William Henry Bland

The subject of this brief review is one of the successful farmers of Highland township, and was born there November 12, 1856. He never had the desire that seems to have possessed so many of his neighbors to roam about the country seeking a better locality in which to make a living and a more pleasant place to live, but was contented to remain on his native soil, having attended school there and spent his life within a few miles of where he was born, having always been a farmer. He married in 1881, Elmira Goodwin, daughter of Abner and Darthulian (Padgett) Goodwin, residents of Greene county. She had a brother, William Goodwin, who was a soldier in the Civil war. He died in Highland township.

The subject and wife have the following children: Winona, deceased; Gertie, deceased; Fila, deceased; Lucretia, the wife of W.D. Stalcup, who has three children living; Cratsia, the wife of Otis Bedford, who has two children. The subject is the son of Simon and Rachel (Mock) Bland, both natives of Greene county. His grandfather Bland was a native of Virginia and came to Greene county, where he died. Simon Bland, father of the subject, also spent his life in this county, having had several farms in this and Owen counties. He died on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch in 1900, at the age of seventy-five years. The subject's mother died when he was small. They were survived by three children. William H. Bland, while a public-spirited man and particularly interested in the development and welfare of his native county, has never aspired to office, although he has always been a good Democrat and well known to those of a similar faith in his community. He is a member of the Odd Fellows.

- - - - - - - -

"Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Ind. with Reminiscences of Pioneer Days", B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1908, Vol.2 Pg 670-1

Last updated 8.11.2009