USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
In April, 1886, Mr. Diel married Ludema Latham, a native of Cass township, Clay county, a daughter of David U. and Delaney (Mace)
Digitized by y Google
234
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Latham. Her great-grandfather, John Latham, came to Cass township as a pioneer, secured large tracts of bottom lands on the Eel river, and was there extensively engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. George W. Latham, Mrs. Diel's grandfather, was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Cass township during the greater part of his life. David U. Latham was a farmer by occupation, but in addition to his agri- cultural labors he was for a number of years employed in manufacturing shingles. He was a life-long resident of Cass township, where four of his sons are now living. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Diel has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely : Dennis; Elva ; Della ; Zora, who died in infancy ; Stella; and Thelma. Mr. Diel is quite prominent in fraternal circles, belonging to Brazil Lodge No. 364, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; to Paul Revere Lodge No. 374, Knights of Pythias; to Brazil Camp No. 3418, Modern Woodmen of America; and to the Home Defenders No. I.
FREDERICK WILLIAM WERREMEYER .- No country has afforded greater opportunities to the poor man than our own, his chances for accumulating wealth being many. Some, it is true, fail to do so, but the best of our population lay by some of their earnings, and in course of time find themselves in the possession of a handsome property. Promi- nent among this number is Frederick W. Werremeyer, a well-to-do farmer of Harrison township. He was born February 14, 1854, in Prus- sia, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, John Henry Werremeyer.
Learning the trade of a carpenter and cabinet maker, John H. Werre- meyer followed it during his active life. He was twice married by his first wife, having three children, Minnie, Elizabeth and Fritz. His second wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Hackman, spent her entire life in Prussia, dying there at the age of sixty-four years. She bore him six children, namely : John H., Sophia, Herman, Frederick W., August and Lizzie. The latter died when fifteen years old. Herman was for some years employed in government work, and later became a sailor. All of the others emigrated to America. The father, also, came here after the death of his second wife, in 1881, and made his home with his children until his death, in 1884, at the venerable age of eighty-four years.
Frederick W. Werremeyer attended school regularly until fourteen years old, and the following three years worked at any honest employment that he could find. Then, allured by the glowing accounts given of life in America, he came to Indiana, locating in Clay county. He could not speak the English language, and had very little capital to start on, his only endowments being good health, strong hands and a willing heart. Indeed, thus equipped no man need be afraid. Settling in Poland, Cass township. Mr. Werremeyer worked for seventeen years at the carpenter's trade, and with characteristic German thrift saved his earnings, accumulating quite a sum of money. This money he judiciously invested in land, buying in 1888 his present homestead property in section fifteen, Harrison township, in the Eel river valley. A log barn had previously been erected, and also a frame shack, which he and his family occupied a few months. Mr. Wer- remeyer has been very successful in his operations, and has added excel- lent improvements, having now a fine set of frame buildings, a good orchard and many shade and ornamental trees, all adding decidedly to the value and beauty of the estate. He has bought additional land, having
Digitized by Google
235
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
now three hundred and seventy-six and one-half acres, a part of which is in Owen county, and is carrying on general farming with most satis- factory pecuniary results.
On January 8, 1885, Mr. Werremeyer married Ellen R. Bashore, who was born in Morgan township, Owen county, a daughter of Henry Bashore. Her father was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and coming to Fayette county, Indiana, settled as a pioneer in Owen county, and on the farm which he improved is now living. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Hahn, five children were born, as follows : Elizabeth, Louisa, Ellen R., Henry and Melinda. Mr. and Mrs. Wer- remeyer have two children, Franklin William and Albert William. Both Mr. and Mrs. Werremeyer were reared in the religious faith of the Reformed Evangelical church.
JEREMIAH THOMAS JONES .- A man of keen intelligence, sound judg- ment and excellent business qualifications and ability, Jeremiah T. Jones, of Harrison township, holds a noteworthy position among the active and highly respected citizens of this part of Clay county. A son of Samuel B .. Jones, he was born April 6, 1849, in Montgomery, Hamilton county, Ohio. The emigrant ancestor of that branch of the Jones family from which he is descended settled in this country in colonial days, and here Joshua Jones, the grandfather of Jeremiah T., was born, his birth occur- ring March 25, 1786.
A farmer by occupation, Joshua Jones spent his earlier life in Penn- sylvania. Subsequently moving with his family to Ohio, he purchased land in Brown county, near the "twenty-mile stand," a stage station near Cincinnati on the Reading Pike. He improved a goodly portion of the land, and was there actively employed in tilling the soil until his death, December 20, 1841. His wife, whose maiden name was Lavinia Brown, was born February 5, 1801, and died September 24, 1854. Eleven children were born to them, namely: John, Samuel B., Thomas A., Joshua L. W., Ann, Margaret, Jane, Martha H., Caroline, Mary Emeline and Amanda M. These children were nearly all born and bred in Ohio. John, born April 8, 1817, married, September 15, 1839, Eliza Allen. Samuel B., born April 24, 1826, married, December 12, 1847, Esther Tice Cameron, and died January 4, 1867. John went to Pike's Peak in 1847, as a gold seeker, meeting with success, and in 1866 tried his luck in the silver regions of Nevada, since which time nothing has been heard from him. Thomas A., born January 1, 1831, was educated for the Presbyterian min- istry, but afterwards engaged in the practice of law, subsequently removed to Alabama, and nothing has since been heard about him. Ann, the oldest daughter, born June 28, 1819, married Elisha Blue, and about 1856 removed to St. Paul, Minnesota. Margaret, born April 5, 1821, married, November 10, 1840, John Harper, and died February 12, 1844. Jane, born January 17, 1824, married John Ledford, and in 1855 moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Martha H., born December 6, 1828, married David Woolley, and resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, until her death, May 12, 1860. Caroline was born April 27, 1833. Mary E., born September 11, 1835, married Thomas Johnson, and subsequently removed to Sunrise, Ken- tucky, where her husband, a plantation owner, was a slaveholder, owning fifty or more slaves. Amanda M., born April 28, 1838, married John Buchanan.
Digitized by Google
236
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
A native of Millersville, Pennsylvania, Samuel B. Jones was brought up in Brown county, Ohio, where his parents settled when he was an infant. A natural mechanic, he learned carpentry, and after following that trade for awhile was employed as a flour mill-wright for a few years. Removing then to Cincinnati, he worked at his trade in that city, being kept busily employed until 1864. Enlisting in that year in Company E, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the command of General Thomas, he was with his regiment in all of its subsequent marches, campaigns and battles, and in the engagement at Nashville took part in nine different bayonet charges. Receiving his honorable discharge from the service at the close of the war he returned to Cincinnati, where he followed his trade of a carpenter until his death, as above mentioned, January 4, 1867. On December 15, 1847, he married Esther Tice Cam- eron, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15, 1832, a daughter of Duncan Cameron, who, without doubt, was of Scotch ancestry.
Duncan Cameron was born and brought up in New York state, his birth occurring in 1784. As a young man he settled in Cincinnati, and for a number of years was employed by Nicholas Longworth, Sr. Sub- sequently, about 1845, he purchased two hundred acres of land near Mont- gomery, Ohio, and was there successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. in 1866, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He married Mary Ann Felter, who was born in New York state in 1790, of Pennsyl- vania-German, Irish and English ancestry, and died in 1862. They were the parents of fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, the following being the record: John ; Crunemus; Nicholas; James; Andrew ; Hiram; Duncan; Thomas; Joel; Sarah married Crunemus Kitchel; Maria mar- ried Herbert Martin; Magdalane married first John Davis, and married second John D. Hathaway ; Catherine remained unmarried ; Caroline mar- ried William Simmington ; and Esther T. became the wife of Samuel B. Jones, and the mother of Jeremiah T. Jones, the special subject of this sketch. She died October 26, 1884, aged fifty-two years.
Having obtained an excellent education in the public schools of Cin- cinnati, Jeremiah T. Jones began at the age of sixteen years to learn the carpenter's trade, working for one and one-half years with his father, afterwards being employed as a journeyman for two years. On January 20, 1869, he came to Indiana, and for more than a year was a contractor in Reelsville, Putnam county. From September, 1870, until 1875, he was similarly engaged at Carbon, Clay county. Removing then to Parke county, Mr. Jones rented land near Lena, and for four years was there a tiller of the soil. Locating in Middlebury in 1880, he entered the employ of J. H. Modrell, a lumber dealer, and was with him until 1893. During the following three years he was engaged in the lumber business at Liver- more, Kentucky, but since that time Mr. Jones has been associated with the Moline Wagon Company at Moline, Illinois, as lumber buyer and shipper. At the present time he buys in Arkansas and Southeastern Mis- souri, his headquarters being at Newport, Arkansas.
Mr. Jones married first, January 9, 1869, Mary L. Farley, who was born September 15, 1849, in Cincinnati, a daughter of John and Susan Farley. She died February 23, 1869, after a very few weeks of mar- ried life. Mr. Jones married second, April 19, 1870, Henrietta Osborn, who was born in Scott county, Virginia, September 9, 1848. Her father, Henry Osborn, was born in Virginia, where his parents probably spent their whole lives. He removed in early manhood to Kentucky, buying a
Digitized by Google
237
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
farm near Somerset, and was there a resident until 1854. Coming in that year to Indiana, he lived for a brief time in Hendricks county, and then located in Putnam county. He subsequently made an overland journey to Missouri, but was evidently disappointed in his expectations of the place and its possibilities, for in a few months he returned to Putnam county, purchased a place near Reelsville, and was there a resident for ten years. Selling that property, he built a house on his son's farm near Reedsville, Indiana, and there lived until his death in 1868. Mr. Osborn married Sarah Dixon, who was born in North Carolina. She was a daughter of John Dixon, a soldier in the Mexican war, who died of yellow fever in the city of Mexico while in service. His wife, who before mar- riage was a Miss Snyder, survived him many years, passing away in 1878. Mrs. Jones's Grandfather Osborn, who was engaged in agricultural pur- suits during his life, was, in common with the other Virginia planters, a slaveholder, but to his credit be it said liberated his slaves prior to the breaking out of the Civil war.
Six children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely : Esther Minnie, born January 23, 1871, married, February 9, 1888, Schuyler Brush, and died August 9, 1888; Mamie Viola, born August 16, 1873, married, December 27, 1891, George W. Baumgartner, . and they have one child, Elsie Marie, born August 4, 1894; Clara Belle, born August 21, 1879, died in August, 1880; Grace Darling, born March 18, 1884, married, September 23, 1903, Hiram Edgar Grismer; Mabel Blanche, born November 18, 1889, died December 8, 1891 ; and Harry Byron, born October 8, 1893. Formerly Mr. Jones was identified with the Republican party, but is now a Democrat. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the United Brethren church.
SIMON L. Row .- Noteworthy among the clear-headed, energetic and thriving business men of Clay City, Indiana, is Simon L. Row, who has long been prominent in the public affairs of Harrison township, and now as junior member of the firm of Bonham, Goshorn & Row is identified with its mercantile interests. A native of this state, he was born Novem- ber 3, 1861, in Marion township, Owen county, a son of Martin Row. He comes of Pennsylvania ancestry, his great-grandfather, Nicholas Row, and his grandfather, Lewis Row, having been natives of that state. Some- time after his marriage with Mary Gonser, Nicholas Row in 1808 moved with his family to Ohio, and was one of the first settlers of Tuscarawas county. Buying a tract of land that was in its primitive wildness, he built a log house, and having cleared and improved a homestead, resided there the rest of his life.
Born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, Lewis Row was but six years old when he went with his parents to Ohio, where he received a practical training in pioneer agriculture. Choosing for himself the free and independent occupation of a farmer, he bought land near where his father located, and like him cleared a farm from the forest. Enterprising and sagacious, he platted the town of Baltic, which was first named in his honor, Rowville. In 1851, selling at an advantage the remainder of his land, he came to this state, and in Marion township, Owen county, bought a tract of land on which a cleared patch and a set of log buildings con- stituted the improvements. He cleared more land, erected a large frame barn, and was there employed in cultivating the soil until his death, in 1876. He took great interest in advancing the growth and prosperity of
Digitized by Google
.
238
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Owen county, which, for one or more terms, he represented in the state legislature. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Smith, a pioneer of Coshocton county, Ohio. She died in 1888, in Owen county. Of the children born of their union, seven grew to maturity, namely: Catherine, Hannah, Mar- tin, Lucinda, John, Jesse and Elizabeth.
A native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Martin Row was born about one mile south of the town of Baltic, November 3, 1830, and was there bred and educated. Coming to Owen county, Indiana, in 1851, he was employed as clerk in a general store in Marion township for seven years thereafter. Turning his attention to the occupation in which he was reared, he bought land in that township and for a number of years car- ried on farming in its various branches most successfully. Selling out in 1883, he came to Harrison township, Clay county, purchased a farm, and continued his agricultural operations until 1892. Since that time he has lived in Clay City retired from active pursuits, in his pleasant home enjoy- ing the fruits of his many years of judicious toil. In 1856 he married Barbara Sommers, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 15, 1834, a daughter of Jacob and Martha ( Aucherman) Sommers, natives of Pennsylvania and early pioneers of Tuscarawas county. She died Jan- uary 12, 1899. Of her children, five grew to mature years, as follows : Angeline ; Simon L .; Mary E .; John A .; and Samuel G., who died when twenty-eight years of age. .
Brought up on the home farm, Simon L. Row received a practical education in the common schools, and while helping his father formed a close acquaintance with farm work and was employed in agricultural pur- suits until 1895. Being then elected township trustee of Harrison town- ship, Mr. Row for five years devoted his time and attention to the duties of that office. In 1901 he was elected county treasurer of Clay county, and served with ability and fidelity for two years. At the expiration of his term he returned to Clay City, where he has since resided. He has here built up a lucrative business as a dealer in live stock and horses, and in addition to this became in 1907 a member of the well-known firm of Bonham, Goshorn & Row, successful hardware merchants.
In 1885 Mr. Row married Elizabeth Pershing, who was born in Jef- ferson township, Owen county, of which her parents, Eli and Mary Pershing, were early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Row are the parents of four children, Elmer A., Willard C., Charles H. and Martin A. Politically Mr. Row is one of the leading Democrats of Harrison township, and is now serving as chairman of its Democratic committee.
JOHN G. KATTMAN .- A live, energetic and persevering business man, John G. Kattman, proprietor of "Walnut Grove Farm," is exten- sively and profitably engaged in agricultural pursuits on one of the finest and most attractive estates to be found in Washington township, Clay county. Wise and systematic in his methods, and having a thorough understanding of the vocation which he is pursuing, he is meeting with uniform success as a general farmer and stock-raiser, and holds a high rank among the more prosperous and progressive agriculturists of this part of the county. A native of this township, he was born April 7, 1844, a son of Christopher Kattman. His grandparents, John G. and Catherine Kattman, emigrated from Germany to this country, and after
Digitized by Google
239
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
living for a few years in Richmond, Indiana, came to Clay county. Buying one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, section three, they afterwards spent their lives on the farm here, his death occurring in 1869.
Christopher Kattman was born in Hanover, Germany, came with his parents to Richmond, Indiana, and from there to Washington town- ship, Clay county. He followed the trade of a stone mason for a number of years, also engaging to some extent in farming. After the death of his father, in the spring of 1869, he bought the old homestead, and was there employed in tilling the soil the remainder of his life, passing away September 4, 1885, aged sixty-seven years. He married, in Rich- mond, Indiana, about 1842, Clara M. Menke, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and died on the home farm in Washington township January 6, 1895, aged seventy-seven years, seven months and seventeen days.
The oldest of a family consisting of three boys and three girls, John G. Kattman attended the Knob Creek and Washington township schools, and for many years after attaining his majority remained at home, assist- ing in the management of the farm, and after his father's death having its entire superintendence. Ih 1875 Mr. Kattman bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Washington township, eighty acres of which were cleared, forty acres being a part of the parental homestead. On that forty acres he erected a two-story frame house, locating it on a natural building site overlooking a fine stretch of country, and he has also erected other farm buildings, including a substantial barn. Success- ful in his undertakings, Mr. Kattman has bought other land, now owning four hundred and fifteen acres in one body, lying in section four. Here he is carrying on farming and stock raising to a good purpose, being assisted in his labors by his son and his son-in-law, making a specialty of raising a fine grade of cattle and Poland-China hogs.
On January 9, 1868, Mr. Kattman married Sarah W. Schroer, who was born January 31, 1843, in Washington township, a daughter of Henry G. Schroer. Emigrating from Wester Cappeln, Prussia, his native place, to the United States, Henry G. Schroer settled in Wash- ington township, Clay county, Indiana, in 1833, and a short time after- wards sent to Prussia for Miss Ann M. Frazier, the young lady to whom he was engaged when he left home. Married soon after arrival, he purchased land on Jordan Creek, and was there employed in improving a farm for awhile. Selling out, he subsequently bought land in Wash- ington township, about two miles south of Poland, and there both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Schroer's death occurring in September, 1890, and Mrs. Schroer's March 1, 1895. Eight children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kattman, namely : Clara, wife of Edward Strauch, of this township; Dora, who died at the age of nine years ; Albert, of Cass township; Laura, wife of Fred Tappy, of Terre Haute; Arthur, of Poland, Cass township; Ida, who died in 1882, aged five months; Ross J., of Poland; and Fred, living at home. An active member of the Democratic party, Mr. Kattman has served in positions of trust and responsibility, always discharging the duties devolv- ing upon him with ability and fidelity. He has served two years as town- ship trustee, and three terms as county commissioner. He is a member of Poland Lodge, No. 364, K. of P., and belongs to the German Reformed Church, of which he has been an elder four terms.
Vol. II-16
Digitized by Google
2.40
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
EPHRAIM WILLIAMS KESTER .- Distinguished not only for his brave and patriotic service in the Civil war, but as a man of sterling integrity and character and as one of the leading agriculturists of Perry town- ship, Ephraim W. Kester is eminently deserving of honorable mention in this volume, and it is with pleasure we record a brief history of him and his family. A son of the late Dr. Benjamin Kester, he was born, November 23, 1838, in Plymouth, Washington county, Ohio. His grand- father, John Kester, was born, it is supposed, in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, where his father, Jonathan Kester, spent the closing years of his life, passing away at the good old age of eighty-seven years.
John Kester followed his trade of a shoemaker in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, until 1818, when he moved with his family to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Guernsey county. Entering eighty acres of land in Leatherwood township, adjoining the town of Millwood, now known as Quaker City, he built a house of round logs, which was the first home of the family in that state. He subsequently devoted his time there to clearing the land and tilling the soil until his death, at the age of sixty years. He married Martha Buntin, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. She survived him, and in 1853 went to Iowa to live with her sons Aaron and Robert, who settled in Polk county, and there died at the age of eighty-six years. Both she and her husband were Quakers in religion, belonging to the branch known as Hicksites. They had a large family, rearing sixteen children.
Dr. Benjamin Kester was born April 24, 1808, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and after removing with his parents to Ohio in 1818 attended the district schools, and as soon as old enough to wield an axe or hoe began to assist on the home farm. He subsequently worked out by the day or month, and in the meantime began to read medicine, for which he had a decided liking. After studying for some time with Dr. Williams of Belmont county, Ohio, he began the practice of his profes- sion in Plymouth, Ohio, where he remained two years. Going then to what is now Quaker City, he continued there for five or six years, when he bought a farm lying two miles southwest of the village, and then, in addition to practising his profession in the village and the surrounding country, he also superintended the care of his farm for a number of years. In 1851 with his wife and seven children, the Doctor came to Indiana, going first with a team to Wheeling, thence by boat to Madison, Indiana, from there by train to Indianapolis, and then by teams to Perry township, arriving here October 20, 1851. The Doctor had previously bought land in sections nineteen and thirty, on each of which was a log house. He and his family moved into the one standing on section thirty, while his son-in-law, Albert Webster, assumed possession of the other one. Mr. Webster was the first blacksmith in Perry township, and until after the close of the Civil war the only one. About six acres of land had been cleared in section thirty, and four in the other section. The Doctor continued the practice of his profession here for about twenty-three years, being very successful, in the meantime having charge of the clearing and improving of his land. Removing to Staunton in 1868, he remained there two years, and then returned to Perry township, where he resided until his death, December 25, 1889.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.