USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 12
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Henry L. Jarrell was educated in the schools of Tyner and of Ply- mouth and for fourteen years was a teacher in Polk township. He proved a capable educator, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he acquired and throughout his life he has been more or less a student, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. While living in Polk township he also served as trustee for four years, from 1882 until 1886, and in the latter year he was appointed deputy sheriff, filling the position in prompt and fearless manner for four years. The capability which he displayed in the discharge of his duties led to his election in 1890 to the office of sheriff and his incumbency again covered a term of four years. During that time he made his home at the county seat and after his retirement from office he returned to Polk township. This did not terminate his official service, however, for he filled the office
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of county commissioner for six years and in this, as in the other offices, proved most loyal to the trust reposed in him.
Taking up his abode upon his farm in Polk township, Mr. Jarrell carefully, systematically and successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1904, when he removed to Tyner and built his present home. He is still the owner of valuable farming property, however, including a tract of land of one hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Jarrell has been married three times. On the 12th of February, 1879, he wedded Miss Ida E. Harris, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Martin Harris, a farmer of Polk township. They became the parents of two children : Jessie B., who is now a teacher in the schools of South Bend, Indiana, and Iden E., now deceased. The wife and mother passed away in 1882 and Mr. Jarrell was again married in 1884, his second union being with Miss Clara C. Shirk, of Lapaz. Her birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and by her marriage she became the mother of two children, but one died in infancy. The surviving daughter, Mamie C., is the wife of John I. Stoneburner, a resident farmer of Polk township. The death of Mrs. Clara Jarrell occurred in 1904 and on the 20th of June, 1907, Mr. Jarrell wedded Sarah M. Hostetter, of Laporte county, Indiana. They are well known socially in the community and have many warm friends in Tyner and throughout this part of the state.
Since his removal to the village Mr. Jarrell has successfully con- ducted business as a dealer in coal and implements and has built up a liberal patronage. His business methods neither seek nor require disguise and the careful conduct of his interests and his earnest desire to please his patrons have been the strong features in the success which he now enjoys. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Knights of the Maccabees and the Ancient Order of Gleaners, while his religions faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. While carefully conducting his commercial interests he finds time and utilizes his opportunities to advance the best interests of the village and no movement calculated to prove of general benefit seeks his endorsement and support in vain.
SAMUEL G. STROLE. On the roll of the prominent farmers and stock- men of Marshall county is recorded the name of Samuel G. Strole, whose valuable homestead is located in West township. He was born in Dekalb county, Indiana, April 7, 1844, and is a member of a prominent old family of that county. Thomas Strole, his father, was born in Maryland, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, and became one of its prominent farmers. He was married in Ohio to Sarah Diehl, of German descent, and a native of Maryland, and they became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom one died in infancy, and their son, Samuel, was a twin and the fifth child in order of birth. Mr. Strole, Sr., supported the principles of the Democratic party.
In his native county of Dekalb, Samuel G. Strole grew to years of maturity on a farm, but in 1872 he left the old home farm there and came to Marshall county, first locating on a rented farm of one hundred and twenty acres in West township. Four years later, in 1876, he pur- chased and moved to his present homestead of one hundred and twenty-
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seven acres of heavily wooded land in West township, but with the passing of time he has succeeded in clearing most of his land and has also cleared sixty acres on another farm. His landed possessions now consist of two hundred and twenty-seven acres, all in West township.
Mr. Strole married Elizabeth Swaysgood in 1869. She was born and reared in Summit county, Ohio, growing to years of maturity on a farm. Her father was a prominent farmer in the Buckeye state. He was a blacksmith by trade, and by following this occupation in early life he was able later to become the owner of his farm. Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Strole: Ada May, Hattie and Viola. The eldest daughter, Ada May, is the wife of Harry Rupel, a blacksmith of Burr Oak, and Viola died when eighteen months old. The two youngest were born in West township, and Mrs. Rupel is a native daughter of Dekalb county. Throughout the period of his majority Mr. Strole has voted with the Democratic party, and he is a member of the United Brethren church.
THOMAS HOUGHTON. A prosperous farmer, stock-raiser and land owner in Union township, Marshall county, Thomas Houghton is a native of Rush county, Indiana, born on the 4th of January, 1829. James Houghton, his father, was a pioneer of the township named. He was born in England in 1797, came to the United States when a young man, and locating on a farm in Rush county continued the avocation to which he had been trained, also as a good wagon maker. Here he was married to Miss Hannah Morris, who was born in Ohio, December 8, 1800, and there were nine children of this union, as follows: Phoebe, John, Thomas, Clarissa, Rachael, William, Elvira, Edward and Jefferson, all born in Indiana. The elder Mr. Houghton located in Union township in 1836, when he entered 160 acres of government land, and at once entered upon its improvement. After clearing and putting under the plow a large portion of this tract, he sold the property and purchased a farm near Culver, which remained his homestead until his death. In early life he was a wagon maker, following that trade also while a resi- dent of Rush county. For many years he was a member of the Christian church and was altogether a useful, moral and valued member of the community.
Thomas Houghton received his education primarily in the district schools of Union township, although his father took much interest in his mental improvement and taught him how to read. While still a boy he was apprenticed to a harness maker at Plymouth, and after completing his term returned to his father's farm, of which he assumed the manage- ment. His marriage occurred March 27, 1851, to Miss Nancy McCor- mick Mitchell, daughter of James Mitchell, a Marshall county farmer. Mrs. Houghton died March 18, 1854, leaving two children-Lorenzo and James Egbert. In 1855 Mr. Houghton married Miss Mary Ellen Byrd, a native of Marshall county, and to their union were born four sons- Charles E., Thomas E., John C. and William N. The second Mrs. Houghton passed away April 9, 1875, and on December 13, 1876, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Myers, who was born in Ohio, May 22, 1856, and reared in Marshall county, Indiana. The
Thomas Houghton and wife
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present wife is a daughter of Chris Myers, a farmer of Union township, who was born in Germany and came to Ohio with his parents when he was but two years of age. He was reared and married in that state, his wife being Elizabeth Pontias, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Houghton was rcared in Union township, and received her education in the public schools of that section. The following six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Houghton: Orlando M .; Luther P., deceased; Dennis Ralph; Bertha E .; Effie Leola, deceased, and Cloe Viola, all of whom were born on the old homestead.
Following his first marriage Mr. Houghton removed to the farm upon which he now resides, which at that time consisted of 160 acres, but which now comprises 327 acres, scientifically cultivated and thor- oughly improved. He is also the owner of two other farms of 166 acres, all in Union township. As to his fine homestead, it may be said that Mr. Houghton has cleared about 320 acres of it and made the improvements which have made it so valuable and attractive as a country home. He is also a valued citizen in his civic relations to the community, having served for seven years as a trustee of Union township. He is identified with the Masonic order and the I. O. O. F. in Union township, and he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Culver, having been heavy contributors in the erection of the beautiful church in Culver.
WILLIAM H. CONGER. One of the first families to become perma- nently identified with the interests of Marshall county was the Congers, their founder here having been the father of our subject, De Signey Conger, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 9, 1810. It was on the 6th of August, 1836, he came to Marshall county, establishing his home in what is now North township, where he improved a farm and in time he became one of the largest land owners in this part of the county. He donated four hundred acres to the Lake Erie railroad, and was a public benefactor of Marshall county, giving of his means to all worthy objects and furthering all measures which he deemed of benefit to his fellow citizens. He voted 'at the first election held after the organi- zation of the county and was the recipient of many public honors, serving in the early days as a school commissioner. The death of this honored and revered Marshall county pioneer occurred at the advanced age of eighty-four years, in 1894, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Powers and was also a native of Butler county, Ohio, died at the same age. She was born in February, 1810. Of their family of eight children, four died in infancy, the eldest being but seven years of age, and three are now living-Mary J., the wife of John H. Chase, of LaFayette, Indiana ; David J., of Avenue, Arkansas, and William H.
William H. Conger, the only representative of the family in Marshall county at the present time, was born in its township of North October 24, 1842. He attended the district schools during his early life, but the principal part of his education was received at his own fireside at home, pursuing his studies during the long winter evenings by the aid of the candle light. He also taught for a time during the winter months, and remained at home and assisted in the farm work until twenty-two years
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of age, while for three years thereafter he was engaged in the lumber business in Plymouth. Returning at the close of that period to the farm. he carried on its work until in January, 1894, when he came to Plymouth and entered upon his four years' term as the postmaster, this being during the administration of President Mckinley. Since his retirement from that office he has been identified with the real estate and insurance business.
In 1867 Mr. Conger married Lottie A. Smith, a native of Mont- gomery county, New York, and a daughter of Jacob N. and Catherine C. Smith, of Tioga county, that state. Four children were born to bless this union: Harry E., a resident of Kokomo, Indiana; Charles H., of Woodstock, Illinois; Ray E., who makes his home in Indianapolis, Indiana ; and Effie M., the wife of A. O. Wilcox, of Ravenswood, Illi- nois. Mr. Conger has membership relations with the Masonic fraternity. in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree and affiliates with the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery, and has filled all of the chairs in the order. He also affiliates with the Miles H. Tibbitt Post. G. A. R., being entitled to membership therein by his services in the Civil war, in which he enlisted in March, 1864, joining Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the conflict.
