Ashton Horner
Among the large class of substantial, progressive farmers and stock-raisers who make their home in Grant County, none are more deserving of mention because of heir contributions to the development of their community than Aston Horner, the owner of a well developed tract of land in Mill Township Mr. Horner has the well developed tract of land in Mill Township. Mr. Horner has the added distinction of belonging to an old an honored family of Grant County. His grandfather, John Horner, was a native of the Keystone State, and after his marriage to a Pennsylvania girl moved to Preble County, Ohio, and in 1840 made removal to Grant County, Indiana. Mr. Horner was a farmer by vocation and for many years carried on operations on his Mill Township property, the farm upon which stood the old pottery at Gas City. But he also devoted his attention to preaching the Gospel as a Primitive Baptist Minister. He experienced the various hardships and privations of the pioneer preacher, being forced to cover great spaces of country on horse-back, and gave his services freely where needed without thinking of remuneration. Of the children of this sturdy and God-fearing pioneer, John, Jr., the father of Aston Horner, was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1826. He was still a lad when eh accompanied his parents to Grant County, and here he grew to manhood as a pioneer youth, dividing his time between the hard, unremitting work of clearing the home farm from the heavy timber, and securing such educational advantages as were offered during the short winter terms in the primitive subscription schools, held for the most part in log cabins. When he was ready to establish a home of his own, he was married to Miss Clarissa McCormick, of Fairmount Township, a daughter of Robert McCormick, a pioneer of that township and at one time one of the largest landholders in this part of the county, having two and one-half sections in his several farmers, the greater part of this land being located adjacent to the Muncie Turnpike in Mill Township.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. John Horner settled in Mill Township, and there both became the owners of eighty-acre farms. Mr. Horner met an accidental death, being killed October 8, 1870, by the fall of a tree, and the mother subsequently contracted a second marriage, being united with George Horner. They spent the remainder of their lives in Mill Township, and there the mother passed away in 1903, at the age of seventy-two years, the husband having passed away some time before.
Ashton Horner was born March 16, 1860, in Fairmount Township, was here reared and educated, and leaned the various things essential for the successful farmer to know. In 1908 he purchased his present farm, a tract of seventy acres lying in Section 10, Mill Township. Here he has made many improvements which have increased not alone the homestead's beauty, but its value as well. He has two drilled wells, two red barns, of substantial character and modern design, and a large white residence, fitted with the latest comforts and conveniences. His other buildings, for the shelter of his grain, implements and stock, are commodious, sanitary and well-lighted, and taken all in all, this set of farm buildings compares favorably with any in the township. While general farming has occupied the greater part of his time and attention, he has also met with a full measure of success in raising stock, and at this time is making a specialty of Short Horn and Jersey cattle, and Duroc and Poland-China hogs. Among his associates, Mr. Horner is known as a man of the utmost integrity, whose word is synonymous with honorable dealing.
Mr. Horner was married at Upland, Indiana, to Miss Maggie Burns, who was born September 22, 1858, in the city of Toledo, Ohio, and came to Grant county as a baby, following which she lived to Matthews, Indiana, continuously until the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of John and Mary (McConnell) Burns, natives of Ireland, who came to the United States as young people, and were married in New York. They were residents of Toledo, Ohio, for some time after their marriage, but ultimately came to Grant County, and spent the remainder of their lives at Matthews, the father dying there in 1893, at the age of sixty years and the mother dying in 1911, when eighty years old. Mr. and Mrs. Horner are the parents of the following children: Maude V., who was educated in the public and high schools an now resides with her parents; Nellie May, a member of the graduating class of the Jonesboro High School, 1915, also living with her parents; and Eva, who died as a child of eighteen months, the result of an accident. Mr. and Mrs. Horner are members of the Presbyterian Church and have been active in supporting its various movements. In political matters Mr. Horner is a Republican, but he has not cared for the activities of public life.