Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1908 — JASPER’S TWO OLDEST SETTLERS. [ARTICLE]

JASPER’S TWO OLDEST SETTLERS.

Uncle David Nowels and Unde Jim . Randle Are Our TWo Oldest Residents. Uncle David Nowels and James T. Randle, the oldest living white men among the pioneers of this' county, were out buggy riding and called at this office Saturday afternoon. It was uncle Jim’s 77th birthday anniversary and while more than ten years Uncle David’s punior in age, he is also five or six months his junior as a citizen of this county. Uncle David came here in the fall of 1834 and Uncle Jim with his parents in the spring of 1835, then a little tot of two years. These men have lived almost all of their lives on Jasper county soil. They have seen this county grow from a. few scattered log huts to one of the leading counties in this great state of Indiana. They have helped to make it what it is, as no public improvement, which has made the county richer, which has conserved the general welfare, which has made for the uplifting and happiness of the people, has been made that these men have not bore their share and in fact have not led the van in contributing means, both money and work, to insure its completion. To Uncle David Nowels more than any man is due the success In the first railroad built into this town. Upon his shoulders fell the full weight of the immense burden of financing the project. But he was equal to the occasion and has lived to see the day when he is given full credit for this perilous undertaking, which came near bankrupting him despite the fact that he was one of the wealthiest men in the county at that time. He was among the first to erect substantial buildings here and in the early eighties built the Nowels Hotel, and the substantial brick residence where he now resides He has closed his active days, after having divided his wordly possessions during his life time, and full of years and honors he is waiting the final summons, conscious that the world is the better ecause he has lived in it. Uncle James Randle has also taken an active part in the improvement of the town. He, too, built a fine residence in the early 80’a And has since built several more. He has also been largely interested in the banking business of the town for maAy years and is now one of the directors of the First National Bank. He, too, has taken the sensible view and nas divided much of his property during his lifetime. Uncle Jim is still active in business and may be seen every day taking care of his investments in town or in the country. These grand old men will cast their votes in November for William J. Bryan and Tom Marshall.