Howard-Orange County IN Archives Biographies.....Pickett, William Trueblood 1833 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 24, 2006, 2:06 am Author: Jackson Morrow WILLIAM TRUEBLOOD. No one of a contemplative turn of mind could study the life history of a man like the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article and not be benefited thereby, not feel an inspiration to lead a life of industry, sobriety and uprightness; while his record is, in the main, like that of many other men, a general mingling of life's joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats, yet we shall see how he brought success out of situations where weaker souls would have given in, surrendered to the enemy, despair and consequently failed. William Trueblood was born in Orange county, Indiana, August 5, 1833, and after spending a busy life within the borders of his native state he is leading a retired life in Kokomo, conscious of the feet that his duty has been well performed and that he can take a well earned rest. His parents were natives of North Carolina, who came to Orange county, this state, about 1811, and the subject spent his boyhood days in that county. Josiah Trueblood entered land in Orange county, where he spent his life, dying at the age of eighty-three years, on the farm which he entered. Thomas Maris, the subject's maternal grandfather, served on the first grand jury in Orange county. William Trueblood remained in Orange county on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He had a good district school education, attending school three months out of each year until he completed the common branches. An older brother, Alfred, was a merchant at Paoli, Orange county, and William became a partner with him when twenty-one years old, remaining in this capacity for four years. In 1861 he bought a farm near New London, Howard county. The place had been improved but the subject soon had it in much better condition than ever it had been and much more productive. After spending six years on this farm he came to Kokomo in 1867, when he and his brother-in-law. Nathan Dixon, organized a company comprised of Nathan Dixon, William Trueblood, Jonathan Johnson and George Maris, for the purpose of operating a hardware store. The subject remained in this store for twelve years until 1883, having been largely instrumental in that time in building up one of the leading hardware businesses in the county. Nathan Dixon died in 1895 and George Maris died in April, 1907. The subject was in the grain business, which was also conducted by this firm with elevators at Kokomo, Rushville and other points. They bought large consignments of grain and did an extensive business in shipping. Dixon and Trueblood continued the grain business for four or five years at Kokomo, but in 1886 they disposed of the grain business. Horace and John Trueblood, sons of the subject, had engaged in the shoe business in 1883 and Charles, their brother, was taken in later on; our subject joined them in 1890 and devoted his attention to this business for the next ten years, retiring in 1900, the business being sold two years later. John became an osteopathic physician and is now practicing at Traverse City, Michigan; Horace and Charles are successfully operating a laundry at Marion, Indiana; William, the subject, has since lived retired, after gaining an ample competence for his old age, and realizing that his life had been well spent along all lines and that he could take a well earned rest in comfort. The subject was identified with the Republican party up to 1886 since which time he has been a radical Prohibitionist, taking an active part in the county campaigns and was a delegate to various conventions. He has been on the ticket for county treasurer, also for representative. He has always been at the front in this party, ready to sacrifice anything for the party's benefit. He says the movement has surpassed his expectations. He has been active in church work all his life, having been identified with the Friends church. He has often served as a delegate to the annual meeting of this denomination for a period of twenty-five years, and his voice in the deliberations of the gatherings has always been heeded and recognized as being for the best interest of the church. He has for many years been a member of the Evangelistic Commitees, also a member of the permanent board and has held many other minor offices on various boards and committees. The subject was married in Orange county, on April 21, 1858, to Ruth E. Dixon, sister of Nathan Dixon. She was a native of Orange county, Indiana. Her parents were natives of North Carolina. Their family consists of the following children: Lindley M. has his headquarters at Kokomo, while he travels for a laundry supply house; he is also a mechanic; Horace N.; John O. and Charles. William Trueblood has a comfortable residence at 72, East Mulberry street, Kokomo, which has been his home since 1872. Mrs. Trueblood is a granddaughter of Jonathan Lindley, who came to Paoli, Orange county, about 1809. Her uncle, Zach Lindley, was the first sheriff of Orange county. Zach served in the War of 1812 and was wounded at Tippecanoe. He died at the age of sixty-seven years. No man in Kokomo stands higher in the esteem of the citizens than the subject, for his life has been one singularly free from suspicion of wrong doing or evil of any kind. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/pickett384nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb