John Duling
Mr. and Mrs. John Duling
The name Duling has been identified with Grant County for more than seventy years. The pioneer was a farmer and minister, and belonged to that hardy type of settlers, whose spiritual zeal was equal to his fortitude in enduring the hardships of the frontier. The Mr. John Duling named above is now living retired on a beautiful country estate in section nineteen of Jefferson Township, and after many years of toil and successful management is able to enjoy the fruits of prosperity, and the regard of his community.
John Duling's grandfather was Edmund Duling, born in Virginia, and of an old Virginia line of ancestry. He was married in his home state and later moved to Ohio, settling in Coshocton County. There his years were spent as a farmer, and his death came when about eighty years of age. His wife, it is believed, died some years previously. They were active members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and had a large family. Of their children, Rev. Solomon Duling, father of John, was one of the oldest, and was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1813. Growing up on a farm, he was trained in the school of pioneer hardships, and early manifested inclinations for the hard manual labor of the frontier, and also for the spiritual activities of the church. He became an early convert for the Methodist Protestant faith, and after he was married, and moved to Indiana, he began the active work of the itinerant preacher.
In Coshocton County, Solomon Duling married Jane Hubert, who was born in Ohio, about 1815. Two children were born to their marriage in Ohio, Daniel and Edmund. Then about 1841-1842, Solomon Duling brought his little household to Grant County, and on Barren Creek in Jefferson Township, acquired eighty acres of land in the midst of the woods, and he erected his log cabin home, started the work of clearing, grubbing, fencing, cultivation the constantly expanding tract of free ground, and by close economy, by living on the wild game which was then so plentiful, he prospered steadily, and his name is one which deserves lasting remembrance, in this section of Grant County. The most noteworthy feature of his life, was his church work. He was early ordained a minister of the Methodist Protestant faith, and from that time forward led in the work of organization and all church activities. He organized many churches throughout this section of Indiana, and labored in behalf of religion all the years. Many sacrifices of his private interests were made in behalf of his church, and there was no obstacle which would prevent his attending to his church duties, if it was humanly possible. He went over the worst of roads, swam the rivers, and he and his big bay horse were seen going and coming in all seasons of the year, and in many remote districts. Often in crossing the streams, his feet would be frozen fast in the stirrups. Thus he labored for the spiritual upbuilding of his community, and at the same time his thrift and industrious management of home, enabled him to accumulate a generous prosperity. He had come to Indiana with only one hundred dollars and most of that was paid at the Fort Wayne Land Office for the purchase of his eighty acres of land. From that start his success grew, until at one time his possessions aggregated nearly one thousand acres of land. After a long and useful life, in the esteem of a wide circle of friends, Rev. Solomon Duling died in 1871. During the Civil War he was president of the Indiana State Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, and his labors were earnestly directed toward preventing a division of the church on the issue which split so many other church denominations of America. However, the division occurred, in spite of all his efforts and those of many others of like persuasion. Solomon Duling for a number of years served as trustee of his township. During the war he was strongly for the Union, was a Republican in politics, and sent three of his sons, Edmund, Elijah and Joel to the defense of the Stars and Stripes. All these sons gave excellent account of themselves as efficient and faithful soldiers, and served in Indiana regiments. Edmund was seriously wounded in the knee by a rebel bullet at Vicksburg, and died of lockjaw while being transferred to the hospital. The other sons, although also actively engaged on many fields of battle and in many campaigns returned home and Elijah was killed in 1880 in a railroad wreck in Ohio. Joel died on the old homestead at Jefferson Township in 1910.
Of the eleven children in the family John Duling and his sister Sina M., the wife of Bertney R. Jones, of Marion, are the only ones still living. John Duling was born on the old homestead in Jefferson Township, December 8, 1846. His boyhood was spent in the decade previous to the Civil War, and his recollections cover a great variety of changes and developments in Grant County. As a boy he attended the district schools, was trained to work, grew up in the atmosphere of culture and religion which pervaded as a farmer and stock raiser. His possessions, most of which represent his individual capability and business judgment, are measure by four hundred acres of land, excellently improved, and rated at a high value on the assessment rolls, all located in section nineteen of Jefferson Township.
In his home township in 1873, John Duling married Miss Lydia Ann Stout. She was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, January 10, 1854, was five years of age when the family moved to Peru, Indiana, and in 1869 came to grant County, where she was married four years later. Her parents, William and Elizabeth B. Hinks Stout were born, the father in Guernsey County, Ohio, September 6, 1828, and the mother in Fulton County, Ohio, September 10, 1833. They were married in Ohio, and after settling in Grant county, Mrs. Stout died April 19, 1875, at the birth of her last son, John. Mr. Stout was again married, moved into Jay county, Indiana, where he died in November, 1908, being then seventy-nine years of age. His widow still lives. There were no children by the second marriage, while Mrs. Duling was one of a family twelve children, eight of whom are still living, all married and have families of their own. William Stout was a practical mechanic, followed his trade for a number of years, was also a railroad man, and after locating in Jay county became a farmer. He and his wife were Methodist, and in politics he was a Democrat.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Duling are mentioned as follows: 1. Minnie B. is the wife of T. Burr Wilson, and they reside on Mr. Duling's farm. Their two children are Alfred Garr and Robert. 2. Capitola May is the wife of William Reasoner, and their home is on a farm in Blackford County. Their children are: Clifford, Paul, Opal, Lloyd, Howard, Arthur and Ruth. 3. Solomon Arthur is a graduate of the State University, was a teacher for four years, then studied law, and is now engaged in practice in the state of Oklahoma. He is unmarried. 4. Pearle Blanche is the wife of Clayton Secrist, and their home is in Santa Barbara, California. Their children are Robert D. and Walter. 5. Earl William is a farmer near Indianapolis, and by his marriage to May Salmon of Fowlerton has two children, Byron M. and Meredith E.
Mr. and Mrs. Duling are active members of the Fowlerton Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Duling has served as trustee of that church and is at the present time a member of the township advisory board, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner - If you have a connection to this line, please contact me.