USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > A standard history of Kosciusko County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development. A chronicle of the people with family lineage and memoirs, Volume II > Part 31
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Mr. Heisler was born in Stark County, Ohio, July 6, 1845, a son of John and Mary (Zeiders) Heisler. His father was a native of Germany and his mother of France. Both came to the United States when young people, were married in Stark County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1863 brought their family to Kosciusko County and located on the farm in Clay Township where their son William now resides. They were active members of the Lutheran Church, and the father was a democrat. In their family were five children: Catherine, now deceased, was twice married, her first husband being Mr. Byerly, and her second Mr. Valentine; Paulina lives in Clay Township, the widow of. Sylvester Kinsey ; William is the third in age; Emanuel is a farmer near Hiawatha, Kansas; and John is a farmer near Etna Green, Indiana.
William Heisler was eighteen years old when he came to Kosciusko County, and his early education was acquired in the district schools of Ohio. He grew up inured to the rugged discipline of the farm, and made his home with his parents as long as they lived, and now owns 110 acres, including the old homestead.
Mr. Heisler married Mary Bules, and three children were born to them, two of whom are living. They are: Winfield, who is unmar- ried and still at home; and William, who lives in Seward Township and married Nora Saulsgoer. The mother of these children died and Mr. Heisler married for his present wife Ida Good. They have a son Charles, who is a graduate of the common schools, and Floyd, who is also still at home.
The family are members of the Lutheran Church. He has been a man of prominence in his locality, served four years as trustee of Clay Township, and also as a member of the advisory board. He votes as a democrat.
DANIEL W. SMITH is one of the more recent additions to the citi- zenship of Kosciusko County, and is especially well known in the Clay- pool community, where for several years he has been rendering the service of a general merchant.
Mr. Smith is a Southerner by birth and ancestry. He was born in the State of Mississippi, June 14, 1879, a son of Nicholas and Mary
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(Musselwhite) Smith. Both parents are deceased, and their four children are: Laura, W. C., Daniel W. and Katie. Both daughters are married and living in the South.
Daniel W. Smith grew up on a farm, had a public school educa- tion and attended a commercial college. He lived at home until nine- teen years of age, and his first business experience was working in a grocery store for eighteen months. He then invested his modest cap- ital in 110 acres of raw land, opened up part of it, and then sold at a handsome profit. Following that for ten years he was engaged in the woodworking business and made much headway as a furniture manufacturer. In July, 1911, Mr. Smith came north and was located at Peru, Indiana, until January 1, 1912, when he came to Claypool. Here he bought a half interest in a general store, and on December 15, 1917, became its sole proprietor. He has a good business, and his patronage is steadily growing and extending over all the trade terri- tory naturally tributary to Claypool.
September 10, 1910, Mr. Smith married Edna Mabel Black at Clay- pool. She was born in Seward Township of this county, and is a grad- uate of the Claypool High School. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the United Brethren Church at Claypool. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World. and Mrs. Smith is active in the Rebekahs. Politically he votes as a democrat.
FRANCIS M. DOWNING is well known in Kosciusko County as a former teacher, and is now senior partner of the firm Downing & Tucker, a progressive firm of merchants at Claypool.
Mr. Downing was born in Clay Township of this county January 8, 1874, son of Francis and Mary E. (Allison) Downing. His father was born near Newcastle, Indiana, May 15, 1847, and spent most of his boyhood near Swayzee, in Grant County, Indiana. At the age of twenty he married Miss Allison, who was born near Peru, in Miami County, Indiana. In 1868 they moved to Kosciusko County and located three miles east and a half a mile north of Claypool. At that time they had no resources and worked hard and saved in order to get a start. Francis Downing was one of the good farmers of the town- ship, and also enjoyed a large practice as a veterinary surgeon. He died in December, 1911, and his widow is still living on the old farm. Both were members of the United Brethren Church. The father was a republican. Of their five children one died in infancy. The others are: Arthur A., who lives near Dickinson, North Dakota ; William H., of Clay Township; Francis M .; and Delia, wife of Calvin Thompson, of Clay Township.
