Michael Futrell, the father of Joseph Futrell, was born in North Carolina in 1810. He was given excellent educational advantages, and when a young man made his way on foot to Clinton county, Ohio, where he met and married Mary Ricks, the daughter of Jordan and Sarah Ricks, who were pioneer settlers and farming people of Clinton county. In the fall of 1839, Michael Futrell, accompanied by his wife and small children, of whom Joseph, aged nine months, was one, come overland to Grant county, Indiana, and located on a farm in Center township. There the father settled down to the cultivation of the soil and the development of a home, and continued to work faithfully and industriously up to the time of his death, in 1888. He was a democrat in his political views, although no office seeker, and was a faithful member of the New Light Christian church, as was his devoted wife who died in that faith in 1903, when past ninety years of age. They were the parents of the following children: Jordan, who died as a retired farmer in advanced years, in 1913, in Grant county, leaving a widow and family; Elizabeth, who married William Ballenger of Grant county, moved to Southwestern Iowa, where they still reside on their farm, and have two married daughters; Joseph, of this review; James, born in Indiana, and died on a farm in Iowa, leaving several children; John, who died in the prime of life on his farm in Washington township, his widow and son, William, ex-treasurer of Blackford county, now being residents of Hartford City; Martin, who is now a farmer in the state of Minnesota, is married and has a family; Nancy, who is the wife of Robert Nelson, of Grant county, a successful agriculturist, and has a family; and Michael, who was a prominent farmer of Grant county, his land being rich in oil, which left him wealthy, was asphyxiated by coal fumes with his wife some years ago, and left one daughter; and Isaiah and Mary, who both died young.

Joseph Futrell was born in Clinton county, Ohio, January 31, 1839, and was nine months old when brought in his mother's arms to Blackford county, which has since continued to be his place of residence. During the greater part of his life Mr. Futrell has devoted his activities to agricultural pursuits, and at different times has owned farms in various parts of the county, some 700 acres in all. He now has a well-improved property in section 31, Washington township, on which he is raising large crops of grain, and also has a herd of good live stock, in dealing in which he has met with well merited success. Mr. Futrell is not only known as one of the leading business men of his community, but has also been prominent in public life, and at various times has been elected to positions of responsibility and trust by his appreciative fellow-citizens. He first held the office of township trustee for two terms, and from 1874 until 1878 he served in the capacity of county treasurer of Blackford county, having held this office during the regime of the old Green Back party. Subsequently he became a Democrat. He has also held various other offices, and his entire official services have been characterized by strict attention to duty and a conscientious devotion to the best interests of his community and its people.

Mr. Futrell was married to Miss Christina Ann Stafford, of Darke county, Ohio, who died after being the mother of three children: Mary and Amanda died in childhood, and Nancy Elizabeth. Mr. Futrell was married in Center township, Grant county, Indiana, in 1866, to Miss Matilda Nelson, daughter of Elisha and Rebecca (Oliver) Nelson, natives of Northampton county, North Carolina, but for many years residents of Grant county, Indiana, where both died. Mrs. Futrell was born in Grant county, January 12, 1845, and died at Hartford City, Indiana, May 7, 1913. She was a devoted wife and mother and assisted her husband materially in the achievement of his success. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Joseph W., who is engaged in farming in Washington township, is married and has nine children: Alice R., who is the wife of Frank Miles, living on an excellent farm with modern improvements in Washington township, and has two daughters, Zadia, and Hazel, and one, Gladys, deceased; Charles, the father of five children, is now making his home at some point in the West; George, engaged in the mercantile business in Grant county, is married and has six children; Cora, who is the wife of John McCombs, a farmer of Washington township, is the mother of two children; Dolly, a widow and the mother of three children, living on a farm in Washington township; and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Futrell is a member of the United Brethren church at Hartford City, of which his wife was for years a devout member.

Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana A Chronicle of their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs Compiled Under the Editorial Supervision of Benjamin G. Shinn
Volume I Illustrated
The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago and New York 1914
Submitted by Peggy Karol

HIRAM SMITH. Of the older families of Grant and Blackford counties, none have lived lives of greater usefulness to themselves and the community, and none have done more to the heavy work of pioneering in the extension and improvement of the landed resources, and have been more active in the affairs of home, church, community and business, than that represented by this sterling citizen of Hartford City, Hiram Smith.

Hiram Smith was born in Monroe township of Grant county, December 11, 1855, and is a brother to John Smith, a prominent farmer and banker of Upland, of Grant county. Both were sons of Thomas Smith, who was the founder of the family name and fortunes in Grant county. Thomas Smith was born near Alliance, Ohio, in 1814. After his marriage and the birth of two of his children, he migrated from Ohio, and about 1836-37, made the journey through Hartford City, which was then a hamlet with only a few houses, and thence blazed a trail through the woods and across the swamps to Monroe township in Grant county. His location was on government land, and following this period the farming and breaking was done by oxen, and in fact the son Hiram remembers when the work as well as hauling, was done by oxen. On the homestead which he improved he and his wife spent the rest of their years in prosperity and in the esteem of all their neighbors. Besides his farming possessions, which became extensive in the course of time, Thomas Smith also maintained a small store and served as postmaster for some years at the office known as Walnut Creek. During the early days mail was for several years carried on horseback from a place in Ohio to Walnut Creek. Thomas Smith passed away in 1876, survived by his widow, who died in December, 1901. The birth dates of herself and husband were only eight days apart. Her maiden name was Mary Leonard. Both were faithful members of the United Brethren church, and frequently walked the entire distance of four miles in order to attend church, in which Thomas Smith was long an active official. His politics was republican. They had a family of three sons and four daughters. One of them died in early childhood. Wesley lives in Huntington, Indiana. John Smith is the farmer and banker previously mentioned as living at Upland. Emily died after her marriage to Wilson Moorman, and her three children are all married. Lavina died after her marriage to John Kizer, leaving a family of children. Jane died at the age of eighteen. The next in order of birth is Hiram. Maria, is the wife of Patrick Smith, a large farmer and stock raiser of Union county, Ohio.

Hiram Smith grew up on the country, received such education as was supplied by the local schools, and as he was trained in the life of the farm he followed it with success and gave active supervision to his farming interests for a number of years. While he remained for five years as a farmer on the old homestead in Monroe township of Grant county, he in the meantime bought a place of one hundred and sixteen acres in Washington township of Blackford county, and then took possession, where he made his home for fourteen years, from 1882 to 1896. His work was largely of a pioneer character, since it was necessary to drain the land, and his attention and labors made it some of the most profitable farm land in all Blackford county. One year following the completion of the drainage his soil produced five thousand bushels of potatoes, and it also became famous for its crops of corn. In the fall of 1896, Mr. Smith and family moved to Hartford City, and their home has since been in the county seat, although he still owns the farm and looks after its cultivation. His city home is at 514 W. Kickapoo St.

