THE PIONEERS
Our Oldest Citizens, Who Made This Country What It Is
Soldier, Councilman, Fire Chief, Township Trustee, County Treasurer, Deputy Oil Inspector
It is rare that a subject for a biographical sketch combines so many points of interest as are found in the character of "our village blacksmith," Dyer C. Elder, who, if mentioned only in that single capacity, would be recognized and known by a majority of the people. Mr Elder comes from Kentucky parentage, and that fact will account in a measure, for the friendly trait of character, which has made him so popular with all who know him.
His father, John H. Elder, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, in 1816 and was brought here by his parents when ten years of age-1826. His mother was Ella Cobb, whose parents came from Pennsylvania to Indiana in 1820, and settled at the mouth of Hogan Creek, now the city of Aurora. The Elders settled on the farm now owned by Joseph B. Kitchen, situated a mile east of the old General Foley farm (now owned by Will Robbins) on the Michigan road, southeast of town. The Cobbs, who had settled in Aurora, remained there only one year, when they came to Decatur county and with Colonel Hendricks, went to Brookville and entered land, which they afterwards occupied, on what is now known as Cobb's Fork, in the eastern part of the county.
Dyer Cobb Elder, the subject of this sketch, was born on the old homestead in Marion township, October 31, 1842. He worked on the farm till he was grown, and knew no higher ambition that to "lead a straight furrow."
He was married to Miss Joanna Masten, of Dearborn county, in 1868, and began housekeeping on Fall Branch, near Tarkeo, where they both say they spent the happiest three years of all their lives. In 1871 they came to Greensburg, and on the 6th day of November, he opened up a blacksmith shop. Mr. Elder was not a blacksmith, but hired Lowry V.C. Lynn, a master workman, from whom he learned the trade. Mr. Lynn will be remembered by the older citizens as the father of Mrs. John B. Logan, Mrs. Will H. Harvey and Ed Lynn, all prominent citizens of this city back in the "eighties."
Dyer Elder, however, has made his mark outside of the blacksmith shop. In 1865 he was elected councilman from the First Ward to fill a vacancy caused by the removal of James Hart. He was afterwards re-elected to the same position and served two full terms. The last term was served in what was called the "Old Men's Council." The members of this respected body were: Daniel Frazier, David Patton, Thomas Sefton, Ezra Lathrop, Dr. J.Y. Hitt, Van Straight, Dr. M.G. Falconbury, Charles Kemble and Dyer C. Elder. What this venerable council did for the city is a matter of history-including the grading of North Broadway, then facetiously termed "Falconbury's canal."
What they did not accomplish in the way of reform, Mr. Elder says should be charged up as sins of omission - errors of the head rather than of the heart.
Dyer Elder was for a time captain of the fire company, and succeeded Arthur Hutchinson as the second fire chief-a position which he filled for several years with credit to himself and the department. In 1862 he was elected trustee of Washington township, and served four years in an office that offered little emoluments, but then as now, was considered a sure stepping stone to a county office. Sure enough, the promotion came in due course of time, and in 1898 Mr. Elder was elected county treasurer. He was defeated for re-election in 1900, and his defeat can be attributed to a "crossing of political wires" in that campaign, as much as to the personal popularity of his opponet, George P. Shoemaker. He retired to private life without any hard feelings, explaining it all as a case luck. Mr. Elder is now deputy oil inspector under Sid Conger, a position which not only carries responsiblities, but brings a neat salary.
Mention of the soldier record of Dyer C. Elder has been reserved for a separate place in this article, space is not sufficient to do the subject justice. He enlisted in Company E, Seventh Indiana Regiment, August 19, 1861. Ira G. Grover, who later became the colonel of the "Old Seventh," was his captain. His first service was in West Virginia. The first battle in which he took part was at Greenbrier, October 3, 1861. After participating in the most important battles of the East, notably Greenbrier, Winchester, Port Republic, Slaughter Mountain, Rappahannock, Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, he was severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. He received a wound in the shoulder, and was in consequence of it, in the hospital at Washington, and later at Philadelphia, many long weary weeks. He was discharged from the service at Indianapolis, September 20, 1864. He was a charter member of Pap Thomas Post No. 5, and has filled the principal positions in the post. He was on the staff of Col. M. D. Tackett while he was Department Commander, serving as chief mustering officer.
Mr. Elder is a good conversationalist and is interesting along any line, but when reminiscences of the war comes up, he is not only a "walking encyclopedia," but grows eloquent in the recital of the incidents of those old days, and nothing affords him more pleasure than to tell his stories to an old "Johnny," who fought on the other side.
He tells of an incident that is more amusing than tragic. When coming out of the winter quarters at Culpepper, "the boys" were loth to discard their overcoats, but before a day's march under a broiling Virginia sun had been finished, he says that one could have walked for miles on overcoats that strewed the roadside.
It is in speaking of the battle of Gettysburg that the soldier of either army becomes most enthused. Mr. Elder's command played an important part in this engagement. Before quoting his description of the celebrated Pickett's charge, of which he was an eye witness from Culp's Hill, it will make plainer the situation to explain the relative positions of Culp's Hill and Cemetery Ridge. This is all familiar to the old soldiers, but the general reader will appreciate the digression. The Union line was upon a fish-hook shaped ridge six miles long, with Culp's Hill at the barb, Cemetery Ridge along the side, and the Round Top at the eye. On the second day of the battle the Confederate general Ewell, succeeded in getting a position on Culp's Hill, but was driven from his place early the next morning, the third day of the great battle. Mr. Elder was enabled, from his position on Culp's Hill, to see the closing act of the greatest drama ever played on American soil. "At one o'clock," he says, "the Confederate opened fire on Cemetery Ridge with more than one hundred guns. For two hours the air was alive with shells, and when the cannonade lulled, the Confederate double line of battle swept the woods, and with a steadines that won the admiration of the Union army, moved up the slope of Cemetery Ridge. The result is known; the charge, though a magnificent military feat, which sheds honor on American soldiery, was repulsed and the day was gained to the Union cause.
Mr. and Mrs. Elder have been members of the Christian church since 1872. He has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-five years, and a Knight of Pythias since 1896. His family consists of Louella, Mrs. Enos Porter, of Shelbyville; Mary K., Mrs. Clyde Willard, of this city; Miss Pearl and John C., both at home. A daughter, Addie, died a few years ago, at the age of nine years.
He is pleasantly located on East Washington street, and patiently bides his time to be called "over the river and to rest in the shade."
