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 5
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A bright future is predicted for Earl and Beulah Sarber. Earl is a successful young farmer and Beulah will make good at any- thing she undertakes. Thomas B. Sarber may well be proud of his posterity. In his religious views Mr. Sarber is a devout Seventh Day Adventist.
ERNEST B. WILLIAMSON is the telegraph operator and railroad agent at Burkett, and also owner and manager of the Evergreen Stock Farm adjoining that village-all of which makes him one of the most useful and prominent men of that community. Mr. Williamson is a young man, of exceptional business enterprise and energy, and for a number of years has been engaged in the great essential industry of railroading.
He was born in Seward Township of this county January 19, 1882, a son of John H. and Sarah A. (Beyers) Williamson. He grew up on his father's farm with such advantages as the district schools afforded, together with high school. As a boy he took up telegraphy, and has been employed as an operator or as operator and agent with this road fifteen years. However, there was an interval of two years when he was out of the service engaged in operating an elevator in Raber. He has a record of faithful and efficient service as a teleg- rapher, and is particularly a business man and has done much to build up the volume of traffic for his road at Burket. He is one of the stockholders in the Burkett Grain Elevator. His stock farm comprises fifty acres, and it is the home of some of the finest Duroc Jersey hogs in Kosciusko County. His male is a registered pedigreed
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animal named Colonel Sampson. Besides his hogs Mr. Williamson has a flock of about 200 Rhode Island Red chickens.
He married Miss Minnie Mollenhour, who was born in Frankliu Township of this county and is a graduate of the common schools. Their family of four children are Laura, Lena, Ward and Porter. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members of the Church of God and he is affiliated with the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, and is a republi- can voter.
CHARLES C. CARTER started life with nothing but the strength of his hands and the ambition of his mind to make the best of circum- stances, and has achieved a position of success and responsibilities in the community of Silver Lake, where he is a livestock dealer and an extensive farmer.
Mr. Carter was born at Michigan City in LaPorte County, Indiana, January 14, 1850, son of John G. and Mary (Windle) Carter, both natives of Virginia. He is of old Virginia stock. His grandparents were Robert E. and Catherine (Gatewood) Carter. Robert E. Carter was at one time a principal in a leading military school in Virginia and volunteered his services with the United States Army in the war with Mexico and gave up his life during that struggle. John G. Car- ter grew up in Virginia and as a young man came to Indiana and located in LaPorte County. He was a practical printer by trade, and became interested in a newspaper at Michigan City. Later he removed to Newton County, Indiana, took up farming and spent the rest of his life in that section of the state. He was a democrat in politics. Of his six children three are living: Catherine, wife of Francis Yeager, of Newton County; Jerome A., a farmer in Seward Township of this county and Charles C.
Charles C. Carter spent his boyhood in LaPorte and Newton counties. His education was supplied by the district schools. He was at home until twenty-six and left to begin life on his own account with no capital and with only the experience of a practical farm youth
On December 31, 1884, he married Lillie M. Bull. She was born in Jasper County, Indiana, and grew up there, attending the district schools. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carter were farm renters for nearly twenty years, and in that way they got their start in the world. In 1901 Mr. Carter bought 164 acres in Kosciusko County ad- joining the Village of Silver Lake on the east, and has used that valu- able farm as a basis for his extensive dealing in livestock. He has prospered, and throughout has relied on industry and good judgment to put him ahead in the world. He is also one of the directors of the Commercial State Bank of Silver Lake and is a stockholder in the Fort Wayne Rubber Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Carter have one daughter, Frances, wife of R. M. Fry of Silver Lake. The family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and Mr. Carter is one of its trustees. He is affiliated with Silver Lake Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, aud has served as a Noble Grand and has sat in the Grand Lodge. Politically his faith is that of a democrat.
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HON. HARRY W. KLINE, of Silver Lake, is a well known farmer and stock buyer in that section of Kosciusko County and is well known all over this part of the state as a leading man of affairs, influential in politics, and a former representative in the State Legislature.
Mr. Kline was born at Silver Lake June 29, 1873, a son of George W. and Mary (McClure) Kline. His father was born in Lake Town- ship of this county in 1848, while his mother was born on the old McClure farm in Seward Township in 1852. Her parents were Elias and Mary A. (Freeman) McClure, McClure being one of the oldest and best esteemed names in the county. George W. Kline was reared on a farm and was for many years engaged as a teacher in the public schools.
