GEORGE A. EXLINE.-Especially worthy of more than mere mention in this biographical volume is George A. Exline, a venerable and respected resident of Cass township, a veteran agriculturist, and one who fought for his country during the Civil war. For more than half a century he has lived upon his home farm, and in the meantime has greatly enhanced the value of his property by his many excellent improvements, rendering it one of the most attractive and desirable estates in this part of the county. A son of Adam Exline, he was born June 25, 1829, in Coshocton county, Ohio, near Dresden. His grandfather, Bernard Exline, migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Muskingum county, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, Adam Exline became one of the very early settlers of Coshocton county, Ohio, locating there in 1818. Purchasing a tract of wild land in Washington township, he erected a log house, which was the dwelling place for his family until 1844, his older children being born in the cabin. With his wife and six children he came in that year to Indiana, making the removal with teams, and bringing all of his worldly goods. Settling in Wright township, Greene county, he bought a tract of timbered land, and at once built a log house, splitting the boards to cover the roof, and making a split puncheon floor. There were then no railways in the state, and Terre Haute, thirty-five miles away, was the nearest market and milling point. While he was busy clearing the land his wife, with true domestic thrift, was equally as busy carding, spinning and weaving the material with which she clothed her family. On the homestead which they improved both he and his wife spent their remaining years, his death occurring at the age of seventy- two years, and hers at the age of eighty-two years. Her maiden name was Jane Saucerman. She was born in Belmont county, Ohio, a daughter of George and Catherine Saucerman, the former of whom spent his last years in that county, while his widow, Mrs. Saucerman, came to Indiana after his death and died in Greene county.
One of a family of nine children, George A. Exline was fifteen years old when he came with his parents to Greene county, Indiana. Beginning the battle of life for himself in 1851, he came to Sullivan county, and here found employment on a farm, working for two years for eight dollars a month, afterwards fanning on shares until his marriage. Money came slowly, but surely, and as he was prudent in his savings and wise in his expenditures, he accumulated a sufficient sum within a few years to buy a strip of canal land, paying two dollars and fifty cents an acre, and later buying another tract at five dollars per acre. Both tracts are now included in his home farm in Cass township. At the time of his marriage Mr. Exline built a three-room house, and then began the improvement of a farm. In August, 1862, responding to his country's call, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment until the close of the war, being at the front until February, 1865, when he was disabled, and did not join his regiment until after the war was closed. He took an active part in many important engagements, including the battle of Thompsons Station, Dalton, Resaea, the siege and capture of Atlanta, where he witnessed the surrender of that city by the mayor, and the battle of Nashville, one of the most strenuous of the entire conflict. Being honorably discharged with his regiment in June, 1865, Mr. Exline returned home. During his absence his house had been burned. He immediately built another, and in 1883 erected the spacious brick dwelling now occupied by the family. He has been very successful in his agricultural labors, accumulating a competency, and now, although he has assisted his children to establish homes of their own, he has nearly two hundred acres of finely improved land in his valuable and attractive farm.
On February 25, 1858, Mr. Exline married Nancy J. Crager. She was born in Hamilton township, Sullivan county, Indiana, where her parents, Thomas J. and Barbara Crager, were pioneer settlers. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Exline, namely: Marshall, Samuel Winfield, Thomas C., Isabelle, John L., and Stella T. Marshall married Katie Bryant, and they have two children, Orval and Harold. Samuel W. married Dora McClellan, and they have six children, Russell, Lillie, Eunice, Edith, Mabel Clare and Lloyd L. Thomas C. married May Buck, and they have five children, Fay E., Fern, Cora, Hazel and Mary. Isabelle, wife of George French, has one child, George A. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Exline are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Exline has always supported the principles of the Democratic party. Socially he was a member of Fletcher Freeman Post, G. A. R., which was located in Cass, Indiana.