Francis M. Landon

    Francis M. Landon. Lancaster, Lancaster Township, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 23, 1832; is the son of William and Elizabeth (Riggle) Landon. His father was born in Kentucky, December 22, 1810; his mother was born at Walnut Hills, Ohio, October 7, 1811. They were married at Walnut Hills, February 12, 1828, and raised a family of five children, of whom Francis M. is the second child. His father was a miller and farmer of this county, and died October 9, 1863, at the age of 53 years. His mother died January 2, 1860, at the age of 49 years.

    His parents removed form Ohio to Scott County, Indiana, when he was an infant, and about five years after removed to Jefferson County, and located on big Creek, his father buying what was known as "Settle Mill," a flour, grist and saw-mill. His father farmed, also.

    The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of this county. He was married, April 15, 1856, to Miss Malinda Zenor, daughter of David Zenor, who was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, of German parentage, and who died in this county, January 5, 1887, at the age of 80 years.

    Francis M. Landon and wife have five children, one boy and four girls: Elizabeth, William A., Jennie, Agnes and Clara.

    Mr. Landon commenced the milling business when only twelve and one-half years old, and has been engaged at the same business ever since. He took charge of the mill at that early age because the failing sight of his father incapacitated him for the work. Francis M. and his brother George built a new mill in 1856, a stone structure, 37 x 40, four stories high, with capacity of 100 barrels per day, at a cost of $10,000. It was destroyed by fire in 1869. His father was in debt at the time, but the young man succeeded in making a living, and paying the debt, and at the same time building up a large trade, which has remained with him ever since. His long experience has made him thorough in all departments of the mill, so that when he gets any improved machinery  he is able to put it up himself, also can repair almost anything about the mill.

    Except for a few months of that time that he was in Jennings County, the whole of that time has been spent in Jefferson County. The mill he is now running is located at Lancaster; it is a merchant custom mill (flour and grist). His son William A. is now with him in the mill, the firm being Landon & Son.

    In 1878 Mr. Landon was appointed county commissioner, to fill the unexpired term of James Baxter, and in 1880 was elected county commissioner for the term of three years, on the Republican ticket.

    Mr. Landon is a member of the Baptist Church at Lancaster. Mr. Landon has been very successful in his business, and very few who have started out to make their fortunes at so young an age as he have succeeded so well. Honesty in business sand probity of life have been his rule of life, and once a friend of his always a friend has been the result. He has now customers who have dealt with him forty-five years. Such a testimonial is vouchsafed to few men in this world.

    Mr. Landon is in remarkably good health for a man who has been so long engaged in the milling business, night and day. He deserved his success as the reward for such persevering labor, as well as for his pluck. A boy who at that age was laden with the responsibility of a family and of debt, is seldom able to come out from under the load, and if he does is usually soured. Mr. Landon is as cheery as if everything had gone smoothly for him in this world, and does not show in his manner the troubles he has come through.

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.