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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01954 9044
Gc 977.201 H92b v.2 Bash, Frank Sumner History of Huntington county Ind.
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12.89
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY INDIANA
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests
Compiled under the Editorial Supervision of
FRANK SUMNER BASH Huntington ·
AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS U. S. LESH, HUNTINGTON MONROE WILEY, WARREN FRANK A. MINER, ROANOKE
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK . 1914
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Olio Book Store $25.00 (2 colos)
1207829
Eng. bu E. G. Williams & Bro NY.
The Lewis Publishing Co.
Enas J. Taylor,
History of Huntington County
ENOS T. TAYLOR. One of Huntington's most enterprising business men and prominent citizens was the late Enos T. Taylor. His death, from heart-failure, on March 6, 1908, precipitated a sudden and heavy sorrow upon a community which had known and honored him for half a century. His career, so typical in many ways of American success, has both incentive and inspiration. He did the duties that lay nearest, and lost little time in dreaming. Of humble and honored toil he was never ashamed, and was for many years the possessor of abundance in the world's goods, and of the esteem which is foremost in human wealth.
Enos T. Taylor was born in New Carlisle, Ohio, January 17, 1840, and was past sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. His father was William Taylor a shoemaker, long since deceased. Enos was the last survivor of his immediate family. In 1841, William Taylor moved to Huntington, and opened a cobbler shop in a little building on East Market Street, where later stood the Grayston Block. The boyhood of Enos Taylor was spent in humble circumstances. He was energetic as a lad, a good student in the schools, and had am- bitions for an education. However, when he was fourteen years of age, his father informed him that the financial affairs of the family were such that the son could no longer continue even an irregular course in school. Though greatly disappointed at this turn in affairs, the boy made no complaint at entering his father's shop, and learning the art of shoe-making. For a number of years he sat daily on his work bench, and in a few years had become an expert shoemaker. It is said that many of the older citizens afterwards recalled wearing wedding boots and old rawhides turned out by the hands of E. T. Taylor during his early career. It was the beginning of a career which eventually brought Mr. Taylor into foremost prominence in banking and business affairs in Huntington. He kept up his work as a maker of shoes, laid aside all his earnings, and in 1860, had accumulated enough capital to buy the stock and the business from his father. From that time forward his prosperity steadily advanced. In 1866 he used his own capital and all that he could borrow in erecting the Taylor block on Jefferson Street. Under his careful management the shoe business became one of the · largest boot and shoe stores in the Wabash Valley. Mr. Taylor con-
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tinued as a shoe merchant until 1888, when he sold out to W. A. Zeller, Sr., who for many years previously had been a clerk in the Taylor store.
Mr. Taylor's introduction to banking was in 1871. The Citizens Bank of Huntington was organized September 1, 1871, with Frederick Dick, as president, Enos T. Taylor as vice president, and John Morgan as cashier. The original capital stock was fifty thousand dollars, and this was largely increased by the addition of surplus earnings. After 1877 the capital stock was all held by Frederick Dick and Mr. Taylor. In 1888, after selling out his shoe business, Mr. Taylor became actively identified with the management of the institution, and on the death of Frederick Dick in 1897, he succeeded as president, an office which he held until his own death more than ten years later. Mr. Taylor was noted as a shrewd, careful and conservative financier, and though he possessed the conservatism so necessary to banking, he was at the same time fair and liberal in all his dealings. It was said that Mr. Taylor probably had a call on more ready funds at times of emergency than any other business man in Huntington.
His interests extended far beyond the boundaries of the bank. He was at one time identified with G. V. Griffith, under the firm name of Taylor & Griffith in the manufacture of plow handles. Later Mr. Griffith and his son Edward bought the interest of Mr. Taylor and carried on the business independently. Mr. Taylor was also for a number of years business partner with Col. C. E. Briant in the milling and timber busi- ness. He became a heavy stockholder in the Barker Brown & Com- pany shoe factory on its establishment at Huntington, and still held a large amount of its stock at the time of his death. He was, with other Huntington capital, interested as a stockholder and director in the Kokomo Steel & Wire Works.
