HULETT, Nathan - Putnam

It would be indeed presumptuous for the biographer to make any attempt to introduce to the readers of this work the name of Nathan HULETT, of Clark Twp, for he is known practically to everybody in Montgomery Co where his long, honorable and industrious life has been spent and where he has labored for the general good of the locality while advancing his individual interests. So, his large material success and the universal high regard in which he is held have been well merited.

Mr. H. was b. in the township and county where he is still residing, having first seen the light of day Sept 28, 1846. He is a s/o Gilson and Winefrede (CLARK) Hulett. Gibson Hulett's parents came from Ky. and settled in Putnam co, Indiana probably near Greencastle in an early day, and in that co. Winefrede Clark was born and she and Gilson Hulett were married in Clark Twp, Montgomery co. She was a d/o Willis and Hannah (ALLEN) Clark. Her parents came form Ky. in a very early day, her mother having made the trip here on horseback.

These parents later moved across into Clark Twp, Montgomery co, buying a farm in the SE part of the township and their farm and Mr. H. still owns part of that. The death of Gilson Hulett occurred Aug 1851 when Nathan was about 5 years of age. He left a wife and two children, Nathan and John W. The latter lived and died in Clark Twp. The mother afterwards marr. George MORRIS and lived in Clark Twp, until late in life when she and her husband moved to a farm he got near Danville. She spent her last years in Clark Twp, dying there during the early 70s. Nathan Hulett grew up on the home farm in Clark Twp, remaining there until his mother moved to Danville. When a young man he worked out at farming in that locality. On March 26, 1868 he marr. Mary GRANTHAM, d/o Wesley and Caroline (MILLER) Grantham. Wesley Grantham was a s/o Jesse Grantham and wife, who were early settlers in Jackson Twp, Putnam Co, and there Wesley Grantham grew to manhood and marr. Caroline Miller, also a native of Putnam Co. She was a d/o James and Nancy (LEE) Miller. After his marriage Wesley Grantham lived in several different localities before establishing a permanent home. He lived a short time in Clark Twp, this county, later moved to Missouri, but finally located about 7 miles SE of Ladoga.

There he bought a farm of 160 acres, now owned by Mr. JEFFRIES and adjoining the MIller farm. There the children grew up, and there Mr. G. farmed until about 1880 then moved to Ladoga and retired from active work on the farm and gave the younger children a better chance to attend school. Later he bought the T. H. MESSICK farm NE of Ladoga, crossed by the Midland RR. The title to right of RR to run across the farm was in the legislature when he bought it and of course he became involved in t e suit in that way. The suit continued in court over 18 years, until after Mr. G's death, when the Grantham estate finally was vindicated by the courts. Beside the MESSICK farm he purchased some land at the SE edge of Ladoga now owned by Rev. BROOKS, and also a tract a mile E. of Ladoga known as the Old Sammy BROWN farm. He was an ardent prohibitionist and spent both time and money in furthering the fight against liquor. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and was a liberal contributor to its support. In fact, during his life he gave more to support the church than he had left when he died, having always been very active in church work and usually held some official position in the church. Wesley Grantham and wife were the parents of two children, an equal number of sons and daughters, (sic) Mary Elizabeth, deceased was the w/o Nathan HULETT, subject of this review. The mother of Mrs. Hulett passed away in 1891. She was also an earnest church worker, belonging to the Methodist Church and later in life joined the Christian Church and diligently trained her children to follow in the same way.

The death of Wesley Grantham occurred on May 14, 1903, one day before his 78th birthday. He was a large hearted, charitable, hospitable man, who could not turn a deaf ear to the pleas of the suffering and needy. After his marriage, Mr. H. began farming on 90 acres of land that his brother owned and a year or two later bought out his brother's interest. It was 10 or 15 years before he purchased more land, when he traded 40 acres for 80 acres, assuming incumbrances, which he later paid. Since then he purch. a 20 acr tract adjoining the 80 acres and added more from time to time until he eventually owned about 500 acres in theSW part of Clark Twp. He has since divided a part of this among his sons-in-law, but still retained 343 and 1/2 acres. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. Three duaghters have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Eva, Ella and Mary. The first is the w/o John W. DEAN, the second of Robert HICKS and the youngest married Cecil C. CLICK. They all live in the SW part of Clarke (sic) Twp. A separate sketch of each of these gentlemen will be found elsewhere in these pages.

Mrs. H. passed to her eternal rest on Dec 10, 1909. As a wife she was devoted to all the interests of her husband and was a valuable help meet (sic). She was a member of the Christian Church and was always fond of church work. As a mother she manifested instinctive solicitude for the welfare of her children making their intersts her interests, and installing into their lives an assurance of the inheritance of the life immortal. When she realized her end was near she called the family to her bedside and bade them farewell admonishing the ch. to be good to their father, then gently fell asleep. Since her death Mr. H. has made his home with his children, to whom he is always a kind father and anxious to provide for their welfare. He is a worthy member of the Christian Church, is well known and highly esteemed by all who know him.