Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

HILL BROTHERS. Vigorous enterprise has been the keynote in the successful establishment of Hill Brothers at Fairmount, where they carry on a butchering and meat refrigeration and market business which is one of the best managed plants of its kind to be found anywhere outside of the largest cities. To furnish people with good food products has always been an honorable vocation, but in recent years it has come to be seen that such a service is one of the most important that man can render to his fellow men. That is the sole business of Hill Brothers, and they deserve the greatest credit for the manner in which they are performing it. The firm comprises James T. Hill and S. Brooks Hill. Some mention of their individual careers and their families will be of interest in this history of Grant county and are briefly sketched in the following paragraphs.

The parents were Israel and Sarah J. (Sharpe) Hill, both natives of Pennsylvania. The Hill family is of English and German origin, while the Sharpes are of German and French extraction. Israel Hill and wife were married in Fulton county, and spent their lives there as farmers, the father being a member of the Primitive Baptist faith, while his wife was of the Christian denomination. Israel Hill died at the age of seventy-three and his wife followed him at the age of seventy-six. Their children are mentioned as follows: Louisiana is the wife of Jack Hixson, a farmer in Miami county, Ohio. Their three sons are Ira, Charles and Walter. Howard is a merchant at Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, and married Norah Runyon, and their children are Cora and Verna.

James T. Hill, the senior member of the firm of Hill Brothers, and third in order of birth in the family, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1868, received an education in the public schools about in the same manner as his brother, and starting out to make his own way, learned the butcher's trade at the National Soldiers Home in Dayton, Ohio. While at Dayton, he was married, and then established an enterprise as a breeder and raiser of fine hogs, of the improved Duroc Jersey strain. He did a good business in that line, raising from three hundred to four hundred every year. After eight years in that work he moved to Fairmount City, in 1904, and became associated with his brother in the meat market business. These two have since combined their energy and experience in building up a flourishing enterprise. James T. Hill was first married at Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Fannie Heckman, of Montgomery county, that state. She was born, reared and educated in the vicinity of Dayton, and died five years after her marriage. The three children left at her death were Anna, Harry and Hallie, all of whom are now in Fairmount public school. Mr. James T. Hill for his second wife married Miss Eva Bell Butts. She was a native of Montgomery county, where they were married. They are the parents of William B. and Mary G.

S. Brooks Hill was born in the foothills of the Alleghany mountains in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1873. His early training and home influence were on a farm and he belonged to a thrifty Pennsylvania family. He grew up and was educated in the common schools and first qualified himself for a career as a teacher. When a boy he got his education by walking night and morning two and a half miles to a district school. Later he went to the county normal, and then spent three years as a teacher.

S. Brooks Hill, after he gave up his occupation as a school teacher, having about that time reached his majority, moved out to Dayton, Ohio, and spent four years in the meat and grocery business. That was the foundation of his experience which enabled him to start out on his own account when he came to Fairmount in January, 1898. Here he first took the management of a local telephone company, and spent seven years in that work. In 1904, he established a meat market, and after a few months bought out his partner, and was then joined by his brother. The Hill Brothers enterprise is much above the average scope of a local meat market. They not only have a well equipped shop for disposing of their meat on the block, but maintain a slaughter house, and have a complete refrigerating plant for the preserving and curing of all their products. Electricity is the power which operates the entire plant. A large part of the business is the preparation of the meat consumed by nearly all the farmers in this section of Grant county, and their equipment has been especially designed to meet the demands of this class of trade. By careful management and efficient service they have built up a very profitable business.

Mr. S. Brooks Hill was married in Monroe county, Ohio, to Miss Caroline Johnsman, who was born in Mercer county on a farm, received a public school education, and has been a most helpful companion to her husband. Their children are: Thelma, now eleven years of age and attending the city schools; and Clemons Lamont, who is five years of age.

Milton B. Hill, the youngest of the Hill Brothers, was born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1876. He married Bertha Lake, and they have two children, Vivian and Kittie. Mr. Hill resides on the old home farm in Fulton county, Pennsylvania.

