Elkanah Hulley
For a long period of years the name of Hulley has been associated with Grant County life and affairs. In the following sketch are contained the essential facts in the career of Mr. Elkanah Hulley and also many related items of family history and local associations, so that the article becomes a brief but valuable chapter in this centennial history.
While he has been a citizen of Marion since May 29, 1871, Elkanah Hulley is a native of Switzerland County, Indiana. His childhood and early manhood were passed in the vicinity of Vevay, and although the "Hoosier Schoolmaster" was published the year he left Switzerland County, Mr. Hulley is very familiar with scenes described in the story. The Hulley and Eggleston families were acquainted there. None of Mr. Hulley's immediate relatives have had permanent residence in Marion, although two brothers and a sister have lived temporarily in Grant County. He was very much interested in the Centennial Homecoming week at Vevay, at which point settlement was made in 1813, and all exiles were invited to meet again.
When Mr. Hulley came to Marion it was to work in the foundry and machine shop operated by his uncle, Samuel Hulley, and his cousin, Joseph Hulley. While he was connected with the foundry he was on the payroll, rented a half interest and later owned a half interest in it, but when Grant County industrial affairs were revolutionized in 1887, by the discovery of natural gas, he sold his interest in the foundry and became extension superintendent of the Citizens' Gas Company. He operated a stone quarry and crusher on the Draper-Williams land for a year and a half, but his public work has been as superintendent of the Marion Municipal Water Plant described in the special chapter on water systems of the county.
Elected to a vacancy to fill out an unexpired term of six months on the Marion School Board, Mr. Hulley was seven times re-elected and served as school trustee at a very important time when the city was increasing rapidly in population and business ability was required at the hands of the board - an increased school population and not enough school buildings for the requirement. While the Central building on the site of the old seminary is opposite his home on Adams Street, the prevailing opinion that Mr. Hulley was instrumental in securing the town clock is a mistake. He was at the time opposed to it, but it was placed there as a result of petition by tax payers, and the city council ordered the school board to include the clock in the plans of the building. He is now very glad the only town clock is there. The regret of the citizens is that there are not other town clocks scattered about in the different localities.
Samuel and Hannah Hulley were a well known family in the early history of Marion, and the late Joseph Hulley and his family are all of the name immediately identified with local history aside from Elkanah Hulley. On March 20, 1873, Elkanah Hulley was married to Miss Amanda Jane Neal, a daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth Brownlee Neal. Mrs. Hulley has spent her entire life in Marion. Her parents were contemporary with the early families, and her father was in the galaxy of old-time Marion business men once know to everybody. Mrs. Hulley has two living brothers, Charles E., and Rev. Tom C. Neal, while Dr. James C. Neal, who died a few years ago, was the Neal-Brownlee family historian. Her sisters were: Mrs. Kate Condo and Miss Mary Elizabeth Neal.
The three sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulley are: Lewis S. Hulley, who married Miss Mabel Heichert, and their children are Philip H., Katherine and Elkanah; the second son is Ernest N.Hulley, who married Miss Estella Oliver, and their children are Oliver S. and Catherine Lorain Hulley; the third son is Dr. Edwin S. Hulley, who married Miss Margaret Anderson, and their children are: Joanna Jane and Margaret Frances Hulley. Lewis S. Hulley lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and Ernest N. Hulley in Allegan, Michigan, while Dr. E.S. Hulley lives in Marion.
The Hulley family belongs to the First Methodist Church in Marion, and for forty years Mr. Hulley has been chief usher there. He was for years superintendent of the Sunday school, and has been church trustee for many years. The Neal family is all musical, and Mrs. Hulley and her sons are all singers in demand at all times. Mrs. Hulley's voice has been heard in song at funerals where she hardly knew the family, but in calling together a quartet for such occasions, when an alto voice is lacking, all musical committees seem to know that they may depend upon her. The Hulley home is near the Hulley Church, and Sundays rarely pass without Mr. and Mrs. Hulley in the congregation there. Few Marion families are more intimately associated with all the affairs of the community.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner