A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 45

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 45
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 45

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).

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cie. Mrs. Spurgeon died at Freetown in the summer of 1878. The doctor's second mar- riage was in the summer of 1883, to Miss Minerva A., daughter of Lafayette Whitney, of Muncie. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children, viz: Nora June, Olive Fern, Kenneth Albertus, and William Chase. The doctor early united with the Christian church (Disciples), the congregation being known as the Buffalo church, at Beck's Grove, Ind., and has been active in church and Sunday school work. He was appointed to the eldership of the First Christian church, of Muncie, Ind., in 1881, which relation he still sustains.

JACOB STIFFLER, who, since 1890, has been making loans a specialty and is a prominent dealer in real estate and a representative of a number of the leading fire insurance companies of the United States, is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 8, 1831, in the county of Bedford, to Freder- ick and Martha (McCormick) Stiffler. When Mr. Stiffler was nine years of age, the family moved to Blair county, Pa., where he grew to manhood, residing there until the year 1856. His youthful environments were such as to preclude the possibility of receiving a very thorough education, but by his own efforts he secured a practical business training which has served him well through life. In 1856, Mr. Stiffler made an extensive tour of the cen- tral and western states, which lasted four years, and upon his return he located in Hamilton township, Delaware county, Ind., where, for a period of eight years, he was en- gaged in the milling business. At the end of that time he accepted the position of local agent of the Ft. W., M. & C. R. R., at Cowan station, in which capacity he continued six years, conducting a mercantile and lumber

business at the same place in the meantime. In 1876 he removed to Muncie, where he fol- lowed various occupations until 1886, when he was elected auditor of Delaware county, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people.

Mr. Stiffler was married, in the year 1862, to Miss Elizabeth M. North, daughter of Jas- per and Nancy North, of Muncie, who were the parents of eight children, viz .: Elizabeth M., Lavina A., Matilda E., Mary J., Ivy Evangeline, Sarah V., Jasper N, and Arthur G. The father of Mrs. Stiffler was born in Maryland in 1823, and her mother in Ohio, in 1821. To the union of Jacob Stiffler and Elizabeth North have been born four children, namely: Alta, wife of C. E. Moore; Laura, wife of Charles C. Brown, of Muncie; Joseph and Lue May-the last named deceased.

Politically, Mr. Stiffler is an earnest sup- porter of the republican party, and as such was elected to the office above noted His fraternal affiliations are with Welcome lodge, No. 37, K. of P., to which he attached him- self in 1874. He is a stockholder in the Co- operative Gas company, of Muncie, and at this time is secretary and treasurer of the Muncie Hospital company. Mrs. Stiffler, as well as her family, are members of the Society of Friends, and both she and her husband are esteemed by all who know them for their many good qualities and sterling traits of char- acter. As a business man Mr. Stiffler's suc- cess has been most gratifying, and his present comfortable circumstances have been reached unaided and by close application and good management. His social position is an envia- ble one, and with himself his wife and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.

Attention is called to the accompanying engraving, representing a group of four gener- ations of the Stiffler family.

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AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

MBROSE C. STOUDER is a native of Delaware county, Ind., and a son of David Stouder, who came to In- diana from Pennsylvania when a young man and settled near the town of New Bur- lington, Perry township. David Stouder by occupation was a farmer, and, later in life, be- came widely and favorably known as an in- ventor of a number of mechanical appliances which are still in extensive use. He resided in the township of Perry until 1856, at which date he emigrated to Iowa, where, in addition to agricultural pursuits, he carried on the manufacture of lumber, building the first saw mill ever operated in Page county, that state. He resided in Iowa until 1863, when he return- ed to Dayton, Ohio, remaining there two years, then going to Mansfield, at which place he de- voted his entire attention to perfecting his dif- ferent inventions and obtaining new patents for various kinds of machinery, principally the results of his own genius and skill. He married, in Delawarecounty, Ind., Sarah Ribble, daugh- ter of George Ribble, one of the earliest pio- neers of this section of the state, and reared a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: Ambrose C., Augustus G., Laura, Ira, Osborne, Sarah A. and Horace, of whom Ira, Osborne and Sarah are deceased. Mr. Stouder was a republican in his political belief from the organization of the party, but had formerly been an ardent whig. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity and a man of more than ordinary powers of mind, straightforward, industrious and of the strict- est probity. His death occurred in the year 1870 in Mansfield, Ohio, and his remains lie buried in the cemetery at that place; Mrs. Stouder departed this life in the year 1861, while the family were residents af Iowa.

Ambrose C. Stouder was born April 27, 1850, near the village of New Burlington, and received his early educational training in the

first school house ever erected in Delaware county. He attended the last term taught in the historic structure, and after moving to Iowa he pursued his studies in a graded school in that state. During his youthful years he assisted his father on the farm and in the mill, and when a mere lad of fourteen he entered the army, enlisting at Clarinda, Iowa, in the Eighth Iowa volunteer cavalry, with which he served in the army of the Cumberland until the close of the war. His army experience embraced a wide and varied range, including the Atlanta campaigns and all the battles inci- dent thereto-Dallas, Resaca, Kenesaw Mount- ain, and others, also the campaign against Hood in Tennessee, including the bloody bat- tles of Franklin and Nashville. His command participated in the celebrated Wilson cavalry raid through Georgia, and his record of a brave and gallant defender of the national Union is one of which any soldier might feel deservedly proud.

On the cessation of hostilities, Mr. Stouder was mustered out of the service at Macon, Ga., and received his discharge at Clinton, Iowa. In the meantime his father had left Iowa, and finding himself without a home in that state, young Ambrose followed his father to Ohio, where, until the year 1868, he worked on a farm in summer and attended school during the winter seasons. In 1868 he returned to Iowa and began his journalistic experience in the office of the Herald at Clar- inda. He continued with that paper until 1871, at which date he came to Muncie, Ind., reaching this city under circumstances the most discouraging, the sum total of his earthly wealth at the time being one-quarter of a dol- lar. Without money and among strangers, the world presented anything but a smiling face to the young adventurer, who, until tem- porary employment was found in a saw mill after several days' search, was obliged to sleep

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in a lumber yard with nothing but the clouds and the blue sky for a covering.

A vacancy occurring in the office of the Muncie Times, shortly after his arrival, he was given the place, and for some time he earned a livelihood at the compositor's case. Subse- quently, he severed his connection with the Times and took charge of the first steam fire engine ever used in Muncie, having previously learned to operate an engine in his father's mill in Iowa. Later, he accepted a posi- tion in the office of the Muncie News and Indiana Granger, published by N. F. Ethell, in partnership with whom he soon after- wards assisted in establishing the Muncie Daily News, the first daily paper ever printed in the city-Mr. Stouder becoming local editor. After a brief connection with the News, Mr. Stouder took charge of the ma- chinery in the Times office, operating the same until 1880, when he established the Muncie Advertiser, by which venture he accumulated sufficient capital to start a small job office in a building where the new Little block now stands.

Mr. Stouder began job printing in a very modest way, his first press being a small affair operated by foot power, but as business in- creased, he moved to other and more commo- dious quarters and supplied his office with machinery in keeping with the enlarged de- mands for his workmanship. After occupying various rooms in the city, he finally secured the basement of the new court house, where he now has one of the largest and most com- plete printing establishments in the city, his office being equipped with presses of enlarged capacity and other appliances of the latest and most improved pattern. Mr. Stouder has a good business, is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the printer's art, and all of his workmanship is first class. His career, since locating in Muncie, presents a series of con-

tinued successes, and he is now classed among the city's most intelligent and energetic citi- zens.

Religiously he believes in the liberal creed of Universalism and in politics supports the republican party. His wife, whose maiden name was Nellie Green, is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Pickard) Green of Muncie.

J OSEPH STRADLING was born in Bucks county, Pa., June 4, 1813. At the age of eight years he lost his father by death, and, within a fortnight there- after, his mother also died, leaving him thus early without the tender associations and hal- lowed influences of home. Thisloss was meas- ureably repaired, however, by his kind grand- father, who took him to his own home and reared him as one of his own children. He attended the common school during the winter, and worked on his grandfather's farm during the remainder of the year, until he attained the age of seventeen years. At that age he became the apprentice of a carpenter, and, after learning the trade, worked as a journey- man in his native county, and in the city of Philadelphia. At the age of twenty-four years he decided to seek a home in the west, feeling assured that his opportunities there would be more favorable than in the east, where the trades and professions were over- crowded. In 1837, he arrived at Muncie, then a small village, and began work at his trade. He was engaged at carpenter work until 1841, and in that year began the manu- facture of wagons. This he continued suc- cessfully for eleven years, and then, with the money saved from his earnings as a mechanic, he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 7, Centre township, where he has ever since re- sided, devoting his time to agricultural pur-

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AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

suits. About thirty acres of hisfarm had been cleared when he purchased it, and he addressed himself at once to the task of clearing and im- proving the balance. Subsequently, he pur- chased forty acres in Section 18, a portion of which he has since cleared. His entire life has been marked by industry and energy, and by faithful and diligent labor he has amassed a competence to sustain him in his declining years. While he has always been prudent and economical, he has never been close or stingy, and is a well known friend to improve- ment. All enterprises having for their object the welfare of the country have received his hearty encouragement and support, and he has contributed liberally of his time and means for their advancement. His life has always been upright and honorable, and, wherever he is known, he is honored and esteemed by all.

On the 4th day of May, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Stewart, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, Janu- ary 4, 1824, and came with her parents, Sam- uel and Mary Stewart, to Delaware county, Ind., settling in Salem township, in March, 1830. They are the parents of seven children, named respectively, William H., John M., Mary E., Martha J., Warren S., Charles E. and Arthur R. William H. and Charles E. are deceased, and Martha J. married James J. Warfel in October, 1877. William H. enlist- ed in company B, Sixty-ninth Indiana volun- teer infantry, and served with the same until his death, at East Pascagoula, Miss., January 5, 1865. As already stated Mr. Stradling has been successful in a financial sense, and now owns 228 acres of valuable land in Delaware county, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. In 1841 he brought the first buggy to Muncie that was ever used in Delaware county. He recalls with much pleasure the stirring scenes of pioneer times in which he bore such a prominent part, and the

incidents and reminiscences of his life at that early period are among his most pleasing rec- ollections.

ILLIAM STRADLING was born March 27, 1811, in Bucks county, Pa. Daniel Stradling, his father, was a native of the same county and state, born about the year 1790, and married n Montgomery county, Pa., Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, who bore him the following children: Sophia, deceased; John, deceased; William, whose name introduces this sketch; Moses and Joseph Stradling. After his marriage, Daniel Stradling engaged in mercantile business in Bucks county, Pa., and after continuing for nine years, began farming, which he carried on the remainder of his life. He and wife died in Montgomery county, Pa., in the year 1824. They were members of the Society of Friends, and Daniel Stradling was a whig in his political belief and a very successful man financially.

William Stradling grew to manhood in his native county and state, was reared on a farm, but early learned the carpenter's trade under E. Good, with whom he served a four years' apprenticeship, acquiring great proficiency as a mechanic in the meantime. After mastering his trade, he worked at the same as a journey- man for three years in Bucks county, after which he began contracting and building upon his own responsibility and was thus employed for twenty years. In 1855 he moved to Dela- ware county, Ind., and purchased 120 acres of wood land in Centre township, from which in time he developed a beautiful and highly cul- tivated farm, where he has since resided. Mr. Stradling was married in Bucks county, Pa., February 29, 1835, to Miss Jane Michener, whose birth occurred in Bucks county, Pa., on

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the 7th day of March, 1817. Mrs. Stradling is the daughter of George and Isabelle (Shan- non) Michener, early settlers of Bucks county, and descendants of old English families that settled in Pennsylvania at a period antedating the Revolutionary struggle. Mr. and Mrs. Stradling are the parents of thirteen children, namely: Mary E .; Martha, John (deceased), Isabelle, Joseph, George, Thomas, Sophia (de- ceased), Anna, Clinton, Edward, Catherine and Julia (deceased). Politically Mr. Stradling is a republican and in religion adheres to the simple Quaker faith of his ancestors. He is a citizen and neighbor highly honored in his community, and his aim has been not so much to amass this world's goods as to establish a reputation for honesty and integrity. That he has accomplished this laudable aim is attested by the high estimation in which he is held by fellow citizens, and in his sphere of life nobly and faithfully has he performed every duty that presented itself.

J AMES L. STREETER is a native of Delaware county, and a descendant of New England ancestors. His grand- father, John Streeter, was a native of the state of Vermont, in which state he lived and died. His father, Calvin P. Streeter, was also a native of that state, and acquired a good business education as a clerk in a mercantile establishment there. When quite a young man (1836) he emigrated to Delaware county, Ind., and embarked in mercantile pursuits at the village of New Burlington, in Perry town- ship. A few years subsequently he removed to the village of Wheeling, in Washington town- ship, and, in 1856, to Muncie, where he resided until his death, January 12, 1881. In this city he engaged in the dry goods trade, and, two years later, accepted the position of superin-

tendent in the packing-house of Ira Hunter & Co., remaining with this firm and its succes- sors until about 1876, when he retired from active business. In January, 1841, he married Mi s Mary E., daughter of Stephen Long, one of the early treasurers of Delaware county. This union was blessed with five children, viz: James L., Stephen, Mary E., Leonora and Laura, of whom the last named two are de- ceased.

James L. Streeter was born December 2, 1841, in the village of New Burlington, Dela- ware county, Ind. At the district school near his home he acquired the elements of an edu- cation, subsequently pursuing his studies at the public schools of Muncie, and, at a time just prior to the late war, he attended Indiana Asbury university for a short time, obtaining an insight into the classic studies. His incli- nations, as well as his experience, led him to adopt mercantile pursuits as his vocation in life-a field for which he is well qualified, and in which he has proved his native ability. His first venture was in the drug trade, in which he formed a copartnership with Dr. Robert Winton, of Muncie. After conducting a satisfactory and lucrative trade for several years, both retired and sold the store. Mr. Streeter then engaged in the grocery trade, which he pursued for about two years. At the end of that time, he engaged in the sale of dry goods, which he continued for an equal period. Then, in 1870, he embarked in the produce business, at which he is still engaged, buying and shipping large quantities of butter, eggs, poultry, etc., and also in the grain trade.

At the republican county convention of 1878, he became the nominee of his party for the office of recorder of Delaware county. His commercial intercourse with the people of the county gained for him a good reputation for integrity and probity of character, and the election that followed his nomination, in Octo-

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ber of the same year, resulted in a large ma- jority of votes in his favor. In 1882 he was complimented by a re-election as recorder.

He discharged the duties of his position with great impartiality, and has served with credit to himself, and to nearly the entire satis- faction of every one as can be reasonably ex- pected of a public official who has so many tastes to please. He has been very unselfish in his efforts to accommodate those whose business lead them to his office. In 1890 he was elected a member of the common council of Muncie, and served as such one term. At this time he is connected with S. Cammack & Co. in the grain business, and is also identified with the R. H. Horne produce company. As a business man and public official, he has gain- ed the confidence and esteem of all whose pleasure it is to know him, and has won friend- ship permanent and deep. He is a member in good standing in Delaware lodge, No. 46, A., F. & A. M., and Muncie commandery, No. 18, K. T. February 14, 1867, he gave his hand in marriage to Miss Mary J., daughter of John Marsh, Esq., of Muncie. Three bright, intel- ligent and promising children, Harry, Edna and Charley, have crowned the happiness of this union. Harry Streeter is an active young manufacturer of Muncie, being connected with the Port Glass works of this city.

a HRISTIAN STUCKY, deceased, son of John and Kate Stucky, was born in the province of Alsace, France, February 2, 1820, was well instructed in French, German and English, and learned the trade of tanning in his native land, and there followed the business until he was about thirty years of age, when he came to America and located at first in Dayton, Ohio, for a short time, and then settled in Muncie, Ind.,

some time before the opening of the late war. He here first worked in the tannery of Mr. Powers, and later for Mark Walling; just after the war he purchased Mr. Walling's tannery, situated where the garbage furnace now stands, and ran it in connection with his harness shop on High street, and was quite prosperous until his death, which occurred January 13, 1884, in his sixty-fifth year. He had begun with but a small capital, but by his industrious habits accumulated a competence and made ample provision for his surviving family.

