USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 25
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FRANKLIN M. KYSER is one of the prominent and influential farmers of West township, where he was born on the 26th of May, 1855, to Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Kemmerer) Kyser, both natives of the com- monwealth of Ohio, born, reared and married in Summit county. In 1855, with their two children, they came to Marshall county, Indiana, and established their home on the banks of the Yellow river in West town- ship. The eighty acres of land which Mr. Kyser there purchased he cleared and improved, but later sold the tract and bought two hundred acres of land in Union township, of which he cleared and improved about one hundred and sixty acres. From there he moved to Center township and purchased a farm of fourteen acres, and on the little home- stead in that township he spent the remainder of his life. His name is recorded among the honored pioneers of Marshall county, and from a sincere and deep felt interest in its welfare he labored for all that would prove of public benefit until his busy and useful life was ended.
He was an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and was a member of the United Brethren church, remaining one of its most faithful disciples until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. Five
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
sons and one daughter blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kyser, of whom four were born in Marshall county.
Franklin M. Kyser, the third child and third son in order of birth, obtained his educational training in the schools of Union township. The first land which he owned consisted of eighty acres in West township, and in 1884 he moved to his present homestead of one hundred and forty acres, the most of which he has cleared, and he has placed many improve- ments on the land. In West township, in 1879, Mr. Kyser married Caroline Morlock, the daughter of G. A. and Elizabeth Morlock, prom- inent early residents of Marshall county. Three children, two sons and a daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kyser in West township-Frank- lin A., Ora E. and Estella E. Mr. Kyser has given a life-long support to the principles of the Democratic party, taking an active part in the work of its local ranks, and he is a member of the German Baptist church.
WILLIAM HILDEBRAND, D. V. S. To Dr. William Hildebrand belongs the distinction of being the oldest practicing veterinary surgeon in Marshall county, his identification with the profession here covering a period of over thirty years. In that time he has established a large and lucrative practice, extending to Laporte, Starke, St. Joseph and Marshall counties, and enjoys the most extensive practice of any veteri- nary surgeon in northern Indiana. He is often called to large cities in consultation, and is widely and most favorably known throughout this section of the state.
Dr. Hildebrand is of German descent, his ancestors having been residents of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio, and various members of the family, in after years, made their way from the Buckeye state to Indiana. The Doctor is the twelfth of the thirteen children born to his parents, Jacob and Hannah Hildebrand. Two of the number died in infancy, and four daughters and two sons are still living. All of the children were born in Stark county, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of Dr. Hildebrand were Henry and Mary Hilde- brand, while the grandparents on his mother's side were Jacob and Barbara Shively. His father, Jacob Hildebrand, was born August 29, 1796, and died of paralysis August 26, 1880; the mother, formerly Han- nah Shively, was born March 6, 1803, and also died of paralysis, Sep- tember 12, 1885, having been speechless for the seven years prior to her decease.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hildebrand are as fol- lows: Joseph, born February 15, 1825, who married Rebecca Orendorf and died July 12, 1899; Eliza, who was born August 28, 1826, and died in March, 1829; Samuel, who was born October 1I, 1828, married Christenia Ullery and died in 1898; Jonas, born May 24, 1830, who mar- ried Hannah Klingeman and died April 1, 1905; Rebecca, who was born August 14, 1831, and became the wife of Abraham Stump; Sophia, who was born April 11, 1833, and is now Mrs. John Stump; Anna, born June 13, 1835, who died in infancy, March 14, 1838; Hannah, who was born June 13, 1837, and married Calvin Bates; Barbara, born Octo- ber 19, 1838, who was united in marriage with Jesse Thomas and died
Dr William Hildebrand
MRS. WILLIAM HILDEBRAND.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
October 24, 1904; Lydia, born July 24, 1840, who never married and died of consumption February 10, 1867; Jacob, born November 25, 1842, who at the age of eighteen was elected to the ministry of the Brethren church, married Mary Ullery May 2, 1872, later moved to Polk township, Marshall county, where he was elected presiding elder of Pine Creek church, and who is still a faithful member of his faith; William, of this sketch; and Sarah, who was born June 11, 1845.
William Hildebrand, the youngest son of this family, was born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 16th of June, 1843. When ten years of age he came with the family to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and there reached maturity. In 1869 he removed to Polk township, Marshall county, locating two miles and a half west of Lapaz, and here, for thirty years he followed his profession as a veterinary surgeon. Since 1906 he has resided in Lapaz.
On the Ioth of October, 1867, Dr. Hildebrand married Maria McComb, who was born near South Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the 17th of December, 1844, and her death occurred at her home near Teegarden, January 13, 1903. The deceased had been a faithful mem- ber of the Brethren church for thirty-eight years, and her life furnished a beautiful example of Christian love and patience. The three children by this marriage are: Cyrus D., engaged in business in partnership with his brother, at Teegarden, who wedded Clara E. Ritzman, January 31, 1900; Ida May, who married Ira Clark, and they reside half a mile north of Lapaz; and John W., who is in the implement business at Lapaz; also owner and manager of Lapaz Telephone Company. Both the sons are teachers by profession and were born in Marshall county. After the death of his first wife Dr. Hildebrand married Rachel Seward, of Mishawaka, Indiana. The ancestors of the Doctor have long been communicants of the Brethren church, and he himself has been a member of the denomination since his sixteenth year, having for years been prominent in its religious and charitable work.
MIRS. MARIA (McCOMB) HILEBRAND was descended on her mother's side from Mr. Daniel Cripe and Barbara (Reprogle) Cripe, and Peter Roof and Margaret (Reprogle) Roof, the above being the great-grand- parents of the subject of this sketch. Peter Roof, of Revolutionary fame, was born January, 1753; died in South Bend, Indiana, October 25, 1834. Margaret Reprogle Roof was born May, 1751; died in South Bend, October 10, 1836. Daniel Cripe and his wife, Barbara, are buried in Dayton, Ohio. John Cripe, grandfather of Mrs. Hildebrand, son of Daniel and Barbara (Reprogle) Cripe, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1788; died near South Bend, Indiana, Feb- ruary 25, 1847. December 26, 1813, he was married to Eva Roof, daughter of Peter and Margaret Roof, who was born in June, 1790, and died December 12, 1863. They lived for a while in Dayton, Ohio, and in 1830 brought their family to St. Joseph county, Indiana, and settled a short distance north of what is now South Bend. The children of John and Eva Cripe, who lived to maturity, were christened as follows: Eva, Daniel, Margaret, Mary, John, Peter, David, Jacob and Fannie. Eva Cripe was the mother of our subject.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Margaret Roof, the great-grandmother, was stolen by the Indians when a girl fifteen years old. She and a brother were going in the evening to meet their mother, who was coming home from one of the neighbors. While going through a wooded section the Indians sprang from behind trees and caught the girl. The brother escaped. She was with the Indians seven years. They sold her to some French traders and they in turn sold her to some English merchantmen of the lakes, who set her free at Detroit, Michigan, which was then but a fort. She, together with a woman who was given her freedom at the same time. walked back to their homes in Pennsylvania. Peter Roof, her husband, was also held captive by the Indians two years during his boyhood. She often told of a feast day while with the Indians. After being with- out food for several days, the Indians held council about taking her life. It was agreed that they would journey the next day in quest of food and if they found nothing they would take her life. Near evening the next day they found a horse that had died on the highway. Here they feasted. In a short time, following the advice of the Indian who had been the means of saving her life, she was sold to the French.
