W. Allen Morehead
Washington Township shows some of the best regulated and most valuable farms in Grant County. They have been made thus desirable through the industry and enterprise of the owners, who have realized the advantages of using modern methods and machinery in their work and whose long residence in this locality has made them familiar with soil and climatic conditions. in this class undeniably stands W. Allen Morehead, the owner of eighty acres of well-cultivated land located in Section 10, and a citizen who is at present serving his township as assessor. Mr. Morehead is a native of Grant County, having been born in Pleasant Township, May 7, 1876, a son of Alexander and Nancy (Sheron) Morehead.
Calvin Morehead, the grandfather of W. Allen Morehead, was born in Ohio, and migrated to Grant county, Indiana, in 1839, settling first in the vicinity of Jalapa, where he entered land from the government and continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. Alexander Morehead was born in 1838, in Ohio, and was a babe of one year when brought by his parents to Grant county. His boyhood home was a pioneer log cabin on the old homestead, and he was reared to the hard work of clearing the home farm. On reaching his majority he engaged in farming on his own account in Pleasant Township, and became moderately successful in his operations and a well known man in his community. A life-long sufferer from asthma, he spent the last few years in Oklahoma, seeking relief from his illness, and there his death occurred in March, 1913. He married Nancy Sheron, who was born January 1, 1841, in Ohio, and she survives and makes her home in Marion. Two children were born to this union: W. Allen of this review; and Lulu, the wife of Walter Bish, residing at No. 207 North F. Street, Marion.
W. Allen Morehead received his education in district school No. 4, in Washington Township, and worked at home with his father until reaching the age of twenty years, at which time he struck out for himself, for two years being employed by Francis A. Bradford, a Washington Township agriculturist. At the time of his marriage, in 1898, he rented a farm in the northern part of that township, and there continued to reside until 1910, in the meantime, in 1907, purchasing his eighty acre farm in Section 10. In 1909 he erected on this land a large and substantial barn, with the latest and best equipment, and in 1910 he built his present residence, a ten-room home, fitted with bath, running water furnished by a pneumatic water system and other conveniences, and lighted by acetylene gas. Mr. Morehead has shown himself an able man of business and excellent farmer, and has practical management of his affairs has made him one of his community's substantial citizens. In 1912 he raised 1,000 bushels of corn and 1,500 bushels of oats, and cut twelve tons of hay, in addition to raising and selling about 50 hogs at top-notch prices. He keeps seen draft and running horses, and has a herd of eight high-grade cattle. Seventy acres of his land are under cultivation, while of the ten remaining acres several are in pasture land the remainder in timber. Among his neighbors and associates he has fairly won a reputation for integrity and honorable dealing, and his many pleasant personal qualities have gained him a wide circle of sincere friends.
Mr. Morehead was married in 1898 to Miss Maud B. Dicken, daughter of George Dicken, a well known Grant County farmer, and to this union one child was born: Thelma Delight, July 6, 194. Mr. and Mrs. Morehead are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been a Democrat in his political views, and as assessor of Washington Township is giving his fellow-citizens excellent service.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914