DR. JESSE H. LANAM, one of the leading members of the medical profession in Franklin, Ind., was born 
Nov. 9, 1847, near Caldwell, Ohio, son of William W. and Arathusa (Ogle) Lanam, natives of Ohio. 
Thomas Lanam, the grandfather, was a. native of Maryland, and one of the early settlers of Noble county, 
Ohio, where he took up government land and improved it and reared a large family. The working portion of 
his life was spent upon a farm, and he died in Ohio, at the age of eighty-five years. The family of Lanam 
originally came from Scotland, and the descendants possess many of the sterling qualities of that nation. The 
maternal grandfather was Hercules Ogle, a native of Virginia, who removed to Ohio at an early day in the 
history of that State, first settling in Columbiana county, and later in Ross county, where he died at the age of 
ninety-three During the War of 1812, he was in the employ of the government as a spy, and the habits of close 
observation acquired at this time, remained with him through life. By occupation this most worthy man was a 
blacksmith, and his descendants are many, for he had a large family. 
William W. Lanam was a farmer and mail contractor in Noble county, Ohio, but devoted the greater portion 
of his attention to the former calling. His death occurred in 1883, near Zanesville, Ohio, at the age of seventy-
five years. His wife survived until 1894, and was seventy-nine at the time of her death. Both were earnest 
members of the Methodist Church. Six sons and four daughters came to bless their union, of whom the 
following survive: Frances, wife of Joseph Carter of Gallipolis, Ohio; Nancy, wife of Seneca Lyle, of 
Bridgeport, Ohio; Levi of Alliance, Ohio; Dr. Jesse H.; Mary, wife of Joseph Taylor, of Zanesville, Ohio; and 
Emma, wife of S. B. Johns of Bridgeport, Ohio. One brother Hiram enlisted in Company D, 27th 0. V. I., and 
was killed July 22, 1864, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. Another brother, Martin enlisted in Company K, 
30th 0. V. I., and died in April, 1901. The eldest of the family, Thomas, was drowned at Senecaville, Ohio, 
about 1858, while carrying the United States mail. The youngest brother, William, was auditor of Noble 
county, Ohio, and died at the county seat, of typhoid fever, in 1888. 
Dr. Jesse H. Lanam resided in Noble county, Ohio, six miles from Caldwell, until 1876, and he attended the 
common schools of that neighborhood, as well as a normal school at Caldwell for a number of years, and later 
entered Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. After this, he taught school for a number of years, and also 
took a commercial course at Valparaiso, Ind. During all these years, even when a boy upon his father’s farm, 
Dr. Lanam was interested in the medical profession, and he finally resolved to enter it. With this idea in view, 
he read medicine at Franklin, graduating from the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
Indianapolis, in 1882. After graduating, Dr. Lanam began the practice of medicine at Nineveh, Johnson Co., 
Ind., and remained there until 1887, when he removed to Edinburg, Ind. Here he remained until 1896, when 
he located in Franklin, and has since remained, residing on East Jefferson street, where he owns an excellent 
home. 
On April 19, 1883, Dr. Lanam married Miss Carrie McCaslin,. daughter of Robert and Elizabeth 
(McCaffrey) McCaslin, and one daughter has been born of this union, Nellie. Mrs. Lanam and daughter are 
earnest members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1871, Dr. Lanam was made a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, while living in the State of Ohio, and is now connected with Franklin Lodge No. 107, F. & A. M., 
Franklin Chapter No. 65, R. A. M. and Franklin Commandery No. 23, K. T., and is a Scottish Rite Mason. In 
politics Dr. Lanam is a Republican, and always supports the candidates of that party. 
During his career as a physician, Dr. Lanam has pursued his profession with great interest, always embracing 
every opportunity for keeping thoroughly abreast of the advances made in medical science, and he is an 
active member of the Johnson County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. Being a skilled 
and learned physician, as well as possessing in marked degree a personality which wins confidence and 
inspires respect, Dr. Lanam has met with enviable success, and is destined to still greater success in the years 
before him. 
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