Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted to others an
Incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have secured success to Mr. Bales have also brought him the esteem of his fellow Citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. The immediate subject of this review, Oliver H. Bales, is a successful agriculturist, residing in the northern part of Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana, about four miles from Knightstown. He is a native of this county, having first seen the light of day at Knightstown on the 3rd of January, 1837. He is the son of John H. and Ann (Hasket) Bales. John H. Bales was the only son of Jesse and Ann (Hoskins) Bales and was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, born on the 16th of August, 1810. When less than one year old he had the misfortune to lose his father by death, and in 1826, when about sixteen years old, he accompanied his mother to Indiana, locating in Wayne County. He was soon apprenticed to learn the trade of saddle making with Benajah Hiatt, at Milton and in 1830 started a shop of his own at Knightstown. Subsequent to her emigration to Indiana the mother had remarried this time to Elias Jessup, who had settled near where Oliver H. Bales now lives. She owned that place until her death, though her last days were passed with her son Jesse Jessup at Spiceland where she passed away at an advanced age. In 1832 John H. Bales was united in marriage with Miss Ann Hasket. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas and Ann (Murdoch) Hasket and was born in Warren County, Ohio, on the 2d of April, 1810. When about fourteen years old she was brought to Indiana by her stepfather, Levi Cook, who settled in Greensboro Township. John H. Bales and Ann Hasket were both birthright members of the Friends society, and their marriage was celebrated at the Duck Creek meeting. He belonged to the Raysville meeting and sometime subsequent to his marriage he incurred the displeasure of the society because of his not adhering strictly to the plainness of dress and the formality of speech prescribed by that society and he was disowned. He never rejoined the Friends society, though he always lived in close accordance with its essential principles and contributed liberally to its support. He usually accompanied his wife to the meeting of the society but when the select part of the meeting was held he would withdraw. This feature of allowing members of the society at the select meetings was afterwards dispensed with. Mrs. Bales maintained active membership in the society. She was an intelligent, well-read woman and kept thoroughly informed on the leading questions of the day. On slavery question she was a strong abolitionist. Her husband, while of anti slavery sentiments at heart. Voted with the Whigs. He afterwards became a free soiler and a supporter of Van Buren for the presidency. Being a thorough abolitionist he lent his sympathies to the famous underground railroad.†He was not a conduct or on the railroad, though a number of his neighbors, namely: Tidemon Jessup, William Macy, Enoch Macy and Elias Jessup, who belonged to the original anti-slavery branch of the Friends society, were actively engaged in securing the passage to freedom of many colored refuges from the South. In 1840 John H. and Ann Bales came to the farm now owned by the subject until which time the former had found ready employment at his trade. This tract was new and but partially improved. However, it was the beginning of a farm, which, through his energy and thrift, became the premium farm of the county. On it was a hewed-log house, which he weather boarded and made into a fairly comfortable home. This house was built probably as early as 1830 and is still standing, being generally considered one of the oldest buildings in Henry County. Later in about 1853 Mr. Bales erected the house, which is now the home of the subject. He directed the farm work and was also a hog drover for several years. He drove his stock to Cincinnati, Ohio; and one of these trips proved very disastrous. In company with another man he bought a large number of hogs his partner agreeing to pay later for his share. At the time of the disastrous trip to Cincinnati the latter failed to carry out his part of the agreement, thus throwing the entire indebtedness upon Mr. Bales. However, he did not attempt to evade the responsibility but with his characteristic honesty and promptness he at once gave his own notes for the full amount. His friends accepted his straightforward efforts at their true worth, though it took him several years and an expenditure of about eleven thousand dollars to clear up the account. He was encouraged in this effort also by the willing and zealous manner in which his wife and children labored in their efforts to help tilt the burden. He continued to actively engage in business affairs until his death. He held the full confidence of his fellow citizens and was elected to the office of township trustee. He was not a seeker after office but at one time received the nomination of his party for the office of representative to the legislature, but was deeated. During all his life, after attaining his majority, he was a leader in political matters. Back in the “free-soil†days he was a wheel horse in his party and always stood manfully for those principles and policies, which he believed to be for the greatest good for the greatest number. He was early an earnest advocate of the system of primary election. During and preceding the campaigns he would ride over the county for weeks to forward the candidacy of his friends. He was a forceful pleader for the person or cause he believed to be the most deserving and through his intimate knowledge of local political matters and his extensive acquaintance with the electors of his county he exerted a telling influence in the campaigns. He passed away on the 20th of October. 