Joshua Holland and his wife, Nancy (Ramsey) Holland, both deceased, late of New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, were highly respected residents of this city and in their removal Henry County lost a couple who in every walk in life exemplified the teachings of the man of Nazareth and who shed an influence for better living which is still potent and far-reaching. This worthy couple were both reared in this county and for several years Mr. Holland was engaged in the dry goods trade here. He was very successful in his business operations and occupied an enviable position in commercial circles. He took a keen interest in public affairs and as proof of the high esteem in which he was held he was elected to the responsible position of commissioner of the county. During his occupancy of the office he had the books of the county officials examined, a proceeding, which disclosed a good deal of rottenness. He was too honest and straightforward to connive at anything that was not perfectly unquestionable, and one result was his failure of re-election. From that time on he lived a retired life and survived all his children His children were all given good educations and were graduates of the different institutions which they attended, but all died in early life. The subject's only grandchild, Florence (better known as Toosey) Murphy a daughter of William Murphy, of crown. Point, was a student at Oxford, Ohio, at the time of death. The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Holland was during their lives one of the most popular homes in the city and was the scene of many happy occasions. Mrs. Holland lived here for some time after the death of her husband, and at her death the palatial home was donated to the city to be used as a home for old ladies. For various reasons, however, it has never been converted to this use. This building is located on west Broad Street and is admirably situated for the purpose intended. Mrs. Holland was one of those beautiful, religious and home loving women whose beautiful influence was felt not only in the home, but throughout the community. Her life was but the reflection of her beautiful character. She was ever ready to advocate any measure, which would elevate the moral, social and religious sentiment of the community, and she will ever be remembered as a loving friend and mother.

Submitted by: Lora
Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920

The estimable gentleman for whom this sketch is prepared was born in Liberty Township, Henry County. Indiana, on the 16th day of November, 1844, and is the son of Isaac N. and Jemimah (White) Baker, an outline of whose family history will be found elsewhere in these pages. In the common schools he acquired knowledge of the fundamental branches, reading, writing, arithmetic and perhaps some other studies, and when old enough to be of any service in the fields learned by actual experience the meaning of the various kinds of farm work. He was always of a practical turn of mind and did not at all shrink from manual labor. Even in his early boyhood he showed signs of thrift and industry that have characterized his later life and led to his success in the agricultural field. Mr. Baker remained on the home place in section 3, Liberty Township, until his twenty-second year when he went to Iowa and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture upon his own responsibility, continuing there for a period of two years. Not being satisfied to make that state his permanent home, he disposed of his interests there and, returning to Henry County, has resided here ever since. On the 26th day of August 1883, Mr. Baker and Miss Ella Barnard were united in marriage and for one year here after lived on a farm in Liberty Township, moving to the present home at the end of that time. Mr. Baker carries on general farming and by a careful rotation of crops maintains the fertility of his place, which produces generously all the grain, vegetable and fruit crops grown in this section of Indiana. He is a judicious agriculturist, plans his work systematically and by properly looking after every detail makes the farm produce considerably in excess of what is required to keep it in order and provide the family with countrymen, he devotes considerable attention to stock raising, which of recent years has become quite remunerative. Mr. Baker is a gentleman who possesses the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens and no one in the community stands higher as a public-spirited man of affairs. He is an uncompromising supporter of the Republican Party and has been a politician of considerable local repute, though never an office seeker. He is a member of the Red Men's organization at New Lisbon, his wife belonging to Pocahontas Tribe, which meets at the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have a pleasant home and are well situated to enjoy the comforts and blessings of life, which their co-operative labors have earned. They move in respectable social circles, are popular with all who know them and their standing among the best people of the township in which they live has long been recognized and appreciated. They have one child, a son, Herman, who was born on the 15th of November 1885; he is an intelligent, well-educated young man, interested with his father in the work of the farm and gives promise of a useful career in the future. Mrs. Baker is the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Courtney) Barnard, the father a native New York and the mother born in Ohio. These parents came with their respective families to Henry County when young, met and married here and had eight children whose names are as follows: Richard, Jennie, William, Catherine, Alfred, Anna and Ella, twins, and one that died in infancy. By her Second marriage to Isaac Branson the mother had one child that died young. Mrs. Baker spent her childhood and youth in New Castle and was educated in the graded schools of that city. She is a lady of good mind and varied information, presides over her home with grace and dignity and heartily co-operates with her husband in all of his endeavors to promote their mutual interests.

