Ralph G. Logan was born in Morristown, Indiana, June 21, 1880, the son of John Q. and Mary Antionette (Gates) Logan. John Q. Logan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 21, 1853. John Q. Logan's parents were born in County Down, Ireland, and emigrated to America, where the father enlisted in the Civil Was and was killed in that struggle and his widow died soon afterward. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Carrie Pigman, who is living at Connersville, Indiana; William, John Q., who was the father of the subject of this sketch, and Jean, all dead except the first named. Both parents died when these children were very small and the children were taken to raise by different families in Fayette county.

John Q. Logan, the father of the subject of this sketch, was taken to raise by a farmer in Fayette county. He was bound to this farmer for a certain period of service, but began life for himself immediately at the expiration of this period, although he was but a mere lad. For a few years he followed various occupations, among which was the laundry business. He finally took up railroad work and learned telegraphy, which occupation he followed for the remainder of his life. For many years he was with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Company, and in 1882 he went to Colorado and became associated with the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad Company. In 1908 he went with the Unintah Railway Company, in whose service he remained until shortly before his death, the loss of his sight compelling him to retire from active service.

John Q. Logan's death occurred on February 14, 1915. His first marriage was to Mary Antoinette Gates. This marriage took place on August 17, 1879. Mary Antoinette Gates was the daughter of Henry A. and Nancy (Ball) Gates. Henry A. Gates was a native of Chillicothe, Ohio. He and his wife were both pioneers of Hancock county. Nancy (Ball) Gates died on November 13, 1881. To this union only one child, Ralph G. Logan, who is the subject of this sketch, was born. In July, 1886, John Q. Logan was married to Sarah M. Hanna, of Gunnison, Colorado, who was at that time superintendent of schools of that county. To this union one child was born, but this child died in infancy. John Q. Logan was a life-long member of Phoenix Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Rushville, Indiana, and was for many years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Ralph G. Logan, whose mother died when he was in infancy, was taken to raise by his mother's father and step-mother, Mrs. Mary Ann (Lewis) Gates. He remained with them until his maturity. As a boy he attended the common schools of Sugar Creek township, until about his twelfth year. He then entered the grammar grade of the Greenfield schools and from there he entered the high school of Greenfield and after spending three years there he went to the University of Wisconsin and entered the agricultural department of that great university, from which he was graduated with the class of 1904. For the next few months he was attached to the faculty staff of the Agricultural College.

Mr. Logan then bought a tract of timber land in central Wisconsin, but was compelled to sell this land two years later on account of sickness. He then returned to Hancock county, Indiana, where he rented the old Higginbothan farm. The following year, in 1908, he rented the farm of Mrs. Columbus Jackson, and the next year, in 1909, he bought eighty acres of this farm, in which he lived until in 1911, and then on account of his health he was again compelled to leave the farm and he engaged for some time in the railway mail service and traveled in Iowa. In the fall of 19122 he returned to Hancock county and rented the farm of C. M. Jackson and in 1914 he returned to his home farm, where he has since resided.

Ralph G. Logan was married on April 18, 1906, to Carrie L. Jackson, who was born on January 31, 1882, and who is the daughter of Columbus and Mary (Arnold) Jackson. To this union were born the following children: Henry Virgil, who was born on March 6, 1907; John Jackson, August 13, 1909, and Barn Arnold, April 4, 1912.

Mr. Logan's farm of eighty acres is situated two miles southeast of New Palestine. There is a fine five-room dwelling on this and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings. Mr. Logan is a progressive farmer. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at New Palestine. He was for two years secretary of this lodge. He is an independent Republican in politics. He is a man of admirable character and broad ideals and is highly respected by all who know him.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 988-990.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 19, 2001.

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