SAYERS-Elston - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Elston SAYERS, who resided on his well-ordered and finely improved farm on section 2, Wayne Township, is a good respresentative of the enlightened and enterprising farmers who have made Montgomery County one of the richest and most productive agricultural centres in the state by their progressive modes of farming. He was born in Marion county Ohio in 1832, and is a son of William and Charlotte (Martin) Sayers, natives respectively of VA and PA. His paternal grandparents were Josiah and Sarah (Brown) Sayers, natives of VA. The grandmother on the mother's side was named Elston. William Sayers was three times married. His second wife was Margaret Cooper, and his third wife, to whom he was married in Fountain county in 1845, was Rachel Crane. He had a numerous family of children, as follows: Lloyd, who was born in PA in 1819, married Rhoda Coen and died at their residence in Pleasant Hill in 1846; Rachel born in PA in 1821 and now the wife of Hon. Isaac M. COEN, a farmer of Fountain county who was elected to the Indiana Legislature by the Republican Party in 1856 and served two terms but is now deceased; Sophronia and John, who were born in PA in 1822 adn 1823 and died in infancy; Mary, who was born in PA in 1824, married Jesse Grenard and died in 1864; Josiah who was born in PA 1825 died in Montgomery County age 20; Ruth, born in PA 1827 who was the wife of John Higbee who resides in Wayentown; Reuel, born in Ohio 1830 married Wealthy Bell, who died in Benton Co 1859; Elston our subject; Rhoda who was born in Ohio 1833, married Iphaymer W. McBroom, a farmer in Hillsboro, Ind where she resided until death; Ephraim, a farmer in Benton Co who was born in Ohio 1834 and married Amanda Dawson; Washington who was born in ohio 1835, and died 1845; Wilbur who was born in 1838 married Miss McCoy and is farmer in Jasper County; Lemuel who died in infnacy 1844; Annie who was born in Montgomery co 1846 is now the wife of Rev. William Dewey, a Methodist minister of Missouri; Martin who was born in Fountain County 1848, and is a carriage manufacturer in McCune, KS; Charlotte who was born in Montgomery county 1853 and married S. Roach, formerly of Kansas, later of Indiana but now deceased; Thomas, who was born in Benton Co 1857, married Miss Nelson and is engaged as an engineer in this state; and James, a resident of KS who was born in Benton Co 1861. Elston Sayers, of this biographical sketch, was but 19 years old when he started in business for himself as a county blacksmith, which trade he had learned in early boyhood and which he followed with fair remuneration some 14 years. With the money thus procured he bought a tract of wild timber in Fountain County, paying the sum of $150 for the whole 40 acres, and then sold it at a slight advance over the purchase price. With this sum, and a little assistance from his father, he purchased 80 acres of land, partly improved for $750, to which he added another purchase of cultivated land, for which he paid $1,000. He continued to buy small tracts as he had the opporunity until he had acquired a farm of 270 acrse, beautifully located, under a high state of tillage, and well supplied with modern improvements. Mr Sayers has been at great expense in draining his land, having tiles laid whenever required on all parts of his farm and he has thus added greatly to it s productiveness and value. He devotes it to mixed farming, and raises a fine lot of standard stock. Mr. Sayers, has received practical help in the upbuilding of his home from his amiable wife, to whome he was amrred in 1855 by Dr. Newland. She was formerly Catherine Grennard, a native of this townhip born here 1836 daughter of John and Desiree Tracy Grennard. Her paternal grandwere native sof MD. Her union with our subject brought them five children: John W who was born in 1856 and died 1857; Mary V and Eliza E, twins, who were born in 1858, the former the wife of William Fouts, a farmer of Wayne Twp; and the latter who lives with her father, onw the wife of AR Biddle of STorm Lake, Iowa; Charles b who was born in 1861, married Jennie Anderson of building and Loan Association of Bloomington, Ill of which place he is a resident; and Eva, who was born 1869, married CB Lidster of this township adn resides the old homestead. Eliza E, Mrs. Biddle was formerly the wfife of WH Hancock, who died in the year 1855. The children were all eucated in the pbulic schools of Wayne Township, except Charles, who attended Merom Union Christian College in Sullivan County. They are all active members of the county. They are all active members of the Chiristian Church and their names are associatied with the church and Sunday, school work. Mr. Sayers has most estimable man, who has awlasy led a life of truthfulness, sobriety and honor, and is a valued member of the community. the Christian Church finds in him and his wife two of its most, useful members, who have done much to advance its intersets spiritually and materially. Unlike many of his Democratic neighbors, Mr. Sayers is not a Democrat by inheritance, his father, having been a devoted Republican, but through a careful study of the political situation and of the merits of the respective parties. He has served his township as Trustee two terms, from 1882 - 1886. He is a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association of this county and upholds the law and order to the best of his ability. His fellow-citizens appreciate his value as a safe counselor and gilde to practical affairs, and he is often called upon for advice and help by his neibhrors. He is at present executor of one of the largest estates of the township.