Harry W. Kline acquired a good education in both the common and high schools of Silver Lake, and after graduating entered Val- paraiso University. Mr. Kline, like his father, followed educational work for nine years in the local public schools. Some of his friends, admiring his many versatile qualities and his ability as a public speaker, induced him to enter politics in the campaign of 1902. He was placed in nomination for state representative and was elected in that year and re-elected in 1904, serving during the Sixty-Third and Sixty-Fourth General Assemblies. He was a member of several impor- tant committees and made a record highly creditable to himself and to his constituency. For four years Mr. Kline has served as vice chairman of the county central committee of the republican party.
Mr. Kline is a stockholder in the People's Telephone Company of Silver Lake, and his business energies are chiefly engaged in buying and shipping livestock. In that capacity he is known to nearly all the farmers in this and several adjoining counties.
Mr. Kline married Miss Iva Oldfather, daughter of H. L. Old- father of Silver Lake. Mrs. Kline is a graduate of the common schools. They have two children : Marcus H., born March 26, 1902, is a graduate of the common schools and a student in the Silver Lake High School. Fanchon, the second child, was born in 1905 and has completed the work of the common schools. Mrs. Kline is a member of the United Brethren Church at Silver Lake. Fraternally he is affiliated with Denning Lodge No. 88, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lake View Lodge No. 164, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs and has sat in the Grand Lodge, and is affil- iated with Warsaw Lodge No. 802 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
HENRY A. MOYER is a former Supervisor of Seward Township, and owner of one of the good farms in that locality. It goes without say- ing that he has lived with honor and with a satisfactory degree of ma- terial success.
When he was thirteen he chose to support himself and help him- self to those things for which his talents and work fitted him. He was born in the township where he still lives November 26, 1865, son of Henry and Rachel (Bowman) Moyer. His father was born in Pleasant Township of Wayne County, Ohio, February 1, 1823. His
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mother was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1825. His parents were married November 28, 1847, and several years later they moved to Kosciusko County and settled in Seward Township. The father died here January 14, 1866, when his son Henry was only a few months old, and his widow subsequently mar- ried and moved to Texas. The record of the children of Henry and Rachel Moyer is as follows: Orlanda H., born March 17, 1850; Jud- son L., born May 3, 1852; Alonzo, born August 27, 1856; Andrew Y., born June 17, 1859; Oliver M., born April 24, 1861; Henry A., born November 26, 1865. It will be seen that Henry A. Moyer is the young- est of the children. After his father's death he lived on the home farm in Seward Township, and attended the district schools as op- portunity offered during the winter terms. When he took upon himself the role of a self-supporting boy it was as a farm hand, at monthly wages, and he continued in that way until he was twenty- one.
September 11, 1887, Mr. Moyer married Miss Mary Skinner. She was born in Clay Township of this county November 26, 1865, and is therefore of the same age as her husband. She was educated in the common schools. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moyer lived in Seward Township, where they bought a farm, and since then have been steadily making their way toward better home conditions and that larger usefulness which is represented by a good farm, a grow- ing family, and an attitude of helpfulness in neighborly affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer have two living children : Pearl, born August 22, 1890, a graduate of the common and high schools, now the wife of Elza Heck- man of Clay Township. Beatrice, the second daughter, was born Oc- tober 22, 1892, is a graduate of the common schools and is the wife of Hershel Day of Seward Township.
The family are very active members of the United Brethren Church at Center, and Mr. Moyer is a class leader and for many vears has been taking a large share of the responsibility in the Sun- day school and other departments of the church. Mrs. Moyer is a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Moyer is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees, and it was on the republican ticket that he was elected supervisor of the township. His farm comprises 166 acres of land, and the farm, its improvements and his fine home and family constitute an enviable record for a man who started life on his own resources as a poor boy.
MRS. MARY FORD has an interesting place in the history of Kos- ciusko County, due to her long residence here, and also to the fact that she is directly connected with some of the most notable pio- neers. Her father was Jacob Weirick, long one of the most promi- nent citizens of Franklin Township, and her husband, the late Cal- lender Ford, was a member of a family of similar pioneer connec- tions with this county. Mrs. Ford has one of the fine farm homes in Franklin Township, located a mile south and two miles west of Burket.
