Greenfield Republican, Greenfield, Hancock County, 25 April 1912 — Page 7

ANSWERS CULL OF DEATH ANGEL

JOHN H. BIXFORD, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, LAWYER, BANKER, CHURCHMAN. HAS LEFT

IMPRESS OF HIS PERSONALITY ON THE COMMUNITY

HE LIVED AN ACTIVE LIFE

And Numbered His Friends By the Hundreds Answered the Summons Saturday Morning, While

Surrounded By Sorrowing Family —Leaves Widow, Six Children, Four Brothers, Three Sisters.

John H. Binford, age 68 years, educator, historian, lawyer, banker and churchman, and one of the community's most prominent and best beloved citizens, answered the: summons of the death angel Sat-

JOHN H. BLXFORI).

urday morning at 9:30 o'clock, as he was surrounded by his sorrowing family at the Binford home on West Walnut street.

Probably no citizen has ever stamped the impress of their personality upon the community as has Mr. Binford, whose death is sincerely mourned by the hundreds who called him friend, all of whom honor him in their memory as the best and truest type of a good citizen and one who was worthy to be called friend in all that the endearing and sacred term implies.

Mr. Binford lived a busy life, crowded with important matters, but he was never too busy to greet, a friend of whatever station in life, and express an interest in his welfare, as this interest was always genuine and hearty. Forty years spent in the school and college rooms fitted Mr. Binford for even better things in a professional and business way, and he was equally as successful as a historian, lawyer, banker and business man as he was in the educational field. He had been Greenfield's most prominent commercial lawyer for twenty years. His banking interests were large, as he was one of the organizers, large stockholders and president of the Capital State Bank of this city also a large stockholder and director in the Morristown and New Palestine banks, and of Indianapolis banks. He also owned considerable land and look a keen interest in farming and stock-raising, especially the latter, and he had an extensive brokerage business. Tt is probable that no man has meant more to the educational and business interests of the city and county than Mr. Binford, and as a churchman, he has been looked to as a leader and example. Notwithstanding his many and varied business interests, a part of his time was always available for the work of the church and of his substance he gave freely that the church might prosper and mean all it should mean to the world and especially to the people of his own community.

Mr. Binford had been critically sick for about three weeks, prior to his death, with blood poisoning and other complications, and although everything possible was done for him, hope was given up several days ago, as it was known that he could not long survive. His children who live in other states, or were attending school away from here, were summoned several days ago and have been watching by his side.

Mr. Binford leaVes to mourn their loss, the widow, six children,

Robert J.. Paul F., Frank J., Florence, John Clark and Morton C. Binford, two children, Edgar A., and Gertrude, having preceded him in death. He also leaves four brothers. William Penn Binford, Joseph L. Binford, -Robert B. Binford. Nathan C. Binford, of this county, and three sisters, Mrs. Alice Bacon, of Kansas, Mrs. Martha J. Elliott, of Blue River township, and Mary L. Bruner, of this city. His oldest brother, Benjamin H. Binford. met his death about two years ago at the I. & C. crossing at Morristown, when the wagon in which he was riding was struck by a car.

Sketch of Mr. Binford's Life. John H. Binford, son of Robert and Martha Binford, was born in Blue River township, Hancock county, Indiana, on April 13, 1844.

Mr. Binford's mental training was commenced at an early age, as he was taught to spell, read and write when he was but 5 years old. He entered school at the age of 6 and attended three months a year until he was old enough to plow and do other farm work, when his school privileges were cut to a six-weeks term during the winter. In 1862 he entered Earlham College for a five-months term, and during the

winter of 1863 he taught his first school, at Hopewell, Blue River township. He received $75, or $25 a month and boarded himself. Subsequently, Mr. Binford taught about forty terms in graded and ungraded schools, normals and colleges, in this and other states.

After teaching a few terms in the district schools and attending school at Walnut Ridge and Spiceland, Mr. Binford entered the National Normal School of Ohio, which he attended for two years. He was compelled to give up his studies there, however, because of declining health, and went South, where he became principal of the graded schools of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mr. Binford had the honor, while in the South, of aiding in the organization of the first county and state teachers1 association of that state, and was sent as a delegate to the National Teachers' Association at Trenton, N. J., and also the State Teachers' Association at Ithaca, N. Y., both of which he attended.

At the close of his second year's work at Little Rock, he returned home, fully recovered in health, and went to Ohio to complete his normal course. In 1871 he graduated from the Normal College and took a position at New Salem. During the same year he was elected superintendent of Hancock county, by the trustees, and at the close of his school term he took active control of the work of the office and filled it for two years.