On her father's side she descended from William and
(Riley ) McComb. Lambert McComb, the paternal grandfather, de- scended from this union and was born in Maryland about 1787. He died in Napa, California, June, 1850. Lambert McComb, of Scotch-Irish parentage, married Hannah Hague in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1812. She was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 23, 1787, on the banks of the Brandywine, where the battle of Brandywine was fought ten years previous, and died in Napa, California, January 20, 1887. . She was the daughter of Hague and Ruth ( Mendenhall) Hague, English Quakers, descendants of William Penn's colonists. After they were married they went to Steubenville, Ohio. In 1815 they moved to Holmes county, where William McComb, the father of our subject, was born. Later they moved to Crawford county, thence in 1829 they came to Indiana and settled in St. Joseph county, near what is known as Old Portage, on July 5 of that year. They brought with them thirty-six cows, eighteen sheep and eighteen hogs. In the fall of 1847 they sold their properties in Indiana and started for the Pacific ' Coast. A letter was published in one of the Niles papers that set forth the beauties and climate of Napa Valley, California. After visiting some of their old neighbors on their way west they found themselves in Inde- pendence, Missouri, laying in a supply of provisions for the overland journey to the Pacific. While here they met Colonel James Clyman, the author of the letter which set forth the attractions of California. He piloted the party in exchange for his food. They landed in Napa Valley on the 12th of September, 1848. The children of Lambert and. Hannah Hague McComb were christened as follows: Araminta, Mar- tha, William, Isaac, Hanah, Jacob, Rebecca, Benjamin and Joseph. William McComb, father of Mrs. Hildebrand, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, January 31, 1818, and came to Indiana with his parents. He died near South Bend, Indiana, December 8, 1885.
Eva (Cripe) McComb, daughter of John and Eva (Roof) Cripe, was born in Dayton, Ohio, March 2, 1816; came to Indiana with her
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
parents in 1830, married William McComb September 12, 1839, and died April 7, 1897, leaving nine children, among them Maria (McComb) Hildebrand, who was born December 17, 1844, married William Hilde- brand October 10, 1867, and died January 13, 1903.
The children of William and Eva ( Cripe) McComb were as fol- lows: Elizabeth, born June 29, 1840; John, born October 5, 1841, died May 25, 1901 ; Lambert, born April 25, 1843; Maria, born December 17, 1844, died January 13, 1903 ; Samuel J., born February 2, 1848; Eva E., born August 25, 1855; Hannah L., born May 25, 1857; Sarah A., born April 20, 1859; William F., born October 9, 1861.
OLIVER CLINE is well known as an agriculturist of German township and also as an office holder, filling the position of assessor at the present time. He is, moreover, a representative of one of the old families of the county, for his birth occurred August 18, 1861, on the farm which is still his place of residence. His father, Jolin Cline, came to Marshall county at a very early day and aided in the development and improvement of this portion of the state. For a long period he was associated with its agricultural interests but is now living retired, making his home in Bremen. He was born in Pennsylvania, May 26, 1826, and was only about two years of age when he left the state of his nativity and went with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared. It was probably the year 1845
that witnessed his arrival in Marshall county, whither he came with his father, Daniel Cline, and his family. Daniel Cline first purchased a tract of land in St. Joseph county and cleared and improved the same. Having arrived at years of maturity, John Cline was married in Marshall county to Miss Katherine Ringle, who was born in Ohio. Following their mar- riage Mr. Cline purchased the farm upon which his son Oliver now lives, having here one hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. A part of this he cleared of the virgin forest and converted the tract into productive fields. This farm was formerly the property of his wife's father, John Ringle, who was one of the early pioneers of German town- ship and entered the land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he began to cut away the trees and place the land under the plow. As stated, it was upon this farm that Mr. and Mrs. Cline began their domestic life. As the years passed seven children were added to the family circle, but four of the number are now deceased, one having died in infancy. The father has been a life-long Republican and is a stalwart champion of the principles of the party. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church.
Oliver Cline, who was the fourth in order of birth in his father's family, was early trained to habits of industry and enterprise. He was reared upon the home farm and was educated in the schools of German township. He was married February 16, 1888, to Miss Sarah Reed, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Edward Reed, who was a blacksmith by trade and was of German descent. In their family are three children, one son and two daughters: Oscar R., Lulu V. and Valara V.