This branch of the Ford family originated in England and was
Callender Ford
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
transplanted to the American colonies before the Revolution. Four brothers served as patriot soldiers in the struggle for independence. One of them was George Ford of Virginia. Henry Ford, son of George, was born in Virginia, April 21, 1798, and married there June 20, 1822, Miss Phoebe Minear. She was born in Harrison County, in what is now West Virginia, November 3, 1802, daugh- ter of Adam and Elizabeth Minear, who were of English and Ger- man ancestry. Henry and Phoebe Ford had eleven children, named Lanty, Franklin, Elizabeth, John, Isaac, Noah, Eliza, Jacob, Shad- rach, Callender and Daniel, the two last named being the last sur- vivors. Seven of these children tanght school, and three of them read and practiced medicine.
It was in 1836 that Henry Ford brought his family to Kosciusko County, first locating on the southeast quarter of section 35 in Frank- lin Township. His nearest neighbors were members of the Cook family three miles away. Later some New England families came to that neighborhood and the road came to be designated Yankee Street. Henry Ford lived there until 1858, having secured his land direct from the government at the price of a dollar and a quarter an acre. In 1858 he removed to section 13 of Franklin Township, and died there September 10, 1872, at the age of seventy-four. His wife died September 4, 1875. He was a justice of the peace, and he and his wife were active Methodists. In politics he was a demo- crat.
Callender Ford, husband of Mrs. Mary Ford, was born in Bar- bour County, West Virginia, April 9, 1832, and was about four years old when brought to Kosciusko County. He grew up in the midst of frontier conditions, and achieved a place of distinction dur- ing his mature life as a farmer and citizen. He married for his first wife Susanna E. Weirick, who died leaving one son. After her death he married Mary Weirick Ford, widow of Isaac Ford and daughter of Jacob and Margaret Weirick. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ford settled on a farm a mile north of Mount Pleasant in Clay Township, and in that locality spent eighteen or twenty years, then coming to Franklin Township and locating on the Jacob Weir- ick farm. Callender Ford died here in 1900.
Mrs. Ford's father, Jacob Weirick, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, in 1811, a son of George and Elizabeth (Frederick) Weirick. George Weirick was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1773, and his wife was born January 24, 1780. They mar- ried in 1801. Elizabeth Weirick died in 1816, the mother of seven children, including Jacob. The latter's father married again and had twelve children. George Weirick died September 25, 1838.
Jacob Weirick grew up in Pennsylvania and in 1843 took his family to Richland County, Ohio, and in 1854 came to Franklin Township of Kosciusko County and bought 520 acres of land from Washington Bybee. That large farm he extensively improved and increased its area until he had over 1,000 acres, and the Weirick place, now divided into several farms, has long been one of the landmarks of progressive agriculture and improvement in the south-
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west corner of the county. Jacob Weirick erected the second brick residence in the township in 1861. He was a man very much inter- ested in educational and religious affairs, and from 1834 to 1864 he had taught school, pursuing that occupation in addition to his varied interests as a farmer and land owner. In Union County, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1841, Jacob Weirick married Margaret Smith, daughter of Leonard and Susannah (Brifogle) Smith. They were the parents of eight children: Susannah, Mary, Matilda, Amanda, Harriet, Emeline, Isabella and Florence. The first was born in Pennsylvania, the next four, including Mrs. Ford, were born in Ohio, and the last three in Indiana. They were all daugh- ters, so that the male line of the Weirick family in this branch ended with Jacob Weirick. However, there are a number of grandsons and great-grandchildren of this honored pioneer and noble citizen of Kos- ciusko County.
One of the grandsons of Jacob Weirick and of the pioneer Henry Ford is Henry Ford, who for a number of years has managed the home of his mother in Franklin Township. He was born in Clay Township, May 19. 1877, son of Callender and Mary (Weirick) Ford. He received a common school education and also attended the North- ern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso for thirty weeks. He had some idea of preparing for a profession, but came home instead and took charge of his mother's farm, and has successfully managed it ever since. He is an active member of Mentone Lodge No. 576, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, is a republican voter, but has cared little for the honors of politics. His mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star As a family they own 320 acres of rich and produc- tive land in Franklin and Wayne Townships, and other property elsewhere. Mrs. Ford is a stockholder in the Lake City Bank at Warsaw, and also owns some of the bonds of the Goshen Division of the Interurban Railway.
