Thomas Goldthwaite, ancestor of all this name in America, was born in Yorkshire, near Pateley Bridge, West Riding, England, in 1610. The "Goldthwaite Hall" is still standing or was a few years ago. "Thwaite" is a very common suffix in that part of the country and means an open space cleared in a forest, or reclaimed land. The prefix indicates a local incident probably that gold was found there, or copper, or silver, or weapons such as "Gar" a sword or spear or a tree remaining on the reclaimed or meadow land, or a prominent stone, or any object that furnished the prefix and naturally transmitted as a family name. The ancestry of this family in that region dates back to the twelfth century "Thomas" was a very common name in the English family. One third of the Christian names of the male members of this family in that country were called Thomas. Other Christian names occurring very frequently were William, Robert and John.

The American ancestors came to New England with Governor Winthrop in 1630, eight years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Practically all the early emigrants to New England were dissenters of the Cromwellian type. In 1636, Thomas became a citizen of Salem and the name appears very frequently in the annals of that historic city. Thomas was a cooper and died in 1683. In the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, this family bore its part. They fought on land and sea for independence and in the Revolution about twenty of them served with the Colonists. Among them was Thomas Goldthwaite (I), ancestor of the family of Marion. He was born in 1738 at Petersham, Massachusetts, entered the Continental army in 1776, and served until the close of the war in 1782. He had previously served in the French-Indian war from Marblehead, Massachusetts. He was of the fifth generation in this country, and the father of John Goldthwaite (II) who emigrated with the Marietta Colony of Ohio from Long Meadow, Massachusetts, in 1788, and finally settled in Fairfield county, Ohio. There, according to the Wiseman Centennial History of Lancaster, "He was probably the first school teacher. He taught in the McCleery district north of town. He had previously in 1801, taught the first school in Athens. His work here began as early as 1802 or 1803. He was a man of horticultural tastes and he planted the first orchard in Fairfield county, on the old Levering farm. He was also the proprietor of the first nursery in Fairfield county, situated on his farm in Walnut township." He died in 1830, leaving a wife and eight children, born in the following order: (III) Elijah, Margaret, Oliver, William C., John W., Mary, Cimon and Lucy. William C. died in infancy; Elijah in 1874; Margaret (wife of John Stevenson) in 1842; Oliver in 1873; Mary (wife of Judge John Brownlee) in 1847; John W. in 1890. In 1836 the widow Goldthait with all her children living, except Elijah, moved to Grant county. Her son Elijah remained several years in Ohio, and then removed to Whitley county, Indiana, and then to LaGro. He lived in Marion for about six years before his death. Mary Goldthait, the mother, died in 1847 in Marion.

The name is variously spelled Goldthait, Goldthwait, Goldthwaite and Goldthrite. It might be added that John and his wife and the seven children were devout Methodists. John is recorded in the Fairfield County History as one who was especially active in revival work, where "he was a power," and also an enthusiastic federalist. His nursery being among the first, was historic. Henry Clay, the great commoner, was entertained by him. He is spoken of as "the eccentric little Yankee."

The fetish of the family was education. Every one of the Grant county family was a school teacher at some time in their lives, a convenient qualification in the pioneer annals of this community—it added materially to their meager income when it was most needed.

There were born and are yet living to Elijah Goldthwaite (III) and Emaline Taylor: Joanna (Howenstein) March 20, 1852, now residing at Bippus, Huntington county, Indiana; Howard Henry, June 20, 1854, married Lena Pichon, Ft. Wayne; William M., Spokane, Washington.

The family record of Oliver Goldthwaite (III) and wife, Marilla Ellen Eward, who married in 1846, is as follows:

1. Orlando L., born May 5, 1847, was married to Georgiana Street, May 11, 1871. Their children: Homer DeKalb, February 13, 1872, now in the U. S. service, having enlisted in 1892. Harry, now manager of the Boston Department Store, born September 28, 1874, served in the United States Navy throughout the war with Spain on the Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship, and was at the battle of Manila, and afterwards was elected auditor of Grant county for four years; he was married to Kitty Boroff on May 14, 1901. Charles Goldthwaite was born November 10, 1879, and is manager of the Goldthwaite Loan Company; he was married March 31, 1906, to Sylvia Carmichael, to whom was born March 24, 1907, Sylvia Jane.

2. Edgar L. Goldthwaite was born August 7, 1850, and at twelve years of age became a printer apprentice, remaining in the trade in one capacity or another for more than forty years, twenty-five years of which he was editor and publisher of the Marion Chronicle. He married Candace Zombro. Children: Mary Agnes, January 15, 1887, is a student at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; George Edgar, October 18, 1889, electrical engineer, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Margaret, January 15, 1892, is student in Western College at Oxford, Ohio; James S., March 27, 1894; John L., March 19, 1896; Rebecca, March 7, 1898; Robert S., March 30, 1900; Ellen M., June 11, 1905.