In Washington township of Blackford county in 1877, Mr. Smith married Miss S. Salome Watson. The Watsons were among the pioneers of Blackford county. She was born in Washington township, March 6, 1861, was reared and educated there, getting her schooling from what for many years has been known as the Watson schoolhouse. Her parents were Daniel and Mary (Balsley) Watson, originally from Pennsylvania, and Daniel Watson was born near Newark, Ohio, about 1820. The Watsons were originally Irish people, and in the old country followed the vocation of silk makers. After his marriage to Miss Balsley, Daniel Watson moved to Indiana, took up land in Washington township, and did the heavy work of an early settler in order to make a home out of the wilderness, clearing off the forests and draining the land and eventually establishing a good home. Mrs. Watson died there in 1870 at the age of forty-four. Daniel Watson subsequently moved to Smith county, Kansas, where his death occurred in April, 1885, at the age of sixty-five. He was a man of many estimable qualities, a democrat in politics, and for some years a preacher in the Baptist church, but later inclined to the faith of the Methodist denomination and died in that belief. His wife was always a Baptist. There were eleven children in the Watson family, two of whom, the oldest and the youngest, died in infancy, and the mother passed away at the birth of the last child. Nine are still living, all have been married, and most of them have families of their own.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Smith are briefly mentioned as follows; Rena and Charles both died in infancy. Cora, who was born February 28, 1882, and was educated partly in the country and partly in Hartford City, took a course in the Muncie Business College and is now employed as a bookkeeper. Frank E. Smith who was born October 21, 1883, and was likewise educated in the Hartford City schools, spent five years in selling oil and gas wells supplies through Indiana, and later went with his company to manage their interests at Casey, Illinois, and subsequently to Bridgeport in the same state, and in 1907, moved to Lawrenceville, Illinois, where he continued in the oil and gas well supply business until 1912, at which date he purchased a cigar store and billiard parlor in Lawrenceville, and is now one of the successful business men of that city; he has served as city clerk and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is treasurer of the Loyal Order of Moose, and belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Frank E. Smith married Pearl, a daughter of Emerson Casterline, of Hartford City, and who graduated from the Hartford City high school with the class of 1904. Laura Smith, born June 21, 1889, attended the public schools of Hartford City and graduated from the high school at Elwood, and by her marriage to Clyde E. Mahan, of Elwood, has a son, Clyde J., born October 11, 1912. Hazel F. Smith, born April 8, 1890, had her schooling in Hartford City and Elwood, and is now the wife of Ralph B. Campbell, lives in Elwood, and has two children, Jack B. and Daniel Watson. Basil Pearl, born November 15, 1891, completed his schooling in the Elwood high school, took work as a clerk with the Illinois Oil Supply Company, and later took up the commercial part of the glass jobbing trade for the Mercer Lumber Company of Hartford City, and lives there and is unmarried. Mr. Hiram Smith and his sons are republicans in politics, and the senior Mr. Smith is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah Order. Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana A Chronicle of their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs Compiled Under the Editorial Supervision of Benjamin G. Shinn
Volume I Illustrated
The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago and New York 1914
Submitted by Peggy Karol

ETHAN W. SECREST The present mayor of Hartford City, the judicial center and metropolis of Blackford county, is not only a representative member of the bar or this section of the State but is also a scion of old and honored pioneer families of Blackford county. His present official preferment fully indicates his loyalty and progressiveness as a citizen, as well as impregnable place in the confidence and esteem of the people of the attractive little city of which he is chief executive.

Mr. Secrest was born in Christian county, Illinois, on the 20th of February, 1876, and is a son of John H. and Mary (Reasoner) Secrest, his mother having died February 28, 1876, only eight days after his birth, and his father being now a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is prominently identified with the lumber industry. The first authentic records concerning the Secrest family in America designate its representatives as residents of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the name and location both indicate that the genealogy is to be traced back to German origin, the American line having been established prior to the war of the Revolution but no definite data being available concerning the founders of the family in the New World. John and Sarah Secrest, great-grandparents of Ethan W., were numbered among the pioneer settlers of Guernsey county, Ohio, where they established their residence a few years before the admission of the State to the Union, in 1812. They reclaimed a farm and home from the virgin wilds and there lived godly and righteous lives, their names being altogether worthy of enduring record on the roll of the sterling pioneers of the Buckeye State, where they continued to reside until their death and where they reared their children to lives of honor and usefulness. Their son Henry was born in Guernsey county, January 7, 1812, and as a young man he came to Blackford county, Indiana, where he instituted the reclamation of a tract of heavily timbered land that had been obtained from the government by his father. Here, at the age of twenty-six years, he wedded Margaret Geyer, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 10th of March, 1813, a daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Garr) Geyer. She was twenty years of age at the time of her parents' removal from Ohio to Blackford county, Indiana, and they settled near the new home of Henry Secrest, who soon wooed and won the fair daughter and who with his bride established the connubial Lares and Penates in a hewed-log house that he had erected on his embryonic farm. Mr. Secrest was an excellent mechanic, specially well trained as a millwright, and in addition to developing his farm he assisted in drafting the plans for the first courthouse at Hartford City, as well as the first schoolhouse. About the time of the close of the Civil war Mr. Secrest removed with his family to Christian county, Illinois, and there he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring May 22, 1882.

