USA > Indiana > White County > A standard history of White County Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. II > Part 26
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
WILLIAM DAHLENBURG. Probably the most important requisites to success in farming life are hard work, close attention to the business and the exercise of considerable patience and thrift during the period needed to become well established. These traits have been well illustrated in the case of William Dahlenburg, who has for more than thirty years been one of the independent and successful farmers of Honey Creek Town- ship. Mr. Dahlenburg's excellent farm of eighty acres lies in Section 26 of that township on Rural Delivery Route No. 10 out of Reynolds.
William Dahlenburg was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, June 22, 1858, a son of John and Mary (Dahlenburg) Dahlenburg. When he was a small child he lost his father, who died in the old country and the mother subsequently married William Heiser. The Heiser and Dahlen- burg family came to the United States in 1873, and from New York pro- ceeded directly west to Monticello, Indiana. William Heiser was for fourteen years a prosperous farmer south of that town on the old McCain farm, and from there moved to Honey Creek Township, where he died October 5, 1908, and was laid to rest in the Reynolds Cemetery. Mr. Dahlenburg's mother died October 15, 1910, and is also intered in the same burying ground. They were both members of the German Lutheran Church, and the late Mr. Heiser was a democrat and in various ways took an active interest in public affairs. He was a general farmer and stock raiser. Soon after coming to White County he was injured by
,
749
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
being shot in the hand, and for some time suffered from this handicap and was unable to give much attention to his farm duties.
William Dahlenburg acquired practically all his education in the schools of the old country, and was fifteen years of age when he faced the opportunities of the New World. As a young man he learned the tinner's trade, and might have followed that vocation but for the injury to his step-father on which account he remained at home and took an active share in the farm management. That gave him his permanent bent in a career, and for fully forty years he has been closely identified with farming pursuits in White County.
One of the first important events of his life was his marriage on August 15, 1876, to Miss Minnie Jacobs, a daughter of William and Minnie (Rogge) Jacobs. Mrs. Dahlenburg was born in Germany, where both her parents died, and she came practically alone to the New World. Along with the material evidences of his prosperity Mr. Dahlenburg and wife are entitled to great praise for having brought up and trained a large family of useful boys and girls, ten in number, equally divided between sons and daughters. The names of these children, all of whom are living, are Dora, Minnie, William, George, Emma, Carl, Ida, Walter, Clara and Rinehardt.
It was in the year 1884 that Mr. Dahlenburg located on his present farm. There for thirty years or more he has continued general farm- ing and stock raising, and his period of residence has been marked by many improvements and a great increase in the value of the property over what it was when he first located there. His fellow citizens have likewise shown their confidence in his judgment and ability by electing him to the office of township supervisor. He is a democrat, and all the family are members of the German Lutheran Church.
A. C. WILLIAMS, M. D. A prominent young physician of Honey Creek Township, with offices and home at Reynolds, Dr. A. C. Williams is a native son of White County, and his professional experience has already well justified his choice of a vocation.
Doctor Williams was born at Monticello, in White County, January 19, 1889, a son of Joseph C. and Etta B. (Carson) Williams. Doctor Williams acquired his education in the public schools, and having early determined upon the medical profession as his choice of pursuits, he en- tered the school of medicine of the University of Indiana, where he was graduated M. D. in 1912. During his junior and senior years he was an externe in the City Hospital. After graduating he located in Reynolds, and has since come into favor as a skillful and able practitioner. He
750
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
is a member of the White County and the Indiana State medical societies and the American Medical Association.
Doctor Williams affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and with the Masonic lodge at Monon. In September, 1913, he married Wrighta Henkel, daughter of W. J. and Emma (Horner) Henkel. Doctor Wil- liams is a republican in politics.
WILLIAM F. SNYDER. Present county assessor of White County, Wil- liam F. Snyder is one of the older native sons of the county, and rep- resents a pioneer family in the settlement and development of this sec- tion.
William F. Snyder was born in the little community of Norway, White County, February 14, 1857, a son of Abraham and Margaret (Strauss) Snyder. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Virginia. The families came to this county separately, and the parents were married here. It was during the decade of the '30s that the Strausses and Snyders located in White County, and they gained land directly from the Government. Abraham Snyder was one of the sub- stantial farmers of the county, and was also a tanner by trade. He was a man of no little influence in his community, was a republican in politics, and was ordained and served for a number of years as local preacher in the Methodist Church. His death occurred in February, 1879, and he was survived by his wife until February, 1908. Both are buried in the Pike Creek Cemetery. They were the parents of twelve children, and five of these are yet living.
William F. Snyder spent his early life on a farm, attended the dis- trict schools as opportunity permitted, and when twenty-one years of age started out to engage in the battles of the world for himself. He has been a farmer, and his principal success has come from the vocation of husbandman in Honey Creek Township. In 1898 he moved into the Village of Reynolds, where he and his family now reside. Mr. Snyder is a republican in politics, was elected township trustee of Honey Creek Township in 1904, and at the present time is serving as county assessor. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Castle Hall No. 154, at Rey- nolds, and his church is the Methodist. In 1879 Mr. Snyder married Mary Swisher, daughter of Samuel Swisher, of Pulaski County. To their marriage have been born seven children, of whom five are living, namely : Charles F., a farmer at Reynolds, married Amanda Kochel, and they have a son, Fayette; Chester, who is associated with his father in business at Reynolds; Bertha, the wife of Charles Crane, a motorman at Indianapolis; Nellie, wife of Fred Hanna, a farmer of Jackson Town-
,
751
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
ship, and they have a little son, Paul; and Blanche, wife of Harvey Stevenson, the manager of a theater at Frankfort, Indiana.
LEVI REYNOLDS. The present trustee of Honey Creek Township is an old resident of White County, and one whose business accomplishment and whose solid judgment have well qualified him for the important responsibilities he is now administering. Though still retaining his farming interests in Honey Creek Township, he now makes his home in the Town of Reynolds and gives practically all his time and energy to the duties of his official position.
Levi Reynolds was born in White County November 26, 1859, and is a son of the old pioneers, Calvin and Georgiana (Sill) Reynolds. Benja- min Reynolds, an uncle of Calvin, was the founder of the Town of Reyn- olds, which was named in his honor. The Reynolds family is of English extraction, and the first Americans of the name came to this country in company with William Penn, the great Quaker leader who founded Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary war, however, their patriotism proved stronger than their religious faith, and they gave up the passive resistant idea of the Quakers in favor of active support of the Revolu- tionary cause.
Calvin Reynolds was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1830, and his wife was born in January, 1837. It was in the late '40s that he removed to White County, and here became a farmer and stock raiser in Union Township. He was also a man of considerable influence in public affairs. His death occurred in 1872, and his body is now at rest in the Hughes Cemetery. His widow is still living, at a venerable age, in White County. She was married at Monticello. Of their seven children, the six still living are: Ebenezer, William Milton, Levi, Minnie, Embree P. and Mary. Calvin Reynolds was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his family worships in the Presbyterian faith.
The boyhood of Levi Reynolds was spent on a farm, and his educa- tion came from local schools and one year in Monmouth College. He has made farming the object of his endeavors since early manhood, and has an excellent property in Honey Creek Township. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias order, Castle Hall No. 454, at Reynolds, and in politics has always been aligned with the democrats. In No- vember, 1914, he was elected trustee of Honey Creek Township, and in January of the following year took up his residence in Reynolds.
Mr. Reynolds married Clara Burns, daughter of John and Ellen Burns. To their marriage have been born four children, named: Ruby, Claude, Minnie and Lulu. Ruby M., a member of the graduating class of 1914 in the Monticello High School, is at home, as is also the son
752
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
Claude. Minnie is the wife of a Mr. Gibson and resides in Brookston, Indiana, where he is engaged in farming. The youngest daughter, Lulu, is living with an aunt at LaFayette, and is attending the city schools there.
SQUIRE W. MYERS. A prominent and highly esteemed resident of Monticello, Squire W. Myers is numbered among the extensive land- owners of White County, and is also well known in connection with a number of business enterprises, and is also a justice of the peace. A native of Illinois, he was born July 26, 1856, at Eureka, Woodford County, a son of Lewis H. and Christean (Helvern) Myers, the former of whom died October 12, 1909, at Rensselaer, Indiana, while the latter is still living, in 1915, making her home in Washington, Illinois.
Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the pub- lic schools of his native county, Squire W. Myers subsequently attended Westfield College, in Westfield, Illinois, for two years. Possessing ex- cellent business ability and judgment, he accumulated considerable money, and in 1902 came to White County, Indiana to invest it. Locat- ing in Honey Creek Township, Mr. Myers bought land, and now holds title to 834 acres, practically all of which is under a high state of cul- ture. He has made improvements of great value on his farms, which he rents, drawing a good income from them, and now devotes his atten- tion to his work in Monticello, for five years having been engaged in the abstract business, in addition to fulfilling his duties as justice of the peace. He is a democrat in politics, but not an office seeker.
Mr. Myers married, February 12, 1878, Isabel Stumbaugh, of Mont- gomery Township, Woodford County, Illinois, and they are the parents of five children, namely: Gae, wife of Charles W. Seeley; Clark S .; Lewis Dean; Maucie; and Ruth. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Myers are connected with the Presbyterian Church. They are whole-souled, gen- erous people, and their pleasant home is a center of social activity.
MARION BENJAMIN. The career of Marion Benjamin, from earliest boyhood, has been one filled with earnest and unending effort. In his youth he was forced to meet and overcome many disadvantages and ob- stacles, his early years were passed amid the hardships of pioneer existence, and in later life he was compelled to experience the vicissitudes which characterize the activities of the individual making his way with- out monetary or friendly influences. That he is now the possessor of independence and an honored position among his fellow-citizens, is due solely to his own labors and his abiding faith in his abilities.
Mr. Benjamin was born in the township in which he now resides, that
.
/
753
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
of Liberty, White County, Indiana, March 4, 1856. He is one of the eight children, all of whom are now living but one, born to the marriage of Abel and Mary (Conwell) Benjamin. Abel Benjamin was a native of Ross County, Ohio, and when a boy was left an orphan, being reared in the family of Isaac Davis, who brought him to White County at a very early day, where he was reared to manhood and married. Mr. Ben- jamin began housekeeping in a log house on section 23, in Liberty Town- ship. He secured but few educational advantages as a boy, the greater part of his education being secured in the schools of hard work and experience, and when the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Forty- sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. It was his fate to meet a soldier's death, for he fell at the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi. May 16, 1863. His son, George, was also a soldier in the Union army, belonging to the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he enlisted at the age of fifteen years. He passed safely through the war and at the present time is a resi- dent of Nebraska.
Mrs. Benjamin, at the time of her husband's death, was left with a large family of children to care for, in a part of the country that was not developed, and at a time when currency had deeply depreciated. She did not allow herself to become discouraged, however, but bravely faced the existing conditions, and in some way managed to keep her little flock together. In later years Mrs. Benjamin was again married, to Robert T. Harrison, and both are now deceased.
Of his parents' eight children, Marion was the sixth in order of birth. He was reared in Liberty Township and in addition to helping on the home place, attended in a limited way the district schools of the locality. When he was about eighteen years old he began the battle of life upon his own responsibility, securing employment as a farm hand, at a salary of $16 per month, and gradually accumulated some small means. Mr. Benjamin was married February 20, 1879, to Miss Catherine J. Adams, who was born in Ohio, and for a number of years after this union was engaged in renting land in White County, beyond the limits of which he has never resided. His first ownership was a tract of 100 acres of land located in sections 13 and 14, and at the present time he owns 260 acres, all accumulated by his own ability and hard work. In addition to gen- eral farming, Mr. Benjamin has always carried on stock-raising, and in both departments has been more than ordinarily successful. He com- bines practical means, with the more modern methods, raises the stand- ard crops of the locality, and displays keen business discrimination in the disposal of them. Mr. Benjamin has not been a seeker for preferment in public life, being content to devote himself to his pastoral pursuits,
ยท
754
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
yet he takes an interest in the welfare of his community and lends his support to all beneficial movements. He is inclined to be independent in his political views, but all else being even generally favors the candidates and principles of the democratic party.
To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin four children have been born: William; Edward E .; Mary Ellen, who is the wife of William Hepp; and Gertie, who is the wife of Edward Frye.
RENWICK FAMILY. Since the year 1834, White County has profited by the stable citizenship and industrious activities of members of the Renwick family, who have played no unimportant part in the history of this part of Indiana, and whose influence has ever been on the side of progress and high standards of living. In the year mentioned Andrew Renwick came from Greene County, Ohio, by wagon, and entered eighty acres of land from the United States Government on what is now the west side of Main Street, at Idaville, there erecting a log cabin. His family at that time consisted of three daughters and one son, all of whom are now deceased.
Andrew Renwick was a man of rather small stature, but very wiry, and capable of sustaining an unusual amount of fatigue. He was a native of Scotland, where he learned the trade of weaver, and was a descendant of the Reverend Mr. Renwick, christened James, the last of the martyrs of the Covenant. This ancestor was born at Moniaive, Scot- land, February 15, 1662. He attended Edinburgh University with a view to the ministry, but was denied his degree as he refused the oath of allegiance. He was chosen by the "Societies," as the bands of men devoted to the Covenant were called, to proceed to Holland to complete his studies in 1682 and was ordained in the following year and returned to Scotland. There his life was subsequently exposed to great hazards, he being obliged to move from place to place, and often reduced to great destitution. In the year 1684 he published his Apologetic Declaration, for which he was outlawed, and when James II was placed on the throne in 1685 Renwick went with 200 men to Sanquhar and published a declaration rejecting him. A reward was subsequently offered for his capture, he was hunted from place to place, making many hairbreadth escapes, but was finally captured at Edinburgh, and was condemned and eventually executed, February 17, 1688.
On locating in America, Andrew Rendick went direct to Greene County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and pursued the same call- ing after coming to White County, Indiana. It may be said that his chief characteristic was a kindly, even jovial, disposition, for which he was well liked, although he had numerous other sterling qualities.
755
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
He and his wife became the parents of the following children : Margaret, the wife of Stephen Nutt; James; Elizabeth, the wife of Cyrus Cunning- ham; and Jane, the wife of Frank Spencer.
James Renwick, son of Andrew, was born February 9, 1819, in Greene County, Ohio, and when a small boy came to White County, Indiana, with his parents, where he was reared to manhood and completed his schooling. He was considered to be a well-educated man, and before the time of reaching his majority had taken up his work as one of the early educators of Jackson Township. Mr. Renwick married, December 24, 1840, Miss Abigail Barnes, who died August 9, 1845, leaving two children: Andrew, born October 11, 1842, married Lida Dean, and after her death, Mary Jamieson, and is a United Presbyterian preacher ; and Thomas, who died in infancy. The second wife of James Renwick was Margaret Jane McCully, who was born June 26, 1826, in Blount County, Tennessee, married Mr. Renwick, February 12, 1846, and was a daughter of Solomon and Ann M. (Hamill) MeCully, who had nine children, namely: Margaret Jane, John M., James G., Robert H., Samuel A., Elizabeth A., William C., Mary A. and Solomon H. The McCullys came to Indiana and settled on what is now known as the old Magee place, about two miles southeast of Idaville, in 1832, very shortly thereafter moving to White County, across the line. To James and Margaret Jane (McCully) Renwick there were born the following chil- dren : Solomon M., born June 14, 1848, married March 29, 1870, Caro- line Hamill, and died February 23, 1873, leaving one daughter, Abbie, the wife of Claude Irelan; James Alexander, born March 22, 1850, mar- ried March 3, 1870, Agnes Robison, has four children and resides at Idaville; John Arthur, born May 16, 1852, married June 13, 1883, Eliz- abeth Patton, has two daughters, graduated at Monmouth (Illinois) Col- lege, with the degree of Doctor of Laws, and is preaching at Topeka, Kansas; Stephen G., born July 22, 1854, who died March 29, 1862; Hamilton Doig, born January 14, 1858, married November 13, 1879, Frances Arnott, has two children and is a farmer of White Pigeon, Mich- igan; Margaret Abigail, born December 9, 1859, who died March 10, 1863 ; Alfred Rankin, born February 16, 1862, a farmer of Liberty Town- ship, White County; and Elizabeth Ann, born September 18, 1864, who married January 17, 1884, John D. Henderson, and died April 13, 1899, leaving three children.
James Renwick, father of the foregoing children, followed farming throughout his life, but also engaged in other pursuits, being a man of diversified talents and abilities. In addition to being a school teacher, he was a carpenter and cabinet maker, trades which he taught himself in his youth, and in the early days made numerous coffins, and later Vol. II-16
756
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
erected many houses, a number of which are still standing as monuments to his skill and good workmanship. Mr. Renwick was elected county commissioner in 1867 and served in that capacity for one term, was a republican in politics, and stood high in the estimation of his fellow- citizens. During the early days Mr. Renwick was a member of what was known as the Seceder Church, but later identified himself with the United Presbyterian Church, in which he was ordained an elder in 1844, being later commissioner to the General Assembly and a moderator of that body. He organized the first Sabbath school in Jackson Township, and was its superintendent for a period of sixteen consecutive years, up to the time of his death, which occurred February 15, 1873, Mrs. Ren- wick dying January 18, 1893. In all of the walks of life, James Renwick displayed a love for all that was honest and fair, and the regard and esteem which he won in early manhood were retained by him to the day of his death.
Alfred Rankin Renwick, son of James and grandson of the pioneer Andrew Renwick, has always made White County his home. Reared on the home farm, his education was secured in the Idaville and Monti- cello public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Val- paraiso, and March 25, 1886, he was married to Lily M. Moore, daughter of Thomas B. and Louisa (Paul) Moore. Following his marriage Mr. Renwick engaged in teaching for two years, but since that time has devoted the greater part of his attention and energies to agricultural pursuits. He has resided on his present farm in Liberty Township for a period of more than a quarter of a century, and now has 272 acres, under a good state of cultivation, and well improved with handsome and modern buildings, equipped with the most up-to-date appliances. Mr. Renwick is known as a practical farmer, who uses modern methods in his work and whose well-directed management has resulted in the achieve- ment of an eminently satisfactory success. He and Mrs. Renwick belong to the Buffalo Presbyterian Church, in which he was ordained an elder August 2, 1891, and was elected a commissioner to the General Assembly of that denomination, which met at Rochester, New York, May 20, 1915. In politics a republican, he served capably and faithfully as county com- missioner from the Third District of White County, from 1907 until 1910.
Mrs. Renwick was born February 22, 1864, and she and her hus- band have been the parents of eight children, as follows: Margaret Louisa, born January 16, 1887; Elizabeth, born October 31, 1888; Mary Ellen, born May 26, 1891, married Homer Ray Downey, March 24, 1915; Rankin, born October 31, 1893, married Agnes Van Meter, February 4, 1915 ; Ralph Moore, born May 26, 1896; Verna, born February 12, 1899,
757
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
died March 2, 1899; Lily Maud, born May 2, 1902; and Dorothy, born November 24, 1905.
WILLIAM J. HELFRICH. A number of the agriculturists of White County are living on farms on which they were born and have passed their entire lives. These men have an advantage, in a certain way, for they have, from earliest manhood, been thoroughly familiar with the conditions of the locality, particularly as they relate to soil and climate. and have been able to develop their properties along well-established and practical lines, without the necessity of experiment. In this class is found William J. Helfrich. who with the exception of one year has lived all of his life on his present property in Liberty Township. He was born here June 13, 1869, and is a son of William W. and Mary A. (Kutz) Helfrich.
William W. Helfrich was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 20, 1832, and was there reared and educated and learned the trade of wagon and buggy maker. He was married in his native community August 9, 1853, to Mary A. Kutz, who was also born there, November 13, 1832, and about the year 1866 moved to the State of Ohio. Three years later, in March, 1869, he came to White County, Indiana, and bought eighty acres of land on section 2, Liberty Township, which at that time was only partially improved. Mr. Helfrich settled down to general farming and stock-raising, cultivated his farm and added to its acreage, and resided there for some years, then moving across the line into Pulaski County. After a short stay, he returned to White County, locating at Buffalo, which place continued to be his home until his death, which occurred July 24, 1911. Mr. Helfrich was a man some- what above the average in stature, was exceptionally industrious, and through his own exertions and those of his faithful wife became un- usually well-to-do. At one time he owned over 400 acres of land, and was considered one of the substantial men of his part of the county. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and in politics a democrat. Liv- ing an exemplary life, honest to the penny and of the strictest integrity, he was universally respected as an excellent citizen, a kind and con- siderate neighbor and a friend who could be depended upon in times of need. Mrs. Helfrich, who survives her husband, lives at Buffalo where she has many friends and is highly respected and esteemed. She and her husband were the parents of twelve children, of whom eight are still living.
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.