McIntire - Forguson Graham
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Indianapolis: AW Bowen,
1913) p 840
One of the leading citizens of Montgomery County is Forgison
Graham McINTIRE for a long lapse of years one of our most
enterprising agriculturists, manufacturers and business men. Mr.
McIntire is a public-spirited man in all that the term implies,
being ever intersted in enterprises tending to promote the
general welfare and has witheld his support from no movement for
the good of the locality so long honored by his residence. His
personal relations with his fellow men have ever been mutually
pleasant and agreeable, and he is highly regarded by all, being
easily approached, obliging and straight forward in all the
relations of life. Mr. McIntire, who is the scion of one of the
worthy old pioneer families of Montgomery County, members of
which have figured prominently in the upbuilding of the same for
more than 3/4 of a century, was born in Wayne Township, this
county Jan 21, 1841. He is a son of John and Eliza BURBRIDGE
McIntire. The father was born on Jan 20, 1807, near Harper's
Ferry, Virginia. The family later moved to Ky and in the early
20s came on to Montgomery County, Indiana settling in Wayne
Township, when this country was a wilderness and settlers were
few. Here John McIntire entered 160 acres fromt he government in
1829 and up to 1910 the same was kept in the family. His father,
Jacob McIntire, bought 160 acres in the same township. John
cleared his farm and worked it with gratifying results until 1850
when his death occurred. Politically, he was a Whig and was a
deacon in the Baptist Church. In 1830 he married Eliza
Burbridge. She was born in Chillicothe, Ohio Feb 2, 1815 and
when a child accompanied her family in 1823 to Montgomery County, Indiana, her parents settling near the farm of Henry Oldfield, who was the
first settler of Montgomery County. The father, William
Burbridge, entered 320 acres of land there which he developed
into a good farm, and thereon he built, in 1827, the first brick
house ever erected in this county. The same is still standing and
is in use. The late Mrs. McIntire carried the brick with which
to build the same. Wm. Burbridge was elected to the office of
associate judge of the county and he served the people most
faithfully and acceptably. He was very influential in public
aaffairs and was one of the substantial and leading men of the
county. At one time he owned a large extent of valuable property
on W. Market Street, Crawfordsville. His death occurred in 1868.
The death of Mrs. John McIntire occurred Jan 3, 1903. Ten children were born to John McIntire and wife, 3 of whom are
living: Forgison G of this review; Rachael, wife of CD CRUSE of
Crawfordsville and Emma of Crawfordsville.
Forgison G. McIntire
received what education he could in the common schools of his
native vicinity in those early days and at age 14 he took charge
of the home farm, and continued to operate the same with skill
and gratifying results until 1864 when he proved his patriotism,
by enlisting in Co. H, 135th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and he
served very faithfully, principally in garrison duty until he was
mustered out the following October. Returning to the farm he
continued to operate the same with his usual success untli 1872.
He prospered and purchased various farms in different parts of
the county, which he operated on an extensive scale until 1885
when he moved to Crawfordsville where he went into the fence
manufacturing business, which he continued for a perio fo 15
years, building up an extensive and lucrative business and
enjoying an excellent trade all over the country. While on the
farm he engaged in the threshing business and he still is
interested in that line of work. He has shown himself to be a
capable business man and has carried to successful completing
whatever he has attempted. He is today one of the solid
financial men of Crawfordsville. Mr. McIntire has always taken
an abiding interest in public matters, especially as affecting
Montgomery County. He was twice elected assessor of Union
Township, serving from 1900 to 1908, in a manner that reflected
much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all
concerned. In 1909 he was elected to the city council of
Crawfordsville and is now president of the improvement board of
that body, which is quite an importnat office and he is filling
the same in a commendable manner. He is also chairman of the
board of public schools and buildings. He is a member of the
counts and claims commission. He belongs to McPherson Post, GAR
and has been a member of the Masonic Order for 52 years.
Politically he is a Republican and in religious matters a
Baptist. Mr. McIntire was married on March 28, 1872 to Rhoda May
UTTERBACK who was born in Wayne Township, this county on
adjoining farm from that of the McIntires the date of her birth
being Aug 1, 1840. She was a daughter of Harmon and Eliza WILSON
Utterback, a well known and highly respected family early
settlers here. The father was a native of Ohio born there in
1811. The death of Mrs. McIntire occurred Oct 23, 1885. To
Forgison G. McIntire and wife were born 4 children: Goergia, wife
of WA Whittington of Crawfordsville; Verna Laura who is the wife
of WH Schleppy of Los Angeles, California; Selma May wife of
William Saunders of Tacoma, Washington and Marmon A., a printer
of Crawfordsville. - typed by kbz