USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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 83
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At the close of the war Mr. Rinker return- ed home and gave his attention to the tilling of the soil, soon after his return being married to Wilminna Schlegel, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Bush) Schlegel, and by this union three children were born, as follows: Clarence, born October 22, 1867, died May 3, 1877; Henry, born December 10, 1870, and 1890 married to Miss Josie Hupp, and is now farming his father's farm; Maggie, now Mrs. Charles Painter, of this township. In 1866, Mr. Rinker moved on the place where he how lives, it then being owned by his father, but four years later he bought eighty acres of the place for $3,200, paying down $1,000, and he now owns 145 acres of fine land, He has identified himself with the best interests of the township and county, and is numbered among the representative citizens. Since his return from the army he has been a republican, and is a prominent member of the G. A. R. post, holding the office of surgeon, the head- quarters being in Daleville. Both he and family are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are highly regarded.
Mr. Rinker is deservedly considered one of the best citizens of the county, has a fine war record, and is universally esteemed.
0 ANIEL RINKER is a well-to-do and honest farmer of Salem township, and one of the early settlers of Delaware county. He was born in Union county in 1832, November 7, and is one of a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all of them living except two of the last. John Rinker, his father, was born in Shenandoah, Va., in 1803, and followed farm- ing throughout his life, which was such as to command the respect of all who knew him. He died in 1872, and his wife survived him until 1888. They lie side by side in the Sand- ers cemetery.
Daniel Rinker lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and went to school only when the weather was too bad for him to stay at home and work. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Theresa Minnick, daughter of Andrew Minnick, a farmer, by which union four children were born. Their married life continued for about twelve years, when she died, leaving one son and a husband to mourn her untimely loss. This son, Samuel C., at the age of twenty-two, married Mary Fenwick, by whom he had four children, namely: Alonzo E., Vivian A., Grover T., and Cary D. Four years after the death of his wife Mr. Rinker married Joanna M. Schle- gel, sister of Henry C. Schlegel, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. She was born in Prussia, and came, with her parents, to this country, first to Pennsylvania and thence to Madison county, Ind. Mr. Rin- ker is a member of the United Brethren church, and has been honored with the offices of trustee and steward of that body, filling both
96. 6. Schlegel
MRS. LAURA J. SCHLEGEL.
758
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
positions with credit and to the satisfaction of the members, as his re-election shows. He has always taken active part in church work, and has many warm friends throughout the community. He is a democrat in politics, and heartily supports the nominees of that party. He now owns 120 acres of fine land.
ENRY C. SCHLEGEL, an enterpris- ing farmer, residing on section 36, Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., is a native of Prussia, born in the city of Aszler, August 31, 1843, a son of Henry and Margaret (Bush) Schlegel, the former a native of the same country, and a farmer by occupation.
When nineteen years of age, Henry Schle- gel, Sr., entered the Prussian army, where he served three years, and on the expiration of his term accepted the position of farmer on a large estate, where he lived for eleven years. In the year 1838, he was married to a Miss Bush, and in 1852 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Pennsylvania, and two years later removed to Madison county, Ind., locating near the town of Chesterfield. In 1860, he came to Delaware county, where he resided until his death, which occurred Oc- tober 27, 1872, and his remains rest in the Mount Pleasant cemetery. His wife is still living with her eldest daughter, in Delaware county. Henry C. Schlegel started to school in his native country at the age of five years, and remained under tuition until his fath- er emigrated to the United States, when he was eight years old. After coming to Pennsylvania, he lived with a man by the name of Tobias Martin for a period of eight months, for his board and clothes, at the end of which time .he returned to his parents and came with them to Madison county and en-
gaged in work among the neighbors at such labor as one of his age could accomplish, in the winter of 1861-2 working for Solomon Myers for a saddle and bridle, and in many ways earning an honest dollar.
At the age of twenty years he married Miss Laura Jane Myers, born in Madison county, Ind., May 31, 1849, and located on the farm of Solomon Myers, where he farmed during the summer and engaged in teaching school during the winter and gradually accumulated means of his own, which enabled him to pur- chase a farm of eighty acres, and afterward enlarged to 128 acres of land in sction 36, in Salem township, Delaware county, where he has since made his home. Mr. Schlegel has not been content with the slow mode of stock stock raising. He is a progressive and intel- ligent man. In 1892 he purchased some fine Jersey cattle and entered into the raising of the same. Understanding his business thorough- ly, and carefully looking after it, he has made it a flattering success. He is one of the self made men of this section and deserves, as he receives, the respect of the community. He has good financial standing, is a stanch repub- lican, and one of the best and most reliable citizens of the county. Such men are the ones of which a neighborhood may be permitted to to be proud, as the self made men are those on whom the state can depend in time of need.