FRANK FUNK. One of the oldest farms in Prairie Township is that occupied by Mr. Frank Funk, who has spent most of his life in that township. His home is seven miles northwest of Warsaw, and besides the farm he is well known as a business man at Atwood.
Mr. Funk was born at Goshen, Indiana, March 3, 1852, son of Fred and Elizabeth (Bower) Funk. His grandparents were Fred- erick and Elizabeth (Darr) Funk. Fred Funk was born in Piqua County, Ohio, May 10, 1820, and was fourteen years of age when, in 1834, his parents pioneered to Northern Indiana and settled in Elkhart County. He grew up there, and on January 2, 1844, in Turkey Creek County of Kosciusko County, married Miss Eliza- beth Bower. She was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 13, 1823. After their marriage they lived near Syracuse, and on sell- ing their property there moved to Goshen, where Mr. Fred Funk was in the livery business a short time. Returning to Turkey Creek Township, he developed a good farm, and finally sold that property and moved to Leesburg. In 1861 he established his home in Prairie
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Township, and in that locality both he and his wife lived out their years. He died September 4, 1904, and his wife September 14, 1905.
Their children were six in number, two of whom died in infancy. Clifford, who was born April 1, 1856, died April 21, 1877. Thomas, born February 13, 1858, died July 24, 1917, leaving a widow, Re- becca (Harshner) Funk, but no children. Eliza J. Funk, who was born February 6, 1849, and her brother Franklin are now the only surviving members of the family, and both reside on the old home- stead. They were educated in the district schools and own some of the valuable property of Prairie Township. They have joint owner- ship of seventy acres, included in the old homestead, while Miss Funk owns in her own right 140 acres and Frank Funk has 120 acres near Atwood. Mr. Funk also operates a warehouse on his farm one mile from Atwood, and is an extensive buyer of hides, wool and junk.
MRS. MARY C. STOUT owns and occupies the old farm on which she spent her girlhood and also the years of her companionship with her late husband, William Stout. Mrs. Stout is mother of some noble sons and a daughter, and is one of the women properly considered in a work of this nature.
She was born on the farm where she now lives October 12, 1858, daughter of Moses and Jane A. (Sands) Loop. Her father was born in Wooster, Ohio, and her mother in Pennsylvania. They were mar- ried in Ohio and were early settlers in Kosciusko County, where they took a tract of land in the woods, cleared it up and improved it, and made it the farm which it is today. Moses Loop died December 2, 1891, and his wife on April 24, 1888.
Mary C. Loop grew up in the home of her parents, and on March 5, 1882, she became the wife of William Stout. He was just a year older than his bride, having been born in Paulding County, Ohio, June 13, 1857, son of Christian and Sarah (Haas) Stout. Chris- tian Stout brought his family to Indiana in 1864, locating on a farm on Eel River, where his wife died the following year. Three years later Christian Stout came to Kosciusko County, married a second wife, and for many years lived in Seward Township. It was in the vicinity of Laketon in Wabash County that William Stout spent part of his boyhood, and came to manhood in Seward Township in this county. After his marriage he located on the old Loop farm and was its capable manager until his death April 7, 1903. He was one of the highly esteemed citizens of the county and a man of good business judgment and capable in all his relations with his fellow men. He voted as a democrat and at one time served as a member of the advisory board.
Mrs. Stout's four children are noted briefly as follows: Elsie, the only daughter, married Loren Yocum, and is living near Etna Green, Indiana. The son, Robert R., is a graduate of the common schools and lives in Seward Township. He married Hazel Wyn- coop. Walter M., the second son, is a graduate of the local high school, of Indiana University with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. and also received the Doctor of Medicine degree from the State Uni-
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versity. He is now serving in the Medical Reserve Corps with the rank of captain at Fort Riley, Kansas. The youngest of the family, Wilbur C. Stout, is a graduate of the high school at Silver Lake and has assumed most of the responsibilities in managing the home farm for his mother. This farm comprises 300 acres, and is regarded as one of the most valuable individual estates in Seward Township. Wilbur C. Stout married Pearl E. Minear. Mrs. Stout also has three grandchildren.
