Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

DANIEL KNOX. Among the substantial representatives of the agricultural interests of Blackford county is found Daniel Knox, the owner of an excellent property in section 23, Washington township, and a citizen who has won success in his ventures through the force of his own industry, ability and thrift. He belongs to an old and honored family of Scotland, and traces his ancestry back through his great-great-grandfather, whose father was the nephew of Sir John Knox, of Scotland, a religious reformer, born at Giffordsgate, near Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He was a pioneer of Puritanism, was a prisoner of war and for nineteen months was confined in the French galleys; a friend of Calvin and Beza; a preacher of sermons that moved their hearers to demolish convents; with a price on his head, yet never faltering; arrested for treason, an armed "congregation" as his heels; burned in effigy, for years a dictator – he spent his life forwarding the Reformation in Scotland. His great work, distinguished in Scottish prose, was his "History of the Reformation of Religion within the Realm of Scotland" (1584). His famous "Letter to the Queen Dowager" appeared in 1556; the "First Trumpet Blast Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women," inveighing against women taking part in the government and which offended Queen Elizabeth, in 1558. He died in Edinburgh, November 24, 1572.

The great-great-grandfather of Daniel Knox, was a military officer in the army of Gen. George Washington, and during the Revolutionary War served for seven years, with an admirable record. Little is known of the following generation, but the grandfather of Daniel Knox was John Knox, who was a farmer and was born in Virginia. He married a Virginia girl, whose name is forgotten, and moved to Kentucky, where their son, William, the father of our subject, was born in Bourbon county, January 15, 1820, being the eldest of a family of two sons and nine daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, were married and had families. When William Knox was three years of age, the family moved to Brown county, Ohio, and there resided for seven years, at that time coming to Wayne county, Indiana, where William Knox grew to maturity. He there married Susan Clevenger, who was born in Wayne county, November 25, 1824, and died November 7, 1900. She was a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Clevenger, both pioneers of Wayne county, where they spent the remainder of their lives and died in advanced years as firm members of the United Brethren church. They became the parents of a large family of children, of whom Mrs. Knox was the youngest. In 1849, William Knox, his young wife and most of the members of the Knox family, including his parents, John Knox and wife, came to Grant county, Indiana, and established themselves in the southwestern part of the county. There John Knox died when very old, while the grandmother survived him and later came to Washington township, Blackford county, where she passed away, when aged past three score years. They were for an extended period members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Knox was an official for many years, and was identified with the building and organization of Knox Chapel, in Grant county. He was a strong whig, later joined the republican party, and at the time of the Civil War was a stanch Union man.

William Knox and his wife resided in Grant county until the birth of all their children, and in 1865 came to Washington township, Blackford county settling on section 35, where the father purchased eighty acres of partly improved land. There he continued to follow farming until his death, August 23, 1901, the mother having passed away nearly one year before. They were great-hearted, charitable people, widely known and respected in their community, and faithful member of the United Brethren church being the organizers of the first class in Washington township, from which grew what was known as the Fairview Church. From 1856 Mr. Knox was a stalwart republican, and took a great deal of interest in local affairs, although more for the advancement of his community than for any personal preferment. He was the father of four sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to maturity save two, while five are still living and the heads of families.

Daniel Knox was born in Grant county, Indiana, July 25, 1854, and grew up in Blackford county, where he was given the advantages of a common school education. Ever since coming to Blackford county, thirty years ago, he has been a resident of Washington township, and this has been the scene of his labors and his well-merited success. On coming to this township he purchased 120 acres of land in section 23, to which he has since added a like tract in section 22, and all of his property is improved, being one of the best tracts in the township. Both farms are under a high state of cultivation, with the finest of improvements. He has a large nine-room white house, built in 1904, a barn 40 X 50 feet, painted red, grain and stock barns, and other outbuildings, and all are of substantial character and handsome appearance. On his other farm he has a good residence and two barns, and both properties are well equipped with machinery and implements. An excellent manager, Mr. Knox has been able to make his land produce a full amount of success for the labor he has expended upon it. He raises a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs, and is known as a fine judge of live stock.