William H. Schlegel is one of the pros- perous farmers of Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., and is a member of a well known and highly respected family of this lo- cality. He was born December 29, 1864, a son of Henry C. and Laura Jane Schlegel, natives of Prussia and of Indiana. His father, a very intelligent man, started William to school when only six years of age. The lat- ter continued in his attendance at school until he was twenty-one, at that time entering upon
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DELAWARE COUNTY :
the life of a teacher. Prior to this, however, he spent two terms at Hartsville, and several years later enjoyed two terms at Valparaiso, at the excellent normal school there. About this time he was united in marriage with Miss May Davenport, a daughter of William and Cassandra Davenport, natives of Henry county. Mrs. Schlegel is a lady of intelligence and education. She grew up on a farm, her father being a farmer and also a minister, and was afforded the advantages of the public schools. At present, Mr. and Mrs. Schlegel are living on a farm in Salem township. They are the parents of two little boys, Carl Leslie and Chester Dean.
Elmer S. Schlegel is among the promising young farmers of Delaware county, Ind., and one who understands his business very thor- oughly. He was born April 25, 1866, a son of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, whose sketch appears above. He was reared on his father's farm and assisted in the work during the summers, and was afforded the best school advantages of the vicinity during the winters. Until he was twenty-two years of age he re- mained under the parental roof, but on attain- ing his majority set up a domestic hearth of his own. Mr. Schlegel married March 20, 1889, to Miss Martha Stewart, a daughter of John and Mary Stewart, the former a dealer in real estate in the city of Muncie. Mrs. Schlegel was reared on the farm until her mar- riage. One child, Bertha Blanche Schlegel, is the daughter of the household, and the fam- ily have a pleasant residence on a farm in Salem township, where they are much re- spected.
John Calvin Schlegel .- It is a pleasant re- flection in after life to know that some act or vocation in which we have been engaged has left the world better and wiser than we found it. Such must be the reflections of a teacher after a successful season among the young.
The early lessons received are often the most lasting, and the conscientious teacher often has the chance to mold aright many young lives. Delaware county, Ind., has many successful educators, and John C. Schlegel has for some time been among the number. He was born March 12, 1872, a son of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, whose sketch appears in this connection, and remained at home attending to the duties on the farm, and closely apply- ing himself to his books at school until he was nineteen years of age. He then engaged as a teacher in the country schools, and has been very successful, his services being in great de- mand. Good teachers are never too plentiful, and his friends predict a bright future for this promising young educator of Delaware county.
Mary Florence Schlegel .- This is the age of woman. Time was when it was not thought proper for a woman to venture beyond the confines of her home, but the day of emancipation has come and now the female sex takes place in educational matters by the side of the male, in many cases receiving the same salary and public recognition. Among the prominent and successful teachers of Del- aware county, Ind., for some time, was Mary Florence Schlegel. She was born March 4, 1870, a daughter of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, and grew up in her pleasant home, attending school, including one term in the normal school at Valparaiso, during the win- ter, and assisted her mother in the summer until her nineteenth year, when she engaged in teaching. Her success was very marked, and the people of Daleville were very loth to part with her services when her failing health warned her that her labors among the youth of that town would have to be given up for a time. She now is at home, assisting her mother in household duties, a good and faith- ful daughter, having been compelled to suc- cumb to the demands of exhausted nature.
WM. SHARP.
MRS. WM, SHARP.
755
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
ILLIAM SHARP, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Delaware county and a gentleman who has been identified for many years in the farming and horse raising interests of the county, was born in Henry county, Ind., April 6, 1829, a son of Edward and Anna (Thompson) Sharp. Edward Sharp was born in 1801 and Mrs. Sharp in 1804, being of German and English ancestry, re- spectively. They immigrated to Delaware county, Ind., in the spring of 1832, and Mr. Sharp died here in 1854. His wife survived until 1878, and both lie buried in the Sharp cemetery.
