H. Henry
Torline
H. Henry Torline, successful farmer and stock-raiser, and ex-County Commissioner, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and son ofy
B. H. and Adelheit (Grimmps) Torline, parents born in Germany. The family in 1840, came to Indiana and settled in Franklin
County,
where the mother subsequently died, and where the father is still
living. The subject of this sketch was born on the 17th day of
December, 1837, and at the age of three years was brought to
Indiana, of which State he has since been a resident. He was
reared a farmer, and in the common schools received an English
education, which supplemented by an experienced business training
in subsequent years has enabled him to successfully discharge the
duties of a very active life. In 1863, he came to Shelby County
and settled near Fairland, where he resided until purchasing his
present beautiful place near Shelbyville in 1885. As a successful
farmer, Mr. Torline has few, if any, superiors in the county, and
as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, fully alive to all that
interest or benefits of the public, he occupies a conspicuous place. He
is a Republican in politics, arid as such has rendered valuable service
to his party in this county. In 1882, he was elected a member of
the Board of County Commissioners, a fact which attests his great
personal popularity in a county overwhelmingly Democratic. He
was married June 9, 1859, to Miss Mary Bohman, of Cincinnati,
Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Torline are members of the Catholic Church,
and among Shelby County's most estimable and highly esteemed
citizens. In 1882, after repeated and urgent solicitation upon the
part of his friends, both of the Democratic and Republican parties,
he was induced to accept the nomination on the ticket of the latter
party for County Commissioner, to which position he was elected. Prior to that time he had been identified with the Democratic
party
but since that time has affiliated with the Republican party, but in
no case does he allow party prejudice to control him in voting for
local officials. Mr. Torline's portrait can be seen on another page
of this volume.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, "Shelbyville
Sketches",
pages 541-542.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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