"BLACKFORD AND GRANT COUNTIES INDIANA, A CHRONICLE OF THEIR PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT WITH FAMILY LINEAGE AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS"; Complied Under the Editorial Supervision of BENJAMIN G. SHINN; vol. II ; THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY; CHICAGO AND NEW YORK; 1914
Submitted by:Peggy Karol and Karen Overholt

ELIHU J. OREN. A resident of Monroe township for more than seventy years, and one of the best known and most successful farmers and citizens of that locality, Elihu J. Oren is a product of pioneer environment and of the old-fashioned log school house, of the kind that has passed down into history along with the stage-coach and the hoop-alert. The school days, even in that rough and primitive institution were limited, and much of his education was obtained at his father's knee, and by such schooling as he was able to give himself in the opportunity of leisure. In spite of its many deficiencies, however, this old-fashioned training had a way of bringing out sober, industrious, God-fearing men, such as Elihu J. Oren himself, the kind of men who have proved the backbone and mainstay of our nation, and have reared up a steady new generation of able men and women for the honor of the country.

Elihu J. Oren was born February 20, 1835, in Green county, Ohio, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Evans) Oren, the father a native of Tennessee, and the mother of southern Indiana. Col. Robert M. Evans, an uncle of Elizabeth Evans, platted and laid out the site of Evansville, Indiana. Elizabeth Evans was born in Davis county, Indiana. Jesse Oren, the father, was born December 12, 1806, and died September 13, 1874. His father, John Oren, moved to Clinton county, Ohio, in 1818, and his people were Quakers. Jesse Oren was reared in Clinton county, Ohio, and on September 12, 1830, married Elizabeth Evans, who was born June 6, 1808, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Evans. Her death occurred May 8, 1863. Jesse Oren and wife moved to Grant county with their family and reached Monroe township, November 12, 1841. They had to cut a road from the Charles Atkinson place to the site of the eighty acres which the father had bought in the midst of the woods. Not an acre of the land was cleared and the first home of the family in this county was a rough cabin built of round logs, and with scarcely any furniture or creature comforts. Jesse Oren bought eighty acres, but soon afterwards a period of invalidism seized him and his son Elihu assumed the obligations for payment of this new land. The nine children in the family of the parents were: John E., deceased; Mrs. Margaret Skinner, deceased; Elihu J.; Mrs. Elizabeth Atkinson, deceased; Mrs. Rebecca S. Hunnicutt, deceased; Sarah Jane Benedict; Rachael Kirkpatrick, and Esther Foy, all three deceased; and Henry G. of Blackford county. The father of these children was an excellent scholar for his time, and in default of the poor schools that existed in this section of Indiana, he did much of the work of instruction among his growing children.

Elihu J. Oren for a few terms attended the number eight school in Monroe township, and supplied the other deficiencies of his training with the wisdom of his father, and by close observation and practical experience. He lived with his father until the latter's death, and contributed his labor to the support of the family and the care of his invalid father. He then came into possession of the home place of eighty acres and bought other land as he was able until at the present time he is the owner of two hundred acres, with eighty acres in section 20, eighty acres in section 28, and he and his son have a place of eighty acres in section 32, all in Monroe township. The homestead is in section 28. Mrs. Oren also owns fifteen acres in Blackford county. The crops for 1912 on the Oren estate aggregated two thousand bushels of corn, twelve hundred bushels of oats, twenty tons of hay. He fed and wintered fifty-two hogs, and a considerable bunch of cattle. Each year about seventy hogs are sent to market from Oren farm, and the other herds of stock include about a carload of cattle every year, some twenty sheep and eleven horses for the work of the farm. Mr. Oren has a very comfortable homestead and is one of the oldest houses in this section of the county, having been built under his supervision in 1861, more than half a century ago. All the lumber for the dwelling was hand-dressed, its walls and framing were put together very strong, and there are few houses of modern construction which would stand so long as this one. The dwelling is situated on an eminence, and both house and barns are painted a dark green. The barn was finished in October, 1876.