1886 and his wife preceded him several years dying on the 21st of August, 1880, at the present home of Oilver H. Bales. Their remains now lie side by side in the cemetery at Greensboro. Their long wedded life was a most happy one and eight children were born to them. Four of this number have passed away, as follows: Malissa B., who married Owen Hill, of Carthage, Indiana died at the age of forty-five years; Mira, who was born in May, 1849, died at the home of her brother, Oliver H., near Wabash, Indiana, on the 16th of July, 1849; she had remained faithfully at home, acting as housekeeper for her father until his death, and afterwards up to within a few weeks of her death had acted as a clerk for her brother in-law, John T. Charles; two children died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Oliver H., the subject; Mary B., who is the wife of John T. Charles, of Knightstown; Louise B., the wife of Prof. Edward Taylor, superintendent of the city schools at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Jesse F., of Wayne township, this county. Oliver H. Bales, the immediate subject of this review, received his elementary mental training in the public schools of his neighborhood and at the age of nineteen years entered Antioch College, where he spent two terms. However, the close confinement necessitated by his studies interfered with his health, so he left college and began teaching school, but for the same reason he was soon compelled to abandon this work also. Subsequent to his marriage, 1862-3, he and his wife taught in the Spiceland high school for one year. They were succeeded by Clarkson Davis, who afterward developed the school into the famous Spiceland Academy. Mr. Bales then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he took a course of study in a commercial college, and became for a time instructor in the same institution. Afterwards in Spiceland he dealt in grain and dry goods until 1867, when he removed to the vicinity of Buckly, Iroquois county, Illinois and engaged in farming. In connection with the operation of the farm the subject and his wife engaged somewhat in teaching school. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Bales and wife removed to Wabash, Indiana, upon the solicitation of the board of trustees of White’s Institute, to take charge of that school, and retained that position twenty-one years lacking one month. Josiah White, of Philadelphia, a member of the Friends society, had endowed this institution with twenty thousand dollars, the name to be White’s Indian Manual Labor Institute, and to be devoted to the education of white Indian and colored youths. For the first eight and a half years after Mr. Bales and wife took charge no Indians were in attendance, but the school was afterwards devoted exclusively to that race, and from sixty to seventy-five Indian youths were in attendance here from the western reservations, principally the Sioux of South Dakota and other tribes from the Indian Territory. Mr. Bales was general superintendent, while Mrs. Bales, besides being matron, also acted as teacher for two years and had charge of the manual training department for the girls. These positions they filled to the satisfaction of the trustees of the institution until its close as an Indian school, when they resigned and returned to the old farm in ‘Henry county, and have since devoted their attention to agricultural interests. Since moving onto the place they have secured the interests of the other heirs to the property. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bales was solemnized on the 26th of September, 1860 at Spiceland in a public meeting of the Friends society. The maiden name of Mrs. Bales was Martha Hunt, and she was the daughter of Joseph B. and Ann (Gause) Hunt, residents of Spiceland, Henry county, to which locality they had removed from Ohio in 1834. At the early age of sixteen years she commenced to teach school and continued along with her pedagogical labors, to attend institutions of learning as opportunity afforded. She attended the Friends Boarding School and also after it was transformed into Earlham College She later was engaged as a teacher in the Spiceland School before it became an academy, though it was even then a good school with a high school department. Her marriage with Oliver H. Bales was blessed in the birth of one son. Edward R. Bales, who is employed as a locomotive engineer on the Illinois Central railroad and makes his home at Centralia. Illinois. The biographer has thus feebly attempted to set forth the salient points in the life record of this estimable gentleman. He is a man of sterling rectitude of character, and his life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always citing to whatever is of “good repute and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.
Compendium Of Biography Of Henry County Indiana
B.F. Bowen- Pages, 647,648,649,650, 651∼Per the Henry County Genealogical Services, Oliver is the Husband of Martha H Bales.
Incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have secured success to Mr. Bales have also brought him the esteem of his fellow Citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. The immediate subject of this review, Oliver H. Bales, is a successful agriculturist, residing in the northern part of Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana, about four miles from Knightstown. He is a native of this county, having first seen the light of day at Knightstown on the 3rd of January, 1837. He is the son of John H. and Ann (Hasket) Bales. John H. Bales was the only son of Jesse and Ann (Hoskins) Bales and was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, born on the 16th of August, 1810. When less than one year old he had the misfortune to lose his father by death, and in 1826, when about sixteen years old, he accompanied his mother to Indiana, locating in Wayne County. He was soon apprenticed to learn the trade of saddle making with Benajah Hiatt, at Milton and in 1830 started a shop of his own at Knightstown. Subsequent to her emigration to Indiana the mother had remarried this time to Elias Jessup, who had settled near where Oliver H. Bales now lives. She owned that place until her death, though her last days were passed with her son Jesse Jessup at Spiceland where she passed away at an advanced age. In 1832 John H. Bales was united in marriage with Miss Ann Hasket. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas and Ann (Murdoch) Hasket and was born in Warren County, Ohio, on the 2d of April, 1810. When about fourteen years old she was brought to Indiana by her stepfather, Levi Cook, who settled in Greensboro Township. John H. Bales and Ann Hasket were both birthright members of the Friends society, and their marriage was celebrated at the Duck Creek meeting. He belonged to the Raysville meeting and sometime subsequent to his marriage he incurred the displeasure of the society because of his not adhering strictly to the plainness of dress and the formality of speech prescribed by that society and he was disowned. He never rejoined the Friends society, though he always lived in close accordance with its essential principles and contributed liberally to its support. He usually accompanied his wife to the meeting of the society but when the select part of the meeting was held he would withdraw. This feature of allowing members of the society at the select meetings was afterwards dispensed with. Mrs. Bales maintained active membership in the society. She was an intelligent, well-read woman and kept thoroughly informed on the leading questions of the day. On slavery question she was a strong abolitionist. Her husband, while of anti slavery sentiments at heart. Voted with the Whigs. He afterwards became a free soiler and a supporter of Van Buren for the presidency. Being a thorough abolitionist he lent his sympathies to the famous underground railroad.†He was not a conduct or on the railroad, though a number of his neighbors, namely: Tidemon Jessup, William Macy, Enoch Macy and Elias Jessup, who belonged to the original anti-slavery branch of the Friends society, were actively engaged in securing the passage to freedom of many colored refuges from the South. In 1840 John H. and Ann Bales came to the farm now owned by the subject until which time the former had found ready employment at his trade. This tract was new and but partially improved. However, it was the beginning of a farm, which, through his energy and thrift, became the premium farm of the county. On it was a hewed-log house, which he weather boarded and made into a fairly comfortable home. This house was built probably as early as 1830 and is still standing, being generally considered one of the oldest buildings in Henry County. Later in about 1853 Mr. Bales erected the house, which is now the home of the subject. He directed the farm work and was also a hog drover for several years. He drove his stock to Cincinnati, Ohio; and one of these trips proved very disastrous. In company with another man he bought a large number of hogs his partner agreeing to pay later for his share. At the time of the disastrous trip to Cincinnati the latter failed to carry out his part of the agreement, thus throwing the entire indebtedness upon Mr. Bales. However, he did not attempt to evade the responsibility but with his characteristic honesty and promptness he at once gave his own notes for the full amount. His friends accepted his straightforward efforts at their true worth, though it took him several years and an expenditure of about eleven thousand dollars to clear up the account. He was encouraged in this effort also by the willing and zealous manner in which his wife and children labored in their efforts to help tilt the burden. He continued to actively engage in business affairs until his death. He held the full confidence of his fellow citizens and was elected to the office of township trustee. He was not a seeker after office but at one time received the nomination of his party for the office of representative to the legislature, but was deeated. During all his life, after attaining his majority, he was a leader in political matters. Back in the “free-soil†days he was a wheel horse in his party and always stood manfully for those principles and policies, which he believed to be for the greatest good for the greatest number. He was early an earnest advocate of the system of primary election. During and preceding the campaigns he would ride over the county for weeks to forward the candidacy of his friends. He was a forceful pleader for the person or cause he believed to be the most deserving and through his intimate knowledge of local political matters and his extensive acquaintance with the electors of his county he exerted a telling influence in the campaigns. He passed away on the 20th of October. 