Long Term Lovers of Howard County
John and Eleanor (Maris) Moulder : 69 Years
Married February 1st, 1827
Taken from a Kokomo Tribune article published in late March, 1896:
OLD INDIANA COUPLE
THEY SAW THE MIAMI TRIBE
John and Eleanor Moulder are the Most Ancient Residents in the Hoosier State-Nearly a Century of Life
John and Eleanor Moulder, of Russiaville, celebrated their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary recently. The husband is 91 years old, the wife 90. They are the parents of ex-County Clerk O.L. Moulder and the grandparents of Dr. J. McLean Moulder, of this city. Mr. Moulder is not only the oldest resident of this part of the state, but was one of the commissioners appointed by the governor to create the counties of Howard and Tipton, and establish the boundaries and county seats.
John Moulder was born in Orange County, North Carolina, March 2, 1805. His wife, Eleanor Maris, daughter of a neighbor living nearby, was born Feb. 18, 1806. In 1816, a colony of North Carolinians went west, taking their possessions in four-horse wagons across country and over the mountains, the livestock following in a herd, driven by the children. The Moulder and Maris families were among the pilgrims and little "Johnny" Moulder and "Nellie" Maris, aged 11 and 10 years, helped keep the cattle, sheep and hogs in line. During the long, perilous journey, the barefoot John and Nellie formed an attachment. The flame kindled in their young hearts is still burning brightly, having endured for nearly a century. They were married on Feb. 1, 1827. ~~ The colony settled in Orange County, Indiana, near the site of which Paoli now stands. The Moulder and Maris families erected rude log cabins and began the task of carving fine large farms out of the wilderness. They had little to do with, for much of their livestock and goods had been lost in fording swollen rivers on the journey west. By trade young Moulder was a wheelright, having learned under his father. Soon after the arrival of the group the father, Jacob Moulder, was elected a member of the Indiana state legislature, which met at that time in Corydon. In 1828, young Moulder and wife moved to Parke County, Indiana, where they purchased a large tract of land. On this farm Mr. Moulder laid out the town of Annapolis. He was chosen postmaster, justice of the peace, and held all the other offices necessary for the transaction of public business of that period. He also kept a general store. Later he ran a line of boats between Terre Haute and New Orleans, exchanging pork and livestock for rice, cotton and tobacco. The latter venture did not prove profitable and the business was abandoned. In 1843, they removed to [Howard] county, settling on a large farm purchased from the government, being a part of the Miami reserve donated for the building of the Wabash and Erie canal, known more particularly as "The Seven Mile Strip." At that time but few white people had ever ventured to cross the territory, much less settle here. The Miami Indians were in possession of the land and both banks were thick with Indian villages the full length of the county, which was first named Richardville, then changed to Howard, in honor of General Tilghman Howard. The family endured all the hardships of pioneer life, the children, now aged and gray, sharing in the trials and vicissitudes of that early period. The old farm on Honey Creek yet remains in the family, it being the only piece of land in the county that has never changed hands. A short time ago the old couple moved to Russiaville, where they live and keep house entirely alone, stoutly declining the proffered help of their children. They are enjoying re-markably good health, being as active and strong as ordinary mortals of 70. Eleven children were born to them, six of whom are living. Three sons served their country in the late Civil War; one, Jacob, being killed at the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
The nonagenarian couple has been members of the Quaker church since early childhood, Mrs. Moulder being a birthright member. Both used tobacco until a few years ago, bantering the other to "reform." Mr. Moulder's first presidential vote was cast in 1828 for John Quincy Adams, and during his long career he has voted for seventeen presidents. He was a Whig as long as that party existed and has been a republican since the birth of the party. He has voted for seventy years without missing a single election, a record probably not surpassed in the country.