Mr. Oren was married March 6, 1871, to Miss Mary Townsend, a daughter of James S. Townsend. Two of their children died in infancy, and they have reared ten, named as follows; Jason of Gas City; Otto, of Carroll county, Missouri; Jasper, at home in Monroe township; Mrs. Bertha Atkinson of Monroe township; James E., a dairyman of Center township; Bruce D., a blacksmith at Upland in Jefferson township; Fletcher H., of Upland; Warren, at home; Stella Atkinson, of Gas City; Charles, at home.

In the community life of Monroe township Mr. Oren has long been an important factor. He is a Democrat and has taken active and influential part in party councils. In 1872 he was chosen to the office of township trustee, and by reelection served for eight years consecutively.

In 1884 he was again a successful candidate for the same office, and served for four years, making twelve years in all. He has frequently attended state and congressional conventions as a delegate, and was a delegate to the last congressional convention in the campaign of 1912. Religiously he supports the Universalist faith. Fraternally he is very prominent in several organizations. He became a member of the Masonic lodge at Jonesboro in 1860, and now affiliates with the Arcana Lodge F. & A. M., of Upland, of which he is a charter member and was the first Master. He belongs to the Chapter and the Council at Hartford City. He affiliates with Shidler Lodge No. 352, I. O. O. F. at Upland, and is also a member of the Encampment. He belongs to the Hartford City Lodge No. 625 of the B. P. O. E. Mr. Oren was the first master and a charter member of the Arcana lodge of Masons then at Arcana, now located at Upland. He has represented the Masonic order in the Grand Lodge frequently. He has filled all the chairs in the Odd Fellows subordinate lodge and also the encampment, and has represented both divisions in state meetings. He served as a delegate to the state meeting of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Anderson, Ind., in 1912, and also at Lafayette in 1913, representing Hartford City Lodge, No. 625.

HENRY A. HANLEY. A number of years ago prosperity came to Henry A. Hanley, and entirely through his own efforts and through the medium of progressive agriculture and stock raising. Mr. Hanley, when a child lost his father, as a result of exposure and disease, during service in the Union army. That caused him to be thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and while his education was neglected he grew up familiar with hard work from a tender age, and has earned his own support from a time when most modern children are in the lower grades to succeed, and long since arrived at a place where his success has been subject of commendation by his neighbors.

Henry Alva Hanley, the third is his parents' family, was born near Hartford City, Indiana, November 25, 1857. He comes down through a family of respectable and worthy people, and his grandfather lived for a number of years in Ohio, where he died. He was a farmer. Of the grandparents' children, Washington, Burr, James and Lafayette were all born in Ohio, and later settled in Indiana, where they followed farming. The only survivor is Lafayette, who is a retired farmer living in Muncie. Burr Hanley was born in Ohio, and was a young man when he came to Indiana, and started life as a farmer in Blackford county, near Hartford City. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted as a private in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, his brother Lafayette being in the same regiment, and after some months of service contracted the measles and was sent home on a furlough of forty days. Apparently recovering from his illness, he returned to join his command but about twenty days later was stricken with a severe cold, and his brother Lafayette sent him back home. When within twenty miles of his home, and at Muncie, he died, and his body was brought on to Blackford county, where it was buried, but subsequently was removed to the Masonic cemetery near Hartford City, where it now rest beside that of his second wife. Burr Hanley first married a Miss Roberts, and their two daughters were: Evaline, who is married and lives in Martin's Ferry, Ohio and Permelia, who died after her marriage to Sherman Fields. Burr Hanley's second wife was Hannah Atkinson, who was born in Indiana. After Mr. Hanley's death she married William Ord, and she died in Hartford City when thirty-seven years of age. There was one son by her marriage to Mr. Ord , Sherman, who died accidentally in a saw mill at Portland, Oregon. Burr and Hannah Hanley had the following children: John, who died after his marriage to Mary Deeren, who now lives in Muncie, and has a family; William, who is married and has a family and lives in Alexandria, Indiana; Henry A.; and Mary, who died in early girlhood.