Francis M. Downing grew up on the farm, and besides the district schools attended college at North Manchester, and through his own earnings paid his way through Valparaiso University. After grad- uating he taught school, and has seven terms of successful work to his credit. From teaching he engaged in business at Claypool.
November 18, 1899, Mr. Downing married Mande I. Arnold, who was born in the village of Claypool and was educated in the local schools. She is a daughter of M. W. and B. J. (Fonst) Arnold, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Downing have two children: Donald,
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a graduate of the common schools and now a high school pupil, and Francis M., who is in the grade schools. Mrs. Downing is a member of the Christian Science Church. Mr. Downing is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Chapter at Warsaw, and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees. In the Odd Fellows he is a past noble grand and member of the Grand Lodge. Politically he votes as a republican.
GEORGE B. PONTIUS. Since 1851 the name Pontius has figured prominently in the affairs of Clay Township, and in fact in the entire county. Members of this family did some of the pioneer work of clearing away the wilderness and making new farms, some of them have always been farmers and have lived in close touch with the soil, some have been business men, and all have represented that class of citizenship which means most to any progressive community. Mr. George B. Pontius represents the third generation of the family in Kosciusko County, and for many years he has been successfully en- gaged in business at Claypool, where he is owner of the Claypool Elevator.
His great-grandfather's name was Napoleon Pontius. His grand- father, David Pontius, was born in Ohio, in Pickaway County, and grew up in that state. In Seneca County he married Anna Helzel, who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, daughter of Henry Helzel. Henry Helzel became a prominent citizen of Noble County, Indiana, filled a number of places of public trust, including recorder, treasurer and tax collector, and collected taxes in the early days, rid- ing horseback all over the county. David Pontius and wife had chil- dren named Susanna, Elizabeth, James, Rebecca, Amos, Lucinda, Isaac, Sarah, Huldah, Catherine and Henry. All were born in Ohio except Henry. In April, 1851, David Pontius and family located on a farm in Clay Township of Kosciusko County. He lived there until his death in 1871. Before Clay and Lake Townships were set off he served two terms as assessor of the district. He was a very consistent member of the United Brethren Church. His son Isaac died while a soldier in the Union Army in the Twelfth Indiana Infantry.
Amos Pontius, father of George B., was born in Ohio, and was thirteen years of age when the family came to Kosciusko County. He had a district school education, and after his marriage settled on a farm near Claypool. He also did business as contractor and builder at Warsaw and Pierceton, and in 1866 built a lumber mill in Franklin Township. It was in 1873 that he bought the interests of the other heirs in the homestead farm, and he lived there quietly engaged in the pursuits of agriculture until his death in 1915. He was a charter member of Claypool Lodge No. 515 of the Odd Fellows, served as its first secretary, and was a member of the Grand Lodge. He was a live and energetic democrat in politics, and a man distinguished always by good citizenship. In 1860 he married Miss Amanda M. Huff, who was born in Ashland County, Ohio, and was brought to Kosciusko County by her parents in 1858. She is still living at the old home. Amos Pontius and wife had four children: Oliver C., of Brown County,
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Indiana; George B .; Isaac N .. of Monroe, Indiana; and Edward E., of Claypool.
George B. Pontius spent most of his boyhood on the old farm, attended district school during the winter time, and from the age of nineteen until twenty-eight lived at home and assisted his father in tending the crops. He then entered the livestock business, and for twenty years has had his home and interests concentrated at Claypool. Some years ago he bought the local elevator and a large part of the grain that goes to market every year from this vicinity is handled by him. He is also a stockholder of the State Bank of Claypool. In 1918 he contributed a hotel and two new business rooms to the village, and all that concerns the welfare of his community is a matter of deep interest to him. He is active as a democrat, is a member of the county committee, and attended the Baltimore Convention in 1912 when Woodrow Wilson was nominated. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his family are also identified with the United Brethren Church.
Mr. Pontius married Miss Eva Williams, a native of Kosciusko County, and a successful teacher before her marriage. They have two children. Delta is a graduate of the high school and specialized in music at the Indiana Central College, and is now the wife of Walter K. Lohr, of Claypool. Lowell B. is a graduate of high school and of the Fort Wayne Business College, and is associated with his father in the management of the Claypool Elevator.
CHARLES E. THOMAS, M. D. A very successful and talented physi- cian and surgeon, Dr. Thomas has been a leader in his profession in Kosciusko County for a number of years, and has built up a large and successful practice at Leesburg. He is the present secretary and treas- urer of the County Medical Society.
Dr. Thomas was born in Cass County, Indiana, December 7, 1874, son of Alvin H. and Sarah (Canine) Thomas. His father was a native of Preble County, Obio, while his mother was born in Cass County, Indiana, where they married. Alvin Thomas went to Cass County when a youth, and at the age of seventeen volunteered for service in the Union Army, being a soldier for two years with the 130th Indiana Infantry. After the war he returned to Cass County, and in 1869 married and settled on a farm near Galveston. In 1887 he retired from the farm and moved to the village of Galveston, where he fol- lowed merchandising. He was always active in the Methodist Church and was a good, loyal democrat. In his family were four children, John O., a graduate of high school and now in the insurance business at Tipton, Indiana; Dr. Charles E .; Cora J., a graduate of high school and wife of Rev. T. J. Johnson, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Conference located at Fort Wayne; and Audra, a graduate of high school and stenographer with the Public Utility Company at Fort Wayne.
Dr. Charles E. Thomas was reared on a farm to the age of thirteen. During this time he attended district schools and later graduated from
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the Galveston High School. He also carried literary studies in the Indiana University and graduated from the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. Following his graduation he spent a year as interne in Hope Hospital, and was also an assistant at the Home for Feeble Minded. Dr. Thomas came to Leesburg in 1900, and his service and skill have been given every test of reliability and high minded profes- sional conduct. He is a member in good standing of the various local and district medical societies and of the American Medical Association. Dr. Thomas is now serving as president of the Board of Education of Leesburg. He is one of the official members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and for the past fifteen years has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday School. He is affiliated with Leesburg Lodge No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; is past chancellor of his Lodge of Knights of Pythias, and is a member of both the subor- dinate and encampment degrees of Odd Fellowship. Politically he is a republican.
Dr. Thomas married Ina B. Fettro, daughter of Rev. J. T. Fettro, for many years a minister of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Thomas was born at Mount Aetna in Huntington County, Indiana, and is a graduate of the Goshen High School and spent one year in DePauw University. Doctor and Mrs. Thomas have two children, Everett Win- ton and Frances E., the former aged ten and the latter six years.
CHARLES THOMAS is one of the best known business men of Lecs- burg, has been a general merchant there for sixteen years, and is now postmaster. He represents one of the oldest families of Kosciusko County, one that was established in Plain Township more than eighty years ago.
His grandfather, Antibas Thomas, was a native of North Carolina. About 1828 he moved with his parents to Union County, Indiana, and in 1834 settled in the wilderness of Kosciusko County, where he spent his last days. He died in 1838.
Andrew J. Thomas, father of the Leesburg postmaster, was born in Prairie Township of Kosciusko County November 25, 1835, the young- est of thirteen children. He grew up in a frontier district, attended the common schools, and in the fall of 1861 enlisted in the Second Indiana Cavalry. He was with his regiment in many campaigns and in much scouting service, and during the advance upon Atlanta he had a horse shot from under him and was captured by the enemy and was a prisoner of war at Andersonville from July, 1864, until Febru- ary, 1865, when he was exchanged. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge and returning to Kosciusko County, married and engaged in farming. He was one of the valued and esteemed resi- dents of the county. His death occurred in May, 1887. Politically he was a democrat. He married Cynthia Inman, and of their six children four are still living: Charles; George, a farmer and stock buyer at Leesburg; Jennie, living at Warsaw, widow of Milo Hunter; and Nellie, who is deputy postmaster under her brother.
Mr. Charles Thomas was born in Plain Township, three miles north- east of Leesburg, September 1, 1866. His early life was spent on a
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farm and his ambition for an education and a place in the world ex- ceeded the opportunities afforded by the common schools. He gradu- ated with the degree Bachelor of Science from the Tri-State Normal at Angola. and for six years was a teacher in the high school at Oswego. From teaching he got into business and for many years has been one of the leaders in affairs at Leesburg.