In August, 1874, while he was the county superintendent, Mr. Binford was appointed by J. C. Denny, at-torney-general, as his assistant in and for Hancock county. Mr. Binford organized and conducted the Hancock County Normal, the first ever held in the county. In May, 1875, he was appointed as deputy treasurer by County Treasurer E. H. Faut, for the townships of Blue River, Brandywine and Center, including Greenfield. In the fall of 1875, he was elected principal of the Greenfield Graded Schools, and continued in that capacity for two years. While engaged as an instructor and school official, Mr. Binford visited the schools of many southern states and brought home to his schools the best methods employed by them.

Mr. Binford did not abandon the school room until 1877, when he engaged in the profession of law. He read law at home the first year and then in the office of New & Barrett. He had been admitted to the bar and entered actively upon the practice of law when he received a call from the Central Indiana Normal College, of Montgom­

1

ery county, to take charge of the law department, and he accepted the offer for one year.*.

Retiring the third time to Greenfield, he began the practice of law again, and continued in the practice here. He engaged in the brokerage and banking business also, to a large extent, and was unusually successful in all, building up a large business that gradually increased his financial standing until he became one of the wealthiest men of the county.

In 1882 Mr. Binford compiled and published a history of Hancock county, which is thorough, concise and accurate. The history covers the period from 1818 to the date of the publication of the history, and is illustrated with views, maps, charts, plates, portraits, sketches and diagrams. It was an immense undertaking, but was never given up until completed and stands as a monument to the memory of Mr. Binford, for preserving the early happenings of the county, the establishing of township boundaries, etc.

On the 26th of June, 1873, Mr. Binford was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Coggeshall, of Wayne county. To this union were born six children, Edgar A., Gertrude, Robert J., Paul F., Frank L. and Florence. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Binford lost his wife, who died of typhoid fever, and on March 25, 1891, he was married to Florence Clark, of Fort Wayne. To them wrere born two sons, John Clark and Morton C.

Mr. Binford was a member of the Bradley M. E. church of this city, and was a member of the board of trustees and treasurer of the church. He always took an active interest in the church work and was one of the most active workers in planning for and building the present splendid edifice. He is a past superintendent of the Sunday school.

SELLS INTEREST TO

Oak S. Morrison Sells Controlling Interest in Undertaking Business To Flanner & Buchanan, of Indianapolis.

f4

GREENFIELD REPUBLICAN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1910

Politically, Mr. Binford was a Republican and has always taken a keen interest in the trend of public questions and events. He traveled a great deal and had broad views. He was always keen and alert, and showed deep interest in all those about him and numbered his friends by the hundreds. He was an interesting conversationalist, and although he had large business interests in many localities, he always took time to greet his friends and acquaintances pleasantly. Notwithstanding the fact that he was well-to-do from a financial standpoint, he was one of the most unostentatious of men, open-hearted and candid.

A deal was closed today whereby the well known undertaking firm of Flanner & Buchanan,' of Indianapolis, became owners of the controlling interest in the undertaking business of Oak S. Morrison.

Because of the serious illness of his wife, who still remains in a critical condition, Mr. Morrison has been unable to look after the calls that came to him, and he decided to dispose of the controlling interest in the business. Mr. Charles Buchanan, one of the new owners, was here today, closing the deal, and will be here frequently, although he will install a man and lady here in a few days. Mr. Morrison will continue to assist in the business as conditions permit. Mr. Buchanan has quite a large acquaintance in Greenfield already, as he was born and reared at Cumberland, and is well acquainted with many of the older families.

Mr. Morrison has been identified with the undertaking business here for many years and he is known all over the state. He is also now engaged in the Mutual Life Insurance business and will continue to conduct that business here.

Birthday Dinner.

Mrs. Washington Slifer, of R. R. 9, was given a birthday dinner on Sunday, honoring her seventyfourth birthday anniversary. Mrs. Slifer is not in good health. Her eye-sight has failed. There were about thirty-eight present. Each one brought a well filled basket. Jesse Slifer, of New Castle Lafayette Slifer and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Slifer and daughter, Norma, of this city were present.

For rheumatism you will find nothing better than Chamberlain's Liniment. Try it and see how quickly it gives relief. For sale by all dealers.

Greenfield Schools Held Special and Appropriate Exercises This Afternoon During Funeral

Hour of J. H. Binford.

From Monday's Daily.

The city schools honored the memory of the late John H. Binford this afternoon by special exercises. It seemed especially appropriate and befitting that the teachers and pupils of the city schools, as an organization, should pay tribute of respect to. one who had been so closely identified with the early history of the schools of the county and city. City Superintendent Larrabee arranged that at a certain hour this afternoon, in each grade and room of the schools, the pupils should learn of the labors of the deceased, in behalf of the schools.

