B. Frank Duling
Since the pioneer settlement of Grant County, three generations of the Duling Family have been identified with the industrial and social community in a way to promote the welfare and improvement of this locality. They assisted in the clearing of the wilderness during the early days, and in the quieter years that have followed their lives have been led along the paths of industry and prosperity, and as farmers and good citizens they have done their full share for the enrichment of community life.
Representing the family in the third generation, B. Frank Duling is one of the leading farmer citizens of Jefferson Township. He was born in Fairmount Township, January 11, 1869, a son of William and a grandson of Thomas Duling. William Duling was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1838, and the grandfather, Thomas, a native of Virginia, settle din Ohio at an early date, and lived there until most of his children were born. When William was still a boy less than nine years of age, the family started west and finally reached Grant County. The grandfather bought land in Fairmount Township, erecting a log cabin, started to battle with the frontier hardships in the midst of the green woods. The Duling Family had their full share of pioneer experiences and hardships, and Thomas Duling had the satisfaction of replacing his old log cabin with a substantial frame house, and seeing his family grow up about him in peace and plenty, and as factors in the community. He died at the end of a long and useful life, at the age of eighty-four, and his wife preceded him when about seventy years of age. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Muskimmons. They were both members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and among the organizers of that faith in Fairmount Township.
William Duling was one of the following children: Oliver, John, William, Thomas, George, Mary, Barbara Ann, and Elizabeth, both the last named dying in infancy. Oliver, William and Thomas are still living, and Oliver is a bachelor.
William Duling grew up on the old home farm in Fairmount Township, and subsequently bought sixty acres of land near the old estate, and started out as an independent farmer. That continued to be his home until 1876, when he left Fairmount Township and bought the James Nottingham farm of one hundred and six acres in Jefferson Township. That is his home down to the present writing, and he is also the owner of eighty acres nearby in Fairmount Township. William Duling and wife have well deserved their prosperity, since they were hard workers from youth up, and by thrift and good management acquired a property aggregating at one time more than six hundred acres. They are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. They were the parents of eight children, and they are briefly mentioned as follows:
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Mary A. is the wife of Oscar Lewis, a farmer in Delaware County, and has two children.
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John lives in Fairmount Township, is married but has no children.
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Flora, is the wife of Calvin Jones, and their children are; Myrtle, Clarence, Walter, Effie and Mary.
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The fourth in the family is B. Frank Duling
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Nettie is the wife of Rev. C. M. Hobbs, an active minister of the Methodist Church, and their children are Donald, Sedrick and Malcolm
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Elmer is the Delaware County farmer, an by his marriage to Emma Dunn, has one baby son.
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Effie is the wife of Frank Wright, an undertaker in the city of Washington, D. C.
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Glenn is a farmer in Fairmount Township, and married Juanita Kuntz.
Mr. B. Frank Duling, after growing to manhood entered upon his career as a successful farmer, and his prosperity has been such as to make him one among the leading farmers of Grant County, and give him a distinctive place in affairs. At the present time he is the owner of two farms, each comprising eighty acres, and all the improvements and facilities for modern agriculture and stock raising are to be found there. In the little city of Matthews, Mr. Duling owns a nice home, and also has a stock and grain barn in the town, forty-four by one hundred and thirty-two feet in floor dimensions. His life stock comprises fourteen head of horses, and also hogs and other animals. Since 1909, Mr. Duling has made his home in the town of Matthews, and operates his farms from that point.
Mr. Duling was married in Washington Township of Delaware County to Miss Amanda Dunn, who was born and reared and educated in that township. They are the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Lloyd, age seventeen; Marjorie, aged thirteen; and Norwood, aged eighteen months. Mr. Duling is a Republican in national affairs, and always interested in good government as applied to his home community.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.