William Sharp was reared on the farm and during his minority had school advantages of about one month in the year. On December 1, 1849, he was married to Miss Desdamona Banks, the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Moffett) Banks, to which union five children were born, as follows: Perry E., who died at the age of eleven months, Sanford I., Mary A., Anna E. and Edward T. After marriage Mr. Sharp bought a small farm, of which he cleared sixty acres and then traded it for 400 acres in Iowa, and realized a good sum of money for the place. He then bought 240 acres of fine land in Delaware county, known as Tomlinson Farm, where he lived for twelve years, at the end of which time he bought the place where he now lives.
When the late war broke out, Mr. Sharp offered himself as a soldier, but the medical examiner refused him and he was compelled to return home. In October, 1860, Mrs. Sharp died, and Mr. Sharp found himself with four motherless little children. In 1862 he married Margaret Carmichael, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Mansfield) Carmichael, natives of Ohio, of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael emigrated from Ohio to Indi- ana, November 2, 1832, and here spent the
remainder of their days, dying July 6, 1841, and in 1864 respectively. Mrs. Sharp is one of a family of ten children, three of whom are now living, and so scattered have been the family that no two of the band have been laid to rest in the same cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are consistent and valued members of the Christian church, in which he is a deacon, having held that office for thirteen years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Honor, in which order he has, held the office of dictator for a year. Politically, he belongs to the republican party, and is one of the wealthiest and most esteemed citizens of Salem township. He has made a great suc- cess of the raising of fine horses and takes great interest in all matters which promise good to the farming interests of the country. He spent eighteen years in handling fine stock, and brought more fine cattle into the state than any man in the county-chiefly short horn Durhams. Mrs. Sharp has had the care of thirteen orphan children and raised seven until they married.
J ONATHAN SHEPP is one of the honored and greatly respected pioneers of Delaware county, and resides on a valuable farm in section 5, Salem town- ship. Jonathan Shepp was born October 9, 1807, in Virginia; being the son of Jonathan S., a native of Germany, and an old Revolu- tionary soldier. He fought under Col. Wal- lace, and was in the battle when he was taken prisoner. For a period of twenty-one days the old patriot and his comrades were almost without food, and deprived of sleep. Jonathan Shepp came from Virginia to Henry county, Ind., when it was all a wilderness. He was a millwright by trade, and later learned the car- penter trade. After completing the latter he
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began work, as a cabinet maker, for himself, following it for three years. He put up the first saw mill in Henry county, in the year 1836, add ran it successfully for a few years, when he sold out and erected the first saw mill in Daleville. Then he returned to the carpen- ter trade and followed that for years.
Mr. Shepp was united in marriage, at the age of thirty, with Lydia Fenwick, and they located at Middletown, where he and his wife resided for eight years, during which time he pursued his trade as a carpenter. Eight years subsequent to his marriage Mr. Shepp moved on the farm, and built the house in which he now lives; following the occupation of a farmer, and doing carpenter work for his neighbors. This family shared in all the hardships of pioneer life, but nevertheless the members of it prospered. The forest trees were felled, and the ground plowed and made to yield crops year by year. Two years after purchasing the farm Mr. Shepp built a mill on Francis Pugsley's farm, and was overseer of that for one year, when he sold it to Henry P. Henry, and returned to his farm work. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shepp has been blessed with four children, namely: Margaret, born March 8, 1839; Mary Ann, born July 22, 1840; Sally, born November 4, 1842, and Sophia, born May 22, 1844 In politics Mr. Shepp is a strong republican, and has voted that ticket ever since the party was founded. His re- ligious belief is that of the Universalist, and he holds firmly to the teachings of that de- nomination.
J OHN SHOEMAKER is one of the well known residents of the town of Dale- ville, Delaware county, Ind., where he has been engaged in business for almost thirty years, and is esteemed and respected by all. Mr. Shoemaker was born in Montgom-
ery county, Pa., April 18, 1808, a son of John and Elizabeth (Myers) Shoemaker, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, having been born in the same county, and both of whom died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and six months. In 1810 John and Elizabeth Shoemaker removed to Adams county, Pa., and in 1824 to Franklin county, the same state, where they remained until 1837, at which time they came to Delaware county, Ind., being among the earliest pioneers of the county. They located in the Richwoods district, and there remained until their death, his occurring in about 1865 and hers in 1861. They were members of the Dunkard church in early life and later became identified with the Christian church, of which they remained faith- ful members until their death. They were very successful in life and accumulated consid- erable property. Mr. Shoemaker was a repub- lican in politics and earnestly supported the principles of that party.