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Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920

The medical profession in Henry County is well represented by Dr. Smith, who has advanced steadily to a position of prominence as the result of his thorough understanding of medical principles and the ability with which he applies his professional knowledge to the needs of suffering humanity. He was born in Hancock County this state, on the 13th of April. 1843, and is the son of Isaac and Catherine (Crum) Smith. The grandfather of the subject was a native of England, but upon the outbreak of hostilities between the mother country and the American colonies he came at once to this country and offered his services in behalf of the latter and nobly assisted them in gaining their freedom. He was a mere boy at that time, but was manly in thought and deed. Soon after the dose of the Revolutionary struggle he went to Virginia and there married a Miss Monroe, a relative of the late President James Monroe. He learned the trade of a brick and stonemason and for a number of years worked at that occupation. Subsequently be removed to Preble County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days, in that Ohio home. Isaac M., the father of the subject, was born and reared. Being left an orphan at an early age he accompanied an older sister to Indiana at a time when the greater part of the state was wild and unimproved and before the territory had been admitted to the Union. They located in Fayette County and there the subject's father was employed upon a farm until the time of his marriage, about 1830. He then concluded to locate in Hancock County, this state, and in pursuit of that purpose followed an old Indian trail until he had reached a place that suited him. He there entered eighty acres of land and added to it from time to time as he was able until he finally possessed a quarter section of good land. At the out start he was compelled to live in his wagon, but later built him a hut, covered with bark and with a quilt for a door. This was not a very secure lodging and sometimes the wolves howled in a fearful manner around him at night. However, they persevered and gradually brought the place up to a high standard of excellence. He was a deacon in the Christian church, in which faith he passed away in 1898 at the age of ninety-eight years; his widow died in 1900 at the age of eighty-seven years. To them were born twelve children, of whom Dr. Smith, the subject, was the fifth in order of birth. The subject of this review was reared upon his father's farm and attended the country schools of his neighborhood until he was about sixteen years old. At that time the country was in the midst of the terrible civil strife which was threatening the very life of the republic and the subject volunteered his service in his country's defense. He enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the immediate command of Capt. Robert Allison. The regiment rendezvoused at Richmond, Wayne County, and were from there sent to Indianapolis and later to Louisville, Kentucky. They engaged the enemy at Shiloh April 6 and 7, 1862, and again at Stone River in a hard-fought battle in which the Fifty-seventh bore an honorable part. Next they were engaged at Mission Ridge, and then followed the Atlanta campaign. During this latter the regiment was under fire for one hundred and five days and were then at the siege and fall of Atlanta. The Fourth Army Corps, of which the Fifty-seventh Regiment was a part, was engaged in looking after General Hood's army and became engaged in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Subsequently they were transported to Port Lavaca, Texas, to look after Maximilian and upon the completion of that duty received their honorable discharge at Indianapolis in July 1865, after a service of nearly four years. During all this service the subject was never in a hospital as a patient. As a boy Robert A. Smith never had much of a liking for the farm and had frequently importuned his father to give him his freedom that he might engage in some other occupation. During the war he was for a time employed in the division medical director's office and here took quite a liking to the science of medicine, finally determining to make its practice his life work. On his return home he entered the office of Dr. H. S. Cunningham now of Indianapolis, and afterward entered the Ohio Medical College, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1870. Upon his graduation he at once entered upon the active practice at Grant City, Henry County, and remained at that place five years. In 1875 he located in Greensboro, this county, and has here since remained. In 1898 he formed a partnership with his son. Dr. G. H. Smith, and they have together been engaged in the practice since that time. The subject has always enjoyed a large share of the public patronage and though he has lost large sums of money in the way of security debts, he has been fairly successful in general results. In 1867 Dr. Smith was united in. marriage to Miss Mary J. Evans, of Greenville, Ohio. She is a native of England and received a very complete education. This union was a most pleasant one and resulted in the birth of the following children: One died in infancy; Catherine E. is the wife of Seth Mills; Dr. George H., who married Miss Laura Cook, is president of the Psycho-Medical Society of Indiana; Nettie E. is the wife of Frank A. Needham. The mother of these children died in 1898 and in 1901 the Doctor was married to Miss Flora True. In politics Dr. Smith is an ardent Republican and has taken a keen interest in public affairs. He was at one time the candidate of his party for the legislature and was elected coroner of Henry County, discharging the duties of the latter office in an able and satisfactory manner. Religiously he is a member of the Society of Friends. In his fraternal affiliations he is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Blue Lodge No. 175, and the chapter, council and commandery at Knightstown of the Greensboro lodge he has served as worshipful master. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic. The results, which have followed the earnest efforts of Dr. Smith, are very gratifying. Starting in on the practice of his profession encumbered with a debt of almost fifteen hundred dollars, he has discharged every financial obligation and has come into possession of some fine farming property and other interests that place him in a very comfortable position financially. He is the owner of one of the best medical libraries in Henry County, besides much other good literature, and finds much pleasure in thus being enabled to come into touch with the best thoughts of all the past centuries. His reputation as a successful practitioner of medicine is not confined to his immediate locality and he has successfully treated some very difficult and dangerous cases. Because of his genial manners and high personal qualities he has won for himself a host of warm personal friends.

Submitted by: Lora
Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920

One of the most talented physicians and surgeons of New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, whom the hand of ruthless fate too untimely removed from a most promising and useful career in professional life, was Dr. Walter Axline Boor, the eldest son of Dr. William F. Boor, retired president of the First National Bank of New Castle. Dr. Walter A. Boor was born in Middletown, this County, January 27, 1849, and died May 24, 1897. He was principally educated in the old seminary in New Castle, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school at Mechanicsburg, this County, a profession he followed with the happiest results for several years. He was prepared for college in the study of medicine by his father, and after the usual medical examination was admitted to the proper department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. with the class of 1871. After graduating, young Dr. Boor at once began practice at Cadiz, in this County, and his success in that town was so encouraging that he felt justified in taking upon himself the responsibilities of matrimony, and there married. September 24 1872, Miss Angelia Hess, a daughter of Dr. Luther W and Phebe A. (Pickering) Hess, and under somewhat romantic circumstances, the father of the Doctor and the mother of his bride having in their younger days kept company together. At her marriage Miss Hess was twenty years of age, a fact that indicated the long acquaintanceship of the parents. Mrs. Boor was educated at Cadiz and likewise at the New Castle Seminary, and is one of the most accomplished ladies that adorn the social circles of the city at the present hour. After his marriage Dr. Walter A. Boor entered into partnership with his father-in-law, Dr. Hess, at Cadiz, and together they met with the lucrative patronage that their mutual abilities fully warranted. This connection was maintained for two years and during that time he took a course in the Bellevue Hospital at New York City. Dr. Boor next passed two or three months in Indianapolis, then came to New Castle, and in 1875 joined his father in practice, which they continued together until the latter became president of the First National Bank. Dr. W. A. Boor then followed his profession alone until his health failed and would not permit him longer to attend to his numerous and constantly increasing calls. In politics Dr. Boor was a Republican and tinder the auspices of his party served as a member of the school board, of which he was the treasurer; he was likewise a member of the Henry County, State, National and International Medical Societies, to all of which he contributed many masterly papers on subjects apropos to the medical profession. Of the county society he was for a long time the president, and for eight years was county physician, also serving on the city board of health. Fraternally he was a Knight of Pythias. Dr. Boor was invalided for six years or over, suffering at times from semi-paralytic strokes and nervous prostration. He greatly enjoyed travel, especially by water, and made several trips on the Great Lakes; but his greatest enjoyment was in the perusal of his books. He did not, however, carry general literature into his office nor medical literature to his home. He erected a handsome dwelling in which he dispensed a generous hospitality and in which his happiest hours were passed in the society of his family and in the entertainment of his numerous congenial friends. His children are three in number, namely: Howard H. who is a clerk in a drug store; Frank 0., deceased, was in the senior class at the high school, and Hazel A. is in her first year of the high school of New Castle. Mrs. Boor is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. Dr. Luther W. Hess, Mrs. Boor's father, continued in active practice until seized with the illness that resulted in his death, March 8, 1883. His widow has been a resident of New Castle about sixteen years. She had two children, Mrs. Dr. Boor, and Dr. Frank C. Hess, who began practice with his father at Cadiz more than twenty years ago and still continues in his chosen profession at the same place.

