Montraville Waddle
 

Fifty years ago when the slaveholders' rebellion broke out in all its fury at Fort Sumter and when it looked as if the Union, which we all love so well, would be dissolved, Montraville Waddle, a venerable and esteemed citizen of Center township, Boone county, enlisted to do what he could in saving the federation of states, being perfectly willing, notwithstanding the grave dangers and certain hardships. It was a time when there could be no temporizing and no halting -- no half-way position -- for all who were not for the union were against it, and both sides hated the man who claimed to be neutral because he had not the courage to go upon the field of battle and had no principles to sustain. Mr. Waddle was alive to the gravity of the national conflict, realizing that the struggle impending was something more than a holiday undertaking and knew that it meant great sacrifices and the shedding of much precious blood before the flag could again wave from Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic to the Pacific seaboards; but he did not hesitate, be it said to his everlasting credit. So for this and many other reasons the name of Mr. Waddle should be included in this history, not the least of the reasons being the fact that he is one of our oldest native-born citizens and that much of his life has been spent within our borders, and he has played no inconspicuous part in the general progress of the locality. He has led a life so free from aught that is paltry or ignoble that its parallel is not frequently met with, and now that the twilight shadows of life are enshrouding him he can look backward over a road well traversed and forward with no apprehension.

Mr. Waddle was born in Boone county, Indiana, March 14, 1838, but when he was two
years old he was taken to Kentucky by his parents, Isaac and Polly (Burns) Waddle, both
natives of that state, and soon after reaching "the land of the dark and bloody ground" the
father died in 1840. He had devoted his life to farming, mostly in Kentucky, from which
state he came to Boone county only a few years prior to the birth of our subject. He had
four children, namely: Martha is deceased; James, Montraville and Mary are all living.
The mother of these children died about 1885.

Montraville Waddle grew to the age of twelve years in Kentucky and he received a limited
education in the old-time schools there, for he was compelled when a lad to assist in
supporting his widowed mother and the rest of the family. He remained in that state until
1850, when the family moved back to Boone county, Indiana, and here he has continued
to reside to the present time, devoting his attention to general farming and stock raising.

In October, 1861, Mr. Waddle enlisted in Company A, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, under Captain Russell, and he proved to be a gallant soldier, seeing much hard
service. He fought in the great battles of Stone River, Franklin, Nashville and those of the
memorable Atlanta campaign. He was with the Army of the Cumberland, and was in the
march to the sea under Gen. William T. Sherman. He was shot through the thigh at the
battle of Nashville, after which he was compelled to lie on his back in the hospital for three
months. Nothing daunted, he re-enlisted in 1863 in his old company, and he was in the
last battle of the war. He was honorably discharged May 29, 1865.

After returning home Mr. Waddle worked out by the month for a year, or until his
marriage, then went to farming for himself. He has been very successful and is owner of a
finely improved and valuable farm of three hundred acres in Boone county, all tillable but
about fourteen acres. He has a pleasant home, which he built himself. He has managed
well, prospered and is now living in retirement from the actual work of the farm.
Politically, he is a Progressive. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and,
religiously, is a member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Waddle was married September 19, 1867, to Sarah McDown, who was born in
Hendricks county, Indiana, June 25, 1842. She is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Skenks)
McDown, and she grew to womanhood in her native locality and was educated in the rural
schools. The McDown family has been one of the most influential and best known in this
section of the state for several generations.

Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Waddle, namely: Elizabeth and Martha are
both living; Edward, Fred and Bert are living; the other three died in infancy.

Source: "History of Boone County, Indiana," by Hon. L. M. Crist, 1914