HORACE G. THOMAS is a prosperous farmer in Franklin Town- ship, and his home place, devoted to grain and stock raising, com- prises 1151/2 acres in section 31, a mile or so west of Beaver Dam Lake.
Mr. Thomas was born near Pendleton in Madison County, Indi- ana, August 5, 1863, a son of Abner and Margaret (Cateran) Thomas, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The re- spective families came to Indiana and located in Madison County near the old town of Pendleton, where Abner and Margaret grew up and married. They settled on a farm near there, but in 1863, soon after the birth of their son Horace, moved to Franklin Township of Kosciusko County and established their home on a farm in sec- tion 6. The father died here in 1881 and the mother in 1880. They were members of the Church of the Winbernarian, and he was a Past Noble Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was an active republican, and at one time filled the office of justice of the peace. He and his wife had five children: Edward E., of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Horace G .; William C., of Chicago; Mary, wife of Thad K. Martin, living in Ohio: while the fifth and youngest child died in infancy.
Horace G. Thomas grew up on a farm near Beaver Dam and at- tended the local schools. At the death of his parents he was thrown upon his own resources and was still under age. He worked for a time on the farm of John C. Meredith and later for Albert L. Tucker. and during a number of hard years of work for others gained the experience and the reputation for ability which constituted his best capital when he started for himself.
In December, 1890, Mr. Thomas married Miss Philana Petry. She was born on the farm where she is now living and was educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have steadily gone ahead toward better circumstances, and have now equipped their farm until it ranks high in the productive scale, and constitutes one of the enviable country homes of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are active members of the United Brethren Church at Bea- ver Dam, and he serves as a church trustee. In politics he is a re- publican and has been a member of the township advisory board.
They have had three children. Charles H., died after reaching his majority and when a most promising career was open to him; Mary E., attended the Akron High School and is the wife of Merle Tucker; Olga M., is a graduate of the Beaver Dam High School, lives at home and is a teacher in the local schools.
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CLARENCE A. HELVEY is a careful and enterprising farmer in Jackson Township four miles northeast of North Manchester, and represents an old and well-known name in that township and also over the Wabash County line in Chester Township.
He was born in the latter township of Wabash County February 24, 1881, a son of Champion S. and Lillian (Enyeart) Helvey. Both parents were born in Chester Township, Champion Helvey in 1854. The name Helvey occurs as frequently as that of any other family in connection with the pioneer settlement of Wabash County. There were several brothers of the name, Champion, Richard and others, who pioneered into that locality during the sixties.
Champion Helvey and wife still live on their farm in Chester Township. They are active members of the United Brethren Church and he is a republican. Of the nine children eight are still living : Mrs. Nora Perry; Clarence A .; Maude, wife of Clarence Hector, of Montana; Sarah, wife of Winfield Parker, living in North Dakota ; John R., who is with the United States Army at Camp Taylor, Ken- tucky ; Laura ; Cuba,' at home with her parents; Russell in the United States Navy.
Clarence Helvey is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a republican in politics. On his farm in Jackson Town- ship he is breeding Shorthorn cattle, but divides his efforts among the general branches of farming.
CHARLES E. LEEDY, M. D. Representing one of the oldest and most honored names in Kosciusko County, Dr. Charles E. Leedy has spent his life here and for twenty years has served an increasing number of the community in and around Pierceton as a physician and surgeon.
Doctor Leedy was born on a farm a mile and a half north of Pierceton February 11, 1870, a son of Ephraim and Sarah (Devenny) Leedy. Both parents were natives of the State of Ohio and came to Kosciusko County when young with their respective families. After their marriage they settled on a farm southwest of Pierceton and Ephraim Leedy was for many years one of the men whose names were most intimately and familiarly associated with progressive things in agricultural achievements. He and his wife became the parents of five children : Dr. Charles E .; Edwin, who is general immigration agent for the Great Northern Railway ; Dela, wife of Arthur Munson ; Chester A., a fruit rancher in Washington ; and Josie M., deceased.
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