1886 and his wife preceded him several years dying on the 21st of August, 1880, at the present home of Oilver H. Bales. Their remains now lie side by side in the cemetery at Greensboro. Their long wedded life was a most happy one and eight children were born to them. Four of this number have passed away, as follows: Malissa B., who married Owen Hill, of Carthage, Indiana died at the age of forty-five years; Mira, who was born in May, 1849, died at the home of her brother, Oliver H., near Wabash, Indiana, on the 16th of July, 1849; she had remained faithfully at home, acting as housekeeper for her father until his death, and afterwards up to within a few weeks of her death had acted as a clerk for her brother in-law, John T. Charles; two children died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Oliver H., the subject; Mary B., who is the wife of John T. Charles, of Knightstown; Louise B., the wife of Prof. Edward Taylor, superintendent of the city schools at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Jesse F., of Wayne township, this county. Oliver H. Bales, the immediate subject of this review, received his elementary mental training in the public schools of his neighborhood and at the age of nineteen years entered Antioch College, where he spent two terms. However, the close confinement necessitated by his studies interfered with his health, so he left college and began teaching school, but for the same reason he was soon compelled to abandon this work also. Subsequent to his marriage, 1862-3, he and his wife taught in the Spiceland high school for one year. They were succeeded by Clarkson Davis, who afterward developed the school into the famous Spiceland Academy. Mr. Bales then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he took a course of study in a commercial college, and became for a time instructor in the same institution. Afterwards in Spiceland he dealt in grain and dry goods until 1867, when he removed to the vicinity of Buckly, Iroquois county, Illinois and engaged in farming. In connection with the operation of the farm the subject and his wife engaged somewhat in teaching school. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Bales and wife removed to Wabash, Indiana, upon the solicitation of the board of trustees of White’s Institute, to take charge of that school, and retained that position twenty-one years lacking one month. Josiah White, of Philadelphia, a member of the Friends society, had endowed this institution with twenty thousand dollars, the name to be White’s Indian Manual Labor Institute, and to be devoted to the education of white Indian and colored youths. For the first eight and a half years after Mr. Bales and wife took charge no Indians were in attendance, but the school was afterwards devoted exclusively to that race, and from sixty to seventy-five Indian youths were in attendance here from the western reservations, principally the Sioux of South Dakota and other tribes from the Indian Territory. Mr. Bales was general superintendent, while Mrs. Bales, besides being matron, also acted as teacher for two years and had charge of the manual training department for the girls. These positions they filled to the satisfaction of the trustees of the institution until its close as an Indian school, when they resigned and returned to the old farm in ‘Henry county, and have since devoted their attention to agricultural interests. Since moving onto the place they have secured the interests of the other heirs to the property. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bales was solemnized on the 26th of September, 1860 at Spiceland in a public meeting of the Friends society. The maiden name of Mrs. Bales was Martha Hunt, and she was the daughter of Joseph B. and Ann (Gause) Hunt, residents of Spiceland, Henry county, to which locality they had removed from Ohio in 1834. At the early age of sixteen years she commenced to teach school and continued along with her pedagogical labors, to attend institutions of learning as opportunity afforded. She attended the Friends Boarding School and also after it was transformed into Earlham College She later was engaged as a teacher in the Spiceland School before it became an academy, though it was even then a good school with a high school department. Her marriage with Oliver H. Bales was blessed in the birth of one son. Edward R. Bales, who is employed as a locomotive engineer on the Illinois Central railroad and makes his home at Centralia. Illinois. The biographer has thus feebly attempted to set forth the salient points in the life record of this estimable gentleman. He is a man of sterling rectitude of character, and his life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always citing to whatever is of “good repute and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.
Compendium Of Biography Of Henry County Indiana
B.F. Bowen- Pages, 647,648,649,650, 651∼Per the Henry County Genealogical Services, Oliver is the Husband of Martha H Bales.