Mr. Binford was a pupil of the district schools more than half a century ago, at a time when the schools and teachers were not so efficient as now, and when the pupils did not enjoy the comforts which are now enjoyed by pupils. After securing a liberal education, he returned to Greenfield and was identified with the county schools as superintendent, and later also as city superintendent. At that time there was not the equitable and liberal .financial provision made for education that now exists. Mr. Binford, realizing the reforms needed and being of a progressive nature, he worked incessantly to bet ter the conditions of the schools. He made speeches throughout the county as county superintendent, favoring better financial support of schools. His labors were productive of good results, and public recognition of them at this time is very appropriate.

"Be Ye Therefore Ready."

Did you note the newspaper accounts of the awful fatality when the Titanic went down? Did you notice the extended accounts of heroism displayed when the husbands kissed their loved ones good-bye forever, and the fortitude with which the awful partings were borne among the 2,200 passengers? Again, did you notice the other awful fact that but little life insurance was carried among the steerage passenges, nor the second-rate passengers? Do you not think that that fact foretold a tragedy as great almost as the other one?

Imagine the wife and children saved from a watery grave,, but left to eke out a miserable existence because of the indifference of those whose duty it is to protect. It is meanly selfish of you to be so absorbed in the Heaven to which you are going that you forget what is to become of your wife and children after you go. Ask the "Fidelity Man," 118 West Main, Hufford Agency. 22-d&w

Why He Was Late.

"What made you so late?" "I met Smithson." "Well, that is no reason why you should be an hour late getting home to supper." "I know, but I asked him how he was feeling, and he insisted on telling me about his stomach trouble." "Did you tell him to take Chamberlain's Tablets?" "Sure, that is what he needs.

Sold by all dealers.

Team Ran Away.

The team of John Woods, east of this city, ran away last Friday, while hitched to a wagon load of corn. The corn was scattered over a distance of two miles, but Mr. Wood was not injured in any way.

Card of Thanks.

Mrs. Mary I. Burk and family wish to tender their thanks to their friends and neighbors for their kindness, assistance and sympathy, and to those who furnished music in their recent sad affliction.

Don't be surprised if you have an attack of rheumatism this spring. Just rub the affected parts freely with Chamberlain's Liniment and it soon disappears. Sold by all dealers.

Ed Bennett and wife spent Sunday with Frank Shull and family, near Glenwood, Rush county. Mr. Shull has a farm of 200 acres and has 650 maple trees, which yielded him 115 gallons of molasses this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ftek and daughter, Dorotha, spent Sunday with the former's brother, Ralph Fisk, and family at Milner's Corner.

IF YOU HAVEN'T $8,000 with which to buy a 40-acre Corn Belt farm, but have $640 to buy a 40acre Fruit Belt farm which, with a little additional expense in clearing, will produce as many dollars per acre in staple crops, it would be a good purchase, wouldn't it? And when your fruit belt farm is developed in fruit and earns twice, thrice, and even four times as much as the corn belt farm does in corn, then it becomes the best land investment possible.

Fortville, Ind., April 20. Had a train not run over and cut otf the legs of Solla Kinnaman, the mystery of his whereabouts would probably have remained unexplained. Kinnaman, who is a son of R. E. Kinnaman, of this place, disappeared from Purdue University in November, 1909. His money remained untouched in a bank at Lafayette, and all of his clothing was found in his trunk. For three years the family has endeavored to learn what become of the young man, but they had practically given up hope, when a friend in Chicago happened to see in a newspaper that a Solly Kinnaman had fallen beneath a train in California, and both legs had been cut off. The father communicated with the police in the California city, and he learned that the injured boy was his son, and that he would recover. No reason is known for the disappearance of the boy.

Sam Lepken, a local junk dealer, has bought four carioads of junk and a thousand dollars' worth of brass of the Carthage Strawboard Company. •.

And Your Independence

HAVE \OU MONEY ENOUGH to buy a farm in the Corn Bell at $150 to $200 per acre? Would you invest at those prices, when you stop to consider that your money in farm mortgages will bring a better rate of interest than those farms are earning on their high valuations? Corn Belt land is averaging an annual earning of only about 4 per cent of its valuation. There's a demand now for cheaper land that will earn as much, or the same priced land that will earn more, or even higher priced land that will earn two or three times as much as land in the Corn Belt. A farmer can't buy $200 land in Indiana or Illinois and expect to make the crops pay for it. But in the Swigart tract, in Mason, Manistee and Lake counties, Michigan, a crop of potatoes gives him back the reasonable price now asked for the land.

