USA > Indiana > Newton County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 31
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Adelbert Eib was born in Will County, Illinois, June 15, 1852, and is a son of August and Jane (Evans) Eib. August Eib was born June 19, 1820, at Clarksburg, in West Virginia. From there he went to Pennsylvania and from that state drove overland to Illinois and settled on a homestead of 160 acres in Will County, where he fol- lowed farming during the rest of his life. In 1851, in Will County, he married Jane Evans, an admirable woman in every relation of life. Of their six children, Adelbert was the first born, the others being : Peter, William, Louetta, Owen, and Charles, the last two being deceased. The parents of this family were members of the Presbyterian Church, good and worthy people. The father was a democrat in his political views.
Adelbert Eib obtained his education in Will County and well remembers the little log schoolhouse that stood in the timber. In 1877 he started out on his own resources as a farmer and as he was capable, industrious and prudent, soon acquired land and stock and continued an agricultural life in Will County until the spring of
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1800, when he removed to Jasper County, Indiana, with hi- fam- ily. buying the old Stiers homestead of 160 acres, situated in Hanging Grove Township. Later on he removed to the okl Chiis Arnold homestead in Barclay Township. Those who are acquainted with Mr. Eib know that he has always heartily supported public enterprises of all kinds and has been much interested in the securing of good roads.
On October 10, 1878, Mr. Eib was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Grimpe, who was born in Will County and is a daughter of Henry and Mahala ( Hanghan )"Grimpe. Mr. and Mrs. Eib have five children: Lottie, Herbert, Jennie, Alice, and Rollin. Lottie is the wife of George Wright, of Lardner, Illinois, but they live in Traill County, North Dakota. Mr. Eib was anxious to give liis children educational advantages and they attended school in Will County but finished their school courses after coming to Jasper County.
Mr. Eib and family belong to the Baptist Church. In politics he is a democrat. Hc can tell many interesting stories of both Will and Jasper County and of how his father's homestead of 160 acres was developed by hard work, and of his subsequent activities in the line of improvement since coming to Jasper County.
JAMES M. TORNET. Among those farms which give a distinctive character to Barkley Township one of the most noteworthy is owned by James M. Torbet, who though comparatively a newcomer in Jasper County has so usefully and influentially identified himself with the life and affairs of that locality that he is one of the best known and best esteemed citizens.
He was born in Jennings County, Indiana, July 14, 1851. His parents were James M., Sr., and Isabelle (Latimore) Torbet, who . were married in 1830 and had five children, named Robert S., John L., Allison, Isabelle, and James M1. Of these the only ones now living are Isabelle and James M. The father died in March, 1862. and the mother in August, 1875.
As a boy James M. Torbet spent his days in his native county, attended local schools, and prepared himself for the serious business of life by a regular and rugged discipline on the home farm. His arrival in Jasper County was dated February 24, 1899, which date he settled on the George Kessler place in Barkley Township.
On September 4, 1876, Mr. Torbet married Hattie Bradley, daughter of Daniel and Ellen (Hamilton) Bradley. In the Bradley family there were six children, named Florence, Jennie, Hattie, Anna, Joseph, and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Torbet, in addition to gaining a material prosperity which does them credit, have brought into the world and have tenderly cared for a family of ten children. The names of this large household are: Nellie, Maggie, Ethel, Blu- ford W., Leroy, Flossie, John, Chloe, Creola, and Charles. They are all still living, and are all married except the three youngest.
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By hard work as a farmer continued over a period of more than forty years, James M. Torbet has won a commendable prosperity. and now owns a large tract of well improved and valuable land in Jasper County. In politics he follows the example of his father and has always voted the republican ticket, and in Jasper County is well known for his service covering six years in the office of township advisor. During his official term a number of important improvements were made in the town, and he can well take satis- faction in the fact that he has helped in the forward movement in this coming section of Western Indiara.
ELIAS ARNOLD. Members of the Arnold family have been very closely identified with the work of improvement and advancement in Barkley Township. It is said that among the best frame houses constructed in that township was that put up by a member of this family, and people came from miles around in order to inspect and admire this nusual home. This family also took the lead in putting down tile draining, and this spirit of progressiveness has been one of the characteristics of the residence of Elias Arnold in the township.
