WILLIAM E. TUCKER, who owned one of the productive farms situated within Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, was a native of Franklin county, North Carolina, born April 26, 1838, son of James Madison and Betsey Ann (Stone) Tucker. The father was born in Nash county and the mother in Franklin county, North Carolina, where they were united in marriage, and both died in that county. The son William E., was reared on a farm and had the advantages of a common school education. When the Civil war broke out and in 1862, when it was known that a fierce conflict was to be waged between the North and South, he enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Regiment of North Carolina, as a private soldier, and served until 1866. He took part in the engagements at Second Bull Run, Cold Harbor, the Wilderness, being captured at the last named place. He also fought at the battle of Gettysburg. He was made a prisoner of war at Petersburg, Virginia, in April, 1866, and released a few days later in April.


In the same month he located in Haddon township, Sullivan county, where he attended the public schools and later the Ascension Seminary, at Farmersburg, Indiana, where he also worked for Capt. William T. Crawford, who founded the school last mentioned and was a professor in the same. After attending this most excellent educational institution for twelve months, Mr. Tucker began teaching in Haddon township, and taught twelve consecutive winters, while he farmed during the summer months. He taught three terms in Knox county and one in Greene county, but the balance of his teaching was all in Haddon township. After he quit teaching, he followed farming pursuits exclusively. Sometime during the eighties he purchased one hundred and six acres of land, to which he added at a later date twenty more. This place is situated four miles west of Carlisle, and borders on the Gill and Haddon township lines. Here he carried on a general farming and stock business and also raised several acres of watermelons each season. The peach orchard contains seven acres, while the apple orchard has the same acreage. Politically, Mr. Tucker was a Democrat, formerly, but of late leaned strongly towards the Socialist party. He died October 25, 1908, and was interred in Shaker Prairie Cemetery.


He was united in marriage, in 1872, to Mary Jane McKinley, who was born in Knox county, a daughter of Steward and Mary (Wolfe) McKinley. Mary Wolfe was the sister of Thomas J. Wolfe, so well known in Sullivan county. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker: Aquilla P., born in 1873, residing at Carlisle, a mail carrier; Ira P., residing on his father's farm; Mary J. and Nancy J. (twins); the latter died in infancy and Mary Jane married John Hallett and resides in Gill township; Leacie E. is the wife of Isaac Cox, and they reside on the farm with the parents. Aquilla P. has four children: Gilbert, Bernice, Bertha and Phena. Ira P. has two children: Orvil and Opal. Mary Jane has one daughter-Geneva. Leacie E. has two children: Dora Marie and Gladys May.