The Taylor residence at 715 North Jefferson Street, where the death of the banker occurred, has for many years been one of the elegant mansions of Huntington, and during Mr. Taylor's life was a center for hospitality and culture. It was erected in 1898. Mr. Taylor greatly enjoyed his home and family, and outside the boundaries of his business and his home, he seldom strayed into more general social pleasures. In the summer of 1907 he built a beautiful summer home on the shores of Walloon Lake in Michigan, where the family spent a considerable part of the summer months. In September, 1877, Mr. Taylor married Miss Emma T. Moore who, with two children, survives him. The chil- dren are: Miss Miriam, who completed her studies at the National Park Seminary in Washington, D. C .; and Paul Taylor, who attended the Northwestern University, also graduated from Dartmouth College, and at the time of his father's death was vice president of the Citizens State Bank of Huntington.
Mr. Taylor was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Amity Lodge, No. 483, and of the I. O. O. F. He was fond of reading and study, was a member of the Methodist church, interested in realty, philanthropic to a great degree, but never liked publicity, was a republican, but never sought office, and was a great leader of men.
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
MILO N. FEIGHTNER. From 1910 to January 1, 1914, Mayor of Huntington, Mr. Feightner is one of the citizens whose long residence, success in profesional affairs and high personal character entitle them to the best distinctions in public life, where their previous record insures faithful and intelligent service in the public interest. Mr. Feightner is a lawyer, enjoys a high standing in the Huntington county bar, and is a member of the firm of Bowers & Feightner.
Milo N. Feightner was born at Canal Dover, Ohio, March 22, 1873. His parents, Reuben and Mary (Lantz) Feightner, in 1875 moved from Ohio to Huntington county, where the father bought a farm in Union township. He has for nearly forty years been identified with the agri- cultural interests in that section of Huntington county, and among his relations with the community has served in the office of justice of the peace.
The education of Milo N. Feightner was obtained by attendance at the common schools, and later at the Valparaiso College and the State University at Bloomington, Indiana. His early environment was that of the country, and in 1891 he began an eight years' experience as a school teacher, teaching in the common schools five years and three years in high school. He took up the study of law while teaching school, continuing his reading in the office of Whitelock & Cook and after- wards with Judge James C. Branyan of Huntington. His first associa- tion in active practice was with his former preceptor, Judge Branyan, under the firm name of Branyan & Feightner. That partnership was dissolved by mutual consent when Judge James C. Branyan was elected to the Bench in November, 1900. Mr. Feightner then became associated with John Branyan, son of Judge Branyan, a partnership which lasted until May, 1905. At the latter date a partnership was formed with Fred H. Bowers, under the present firm name of Bowers & Feight- ner. Their general law practice extends to all the courts, and embraces participation in much of the more important litigation in the local profession.
In 1909 Mr. Feightner was elected on the Democratic ticket as mayor of Huntington for the term of four years. His duties began in January, 1910, and his term expired in January, 1914. He has also been county attorney and is now city attorney. As a leading Democrat he was for two years chairman of the Democratic City Central Com- mittee, and also for two years chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee. Fraternally Mr. Feightner is affiliated with La Fontaine Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks Lodge. He lives on Henry street in Hunting- ton and the family resides in one of the fine homes of the city.
On April 4, 1900, occurred his marriage to Miss Nina McNaughten, a daughter of A. A. McNaughten, one of the old residents of Hunt- ington county.
ULYSSES S. LESH. During the last twenty years the bar of Hunting- ton county has contained no more able or successful lawyer than Ulysses S.
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Lesh of the firm of Lesh & Lesh of Huntington. He has been retained on one side or other in many of the most important cases tried in the courts of this county for many years. His ability in the law, and his high standing in the profession, and as a citizen, gives him rank as one of the leaders in the modern activities and life of this county. His indi- vidual career and family relations furnish some interesting details of biography, and the following sketch, drawn from different sources, will not be inappropriate in this history.
