Mr. Hamilton was born December 21, 1825, in Monongalia County, W.
VA.
His father, Stephen Hamilton, was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to
West Virginia when a young lad. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation
in Monongalia County until 1829. In that year he came with his wife and eight
children to DelawareCounty, Ind. He settled in Hamilton Township, and was
identified with its early settlement. At the organization of that township,
about nine years subsequent to the date of his settlement, it was endowed with
his name. He continued to reside in this township until his decease. Although
he never held public office,he was a public-spirited man, and was
actively�interested in the success of the Whig, and afterward
the Republican, Party. He was an upright, honorable man, and, as highly
esteemed by all who knew him.
At the date of his removal to this county, the subject of this sketch was but
four years old. There were no schools near his home, and when a system of
public education was finally inaugurated, he was almost a young man, and felt
reluctance to taking his place in the�class with the younger
children. He attended a few terms of school in the winter, however, and
acquired a limited knowledge of the common branches. A naturally bright mind
supplied the deficiency of educaional privileges, and by a careful application
of his leisure hours, he became fitted for an intelligent transaction of the
business of his life.�Until twenty-four years of age, he remained at
home assisting his father. Then nearly every locality was aroused by the
reports of golden treasures to be found in the State of California. Visions of
gold haunted him and, in October 1849, he joined a company composed of
twenty-nine citizens of this county, among whom were his father and brother
Arch. From Muncie they went to Cincinnati, thence to New Orleans, thence
across the Gulf of Mexico to Chagres City, in Central America, thence across
the isthmus to the city of Panama, and from that point to San Francisco.
Mr. Hamilton entered the mines, where, by two years� hardwork, he accumulated
a sufficient sum to give him a good start in life, always avoiding the vices
and uncertain speculations in which the miners of those days were prone to
engage. Two years and two months from the date of his departure, he returned
to his home and purchased the farm�upon which he still resides. Here
he began work upon a quarter section of timberland, scarcely a tree on the
tract having been felled when he took possession.
In the thirtieth year of his age (October, 1855), he was united in marriage
with Miss Rachel, daughter of Mark Moore,
an early settler of this county. Her
companionship has been spared throughout the intervening years, and she still
lives to share the well-earned opulence that has crowned their efforts, and
which is the legitimate consequence of honest toil and economy.
The children who came to bless their home were Charles E., Lillie Z, Anna E.
Frank, Henry and Archie A, who are now living, and Mary Ella and Ivy who are
deceased.
In politics, Mr. Hamilton is a stanch supporter of the Republican Party; and
while he is not a member of any religious society, he has always contributed
generously to the erection and support of churches in the county. His life has
run in a smooth, even channel, and has not been very eventful; but by his
quiet, peaceable and friendly disposition, and the innate nobility of his
nature, he has gained a host of friends, by whom he is deeply beloved. (Page 217)
Jacob Heath was born in Wayne County, Ind., February 23 1829. His father, Ralph Heath, removed on the 27th of December 1829, into Salem Township, Delaware County. That portion of this county was at that time an unbroken wilderness. Settling down into the wierd forests, whose vast recesses were regaled by no sound of civilization-whose quietude was broken only by the howling wolves, or the treacherous, stealthy tread of the bear-the subject of this sketch had an excellent opportunity of witnessing the improvements, hardships and dangers of the early settlement of this locality. Some of the most noted incidents connected with his early life and that of his parents will, be found recorded elsewhere in, and form a valuable part of, the history of Delaware County.
His opportunities for education were very limited, and were generally confined to about two months during each year, and he was compelled to walk about two miles every day during the sessions. At the age of eighteen years, having obtained what was then termed a very good business education, he entered the Old Seminary School of Muncie, taught by Profs. Farris and Abbott. This school was attended at that time by many of the staid business and professional men now of Muncie. Here he learned the higher branches of education, and at the close of the course returned to his father's farm.
At the age of twenty-one years, he taught the first school organized in the McKimmey District, Monroe Township. One of his pupils was Mr. Joel B. McKimmey, the present Sheriff of DelawareCounty. This was in the year 1850, and during this term of school he was married to Miss Rhoda A. Perdieu, daughter of the Rev. Abner Perdieu, near Muncie. During the same year, he purchased the splendid tract of land now owned by Mr. John Nichols, in Monroe Township, paying for it $4 per acre, and, in 1852, removed thereon. Here he resided until 1858, clearing up the woodland and laying it out into a beautiful farm, when he sold out to Mr. Nichols, and returned to Salem Township and purchased the farm now owned by Mr. Thomas W. Luttle. In 1858, he disposed of his land John Eshelman, a well-known German, then in affluence, and purchased the Alredge place, a fine farm in Monroe Township. Here he lived until 1868 (during the war excitement, he befriended and aided the soldiers at every call), when he sold his property,and with his family removed to Laclede, Mo. Soon after locating in Missouri, he became convinced that society there, owing to the disruptions caused by the late war, was not of that character in which he desired to rear and educate his family, and he returned to Muncie where he place his children in school.
During the past seven years, Mr. Heath has been engaged in the real estate and general agency business. Being raised by Methodist parents, and the house of parental ancestors for many years being the pleasant haven of the weary itinerant, he early in life became a member of that denomination, and has never wavered in his religious convictions. At different times during his association with the church, he has been called to the many official positions therein, until he has filled them all. He is now a licensed local preacher. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for twenty-five years, and an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance. In politics he was a Free-Soilor when a young man, but identified himself with the Republican party soon after its birth, and with might and main labored for the entire Republican ticket in 1880. The subject of this sketch is the father of eight children, seven of whom now live-two daughters and five sons.
John B. Heath, the oldest son, was born October 21,1851. He was given a good business education, and at the age of nineteen years, entered the office of the Muncie Weekly Telegraph to learn the "art preservative" that of printing at which business he has since confined himself. In the spring of 1877, he was elected a member of the City Council from the Fifth Ward, and, in the spring of 1879, was again chosen by the people to represent that precinct in the capacity of Councilman. He is at present connected with the typographical department of the Muncie Daily and WeeklyTimes.
Frederick W. Heath, second son of him who heads this biography, was born May 5,1854. His education embraced a course in the graded schools of this city. At the age of fifteen, he engaged in business-groceries and provisions. In this he displayedan adaptability to financial management seldom found in one of that age. Three years later he was with Mr. Samuel P. Wilson, a well-known businessman, as insuranceagent and broker. When nineteen years old, he entered into a co-partnershipwith Mr. Amos L. Wilson, Delaware County's present Treasurer elect. Their business was real estate and note brokerage. By mutual consent they dissolved, six months later, after a successful and pleasant business relation, that Mr. Wilson could give his entire attention to mercantile interests. Mr. Heath at once formed a co partnership with Mr. Walter Inlow, a well-known farmer. Their transactions were profitable to them, and they continued in business together until about the first of the year 1881, when both, desirous of giving more attention to individual interests and investments, agreed to a dissolution o fbusiness partnership. Mr. Heath continues the business of the old firm-Heath and Inlow-that of real estate, loans and general brokerage, and of his business career throughout it may be said that it has been marked with eminent success.
Perry S. Heath, the editor and newspaper correspondent, is the third son of Jacob W. Heath, and was born on the 3lst of August 1857. His school days were marked with that perseverance, industry and advancement that has characterized his brief career in his profession. He encompassed the studies of four years, during a two years' course in the graded schools of Muncie-his earlier education having been attained the district schools of the country during his childhood days on the farm. On the 3d of May 1870, at the age of thirteen, when almost prepared to enter the academy, preferring from his ownjudgment an education at the printer's case, preparatory to an ascension up the editorial tripod, he entered the office of the Muncie Democrat, from which the present publication of that title is an outgrowth. His quick perceptibilities enabled him to learn with great rapidity, and, at the expiration of his first two years in printerdom, it is said by his brothers in art, that he was accounted one of the most valuable, accurate and swift compositors in the city. Industry and close attention to business received its merited reward, with him,and from position to position he was rapidly called-each time to a higher sphere-until in the fall of 1817, when he accepted the position of Superintendent of the news department of the Logansport Pharos. At Logansport he was engaged by several of the leading Western journals as a special news correspondent, in which capacity he acted with such efficiency that his services were soon sought by many of the metropolitan dailies. On the 7th of December 1878, he was engaged by Mr. E. W. Brady, proprietor of the Muncie Daily and Weekly Times, to take charge of the city department of those well-known journals, and he has served in the capacity of city editor to the present writing. He has also acted as special correspondent for ten of the leading daily newspapers in the West, and during the memorable campaign of 1880, their telegraphic columns kaleidoscoped, morning and evening, with his productions over one hundred thousand words of the telegraphic matter being written by him during that campaign, besides filling his arduous duties as principal local writer for the Muncie Daily Times. As a journalist his future success is foretold by his past career.
Cassie E. Heath, the eldest daughter, was born January l3,1859. She received an education in the schools of Muncie and the Normal at Danville, Ind., and is a teacher in the city school at present.
Mary A. Heath, the second daughter and fifth child, was born May 17, 1862. She graduated from the Muncie High School at the commencement of 1880.
Fletcher S. Heath, was born December 30,1863. He was a remarkably bright student at school, and would have graduated fronm the Muncie High School in June, 1881, at the age of seventeen, had he not entered the Muncie Bank in the summer of 1879, where he is now principal book-keeper.
Cyrus R. Heath, was born September 4 1867. He is now a student in the schools of Muncie.
Arthur B. W. Heath, the last child of the subject of this sketch, was born December 18, 1811, and died August 18, 1872. (Page 216)