County, to Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Peter and Hannah Snull, and native of West Virginia. In 1847, Mr. Pattison came to this township, and for awhile practiced medicine; then for five years practiced in Winamac. His health failing, he was compelled to relinquish his profession, and visit California, which he did in 1853, returning in 1855. In 1870, he turned his attention to farming. He has had born to him twelve children - Clarissa, Rebecca, R. Newton (deceased), Sarah A. (deceased), Harriet, Edward A., William H., Zoe E., Laura B., Ida M., John F. and Mattie.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Franklin Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


WILLIAM O. TAYLOR was born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 6, 1824, and was the third in a family of ten children born to Homer R. and Deborah (Hinton) Taylor, natives respectively of Connecticut and Ohio. At the early age of eleven, Homer R. Taylor was taken to Delaware County by his parents; there he was married, and engaged in farming until May, 1842, when he brought his wife and family to this township, where he entered 200 acres of land, which he improved and resided upon until his death March 2, 1847. He was a member of the Baptist Church. William O. Taylor, at the age of twenty-three, began life for himself on a piece of land his father had given him. This he cultivated one year, and then went to Vincennes and drove stage for two years; then returned to this county and resumed farming in Tippecanoe Township. In 1857, he sold out and bought a place in this township, and now owns 128 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Taylor was married in December, 1849, to Calista Tibbits, a native of Michigan. She died in December, 1850, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. January 10, 1853, he married to Miss Catherine Hewett, a native of Indiana, and a member of the United Brethren Church. This lady bore him six children (four yet living), and died December 6, 1869. November 16, 1872, he married his present wife, Miss Jane Riley, who is a native of Indiana, and a member of the Christian Church. In February, 1865, Mr. Taylor enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and received his discharge in June of the same year at Tullahoma, Tenn. In politics, he is a Republican.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Franklin Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883


Nathan Harper was born June 9, 1871 in Gilliam, Indiana. He was one of five children born to George Stollard Guild and Claracy Rachel McGimpsey (or McJempsy), married on May 19, 1867 in Medaryville.

Nathan married Millie Francis Massey on June 09, 1889 in Gilliam, Indiana. Millie was born to Reason Lucien P. Massey and Eliza June Poisel on August 18, 1836 in Marion, Indiana. Nathan and Millie had eight children: Anna Marie, born April 29, 1890; Earl Eugene, born September 07, 1894; Lessie Floy, born September 07, 1894; Mildred, born September 23, 1900; Claude Winford, born November 3, 1902; George Massey, born September 29, 1903; Ralph Lucien, born October 18, 1905 in Jasper, Indiana; Kenneth Clifford, born October 19, 1907.

In about 1906, Nathan traveled to San Francisco, California. A year later, Millie followed him out on the train with the children. Claude had died in 1904 and Ralph died August 27, 1907 in Medaryville. Millie’s granddaughter, Barbara Porter recalled her grandmother telling her a story about how the train got snowed in going over the Donner Pass from Nevada into California. Earl was sent out to a nearby farm for milk for the the baby. They promised that they would hold the train for his return. When they got to San Francisco, Millie was surprised at how much damage had been caused by the 1906 earthquake. The cracks in the buildings were still very evident.

It appears that Anna did not come out to California with the family. She married Orrin S. Bell in 1908. At some point, the family moved from San Francisco to Riverside County, California. For years, I heard that Grandpa Guild (Nathan) was a mule skinner. As a small child I could not understand why anyone would skin a mule. Of course, I found out later that he hauled freight.

Nathan died July 20, 1937 in Banning, California. Millie Francis was killed in an automobile accident April 18, 1937in Redlands, California.

Contributed by Zoe Erickson


Indiana Census, Harrison Twp., Pulaski Co., enumerated on 7th day of September 1850, Dwelling No. 378, Family 378:

Michael RHODES, 35 M, Farmer, $250 Real Estate, b. PA
Niss            "        , 31 F, b. PA
William       "        ,10 M, b. PA
Angaline      "       ,  8  F, b. PA
Kitty Ann     "       ,  6  F, b. PA
Henry           "       ,  4 M, b. IN
Daniel          "       ,  2 M, b. IN

Indiana Census, Harrison Twp., Pulaski County, enumerated on the 9th day of
July 1860, Page 54, Lines 22 thru 30, Dwelling No. 384, Family No. 384

Michael ROADS, 45 M, $1,000 Real Estate, $400 Personal, b PA
Mary ROADS,     35 F, b PA
William     "         20 M, b PA
Anjaline     "        18 F, b PA
Catharine    "       16 F, b PA
Henry          "      14 M, b IN
Daniel         "       12 M, b IN
Sarah          "        10 F, b IN
Harriet        "          8 F, b IN
This Census indicates that Michael and Mary did not know how to read and Henry
and Daniel attended school within the year.

Indiana Census, Harrison Twp, Pulaski Co, enumerated on the 14th of July, 1870

Page 18, Lines 32 thru 35, Dwelling No. 123, Family No. 117
ROADS, Mary, 52 F, Keeping House, $1,000 Real Estate, b PA
     "      , Daniel, 20 M, b. IN
     "      , Sarah,  15 F, b IN
     "      , Harriet, 12 F, b IN
This census indicates that Mary, Sarah, & Harriet could not read or write.

Page 19, Lines 36 thru Line 1, Page 20 Dwelling No. 139, Family No. 125  
ROADS, William, 31 M, Farmer, $800 Real Est., $200 Per., b PA
     "      , Fianna,   31 F, Keeping House, b. IN
     "      , Laura B.    4 F, b. IN
     "      , Frank        3 M, b IN
     "      , Catherine   2 F, b IN
     "      ,  Mary         1 F, b IN
Michael RHODES died on 12 April 1863 and is buried in Bruce Lake Cemetery near the Fulton/Pulaski County IN line.
William ROADS died on 15 June 1873. His daughter Mary had already died. Both are buried in Bruce Lake Cemetery near the Fulton/Pulaski County IN line.
All of William ROADS dealings: Civil War service, Marriage Record, Probate & Guardianship records, widow's pension, etc. is under the spelling ROADS.
Both Michael and William died intestate.
Mary (NISS) RHODES b. 29 Dec. 1818 d. 16 Aug 1906 in Winamac IN and is buried in Bruce Lake Cemetery near the Fulton/Pulaski County, IN line.

Certificate of Marriage License


State of Indiana, Cass County, ss:
	The State of Indiana, to any person empowered by law to Solemnize Marriages
in said County, Greeting:
	You are hereby authorized to join together as Husband and Wife, Henry ROADS
and Florence FINK
	In Testimony Whereof, I, Horace M. BLISS,
				Clerk of the Cass Circuit Court, have hereunto set 
				  my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at
				  Logansport, this 21st day of December, 1869.
					 Horace M. BLISS. Clerk.

State of Indiana, Cass County, ss:
	I, Henry McCOMBS a Justice of the Peace, in said County do certify that on
the 23rd day of December, 1869. I joined together as husband and wife, Henry
RHOADS and Florence FINK
	Given under my hand, this 23rd day of December, 1869.
										Henry McCOMBS

State of Indiana, Cass County, ss:
	I, T. J. McELHENY, Clerk of the Circuit Court within and for said County of
Cass and State of Indiana, do hereby certify the foregoing to be true and
correct copies of the Marriage License and certificate of marriage of Henry
RHOADS to Florence FINK, as the same appear upon the Marriage Record now on
file in my office.
		In Witness Whereof, I, have hereto subscribed my name
			and affixed the seal of said Court, at Logansport, on
			this 26th day of October, 1914.
				[signed] T. J. McElheny   Clerk.

Submitted by Dusti



Mary Shellhart Young was an Indian Creek pioneer. In 1850 at the age of nine years, Mary Ann Shellhart, accompanied by her parents, came from her birthplace in Seneca county, Ohio to Logansport, Indiana on a boat operated on the Wabash-Erie canal. From Logansport the family made their way afoot to the Shellhart farm south west of Winamac. Here a log cabin was erected. In this log cabin she lived with her parents and in later years with her brother, George Shellhart and nephew, Isaac Shellhart, until June 1932 when it was destroyed by fire. Mary Ann Shellhart, daughter of John and Caroline Sherberger Shellhart, was born Oct. 24, 1841 in Seneca county, Ohio. In 1860 she became the wife of Jacob Oliver, who became a soldier in the Civil War and died in the infamous Libby Prison, where so many Union prisoners of war met a like fate. Two children were born to this union. In 1866 the young widow married Casper Young, who preceded her in death in 1885. To this union ten children were born. Mary Ann Shellhart Young returned to the Shellhart farm and retained the Shellhart surname, using it until her death in May of 1935 in Winamac, Indiana.Surviving family members at the time of her death included four daughters- Cora Sanders,Logansport; Ida Mullins, Crown Point; Cornelia Perry, Mishawaka and Lena Foote, South Bend; two sons- Wallace Young, Winamac and Walter Young of Jefferson township; a brother, George Shellhart; two half sisters, Julia Markley, Francesville and Elizabeth Lambert of English Lake.