Ulysses S. Lesh is a native of Indiana, born on a farm in Rock Creek township, Wells county, August 9, 1868. His father, Joseph Lesh, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1835, and came to Indiana with his parents, John and Elizabeth (Ulrich) Lesh, in 1850. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Lesh, was also a native of Berks county, born November 14, 1843, and came to Indiana with her parents, John and Harriett (McAfec) Lesh, in 1847. Joseph Lesh taught school for many years and for a time, when he called the roll at the close of the school days, Sarah Lesh would mcekly answer "present." But as they were second cousins it is probable that the acquaintance which led to their marriage on October 4, 1860, antedated those days of teacher and pupil. For several years after his marriage Joseph Lesh was engaged in the mercantile business at Markle (then "Tracy"), but when the boy problem began to assert itself in his home he wisely moved to a farm, selecting as a site one situated about three and a half miles southeast of Markle in Wells county, and skirted by the Wabash river, on which farm Joseph Lesh continued to reside until his death on August 14, 1893. Fol- lowing his death his widow moved to Markle, where she still lives. Both Joseph and Sarah Lesh were good people and devoted members of the Lutheran church. The former was a man of strong convictions. He would not yield his views on vital questions for the sake of harmony, but he held his few faithful and trusted friends "with hoops of steel." Sarah Lesh is said to have furnished the fun, and was more inclined to be indulgent with the faults of her children.
The career of Ulysses S. Lesh has been spent in Huntington county since childhood. Owing to frail health his schooling did not begin until he was past eight years of age, and after that for similar and other less excusable reasons he missed several terms. His occupation was work, and his recreation fishing and hunting. He never took any part in the social doings of the community. When asked concerning his youthful avocations, Mr. Lesh said : "I used to sit on the river bank and dream ; dream day dreams-those which never come true, and yet are worth while. When my next younger brother and I used to tire out at tugging the crosscut saw we would 'straddle' the log and resolve that we would never be farmers. As our resolutions did not go so far as to declare that we would be anything else, we have both made good these solemn obliga- tions."
The active career by which he has become known to his county and community began with his matriculation in the law department of the University of Michigan in the fall of 1889, continuing until his gradua-
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tion in June, 1892. About the first of August in the same year he entered the law office of the late James B. Kenner, with whom he continued in practice for ten years. Their personal relations were of a most pleasant character, and the parting did not strain them. Upon his withdrawal from the firm Mr. Lesh formed a partnership with his youngest brother, Eben Lesh, with whom he is still associated.
Outside of his large practice Mr. Lesh has participated only to a lim- ited extent in politics, and then only in line with his profession. For several years he served as city attorney of Huntington. His politics is republican, and he is now the candidate of his party for Judge of the Appellate Court. His good citizenship has always been notable, and his support is readily enlisted in behalf of all movements for com- munity improvement. Fraternally his affiliations are with Huntington Lodge No. 805, B. P. O. E. Mr. Lesh is a member of the Lutheran church, but attends the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member. Since coming to Huntington Mr. Lesh has been absorbed in the practice of law, but in literary circles is also known as the author of one story, "A Knight of the Golden Circle," which is a historical novel bascd on the celebrated treason trials of the Civil war time.
On June 27, 1894, Mr. Lesh was united in marriage to Minnie Ursella Fulton, daughter of Dr. John C. Fulton, who was then and still is engaged in the active practice of medicine at Bluffton, Indiana. Mrs. Lesh was born on October 9, 1872, and when a girl her mother, Jennie Bell (Hanna) Fulton, died, leaving four children, all of whom were daughters, and of whom Mrs. Lesh was the oldest. While Mr. Lesh has pursued his chief interest in the law, Mrs. Lesh, besides looking after her home and children, has proved herself in many ways a valuable citi- zen of Huntington. It is an inalienable part of her character not to compromise truth or practice so-called diplomacy at the expense of sincerity. She has little patience with social shams, and outside of her home has concerned herself chiefly with those things which will give practical benefit to the community. The public schools of the city largely owe the early installation of the playground of free kindergarten sys- tems to her untiring activities. When opposed on legal grounds she persisted in her campaign for those improvements by taking up the matter with the proper state officers, and with the aid of their official opinion secured the passage of the necessary ordinance.
Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lesh have been born six children, all boys. Two of them, Joseph Fulton and Robert Dean, died shortly before reaching their second birthday. The memory of these children have always been sacred to both parents. The four sons still living are : John Marshall, born January 24, 1896; Lex, born April 13, 1898; James Egbert, born July 2, 1907, and Samuel Terhune, born April 29, 1912.
ISRAEL H. HEASTON. With the management of the First National Bank of Huntington, Israel H. Heaston has been identified as president since November 1, 1902. Mr. Heaston, whose home has been in Hunt- ington county for more than sixty-five years was in early life a farmer,
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belonging to a family which was in pioneer times identified with the agricultural industry of the county. He has for many years been con- nected with political and civic affairs, and a number of years ago held the office of county auditor.
The First National Bank of Huntington, the oldest national institu- tion in the county, was organized September 26, 1863, and its charter was dated December 12, of the same year. This was in the first year of the operation of the National Banking Act. It started out with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and some of the pioneer business men of Huntington were among the incorporators. The first president was Samuel H. Purviance, who held his position until his death in 1873, and from 1873 until 1878 Joseph Purviance was president. The first cashier was William McGrew, who in 1878 became president. The capital stock in 1871 was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1883 a new charter was taken out. The First National has always been con- servatively managed and has been a bulwark to the business com- munity.
Israel H. Heaston was born near Hagertstown, in Wayne county, Indiana, September 23, 1843, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Goodlander) Heaston. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Penn- sylvania. The paternal ancestors were of German stock, the original family seat having been on the Rhine River. It was the grandfather who founded the name in America, settling in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, though he died in old age in Ohio. He was a Major, under General Green in the Revolutionary war. The father of the Huntington banker, Jacob Heaston, was reared in Virginia, and was a young man when he moved with other members of the family to Butler county, Ohio. From there he moved to Montgomery county, near Dayton, then across the line into Indiana, locating not far from Hagerstown. He was a sub- stantial farmer, and in 1847 came to Huntington county. His settle- ment was in the township of Lancaster, where he acquired two hundred acres of land, and continued as a prosperous farmer and stock raiser until his death. He was not only successful in business, but a man of great influence and highly esteemed for his integrity. For many years he took an active part in the German Baptist Church. In early years a supporter of the democratic party, the Civil war caused him to change his political opinion and he thercafter supported the republican inter- ests. His was a long and useful career, ending with death at the age of eighty-two. His wife reached almost the same age, and died on the old homestead in Lancaster township.
Israel H. Heaston had the wholesome environment of country life during his boyhood and youth, and in the township of Lancaster not only acquired a substantial education in the local schools, but on the home farm learned the lessons of honored toil. He was just at the beginning of manhood when the war of the Rebellion broke out, and he left his books to take up arms in the defense of the Union. On the first of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E of the Seventy-Fifth Indiana Infantry, and with that command served in the army of the
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Cumberland through many of its campaigns. He was with General Sherman through the Tennessee and Georgia campaigns, fought at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, at Dalton, Resaca, and many other battles in the slow advance toward Atlanta. After the fall of Atlanta, he followed Sherman in the march to the sca. His record as a soldier was exceptionally creditable. He never missed a battle in which his regiment took part, was never absent from roll call and always ready to accept the duties and obligations of a solider. In June, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis.