Henry A. Hanley was reared until nine years of age in the home of his parents in Blackford county, lived with his step-father few years, and at the age of nine was taken into the home of James Pugh, a farmer in Jefferson township of Grant county. That was his home, and there he learned the lessons of industry, but very little by attendance at school, until he was twenty-four years of age. With his savings he then bought forty acres of land, in section fourteen of Jefferson township, and was the third successive owner of that land, its pioneer settler and owner having been a Mr. Oswald, who got it direct from the government. Mr. Hanley has continued his business career in this vicinity ever since, improved his first estate and has developed comparison with that of any to be found in the township. The forty acres were first increased to eighty acres, and subsequently he bought eighty acres lying in section fifteen. It is in section fourteen that a few years ago he built his fine ten-room modern home, and in 1890 put up a substantial red barn on a foundation forty by forty feet. His other farm buildings and all his cultivation and improvement show the thrifty farmer. A believer in the modern system of cultivation which conserves the fertility of the soil, he keeps a lot of high-grade stock, and feeds practically all his crops to his cattle and hogs. The most commendable thing of all is that all of the property thus described represents the concrete achievements of a career which was begun practically in poverty and with many handicaps such as the majority of Grant county farmers did not have to contend with.

In Jefferson township in the spring of 1882, Mr. Hanley married Miss Emma Gadbury, who was born in Licking township, Blackford county, Indiana, in February, 1863, and was reared and educated in that vicinity. She died at her home in Grant county April 1, 1891, and is buried in the Elizabethtown cemetery. Four children born to them are named as follows: Tillbury, who died in infancy; Louis, the manager of his father's homestead, and one of the enterprising young farmers of Grant county, married Lois Simons of Jefferson township, who was reared and educated in this locality, and they have one child, Herbert Simons; Nira Myrtle, who is a graduate of the Upland high school; and Cora May, who is likewise well educated, and is the wife of Samuel Bishop, of the state of Montana. Mr. Hanley's parents were communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his is likewise of the same denomination and attends worship at the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal church. He and his sons are of the Democratic political faith.

ANDERSON D. MITTANK. Few families of Grant county have been longer identified with the practical working of the farm, and with civic and social affairs than the Mittanks, whose residence here began nearly eighty years ago, and who as farmers, as business men, as faithful workers for church, morality, and good government, have been effective factors in their community. Anderson D. Mittank has spent practically all his life in Jefferson township, is the owner of a beautiful rural estate in section twenty-nine, and is a man of practical energy and business ability, his standing in the community also being well indicated by the fact that he has served as president of the Farmers State Bank of Matthews, since the reorganization of that institution in 1910.

Mr. Mittank's grandfather was Christopher Mittank, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and of Pennsylvania parents and of Dutch ancestry. At one time the name was spelled Mettong, but suffered the usual American change to a form which is more easily pronounced Christopher Mittank married a Bedford county girl, and after several children were born to them in that state, including David, father of Anderson D., the family moved in 1831 to Ohio, and in 1835 continued their pioneer migration as far as Delaware county, Indiana. Christopher Mittank found a home on a new tract of land in Washington township, and went through all the experiences characteristic of pioneer life, is trying to improve his land and make satisfactory provision for his growing household of children.

Christopher Mittank since died in Delaware county, and both he and his wife were past seventy years of age. They were active members of the New Light Christian church, and honorable and upright souls, loved by all in their community. Besides David, there were several other children: John, Michael, and George, the last named being killed early in the war while fighting the battles of the Union army. John and Michael are still living, the former in Pendleton, Madison county, Indiana, and the latter at Fairmount. Of the daughters, Hannah is the widow of George Kolp, of Bureau county, Illinois; Catherine died after her marriage to Coleman Sanders, leaving a family of children; Eliza is the wife of John Dunlap, near Fairmount, and they have no children; Mary died after her marriage to Albert McCoy, of Delaware county.