Submitted by: Lora
Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920

In years but recently gone the flow of natural gas in Indiana was a prolific source of income to many individuals, who generally united their interests in companies or corporations, but the flow of late years has considerably abated, while the supply of coal oil or petroleum has not so perceptibly been diminished, as new wells for the production of the latter are, not infrequently opened by experts. Among these is the gentleman whose name heads this biography. Henry J. Hughes, contractor at Middletown, Henry County, Indiana, for sinking gas and oil wells, was born in county Tyrone. Ireland, May 20, 1845. Edward Hughes, father of Henry J had come to America about the year 1849 and located in New York City. About a year later Mrs. Hughes came over with her two children, Henry J. and Mary Ann, but on arriving in New York, via Canada, was confronted with the sad intelligence that the father had been called to his home in another sphere. A few weeks later the sorrowing widow was called upon to join her husband, and Henry J., then but five years old, and his younger sister found themselves dependent upon the care of strangers in a strange land. The children, however, soon found homes, Henry J. living with one family until twelve years old, when he began to work on a farm and was so employed for five years. He had but limited opportunities for securing an education, however, and quit his studies when but seven years old, his teacher having been too tyrannical, while the family with which he lived was not urgent as to his attendance, preferring to have his services at home, and for five years the young lad faithfully did his duty in this respect. Henry then went to work outside the home at times in lumber camps-and when twenty-one years old went to Michigan, where he worked one year in a sawmill and at dock labor in Detroit. About 1867 or 1868 Mr. Hughes went to the oil region of Pennsylvania where he became initiated into the mysteries of his present calling. After reaching the oil district, however. Mr. Hughes began work at chopping wood, receiving for his labor one dollar and twenty-five cents to two dollars per cord, and at this and other classes of labor laid by nine hundred dollars. This sum he invested in an oil well and in six weeks lost it all and incurred besides a debt of one hundred dollars. But this spirit was invincible and he began working by the day at drilling wells, handled sixty-nine of them consecutively, and this has since been his occupation. He next began in Pennsylvania to take an interest in wells in compensation for his labor and of these he sank seven before he struck oil. To reach this result it required about seven years' labor. In the meantime Mr. Hughes bad exhausted all his earnings and again began working by the day on contingent success but did not again find oil until 1879, but this was an "off" year for oil, as it brought but forty cents per barrel in the market. Mr. Hughes constructed tanks, in which the oil was stored, but there was no improvement in price and about nine months afterwards the stored-up oil was sold at a loss. Mr. Hughes was not altogether discouraged, however, but went to the oil fields in New York state, then returned to Pennsylvania, worked in the fields of Warren County, and then in 1886 went to Lima, Ohio, where fields were just being opened, worked by the day at drilling for a year and then had charge of a drilling gang for another year. He next secured a kit of tools for himself, came to Indiana and here he next worked for a time at Lafayette about 1888. He next worked for a time at Sidney, Ohio, then returned to Indiana and drilled the first well at or near Chesterfield on the site of the Spiritualists' camp ground. The well producing gas and artesian water. In July 1888, Mr. Hughes came to Middletown and worked by the day for Arthur Burritt, the contractor, in sinking a well on the site of the old sawmill, this being the second well sunk in the city. Mr. Hughes next drilled at Mechanicsburg, then contracted for three wells north of Chesterfield, and the same spring drilled another. He then returned to Lima, and in July 1889, began contracting and working for the Richmond Gas Company with his own tools. This arrangement lasted three seasons, after which time Mr. Hughes worked on contracts at different points until his coming to Middletown to sink wells for the tin-plate company. While thus engaged he invested fourteen hundred dollars in lots in the Tin-Plate addition to Middletown and erected four houses. He has in addition made many other contracts in Henry County and some in Madison county, keeping employed four regular workmen and several teamsters. Mr. Hughes for many years kept a diary or record of all the details connected with the wells, which he has drilled and is well satisfied with the complete and lasting manner in which his work has been done. He has been particularly exempt from accidents. No person has ever been crippled while in his employ, but he has several times been the victim of conflagrations that have destroyed his derricks and large tanks, principally caused by lightning setting fire to gas: a derrick costs about five hundred dollars. Mr. Hughes has frequently found himself in embarrassed circumstances, but with indomitable pluck has always worked himself out of difficulties. At one time he ran about nineteen hundred dollars in debt, with nothing to show for it. He was sinking wells and supply companies refused to extend him credit and he was obliged on one occasion to pay twenty dollars for the use of two hundred dollars for two weeks and on another occasion paid seventeen dollars for the use of a similar sum for the same length of time, but he pulled through. In Pennsylvania he went to rack and ruin over a dry hole, owed fifteen hundred dollars and lost everything but his tools, but had no money with which to remove these. He was to receive six hundred and fifty dollars as soon as he had a well cased; he borrowed two hundred dollars, for which he paid twenty dollars, kept up appearances and soon afterward received his six hundred and fifty dollars, which put him on his feet again. Mr. Hughes continued his struggle bravely and now is possessed of a competency, is interested in the Home Gas Company and is the principal stockholder in the Home Gas and Oil Company, also owning stock in each of the various factories in Middletown, and all this is the result of his indomitable courage and unceasing personal exertion. Mr. Hughes was united in marriage at Greenfield, Indiana, on Christmas Eve, 1899, to Mrs. Emma Moore, of New Castle. This lady bore the maiden name of Collins, her father, Joseph Collins, having been a pioneer of Henry County and now residing in Kennard at the age of ninety-three years. To the marriage of Mr. And Mrs. Hughes no children have been born, but Mrs. Hughes has two children by her first husband, viz: a daughter, who is a member of the Hughes household, and a son. W. H. Moore of Middletown. Mrs. Hughes is a Wesleyan Methodist in her church association and is a strong advocate of temperance, aiding the Prohibition Party in every conceivable way. Mr. Hughes is a Democrat and is ever active in his work for the party in all its campaigns. As a self-made man too much credit cannot be bestowed upon Mr. Hughes, and his example is one, which may be studied with profit by the rising generation and by all others who have yet to realize fortunes for themselves.

Submitted by: Lora
Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920