Howard-Marion-Tipton County IN Archives Biographies.....VanSickle, Joseph D. 1867 - ************************************************ 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 21, 2006, 4:39 pm Author: Jackson Morrow JOSEPH D. VANSICKLE. Biographies should not be published unless there is something in the life and character of the individual worthy of emulation or imitation by others under like circumstances—certainly not for self-aggrandizement, but sufficient has been drawn from the life history of the gentleman whose name appears above to show that there is something in the inner life of this man worthy of more than incidental mention. He began life practically at the bottom of the ladder, which he has climbed to the top with no help but a brave heart, industrious hands and an intelligent brain, and is a living example of what may be accomplished in this country by thrift and perseverance, even under discouraging circumstances. Joseph D. VanSickle was born in Marion county, Indiana, February 9, 1867, the son of Gilbert and Ellen (Hoover) VanSickle. Grandfather VanSickle was born in Pennsylvania. He was of Irish descent and his ancestors lived and died in the Keystone state. There were three sons in the family, all lived to raise families of their own. Grandfather VanSickle died in 1849, after having become a successful farmer in Ohio, to which state he moved in 1849 from Pennsylvania. The father of the subject lived at home until he was thirteen years old, having come to Indiana at that time on his own account and without funds. He stopped near Indianapolis where he remained with a family as a farm hand until he was twenty-six years old. At that age he was married and soon afterward rented a farm in that neighborhood,, having worked rental land in a very successful manner until 1869, when he came to Tipton county, this state, where he made his home until his death in 1904, which occurred when he was sixty-nine years old. He attended school only a few weeks, but read extensively at home. He owned a good farm in Tipton county, where he raised a family of six children, four of whom lived to maturity; three of them raised families of their own. Their mother passed to the silent land when she was forty-four years old. Both father and mother were Newlight Christians. The father was also a Mason. They were both people of many excellent traits and had hosts of friends. Joseph D. Van Sickle, our subject, attended the district schools in Tipton county until he was eighteen years old, working on his father's farm. He then taught school in a most acceptable manner for a period of five years. Being ambitious to learn from the start he studied hard and secured a liberal education, but he finally decided to devote his life work to agricultural pursuits, having begun farming on his own highly productive farm in Tipton county, remaining on this place for a period of seven years and then moved to Miami county, buying a good farm which he successfully worked for six years, when he sold it and purchased the one in Howard township, Howard county, on which he has since resided. It consists of two hundred and sixty-three acres, all being under a high state of improvement. About fifty acres are in woods-pasture, on which is a fine set of blue grass, the balance is under the plow. He has excellent fences, partly of wire and partly of wood. The fields are all under an excellent system of drainage and the soil is kept in a high state of productiveness through the skillful management of the owner. He rotates his crops with clover and uses home fertilizers. It is Mr. VanSickle's intention to feed all the corn on the place that he produces each year. He prepares both cattle and hogs for the market. He raises Duroc hogs, and usually has a large herd of registered short horn cattle, which are fine specimens of the best bovine type. He has a fine orchard of a variety of excellent fruits. All the surroundings show that this is an exceptionally well cared for farm and that the owner is a man of thrift and excellent judgment in agriculture, horticulture and stock raising. His residence which is a substantial, commodious and nicely furnished one is regarded as among the best farm houses in the county. Several convenient out buildngs [sic] stand upon the farm. The domestic life of our subject dates from September 9, 1888, when he was happily married to Orpho O. Duncan, the refined and accomplished daughter of Francis M. and Hannah E. (Runk) Duncan, natives of Indiana. They lived on a farm and were people of much influence in their respective community. Mrs. VanSickle's father was called from his earthly labors in 1905, at the age of sixty years, after an active and useful life. He had been a soldier in an Indiana regiment during the war between the states, having enlisted when only eighteen years old and served till the close of the war. He came home disabled from disease contracted while in line of duty. His government later remembered his gallant services with a liberal pension. There were five children in his family, three of whom lived to maturity. The mother of the subject's wife is living at the age of sixty-four in 1908. She is a member of the Newlight church as was also her husband. Our subject and wife have had eight children born to them as follows: Hazel E., born July 23, 1889, is still a member of the happy family circle; Grace H. was born March 2, 1891; Herman D. was born November 14, 1893; Maggie L. was born July 29, 1895; Samuel and John (twins), were born December 6, 1897; Joseph O. was born October 23, 1900; Franklin was born April 6, 1908. All these children are interesting and give promise of successful futures. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Masonic organization and his daily life would indicate that he is living up to the sublime precepts which it fosters. In politics he is a loyal Democrat. Mrs. VanSickle is a member of the United Brethren church and both she and Mr. VanSickle are highly respected by a large number of friends and acquaintances for their even tempered kindly natures and their upright lives. 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/vansickl360nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb