USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 31
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WILLIAM STAFFORD. Marshall county, Indiana, has been the home of William Stafford since the early year of 1847, and from that time until the year of 1905 he was prominently identified with its business interests, but he is now living retired. He was first identified with its saw-milling interests, and in 1891 embarked in the lumber business in Argos, thus continuing until in April, 1905, when he laid aside the active cares of a business life to enjoy the reward of former labor.
Mr. Stafford was born in Rush county, Indiana, April 11, 1841, a son of Enoch and Catherine ( Mullen) Stafford, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky, the father born on the 13th of July, 1816, and the mother in 1817. They were married on the IIth of April, 1837, and shortly afterward the young couple took up their abode in Rush county, Indiana, living there until the fall of 1859, when they came to Marshall county and established their home in Walnut township. The father was long numbered among the county's leading farmers and stockmen, and his death occurred on the 23d of June, 1895. He was a member of the Christian church and affiliated with the Whig party. Mrs. Stafford preceded her husband in death, dying on the 4th of August, 1893, and
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of their nine children four are now living: William, the subject of this review; Julia, who is married and living in Kansas; Augusta, the wife of Albert Chapman ; and Priscilla, living in Kansas, the wife of John Barr.
During his boyhood days William Stafford worked on the farm. In 1847 he came to Marshall county, Indiana, and secured work in the saw mill of Mr. Railsback, and in 1851 he took charge of the business and continued its supervision until his enlistment for service in the Civil war, entering on the 16th of August, 1862, Company D, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Regiment, enlisting at Argos, and he received his discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, July 1, 1865. During that time he participated in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, was also a member of the command of Colonel Straight in its raid into Georgia, and was captured near Rome, that state, and held as a prisoner of war for sixteen days. He was then paroled, and, returning to Indianapolis, remained there about five months, after which, in the fall of 1864, he was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and spent the winter there. Going thence to Stevenson, Alabama, he was detailed as guard of the Memphis & Charles- ton Railroad, remaining in the parole-guard service until the close of the war. When his country no longer needed his service Mr. Stafford re- turned to Argos and resumed his milling operations as the head sawyer for David Railsback, and after eighteen months he took charge of the . mill. In 1874 he suffered the loss of his hand while working in the mill. His career in the saw-milling business of Marshall covered a period of twenty-six years, and in 1891, as above stated, he embarked in the lumber business in Argos.
The marriage of Mr. Stafford was celebrated on the 5th of February, 1868, Lorinda Hoover becoming his wife. She was born in Carroll county, Indiana, July 25, 1849, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brockus) Hoover. The father was born in Ohio, and during his boy- hood days moved with his parents to Carroll county, Indiana, and in 1853 established his home in Marshall county. He purchased and cleared a farm in Walnut township and erected a primitive little cabin home, to which he later built an addition, and his name is enrolled among the early pioneers of Marshall county. At the time of his arrival here game of all kinds, including deer and turkey, was plentiful, and for a number of years in the early days he was the incumbent of the office of road supervisor. His political affiliations were with the Whig party. The death of this honored pioneer occurred at the age of fifty years, in 1875, and his wife survived him but a few years, dying in 1879 at the age of fifty. They were married in Carroll county, Indiana, and their union was blessed by the birth of ten children, and the four now living are: Lorinda, the wife of Mr. Stafford; Elmer E .; Lydia B., the widow of George Stephens; and Lulu, the wife of B. L. Nichols, living in Chicago. To Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have been born four children: Lettie M., the wife of Claude Main; Rose Elizabeth, wife of Dr. E. E. Willsey ; Emory E., who died at the age of nine years; and William R. C. Mr. Stafford has membership relations with Argos Lodge No. 263, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of Lafayette Gordon Post No. 132, G. A. R., while his wife is a charter member of its auxiliary, the Relief Corps No. 250.
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SAMUEL W. GOULD, M. D., a resident physician and surgeon of Argos, Indiana, began the preparation for his chosen profession at a very early age, graduating when but nineteen years of age, in 1858, from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, and in the same year he opened an office in Allen county of this state and began the work in which he has achieved such eminent success. He practiced in Allen county until 1865, and in that year came to Indiana, and to Argos in 1867. Realizing the need of further instruction in his work, he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago and graduated therein in 1870, and then returned to Argos. Dr. Gould is considered one of the best read physicians and surgeons in the state. He is a regular and able con- tributor to the leading medical journals, and is a terse and ready writer, possessed of excellent descriptive powers and a rare faculty for holding and advocating decided opinions. He also possesses marked oratorical power, and is an entertaining, instructive and persuasive speaker.
Dr. Gould was born in York township, Union county, Ohio, June II, 1839, a son of Daniel and Adeline (Wilkins) Gould, natives of Sara- toga county, New York, born, respectively, on January 5, 1808, and the 3d of May, 1808. They established their home in Union county, Ohio, in 1836, being among the first to take up their abode in the then wilder- ness of that community. The father purchased land at two dollars an acre and built a little log cabin home, not a nail having been used in the construction of this primitive dwelling, and this later became the birth- place of their son Samuel. In 1867 the family removed to Argos, In- diana, where the father lived retired during the remainder of his life, and died on the 25th of October, 1888. He served for many years as a justice of the peace in Ohio and was a Whig politically. Mr. and Mrs. Gould were born in the same year and died in the same year, she on the 31st of January, and in their family were three children: Albert J., a well known attorney of Knox, Indiana; John H., living at Delphi, In- diana, where he served as a circuit judge for twelve years ; and Samuel W.
Dr. Samuel W. Gould began teaching school when but fourteen years of age, having previously received his education in a private school, and he taught a winter term of three months in a country school. During this time he was also a student, attending an academy until sixteen years, and he then began the study of the profession to which he has dedicated his life. His practice in Marshall county is large and re- munerative, and he is also serving as the surgeon for the Nickel Plate Railroad Company, and is at present president of the pension board of examiners of Marshall county. He is a member of the Marshall County Medical Association, of the Indiana State and the American Medical Associations, and has several times been president of the county asso- ciation.
Dr. Gould married Elizabeth C. Shaffer January 25, 1860. She was born February 9, 1840, in Logan county, Ohio, and died on the 7th of June, 1864, after becoming the mother of two daughters, but both died in infancy. On the 30th of December, 1867, Dr. Gould married Miss Sarah A. Smith, of St. Joseph, Michigan, born April 19, 1840, and their union was blessed by the birth of one son, Daniel W. Gould, who is living at Mishawaka, Indiana. The wife and mother died on the 29th
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of June, 1895, an active member of the Episcopal church and a lady of culture and attainments. Dr. Gould's parents were strict Presbyterians, but he is more liberal in his religious views. In 1896 he was made the presidential elector for the Thirteenth Indiana District and voted for William McKinley for the presidency. He is a member of Argos Lodge No. 399, A. F. and A. M., of which he is the present master, and has served in that office many times previously. He is also a member of Plymouth Chapter No. 49, R. A. M .; of Plymouth Council No. 16, and of Plymouth Commandery No. 26, K. T.
PERRY N. SCHLOSSER, deceased, was born in Osnaburg, Ohio, Feb- ruary 9, 1834. He was a son of one of Indiana's pioneer ministers, the Rev. Jesse Schlosser, and his wife, Elizabeth Moon, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state. They were there married and became the parents of eight children, of whom those now living are: Lucinda, the widow of Christ Messerly, who served as a soldier in the Mexican war; Bell, Nannie, Sarah, Jesse and Lavina. Nannie is the widow of Lewis La Brach, a soldier in the Mexican war. Reverend Schlosser was a minister in a Reformed church in Ohio for many years. He came to Indiana in an early date in its history, where he presided over a large territory in the interests of his church, and for a number of years pre- ceding his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-two years, he had charge of the church at Three Rivers, Michigan. His political affiliations were with the Whig party. Mrs. Schlosser, who was born on the 22d of February, 1812, passed away in death March 29, 1887.
During his early life Perry N. Schlosser learned the blacksmith's trade, and when quite young he enlisted in the Civil war, in Company H, Forty-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, entering the ranks on the 18th of September, 1861, at Springfield, Ohio, for three years or during the war, and he received his discharge at Camp Clark of that state with the rank of sergeant. On the 5th of January, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran in Company H, Eighth Regiment of Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the conflict, and was dis- charged at Clarksburg, West Virginia, July 13, 1865. During his mili- tary career he participated in many of the historic battles of the war, including Knoxville, Charleston, Beverly Ford, Louisburg, Laurel Hill, Dutton's Hill, and was also in the charge on Fort Sanders, and the Pied- mont and Hunters raids. While at home on a furlough he with others wrecked the rebel newspaper office of the Dayton Empire.
After his return from the army, Mr. Schlosser located in Kewanna, Indiana, from whence after a time he removed to Plymouth, Indiana, and served as the foreman in a planing mill for sixteen years or more. His life's labors were ended in death on the 18th of October, 1895, when he had reached the sixty-first milestone on life's journey. He was a member of the Reformed church all his life, and he also held member- ship relations with Miles H. Tibbit's Post No. 260, G. A. R.
Mr. Schlosser was first married on the 4th of December, 1866, to Anna Yockey, but she died two years after her marriage, December 1, 1868. Miss Anna Behmer became his wife on the 5th of July, 1883, in Logansport, Cass county, Indiana. She was born in Germany March
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22, 1855, the daughter of Conrad and Margaret Behmer, who were born and married in the fatherland. In their family were twelve children, and the ten now living are: Margaret, the widow of Anthony Schultz ; Anna, the widow of Mr. Schlosser; Mary, the wife of James Kaough ; Ella, wife of Richard Herriatt; George, who married Maggie Ryon; Albert, who married Elizabeth Seltenright; John, who married Mary Friend; Joseph, who married Dora Cleany; Jacob, and Frank. Mr. Behmer, the father, followed the weaver's trade in Germany, and after coming to America he located in Cass county, Indiana, where he died when his daughter, Mrs. Schlosser, was but a child. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schlosser are: Ralph, Ella V. and Jessie. The eldest son, Ralph Schlosser, is the popular proprietor of a well stocked livery, feed and sale stable, where vehicles of all kinds are always on hand and where special attention is given to the commercial trade. Ella V., the second child, died in infancy.
JONATHAN PICKERL, an honored early resident of Marshall county, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 31, 1836, a son of Chasteen and Sarah (Hughes) Pickerl. The father, born in Virginia October 7, 1808, came to Marshall county, Indiana, in the fall of 1847, and located in Walnut township, four miles west of the present site of Argos, while later he established his home on one hundred and sixty acres of wild and unimproved land in Green township, there building him a little log cabin in 1850 and beginning the arduous task of clearing and cultivating his land. In 1870 his little cabin home gave place to a more commodious frame residence, and there he spent the remainder of his life and died on the 29th of January, 1871. He was a life-long member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, a good and pious man, and his political affilia- tions were with the Whig party. Mrs. Pickerl, who was of Scotch de- scent and a native of Virginia, born June 14, 1814, died on the 15th of April, 1887, surviving her husband for a number of years. They were married in Holmes county, Ohio, and of their eight children four are now living: Jonathan, the subject of this review; Sarah, the wife of Isaac Ball; John, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota ; and Chasteen.
When a lad of eleven years Jonathan Pickerl came with his parents to Marshall county, Indiana, attaining to years of maturity here, and in Green township January 8, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and after a long and arduous military career he was mustered out of the service at Goshen, Indiana. With the rank of corporal of United States colored troops, Company K, he was discharged from the Forty-eighth Regiment after about fifteen months of service, but in April, 1863, re-enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Regiment of United States colored troops as second lieutenant, and on the 9th of October, 1863, was made the first lieutenant of Company K, Forty-ninth Regi- ment of colored troops. In the following year, on the 22d of December, he was discharged from the service on account of disability. In the meantime he had participated in many hard-fought battles of the con- flict, including those of first Bull Run, Corinth, Pittsburg Landing, Jackson and Williams Bend, and it was after this battle that he received
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his rank as first lieutenant. He was also in the battle of Haines' Bluff, from whence he went to Vicksburg, thence to Jackson as a recruiting officer, where he also had charge of four other recruiting officers, and then on to Vicksburg. His service was an arduous one in his country's cause, and his health thereby became so undermined that he was obliged to tender his resignation from the service. Mr. Pickerl also had three brothers in the war, one of whom, Hugh, served as a member of the Eighty-seventh Regiment. Aaron enlisted March 12, 1862, in Company C, Twentieth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and among the several battles in which he participated was that of Bull Run, where he lost his life. The third brother, James B., enlisted July 22, 1861, in Company C, Twentieth Regiment, and was wounded in the second. battle of Bull Run. He was with his regiment in all its engagements, and was discharged on the 29th of July, 1864.
After the close of his military career Mr. Pickerl of this review resumed his agricultural labors, but in 1867 he left the farm and pur- chased a boot and shoe business in Argos, to which he later added gen- eral merchandise, and he continued as one of the active business men of this city until his retirement in 1891.
He married, March 17, 1864, Emeline Thompson, born in Clark county, Ohio, August 12, 1842, a daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Fuller) Thompson. The father was born in Virginia April 16, 1816, and died on the 19th of April, 1896, long surviving his wife, who passed away on the 17th of August, 1879. She was born August 13, 1822. Of their four children, two sons and two daughters, two are now living. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pickerl: James Wilbur, who died November 18, 1868; Zua, the wife of W. C. Morse, of Detroit ; and Harriett, the wife of E. S. Tuaner, of Argos. Just before her marriage, and during Mr. Pickerl's absence in the army, Mrs. Pickerl had a severe attack of the spotted fever, which was followed by rheumatism, and this held her as a victim during almost the remainder of her life. She passed away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, which she joined about twenty years before her death, and thereafter remained one of its faithful members. Her last severe illness extended for a period of about three months, and the desire to recover and once more resume her place in the activities of home were strong, yet with all she expressed her abiding confidence in God and a hope for immortal life. She passed away on the 24th of December, 1902. Mr. Pickerl is a member of La- fayette Gordon Post No. 132, G. A. R., of Argos Lodge No. 399, I. O. O. F., and of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a trustee. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is now the president of the school board of Argos.
JAMES M. SCHROEDER. The name of Schroeder has been a familiar one to the residents of Marshall county from the period of its earliest development to the present time. In 1833 a young couple just starting out in life for themselves sought a home amid the wilds of Marshall county, bravely facing the dangers and hardships which beset them on every hand, but finally carving in the dense wilderness a home for them- selves and family, and here they spent the remainder of their lives and
the family groups of mr and Mrs. James M.Schroder
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lived for many decades. Jesse and Emily (Newsom) Schroeder were married in 1833, in Iowa, and in the same year started on their journey to Marshall county. He was a native son of Dearborn county, Indiana, born January 4, 1819, and was reared in Dearborn and Rush counties. The wife was a native daughter of Iowa. They began their married life without means, the husband working at his trade of carpentering until he was able to purchase a small farm of forty acres, which he later sold and became the owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in the woods. He moved a mill to this place, known as the Mattingly & Oglesbee mill, and began the arduous task of clearing new land, and at the same time added to the boundaries of his farm until he was the owner of nearly three hundred acres. But he subsequently sold his farm and spent the two following years in the West, and on his return to Marshall county bought one hundred and sixty acres on the Michigan road, where he was for a number of years quite extensively engaged in the buying and selling of cattle. Of Joe Trobridge he later purchased one hundred and twenty acres, but after residing there for a number of years he became the owner of a farm in Polk township. He did much trading in land during his active business career and became well and prominently known throughout Marshall county. Eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder. The wife and mother died and the father afterward married Fidelia Ditto. He was a Republican in his political affiliations, an active worker for his party. The death of this honored old pioneer of Marshall county occurred when he had reached the seventy-fourth milestone on the journey of life.
