Samuel M. Highley
Probably never in all history was so much interest taken in the farmer and in the activities of country life as at present. In the years gone by the story of how a banker or merchant won his way to the top was always attractive, but nowadays we find current literature filled with the annals of the farmer citizens. The process by which a tract of new land is made to respond to plow and ax, and which in years produces a comfortable homestead, a profitable and growing business concern, is properly a subject for study.
One of the prosperous citizens of this township whose career might furnish an instructive story of hard and thrifty management is Samuel M. Highley. Mr. Highley, forty years ago got married and had only enough capital to buy a team. He and his young wife rented land, and since then have gone steadily ahead until few people anywhere are more prosperous than they.
Samuel M. Highley was born in Richland Township of Grant County, May 14, 1850, a son of James and Sarah (Myer) Highley. James Highley was born in Virginia in 1827, and was nine years of age when his family moved to Union County, Indiana, in 1836. There he grew to manhood, and in 1847 accompanied his father to Grant county, and after James and Sarah were married they established a home in Richland Township, then an unbroken forest, and the father lived here all the rest of his natural life. His death occurred July 6, 1891. His widow still lives on the old homestead, at the age of eighty-three. In their family were seven children, six of whom are still living, namely: David F. Highley, whose home is in Wells County, Indiana; Samuel M.; Daniel M., a resident on the old homestead; Lydia A., deceased; Claiborn H., a resident at Jonesboro, in grant county; Martha E., wife of William Eller of Richland; and Jacob M., of Miami County.
Samuel M. Highley was born in Richland Township, and at the proper age entered the public schools, which he attended during the winter seasons, and assisted on the farm during the summer. When he reached the age of eighteen he stood the examinations, and secured a license to teach, and for four years was one of the successful educators of Grant County.
On November 3, 1872, Mr. Highley married Miss Catherine Morton, of Grant County. She was born in Jay County, came to Wabash County at the age of eight years, received her education in the district schools of Wabash County, where she was also a teacher, and is a cultured and noble woman, who ahs proved an excellent helpmate to Mr. Highley and together they have reared their children amid excellent influences. As already stated, after their marriage, they had enough to buy a team of horses, and then started out as renters. Later through their thrift and energy, they accumulated enough to buy the place where they now reside. Their farm in called "The Highlands."
Mr. and Mrs. Highley are the parents of four children:
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Olive I., graduated from the common schools, attended the Fairmount academy, is a skillful musician and both a vocalist and instrumental player, and teaches a large class in her home vicinity.
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Aiden Marvin, is a graduate of the common schools, in which she was a prize winner, attended the Fairmount Academy for two years, graduated from the Marion Normal College, and also from the State University, was for several a teacher of mathematics in different high schools in Indiana, and is now located at Monroe, Michigan.
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Levi Preston, graduated from the common schools as a prize winner, studied in the Converse High School, graduated at the Indiana Business University, and is now in business at Indianapolis.
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Samuel R. is a graduate of the common schools, and lives in Blackford County, Indiana.
The family are members of the Christian Church at Somerset, and Mr. and Mrs. Highley have been identified with that church for forty-five years. In politics he is an active Republican, served one term as trustee of Richland Township, and is glad to take part and assist in any community enterprise. As a farmer he has gained great success in the breeding of fine trotting and pacing horses and has given his attention to that line of industry since 1887. He is said to have brought the first standard bred horses to Grant County, and has bred and raised more standard bred trotters than any one else in the county.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.