July 28, 1914, he married Miss Bertha Stanton. They have one son, Charles S .. born October 26, 1917. Mr. Thomas is past chancellor of Lodge No. 192 of the Knights of Pythias and has sat in the Grand Lodge. Politically he has always been active as a democrat and for four years was trustee of Plain Township, and received his appoint- ment to the office of postmaster to fill a vacancy on August 1, 1914.
GEORGE M. NEHER. For fity or sixty years the name Neher has been identified with the agricultural enterprise of Kosciusko County, and the old homestead in Jefferson Township which was cleared and developed by William Neher and was subsequently owned and greatly improved by George M. Neher is now occupied by the third generation of the family. George M. Neher recently retired from the farm and since March, 1917, has enjoyed the comforts of a good town home at Milford.
He was born on the old farm in Jefferson Township, Milford County, July 26, 1865, a son of William and Martha (Teeple) Neher. His father was born in Stark County. Ohio, in 1836. and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two. He came to Indiana at the age of sixteen, lived in Marshall County for several years, and at the age of twenty-three came to Kosciusko County. Here he married and settled on a farm in Jefferson Township, and was identified with its cultiva- tion and management until about fifty-five years old, since which time he has lived in Milford. He is a member of the Christian Church and a democrat in politics. His wife died in Milford some years ago. Of the four children, three are still living: Mary, widow of G. W. Pinker- ton, of Jefferson Township; Emma, widow of James Pinkerton, for- merly of Jefferson Township, her present home being in Milford; and George M.
George M. Neher grew up on the old farm, attended the district schools until about sixteen years old, and helped work the farm until he was of age.
On October 20. 1888, Mr. Neher married Rachel Estep. She was born in Virginia October 7, 1871, and was a small girl when her parents, William E. and Hannah (Beeler) Estep. came to Indiana from Virginia and settled in Prairie Township of Kosciusko County. Mrs. Neher's parents were both born in Virginia. and the father was a farmer. The family were members of the Baptist Church. He died aged sixty-eight and the mother died in her seventieth year. They were a well known, honored and highly respected family. They were the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to ma- turity and ten are living at this writing. Mrs. Neher is the seventh child and was but six years old when she came to Indiana. She at- tended the district schools of that township and of Jefferson Township.
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After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Neher rented the old homestead, and later they bought and acquired that property, which comprises 120 acres of highly cultivated land in Jefferson Township.
On that farm their only daughter, Zona M., was born and has spent practically all her life. She is a graduate of the common schools and of the South Bend Business College, and is now the wife of Cash Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold now have the active superintendence of the farm in Jefferson Township. They have two children : Verona S., born December 25, 1910; and Elwood C., born February 12, 1914. The family are members of the Christian Church at Milford, and Mr. Neher is a democrat in politics.
JAMES T. SHEPARD, of Milford, has disproved the oft repeated as- sertion that an educator is not a practical business man. In fact he showed a high degree of administrative and executive ability during his superintendence of the Milford public schools, and since resign- ing his post in school work has been even more notably engaged in the practical affairs of business at Milford, where among other relations he is cashier of the Farmers State Bank.
Mr. Shepard was born in Pike County, Indiana, November 23, 1879, son of R. W. and Mary A. (McCleary) Shepard. His parents were both natives of Pike County, the former born in 1851 and the latter in 1853. They have spent most of their lives in that county as farmers, and now live in Southern Indiana. They had six children, five of whom are still living: William, James T., Flora, Hattie and Luther.
James T. Shepard was reared on his father's farm, and the op- portunities he received in the district schools were improved further by attending high school at Spurgeon, Indiana. Later he entered the State Normal School, graduating with the class of 1908. Mr. Shepard came to Milford to take the superintendence of the local schools and filled that office seven years. When he began his work Milford was maintaining a two year high school. Under his leadership the com- munity put up a new school building, and while he was still superin- tendent the high school was placed on the roll of commissioned high schools of Indiana.
On leaving school work Mr. Shepard became one of the principal or- ganizers of the Farmers State Bank. It was organized in May, 1916, with the following officers : J. B. Neff, president ; Moses F. Lentz, vice president ; James T. Shepard, cashier and director; Harlan H. Sharp, Harry R. Phend; George Krull, Perry Hoover, E. W. Felkner and James F. Peterson.
