Hiram Francisco, Sr.

    Hiram Francisco, Sr., is a farmer, but on princely scale. He owns and farms 1,800 acres of land in one body. He is one of the most influential and advanced farmers in the county and wholly self-made.

    He was born in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, and was the son of David and Persis (Morley) Francisco, who were natives of New Jersey and Massachusetts respectively. The name of Francisco is probably of Spanish origin.

    The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm. He commenced life for himself, chopped cordwood to get money to come to Indiana, in 1840. Was agent for three years for a clock firm and wheat-fan firm, both selling and collecting for same; then he sold clocks for fifteen years for himself, and since then ahs been a farmer and extensive trader, principally in live stock, and is a natural, or born trader.

    He settled on the place where he now lives in 1843; it is well improved in all points, and is as fine a farm as there is in the county, and is well stocked with registered stock and cattle. He owns in all eleven farms.

    Mr. Francisco was married in 1843, to Miss Mary McNutt, of Switzerland County, Indiana. They have four children: Oliver, Annie, George and Hiram.

    In 1870 Mr. Francisco was nominated by the Democratic party of this county for the State Senate, and overcame 700 Republican majority, being elected by a majority of seventy-two over Col. W. T. Friedley. He was the first Democratic Senator elected from Jefferson County for twenty-five years previous to that time, and there has not been one elected since by the Democratic party.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.