Hi everyone:
I found a copy of a newspaper article in one of our our family bibles (I
don't know who cut it out and put it there, couldn't have been my Grandmother
Westfall because she wasn't born until 1887). It was published in a Grant Co. IN,
newspaper on September 16, 1887. I don't know exactly which paper it was;
only the date is shown at the top of the page. It is quite lengthy and,
therefore, I will send out a portion of it every few days or so to the Rootsweb list.
It includes the names of and short biographies about many Grant Co.,
individuals. Maybe you will find one of your Grant County family members...... I
hope so.
Part 1
"Old People --
A Partial List of Grant County's Oldest Citizens
In a population of about 25,000 people, Grant County has in the
neighborhood of but thirty citizens who are in their eightieth year or over.
Authorities agree that in the march through life of a million chldren, at the
beginning of eighty years but 90,000 thousand will be living. Death comes very
rapidly after that, for in five more years more than half will die,and in five years
more a mere fraction will remain -- about 4,000, and at ninety-five only
about 500 will remain.
These aged men and women have lived their long lives with no knowledge
of the secret of growing old. They followed no rules of conduct. Almost all
of the men u se tobacco and many of them used liquor, some to excess, at one
time in their lives. Now, however, there is not a single instance of
intemperance among them. They lived hard and worked hard -- worked to clear away the
forests and lived in cabins and log houses that were built with no knowledge or
thought of sanitary effects.
The oldest man in Grant county is Joseph Reasoner, who was born in
Westmoreland county, Penn., November 4th, 1794. He removed to Jefferson townsip
and entered the land where he now lives in 1828 -- having lived on the same farm
almost sixty years. Mr. Reasoner has been a member of the Presbyterian
church since 1816, and been identified with the Republican party since its
organization. His general health is good at this time, except the usual infirmities
of extreme age. Mr. Reasoner used tobacco for sixty years, but quit it some
years ago. He never used liquor.
William Gilpin, of North Marion, was born in Louden county, Virginia,
August 10, 1798, and is now in h is ninetieth year. He came to Marion forty
years ago from Muskingum county, O., where his father and mother died at the ripe
old ages of 108 and 99years respectively. Mr. Gilpin's grandmother died at
the age of 114 years. His Grandfather Gilpin was killed in the revolutionary
war. Mr. Gilpin is a sligtly built man, about five feet seven inches, and
weighs about 135 pounds. He is a happy and contented old gentleman, and a good
citizen. He belongs to no church, but is an old-time Democrat.
Following him very closely comes Elias Coleman, who is now in his
eighty-ninth year. He was born Nobemver 25, 1798, in Wayne county, NOrth Carolina,
of English parents. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He
spent the early years of is life in farming. He was always a lover of forest
sports, such as hunting, fishing and trapping. His life has always been full of
adventure. Was first married in 1820. Moved to Indiana in 1828. Brought
his little family with a horse and cart, walking considerable of the way himself
and carrying his son, Bennett, especially over the mountains. Settled at
Newport, Wayne county, Indiana. Wariously occupied for several years in
blacksmithing, wagoning, etc., until his health failed and then went into the
mercantilebusiness. Afterward moved to Grant county, where he traded considerable in
real estate, buying and improving farms. He has cleared and improved several
farms along Deer Creek. Went into the goods business and Jonesboro, handling
nothing buy free labor goods. Being a firm believer in the abollition of
slavery, he was always doing everything in his power to help the poor black man.
He was raised a Friend, generally called Quaker, and always was a faithful
member and regular attendant at church. Was appointed protmaster at Jonesboro in
1873, and held that office about two years. This about closed his business
career, he being too old to engage in active work. In politics he was first a
Whig, and then a Republican, and now a Prohibitionist He hopes to yet live to
see the dau when the rum traffic willb e wiped out of our free land, as the
slave trade was, w hich he so strongly opposed. He is now living with his
step-son, Chas. E. Coffin, in Marion."
To be continued.......
Sherry Jones Ryan
San Diego
bandbinns(a)aol.com