David Mittank, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1824, was seven years of age when the family went to Ohio, and four years later became a resident of Grant county. He grew up to manhood, in the midst of pioneer conditions, and his schooling was of the most limited character. After his marriage he started out to work out his salvation on a place in Jefferson township. He first leased land, the old McPherson farm, the property of his wife's father, and situated on the Mississinewa river. There he lived, developed a good home, bought out the other heirs to the estate, and finally was possessed of a homestead on one hundred and thirty acres. His death occurred on that place, November 16, 1897. He came to age during the declining years of the Whig party, and probably supported that organization by his vote, and when the Republicans perfected a party organization in 1856, he was one of the supporters of its first candidates, and steadily voted that ticket until his death. However, he was reared in a family of Democrats, and according to the belief of that party. He was long an active member of the Shiloh Methodist church, in Jefferson township. Throughout his career he was known and respected for his uprightness, his honesty, his worthy citizenship, and his thrift and enterprise. While he had no early advantages in education, he became by self effort a thorough student, read history extensively, was constantly studying the Bible, and it is said that by virtue of his remarkable memory seldom forgot a fact acquired through reading or observation, and could repeat for a long time afterwards the substance, and even the greater part of the words of the sermons which he heard. Few men have so splendid a natural endowment of intellect.

David Mittank was married in Jefferson township, October 3, 1850, to Margaret McKeeber. She was born in Clinton county, Ohio, July 29, 1833, and when two years of age was brought to Grant county, so that practically all her life was spent in this section of Indiana. Her parents were Moses and Sarah (Moore) McKeeber, both natives of Virginia, but were married in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1832. Her father on coming to Grant county bought land in Jefferson township, and settled in the rough log cabin which was almost the only improvement on the place. The cabin had no floor, and for a time the fleas were so numerous that the family suffered constant discomfort from their ravages. Moses McKeeber died on the old homestead in middle life, while his widow married a Rev. Mr. Wheat of the Methodist Protestant church, and had one child by that union, and was afterwards twice married, but without children by either of her last husbands. Mrs. Margaret Mittank, wife of David, died June 16, 1900, at the home she had lived on practically all her life. She was for many years a devoted member of the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal church. Her children were as follows: John W. and Amanda, both of whom died in childhood; Amariah, who lives on a farm in Jefferson township, is married and of her three sons and two daughters all are married, except one son; Mary Etta is the wife of William Tibbett, of Marion, and they have fours sons; Edward died in infancy.

Anderson D. Mittank was born on the old home farm, February 17, 1861, received a public school education, and as soon as he reached his majority, he started out on his own account, and has effected a generous prosperity. He now owns the old McKeeber homestead, where his father lived for so many years, comprising one hundred and thirty-three acres in sections twenty-one and forty-eight and half acres in section twenty-nine. All his land is kept up to the highest notch of modern cultivation and improvement, and in 1908 a comfortable rural dwelling of eight rooms, painted brown, and with all the modern furnishings and facilities was built. The barn is now about seventeen years old, and all the improvements show how progressive a farmer Mr. Mittank is.

Anderson D. Mittank was married at Upland in 1885, to Miss Clara Gadbury, who was born in Licking township of Blackford county, Indiana, in September, 1861. Her parents were James and Mary A. (McVicker) Gadbury, the former of whom died on his father's farm in Licking township, in Blackford county, having been born April 25, 1833, and dying May 12, 1891; while his wife, who was born in Ohio, May 14, 1832, was brought in childhood to Blackford county and died there December 28, 1874. James Gadbury was an active member of the United Brethren church, a Democrat in politics, and a prominent and influential citizen of his community. Mrs. Mittank, who was reared and educated in Blackford county, was one of six children, as follows: Hulda, who died when ten years of age; Mrs. Mittank; Emma, who died after her marriage to Henry Hanley, and left three children; Riley, who is a farmer in Licking township of Blackford county, has two sons and three daughters; John, who lives on the old homestead in Blackford county, has five children; Jennie, who died when nine months old. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mittank has been born one child, William B., on February 21, 1886. His education was in the public schools, and since taking up the serious responsibilities of life he has proved a capable manager of his father's farm in Jefferson township. William B. Mittank married Gertrude Sutton, of Jefferson township, and to their marriage two children have been born as follows: Eva Marjorie, born March 28, 1909; and Opal C., born December 10, 1911. Mrs. Mittank is an active member of the Kingsley Methodist Episcopal church.

Deb Murray