Born June 23, 1864, in Wabash County, Indiana, Elias Arnold is a son of Andrew and Lydia ( Flora) Arnold, who were married in October, 1843, and became the parents of eleven children. The names of these children were: Noah F., deceased ; Henry ; Barbara, deceased; Andrew H., deceased; John; Susie; Charles; Christian F., deceased ; Elias; Lora B .; and Aaron, deceased. The father of these children was a very ardent republican, and a man who stood very high in the esteem of all who knew him. The family moved to Jasper County, and for fully half a century the name has been one of recognized standing in that community.
On February 13, 1890, in Jasper County, Elias Arnold married Susie V. Lesh. Her parents were J. M. and Catherine (Petry ) Lesh, who were married March 12, 1868, and came to Jasper County in February, 1889, from Preble County, Ohio. Mrs. Arnold was one of four children: John, Susie V., George S., and Daniel E., all of whom are still living.
Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Arnold were born six children: Harry J., Catherine E., Sylvanus A., Maric, Bethel L., and David Elias, all of whom are living, while Harry, Marie, and Catherine are now married.
Barkley Township has had no more effective advocate of good roads and good schools than Elias Arnold. He was able to accom- plish a great deal of practical work along those lines of improvement during his four years of service as township trustec. Since leaving the office of trustee he has been a member of the advisory board. In politics he is a republican and his family have long been identi- fied with the German Baptist Church.
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GRANT DAVISSON. An excellent illustration of what perse- verance, constancy, sobriety, industry and self reliance, when com- bined with a high sense of moral responsibility, will accomplish, is found in the carcer of this worthy citizen of Barkley Township, who has steadfastly adhered to his occupation of farming in this com- munity. In this quality of perseverance, fixedness of purpose, the undeviating pursuit of a plan of action, is contained the secrets of success in multitudes of cases, and to this, in conjunction with the other sterling traits already mentioned, is attributable the creditable and prosperous career of Grant Davisson.
Mr. Davisson was born May 18, 1865, in Carroll County, Indi- ana, and is a son of Lewis and Hepsibah ( Haynes) Davisson. His father was born in Johnson County, Indiana; on the banks of Sugar Creek, and in 1849 moved 10 Jasper County, where he followed the vocation of farming for some years. Later, however, he returned to the trade of his youth, that of millwright, and after spending some years in Carroll County came back to Jasper County and conducted the sawmill and corn cracker. This was the only mill of the time in Barkley Township and at grinding time the farmers for miles around would bring their grain, the grinding of which into meal generally consumed two days and often longer. Lewis Davisson was an industrious farmer and good business man, and his sterling integrity of character made him one of his community's foremost citizens. A stanch democrat in politics, he was an enthusiastic worker in his party's ranks and was elected township trustee of Barkley township. a capacity in which he served capably for two years. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Church, in the faith of which both he and the mother died. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Elijah, Hannah, George, Mary E., Amos, Grant, Harvey, Josiah and Martha, the last named being deceased.
The early education of Grant Davisson was secured in the dis- trict schools of Jasper County, but when he was ten years of age he was brought to Jasper County, and here completed his schooling in Barkley Township. He grew up to agricultural operations, and has been identified therewith all of his life, now having a handsome and valuable property in the vicinity of Parr. He was married in this township, December 22, 1887, to Miss Virginia C. Remley, daughter of Samuel and Hannah ( Lain) Remley. Mr. Remley was born August 27, 1831, and died August 25, 1903, when lacking two days of being seventy-two years old, while Mrs. Remley was born March 20, 1831, and died August 13, 1888, aged fifty-seven years, four months, twenty-three days. They came from Bartholomew County, Indiana, to Jasper County in 1865, settling in Barkley Township, where Mr. Remley followed the pursuits of farming and stockraising and through a life of industry and perseverance was able to accumulate a valuable tract of land. He was a democrat in politics, although not an office holder, and he and Mrs. Remley were members of the United Brethren Church.