Mr. Knox was married in Washington township, Blackford county, to Miss Mary E. Wise, who was born at Cambridge City, Wayne county, Indiana, May 10, 1857, and was eight years of age when she came to Blackford county with her parents, Andrew and Catherine (Brie) Wise, a full sketch of whom will be found in the review of Joseph Wise, on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been the parents of the following children: William A., born October 2, 1878, now living in Macoupin county, Illinois, where he is the owner of a farm, married Emma Layman, and has four children – Virgil, Pauline, Thuro and Helen; Sanford Leroy, born November 2, 1881, who is engaged in operating his father's farm in Washington township, married Emma Ford, and his three children – Esther, Ruth and Pearly; Myrtle P., born September 30, 1883, married Charles Dick, of Washington township, a farmer, and has four children – Cecil, Crystal, Harold and Mary; Lora H., born November 4, 1885, a farmer in Northwestern Canada, where he owns 320 acres of land, is single; Luther W., born November 5, 1890, is engaged in cultivating one of his father's farms, married Lillie Nelson, and has one son – Clarence V.; an Zelda, born October 17, 1892, is single and lives with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Knox are faithful members of the United Brethren church, in which he is serving at the present time as class leader. His political views are those of the republican party, but he has not been active in political affairs, except as a supporter of movements which affect the general welfare of his immediate community.

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

THEODORE FUQUA. It has been given to Theodore Fuqua to pass the seventieth milestone of his life's journey, and throughout this long career he has encountered and conquered many obstacles, has had the experience of joy and sorrow, and has a record of efficient and faithful service to his country, his locality, and to himself and family. Mr. Fuqua is now living retired at Hartford City, and has been identified with the agricultural and public affairs of Blackford county for the past forty years. Theodore Fuqua comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in the early generations of the family lived in Virginia and later in Tennessee. His grandfather, William Fuqua, who was born in Virginia and married there, later set out with his wife and children in wagons and with teams and crossed the mountains into eastern Tennessee, locating in Stewart county of that state. Their home was in the midst of the mountain districts, and it is a part of the family record that this family operated one of the stills for the manufacture of "moonshine" whiskey. William Fuqua and wife both died there, when old people, their last years being spent near the village of Thorp. He was a man of considerable influence in his locality, and was the owner of one hundred acres of land. Of a rather large family of children, one of the older was Austin, father of Theodore Fuqua. He was born in Virginia in 1809, was a young man when the family crossed the mountains to Tennessee, and as he was not satisfied with his surroundings finally returned with an uncle to Virginia, and there married Elizabeth Woods. She was born in Virginia of an old Virginia family, and her father, James Woods, was a native of the same state and had fought as a soldier in the war of 1812, and his death came when about eighty years of age. James Woods was a farmer, a democrat in politics, and that political faith has characterized both the Fuqua and Woods families through nearly all its members in different generations. Austin Fuqua a short time after his marriage came to Indiana, and after several years of residence in Madison county bought a partly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Delaware county in Salem township. It was a time when practically all of eastern Indiana was new and sparsely settled, and the Fuqua home could boast of few improvements, and its comforts were wrung as a result of hard labor directly from the soil. A log cabin was the first home, and that was subsequently replaced with a house of hewed logs. On that farm Austin Fuqua continued to live and labor until his death in April, 1863. His wife survived him ten years. Both were members of the United Brethren church, and people of the highest character. As a democrat, Austin Fuqua filled one or two offices in his home township. Of their children, eleven, six sons and five daughters, reached mature age, and ten are still living, all of them past the age of fifty years.