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted to others an
Incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have secured success to Mr. Bales have also brought him the esteem of his fellow Citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. The immediate subject of this review, Oliver H. Bales, is a successful agriculturist, residing in the northern part of Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana, about four miles from Knightstown. He is a native of this county, having first seen the light of day at Knightstown on the 3rd of January, 1837. He is the son of John H. and Ann (Hasket) Bales. John H. Bales was the only son of Jesse and Ann (Hoskins) Bales and was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, born on the 16th of August, 1810. When less than one year old he had the misfortune to lose his father by death, and in 1826, when about sixteen years old, he accompanied his mother to Indiana, locating in Wayne County. He was soon apprenticed to learn the trade of saddle making with Benajah Hiatt, at Milton and in 1830 started a shop of his own at Knightstown. Subsequent to her emigration to Indiana the mother had remarried this time to Elias Jessup, who had settled near where Oliver H. Bales now lives. She owned that place until her death, though her last days were passed with her son Jesse Jessup at Spiceland where she passed away at an advanced age. In 1832 John H. Bales was united in marriage with Miss Ann Hasket. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas and Ann (Murdoch) Hasket and was born in Warren County, Ohio, on the 2d of April, 1810. When about fourteen years old she was brought to Indiana by her stepfather, Levi Cook, who settled in Greensboro Township. John H. Bales and Ann Hasket were both birthright members of the Friends society, and their marriage was celebrated at the Duck Creek meeting. He belonged to the Raysville meeting and sometime subsequent to his marriage he incurred the displeasure of the society because of his not adhering strictly to the plainness of dress and the formality of speech prescribed by that society and he was disowned. He never rejoined the Friends society, though he always lived in close accordance with its essential principles and contributed liberally to its support. He usually accompanied his wife to the meeting of the society but when the select part of the meeting was held he would withdraw. This feature of allowing members of the society at the select meetings was afterwards dispensed with. Mrs. Bales maintained active membership in the society. She was an intelligent, well-read woman and kept thoroughly informed on the leading questions of the day. On slavery question she was a strong abolitionist. Her husband, while of anti slavery sentiments at heart. Voted with the Whigs. He afterwards became a free soiler and a supporter of Van Buren for the presidency. Being a thorough abolitionist he lent his sympathies to the famous underground railroad.†He was not a conduct or on the railroad, though a number of his neighbors, namely: Tidemon Jessup, William Macy, Enoch Macy and Elias Jessup, who belonged to the original anti-slavery branch of the Friends society, were actively engaged in securing the passage to freedom of many colored refuges from the South. In 1840 John H. and Ann Bales came to the farm now owned by the subject until which time the former had found ready employment at his trade. This tract was new and but partially improved. However, it was the beginning of a farm, which, through his energy and thrift, became the premium farm of the county. On it was a hewed-log house, which he weather boarded and made into a fairly comfortable home. This house was built probably as early as 1830 and is still standing, being generally considered one of the oldest buildings in Henry County. Later in about 1853 Mr. Bales erected the house, which is now the home of the subject. He directed the farm work and was also a hog drover for several years. He drove his stock to Cincinnati, Ohio; and one of these trips proved very disastrous. In company with another man he bought a large number of hogs his partner agreeing to pay later for his share. At the time of the disastrous trip to Cincinnati the latter failed to carry out his part of the agreement, thus throwing the entire indebtedness upon Mr. Bales. However, he did not attempt to evade the responsibility but with his characteristic honesty and promptness he at once gave his own notes for the full amount. His friends accepted his straightforward efforts at their true worth, though it took him several years and an expenditure of about eleven thousand dollars to clear up the account. He was encouraged in this effort also by the willing and zealous manner in which his wife and children labored in their efforts to help tilt the burden. He continued to actively engage in business affairs until his death. He held the full confidence of his fellow citizens and was elected to the office of township trustee. He was not a seeker after office but at one time received the nomination of his party for the office of representative to the legislature, but was deeated. During all his life, after attaining his majority, he was a leader in political matters. Back in the “free-soil†days he was a wheel horse in his party and always stood manfully for those principles and policies, which he believed to be for the greatest good for the greatest number. He was early an earnest advocate of the system of primary election. During and preceding the campaigns he would ride over the county for weeks to forward the candidacy of his friends. He was a forceful pleader for the person or cause he believed to be the most deserving and through his intimate knowledge of local political matters and his extensive acquaintance with the electors of his county he exerted a telling influence in the campaigns. He passed away on the 20th of October. 