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Mr. and Mrs. Davisson are the parents of one daughter, Frances May, who married Rudolph Ritter, a farmer of Barkley Township. Mr. Davisson is a democrat in political matters and has been some- what active in political affairs. He has served his township two terms in the office of township trustee and in the discharge of his official duties has shown his interest in the welfare of his township. With Mrs. Davisson he belongs to the Methodist Church.
ISAAC D. WALKER and the farming property upon which he makes his home in Barkley Township, Jasper County, have developed together, and the evolution of the former from a simple young husbandman in modest circumstances into an intelligent and wide- awake exponent of twentieth century agriculture, has been not more pronounced than has the transformation which has come over this valuable tract of fertile land. Mr. Walker has resided here since 1865, when the country was still sparsely settled, there being at that time but one house between his home and what is now the com- munity of Wheatfield, and his intelligent and well-directed labors have aided materially in bringing about the great transformation that has marked the development of one of Jasper County's most productive townships.
Mr. Walker was born January 1, 1839, in Johnson County, Indi- ana, and is a son of Samuel and Emmeline (Wilson ) Walker. His father was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, where he spent his carly life, subsequently moving in young manhood to Jolinson County, Indiana, where he became a pioneer and where the rest of his life was passed in farming. He was a steady, industrious man, but did not live long enough to accumulate a property of any pro- portions, as his death occurred in August, 1841. His widow was left with three small children: Nancy Ann, Isaac D. and Mahala, of whom only Isaac D. survives.
Isaac D. Walker was an infant of two years when his father died, and as a lad he was compelled to work hard to assist in the support of his mother and sisters. However, he secured a fairly good education in the public schools of Johnson County, where the family resided until 1852, in which year the mother sold the farm and married Walker W. Pritchard. In that same year the family came to Jasper County and settled on the old McCallock farm, and the children were sent to the old Smith schoolhouse for three win- ters, this being one of the primitive schools of the day, built of logs, with split logs for benches and the same material used for the shelf that ran around the wall and served as a desk. Thus equipped, Isaac D. Walker embarked in farming on his own account in 1865, on the old Joseph S. Stockton place, in Barkley Township, where he has continued to make his home ever since. He was not possessed of much capital when he began his operations, but he had received a good training, was industrious and energetic and was possessed of ambitions and determination, and when the first few
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years had passed he was well on the road to success. As the years have passed he has added from time io time to his acreage, has kept his land fertile through modern methods, and has added to his buildings and equipment as his finances have permitted, so that today he is the owner of a handsome and valuable property, all gained through the medium of his own efforts.
Shortly after engaging in farming for himself, January 26, 1866, Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Smith, daughter of John A. and Nancy A. (Kenton) Smith, and to this imion there have been born nine children, namely : Edward, Inez O., Charles, Mahala, Maude, Belle, Evaline, Grace and Victor A., of whom Evaline is deceased. All the survivors are married. Mr. Walker is a republican in his political allegiance and has been a factor in the success of his party in his locality. He has served capably for six terms as township supervisor, and has been a stanch supporter of all public enterprises calculated to be of benefit to the community and its people.
MRS. MARGARET J. LEWIS. In a list of the prominent citizens of any community today mention is made of women as well as men, for whether they are active in the business world or not, the high position of women as a factor in civilization is being recognized as it has never been before. Therefore in any account of those who have played a part in the history of Jasper County, Mrs. Margaret J. Lewis should have a place. Mrs. Lewis has lived in this county for more than half a century, was one of the patient and kindly and capable teachers of some of its pioneer schools, and is now passing her declining years in Barl:ley Township, with the comfort and companionship of children and grandchildren. She is able to survey nearly all the years and the scenes which have transpired in the course of Jasper County's development from primitive conditions.
She was born July 27, 1842, in Decatur County, Indiana, a daugh- ter of W. A. and Margaret ( Mathewson) Mckinney. Her parents had seven children, whose names were James, Mary E., Thomas, Lou Anna, Margaret J., Matilda E. and Ella. It was in the spring of 1862 that Mrs. Lewis and sisters, Mary and Lou, moved to Jasper County and located in Barkley Township. They acquired a quarter section of Government land, and while the father was indus- triously engaged in its development and in spreading the raw acres into productive fields, his children completed their education in the schools at Rensselaer.
