History-Swain, Truitt, Wysor Bios History Of Delaware County
T. B. Helm
1881

Lora Radiches

Surnames: Swain, Hodge, Spilker, Maddy, Shafer

JOB SWAIN

One of the earliest settlers at Muncie was born in Jefferson County, Tenn, January 20,1806. In 1815, he accompanied the family of his father, Elihu Swain, to Economy, Wayne Co. Indiana, where he received such an education as the schools of that day afforded. He came to Muncie in 1828, and was married, in the same year, to Miss Nancy, sister of James Hodge Esq. He learned the cabinet-maker�s trade with his father-in-law,and pursued it for many years. He was reared under the influences of the Society of Friends, but united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1839. He was in all respects a good man, and lived a life as nearly free from blame as a mortal could be expected to live. He served one term as Mayor of the city of Muncie, and as Justice of the Peace for twenty-three years. In the latter capacity he was serving the time of his death, which occurred on the 29th day of April 1877.

His first wife died in 1858 leaving three sons�Orlando H, Elihu H and James; and three daughters�Eliza, since deceased; Melvina R, now the wife of Mr. G. W. Spilker; and Sarah E, wife of Mr. W.R. Maddy. September 1, 1859, Mr. Swain married Mrs. Emily Shafer, who survives him. One son, Charles, blessed this second marriage. (Page 231)


JOSHUA TRUITT

Mr. Truitt is an enterprising lumber-dealer in the city of Muncie. He was born September 7, 1830, in Adams County, Ohio. His father, George Truitt, was a native of the State of Maryland, from where he removed to Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and afterward to Scioto County, Ohio, in 1814. After remaining about a year in Scioto, he removed to the adjoining county of Adams. He came to Delaware County, Indiana, in November 1880, and entered land two miles east of Muncie, where he cleared and improved a fine farm. He devoted his time to agricultural pursuits until a few years prior to his death, when failing health forced him to retire from active labor. He died in 1873.

His son, the subject of this biography, accompanied his father�s family to Delaware County, in November 1830. His early life was marked by no great events, and was not materially different from that of farm boys in general. He attended school at Muncie for two terms, and then engaged in teaching school during the winter and working on the farm during the summer. He afterward attended school at New Castle, Ind, and from that time until he was twenty-six years of age, he was engaged alternately at farm work school-teaching and attending school. While at New Castle, he first began to think for himself in political matters, and his convictions led him away from the political school in which he had been reared. He became a Republican, and his independence in this matter attracted the attention of influential politicians.

He was nominated for the office of Surveyor of Delaware County, and elected in the fall of 1856, and was engaged in surveying during the next four years. At the end of that time, he engaged in the marble business at Muncie, at the same time acting as City Civil Engineer, until his brother returned from the army, when he placed the work in his hands, and soon afterward engaged in the lumber trade. He first began buying and selling walnut lumber, and afterward erected a sawmill seven miles northwest of Muncie. Subsequently, he moved his mill to Madison County, Indiana, and, in 1874, to its present location, south of the Fort Wayne, Muncie and Cincinnati Railroad. He has manifested great industry in the prosecution of his business, with good results to his own exchequer. His transactions with all men are of an honorable nature, and he is universally respected and esteemed.

On the 18th of April 1860, Mr. Truitt was united in marriage with Miss Lida Kerwood, of Oxford, Ohio, who died December 13, 1863, leaving two children to mourn her loss, viz., Lola and Stanley�the latter now deceased. On the 17th of May 1864, he was married, at Mansfield, Ohio, to Mrs. Anna A. Ramsey, his present companion. (Page 234)


Surnames: Wysor, Guthrie, Russy, Jack, Kline, Richards

JACOB H. WYSOR

Was born in Pulaski County, Virginia, December 6, 1819. He came to Delaware County, Indiana, in the fifteenth year of his age, with his stepfather, John Guthrie and settled on a farm five miles of Muncie. Before he was twenty-two years of age, he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Muncie, where a large portion of his property was afterward destroyed by fire. In 1843, he purchased the unexpired lease on the Gilbert flouring-mill, which stood near the site of his present mill, and, before the expiration of the lease, he, in company with James L. Russey and John Jack, purchased the mill property and conducted the business under the firm name of Russey, Jack and Wysor. In 1849, Mr. Wysor went to California, where he was joined, later, by Mr. Russey, whose sad fate is detailed in this volume. In 1852, he returned, and, in company with John Jack, purchased Mr. Russey's interest in the mill. The business was then conducted by Wysor and Jack until 1858, when William B. Kline became a member of the firm. Mr. Wysor has been a citizen of this county since 1834, and is well known as a man of upright, honest principles, always fair in his dealings with mankind, persistent and energetic in his business, and honored and respected by all who know him. In April 1834, he was married to Sarah Richards, at Peru, Ind.; they are the parents of four children, one of whom, Virginia, is deceased. Harry, Martha and William still survive. (Page 234)

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