After the war Mr. Heaston continued on the home farm until 1873. In July of that year he moved to a farm of his own in Rock Creek town- ship, and continued one of the prosperous farmer citizens until he was called into public service, which brought him to the county seat. A republican in politics, and in a strongly democratic county, he was in 1882 a candidate for the office of county auditor, and missed election by only seven votes. In 1886, again on the republican ticket, he was suc- cessful in his race for the office, and in August, 1887, moved to Hunting- ton to better discharge the duties of his office. Since that time his home has been continuously in Huntington. Mr. Heaston may be credited with other important public services. He was for two terms a trustee of Lancaster township, and during the Spanish-American war acted as paymaster's clerk for one year, being mustered out in June, 1899. Thus he had service in two wars. In 1890, Mr. Heaston was again a candidate for the office of auditor, but was unable to overcome the democratic opposition, though he ran far ahead of his ticket. He was three times elected alderman in the city council. In 1888 he was the only repub- lican member of the body, and was elected twice thereafter. The repub- lican party of Huntington county has for many years recognized a natural leader in Mr. Heaston. He rendered invaluable services during many campaigns and was instrumental in many of the successes of the party in this district of the state. He served as chairman of the repub- lican central committee from 1892 to 1896.
A man of sound business judgment and unimpeachable integrity, possessing a host of friends, irrespective of politics, Mr. Heaston has long occupied a useful position in his community. In addition to his business as president of the First National Bank, his services in late years have been much in demand in the settlement of estates and in the transactions of other business requiring more than ordinary intelli- gence and forethought. He has been very successful; owns much prop- erty and real estate and other investments, and all his prosperity has been worthily won. It has been well said of him that he has discharged every trust reposed in him with commendable fidelity, and whether as a citizen or as a soldier or as a public servant, his career has been above reproach.
On March 8, 1866, Mr. Heaston married Miss Phoebe C. Reed, a daughter of Hosea Reed, of Wabash county. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heaston, two of them dying in infancy. Myrtle O. and Clarissa W. grew to maturity. Mr. Heaston is a member of the James
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R. Slack Post No. 137, Grand Army of the Republic at Huntington, and for one year served as commander of the post.
MARO N. KNIGHT. The field of merchandise, as well as that of finance, has been invaded to excellent purpose by Maro N. Knight, prosperous merchant of Bippus and president of the Bippus State Bank. His suc- cess has been continuous and far reaching, and today Mr. Knight stands foremost among the leading citizens and men of affairs of the town. Those enterprises with which he has become identified have in various ways reflected the business tact and shrewdness of the man, and his in- fluence in the community has been far reaching and undeniably benefi- cent.
Mr. Knight was born in Allen county, Indiana, on May 3, 1867, and he is a son of Conrad and Rebecca (Sink) Knight. The father was born in Germany and he was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents to the United States. The family located in Tuscaraswas county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. Rebecca (Sink) Knight was reared in Ohio, her birth state, and came to Indiana with her family as a young girl. Conrad Knight accompanied that family, and settled in the same community with them, near Zanesville, Indiana, being the place they chose.
Conrad Knight was a carpenter by trade, and he did a considerable business in contracting and building, coming to be a progressive and prosperous man. He was a man of many excellent qualities, and a devoted worker in the denomination known as the Church of God, of which he was long a member.
He died at Zanesville, Indiana, and his loss was deeply felt in that community. He was a man of deeds, rather than of words, and in his quiet way wielded an excellent influence in those places where he was found present. Conrad and Rebecca Knight were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living at this writing (1914).
Maro N. Knight was the sixth born in this goodly family. He was reared in Zanesville, and as a boy attended the district schools. While his literary education was not extensive, it was well begun, and he had an excellent basis for future learning, so that he has each year added some- thing to his intellectual equipment. As a youth he spent much time in the store of Knight and Bell at Zanesville, and he later learned the car- penter trade, though he did not long devote himself to that line of enter- prise. He was for several years employed in the Knight & Bell mer- cantile establishment, work he finally quitted because of its confining nature, and he again turned his attention to contracting and for some years was thus employed.
In 1900 Mr. Knight came to Bippus. Here he put to excellent use the training he had received in the Zanesville store, for he established a general store in Bippus, which he has since operated with a due measure of success. The business is carried on under the firm name of Knight Brothers, and is one of the progressive and well conducted firms of the county.
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