Sayers - Elston
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke
& Fountain Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, p. 312.
Elston
SAYERS, who resided on his well-ordered and finely improved farm on section 2,
Wayne Township, is a good representative 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 and 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 Waynetown; 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 County 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 infancy 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
County in 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 opportunity until he had acquired a
farm of 270 acres, 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 married in 1855 by Dr. Newland. She was formerly Catherine
Grennard, a native of this township born here 1836 daughter of John and Desiree
Tracy Grennard. Her paternal grand were natives of 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,
was 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 and resides the old homestead. Eliza E, Mrs. Biddle was formerly
the wife of WH Hancock, who died in the year 1855. The children were all educated
in the public 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 Christian Church and their names are
associated with the church and Sunday, school work.
Mr.
Sayers, a most estimable man, who has always 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 interests 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 glide to practical affairs, and he is often called upon for advice and help
by his neighbors. He is at present executor of one of the largest estates of
the township. --
kbz