Theodore Fuqua, who was the seventh in order of birth, in this family, was born in Madison county, Indiana, February 29, 1844. During his childhood the family moved to the farm in Delaware county just described, and he grew up there, attending the primitive country schools of the day, and when about eighteen years of age enlisted on August 4, 1862, in Company B of the Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His command went to the front along the Ohio river, and at Richmond, Kentucky, he was captured on the last day of August, only a few weeks after his enlistment. Several months later he was paroled and exchanged, and rejoined his regiment in time to participate in the seven days' fighting along the Yazoo valley, and was in the various maneuvers and campaigns along the lower course of the Mississippi until the hard service in a Southern climate put him in the hospital, and he received an honorable discharge on account of physical disability on April 20, 1863.

The first news given him on reaching home was of his father's death two weeks previously. He took his place on the farm and helped in its management until October, 1864, and then married Mary J. Rinker. She was born in Delaware county on a farm near that of the Fuqua family, December 4, 1845, and was reared and received her education in the same locality. Her parents were John and Jane (Clevinger) Rinker. His father was born in Virginia, came to Delaware county with his father, Rev. George Rinker, a Baptist minister, who was a pioneer settler in Henry county in Indiana, where both he and his wife died. John Rinker and wife were married in Henry county, lived some time in Wayne county, and from there moved into Delaware county, where he leased and improved land and eventually owned about three hundred acres of Salem township soil. His death occurred at the age of sixty-three. He was accounted one of the strongest men physically in his neighborhood. He was a devout member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a democrat. His wife died about ten years later at the age of seventy.

In 1874, Mr. Theodore Fuqua and wife moved to Jackson township in Blackford county. His labors and efficient management resulted in the improvement of eighty acres of land, and his prosperity has been a thing of steady growth for forty years. On January 24, 1911, he moved to Hartford City to enjoy the comforts of a town home, and he and his wife now occupy a commodious residence at 522 W. Main street. To their marriage have been born three children. Emma is the wife of J. B. Orndorff, of Hartford City, and their children, Ora, Guy, Crystal and Louis Theodore, are all well educated and are married excepting the youngest. Maggie, the second child died at the age of three years. Clara died after her marriage to Harvey Davis, and left three children, Esta, Cecil and Hugh, but the last named died aged two months.

Mr. and Mrs. Fuqua since youth have been members of the United Brethren church, and he has filled the office of trustee in that society for a number of years. As a loyal democrat, he has done his part in community affairs, having been trustee of Jackson township four years, a member of the county council for seven years, and was formerly a member of Jacob Stahl Post No. 227 of the Grand Army of the Republic.

AARON NELSON. A member of that class of workers whose practical education, inherent ability, quick perception and ready recognition of opportunities have advanced them to positions of prominence and substantiality formerly occupied only by men many years their seniors, Aaron Nelson is justly accounted one of the progressive young agriculturists of fertile Washington township. The major part of his active career has been passed in this community and through close application and well-directed and earnest efforts he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome and valuable property.

Mr. Nelson comes of an old and honored family. His grandfather, Martin Nelson, was born in North Carolina, of southern parentage, married there a North Carolina girl, Lucy Futrell, and during the latter ‘thirties or early ‘forties, made the journey overland to Indiana, locating on a small farm in Monroe township, Grant county, where both passed the remaining years of their lives, the father being quite old at the time of his death, while the mother was much younger when she passed away. Facts concerning this sturdy pioneer couple are meager, but it is remembered that they were people of sterling character, industrious and hard-working and faithful members of the Christian church, while the grandfather was a stanch supporter of the principles of the democratic party. Martin and Lucy Nelson were the parents of a number of children, including Stephen, the father of Aaron Nelson; Martin; Michael; Benoni, the only survivor and resides at Marion; Lucy and Jane.