Submitted by Thelma Conrad


Wilma B. Foltz Dec. 13, 1920 - May 15, 2003

Wilma B. Foltz, 82, 705 E. 4th Street, Rochester, passed away Thursday at her residence.

Born on December 13, 1920, in Richland Township to Clayton and Sarah (O'Blenis) Mow, she married Robert E. Foltz on April 2, 1960, in Lake Bruce. He preceded in death on January 29, 1999. Mrs. Foltz had worked for Kroger Grocery Store in Rochester for 27 years. She had attended the First Church of God, Rochester. Survivors include one son, Larry and wife LaVonda Burnett, Argos, one daughter, Carole and husband Lynn Veeser, Powers, Mich., five grandchildren, Clayton Lee and wife Shellie Burnett, Churubusco, Brian Burnett, Brownsburg, Christopher and Ryan Veeser, both of Powers, Mich., and Heather and husband Ryan Stutzman, Rochester, seven great-grandchildren, Belinda, MaKayla and Rebecca Stutzman, Rochester, Nathan Burnett, Dothan, Alabama, and Christopher, Allen and Wesley McVicar, Churubusco, and one brother-in-law, Eldrith Cook, Rochester. She was preceeded in death by her parents and two sisters, Ruth and Eloise Cook. Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Whippoorwill Community Church with reverend Brian Sewell officiating. Friends may call from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be at Richland Center Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Gideons' International.

Submitted by: Ann Grubb


Keys Families of Pulaski and Cass Counties.

Andrew Keys, his wife Elizabeth, and their two sons William G. and Thomas H. traveled most likely down the Ohio River and settled in what was then called the west. Andrew purchased 40 acres and later additional 160 acres from the U.S. government in Pulaski Co. Indiana from 1839-1855. Andrew operated a tavern, ran a ferry service cross the Tippecanoe River, became a Judge, and farmed his land with his two sons. Andrew, a Democrat was active in politics and held national elections in his home. Andrew was a Free Mason, an Episcopal, and a pioneer in development of Pulaski County. While the maiden name of his wife is still not known, much has been learned about her two sons and their families. Andrew died in 1857 at age 71 and is buried in the Winamac cemetery, Winamac Indiana.

William Graham Keys was born in Pennsylvania in 1819 and settled in Pulaski County, Indiana with his family in 1939. As a young man William farmed his father Andrews' land with his brother Thomas. Thomas married Amy Holmes in 1842. Thomas H. and Amy I. Holmes Keys had 12 known children. Mary, Eliza J., Jerome, Andrew, Estella, Dora, Maud, June, Mose, and Rush. In 1845 William married Lettitia Ann Stipp. Lettitia was the daughter of Abraham Stipp, another pioneer to Pulaski Co. Lettitia and William had seven children. Thomas, Elizabeth, Serelda, Ervin, Della, Lettitia O., and William Andrew. Serelda married George Troutman, Elizabeth (Libbie) married Alex Gray, Thomas married Martitia Whipple and later Irene Marlott. The later two, the only known Keys children to leave Indiana. Lettitia O. married Charles Ross Brooks and the couple came to Stockton, CA. William Andrew and his wife Angenora Gerhart Keys also came to California in 1915 and settled in Stockton. William G. and his wife Lettitia purchased land neighboring William's brother Thomas. Thomas took over their father’s farm after his death. William G. and Lettitia moved to Cass Co. around 1880 when Thomas H. died. Lettitia Ann Stipp's ancestors were veterans of the Revolutionary War. Her father Abraham Stipp was born in 1805, grandson to George, a veteran of the Rev War. Both William G. and Lettitia are buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Logansport.