The home farm is a valuable tract of land of one hundred and ninety- seven acres, of which one hundred and thirty-seven acres is under cultiva-
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
tion and well improved with modern equipments and conveniences. Most of the improvements were made here by Mr. Cline and his father and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place today indicates his careful super- vision and practical methods. Moreover he is recognized as a citizen of worth and value, who has done effective and far reaching service for his fellow-townsmen as road supervisor for nine years, while in 1904 he was elected assessor and is still filling the position. His political allegiance is given the Democratic party and he is a member of the United Brethren church. His entire life record is one which reflects credit upon the history of a worthy pioneer family and wherever Oliver Cline is known he is held in high esteem.
COLEMAN E. WATKINS derives his income from farming and stock- raising interests. He makes his home in Polk township, where he owns eighty acres of the old family homestead and another tract of eighty acres. Here he is making a specialty of the raising of Holstein cattle and Poland China hogs and his success as a live stock dealer has made him well known.
Mr. Watkins is one of the native sons of Polk township, his birth having occurred on his grandfather's farm on the 25th of May, 1873. He is a son of Jackson Watkins, now a retired farmer, who was formerly identified with agricultural interests in this county, but is now enjoying well earned rest at Oroville, California. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, in March, 1847, and was a son of Christopher Watkins, a native of Ohio, who became a pioneer farmer of Polk township. Coming to Mar- shall county at an early day he cast in his lot with the early settlers and aided in reclaiming the district for the uses of the white race, meeting all the hardships and privations of frontier life but courageously carrying on the task of clearing the land and converting it into uses of civilization. He was married in this county to Miss Margaret Kuhn, and they were the parents of five children, of whom two are now deceased.
Jackson Watkins was but three years of age when he was brought by his parents to Indiana, the family taking up their abode upon the farm which is still his home. The grandfather there purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the midst of the forest, built a log house and with the aid of his sons cleared away most of the timber. He was a Democrat in his political views and stanchly advocated the measures for the early develop- ment and improvement of this part of the state. While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof Jackson Watkins mastered the branches of learning taught in the district school of Polk township. The little school-house was built of logs and the methods of instruction were somewhat primitive. He made the best possible use of his opportunities. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married in North township to Miss Minerva Young, who was reared in that township, where her father, Philo Young, settled at a very early day in the development of this part of the state. He bought and shipped stock to the Buffalo and Chicago markets. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Watkins have been born five chil- dren, of whom Coleman E. is the eldest. One of the number died in infancy and Christopher P. and Louisa Bell are also deceased. A daughter, Maggie May, twin sister of Christopher, is still living. In his
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
political views Mr. Watkins has always been a Democrat. He continued a resident of this county for many years and contributed in substantial measure to its agricultural development but is now living retired in sunny California in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Coleman E. Watkins in the days of his boyhood and youth. He attended the schools near his father's home and when not busy with his text-books aided in the work of the fields. On the 3d of April, 1895, he secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey through his mar- riage to Miss Maggie I. Hanson, a native of Polk township and a daughter of Andrew Hanson, who was born in Denmark. Having come to America, he followed farming in Polk township and also engaged in merchandising in Teegarden. Mrs. Watkins, however, was reared in Polk township and by her marriage has become the mother of four sons and two daughters, namely: Lyman Hale, Edith Louise, Edna May, Russel Guy, Claude Eugene, and Earl. All were born on the old family homestead.
Mr. Watkins now owns and cultivates eighty acres of the old home- stead and in addition has another tract of eighty acres. He makes a specialty of raising Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs and mammoth bronze turkeys. He sells his stock all over the county and has built up an extensive and profitable business as a live stock dealer. In his business methods he is systematic and his careful supervision is indicated in the fine appearance of his farm. In politics he is a Democrat, interested and active in the work of the party, and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Grange. His entire life has been spent in this county and he represents one of its oldest and most honored pioneer families, for the name of Watkins has been associated with the history of this part of the state for more than a half century. The work begun by his grandfather and carried on by his father is now being continued by Coleman E. Watkins, a worthy and much respected repre- sentative of the agricultural interests.