His marriage took place, in 1856, to Sarah Gruber, daughter of William and Catherine (Ludwig) Gruber, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stucky was born in 1856, and was but three years of age when brought to Delaware county by her parents, who settled near York- town; she was but nine years of age when she lost her mother, and at the age of eighteen she lost her father, when she left her childhood's home near Yorktown and moved to Muncie to reside with a sister, and two years later, at the age of twenty, was married to Mr. Stucky. Five children blessed this union, and were named as follows: Alfred Leroy, a harness maker at Washington Court House, Ohio; Frank William, a plasterer of Muncie; Katie, wife of James N. Evers, a laundryman of Muncie; Charles Henry, who died at the age of twenty-three, and John C., in the employ- ment of Mr. Evers.

J OB SWAIN, son of Elihu Swain, was born on Lost Creek near Dandridge, Jefferson county, Tenn., January 20, 1806. He was brought to Indiana by his parents when but nine years old. The family settled near Economy, Wayne county, in 1815. Being of the order of Friends, they forsook their home in the south that they

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might rear their children, nine in number, where the blighting curse of slavery was not felt. Here Job Swain grew to manhood, and received such education as the schools of Wayne county afforded.

He came to Muncie in 1828, then only a hamlet of a few cabins, and subsequently mar- ried Nancy Hodge, sister to James Hodge, Esq. His wife died in 1858, leaving him three sons and three daughters: Orlando H., Elihu H. and James; Eliza, since deceased, Mrs. George W, Spilker and Mrs. William R. Maddy. September 1, 1859, Mr. Swain was married to Mrs. Emily Shafer, and of this marriage was born Charles W. Swain. Mrs. Emily Swain, widow of the late Job Swain, was a daughter of Jacob Shimer and was born at Chesterfield, Madison county, Ind., in 1826. She received a common school education in the schools of that period, and at the age of twelve went to live with her grand parents. In 1849, she was married to Andrew Shafer, a native of Tennessee, who learned the trade of black- smith with Thomas S. Neely, of Muncie, and followed his trade at Chesterfield, where he died in 1856, and three years later she was married to Job Swain, as noted above,

On coming to Muncie, Mr. Swain learned the trade of cabinet making, with his father- in-law, Mr. Hodge, and followed that business for several years, having once owned a shop with Mr. Nottingham, where the Boyce block now stands. He was the first elected mayor of Muncie and served as justice of the peace for twenty-three years, holding that position at the time of his death, April 29, 1877.

He was reared under the influence of the Society of Friends, but in 1839 united with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held official relations, being class leader at the close of his life. In stature, he was six feet and two inches tall and well proportioned. He was in all respects a truly good man, and

lived a life as nearly free from blame as mortal man could be expected to live. He had many friends and very few enemies, and no one, perhaps, ever possessed the esteem and confi- dence of his friends and neighbors in a more marked degree.

Charles W. Swain, assistant postmaster, youngest son of the late Job Swain, was born in Muncie, January 15, 1862. He received a thorough education in the Muncie public schools, graduating from the high school with the class of 1881. He immediately entered the postoffice as clerk under J. C. Eiler, Esq., and some months later had gained such knowledge of the detail working of the various departments of the office and had acquired such proficiency in its management and service that he was promoted by Mr. Eiler to the po- sition of assistant postmaster. Corporal R. I. Patterson retained him in the same position during the four years of his administration as postmaster, and Mr. John E. Banta, although of opposite political belief, made Mr. Swain his chief assistant during his term, except eighteen months, which were utilized in much needed rest from the arduous duties of the office, and also in completing a comprehensive commer- cial course in the Northern Indiana Normal school at Valparaiso, from which he gradu- ated in 1887.

Mr. Swain served Mr. Banta till the close of his term, and was retained assistant by Postmaster Ellis, in which relation he has served both his superiors in office and the gen- eral public in a satisfactory manner for over a decade. That his efficiency, trustworthiness and skill are held in high esteem by the postof- fice department is evidenced by the fact that he was made chairman of the local board of civil service examiners, and that he is fully capable of carrying out the somewhat vexatious duties of this position is further evidenced by the satisfaction he has given even to applicants.

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 45

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474