GEORGE WASHINGTON HALE.-One of the industrious agriculturists of Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, is George W. Hale, who was born July 29, 1843, in Jefferson township, a son of Stephen C. and Ann (Howard) Hale. The father was born in Virginia in 1810, dying in Jefferson township, this county, in 1885, and the mother was born in Kentucky and died in Jefferson township May 2, 1862. Both paternal and maternal grandparents were numbered among the first settlers of Jefferson township. The father and mother of George W. were united in marriage in Jefferson township. The father always followed farm pursuits and owned one hundred and ninety acres of land at the time of his death. He was politically a Democrat. Both he and his good wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fourteen children were born of this union, nine of whom are still living, as follows: Mary Ann, widow of Robert Crawford, a resident of Sullivan; George W., of this biography; Rebecca, widow of Michael Goodwin, of Greene county; Martin, of Pleasantville, a merchant; William, residing in Nebraska; Mildred, widow of Simeon Yocum, residing in Carlisle; Amanda, wife of Louis Wilson, of Carlisle; Eliza, wife of Frank Wells, of Jefferson township; S. M., of the same township.
George W. Hale, of this notice, was reared to farm labor and attended the district schools in common with other boys of his day. At the age of nineteen years, in the month of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, of the Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, as a private soldier, serving until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. He was engaged at the retaking of Jackson, Mississippi, and other, battles in the never-to-be-forgotten Civil war. He was in General Sherman's command and followed him through the Georgia campaign, and back to Washington, District of Columbia, thence home. Mr. Hale saw much hardship and exposure, but was fortunate in never receiving a wound. For his term in the Union army, in common with his comrades-at-arms, he is receiving a small pension from the government. He is honored with a membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. After the war had ended he returned to pursue the peaceful vocation of a farmer in Jefferson township, where he continued one year, removing then to Cass township, Sullivan county, where he remained until 1890, at which time he sold his farm, consisting of one hundred and ninety-six acres, and purchased a quarter section of land, upon which he now resides, in Haddon township. Here he carries on farming and stockraising. In his political views Mr. Hale is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
He has been married three times, first on March 27, 1867, to Jane Parks, born in Cass township, Sullivan county, in 1846, and died in 1869. One daughter was born of this union, Flora, now the wife of W. W. Young, residing in Michigan. For his second marriage, he chose, about 1870, Sarah Clayton, born in Cass township, Sullivan county, who, also died there. Four children were born of this union: John T., of Gill township; Charles, of Haddon township; Anna, wife of Frank Shepherd, residing in Jefferson township; Hattie, wife of George Unger. After the death of his second wife Mr. Hale married, in February, 1883, Cassie Ann (Evans) Parks, who was born in Grant county, Indiana. One son is the issue by the last union, Henry, born March 6, 1886, married Mabel Ridgway, and lives with his parents. He was educated at the district schools, after which he was a fireman one year on the Vandalia Railroad and then went to California for a six months' stay. He and his father operate the home place together. Henry Hale is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 3, which is the third oldest Masonic lodge in Indiana.