When the subject of this sketch was a young man he engaged for several years in teaching vocal music, both to German and English pupils. and acquired great proficiency as an instructor of melody. He was reared on the home farm, received his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-four years he began life for himself as a farmer in Franklin county, Pa. One year prior to his father's location in this county he entered a tract of 160 acres of land, which is still owned by the Shoemaker family. They began the improvement of the property, and in 1844 bought 160 acres more. In 1864 our subject sold his land to his brother, and moved to Daleville, where he has since resided, and en- gaged in the handling of general merchandise, grain, etc., from which business he retired in 1886. That same year he went to California, and again in 1887, visiting his son, since which time he has lived a retired life. Mr. Shoemaker
John Shoemaker
E. C. SNIDER,
757
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
was married November 15, 1832, in Franklin county, Pa., to Miss Maria Myers, born in the same county, in December, 1813, a daughter of Henry Myers, a prominent minister of the Dunkard church. Thirteen children were born of this union, eleven reaching maturity, Michael, Elizabeth, deceased; Susannah, wife of J. N. Templer, an attorney of Muncie, Henry, a farmer of Centre township; Jane, wife of E. M. Rudly, of Delaware county; John P., of Middletown, Ind .; Joseph of Salem; Miles, of California; Daniel, deceased; Sylvester, a mer- chant, and Allie, deceased. The mother died July 24, 1874. Three of the sons of Mr. Shoemaker served in the late war, doing their duty bravely. Mr. Shoemaker has been a local preacher since 1850, and is a christian gentle- man, a conscientious member of the Christian church, and for three generations his family has belonged to this religious order.
DWIN CLARK ANTHONY SNY- DER is a prominent business man of Daleville, Ind., where he has large interests and is the proprietor of the largest brick manufactory in the county. Mr. Snyder was born in Centre township, Dela- ware county, December 10, 1835, and was named for a son of good old Dr. Anthony, a pioneer of Muncie, this state. The father of our subject was John T. Snyder, of German descent, and his mother, Cynthia S. (Gustin) Snyder, born in Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Jane Gustin, of the same state. John T. Snyder was born in Pennsyl- vania, but was reared to manhood in a small village called Red Lion, in Warren county, Ohio, in which county his father, Conrad Sny- der, was sheriff for eight years. For the greater part of his life he followed auctioneer- ing and was a very successful man of business.
John T. Snyder was the only son in a family of five children, all now deceased. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for the greater part of his life, and in 1832 removed to Delaware county, Ind., where he remained until 1837, when he changed his location to Madison county, Ind., but died in Illinois while on a business trip to that state in 1842. His widow was remarried in 1843, to Thomas Tripp, and spent her declining years in Madison county, Ind., but died December 24, 1885, in Delaware county; her remains are laid to rest in Mount Pleasant cemetery. When John T. Snyder and wife located in Delaware county they had no floor in their cabin, and had to hang a quilt in the doorway in lieu of a door proper. On one occasion, when Mrs. Snyder was left alone, she was compelled to burn hickory bark throughout a whole night, in order to keep the wolves at bay. The cabin was later improved somewhat, by Mr. Snyder hewing out puncheons for flooring.
E. C. A. Snyder is the only surviving child of a family of seven children and en- joyed but very limited educational advantages, walking two and one-half miles to reach the school house. He lived with his step-father until he had reached his majority, and then went into business with him. The latter had a contract for building one and one-fourth miles of the C., C., C. & I. R. R., and this resulted in the accumulation of enough money to enable them to purchase eighty acres of land in Madison county and they began im- proving it. Upon the death of his step-father Mr. Snyder inherited the other portion of the farm, which had cost $550, and nine years later was able to sell it for $2, 500. He then purchased 160 acres of land in Delaware county for that amount, and after operating it for twenty-two years he sold it for $8,000. Moving at this time to the town of Daleville, he engaged in business with J. V. Stewart in
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DELAWARE COUNTY :
the handling of agricultural implements, for a term of five years. In 1891, in company with Granville Ellison, this energetic and far-seeing man engaged in the manufacture of brick, which partnership continued until July, 1892, when Mr. Snyder became sole proprietor. This is the largest manufacturing establish- ment of the kind in the county, and has a ca- pacity of 25,000 brick per day.
