Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

WILLIAM N. LEMON A system of grain farming, when not much live stock is kept,
depletes the supply of fertility in the soil. It has been proven that such a system of farming
cannot be continued, because the yields will eventually fail to pay expenses and the interest
on the investment. When all crops are fed on the farm and only the live stock is sold, there
will be only a small loss in fertility each year if all the natural fertilizing material is returned
carefully to the fields. The farmer must learn in Indiana, the same as they have learned in
some of the older eastern states to conserve the fertility of the soil if permanent success is
to be obtained. It is as necessary for him to do this, as it is for the manufacturer to keep the
machinery and system of organization in his factory at its highest point of efficiency. If he
does not do this, he cannot hope to succeed permanently. One of the well-known and
successful agriculturists of Boone county who clearly understands the necessity and
manner of conserving the original strength of the soil is William N. Lemon, proprietor of
Maple Leaf Farm in Eagle township.

Mr. Lemon was born September 12, 1836, in a log house on the banks of a stream known
as Fishback, and is a true product of pioneer days. He is a son of William Lemon, who was
born in Botetourt county, Virginia, and was a son of James Lemon, also a native of that
county and state, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving under Washington. He
spent his life in the Old Dominion, and in that state William Lemon grew to manhood .and
married Harriet Pitzer, a daughter of Roger Pitzer, also a native of Virginia, and a soldier
under Washington in the patriot army. To William Lemon and wife eight children were
born. In a very early day they made the long overland journey with two wagons and teams
from their native state to Indiana, in 1832, when the country was a veritable wilderness.
They located in Johnson county where they spent the winter and in the spring of 1833 they
moved to Boone county where they began life in typical pioneer fashion and established a
home by dint of hard toil. Only two of their children were born in Virginia and came with
them to the Hoosier state; they were Mrs. Elvira Irwin, still living near Ontario, Wisconsin;
Mr. Andrew Lemon, a physician, now deceased. Those born after they came to this state
were Mary Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Mrs. Sarah Shaw, deceased; William N., of this
review; Mrs. Emaline Turner, deceased; Mrs. Adelade Threewits is deceased; John
Wesley, deceased. The father of these children was a robust man physically and a
successful farmer, owning two hundred and forty acres of good land in Boone county, and
was a large stock raiser and prominent man in his day in that locality. He built a substantial
residence on his place in 1857. His death occurred at the age of seventy-eight years, his
widow having died nine years before at the age of sixty-four.

William N. Lemon, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm, and helped with
the work when a boy. He received the usual education of those early day schools. In 1860
he married Mary Bender, a native of Butler county, Ohio, and a daughter of Peter and
Mary Bender. Her father lived to be ninety-three years old and her mother eighty-six years
old.

Our subject lives on the old homestead which consists of one hundred and thirty-four
acres, which he has kept in splendid improvements and under a high state of cultivation
and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock man. He now occupies the old
colonial style home built by his father.

To our subject and wife nine children have been born, two of whom died in childhood;
they were named Elizabeth and Clementine. Those who grew up were: John B., of Eagle
township; William E. lives in Cascade, Montana; Jesse F. lives in Eagle township, James R.
also lives in this township; Mary H. is the wife of Milton Wiesehan, of Zionsville, Indiana;
Charles W., is telegraph operator in Cascade, Montana; Helen N. is keeping house for her
father. The mother of the above named children departed from this life September 23,
1912 at the age of seventy-five years. She was a kind mother, a faithful helpmeet and an
exceptionally good Christian. She was a very efficient member of the Womans Christian
Temperance Union and the Methodist church.

Politically, Mr. Lemon is a Republican. He is well known and highly respected throughout
the county, and has made a success in life through his individual efforts.

BENDER IRWIN LEMON PITZER SHAW THREEWITS TURNER WASHINGTON
WIESEHAN

Submitted by Amy K Davis