THAT FRUIT BELT FARM is in

belt. Better be doing something about it while the opportunity is yours. If a man's desire for land amounts to as much as the small railroad fare and a couple of days' lime investigating, then we. put our lime against his, furnish the team free and drive as long as he likes.. Farm-renters are buying here for less yearly outlay of money than it takes to rent a farm of the same acreage in Indiana. Would you like to own a farm? 'This proposition brings it within easy reach. Tt is a proposition that is sound and of proven merit. That is reputation. For 17 years Swigart has been acquiring the Trad, examining lands arid soil, growing products. and expects to work his remaining years in the upbuilding of this district.

WHAT MAKES THE SWIGART LANDS SO DESIRABLE is warm, quickly producing, good soil well drained, gently rolling and level lay of land proper distance from Lake Michigan to get most benefit of its influence best shipping facilities, both

lake

and rail excellent local

markets, healthful, moderated climate water pure as crystal, plen-

good schools excellent class of people. There is more settling, building and developing going on here than in any other part of the State.

WHAT MAKES THE SWIG ART PLAN SO WELL LIKED is its liberality. Terms are as low as $10 to $50 down and $5 to $10 per month on 40 acres five per cent for all cash or annual payments. Prices are now $10 to $35 and on much land only $15 per acre. Swigart is financially able to fulfill his promises ask the First National Bank

the SWIGART TRACT, in the cen- of Chicago. Swigart owns the lands ter and best part of Michigan's fruit

an('

tiful rainfall pretty inland lakes Lakes. Send for plats and descripand trout streams good roads and five matter of these properties also.

JOIN THE NEXT EXCURSION. An 81,/. hours' ride from Chicago puts you on the ground, where you can talk to settlers, examine soils, and verify our representations. Excursions leave Chicago at noon on Tuesdays. May 7th and 21st. Private car attached to the Pere Marquette train for the exclusive use of the Swigart party no extra charge. Train passes through Michigan City fp. M. Depot only) at 1:25 p. m.. and Benton Harbor at 2:30 p. m. Round trip rale from Chicago, Michigan City, or Benton Harbor to Weilslon,' Michigan, $6. Get tickets after boarding our car. Fare rebated on purchase. On 80 acres fare from home is allowed. Please notify us as early as possible so we can provide comfortably for all. Good accommodations, at Michigan headquarters.

FULL PARTICULARS can be had by addressing GEORGE W. SWIGART, Owner, 1249 First National Bank Building, Chicago, 111., or his agent,

COL. J. E. FROST

GREENFIELD, INDIANA

THROUGH ACCIDENT

R. E. Kinnaman, of Fortville, Discovers That Son Lost Both Legs in An Accident in California —Was Lost Three Years.

gives perfect title knows the

tieeds of the farmer. His policy is to satisfy—not simply to sell. If you should die while buying the land, the farm will be deeded to your family free. This costs nothing extra, and is a protection which every careful man appreciates.

WHAT MAKES THE SWIGART TRACT THE LOGICAL PLACE TO BUY is that one can pick from over a thousand 40-acre and many larger and smaller farms. It is the largest and best collection of lands in the Fruit Belt. A number of line new tracts have recently been added. Considering the advantages and the location and quality of land this is the best offer in Michigan, and promises most rapid increase in value.

POST YOUHSKL!•'. Od a 38-page well illustrated booklet, full of reliable information. Tt, shows what the average man can do. Drop a postal for it—it will be mailed free and .also a large map, on request, Investigate the 10-acre model tracts for fruit, truck and poultry, near towns, also residence and business lots. $50 and up. in I he new towns on the P. M. Rv., and summer resort lots on the Weilslon Chain of

SUFFERED A STROKE,

James Duncan, of Mohawk, is Partially Paralyzed, and Remains Unconscious from Apoplexy.

James Duncan, of Mohawk, a brother of Greenfield's postmaster, George W. Duncan, and also of M. T. Duncan, west of the city, suffered a stroke of apoplexy at 11:30 o'clock Saturday, and remains in a critical condition. One side is completely paralyzed, and Mr. Duncan has been unconscious since the stroke. His condition was thought to be improved Sunday, however, as his breathing

Nwas

easier and more

regular and he swallowed some water. Mr. Duncan is a stock dealer and is well known in this city and over the county.

You will look a good while before you find a better medicine for coughs and colds than Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. It not only gives relief—it cures. Try it when you have a cough or cold, and you are certain to be pleased with the prompt cure which it will effect.

For sale by all dealers.

John M. Hufford, the local agent for the Fidelity Life Insurance Co., has an article in the "Field Man," a journal of the company issued for the agency men. The subject of Miv Hufford's 'article is "The Rural Solicitor." •. mt -M fr-