In 1868 Miss Margaret J. Mckinney began teaching school in the first frame schoolhouse in Barkley Township, known as the old Sandridge School. This building took the place of the log cabin which for a number of years had stood on the site and had served as a temple of learning for hundreds of scholars before that time. In the new building the children sat on benches which were arranged around all four sides of the room, while in the center was the
1
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teacher's rostrum or desk. Miss Mckinney remained as the teacher there for three years, and then went to Union Township, and taught at the old Brushwood School. This school was held in an old log cabin typical of the early school buildings of Indiana. It had split log benches and a broad hewed log or slab extended around the walls of the room and was used as the only desk at which the pupils could write. Miss MeKinney remained a teacher at that school for one year.
Then on September 3. 1871, she married Isaac R. Lewis in Barkley Township. To their union were born three children: John R., Charles E. and Isaac M., all of whom are married except Isaac. Isaac M. Lewis and Charles E. Lewis have the distinction of being the only native sons of Jasper County who have gained the scholastic degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Charles gained this title, which marks practically the supreme limit of attainment in scholastic fields at Cornell University, in 1905, while Isaac M. was awarded a doctorate in the University of Indiana in 1909. Isaac is now a member of the faculty at the University of Texas in Austin. Charles held a chair in the State University of Maine for several years, but is now actively engaged in farming.
JOHN L. OSBORNE. Few Jasper County families have been more closely identified with the agricultural activities and the good citizen- ship of the county than that of Osborne, represented by John L. Osborne, whose valuable and productive farmstead is in Hanging . Grove Township, located two miles due north of the village of Lee. Mr. Osborne came to this county when a boy, and more than half a century has passed since the name was established in this section of Western Indiana.
His father was Lemuel A. Osborne, a son of Joseph and Wini- fred (Mckinney) Osborne. Lemuel A. Osborne was born July 10, 1818, in Champaign County, Ohio, and was married February 10, 1843, to Olive Patton, who was also born in Ohio, a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Patton. From Clarke County, Ohio, Lemuel A. Osborne moved to Fulton County, Indiana, in 1850, and lived on a farm near Rochester for eleven years. In 1863 he removed to Hanging Grove Township, in Jasper County, and that was his home until his death on March 9, 1874. He is buried in the Osborne Cemetery located on a part of his old farm in Hanging Grove Town- ship. He and his wife are the parents of cleven children: Eliza- beth W., who married Hamline Carpenter, and both are now deceased; Myrtie Z., the widow of Ezra L. Clark, and living in Rensselaer ; Joseph F., deceased ; John L .; Levi S., deceased ; Mary, wife of Ernest Mason, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Amanda W., who married John F. Warren and lives in Oklahoma City; Ella I. the wife of A. W. Cole, and their home is in Lafayette, Indiana ; Carrie, who died in infancy ; Olive G., who married Charles Sprigg, living in Oklahoma City; and Hattie, deceased wife of
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Isaac Onstott. The late Lemuel .1. Osborne is still well remembered by the older citizens of Hanging Grove Township. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of land, and had been quite successful as a farmer and in general business affairs. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a republican in politics, was township trustee and held some other local offices. He had a great circle of friends, was hospitable and made his home a center for the good society of that community, and he had many personal traits which endeared him to all who knew him. At the same time he was strong in his convictions, and anyone knew what he would do under given cir- cumstances.
John L. Osborne, who is now the principal representative of the family in Jasper County, was born November 8, 1850, in Fulton County, Indiana, on his father's place just a mile south of Rochester. He was about thirteen years of age when his father moved to Jasper County, locating in section 35 of Hanging Grove Township, and Mr. Osborne has made his home now for more than half a century either in Marion or Hanging Grove townships. He gained his educa- tion in the local schools of this county and his native county, and has been well prospered as a farmer since taking up that vocation.