1886 and his wife preceded him several years dying on the 21st of August, 1880, at the present home of Oilver H. Bales. Their remains now lie side by side in the cemetery at Greensboro. Their long wedded life was a most happy one and eight children were born to them. Four of this number have passed away, as follows: Malissa B., who married Owen Hill, of Carthage, Indiana died at the age of forty-five years; Mira, who was born in May, 1849, died at the home of her brother, Oliver H., near Wabash, Indiana, on the 16th of July, 1849; she had remained faithfully at home, acting as housekeeper for her father until his death, and afterwards up to within a few weeks of her death had acted as a clerk for her brother in-law, John T. Charles; two children died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Oliver H., the subject; Mary B., who is the wife of John T. Charles, of Knightstown; Louise B., the wife of Prof. Edward Taylor, superintendent of the city schools at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Jesse F., of Wayne township, this county. Oliver H. Bales, the immediate subject of this review, received his elementary mental training in the public schools of his neighborhood and at the age of nineteen years entered Antioch College, where he spent two terms. However, the close confinement necessitated by his studies interfered with his health, so he left college and began teaching school, but for the same reason he was soon compelled to abandon this work also. Subsequent to his marriage, 1862-3, he and his wife taught in the Spiceland high school for one year. They were succeeded by Clarkson Davis, who afterward developed the school into the famous Spiceland Academy. Mr. Bales then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he took a course of study in a commercial college, and became for a time instructor in the same institution. Afterwards in Spiceland he dealt in grain and dry goods until 1867, when he removed to the vicinity of Buckly, Iroquois county, Illinois and engaged in farming. In connection with the operation of the farm the subject and his wife engaged somewhat in teaching school. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Bales and wife removed to Wabash, Indiana, upon the solicitation of the board of trustees of White’s Institute, to take charge of that school, and retained that position twenty-one years lacking one month. Josiah White, of Philadelphia, a member of the Friends society, had endowed this institution with twenty thousand dollars, the name to be White’s Indian Manual Labor Institute, and to be devoted to the education of white Indian and colored youths. For the first eight and a half years after Mr. Bales and wife took charge no Indians were in attendance, but the school was afterwards devoted exclusively to that race, and from sixty to seventy-five Indian youths were in attendance here from the western reservations, principally the Sioux of South Dakota and other tribes from the Indian Territory. Mr. Bales was general superintendent, while Mrs. Bales, besides being matron, also acted as teacher for two years and had charge of the manual training department for the girls. These positions they filled to the satisfaction of the trustees of the institution until its close as an Indian school, when they resigned and returned to the old farm in ‘Henry county, and have since devoted their attention to agricultural interests. Since moving onto the place they have secured the interests of the other heirs to the property. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bales was solemnized on the 26th of September, 1860 at Spiceland in a public meeting of the Friends society. The maiden name of Mrs. Bales was Martha Hunt, and she was the daughter of Joseph B. and Ann (Gause) Hunt, residents of Spiceland, Henry county, to which locality they had removed from Ohio in 1834. At the early age of sixteen years she commenced to teach school and continued along with her pedagogical labors, to attend institutions of learning as opportunity afforded. She attended the Friends Boarding School and also after it was transformed into Earlham College She later was engaged as a teacher in the Spiceland School before it became an academy, though it was even then a good school with a high school department. Her marriage with Oliver H. Bales was blessed in the birth of one son. Edward R. Bales, who is employed as a locomotive engineer on the Illinois Central railroad and makes his home at Centralia. Illinois. The biographer has thus feebly attempted to set forth the salient points in the life record of this estimable gentleman. He is a man of sterling rectitude of character, and his life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always citing to whatever is of “good repute and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.
Compendium Of Biography Of Henry County Indiana
B.F. Bowen- Pages, 647,648,649,650, 651∼Per the Henry County Genealogical Services, Oliver is the Husband of Martha H Bales.
Incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have secured success to Mr. Bales have also brought him the esteem of his fellow Citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. The immediate subject of this review, Oliver H. Bales, is a successful agriculturist, residing in the northern part of Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana, about four miles from Knightstown. He is a native of this county, having first seen the light of day at Knightstown on the 3rd of January, 1837. He is the son of John H. and Ann (Hasket) Bales. John H. Bales was the only son of Jesse and Ann (Hoskins) Bales and was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, born on the 16th of August, 1810. When less than one year old he had the misfortune to lose his father by death, and in 1826, when about sixteen years old, he accompanied his mother to Indiana, locating in Wayne County. He was soon apprenticed to learn the trade of saddle making with Benajah Hiatt, at Milton and in 1830 started a shop of his own at Knightstown. Subsequent to her emigration to Indiana the mother had remarried this time to Elias Jessup, who had settled near where Oliver H. Bales now lives. She owned that place until her death, though her last days were passed with her son Jesse Jessup at Spiceland where she passed away at an advanced age. In 1832 John H. Bales was united in marriage with Miss Ann Hasket. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas and Ann (Murdoch) Hasket and was born in Warren County, Ohio, on the 2d of April, 1810. When about fourteen years old she was brought to Indiana by her stepfather, Levi Cook, who settled in Greensboro Township. John H. Bales and Ann Hasket were both birthright members of the Friends society, and their marriage was celebrated at the Duck Creek meeting. He belonged to the Raysville meeting and sometime subsequent to his marriage he incurred the displeasure of the society because of his not adhering strictly to the plainness of dress and the formality of speech prescribed by that society and he was disowned. He never rejoined the Friends society, though he always lived in close accordance with its essential principles and contributed liberally to its support. He usually accompanied his wife to the meeting of the society but when the select part of the meeting was held he would withdraw. This feature of allowing members of the society at the select meetings was afterwards dispensed with. Mrs. Bales maintained active membership in the society. She was an intelligent, well-read woman and kept thoroughly informed on the leading questions of the day. On slavery question she was a strong abolitionist. Her husband, while of anti slavery sentiments at heart. Voted with the Whigs. He afterwards became a free soiler and a supporter of Van Buren for the presidency. Being a thorough abolitionist he lent his sympathies to the famous underground railroad.†He was not a conduct or on the railroad, though a number of his neighbors, namely: Tidemon Jessup, William Macy, Enoch Macy and Elias Jessup, who belonged to the original anti-slavery branch of the Friends society, were actively engaged in securing the passage to freedom of many colored refuges from the South. In 1840 John H. and Ann Bales came to the farm now owned by the subject until which time the former had found ready employment at his trade. This tract was new and but partially improved. However, it was the beginning of a farm, which, through his energy and thrift, became the premium farm of the county. On it was a hewed-log house, which he weather boarded and made into a fairly comfortable home. This house was built probably as early as 1830 and is still standing, being generally considered one of the oldest buildings in Henry County. Later in about 1853 Mr. Bales erected the house, which is now the home of the subject. He directed the farm work and was also a hog drover for several years. He drove his stock to Cincinnati, Ohio; and one of these trips proved very disastrous. In company with another man he bought a large number of hogs his partner agreeing to pay later for his share. At the time of the disastrous trip to Cincinnati the latter failed to carry out his part of the agreement, thus throwing the entire indebtedness upon Mr. Bales. However, he did not attempt to evade the responsibility but with his characteristic honesty and promptness he at once gave his own notes for the full amount. His friends accepted his straightforward efforts at their true worth, though it took him several years and an expenditure of about eleven thousand dollars to clear up the account. He was encouraged in this effort also by the willing and zealous manner in which his wife and children labored in their efforts to help tilt the burden. He continued to actively engage in business affairs until his death. He held the full confidence of his fellow citizens and was elected to the office of township trustee. He was not a seeker after office but at one time received the nomination of his party for the office of representative to the legislature, but was deeated. During all his life, after attaining his majority, he was a leader in political matters. Back in the “free-soil†days he was a wheel horse in his party and always stood manfully for those principles and policies, which he believed to be for the greatest good for the greatest number. He was early an earnest advocate of the system of primary election. During and preceding the campaigns he would ride over the county for weeks to forward the candidacy of his friends. He was a forceful pleader for the person or cause he believed to be the most deserving and through his intimate knowledge of local political matters and his extensive acquaintance with the electors of his county he exerted a telling influence in the campaigns. He passed away on the 20th of October. 