William Andrew Keys born in Indiana in 1854, the second child to William Graham Keys and Lettitia Ann Stipp. As a young man Will, as he was known, learned the trade of house painter and later became an Insurance Salesman. In 1906 Will was ordained a Minister of the Perrysberg, Indiana Baptist Church. 1872 was the year Will married Miss Angenora Gerhart. Nora had inherited considerable property in Logansport, Indiana from her mother, Mrs. Rachael Deam Gerhart. Will and Nora settled on that land, and from 1877 through 1889 the couple had six children. Della who died at age 17, Harriett passed on at age 3, Flora only lived to the age of 5, Edith Bell, married and died at age 32, Walter lived only less than one year and Herbert Stetson, the only survivor. Herbert left Indiana as a young man and met and married Martha Schatz in 1915. Will and Nora moved west to Stockton, California and lived with son Herbert and his family. Will died in 1916 and Nora lived until 1937.

Herbert Stetson Keys was born March 4, 1889 in Logansport, Indiana. Herbert was a house painter as a young man and in the early 1900's left Indiana for the northwest. After a short stay in Montana, Herbert he met Martha Schatz in Spokane, Washington. The couple moved to Stockton, California in 1914-15 when they were married. Herbert soon started a detective agency with a partner called the Keys Detective Agency. Their fine work won them jobs with the federal government as Revenue Agents during prohibition. Their territory was San Francisco through the Delta to Lodi and Stockton. From 1920 to 1938 they shut down opium dens and bootleggers in the Chinese towns in the towns of Locke & Walnut Grove. Herbert and Martha had three children. Herbert was a master plumber, a captivating storyteller about his detective days, and a wonderful photographer. Herbert died in Oakland in 1971 and is interned at the Rural Cemetery in Stockton along with his wife and parents.

Sources: U.S . Fed Census, Deeeds from Cas and Pulaski Counties, Family Bibles, Probate records and personal interviews.
Submitted by: Barbara LaMarche


John Frain. Few citizens of Pulaski County are more widely known or have taken a more active part in the up-building and development of this section of Indiana than John Frain, who, for some fifty-five years has been a resident here. Like all of the frontiersmen, he was obliged to endure many hardships in the early days, but he possesses the courage and force of character of his German ancestors, and by persistence and determination won a decided victory over difficulties that would have daunted many men.

The original spelling of our subject's surname was Frahn, it is believed, and by accident or design it was changed to its present form. His grandfather Frain was born in Germany and was for years a resident in the environs of Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the teaming business. The parents of John Frain were Peter and Rebecca (Bilger) Frain, both natives of Maxatawney Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The father, who was small in stature, and weighed only one hundred and forty pounds, was a stonemason by trade, and while working and lifting received injuries from the effects of which he died, December 28, 1822, at the age of forty-six years. At that time he was making his home near Middleburg, in Centre Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, and his remains were laid at rest in the old Hosinger Lutheran churchyard. He was a lifelong member of that church. His will was probated before Peter Hachenberg, at New Berlin, January 4, 1823, John Bilger, his brother-in-law, being named as his executor.

His widow, Rebecca Frain, who was born December 14, 1785, died January 31, 1874, and was buried in the Grubb churchyard in Union County, Pennsylvania. She had become acquainted with Mr. Frain in childhood, but their marriage took place in Union County, where she thenceforth made her dwelling-place. Four years subsequent to the death of Mr. Frain she became the wife of Frederick Meiser, who was a substantial farmer and the proprietor of a saw and gristmill. They had two sons, namely: Joseph, born November 12, 1827, and Frederick, June 23, 1829. The elder son, who died in 1896, never left the old homestead in Union County, and in addition to owning considerable valuable real estate he was the owner of several mills. He married a Miss Schadel first, and had five children by that union, and later married another lady and had several children. Frederick, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Meiser, is now living in Perry County, Pennsylvania. He has been married three times, his first wife being a Miss Houser, and several children graced their union. Mrs. Rebecca (Frain) Meiser was a large woman physically, and was exceedingly active and energetic. Doubtless her children inherited from her much of her strength of constitution and keenness and vigor of mind and disposition. Her father, George Bilger, a tailor by trade, came to America from Germany prior to the war for independence, and during the Revolution he was employed in making clothes for the soldiers. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Robert Hasley, a carpenter, and lived in the Keystone State. Rebecca (Mrs. Frain) was the next in order of birth, Susan, the next, first married Samuel Boyer, a tanner of Middlebury, and later she became the wife of a Mr. Keller and had several children. Jacob, the next of the family, married Mollie Gilbert, and he, as well as his younger brothers, George and John, were stonemasons, all living in Pennsylvania. John was engaged in farming also, and for his wife he chose a Miss Wetzel. Frederick, the youngest of the family, also a farmer, was born November 6, 1787, in Maxatawney Township, Berks County, and married a Miss Katherine Boyer.