Stephen Nelson was born in North Carolina in 1832 and was a lad when he accompanied his parents to Indiana. He grew up on the home farm in Monroe township, securing such advantages as were available in the early country schools, and as a young man decided upon a career in agriculture. He was married three times, his first wife dying soon after marriage, without issue, while by the second union two children were born: Jesse E. and Lucy Jane, both of whom married and are now deceased. Mr. Nelson married for the third wife Mrs. Stacy M. Adkinson of Jefferson township, who was born at Newport, Wayne county, Indiana. She had been married first in Grant county, where she had been reared, to John Adkinson, who died in that county in the prime of life, leaving a daughter, Elizabeth, who was married and had four children. Mrs. Nelson is still living in Monroe township, Grant county, and is seventy-eight years of age, a faithful member of the Christian church, to which her husband also belonged. He was a democrat in politics. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were as follows: Emmazetta, who is the wife of John Shannon and has a daughter, - Goldie; Winburn, who died after his marriage to Ella Hodson, and had two children, - Tracy and Maybell of Oklahoma; Abigail, who is the wife of Charles Smith, of Monroe township, where her mother, Mrs. Nelson, lives, and has eight children; Aaron, of this review; Maggie, who died after her marriage to Clayton Holloway, a merchant of Farmville, Grant county, and was the mother of two sons, - Orval and Harry; Martin, deceased, who was a farmer of Blackford county, Indiana, married Etha Johnson, who survives him and resides in Washington township and has two children, - Vashti and Vesta L.; and Estena, who passed away in childhood.

Aaron Nelson was born on his father's farm in Monroe township, Grant county, Indiana, July 30, 1877, and varied the monotony of boyhood work on the homestead by attending the district schools of his locality, securing a good mental training therein. Coming to Blackford county in young manhood, he received forty acres of land through inheritance, in section 7, Washington township, and to this he has since added a like acreage in section 8, the greater part now being under cultivation. Mr. Nelson is a general farmer, growing corn, rye and oats, and also devotes a large part of his land to meadows, upon which browse a herd of fine, content and well-fed cattle. He has made a success of his ventures through strict attention to business and an intelligent use of modern methods, and has added to the value of his property by the erection of modern buildings of a substantial character and the installing of improved equipment and machinery. He has two large red barns, a comfortable seven-room residence and other good buildings, and the appearance of the farm is further enhanced by eight hundred catalpa trees, all planted by Mr. Nelson. A man of probity and temperate habits, Mr. Nelson is a supporter of the prohibition party, but has taken only a good citizen's interest in political matters. The family holds membership in the Christian church, in the support of which Mr. Nelson has been liberal.

Mr. Nelson was married in Monroe township, Grant county, to Miss Rosetta Smith, who was born in that township, March 1, 1875, and reared and educated there, daughter of James and Sarah (Smithgall) Smith, natives of Grant county who are still living on a farm in Monroe township, the father being past sixty years age and the mother more than fifty. She is a member of the New Light Christian church, and Mr. Smith has been a lifelong republican. Three children were in the Smith family, namely: Mrs. Rosetta Nelson; Rosco, who married Cecil Strange, a farmer on the Monroe township homestead, and has three children, - Dorothea E., James L. and Agnes D.; and Ethel, who married Jesse Spark, a farmer of Washington township, and has one son, - Lance. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had five children: Carl E., who died at the age of sixteen months; O. Gladys, aged thirteen, Arthur J., aged eleven, Garth L., aged seven, all attending school; and Pauline E., the baby, aged four years.

JAMES NEEDLER. Nearly the entire life of James Neddler has been passed in Hartford City, and for almost a quarter of a century he has been connected with the lumber trade. Commencing in the humblest position, he mastered its many details, and has continued in the business until he has attained a commanding place among the enterprising dealers of Hartford City, and has been able to hold it amid the strong competition which increasing capital and trade have brought to the city. His success has been due alone to his energetic character and business capacity, for he began life without pecuniary assistance or the aid of family or other favoring influences.

Mr. Needler was born near the city of Des Moines, Iowa, May 29, 1876, and is a son of Francis A. and Nancy Jane (Cunningham) Needler, natives of Blackford county, Indiana. The grandparents on both sides of the family had settled in this county at an early date, probably coming from the state of Ohio, and had made settlements in the wild woods of Licking township, securing tracts of land from the United States government. They cleared and cultivated their land, developed good farms, reared families to lives of thrift and industry, and rounded out their careers as honored and respected pioneer people. They were laid to rest in the Cunningham Cemetery, located five miles southwest of Hartford City.

