USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 23
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
Mr. Warnes was married in 1866 to Miss Helen M. Jones, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, but was reared in Kosciusko county, this state. As the years have passed the family circle has increased to the number of ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom were born in West township: Harry T. received his diploma from the common schools and then attended the Valparaiso University three terms. He taught six terms in West township and successfully. He married Miss Sarah Burgener and two children were born to them-Dale and Ford. He resides in Chicago and is located with Rickards & Company, bankers and brokers. Jesse C. also received his diploma and was also a teacher three terms and then a student for three terms in Purdue Uni- versity. He is a mechanical engineer. He wedded Miss Blanche Dick- inson, of Plymouth, and has one little daughter-Marian. He is with the International Harvester Company at a lucrative salary. William O. also received his diploma and then he took three terms at Valparaiso University, and was a teacher for four terms in Marshall county. He wedded Miss Mae Wallace, and three children, one son and two daugh- ters-William W., Helen and Muriel. He is in Chicago and he is a manufacturer at a lucrative salary. Louis E. took his diploma and two terms at Valparaiso University. He wedded Miss Mae Earl and has two sons-Robb and Arthur. He is located at Milwaukee and is engineer with the International Harvester Company at a good salary. Estella, now the wife of Joseph Morlock, a resident farmer of West township. Grace has taken her diploma in the common schools. She married Charles Hite, dispatcher at Ft. Wayne with the Pennsylvania System. They have one son and a daughter-Ross and Zoe. Dora is also a graduate of the common schools and wedded Albert Baum, who is an agriculturist of
517
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Porter county. They have one son-Ross. Thomas, also a graduate in the common schools, at home. Fern, also a graduate in the common schools and two terms in Valparaiso University. He took a business course. Lester, in the seventh grade and the youngest.
Mr. Warnes has voted with the Republican party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and has been unfaltering in his allegiance to its principles, for he believes that they are best calculated to conserve the interests of the country at large. He served as post- master of Donaldson from 1897 until 1906 and gave a public-spirited administration, characterized by accuracy and system. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and is a member of the United Brethren church. The rules which govern his conduct in all of his relations with his fellow men are such as find exemplification in straightforward dealing and consideration for the rights and privileges of others. During a resi- dence of forty-two years in the county he has largely enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow men and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his life.
SAMUEL E. Boys, the editor and proprietor of the Plymouth Weekly Chronicle, entered upon his journalistic career as the proprietor of the Martin County Republican, published at Shoals, Indiana. After an edi- torship of two years he sold that paper and purchased the Weekly Chron- icle of Plymouth. This was in May of 1904, and he has ever since con- tinued its publication, winning success in the field of journalism.
Mr. Boys was born in Marshall county, Illinois, June 20, 1871, his father, Leonard A. Boys, a native of Pennsylvania, having removed to that commonwealth when a young man. The father served three years as a soldier in the Civil war and in 1872 he left his Illinois home for Kansas, taking up his abode in Elk county, near Grenola, where he was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is yet a resident of the Sun Flower state. In his youth he had married Anna Mont- gomery, who was born in Ireland but came to America when a little girl and attained to years of maturity in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died at the age of about sixty-seven years.
Samuel E. Boys, the third child and third son in order of birth of their family of five living sons, was only about one year old when his parents removed to Kansas, and he there entered upon his educational training. Later he entered the Southwestern Kansas College at Winfield and remained a student therein for three years, pursuing the preparatory course, and he completed his college course at Albion, Michigan, as a member of the graduating class of 1896. In the following year he went to Ann Arbor and studied law for one year, after which he traveled for a year, and in 1898 took up his abode in South Bend. For four years he was engaged in the practice of law in that city and at the close of that period entered the journalistic field.
During his residence in South Bend Mr. Boys married Miss Florence A. Riddick, a daughter of Rev. I. H. Riddick, of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they have two daughters and a son-Beatrice, Edith and Alfred. Mr. Boys is a member of the Masonic order in Plymouth, also
518
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also prominent in the public life of his community.
DR. GEORGE F. WAIIL, a practicing physician of Bremen, has been connected with the medical profession of Marshall county since his gradu- ation from the Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1882. He is also a post-graduate from Chicago Post-Graduate College, 1892. During twenty-three years of that time he has served as the surgeon for the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad Company. It is seldom that one attains promi- nence in more than one line, but the Doctor has attained an eminent posi- tion in both professional and business circles. He is the vice president of the Union State Bank of Bremen, capitalized at sixty thousand dollars, and he was also one of the organizers of this large financial institution, and was very active in its work for some time. He was also one of the organizers of the Holland Radiator Company in 1890, and this large cor- poration now furnishes employment to about two hundred and fifty men and transacts the largest business of any institution in Marshall county. He is now serving as its manager.
Dr. Wahl was born in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, April 23, 1859. His father, Michael Wahl, was born in Alsace, France, but was brought to America by his parents when but four years of age, and the family home was established in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, where the little son grew to years of maturity and promi- nently identified himself with its early history. With his wife, Mary A. (Fink) Wahl, he now resides in Bremen. She was born in Ohio, Stark county, but located in Madison township, St. Joseph county, during an early day in the history of that community. Of their seven children, the Doctor is the eldest, and he spent the first eighteen years of his life in his native township of Madison, attending its districts schools, and later the city schools of Bremen. He subsequently pursued special courses at the Valparaiso University, and in 1882, as above stated, graduated in medicine in Rush Medical College.
Dr. Wahl was first married to Ella Dietrich, by whom he had one daughter, Lulu A., attending high school, and, May 1I, 1892, he wedded Ella Huffman. They have one son, George F., Jr., a little lad of four years. The Doctor is a Democrat in his political affiliations, an active worker in the party ranks. He is a prominent Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Bremen, No. 414, chapter No. 36, at Plym- outh, and the commandery, No. 36, at Plymouth, and of the Scottish Rites at Indianapolis. He is also a member of the Marshall County, the Indiana State and the American Medical Societies.
He and his family are members of the Congregational church at Bremen and the Doctor is a deacon in an official sense, also superintendent of the Sabbath school, and has been for three years. He has been a prominent member of the Board of Education and was the leading factor in the erection of the beautiful modern school building erected in 1906 and 1907.
The daughter, Lulu, is a young lady who is receiving the best of advantages in a finished education. She graduates from the Bremen High School in the class of 1908, and will enter the Lake Erie College,
519
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
near Cleveland, Ohio, upon her graduation. She has taken both vocal and instrumental instruction in music.
JOSEPH S. MORLOCK derives his income from his operation of an excellent farm on section 34, West township. He owns here eighty-seven acres of land and is uniformly known as a thrifty, energetic farmer, who accomplishes what he undertakes. He forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and as the result of his work he is now occupying a creditable position in the ranks of the representative farmers and stock-raisers of West township. He is one of the native sons of Mar- shall county, his birth having occurred in Union township, January 18, 1868. He is a son of George Adam Morlock, one of the representative pioneer residents of the county, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. The family has long been closely associated with the tilling of the soil in this section of the state, and the record of father and sons, at all times straightforward and commendable, is another proof of the statement made by George Washington more than a century ago, when he said, "Farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man."
Joseph S. Morlock at the usual age entered the public schools and acquainted himself with the common branches of English learning. In the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons, while upon the home farm he was instructed in the best methods of till- ing the soil and caring for the crops. At his father's death he came into possession of eighty-seven acres of the estate and to this farm he has devoted his energies as the years have passed by, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern equipments and improvements. He has been diligent in his work, persevering in whatever he has undertaken, and has held to high ideals concerning busi- ness activity and business honor.
On the 12th of June, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Morlock and Miss Estella Warnes, a daughter of W. W. Warnes, one of the early pioneer settlers of West township. Her father was a native of Miami county, Ohio, where he was born and reared. He served as a soldier of the Rebellion and made a creditable record in defense of the Union cause as one whose loyalty was ever above question and who fear- lessly faced the enemy upon the fields of battle. When hostilities had ceased and victory crowned the Union arms, he became a resident of Marshall county, Indiana, and was married here to Miss Helen M. Jones, a native of the state of New York. She was reared in Marshall county from the age of two years, her father becoming a farmer of West town- ship, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits along well defined lines of labor. Prospering in his undertakings, he became the owner of three different farms in West township. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom were natives of West township. Mrs. Morlock is the second in order of birth and the eldest daughter. The family record is as follows: Harry T., Mrs. Estella Morlock, Jesse C., William O., Lewis E., Grace I., Dora E., Thomas, Nellie Fern and Lester. Mr. Warnes is a Republican, who has been active in the ranks of the party, being a stalwart champion of its
520
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
principles. He holds membership with the Grand Army of the Republic and his religious faith is that of the United Brethren church. In all that he does he is actuated by high and honorable principles, his life exemplifying the beneficent teachings and Christian spirit of his church and his lodge.
Mrs. Morlock was reared upon the old homestead farm, in West township, acquiring her education through the medium of the public schools. By her marriage she has become the mother of a son and daughter, Harry Lloyd and Cleta Marie, both of whom were born upon the farm which is still the place of residence of the family. Mr. Mor- lock, in his study of the political issues and conditions of the country, has arrived at the conclusion that the platform of the Democracy main- tains the best elements of good government, and therefore supports the party at the polls. He and wife are members of the German Baptist church, and he is a man of many sterling traits of character, enjoying in the fullest degree the confidence of all who know him.