WILLIAM VANVACTOR, in whom the spirit of enterprise and determi- nation find exemplification in his successful farming operations, was born in Center township, this county, on the 22d of September, 1860, his father being Miles VanVactor. His birthplace was what is known as the old Van Vactor millsite near the present home of his uncle, Joseph Van Vactor. He was reared on the farm on which his father now resides, east of Plymouth, in Center township, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the country schools in the acquirement of an education and for a short time was a student in the schools of Plymouth. He also spent one term at the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso and his mental discipline well equipped him for the practical and responsible duties of life. When not busy with his text-books he worked upon the home farm, assisting in plowing, planting and harvesting up to the time of his marriage. Soon afterward he removed to the farm upon which he has since lived.
It was on the 29th of March, 1885, that Mr. Van Vactor was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Stephenson, who was born in Marshall county. January 11, 1862. They became the parents of two children: Mabel, who died at the age of three years, and Hazel, who is now seventeen years of age. Mrs. Van Vactor is a daughter of William Y. and Elizabeth (Cox) Stephenson, who were married in 1855. The father was one of the early school teachers of Marshall county and contributed in substan- tial measure to its intellectual progress in an early day. He also learned and to some extent followed the carpenter's trade. He made his home upon a farm and was a successful agriculturist, carefully conducting the work of the fields, so that annually he gathered rich harvests. Both he and his wife were natives of Indiana. His wife, who was born November 26, 1836, reached the ripe old age of seventy-one years, her death occur- ring January 21, 1907. They were greatly esteemed in the community
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as worthy pioneer citizens and Mr. Stephenson took an active and helpful part in the work of general progress and improvement.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Van Vactor is a farm of one hundred and seventy acres and is a splendidly improved property equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences of the model farm. The fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation and in connection with the production of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate Mr. Van- Vactor also raises stock to some extent. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, but he has neither time nor inclination for office, preferring to devote his energies to his farming operations, in which he is meeting with gratifying success.
WILLIAM M. SHERLAND, hotel proprietor, town clerk, a former township trustee and a resident farmer of Lapaz, claims membership to one of the oldest families of Marshall county. Ebenezer Sherland, his father, and a native of Penn Yan, New York, came to Marshall county with his father, James, in 1833, when he was but ten years old. They located on the Michigan road in North township, where the son attained to manhood's estate and later became a farmer. At one time he traded a horse for ninety-six acres of land, entirely unimproved, and to him fell the difficult and laborious work of placing it under cultivation. After a time he added one hundred and sixty-five acres to his little tract, and this remained as his homestead during the remainder of his life. He erected three houses on the land, but each in turn were destroyed by fire. He was both a farmer and local politician, and served his township of North as a trustee. Sophia Wively, his wife, was born in Lake county, Indiana, near Crown Point, of German ancestry, and she is now living in Williston, North Dakota. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sherland, but only two are now living, and the elder, Luther A., resides in Bremen, this state.
William M. Sherland, the second son and third child, was born in North township, Marshall county, October 12, 1860, and his education begun in its district schools was completed in the University of Val- paraiso. After leaving school he spent one year in Chicago and another in South Bend as a checking clerk for the Vandalia Railroad Company, but this is the only time he has worked for others. He owns the old Sherland homestead of two hundred and sixty-five acres and also property in Lapaz, where he maintains his residence. "Like father like son" is true regarding the public life of the Sherlands, for both father and son have been active in the public affairs of North township, and covering a period of five years and three months, from 1894, until November, 1900, William M. Sherland was the township trustee. He held the office longer con- tinuously than any other incumbent, and he is now the town clerk of Lapaz.
In 1885 Mr. Sherland married Lydia, the daughter of John A. and Martha Smith, of Sumption Prairie, Indiana. Their son is Floyd M., a teacher in North township, and their daughter "Dessie" is in the sixth grade. Mr. Sherland is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and of the United Brethren church.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
DR. H. P. PRESTON is numbered among the younger members of the medical fraternity of Marshall county, but he has already won success in his professional career and is accorded the good will and patronage of the citizens of Plymouth. His birth occurred in Laporte county, Indiana, January 13, 1874. His father, Calita Preston, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, but became one of the early pioneers of Laporte county, Indiana, whither he removed in 1833, and his death there occurred in 1906, aged eighty-two years. He is still survived by his wife, nee Mary Martin, who yet resides on the old homestead in Laporte county.