CHRISTIAN RIIOADE, a farmer and stock-raiser of German township, was born April 16, 1861, in this part of Marshall county. From an early period in the development of this portion of the state the Rhoade family has here been represented. The paternal grandfather was one of the first of the pioneers of German township. He came from Germany, his native country, in the early '30s and settled in that section of Marshall county which in honor of the fatherland had been called German township. That the conditions that here existed were those of the frontier is indi- cated by the fact that much of the land was still in possession of the gov- ernment and the grandfather entered a claim to eighty acres, which he afterward cleared and cultivated. He built a log cabin and thus estab- lished his home in the midst of the forest, while year after year he per- formed the work of clearing away the timber and bringing the land under a high state of cultivation.
George Rhoade, father of Christian Rhoade, is now a retired farmer of Bremen, but for many years was closely associated with agricultural interests in this part of the state. He was born in Germany in 1831 and
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
there spent the first six years of his life, after which he came with his parents to the new world and through the period of his boyhood and youth shared with the family in all of the hardships and privations inci- dent to the settlement of the frontier. His education was acquired in one of the old-time log schoolhouses of German township but his opportuni- ties in that direction were somewhat limited, owing to the condition of the schools in this new community and also owing to the fact that his labors were needed upon the home farm. Having reached adult age, he was married in this neighborhood to Miss Katherine Swersberger, a native of Germany, who was reared in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. George Rhoade became the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom Christian was the sixth in order of birth. All were born in German township and were educated in the public schools near their father's home. In his farming operations George Rhoade prospered and as his financial resources in- creased he added to his original claim until he owned one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land. Of this he cleared about one hun- dred and twenty acres, bringing his farm under a high state of cultiva- tion, while his thrift and determination were manifest in the fine appear- ance of the fields. As the years went by he attained a gratifying measure of prosperity that now enables him to live retired. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has been a stalwart champion of Republican principles and active in support of the party. Like many citizens of his nationality, he belongs to the Evangelical church.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Christian Rhoade in his boyhood and youth. While attending the public schools, through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and his practical training developed his latent powers and proved an ex- cellent preparation for the farm work which he is now carrying on. He was married in 1886 to Miss Ellen Feckler, who was born in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, and was there reared, her peo- ple being early settlers of that locality. Following their marriage Mr. Rhoade lived upon a farm in St. Joseph county, where he successfully conducted a sawmill until 1892, when he removed to his present place of residence, having eighty acres of land in German township. He cleared about thirty acres of this and has made all of the improvements upon the property, so that its excellent appearance is attributable entirely to his own labors. His life record proves that success is not a matter of genius but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and unwearied industry.
Mr. Rhoade is a believer in Republican principles but is not so bound by party ties that he feels he must always vote for the party candi- dates. On the contrary, he considers the capability of the men who are named for office and casts his ballot accordingly. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of the Maccabees. Well known in Marshall and St. Joseph counties, he has an extensive circle of friends and his many good qualities insures their warm regard.
JOHN R. DIETRICH, a member of the firm of John R. Dietrich & Company, merchants, bankers and grain dealers of Bremen, was born in Switzerland, September 20, 1848, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
(Feitz) Dietrich, both of whom also had their nativity in that country, where they were reared and married. In 1852 they made the voyage to the United States and came direct to Marshall county, Indiana, establish- ing their home one mile west of Bremen. There the husband and father continued his agricultural labors until in 1855 when he opened a small furniture store in Bremen, thus being numbered among the city's earliest merchants. He continued actively identified with its business interests during a period of fifteen years, his trade gradually enlarging and ex- panding during that period, and at its close, in 1876, he transferred the business to his sons, John, Christian and Peter E., his death occurring a number of years later, in 1889. The wife and mother survived until 1894.
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