White County INGenWeb

COUNTIES OF WHITE AND PULASKI, INDIANA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, Published by F.A. Battey & Co, Chicago, 1883, pg 230

J. H. McCOLLUM, of McCollum & Turner, was born in Greene County, Penn.. November 10, 1834, but was removed, when a boy, by his parents, Thomas M. and Sarah (Hughes) McCollum, to Coshocton County, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. He was educated in the common schools, and in the fall of 1854 came to Monticello a poor boy, and here clerked six years for Roland Hughes, his mother's brother, and was then taken in as partner. Two years later, Mr. Hughes sold out his interest to Mr. McCollum and D. D.Dale. The stock was removed to the building now occupied by McCollum & Turner, and here McCollum & Dale carried on an extensive business for two years. Having been appointed a county official, Mr. Dale, in 1864, sold out to Mr. McCollum, who, iii October, 1866, admitted J. M. Turner as partner, an(] in 1867 H. H. Hamlin, of Pennsylvania, was admitted, the firm name being McCollum, Turner & Hamlin. The firm now enlarged their business, erected their grain elevator, and began buying and selling grain, lumber, coal, etc. Three years later, Mr. Hamlin's interest was purchased by the other two partners, and since then the firm of McCollum & Turner have continued uninterruptedly. In conjunction with others, in 1880, they erected their hay barn directly north of their elevator. where they now carry on a large hay business. Their store is stocked with first-class dry goods, valued at over $30,000, and their average annual transactions amount to over $55,000, exclusive of their other interests. Mr. McCollum is a, Democrat in politics, and although not an aspirant for political honors, has served as School Trustee six -ears, and by the Board of Trustees was elected Treasurer, serving his entire term in this capacity. At that time, the finances of the school were much embarrassed, and of the nine months' sessions during the year, tuition only for six months was free. Through his management, the finances have been placed in a healthy condition, the whole of the nine months' tuition made free, beaters put in the building, a library worth about $700 presented by Mr. McCollum, and when he retired from the treasurership, there were left a tuition fund of $2,000, and a special fund of $1,800, for beating purposes. He has been twice married-- first, June 15, 1858, to Nancy Jane Hughes, who was born in Monticello January 3, 1842, and who died March 22, 1862. His second and present wife was Miss Mary M. Turner, who was born August 17, 1844, and to whom he was married August 23, 1864. To this union have been born four children-Lillie M., May 16, 1866; Edna M., October 23, 1873; Stuart T., August 11, 1876, and William Earl, August 20, 1881. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McCollum's parents came to White County in 1874, and here his mother died January 2. 1878, and his father August 13, 1880.

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