James M. Schroeder, his sixth child in order of birth, was born in North township of Marshall county, October 15, 1860, and in the schools of that neighborhood he received his educational training. When but fifteen years of age he left home and began the battle of life for himself, and coming to Polk township he made his home with Bryan McDaniel during the following four years. On the 19th of October, 1880, he married Elizabeth C. Williams, whose parents, Hardy and Louisa ( McDaniel) Williams, were prominent early residents of Polk township, the birthplace of their daughter Elizabeth, who was born November 17, 1856. She was one of a family of ten children, all born in the township of Polk, and to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder have been born nine children- Remus J., Francis M., Louisa E., Orlo A., Edith E., Hazel A., Grace U., Julia M. and Florence I.
Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder have given their children the advantages of good common school educations. Remus J. completed the public school course and one year in High School. He is of a mechanical turn of mind. Francis M. received his diplomas from the common school and Tyner High School and also spent forty weeks as a student at the Val- paraiso University and is now one of the successful teachers of Polk township, having taught for seven years. He wedded Miss Mabel I. Norris, a native of Whitley county, Indiana, and one little son was born to this marriage-Russell A. Louisa E. is deceased. Orlo A. is at home, received common school education and is a machinist. Edith E. is also a teacher in Polk township, receiving her diplomas from the common and High schools. She has taught for two years. Hazel A. is the wife
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of Allen Davenport, a resident of North township. Grace U. graduates in the class of 1908. Myrtle and Florence are members of the seventh grade. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder reared a nephew, Orval Schroeder, from the age of ten to seventeen, educating him in the common schools.
Mr. Schroeder's homestead farm contains eighty acres in Polk township, forty of which he has cleared and improved, and on this estate he is engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. During twenty- four years of his early business career he taught school in Marshall county, and in all this time he has also been a prominent factor in the public life of his community, upholding the principles of the Republican party.
Mr. Schroeder began teaching school at $1 per day and during the evenings and mornings he took a job of grubbing out new land, adding a few dollars to his slim purse. He is a successful man in life and his business affairs and is held high in the esteem and respect of all who know him.
In 1904 he was elected the trustee of Polk township, receiving the largest majority of votes ever accorded a candidate in this township, and this, too, in a Democratic community. His fraternal relations con- nect him with the Maccabees, Tent No. 142, the Odd Fellows, No. 821; at Tyner, Indiana, and the Grange orders, also member of the state Grange, and is a member of the United Brethren church and was super- intendent of Sunday school for six years. Mr. Schroeder has met many reverses on his road to prosperity, his home having twice been burned, and he has met with other losses, but steadily and persistently he has persevered, winning success in the business world and at the same time gaining for himself the respect and honor of his fellow men.
WILLIAM RAILSBACK is a member of one of the first families to establish their home amid the wilds of Marshall county, and all honor is due the brave and hardy pioneer, Caleb Railsback, who cast his lot with the earliest settlers of Marshall county and assisted in paving the way for its future development and prosperity. He was born in Roan county, North Carolina, July 7, 1805, but when he was a little lad of two years his parents, David and Sarah (Stevens) Railsback, with their family, left their southern home and journeyed to Indiana, this being in the year 1807, and they established their home on the Whitewater river in Wayne county, near where Richmond now stands. There Caleb Rails- back attained to years of maturity and maintained his residence until the ioth of November, 1846. It was then that he came to Marshall county, and purchasing timber land he built him a little log cabin home in the wilderness and began the arduous task of clearing and cultivating his farm. He at one time was the owner of about seven hundred acres, but he divided his estate among his children as they attained to mature years and started out in life for themselves. For many years he served his community as its road commissioner. His political affiliations were with the Whig party and he was a member of the Church of God. The death of this brave and honored pioneer of Marshall county occurred on the 9th of July, 1895, long surviving his wife, Nancy (Barnhill) Railsback, who passed away on the 27th of April, 1874. She was born
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