John Frain is the fourth child of Peter and Rebecca (Bilger) Frain. The eldest, Sarah, was born March 20, 1809, died February 6, 1893, and was buried in the Winamac Cemetery. In her girlhood she became the second wife of Lewis Guss, who was a tailor by trade. She bore him eighteen children, eight of whom are living, and Edward and Peter reside in Pulaski County. Catherine, born about 1811, died and was buried in Michigan. She was the wife of Benjamin Shetherley, a farmer of that state, and a number of children blessed their union. Peter, born February 2, 1814, in Middleburg, Pennsylvania, died in that town May 6, 1889. He was a tailor by trade and followed that calling throughout his active life. For a wife he chose Nancy Baughmann and they became the parents of John, Charles, Howard, Mary Elizabeth and Martha. ELIZABETH, born July 14, 1818, in Middleburg, married MICHAEL WOMER*, who was born December 15, 1818. When they had reached middle life they were quite substantial people, physically, as he weighed two hundred and forty-five pounds, while her weight was about two hundred and twenty-five or thirty. Their children, seven sons and three daughters, were also remarkably large and strong. Peter married a Miss Rouch and moved to Michigan, where he has become wealthy and highly respected. He owns about thirteen hundred acres of fertile land, most of which is under high cultivation. George, born September 7, 1820, in Middleburg, died and was buried in Lafayette, Indiana, in November 1893. He came to the west in 1842, and, after spending a year in Logansport, went to Lafayette, where he made his permanent home. For some time he was engaged in running a tailoring establishment, but later he dealt in real estate and did teaming and transferring. He married a Miss Cook and their only child was Oscar. Mary, born May 4, 1822, died in Perry County, Pennsylvania, at the age of fifty-five years. Her first husband, Henry Sechrist, was a prosperous farmer, owning large islands in the Susquehanna River. They had two daughters. After the death of Mr. Sechrist his widow married Henry C. Clemens and they had several children. Both are now dead.

The birth of John Frain, of this sketch, occurred October 3, 1816, in the town of Middleburg, Union County, Pennsylvania. He was young when death deprived him of his father, and after his mother's second marriage the lad was offered sixty dollars to stay with them until he was eighteen years of age, Lewis Guss being made his guardian. Six months at the blacksmiths trade, however, was as much as the youth desired, and he left home and worked for George Lyman, a carpenter, for two years, and learned the trade, Mr. Lyman giving him only his board for his services. He then completed his trade at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a journeyman until June 1839, when he started west, believing that he would have better opportunities in a new country.

On the 25th of June, 1839, he and Rudolph Hoch embarked on a canal boat at Lewistown, thence going to Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, over the mountains to Johnstown, and by canal to Pittsburgh, down to the Ohio River to Cincinnati, and, after two days spent in that town, went by state to Indianapolis. There they found employment with Jonathan Gable, a contractor and builder, for three months, after which they went to Rochester, and there separated, Mr. Hoch going to visit his sister, Mrs. Abraham Bruce, in Fulton County, while our subject went to Laporte County, and worked at his trade with Mr. Griffith Treadway, until December, 1839. The two young men then joined their fortunes again, and prospered in various places, -- Laporte, Michigan City, South Bend, Plymouth, Rochester, Delphi Logansport and Lafayette among others, -- looking for work and a good opening for business. At the last named place they remained, being employed by J. L. Pfeifer until the spring of 1840, and thus Mr. Frain was enabled to attend the convention that nominated William Henry Harrison for the presidency, on the famous battleground at Tippecanoe.