Francis A. Needler, married Nancy Jane Cunningham at the old Cunningham homestead, and they began their life as farming people in Blackford county, where they established a home. After the birth of their first child, a daughter, Estella, who died at the age of thirteen months, they moved to the state of Iowa, and for some time lived in and near the city of Des Moines, Mr. Needler being employed as a mail carrier for three or four years. When their son, James, was about three years old, the parents removed to Kansas, and in that state the third child, Amy, was born in Cloud county. For three years Mr. Needler was engaged in farming in the Sunflower State, and then returned to Blackford county, Indiana. Some time afterward he was separated from Mrs. Needler and returned to Kansas, where he was married a second time, and still makes his home there. Mrs. Needler, who also married a second time, is now sixty-four years of age, and resides with her son James of this notice. Amy Needler, the only living daughter, married Thornton P. McCann, and lives at Plainville, Daviess county, Indiana, being the mother of two children, namely: Esther and Herbert.

James Needler was about six years of age when brought by his parents to Blackford county, and here his life has since been spent. He has been a hard and industrious worker since his youth, and his education was secured in such time as he could spare from his chores. His opportunities, accordingly, were not many, but he made the most of them, and later years of age when he entered the employ of the Willman Lumber Company. He had no experience in that line of work, and it was necessary that he start in the most humble capacity. Besides a steady occupation, at a period of life when so many young men waste their opportunities in frivolity and dissipation, he was enabled to gain a through acquaintance with the details of the business, thus qualifying himself for the management which was to ultimately come into his hands. Mr. Needler has never worked for any other concern since joining his present company, a length of service which has shown remarkable tenacity of purpose as well as the possession of qualities that have commended him to his employers. Step by step he has worked his way steadily upward, familiarizing himself with every detail of the business as he has advanced, and proving himself trustworthy and capable in every emergency. In 1910 he was made manager of the concern, and since the death of J. P. Willman, in 1904, he has been practically in charge of the business, although R. K. Willman remains as the chief stockholder of the business. The Willman Lumber Company was founded in 1890 by J. P. Willman, for the handling of all kinds of lumber, building supplies and building hardware, also operating a large planing mill and giving employment to fifteen men, thus caring for a large local output. Under Mr. Needler's management the business has increased materially and his energy and progressive ideas have served to impart to those about him his enthusiasm. His opinion upon matters connected with the trade is influential with the associated dealers, who have confidence in the soundness of his judgment, and who regard him as thoroughly informed. Mr. Needler is essentially a business man, and has not been especially active in public matters, although he has ever been ready to discharge the duties of citizenship, and has served capably for one term as alderman of the First Ward. His political affiliation is with the democratic party.

Mr. Needler was married at Hartford City, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Kalbfleisch, who was born May 2, 1878, in Canada, but reared and educated at Petoskey, Michigan. Her parents, Conrad and Annie (Bickell) Kalbfleisch, were born in Germany, and came to America as children, their parents settling in Canada, where they grew up and were married. Later they came to the United States, settling in Emmet county, Michigan, near Petoskey, where they still reside and are engaged in agricultural pursuits. Of the seven sons and three daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Kalbfleisch, all are living and married. Mr. and Mrs. Needler have been the parents of four children: Paul and Fay, who died in infancy; and Harold J. and Rollin Joseph, who are attending the Hartford City graded schools. Mr. and Mrs. Needler are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and have been liberal in their support of its various movements. He has been interested in fraternal matters, being a member of the Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, past grand and a member of the Grand Lodge of the State, and also holds membership in the local lodge of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. During his long residence in Hartford City, he has formed a wide acquaintance, in which he has many appreciative friends.

Deb Murray