Biography of Henry Fattlar
from the HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Chester E. Bryan, supervising editor. B.F. Bowen & Co, Inc., Indianapolis, 1915
In the early surroundings of the man whose life is briefly outlined here, there was little to encourage, and very much to discourage, even a strong heart. The father of the subject of this sketch was a hard-working man, but the results of his toil were never in keeping with his effort, so it was that Henry Fattlar had practically nothing to start with. But he was heir to Nature's rich gifts, for "No matter how plain the habitation may have been nor how simple the fare; the pure air, the bright sunlight, the open country, the trees and flowers, the brooks and forests, the meadows and glens, the song of the birds, and the incomparable charm of undefiled Nature, are the property of all." The father of Henry Fattlar was a native of Germany, having been born there in 1838; his son however, was born in this country, the date and place being January 15, 1856, Muskingum county, Ohio. The parents are John and Caroline (Smith) Fattlar. They were the parents of ten children.
John Fattlar was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade, and after farming for a few years in this country he returned to his original occupation, continuing in that line of employment until his death, which occurred in 1907. At the time of his death, John Fattlar owned two hundred and thirty acres of well-improved land. His wife also was a native of Germany, coming to this country with her parents, and died a few years previous to the death of Mr. Fattlar; they were about the same age.
Henry Fattlar is a well-known farmer in the district in which he resides. Having worked on his father's farm until his twenty-first year, he had but meager opportunities for an education, attending school at Philo, Ohio. When he had reached his majority he came to this county and engaged as a farm laborer, working by the month for from fourteen to seventeen dollars a month. the skill, efficiency and industry with which he labored is evidenced by the fact that he worked for one employer in Range township for a period of nine years. After fourteen years of this kind of employment he rented a farm from Benjamin Harrison for eleven years, and in 1900 had saved enough money to buy seventy-five acres of land in Range township. He immediately began the improvements which have made his farm one of the best in the township. He built a two-story, six-room house, and a barn forty-two by twenty-six feet in dimensions. One of his specialties as a farmer is the keeping of fine, graded stock.
Sarah (Rowe) Grim and George Grim, natives of Ohio, were the parents of Della Grim, who was born in Fayette county about 1869. Henry Fattlar and Della Grim were married on March 6, 1890. The children born of this union, being three in number, are Shurell, of Richmond, Indiana; Martha, who was graduated from Midway high school; and Lenna.
Mr. Fattlar is a Democrat. He and his wife are church members. Mr. Fattlar belongs to the Knights of Pythias.