In May 1840, the two young men came to Pulaski County, where Mr. Hoch has sisters residing. In 1842 Mr. Frain bought, for two hundred dollars in cash, the preemption claim of Jesse Klinger (uncle of Colfax Klinger, of Winamac). This tract of land, one hundred and forty-two acres and a fraction, situated on Section 19, in Monroe Township, Pulaski County, was improved by a small log cabin, and five acres had been broken and planted with corn. The patent to this property was made out to Mr. Frain, August 1, 1844, and signed by the President of the United States, John Tyler. IN the spring of 1844 he returned to this native state on a visit. In the autumn of the same year he came back to Indiana, but before going east he became the owner of another tract of land - thirty-three acres, bought of Henry P. Rowan, the payment therefore being one horse. In 1846 Mr. Frain settled on his farm, which has been his home ever since, and as the years passed he added to his possessions and improved his property until it bears little resemblance to the wild tract of half a century ago. In the home place he has about five hundred acres, in addition to which he owns forth-three on Section 19, same township; and one hundred and sixty acres - the old Helm farm - in Harrison Township, now managed by his son, Felix Frain. Altogether, Mr. Frain owns about eight hundred acres in this county, four hundred acres or more of this being improved and under cultivation, and three good dwellings and other buildings stand on this property. After coming here he resided in the old cabin for four years, and then built a large log house, which sheltered his family until 1865. That year witnessed the erection of the present house of our subject. He owns an interest in the Frain Hotel, at Winamac, and it is named in his honor, and besides this he owns other property there.

The marriage of John Frain and Rebecca Jane Donham, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Cohee) Donham, took place January 1, 1846. She was born October 15, 1820, in St. Clair Township, Butler County, Ohio, on her father's farm, and when she was but three years old her mother, then only thirty years of age, was summoned to the silent land. She left five children, namely: Rachel, Sarah, John, Rebecca and Nancy. The father married again, choosing Mary Lyman for his wife, and they became the parents of Mary, Julia and Samuel. The entire family of Daniel Donham (with the exception of Rachel) came west in 1837 and located in Carroll County, Indiana. The father died July 30, 1863, aged seventy odd years. He was of English descent, a son of Richard and Nancy Donham, of Delaware. Richard and Nancy Donham passed their entire lives in that state, and left three children: Rachel, Daniel and Hannah. The Cohees, as well and the Donhams, were Delaware people.

The children born to John Frain and wife are named as follows: Edwin, Daniel, > George, John, Mary Emma, Felix B. T., Sarah Jane, William Henry and Alice. Edwin and Felix B. T. are represented elsewhere in this work. Daniel, born March 12, 1848, is the proprietor of a marble yard at Rochester, Indiana. He married Elnora Emory, and has three sons, William Henry, Carl and Howard. George, born February 2, 1850, was married on Christmas day 1872, to Fiana, daughter of William Wentz. She was born in Harrison Township, this county, March 25, 1855, and by her marriage has two daughters, Hilda Myrtle and Mary Belle, aged sixteen and eleven years, respectively. John, born December 6, 1851, died June 16, 1863. Mary Emma, born December 19, 1853, became the wife of George Washington Graffis, a farmer of this county, December 31, 1874. His birth occurred March 31, 1850, in Pulaski County. Their children are: Bertha Alice, born September 22, 1875; Virgil Warren, July 29, 1877; Earl Floyd, March 29, 1879; and Thomas Errett, June 6, 1881. Bertha Alice and Elmer Rouch were united in marriage July 12, 1892, and their two children are Otto Samuel, born June 7, 1893, and Grace Marguerite, December 15, 1894. Sarah Jane, born December 27, 1858, is the wife of David Wood, a miller, living at Terre Haute, and their children are Effie Frain and Otto. William Henry, born May 8, 1861, died March 17, 1872. Alice, born October 2, 1864, died October 1, 1865.

The ancestors of John Frain were stanch members of the German Lutheran Church, > and he was reared in that creed, while his wife's relatives were Methodists. Some of their children are identified with the Christian Church, but without exception, the entire Frain family is always found on the side of righteousness, education and whatever tends toward the bettering and elevating of humanity. Prior to the Civil War Mr. Frain was a Whig, and since the organization of the Republican Party he has been loyal to its teachings. His word is considered as good as his bond, and his name is a synonym for integrity, justice and honor.

Submitted by: Ruth Ryan
Tippecanoe, White, Jasper and Newton Counties, Indiana
Originally Published in 1899
by Lewis Publishing Co.


Deb Murray