AMOS C. MILLER. The farming interests of Center township find a worthy representative in Amos C. Miller, who is, moreover, a typical citizen of the middle west-alert, enterprising and progressive. It is also imperative that mention be made of him in this volume from the fact that he is one of its oldest settlers, having for almost sixty-four years made his home within the borders of the county. He was only five years of age at the time of his arrival, his birth having occurred in Elkhart county, Indiana, November 6, 1839. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Swank ) Miller, were natives of Ohio, in which state they were reared and married, removing thence to Elkhart county, Indiana, about 1834. For ten years they remained residents of that locality and in 1844 came to Marshall county, settling in Polk township, where the mother died at the age of fifty-three years. The father afterward married again and in 1867 took up his abode in Plymouth, where he spent his remaining days, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He made farming his life occupation and his unwearied diligence and determination constituted the basis of the success he enjoyed. By his first marriage he became the father of ten children, while three children were born of his second marriage to Miss Margaret Ault. Two of his sons, Eli and Amos, were faithful defenders of the Union cause in the Civil war. The father was a Republican in his political views and in thorough sympathy with the policy of the government during the dark days of civil strife between the north and the south. His life was characterized by earnest religious principles and he held membership in the German Baptist church.
Amos C. Miller spent the first five years of his life in the county of his nativity, and then accompanied his parents to Marshall county. It seems hardly possible as one looks abroad today over the highly cultivated farms and notes the industrial and commercial development of towns and cities that it is within the memory of living man when this was largely an unsettled and unimproved district ; but Mr. Miller well remem- bers when the land was uncultivated and the county gave little promise of the advanced civilization to which it was to attain. He was reared
Muro Elias Day and, Lila. May Day
521
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life and relates many interesting incidents of the early days. In the country schools he acquired his education and when not busy with his text-books worked on the farm, aiding in the labors of the fields, until after the outbreak of the Civil war. A year of strife and bloodshed convinced the country that the war was to be no mere holiday affair, and, feeling that his first duty was to the Union, Amos C. Miller enlisted on the 16th of August, 1862, and with his brother became a member of Company F, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He joined the army as a private and served until the close of hostilities, being honorably discharged on the 5th of July, 1865. During the last year of his connection with the army he was in the veteran reserve corps on account of physical disability occasioned by illness. Ever a brave and loyal soldier, he faithfully performed his duty in whatever department of the army he was assigned and in days of peace he has been equally loyal and zealous in behalf of local advance- ment and national progress.
When hostilities had ceased Mr. Miller returned home and carried on farming with his father and brothers. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Harbaugh, who was born in Ohio, April 16, 1839. After their marriage the young couple took up their abode upon his father's farm in Polk township, where they lived until the fall of 1872, when Mr. Miller purchased his present farm that has now been his home for almost thirty-six years. He has eighty acres of land and in the development and improvement of the fields has met with gratifying suc- cess. In all of his work he is practical as well as progressive and to his own labors is attributed the prosperity that he has enjoyed.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller was blessed with two sons, Wal- ter A. and Merton O., who are still under the parental roof and assist their father in the farm work. The parents are consistent members of the German Baptist church and are greatly esteemed in the community, the hospitality of the best homes being accorded them. Since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Miller has been a stalwart advocate of the Republican party and is ever loyal to any cause which he espouses. His fidelity to his convictions has gained for him the trust of his fellowmen and wherever he is known he is respected. As one of the early settlers of the county he has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. He can remember a time when the countryside was starred with the wild flowers in June, while in winter it was covered with a glistening and unbroken sheet of snow. Only here and there had a settlement been made to show that the seeds of civilization had been planted, but the work of improvement and development has been carried steadily forward and Mr. Miller has borne his full share in the labors that have wrought this wonderful transformation, making Marshall one of the leading counties of this great commonwealth.
ELIAS DAY. West township, Marshall county, numbers Elias Day among its leading farmers and stock-raisers. He has carved his way to affluence alone and unaided, for when he was but a lad of sixteen years he began the battle of life for himself and he worked for others until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He is now the owner of a splendid
522
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
estate of two hundred and fifty acres in West township, the result of earnest labor and unfaltering industry.