Mr. Shepard is also one of the directors of the Milford Grain & Milling Company, a director in the Milford Loan & Investment Com- pany, and a director of the Milford Commercial Club. In 1909 he married Miss Ina M. Shoeman. She is a graduate of the Columbia City High School of Columbia, and spent three years in the State Nor- mal. They have one son, James S., born in January, 1915. The family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Shepard is also affiliated with Milford Lodge No. 478, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as a past grand, and in politics is a democrat.
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HARRY R. PHEND represents one of the oldest families of Kosciusko County, and his own life and accomplishments have been on a plane consistent with the family record. He is one of the leading business men of Milford, being manager of the Royal Telephone Company and connected with several other local industries.
His great-grandparents were John and Susanna (Kibley) Phend, both natives of Switzerland, where they were married in 1824. In 1832 they brought their family from Canton Berne to America, first locating in Carroll County, then in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1852 moving to Marshall County, Indiana, where John Phend died in De- cember, 1859.
Jacob Phend, grandfather of Harry R., was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, June 14, 1827. and was five years of age when brought to this country. In Carroll County, Ohio, August 27, 1847, he married Louisa Fisher, daughter of Michael and Christina (Houck) Fisher, both natives of Germany. In 1849 Jacob Phend moved to Indiana, in 1851 located in Marshall County, and in 1868 came to Kosciusko County and bought 120 acres of sparsely improved land in section 11 of Scott Township. He built a fine residence and developed a farm which was well considered one of the best in the township. He was a republican and he and his wife were members of the Evangelical Church. He spent his last years at Nappanee, Indiana. He and his wife had seven children: John, born August 1, 1848; Christian D., born May 12, 1851; Samuel. born July 6, 1854; William, born Septem- ber 6, 1856, and died in 1857; Jacob J., born August 22, 1859; Sophia L., born November 9, 1862 ; and Henry A., born November 7, 1865.
Christian D. Phend, who was born on the old farm in Scott Town- ship, grew up there, had a district school education, and was actively identified with farming in the township until 1898, when he removed to Nappanee, Indiana, where he is still living. He is an active member of the United Brethren Church. Christian D. Phend married Mary McConnell, and they became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still living: Clarence D., a Presbyterian minister ; M. Ora, a farmer in the State of Washington; Harry R .; Waldo. a farmer in Iowa; Hattie, wife of John Rhodes, a farmer in Marshall County, Indiana; Iva, wife of Frank Wehrley, of Nappanee, Indiana ; Belle, wife of A. L. Miller, a farmer in Iowa.
Mr. Harry R. Phend was born in Scott Township of Kosciusko County September 25, 1885. He had a farm training and was edu- cated in the local district schools and the high school at Nappanee. He was not yet of age when his work and energies were directed into the telephone business, and he is a past master and expert in every phase of telephone construction and operation. He began as a lineman at Nappanee, and for several years did line work, finally being promoted to wire chief. He came to Milford on April 14, 1910, to superintend the Royal Telephone Company. This is a corporation, the executive officers of which are: Jacob B. Neff. president ; Egbert Gawthrop, sec- retary ; E. W. Higbee, treasurer; Harry R. Phend, manager, and be- sides these the directors are John Defreese, George Krull, Milo Geyer and William H. Neff.
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Mr. Phend is also local manager for Hawk's Electric Company of Goshen and is proprietor of the Milford Electric Company. He is a director of the Farmers State Bank of Milford, is vice president and one of the directors of the Milford Grain and Milling Company, and is generally looked upon as one of the most capable young business men of this locality.
Mr. Phend married Mary E. Parker. She was born in Marshall County, Indiana, is a graduate of the Bourbon High School and holds the collegiate degree Bachelor of Science. For eight years she was a successful teacher. They have two children: Mary A., born May 3, 1915, and Parker H., born in April, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Phend are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is trustee and sec- retary of the official board. He is a past master of the Masonic Lodge at Nappanee, member of Syracuse Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and the Knight Templar Commandery at Warsaw.
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