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- Montgomery County, Indiana USGenWeb Project
1913 AW Bowen Montgomery Co IN p 928;http://www.rootsweb.com/~inmontgo/
Among those who came to Montgomery Co, IN when the country was in itsprimitive wildness, infested by wild animals, numerous and ferocious,and when the scarecely less wild, but more savage red men, had notlong been gone to other hunting grounds, was the CORN family, theprogenitors of the gentleman whose name forms the introduction of thissketch, having invaded the wilderness here 86 years ago, and from thatremote day to the present time the name has been a familiar sound overthis locality. They performed well their parts in the work ofdeveloping the country from the primeval woods to one of the foremostagricultural sections in the great Hoosier state, and the elder Corns,together with the other early actors in the great drama whichwitnessed the passing of the old and the introduction of the newconditions in which are now the fine farms and thriving towns of thisCounty are deserving of every consideration.
We of today cannot pay such sterling characters too great a meed ofpraise, in view of the sacrifices they made in order that theirdescendants and others of a later day should enjoy the blessings oflife, only a few of which they were permitted to have. George W. CORNwas born on the farm where he now lives in Sect 5 Clark Twp,Montgomery Co, Feb 20, 1841 and here he has been content to spend hislife. He is a son of Williams and Sarah (ALLEN) Corn. Williams Cornwas b. in Henry Co KY Feb 16 1800 and was a son of George & RhodaCorn. Sarah B. Allen was b. in Shelby CO Ky Aug 16, 1799 and in thatstate she and Mr. Corn grew to maturity, received a meager educationaltraining and were married. They moved to Montgomery CO, IN in 1827, atwhich time they had three children, namely: Rhoda Jane, b. 2-28- 1824;Albert b. 11-9-1825 and Elizabeth E. b. 10-2-1827, the latter an inf.two or three months old. They bought a farm in sect 6, Scott Twp, SEof what is now the village of New Market in 1827. They found a countrylittle improved.
The wolves surrounded the house at night and with their unearthlyhowling struck terror to the hearts of the timid inmates. Indians, nowfriendsly to the whites, often went up and down Cornstalk Creek whichtouches the land on which this family settled. In about two yearsWilliams Corn sold his first place and moved to the present Cornhomestead, occupied by our subject.
They bought the 80 acres on which the house stands west of the presentroad, and entered from the government an adjoining 80 directly east ofit, the two 80 acre parcels comprising the NW 1/4 of Section 5. Only 5or 6 acres of this second farm had been cleared, and it was enclosedwith a brush fence, and there had been built a log cabin near aSpring.
Here Mr. Corn quickly built of hewn logs a larger and more comfortabledwelling and in 1843 he built another and still better house, and inthis he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They worked hardand clared and developed the place and became very well fixed asfarmers of that early day. To Williams Corn and wife were b. 9 ch.after they located in this County, making their family a larger one,12 in all, with the three elder who first opened their eyes to the skyin the BLue Grass state.
The ones born here were: Nancy A b. Oct 26, 1829; Mary Ann b. May 14,1831; Margare D b. May 1, 1833; Sarah Eliza b. Aprl 16 1835; John W.b. Aug 12, 1837; William b. July 23, 1838; Stephen A, b. Aug 15, 1839;Martha E, b. Aug 23, 1842 and our subject, George W. The death ofWilliams Corn occurred on Nov 11, 1859, having been 59 years old theprevious Feb. He was a hard working, honest man, who preferred toremain at home, never seeking office, although loyal in his support ofthe Whig party.
He was assisted in his hard work of clearning and developing the farmby his older sons and daughters. The good wife also worked hard, spunand wove until late into the night to make clothes for her children,even George W., the next to the youngest child, remembers well thelinen clothes. But they were a contented family and lived ascomfortably as others in those days hardships.
The mother was called to her rest May 4, 1874. She was a member of theBaptist Church. The paternal grandfather, George Corn, was a native ofGermany, frm which country he emigrated to the U.S. when young andsettled int he wilds of Ky, from which state he enlisted for servicein the war of 1812, in which he fought as a private.
Of the 12 children of Williams Corn and wife, George W, our subject isthe only one living at this writing. He grew up on the home farm onwhich he has spent his life. During his more than 70 years' residencehere he has noted and taken part in great changes, the country roundabout presenting an altogether different aspect from what it did inhis early boyhood. He did not have an opportunity to receive more thana few years' training in the common schools of his district.
His mother made her home with him, during her widowhood years. Therewere 6 other heirs of the homestead and from time to time he boughttheir interests until he now owns the entire home farm, which contains190 acres which he has kept well improved and carefully tilled so thatit has lost none of its oldtime fertility and productiveness.
In 1880 he built the present substantial home in which he now resides.General farming and stock raising are carried on. Mr. corn was marriedon Dec 24, 1863 to Hulda Jane WILLIAMS daughter of Bryan and Elizabeth(CASTLE) Williams. She was born and reared in Union Twp this Countyeast of Whitesville. Her paternal grandfather, Stephen Williams, camefrom NC and was a pioneer settler in the east part of this County, inan early day and here established the permanent home of the family.Mr. & Mrs. Corn had two children, a son who d. in infancy and adaughter, Valletta Lillian who is now the wife of William M. FRANTZ asketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. & Mrs. Frantzlive on the farm with Mr. Corn. The death of Mrs. Corn occurred Sept9, 1905. She was a woman of kindly impulse, charitablly inclined,unselfish and had many true friends. Mr. Corn is a member of theKnights of Pythias Lodge, no. 54 at Ladoga. He has never striven to bea politician, however, he was nominated by the Democrats in 1894 forCounty commissioner and though defeated with his ticket made anexcellent race.
H. W. Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago: HHHill, 1881) p 470
Montgomery County, Indiana USGenWeb Project
George W. CORN, farmer, Ladoga, son of Williams and Sarah B. (ALEN )Corn, was b. on the farm he now owns, in Clark Twp, Feb 20, 1841. Hewas raised among the hardships of pioneer life, and received such aneducation as an industrious boy might have obtained in the earlyschools of this portion of the County. Dec. 24, 1863, he was marr. toMiss Hulda J, daughter of Byrant WILLIAMS. She was b. in Union TwpJuly 3, 1840. They have become the parents of one child, Valletta L.Mr. C. is now actively engaged in stock raising as well as farming. Hehas recently completed a fine residence upon his farm, and his generalsurroundings indicate thrift and enterprise. His parents were amongthe earliest settlers of this County, having reached here in 1830 fromKy. They are both dead and with them passed away two historicalcharacters. 2003 USGenWeb Project for Montgomery County, Indiana,Karen Zach." [Transcribed 20 March 2007, SLJuhl, compiler]
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