Mr. Day was born in the state of Delaware August 18, 1855, but during his early manhood he came with his family to Marshall county, Indiana. His father, Elias Day, was long numbered among the agri- culturists of West township. He was born and reared in Delaware, and he was there married to one of the commonwealth's native daughters, Sarah Jane Hudson, by whom he had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, their son. Elias being their third child in order of birth. The father continued his agricultural labors in Delaware until his removal with his family in 1869 to Marshall county, Indiana, where in West town- ship he purchased forty acres of forest land. With the aid of his sons he in time cleared his land, but he finally moved from that place to Polk township and purchased another tract of forty acres, which he partially cleared and improved, and his death there occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. Throughout the period of his majority his political views were in accord with the principles of the Republican party and he was a member of the United Brethren church.
Elias Day was fourteen years of age when the family home was established in Marshall county and the principal part of his business life . has been spent within its borders. His first purchase of land consisted of one hundred and thirty acres in West township, which he improved, and in 1898 went to the Dakotas. He there purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, but after a sojourn of six years in the north he returned to West township and became the owner of his present estate of one hundred acres in section 28, while later he purchased a tract of forty acres in Polk township, but he owns a total of two hundred and fifty acres in Marshall county.
November 20, 1885, Mr. Day wedded Miss Ida May Learman, who was born in Allen county, Indiana, September 15, 1863, and a daughter of John Learman, who was for many years proprietor of a saw mill through northern Indiana. He was a man well known for his honesty and integrity of character.
Mrs. Day has been reared and educated in her native state. She is a lady who has well performed her part as a helpmeet to her husband in establishing their comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Day have never been parents, but in the goodness and kindness of their hearts have reared four children. The eldest was Charlie Weatherholt, educated in the com- mon schools. He is a farmer and resides in Starke county, Indiana. He wedded Miss Huldah Hoagland, and is a member of the United Brethren church. Nellie Knoblock, reared and educated from the age of nine years. She married James Surber, who is a prosperous farmer in Cando, North Dakota, where he is the owner of four hundred acres of land, besides town property. Lela May, a bright and pretty little girl, who died aged ten years six months and fourteen days. Daisy, a little girl of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Day may be proud of their adopted children, who are honorable citizens, settled in life. Mr. Day is an ardent Republican in politics, always doing his part in the success of his party. Both he and his good wife are consistent members of the United Brethren church and
523
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
they liberally contribute to the support of all measures which tend to elevate the community.
CHRISTIAN KNOEPFLE. For thirty-five years Christian Knoepfle has been identified with the business interests of Bremen, his name per- haps being most familiar to the residents of Marshall county as the pro- prietor of a lumber yard and planing mill. He is, however, one of the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons that Germany has furnished to the United States, his birth occurring in Wurtemberg, town of Dornhau, Germany, April 23, 1855, and he attained to the age of seventeen years in his native land, in the meantime receiving his educational training in the schools of the fatherland and there also learning the cabinet maker's trade. In October, 1872, he set sail for the United States, and after landing in New York city he came direct to Bremen and began cabinet work with Christ Seiler, with whom he worked as a journeyman for six . years. He then spent a similar period with John J. Wright, and in 1883 embarked in the lumber and milling business in company with Jacob Vollmer, their business being conducted under the firm name of Vollmer & Knoepfle until 1898, when Mr. Knoepfle purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone in the business. Throughout the entire period of his residence in Bremen Mr. Knoepfle has taken an active part in the work of improvement and upbuilding, and during a period of thirty- three years he served his adopted city faithfully and well as a fireman. He assisted in organizing the Union Hose Company, of which he was the foreman for many years, and also served as the secretary of the company, and is now and was also two years previously a member of the town board. He is one of the stockholders in the Building & Loan Association, also in the Fair Association, and he is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party.
In 1878 Mr. Knoepfle was united in marriage to Caroline Vollmer, a daughter of Jacob Vollmer, and their eight children are Charles, Dora, Otto, Anna, Minnie, Mary, Arnold and Emma. The eldest son, Charles, is associated in business with his father. Mr. Knoepfle is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, which he has served in an official capacity for more than twenty-six years. He is a large property owner in the town of Bremen, and is one of its truest and best citizens.
ELMER E. JONES, a representative of agricultural and horticultural interests in West township, carefully directs his business interests and the keen discrimination and enterprise which he has shown resulted in bringing him the measure of prosperity which he now enjoys and which has gained for him classification with the substantial residents of his part of the county. He was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, February 9, 1861. His father, Theodore A. Jones, was a native of the state of New York and there spent the period of his boyhood and youth. He after- ward removed westward to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Sarah Brown, a native of Ohio, in which state her girlhood days were passed. On leaving Michigan they removed to Indiana, settling in Kosciusko county, and the father devoted his time and energies to the occupation of farming, his well managed interests bringing him gratify-
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.