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 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
November 24, 1894, Mr. Fitton married Miss Sadie Rickel. She represents one of the oldest pioneer families of Kosciusko County. Her grandfather, Samuel Rickel, was born in Pennsylvania March 14, 1810, son of Mathias and Catherine (Croyle) Rickel. The Rickel family left Pennsylvania in 1818, and Mathias and his wife spent the rest of their years in Ohio. In Wayne County, Ohio, Samuel Rickel married in 1835 Miss Sarah Moyer, and of their nine children six were born in Kosciusko County. Samuel Rickel brought his fam- ily to Kosciusko County in 1842, and established his home in the woods of Franklin Township. He had many interesting pioneer experiences. He entered his land from the government and ac- quired patent signed by President John Tyler. His first house was a log cabin, and the roof was so low that a full grown man could not enter the door withont stooping. He lived on wild game, veni- son and turkey, had experiences with wolves, plowed his fields with a yoke of cattle, and served as the first postmaster in Franklin Township of Beaver Dam postoffice, his commission being given him in 1844, and for twenty years he held that dignity, but doubtless paid in service more than he received, since it was the custom for people journeying a long distance to the postoffice to enjoy the hos- pitality of the postmaster at the meals and even staying over night occasionally. He was also the first trustee of Franklin Township, and his son William, father of Mrs. Fitton, enjoyed similar honors. William Rickel was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 19, 1836. He was a democrat in politics and served as trustee of Seward Town- ship eleven years. He married Miss Mary Swick, and they had seven children, three of whom are still living: Samuel and George, the former a resident of Jennings County and the latter of Han- cock, Wisconsin ; and Sadie, Mrs. Fitton. Mrs. Fitton grew up and
:
410
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
spent her early life on the banks of Beaver Dam Lake, and attended the common schools there.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitton have seven children. Lloyd is now in the army as a mechanic in the aviation corps, having received his train- ing at the aviation field near Fort Worth, Texas. Edna is a gradu- ate of the common schools and the wife of Russell Barber. Ida has finished the common school course and is living at home, as is Ruth, while the younger children are Marle, Orville and Neva. The fam- ily are members of the United Brethren Church and Mr. Fitton is a democratic voter.
RANDOLPH B. ALLISON. The durable satisfactions of life are those won by hard work and by the overcoming of many obstacles. While he is now generally recognized as one of the successful and substantial farmers and stock raisers of Kosciusko County, there was a time when Randolph B. Allison had to depend upon the work of his hands at day and monthly wages. He paid for his first land in that way, and with the co-operation of a loyal wife has made progress over obstacles and has achieved his present position and success in the world. Mr. Allison is proprietor of the Lakeside Farm of eighty acres a half mile sonth of Yellow Bank in Tippecanoe Township.
He is a native of Delaware County, Indiana, where he was born November 28, 1859, son of Samuel and Martha . (Fields) Allison. The parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew up and married, from there moved to Ohio, and a little later to Dela- ware County, Indiana, and their next move took them to Sullivan County in this state, and from there they came to Kosciusko County, locating in Plain Township, where they acquired seventy-two acres southeast of Leesburg. Eight years later they made their final move to Tippecanoe Township, where the mother spent her last years. The father died in Missouri. Of their twelve children eight are still living, and the family are now widely scattered: Emma, unmarried, at Leesburg ; Randolph B .; Samuel, of Kansas; William, of Missouri; Perry, of North Dakota; John A. and Madison, twins, the former in Wyoming and the latter in Oklahoma; and Arthur, in Wyoming.
Randolph B. Allison grew up in Kosciusko County and attended public schools to the age of sixteen. Even before that he had been working and contributing his help to the support of the family. He has made his own way since early youth.
On July 15, 1882, Mr. Allison married Miss Leuesa Stemler. Mrs. Allison was born at North Webster August 14, 1866, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Arnold) Stemler. Her parents were both natives of Germany. Her father came to this country when a young man and her mother with her parents. They married in Ohio and from there moved to North Webster. Jacob Stemler beeame widely known in that community. He was the first shoemaker to locate in the town, and being a man of expert skill he had a large trade and continued active in the work until advanced years over-
411
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
took him. He was a charter member of the Evangelical Church and a trustee. His wife died in 1893, while he passed away in 1901. In the Stemler family were eight children, four of whom died young. Catherine, the oldest of those who grew up, married Hiram Kindle. The second, Mary, is the wife of John Webber, of Nappanee, Indi- ana; Emma is the wife of Lewis Baugher; Lenesa, the youngest, is Mrs. Allison. Mrs. Allison was educated in the common schools.
After his marriage Mr. Allison supported his little family by monthly wages, and for two years lived in Kansas. On returning to this country he again resumed his program of work by the day. His first purchase of land was ten acres and it was paid for by his wages. He then bought ten acres more, also rented ground, and finally acquired sixty acres, and has gradually built up the Lakeside Farm, which is widely known for its fine Norman horses.
Mr. and Mrs. Allison have one daughter, Elizabeth. She is now the wife of Milo Daniels, and lives in Elkhart, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have four children : Ruth E., Mary E., Louise, and C. Wilber.
The family are members of the Evangelical Church at North Webster, and Mr. Allison is one of the trustees and a class leader, and for twenty years was superintendent of its Sunday school. In politics he votes as a democrat. He is one of the directors of the Farmers State Bank at North Webster.
II. G. MICKEY, whose home is at Pierceton, has been successfully identified with Kosciusko County for practically all the years of his life, was formerly a farmer, but is now one of the leading contractors in cement work and especially in bridge building. Mr. Mickey is especially well known in Washington Township on account of his long and creditable service as township assessor.
Mr. Mickey was born in Kosciusko County, west of Silver Lake, April 6, 1864, son of Isaac and Mary (Bryan) Mickey. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. They married in Ohio, and coming to Indiana settled on a farm in Kosciusko County, where they spent the rest of their years. They were very active church members, and he was identified with the republican party, though never as an aspirant for office. Of their seven chil- dren three are still living: Mary, wife of Samuel Funk, of War- saw; Martha J., wife of Joseph Scott, of Ludlow, six miles southeast of Warsaw; and H. G. Mickey.
H. G. Mickey spent his early life on a farm near Ludlow, was educated in the public schools there and lived with his parents until he was twenty years old. When he started out for himself he had uo capital but diligence and readiness to accept responsibilities, and confidence in his own powers have taken him steadily along the road to success. He began farming as a renter, and was identified with agriculture as his chief vocation until 1914, when he formally took up contracting in cement and bridge building.
October 18, 1888, Mr. Miekey married Miss Ida M. Hover,. a native of Kosciusko County. Three children are still living: Ralph
412
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
E., a graduate of the common schools and married and living in Kos- ciusko County ; Lawrence R., a graduate of the common schools and still single; and Mary M., wife of Byron Davis. The family are members of the United Brethren Church at Wooster, Indiana. Mr. Mickey has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty years and in church as well as in civic affairs has always tried to do his utmost. In politics he is a republican, but has only sought to do his duty as a trustworthy voter in politics and as a worker for com- munity progress. He was elected township assessor for four years, held the office for six years altogether, and later was again elected for a term of four years, so that when he resigned in the spring of 1918 to engage in bridge building he had filled a term aggregating ten years.
LEVI SWICK. The community to which Levi Swiek las con- tributed his energies as a successful farmer and as an upright and straight-forward citizen is in Seward Township, his valuable farm being five and a half miles northeast of Akron on rural route No. 2.
Mr. Swick was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, March 7, 1859, son of William and Mary (Shoop) Swick. His father was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1812, and his mother in Stark County, Ohio, September 1, 1817. They were mar- ried August 17, 1837, and in the fall of 1860 they moved to Indiana and located on a farm near Beaver Dam Lake. That community had the benefit of this industrious family until the death of Mrs. Mary Swick on June 15, 1885. The father then moved to Silver Lake, and spent his last years on the farm now owned by his son Levi, where he died December 9, 1897. Both the parents were very active workers and members of the Church of God, and in politics William Swick gave his allegiance to the democratic party. He and his wife had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, named: Mary, Eliza- beth, Catherine, Henry, Samuel, John, Drana, Alpheus, George, Levi and Lucinda. All are still living except Mary and Catherine.
Levi Swick was about a year old when brought to Indiana. As he grew to manhood he attended the district schools and lived in the home circle and shared in the responsibilities and work of the home farm until a short time after his mother's death. He then estab- lished a home of his own by his marriage on November 8, 1885, to Miss Maggie Wiece. She was born in the Republic of Switzerland Jann- ary 31, 1867, and was a young girl of sixteen when in 1883 she came to the United States with her mother. She lived near Silver Lake - until her marriage, and her education was acquired in the schools of her native land. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Swick rented the old Swiek farm for five years, and then with the other heirs bought the father's farm. It has been their home now for over thirty years, and eighty acres of excellent land have responded to the care and cultivation of Mr. Swick, though in recent years some of the heavier labors have been assumed by his sturdy sons. There are three boys in the family: Ira, born October 21, 1888, is a grad- uate of the common schools, and is a resident of Seward Township.
413
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
He married Goldie Jenkins. Sherman, the second son, born June 3, 1892, married Viola Young and lives in Miami County, Indiana. Percy W., born October 6, 1895, is a graduate of the common schools and is now doing much of the farm work for his father. He married Olive M. Reddinger. Mrs. Swick is a member of the Church of God. Politically Mr. Swick votes as a democrat, and has always taken an active interest in local affairs and in questions of public policy.
BENJAMIN F. WILLIAMSON. The community of Packerton recog- nizes in Benjamin F. Williamson one of its most important person- ages, a man of usefulness to the entire community. He is a veteran of the telegraph key, having been operator and agent in railroad service for a number of years. He is still connected in that capacity with the Nickel Plate Railway, but is also a farmer and stock raiser at Packerton.
Mr. Williamson was born at Burket in Seward Township of Kos- ciusko County January 13, 1886, son of John II. and Sarah A. (Byers) Williamson. His father was born in Miami County, In- diana, and his mother in Johnson County. Benjamin F. William- son has a common school education and attended Burket High School three years. It was his early ambition to become a railroad man and he entered the service through the avenue of telegraphy, which he learned in one of the local offices. For a year and a half he was agent and operator for the Nickel Plate at Bremen and was then transferred to Packerton, both as agent and operator, and re- mained here steadily for seven and a half years. At present he is performing the duties of operator at Claypool, though his home is at Packerton.
In 1907 Mr. Williamson married Zora C. Borton, who was born near Mentone, Indiana, and was educated in the common schools. Mr. Williamson's home at Packerton comprises a well-improved farm of forty-three acres, where he has a modern home and all the facilities for his business as a stock raiser. He specializes in hogs, and is rapidly earning a place among the stockmen of the county.
He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Packerton, has served as class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school, and he and his wife have done much to uphold the various moral and religious activities of their community. In politics he votes as a republican.
PERRY SILVEUS. Thirty-four years' residence in Kosciusko County gives Mr. Silveus many interesting as well as honorable associations here, and his enterprise as a farmer, his kindly and genial disposition and his publie spirit have earned him a place of es- teem in Seward Township, where he owns one of the best farms, four and a half miles west and half a mile south of Silver Lake.
Mr. Silveus is of a Virginia family and was born in Rockingham County of that state August 8, 1858, a son of William and Susanna (Tusing) Silveus. His parents were born in Virginia, grew up and married there, and soon afterward moved to Indiana and located in
414
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
Kosciusko County. The first summer was a dispiriting one to them, especially in the matter of climate, and they went back to Virginia. About the close of the Civil War they came west again, locating near Tiffin, Ohio, for four years. Again they spent a season of four years in Virginia, and after that lived one year in Seneca County, Ohio, and then moved to Henry County, Ohio, where the parents spent their last years. They were very active members of the Baptist Church, and William Silveus was a democrat. There were eleven children, five of whom are still living: Simon A., a retired farmer at War- saw; Perry; John, a carpenter living in California ; Menassa, a Bap- tist minister and a farmer; Amos, a farmer in Ohio.
Perry Silveus spent most of his boyhood and youth in Seneca and Henry counties, Ohio. The district schools there gave him his edu- cation until he was thirteen years of age, and after that he sturdily helped his father on the home farm until he was past twenty-three. January 22, 1882, Mr. Silveus married Della J. Steward, of Henry County, Ohio, where she was born January 4, 1864, daughter of Thomas Steward.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Silveus lived on a farm in Henry County, Ohio, for two years and then settled in Kosciusko Connty, near Milford in Van Buren Township. Later they bought a farm in Jefferson Township, and that was their home until 1907, when they came to their present happy location in Seward Town- ship. Mr. Silveus has 120 acres of land, and it is thoroughly devel- oped according to methods and principles of modern and efficient farming. In politics he is a democrat.
BURLINGTON D. HIBSCHMAN. In giving honor where honor is due more than passing mention should be granted Burlington D. Hibsch- man, who began life empty-handed and has accumulated a good prop- erty by dint of energetic and well-directed effort. The Civil war, in taking its great toll of death, left many lads fatherless at a time when they needed not only the material support but the moral direction of the elder men. Many of these youths were forced to fight their own way through life, and of this class Mr. Hibschman, who is now one of the substantial agriculturists of the vicinity of Warsaw, is an excel- lent example.
Mr. Hibschman was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, February 11, 1859, and is a son of Henry and Sarah J. (Bolin) Hibschman. His paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania who moved to Indi- ana at a very early day and settled on a farm, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, while his maternal grandfather was Elisha Bolin, who passed the greater part of his active life in the country in Wabash County, Indiana, where his death occurred. Henry Hibschman was born in Ohio, and was still a youth when brought by his parents to. Kosciusko County. In young manhood he had learned the trade of stone mason, and this trade he was following when the Civil war came on and his patriotism led him to enlist. In 1862 he became a member of the Seventy-Fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served bravely and faithfully until the battle of Chicka-
Martha. A. Farben.
J. B. Saber.
415
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
mauga, September 19, 1863, on which bloody field he lost his life. Mr. Hibschman was a republican in his political views, and a member of the United Brethren Church, to which Mrs. Hibschman also belongs. She was born in Wabash County, Indiana, and now makes her home at Warsaw, having reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of two children: Burlington D .; and Mrs. Edith Hollaway, who lives at Warsaw.
The educational advantages of Burlington D. Hibschman were not numerous, as he was not five years of age when his father, who had ac- cumulated only a small property, lost his life. However, the lad made the most of his opportunities as granted in the country schools, and early learned to be self reliant and independent. His early training was on the farm, and it was but natural that he should adopt an ag- ricultural career. He was married in 1882 to Miss E. M. McKinsis, and to this union were born two children, Angie and Erba. They were industrious and thrifty and saved their earnings carefully, so that by 1900 they were able to realize their ambition to become landholders, in that year purchasing their present property, a tract of 100 acres, all paid for by their hard and persistent labor. Under modern methods he is making a success of his operations, and now grows all the small grains in addition to breeding and shipping cattle, hogs, sheep and horses. His buildings are commodious and attractive, his machinery modern, and everything about the place gives evidence of the presence of thrift and good management. Politically Mr. Hibschman is a re- publican, but he has been so busily engaged with his farm work that he has found no time to enter politics as a seeker for office, atlhough all good movements have received his hearty and generous support. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held a number of offices.
THOMAS B. SARBER. Now spending his declining years on his farm in Seward Township, enjoying peace and comfort, Thomas B. Sarber is one of the older residents of Kosciusko County, and the years have dealt kindly with him, but only to the extent of his deserts and the value of his citizenship. His home is in section 22, four miles west of Claypool.
Mr. Sarber was born in Harrison Township of this county Octo- ber 4, 1842, a son of Abraham and Louisa (Hendren) Sarber. His parents were married in Franklin County, Ohio, and two years later sold their farm in that county and moved to Putnam County in the same state, where for a time they lived with their nearest neigh- bors ten miles away. Abraham Sarber was not only a pioneer in reclaiming the wilderness of Putnam County, but also laid out and founded the Town of Kalida, which has since grown and prospered and is the county seat. In 1836 he sold his Ohio interests and moved to Iroquois County, Illinois, and after four years in the Prairie State came in the fall of 1840 to Kosciusko County.
Here his residence was marked by equal activity and enterprise. Vol. II-3
416
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
In 1841 he built a sawmill at Palestine, and in 1843 built a grist mill. His sawmill in 1843 supplied the lumber for the first frame courthouse of Kosciusko County. The Sarber mills were the first institutions of any importance in the south side of Kosciusko County. He sold those properties in the fall of 1843 and bought a farm on the north side of Harrison Township. In 1863, after the death of his first wife, he bought a farm near Atwood and property in that town, and lived there until his death, February 27, 1880. For his second wife he married Miss Eliza Crane. They had one son, David. Abraham and Louisa Sarber were the parents of eight children : William, Adam, Melissa, Amanda, Mary, Thomas B., Dorothy and John.
Thomas Benton Sarber grew up and spent most of his youth in Harrison Township on the old farm in section 4. The district schools furnished him his educational opportunities until he was sixteen, and during 1858-59 he was one of the first students in the public graded school at Warsaw, when that school was taught by D. T. Johnson and wife. Farming experience followed his educa- tion and on May 24, 1863, at the age of twenty-one, he married Miss Martha A. Timmons, daughter of William and Catherine Timmons, natives of Delaware and Maryland, respectively, who came from Fayette County, Ohio, in 1845 and settled in Wayne Township of Kosciusko County.
After his marriage Mr. Sarber spent a year in Eel River Town- ship of Allen County, then lived for a year on a farm north of Hellers Corners, and in the spring of 1866 acquired forty acres included in the Sarber farm of Seward Township. This land was covered with heavy woods, and it was his task, worthily fulfilled, to clear it up and develop its possibilities as a productive farm. The only improvement on the land when he took possession was an old log cabin. Subsequent years brought him increase of comforts and prosperity, represented by the accumulation of a hundred acres of land, but most of this he has since sold his sons, and now retains only twenty acres as his individual home.
Mr. Sarber's name is prominently identified with the history of the Village of Burket. He built the first store there in the spring of 1882. He was also a passenger ou the first train of cars in Sew- ard Township. He has been an active party man as a democrat, but only once accepted the honor of nomination for an important office, in 1884, when as candidate for sheriff he ran way ahead of his ticket. He has also served as a member of the democratic committees.
Mr. Sarber was happily married for over half a century, and in 1913 he and his good wife celebrated their golden wedding anni- versary. Their companionship was continued five years longer until Mrs. Sarber died June 16, 1918. She was a devout member of the United Brethren church. To their marriage were born three chil- dren : Edson B., born March 11, 1864, a graduate of Valparaiso University, formerly a teacher, for thirteen years county superin- tendent of schools, and now connected with the Leonard Supply
417
1320399
HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
Company. Edson Sarber married Miss Ollie Rickel, daughter of George W. and Mary Rickel. Louisa C., the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sarber, died in infancy. Andrew E., a native of Seward Township, was for many years a teacher in the county and is now engaged in farming and teaching. He married Ettie E. Anglin, daughter of S. D. Anglin, a former superintendent of public schools of this county. Thomas B. Sarber also has two grandchildren, Earl F. and Beulah May, son and daughter of Andrew E. and Etta E. Sar- ber. Earl F., born October 21, 1889, worked on the farm in the summer and attended school at Burket in the winter until the winter of 1908 and 1909, when he finished his course in the Warsaw high school. On September 9, 1916, he was married to Miss Edna, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. William Vernett, of Marshall County, Indiana. To them was born a daughter, March 4, 1918, named Ettiemae, and she is the delight of all her relations and always has a sweet smile for her great-grandfather. Beulah May, sister of Earl, was born on the 10th of January, 1898. She has always been a diligent student, ever at the head of her classes, and she graduated from the high school at Burket in 1914, after which she spent two terms in Winona Col- lege. It was while there that her health failed, and she went to Hinsdale Sanitarium, Hinsdale, Illinois, where she regained her health and was so favorably impressed with the institution that she is remaining there for a three years' training course in scientific nursing.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.