The mother of the present mayor of Hartford City was a daughter of Washington and Rachel (Slater) Reasoner, who were pioneers of Blackford county, Indiana, the former having been a son of Peter Reasoner, who was one of the first settlers in the State, his original dwelling having been directly on the line between Blackford and Grant counties. Ethan W. Secrest was brought back to Indiana after the death of his mother, and he was reared to the age of twelve years in the home of his maternal grandparents in the meanwhile having but little opportunity to attend school. At the age of fourteen years he became dependent upon his own resources, working for his board and clothing and having been granted the privilege of attending the district schools during the winter terms. His ambition to acquire liberal education was not to be thwarted, and through his own exertions he defrayed his expenses while attending the University of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and the Central Indiana Normal College at Danville, Indiana. Through five years of successful work as a teacher in Delaware county, Indiana, Mr. Secrest accumulated sufficient funds to continue his educational work in the University of Indianapolis, in which latter institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1901, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws,---a degree that shows along what line his ambition had impelled him.. After his graduation Mr. Secrest returned to Hartford City, where he engaged in the active practice of his profession, being associated for eight years with Aaron M. Waltz, under the firm name of Waltz & Secrest. This alliance was interrupted when, in the autumn of 1908, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the judicial district comprising Blackford and Wells counties, an office in which he served two terms of two years each and in which his zealous and effective labors materially enhanced his reputation as a specially resourceful trial lawyer. He retired from office in January, 1913, and has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession in an individual way, with residence in Hartford City, where he now controls a substantial and representative law business. In the autumn of 1913 he was elected mayor of Hartford City, and in this municipal office he has given an administration marked by progressive policies and by an earnest desire to further the best interests of the city and its people.

Mayor Secrest has never wavered in his allegiance to the democratic party and he has been an active and effective worker in behalf of its principles and policies. He was chairman of the democratic county committee of Blackford county in 1910, and has been a delegate to county, state and congressional conventions. Mr. Secrest is affiliated in a prominent way with the Improved Order of Red Men and its auxiliary bodies, and he has represented the order in the Grand Council of Indiana. He is a member also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebecca, and he is a past noble grand of the Hartford City lodge of this order, having been the incumbent of this office at the time when the local Odd Fellows building committee was appointed. The building was dedicated July 4, 1913. Mr. Secrest is a member also of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World; the Tribe of Ben Hur, of which he has served as chief and as scribe; of Fraternal Order of Eagles, in which he is past president of the local aerie, which he represented at the national convention of the order in 1907, at Norfolk, Virginia; and he is further a charter member of the Hartford City lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, of which he was the first dictator and for a time treasurer; and is affiliated with the Hartford City lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Secrest is an active member of ten fraternal orders, and he was chief of Records of his lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men for seven consecutive years. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.

The year 1897 bore record of the marriage of Mr. Secrest to Miss Pearl M. McVicker, who was born and reared in Delaware county, this state, and who is a daughter of John R. and Catherine (Allen) McVicker, who are now residents of Hartford City, Mrs. Secrest being their only child and the McVicker family having been founded in Delaware county in the pioneer days. Mrs. Secrest is a leader in the social activities of her home city and graciously supplements the efforts of her husband, its mayor, in upholding its civic amenities. Mr. and Mrs. Secrest have one son, Robert, who was born in 1902, and who is attending the public schools.

Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana A Chronicle of their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs Compiled Under the Editorial Supervision of Benjamin G. Shinn
Volume I Illustrated
The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago and New York 1914
Submitted by Peggy Karol

GEORGE H. NEWBAUER. Public office is ever a public trust, and it figures also as the metewand by which may be judged the popular confidence and esteem reposed in the incumbent. The present efficient treasurer of Blackford county has never manifested any predilection toward seeking public plaudits, but he has so ordered his course as a man and as an official that he has been deemed altogether worthy of the responsible position which he now holds, the while it may consistently be said that in Blackford county his every acquaintance is his friend.