1886 and his wife preceded him several years dying on the 21st of August, 1880, at the present home of Oilver H. Bales. Their remains now lie side by side in the cemetery at Greensboro. Their long wedded life was a most happy one and eight children were born to them. Four of this number have passed away, as follows: Malissa B., who married Owen Hill, of Carthage, Indiana died at the age of forty-five years; Mira, who was born in May, 1849, died at the home of her brother, Oliver H., near Wabash, Indiana, on the 16th of July, 1849; she had remained faithfully at home, acting as housekeeper for her father until his death, and afterwards up to within a few weeks of her death had acted as a clerk for her brother in-law, John T. Charles; two children died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Oliver H., the subject; Mary B., who is the wife of John T. Charles, of Knightstown; Louise B., the wife of Prof. Edward Taylor, superintendent of the city schools at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Jesse F., of Wayne township, this county. Oliver H. Bales, the immediate subject of this review, received his elementary mental training in the public schools of his neighborhood and at the age of nineteen years entered Antioch College, where he spent two terms. However, the close confinement necessitated by his studies interfered with his health, so he left college and began teaching school, but for the same reason he was soon compelled to abandon this work also. Subsequent to his marriage, 1862-3, he and his wife taught in the Spiceland high school for one year. They were succeeded by Clarkson Davis, who afterward developed the school into the famous Spiceland Academy. Mr. Bales then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he took a course of study in a commercial college, and became for a time instructor in the same institution. Afterwards in Spiceland he dealt in grain and dry goods until 1867, when he removed to the vicinity of Buckly, Iroquois county, Illinois and engaged in farming. In connection with the operation of the farm the subject and his wife engaged somewhat in teaching school. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Bales and wife removed to Wabash, Indiana, upon the solicitation of the board of trustees of White’s Institute, to take charge of that school, and retained that position twenty-one years lacking one month. Josiah White, of Philadelphia, a member of the Friends society, had endowed this institution with twenty thousand dollars, the name to be White’s Indian Manual Labor Institute, and to be devoted to the education of white Indian and colored youths. For the first eight and a half years after Mr. Bales and wife took charge no Indians were in attendance, but the school was afterwards devoted exclusively to that race, and from sixty to seventy-five Indian youths were in attendance here from the western reservations, principally the Sioux of South Dakota and other tribes from the Indian Territory. Mr. Bales was general superintendent, while Mrs. Bales, besides being matron, also acted as teacher for two years and had charge of the manual training department for the girls. These positions they filled to the satisfaction of the trustees of the institution until its close as an Indian school, when they resigned and returned to the old farm in ‘Henry county, and have since devoted their attention to agricultural interests. Since moving onto the place they have secured the interests of the other heirs to the property. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bales was solemnized on the 26th of September, 1860 at Spiceland in a public meeting of the Friends society. The maiden name of Mrs. Bales was Martha Hunt, and she was the daughter of Joseph B. and Ann (Gause) Hunt, residents of Spiceland, Henry county, to which locality they had removed from Ohio in 1834. At the early age of sixteen years she commenced to teach school and continued along with her pedagogical labors, to attend institutions of learning as opportunity afforded. She attended the Friends Boarding School and also after it was transformed into Earlham College She later was engaged as a teacher in the Spiceland School before it became an academy, though it was even then a good school with a high school department. Her marriage with Oliver H. Bales was blessed in the birth of one son. Edward R. Bales, who is employed as a locomotive engineer on the Illinois Central railroad and makes his home at Centralia. Illinois. The biographer has thus feebly attempted to set forth the salient points in the life record of this estimable gentleman. He is a man of sterling rectitude of character, and his life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always citing to whatever is of “good repute and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.
Compendium Of Biography Of Henry County Indiana
B.F. Bowen- Pages, 647,648,649,650, 651∼Per the Henry County Genealogical Services, Oliver is the Husband of Martha H Bales.
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