There were five children in their family, who grew to mature years, two sons and three daughters, and the Doctor, who is the third child in order of birth, spent the early years of his life at the old home in his native county of Laporte, pursuing his education in its district schools, and later he graduated in the high school of Rolling Prairie. The time had then arrived for him to enter the business world, and for seven years he served as the teller in the First National Bank of Laporte. In 1897 he enrolled his name among the medical students of Hahnemann College, of Chicago, one of the best known medical institutions of the country, and graduated therein in 1901. Dr. Preston at once returned to Laporte to embark in the practice of his profession, but six months later, in 1901, he came to Plymouth and has since devoted himself to his practice in this city. He is a member of the Marshall County Medical Society, the Indiana State and the American Medical Associations, and also has membership rela- tions with the Masonic order and the Elks. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is now serving as the examiner for the pension board.
In 1901 Dr. Preston was united in marriage to Winifred Wair, of Laporte county, Indiana. They were the parents of one child, Pauline, who died when three years of age.
DANIEL VOLLNAGLE, a retired farmer of Bremen, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1833, but for forty-three years he has been prominently identified with the interests of Marshall county. He is a son of John and Susan ( Konkle) Vollnagle, natives respectively of Ger- many and Pennsylvania. When a young man the father came from his native land to America and located in Mahoning county, Ohio, from whence in 1863 he removed to Marshall county, Indiana, and was engaged in farming here until his death at the age of about sixty-five years. The wife and mother reached the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. In their family were nine children, all of whom attained to years of maturity.
From his native county of Mahoning Daniel Vollnagle, their fourth child and third son, moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and became inter- ested in farming and supplying wood for the railroad company. From there he came to Marshall county, Indiana, in the spring of 1864, locating near Bremen, where he purchased a farm of about seventy acres and continued its improvement and cultivation until he laid aside the work of the farm and moved to Bremen to engage in sawmill work. Later, however, he purchased another farm of ninety-five acres two and a half miles north of Bremen, and both of his estates are now under an excel -.
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lent state of cultivation. He also owns his own home and other property in Bremen, and in 1888 he built what is known as the Bremen race track, a half-mile track, and which has the fastest record of any track of its size in the state of Indiana. A record of 2:07 was made by Billy Mack in 1902. Mr. Vollnagle graded the track and superintended its entire construction.
In Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1856, he married Anna Weaver, a native also of Mahoning county, Ohio, and they have a family of two sons and two daughters, as follows: Eliza, the wife of John Skyhawk, of Bremen ; Maretta, the wife of William Hans, also of this city; Joseph F., at home ; and Henry L., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Vollnagle also have four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, one of the latter being deceased.
WILLIS KOCH. The attractiveness of Marshall county as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of its native sons have remained within its borders, enjoying the privileges afforded here both for educational and business development. Of this class Willis Koch is a representative and is now successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising in West township, where a life of well directed activity and enterprise is bringing him the substantial rewards of earnest, per- sistent labor. The farm which is now his home was also his birth place and his natal day was March 25, 1875. His father, Aaron Koch, was a pioneer resident of West township and a native of Wyandot county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. Having attained his majority, he was married there to Miss Lovina Keiser, also a native of Ohio, who spent her girlhood days in that state and is indebted to its public school system for her education. This worthy couple became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom Willis Koch is the youngest. Of the family Franklin and Lillie, the first and second in order of birth; Olive, the fifth child, and Solomon, the seventh of the family, are now deceased. Those still living are Lincoln, Mary, Minnie and Willis. Four of the number were born in West township following the removal of the family from Ohio to Indiana. The father was a farmer in the Buckeye state. He removed westward to Iowa and after- ward came to this state, settling in West township in 1865. He pur- chased what is now the old family homestead, becoming owner of ninety- five acres of land, which was undeveloped and unimproved when it came into his possession, but he cleared away the timber and cultivated the soil, bringing the farm under a high state of improvement. About 1867 he went to Illinois, where he remained for a year, after which he returned to West township, where he made his home until his death. He died at the age of sixty-seven years and thus was terminated a life of activity and honor, which won for him the respect and confidence of his fellow men. In politics he was always a Republican, never faltering in support of the party and its principles.
Willis Koch was educated in the district schools of West township and in the Northern Indiana University at Valparaiso. Being thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties he started out for himself and has made creditable success as the years have gone by. On
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the 15th of January, 1896, in Buchanan, Michigan, he was married to Miss Nannie Rowley, a native of Berrien county, that state. Her parents were farming people who early settled in Berrien county.
At the time of his father's death Willis Koch inherited a part of the estate and purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property. He now has about seventy acres of land, constituting one of the good farms of the community, improved with substantial buildings, while the fields are rich and productive, responding readily to the care and labor bestowed upon them. Mr. Koch has made most of the improvements on the place and everything about the farm is indicative of his careful supervision and progressive methods. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Republican party and while he is not active as a politician in the sense of office seeking, he yet gives loyal support to the platform which he believes will best conserve the public interests.
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