3. Fannie, born October 10, 1855, died April 30, 1894. She married October 10, 1874, Dr. John A. Hiatt. Their children were: Georgia Miriam, August 28, 1875, married Ralph P. Whistler, October 2, 1895. Euretta Guernsey, born January 17, 1878, married Charles Arnold, in 1897.

John Wesley Goldthwaite (III), born October, 1816, married Mary Bedsaul, and their children were: Caroline, born August 20, 1845, married Daniel Wood, and died in Tulare, California; Emily, born July 6, 1849, married William Elmendorf, and resides in Santa Ana, California.

Mary Goldthwaite (III), wife of Judge John Brownlee, died April 2, 1844. Her children were: Margaret, who married Gilbert Willson, and is the mother of John Willson, mayor of Marion in 1913; and Laura, born in 1876.In the early history of Grant county several members of the Goldthait family located in Marion, and Goldthait & Sons Company, the oldest continuous mercantile establishment in the country, was founded by Cimon Goldthait (III). Cimon Goldthait was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, December 18, 1820, and while a young man came to Grant county. His marriage to Martha Emily Stevens occurred November 12, 1848. Miss Stevens had come with her parents to Marion in 1846, having lived for a time in Ohio, although born in Pennsylvania. There were nine children born to Cimon Goldthait and his wife. Mr. Goldthait and the four oldest children are deceased, these four children being named: Simon, John W. James C., and Mary M. The surviving children are: William E., Frank B., Mrs. Lucy Lindhard, Miss Alice and Miss Emily Goldthait. W. E. Goldthait married Miss Florence Reasoner, and their son, Harman Reasoner Goldthait, is the only grandchild in the family of Mrs. Goldthait. Miss Lucy Goldthait is the wife of William L. Lindhard.

When Cimon Goldthait located in Marion, his life was before him and his fortune was to be made, and after taking employment for a while he opened a business for himself, being in partnership at different times with other pioneer merchants although it had been Goldthait & Sons for several years before his death, October 16, 1875. By the terms of his will everything went to his wife, and the firm name has remained unchanged, although since 1902 it is a corporation with all the stockholders members of the family.

Cimon Goldthait was a pioneer merchant who always had confidence in the future of the town. At one time and another he was associated in business with Aaron Swayzee, T. J. Neal, D. S. Hogin, and C. W. Mather, but after the Civil war he was alone. His older sons were of assistance to him, and both Simon and James Goldthait, were active in business. After the death of the father, Simon Goldthait, who was the oldest son, began collecting the pictures of all of his father's business contemporaries, and a galaxy of early Marion faces may be seen in the office of the present Goldthait store.

The senior Cimon Goldthait had long had an eye on the business site now occupied by the store he founded, and soon after his death the corner was acquired by the family, and in 1881 the store building was erected. Five years later the adjoining property was acquired, and the capacity of the store was doubled, and several times since then improvements have been made until it is now one of the most commodious store buildings, and one of the largest department stores in Indiana. The trade has learned to expect goods of quality, when patronizing the Goldthait store.

While Cimon Goldthait founded the business with but little capital invested not much capital was required at the time. A credit system was in vogue, not known today, when business is on a strictly cash basis, and goods are handled at smaller profit and money is turned over oftener. "In my time," said W. E. Goldthait, "my father did ten times the credit business done by the store today." Merchandise is handled on smaller margins and the money is paid out and returned several times more frequently than in the older days.

In her home on North Washington Street, Mrs. Goldthait has the pictured faces of her husband and children who are gone. She is among the older residents of the community. The grounds about the home are always well kept, and the garden and pasture land toward the Mississinewa are like farm property. Good care is given to the lawn, and with the shade and commodious porches, this old-time homestead is an inviting retreat. When the family went across the river to live it was not called North Marion, and Mrs. Goldthait has seen that locality grow very rapidly in recent years. She is much interested in all that concerns community advancement and the business has been conducted since the death of her husband as she thought he would have had it.

While the active oversight of the business is in the hand of W. E. and F. B. Goldthait, the Misses Alice and Emily Goldthait are actively connected with many social movements. Miss Goldthait is president of the Marion Play Ground Association, and Miss Emily is regent of the General Francis Marion Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Goldthait has been interested in all that has been going on in the community, although her own life is in the privacy of her home, and those who know her see her there. The Goldthait family stands for the advancement of Marion and all Grant county.

"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

He was born in Hardy county, Virginia, and was married September 21, 1819, to Mary E. Vanhorn in Zanesville, Ohio. To this union were born twelve children—four sons and eight daughters. They came to Indiana in 1841, and located on the banks of the Mississinewa river in North Marion. But two houses stood on the north side of the river at that time, and he obtained a quarter section of good land, all of which is now embraced within the limits of the city and built over with hundreds of residences, shops and factories. To these factories he gave much of his valuable land without price or cost. There he devoted his energies to farming and butchering and is said to have been the second butcher in the town of Marion. For thirty-five years Moses Bradford was the largest stock buyer in Grant county, and in his dealings he became known throughout this section of Indiana. His old home, which was erected by Riley Marshall in 1839, has been one of the historic landmarks of the city. And during the Civil War was many times the scene of thrilling preparation to resist capture by the Kuklux or border ruffians abroad at that time, a reward having been offered for his capture.

To no other man is so much credit due for the promotion and construction of the first railroad through Grant county. The town of Wabash, twenty miles to the north, on the d the entire community on the railroad question. It was his leadership and aggressive action in the campaign which brought about the construction of the Panhandle Railroad through this county. He was the chief local promoter of the enterprise, and the right of way was obtained principally through his personal efforts. He freely gave the right of way through the entire length of his lands and bought and traded for the same between his home town and adjoining towns. His idea was to have a grand union depot and to have North Marion a live, progressive center. Hardly had this railroad been constructed when his commercial sense perceived the need of a competing line, and this led to his becoming president of the old narrow-gauge, now the reconstructed line of the Clover Leaf. As a matter of fact Moses Bradford was actual owner of about forty miles of the old narrow-gauge line running between Kokomo and Warren. The history of that railroad undertaking is too long to be detailed here, but it is sufficient to state that the litigation which finally arose among the officials and stockholders was eventually decided by the supreme court adversely to Moses Bradford, the chief grounds for the verdict being that it was against public policy for one man to own a controlling interest in any such important public utility. Mr. Bradford stood tenaciously for his rights, and made a vigorous fight for his property, but in the end lost it all. Thus there is a tragic phase to his career, as indeed there is in the careers of hundreds of patriotic and public spirited men who have devoted themselves disinterestedly to the promotion of some great and beneficial undertaking, only to see its control slip from their grasp. After years of effort in advancing the welfare of his community and struggling to retain the fortune he had amassed by the strictest legitimate methods, Moses Bradford died a poor man, others reaping of the harvest where he had cleared, broken and planted.

For many years he conducted a general store at Marion, and was constantly doing something in the way of building that tended to improve the town. He always manifested a firm faith in Marion, as a commercial and social center, and believed that it was destined to become a large city. Moses Bradford is remembered by all of the older citizens as a justice of the peace. In this minor judicial office many of his decisions bore the stamp of originality and even of genius, and where women and children were concerned his big heart always found a way. While he did much for the city's improvement, he never forgot the less fortunate and many baskets full of the necessaries of life found their way to them.

During the early years of his residence before the war he was an original abolitionist, not only consistently with the tenet of his Quaker faith, but also of the vigorous and uncompromising type of the William Lloyd Garrison kind. The cooperation of Northern abolitionists in assisting fugitive slaves to escape across the middle states into Canada had already begun, when Moses Bradford located in Marion. It was no uncommon thing to hear a soft scratch on the window pane or to hear the hoot of an owl, a signal that some black soul was asking for help on the road to freedom. He soon became one of the most helpful of the local organizations in forwarding this particular work, and was probably the most radical anti-slavery man in the entire county. It is noteworthy that his house on the north side of the river was a station of the famous "under-ground railway," and before the war many a runaway negro was sheltered somewhere about his premises during the day, and the succeeding night was never too dark or the danger too great for him to go out and attend and assist the fugitive along the next stage of his northward journey. Fearless to a remarkable degree, he was not to be stopped by man or devil when he felt the cause of humanity needed his presence and help. During those times he was threatened again and again and violence was even offered him, but it never caused him to hesitate when once his mind was bent on the accomplishment of a definite task. Such had no effect except to make his determination the more dogged and unyielding. He was outspoken in his opinion, and even harsh in his criticisms of others, since he could never entertain sympathy for those of a trembling and vacillating nature, whose hearts might be right, but whose fears kept them from action when action was most needed. Throughout his life he stood as a man of action, and at the same time he had the rare gift of inspiring enthusiasm for action and efforts, as was instanced in the building of the first railroad. In conversation he lacked all the qualities of smoothness and polite suaveness, but made up for these in strength and vigor of utterance.

In the early days, on one occasion while enroute from the east Moses Bradford came near being mobbed in the vicinity of Cincinnati. His reputation was quite widespread, and word of his coming had preceded him, so that a reward was offered for his apprehension. By the kindly assistance of Quaker friends he eluded the parties in search of him, and thus came through without injury. He was also warned by the Knights of the Golden Circle, whose training grounds were at Van Buren, that he would be mobbed, but he kept on the even tenor of his way, though his home was fired into and other insults offered. Weighing two hundred and forty- five pounds, he had physical strength in proportion, and very few men were able to handle him.

While never an aspirant for public recognition, he was well qualified to fill any post of trust. He assisted in the building and maintenance of the old Wesleyan church, besides which he erected a church building on a tract of his own, donating its use to the congregation. His home was known far and wide as one where ministers of the gospel would find a royal welcome and a bountiful table always ready. He platted two additions to the city, embracing about fifty acres, and which are now covered with desirable residences. Moses Bradford died January 10, 1898, full of years and honors. He was the father of twelve children, eight of whom reached maturity.

"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

Reared at Marion, the son Cassius when a boy entered his father's store, and was connected with various lines of business enterprise in this county for a number of years. He first became prominent in public affairs in 1898 when he was elected to the office of sheriff. He was again returned to the office in 1900, after receiving nine hundred more votes at the primary election than the combined votes of his four opponents. As sheriff he made a model officer. As a mark of appreciation for his activity in the enforcement of law, the W. C. T. U. ladies presented him with a handsome souvenir at the close of his term. Mr. Bradford is a stanch Republican, and has taken much interest in local politics.

For the past seven years Mr. Bradford has been traveling representative of the Ballard Packing Company of Marion. In 1903 he built his present modern home at Christy and Lawrence Avenue. This is one of the picturesque places of Marion, located on a high eminence which affords a broad view of the Mississinewa river and the little valley below. Mr. Bradford was married February 22, 1881, to Miss Victoria Cochrane of Marion. Their two children are Burr, who is connected with the Marion Street Railway, and Mary, who is at home. Mr. Bradford affiliates with the United Commercial Travelers.

"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

Mr. Rennaker was born in Carroll county, Ohio, December 14, 1840, and is a son of Michael and Rebecca (Steffy) Rennaker. His parents, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, near what was later to become the famous battlefield of Gettysburg, removed to Carroll county, Ohio, not long after their marriage, and in 1858 came to Indiana, purchasing 200 acres of land in Pleasant township, there spending the remainder of their lives. They had a family of ten sons and six daughters, and of these children twelve grew to maturity. The early education of Elias B. Rennaker was secured in the common schools of his native county, and this was supplemented by several terms in the district schools of Pleasant township, whence he had accompanied his parents as a lad of thirteen years. After completing his education, he settled down to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, and was so engaged until the time of his enlistment, in August, 1862, in Company C, Twelfth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was connected with the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. John A. Logan. He continued to serve with this organization until the close of hostilities in 1865, and during his military career participated in some of the fiercest engagements of the great struggle between the North and South, including Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta and Richmond, Kentucky, and took part in the famous campaign of General Sherman, in his "March to the Sea." At Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Rennaker was seriously wounded in the left hand, still carrying the scar of the bullet wound, and at Richmond was captured by the Confederates, but was imprisoned only two months, when he received his parole. He was known as a brave and faithful soldier, ever performing ably and cheerfully the duties entrusted to him, and won the admiration of his comrades and the respect of his officers. For many years Mr. Rennaker was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being connected with the post at Marion, Indiana.

After he had recuperated from the effects of army life, Mr. Rennaker resumed agricultural operations, and for many years was actively engaged therein, becoming one of the substantial men of his community, and owning an excellent property about three and one-half miles northeast of Converse. He was successful in his general farming operations, and also as a breeder of hogs and cattle, won an enviable reputation for his honorable business methods, and gained a wide circle of friends. In 1900 he retired from active life, and is now residing on a small property near Sweetser, Indiana, although he is still the owner of eighty acres of land in Richland township and four acres in Pleasant township.

In 1867 Mr. Rennaker was married to Miss Martha M. Julian, who was born, reared and educated in Pleasant township, Grant county, Indiana, and was a daughter of Louis and Sarah Julian. Mrs. Rennaker died in 1875, having been the mother of three children, of whom two died in infancy, while the third, Maggie, is still living and the wife of Jacob R. Fisher. In 1883, Mr. Rennaker was married to Miss Abigail Marks, daughter of Thomas and Mary Marks, Mr. Marks being said to have been the first blacksmith in Marion, Indiana.

From the time of attaining his majority until 1889, Mr. Rennaker was politically a Republican, but at that time transferred his allegiance to the Democratic party, and has since supported its candidates. He has never engaged prominently in political activities, but held the office of supervisor of Richland township for one term. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years, with his membership in Beacon Lodge No. 320, of Converse. Since his baptism as a young man in the Lutheran faith, his religious life has been with that denomination.

"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