On November 17, 1875, he married Miss Mary F. Mellender, daughter of George F. and Martha (Hoback) Mellender, who were born in Johnson County, Indiana, of German descent. Five children have been born into the Osborne household : Omer L., who is a single young man living in Schenectady, New York; Linnie P .. wife of Hay Rishling of Marion Township; Estel F., who married Vera Lefler and lives in Hanging Grove Township; Olive, who married George Culp and lives in Marion Township; and John, Jr., still at home.
Like his father before him John I. Osborne has always voted the republican ticket and his name is quite familiarly associated with township affairs. He served one term on the township advisory board, was for five years township assessor, and was township supervisor four years. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Church at Lee, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Rensselaer. His farm comprises eighty acres, and while his time has been devoted to its improvement and operation, he has always shown himself a public spirited worker for improve- ments that would benefit the entire community.
WILLIAM R. WILLITS. Among those rural homes which carry with them evidences of enterprise and prosperity one that is easily conspicuous in the community of Hanging Grove Township is owned by William R. Willits, located a mile southeast of McCoysburg. This fine tract of 400 acres has been made to respond to the intelligent and capable efforts of its proprietor, and in consequence William R. Willits has for years occupied a substantial position in the agricul- tural and community life of Jasper County.
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Of the sturdy Yankee stock of New York State, William R. Willits is a son of Isaac and Eliza (Van Camp) Willits, both of whom were born in New York State. His parents lived in Iowa for several years, and at Adel in that state William R. Willits was born September 26, 1855. In 1859, when he was four years of age, the family removed to Tippecanoe Township in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Isaac Willits, the father, enlisted at Lafayette in a regi- ment of Indiana infantry during the Civil war. and was promoted from private through different grades up to first lieutenant. He served during the entire period of the war, and received wounds at Shiloh and at Gettysburg, and came out with an honorable record of which his descendants should always be proud. After the war he went west to Colorado and engaged in placer mining until his death. Ile is buried at Boulder, Colorado.
After the death of the father, the widowed mother and her family of four children moved to Hanging Grove Township. Will- iam R. was at that time twelve years of age. The other three children are: Charles O. who lives in Bakersfield, California; Joseph, whose home is at Mitchell, South Dakota; and Eliza, wife of William Hun- ter and living in San Diego, California.
Since the family settled near MeCoysburg in 1868 William R. Willits has been continuously a resident of that locality. He obtained most of his education in the common schools there but from an early age has been intimately acquainted with hard work as a means of advancement and prosperity. Farming and stock raising have been the calling from which he has obtained the principal success, though he also worked as a carpenter for a number of years.
On October 9, 1885, he married Ida M. Eldridge, a daughter of Henry and Jane ( Brasket) Eldridge, who were both natives of Oltio. Mr. and Mrs. Willits have one son, Russell W., who married Lena Ringeisen, and after living for a short time west of Rensselaer is now located on rural route No. 3 out of that city. Mr. Willits has been democratic committeeman in Hanging Grove Township for a number of years, and has permitted his name to go on the local ticket as candidate for different local offices, though never with expectation of election, since the republicans have an overwhelming majority in that township. Fraternally he is affiliated with Iroquois Lodge No. 143, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rensselaer. Mrs. Willits is a member of the Methodist Church.
HENRY BUTLER. There has been no name more consistently and continuously identified with the growing development and welfare of the Town of Goodland than that of Henry Butler. Mr. Butler is now retired, so far as active business pursuits are concerned, though his interest never wanes in anything that concerns the wel- fare of his community. Mr. Butler has a sense of peculiar grati- tude and loyalty to Newton County, since when he came here nearly half a century ago he possessed neither money nor influence, and
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has worked out his very prosperous career right in the town where he now lives.
He is an Englishman by birth and possesses many of the sturdy and happy characteristics of that race. Ile was born December 28, 1832, at Leamington, Warwickshire, England, a son of Henry and Fanny Butler, who spent all their lives in England. The little schooling which Henry Butler enjoyed as a boy was merely supple- mental to his practical work in learning the trade of butcher. He - worked at that trade in the City of London and also at Birming- ham, but in 1865 he set out with his little family to find a home and perchance a fortune in the New World. His first location was at Belvidere, Illinois, where he conducted a butcher shop for one year. Going to Chicago he was in the employ of a packing firm there, and also conducted an individual market.
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