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Mr. Snyder is pre-eminently a man of busi- ness, and, in addition to his manufacturing in- terests, is engaged in the handling of grain, being the owner of a large elevator, and is also the owner of several fine farms, which he finds time to oversee, and also looks after his valu- able town property with care and good judg- ment. His varied interests employ his time, but do not cause him to neglect any of the duties of the good citizen. He is a democrat in politics and votes with his party, taking great interest in all public questions. Mr. Snyder married in Madison county, Ind., April 12, 1857, Miss Amanda Groenendyke, a native of Madison county, and one child, Elias, was born, but is now deceased, and his wife died August 20, 1839. His second marriage was solemnized November 8, 1861, with Lydia J. Lloyd, who was born in Madison county, May 7, 1842, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Wheatly) Lloyd, of Welch and English ex- traction, By this marriage Mr. Snyder has became the father of nine children, as follows: Matilda, deceased; Mariah, the wife of J. C. Fish; Thomas E., Florence, wife of L. Nel- son; Norris A., Josephine, Jessie, deceased, Dora A. and Leroy. The family are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are much esteemed. Mr. Snyder is the present trustee of the church, fulfilling the duties of the office with the same care that he gives his private business. He is one of the worthy citizens who do much for any locality by their enterprise and progressive spirit.
a DWIN R. STEWART, of Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., comes of good stock, and was born in Clarke county, Ohio, the son of James and Matilda (McBeth) Stewart, both of Irish descent. The father was born in Ken- tucky, December 28, 1801, and at the age of eleven emigrated with his parents to Ohio, and there learned the trade of a brickmason. When twenty-six years old he was married, and be- came the father of three children by his first wife, who died in 1832, her place of burial being in Clarke county, Ohio. He was next married, November 5, 1833, to Druscilla Rey-' nolds, who died December 4, 1888, and was buried in the Saunders cemetery. To this union were born nine children. Prior to this time, however, in 1881, he sold his farm and moved to Muncie, made his home with his daughter in the latter place, and is now living with her and the rest of the children.
Edwin R. Stewart lived at home until he was twenty years old, going to school in the winter, and working in the summer on the farm, and at the age named, went back to Ohio to learn the carpenter trade with a cousin, O. S. Kelly, remaining two years. He then went with this cousin to California, starting from Springfield, Ohio, proceeding down the Ohio river and the Mississippi river to New Orleans, to Georgetown on the Isthmus and from there in canoe to Lake Nicaragua, and crossed that in a sloop, and from there to the Pacific coast on mule back, twelve miles, and then took a bark to San Francisco. During his trip across the Isthmus he was stricken with the Panama fever, and was near death's door for a long while. He journeyed from San Francisco to Sacramento city by steamboat ; thence to Marysville by steamboat, and from the latter place to Downeyville on the back of a mule. The trip was quite an expensive one as well as protracted; costing him $306. 50,
1
& R. Stewart
Stewart
759
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
and consuming the time from March 29, 1832, to July 18, .1852.
From Downeyville, Mr. Stewart traveled on mule back eighteen miles to Canon creek, where, with three companions, Oliver Kelley, Joshua Gore and David Bright, he bought a claim for $300, paying $100 down, and agree- ing to pay the balance when they had mined it, but they failed to find more than two ounces of gold, so they gave up the claim. Oliver Kelley and the others went their way, and Mr. Stewart went down the canyon and engaged in putting in a flume in a mine at a salary of $6 per day, this employment lasting two months, when Mr. Stewart bought an in- terest in the mine, which interest he held for three weeks, panning out occasionally as high as $64 per day, and averaging $12 per day. But while at work the water in the creek rose to such an extent as to drive them away- although the claim would yet be a profitable one. Mr. Stewart then went to Slate creek, across the mountains, and there re-engaged in mining until the snow became so deep-being ten feet on a level-as to drive Mr. Stewart and his companions, thirteen in all, to seek new quarters. They progressed at the rate of three miles a day for two or three days until they reached Hansomville, after which they made better time, as the trail had been broken from that point. Mr. Stewart and Wash George parted with their companions somewhere hereabout and continued on to Sacramento, and thence crossed over to Wil- low creek, where the companions separated, and Mr. Stewart engaged in mining during the winter of 1853; he next went to Murphy's camp, but did not meet with any success at this place. However, he continued mining at various points for another year, made some money, and then engaged in fluming and framing for the Union Water company, of Calaveras county, conducting water inland
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