As the surname implies, Mr. Newbauer is a scion of sturdy German ancestry, and his grandfather, John Newbauer was a native of Germany, where he was reared and educated and whence as a young man he immigrated to America, the voyage having been made on a sailing vessel and thirty days having been consumed in crossing the Atlantic. He became a pioneer of Darke county, Ohio, and at a point about three miles distant from Greenville, the county seat, he reclaimed and improved a farm. His parents lived and died in the old country and, so far as family records indicate, they must have attained venerable age. John Newbauer married in Germany, before coming to America, and he and his wife passed the residue of their lives on the old homestead farm in Darke county, Ohio, both having been consistent members of the German Lutheran church. Of their children Jacob, a retired farmer, now resides at Greenville, Darke county; Louis is a substantial farmer of the same county; Elizabeth first wedded Amos Reck and she now resides in Hartford City, Indiana, as the widow of Jacob Roby; John A. is the father of the subject of this sketch; Susan became the wife of Philip Toman and is now deceased; Minnie is the wife of Enos Williams, of Darke county, Ohio; and George is a prosperous farmer of the same county.

John A. Newbauer was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 17th of October, 1847, and was reared on the old homestead farm mentioned in the preceding paragraph. In 1871, when about twenty-four years of age, he came to Hartford City, Indiana, and here he was for a period of about eight years associated with Amos Reck in the conducting of a meat market. After the death of Mr. Reck he became sole proprietor of the business, which he successfully conducted for the ensuing twelve years, becoming one of the representative business men of the town. Later he became a dealer in building material and farm implements, and finally he assumed the position of cashier of the Blackford County Bank, of which he was elected vice-president six years later. He still retains the latter office and is one of the substantial capitalists and representative business men of Blackford county. He is a democrat in politics, served seven years as trustee of Licking township, is prominently affiliated with the local lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the military branch of the organization in Hartford City being named Canton Newbauer, in his honor, and his membership in the encampment having covered a period of thirty years. At Hartford City was celebrated the marriage of John A. Newbauer to Miss Elizabeth Bolner, who has been a resident of Blackford county from the time of her birth, in 1857, her parents having been early settlers here and having died when she was a girl of sixteen years. Of the five children the eldest is Altha, who is the wife of George W. Harvey, engaged in the laundry business at Hartford City; George H., county treasurer, was the next in order of birth; Robert is engaged in the farm-implement and machinery business at Hartford City; Eva remains at the parental home and is deputy to her brother in the office of county treasurer; and Hazel died in childhood.

George H. Newbauer was born at Hartford City, on the 29th of August, 1878, and he was here graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1897. Two years later he became associated with his brother Robert in the farm-implement business, with which he continued to be actively identified for twelve years, on South Walnut street, the enterprise becoming within this period one of the most important of its kind in Blackford county. In 1910 Mr. Newbauer was elected a member of the city council, and after serving three years of the four-year term he resigned to assume the duties of the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected in 1912, his administration of the fiscal affairs of the county having been marked by discrimination and scrupulous attention to every detail, so that he has gained uniform commendation. Mr. Newbauer is an ardent supporter of the cause of the democratic party, and he is a prominent and popular member of various fraternal and social organizations in his home city, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he has represented as a delegate to the grand lodge of the State; and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, besides holding the office of leading knight in Hartford City Lodge, No. 625, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

In 1903 Mr. Newbauer wedded Miss S. Elizabeth Hiatt, who was born and reared in Randolph county, Indiana, and who was accorded the advantages of the public schools of Winchester, the county seat. Mr. and Mrs. Newbauer have one daughter, Martha E., who was born January 15, 1909.

Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana A Chronicle of their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs Compiled Under the Editorial Supervision of Benjamin G. Shinn
Volume I Illustrated
The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago and New York 1914
Submitted by Peggy Karol