A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II, Part 39

Author: McDonald, Daniel, 1833-1916
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 388


USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 39


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).


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He has been twice married, first in 1880 and again in 1888, Grace Carr then becoming his wife, and their children are Clyde, George, Blanche, Hazel and Leon. Mr. Zimmerman has fraternal relations with the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees.


SAMUEL C. BERGER has spent his entire life in Marshall county, his birth occurring in its township of German March 18, 1859. His father, Jesse J. Berger, was born across the ocean in Germany, but when a babe of one year was brought by his parents to the United States and


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was reared on a farm in Marshall county, Indiana, from his seventh year. His parents were numbered among the early pioneers of German township, and were prominently identified with its early history. After his marriage to Pauline Walmer, Jacob J. Berger established his home on a farm in German township, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement from the business world, and with his wife he now resides in Bremen, Indiana. They became the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are now living, one residing in St. Joe, Indiana, one in Kansas, one in Bourbon, two in North township, one in Terre Haute, one, David, resides in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana, and three are living in German township, Marshall county.


Samuel C. Berger, the second in order of birth of the twelve children, spent the early years of his life in his native township of German, and when a small boy he began the active battle of life for himself. He is now one of the leading farmers of the township of North, where he now owns a fine estate of two hundred and forty acres in section 23, many of its improvements standing as monuments to his excellent business ability.


On the 13th of August, 1885, Mr. Berger married Mary Ann Bal- mer, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Abuhl) Balmer, both of whom were born in Switzerland. They were married in their native land, and in 1883 set sail for America, locating near Bremen, Indiana, where the husband and father became a prominent agriculturist, and he is still living. Mrs. Balmer died on the 29th of December, 1905. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, and five, three sons and two daughters, are yet living. Mrs. Berger, the fourth of their seven children, was born in Switzerland, December 27, 1866. She came to America one year before her parents, and in Bremen she continued her educational training in the English schools. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Berger-Elmer, Clement, Freda and Cleo.


CHARLES F. HOLTZENDORFF, M. D. Among the first families of Plymouth is numbered the Holtzendorffs, prominently identified with its business and professional life. The city was in its infancy when A. C. Holtzendorff, the father of the Doctor, came here to reside, and he was born and reared in Germany. His wife was before marriage Christena Lang, and their two sons are both physicians, the younger being Dr. H. C. Holtzendorff, a well known practitioner of Mishawaka.


Dr. Charles F. Holtzendorff, the elder, was born in Plymouth, August 28, 1878, and after completing his education in the city schools he entered and in 1895 graduated from the Indiana Medical College. His first location for practice was Lapaz, in Marshall county, remaining there for two years and six months. Returning thence to Plymouth he has practiced here since 1897, and he is a member of the Marshall County, the Indiana State and the American Medical Societies.


The Doctor married, March 4, 1907, Emma Gallather, a daughter of John Gallather. Dr. Holtzendorff is a Republican and active in the local work of his party. During five years he served as the captain of


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the local National Guards, and he is a member of the Blue Lodge of the Masonic order and the Knights of the Maccabees.


JOHN OSBORN was born in North Bend township, Stark county, Indiana, five miles northwest of Culver, January 8, 1859, and throughout his entire business life he has been more or less prominently identified with the interests of Culver and its vicinity. His father, William Osborn, is also a resident of this city, but he was born in Delaware county, Ohio, and from there moved to Stark county, Indiana, in 1840, and was identi- fied with its agricultural pursuits until his removal to Culver. He sur- vives his wife, Louisa J. Owens, who died at the age of seventy-six years. She was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, and by her mar- riage to William Osborn became the mother of six children, all yet living.


John Osborn, the third son and third child in the family, spent his early life on his father's farm in Stark county, but in 1879 he left his boyhood's home for Union township, Marshall county, and was engaged in farming and stock raising there until 1892. In that year he sold his farm and opened a bank at Culver, the Marmont Exchange Bank, which he conducted six years and then closed the business by paying his . depositors in full. Leaving Culver he went to Logansport, Indiana, to engage in the restaurant business, but after a year and eight months there he returned to Culver and established and conducted a provision store here for four years. The business was then sold to the Stahl brothers, and Mr. Osborn turned his attention to contracting and building, a field in which he has met with eminent success. He continues his building operations during the summer months and conducts a real estate business in the winters. He owns at the present time five of the best business buildings in the town, besides other real estate and two farms, one in Wells county and the other in Marshall county, and at this writing he is erecting a postoffice and bank building for Mr. Shilling in Culver and a fifty-room hotel furnished with all modern conveniences, a house in which the citizens of this community may well feel a just and commendable pride.


Mr. Osborn married, in 1884, Ora Morris, who at her death left two children-William O. and Bessie. Mr. Osborn married, secondly, Jennie Shoemaker, of Wells county, Indiana. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge of Culver, and is a Democrat politically and has served his fellow citizens as a member of the school board.


WILLIAM H. ENGLISH. In the archives of Marshall county is recorded the name of William H. English as a county surveyor, he having been elected to that office in 1896 and continued therein during the succeeding four years. At the close of his term of service he remained in the office as a deputy, serving first under H. E. Grube, and he is still the incumbent of the office of deputy county surveyor.


Mr. English is a native son of Marshall county, born in its township of Center on the 25th of January, 1869. His father, William Franklin English, was born in Stark county, Ohio, but when about fourteen years


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of age he journeyed to the northwest, and at the age of twenty came to Marshall county, Indiana, and became identified with the farming interests of Center township. He was there married in 1861 to a native daughter of Ohio, Phoebe Clark, and the young couple began their mar- ried life in Center township, continuing actively identified with its inter- ests until their busy and useful lives were closed in death, the mother. dying in 1894 and the father in 1905.


William H. English, their only child, spent the early years of his life in his native township of Center, supplementing the educational train- ing which he received in its public schools by attendance at the Val- paraiso University, where he pursued the teachers' course and afterward taught in the public schools of Marshall county and the city schools of Plymouth. After leaving the school room he entered upon his duties as a public official. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Democracy and is a member of the Masonic and the Knights of Pythias fraternities, also of the order of Ben Hur and the Eastern Star.


Mr. English married, in 1893, Sarah Ada Seider, a daughter of Mrs. Henry Grossman, of Plymouth, and their two children are Opal M. and Roy W. H.


HENRY D. WEAVER was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1830. His father, H. G. Weaver, was born in the Old Dominion state of Virginia, but removed to Kentucky in early life. Being greatly opposed to the institution of slavery he left the southland in the antebellum days and journeyed to Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Anna M. Shirk, and shortly afterward they went to Ohio. There the husband and father followed agricultural pursuits until 1852, and in the interim became very prominent in public affairs. He served the commonwealth as a member of its legislature and his name became a familiar one in many high official positions and in other walks of life. He also served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, under General Scott, the hero of Lundy's Lane, and when that gallant general was making the race for the presidency he held a rally at that historic spot, and while attending Mr. Weaver was taken ill and died shortly afterward.


Henry D. Weaver received his educational training in the schools of Ohio, and in 1863 he came to Bourbon, Indiana, and for seven years thereafter was engaged in the drug business in this city. At the close of that period he sold his store to Hiram Bowman, and in 1882 pur- chased his present farm of one hundred and seventy acres on the north edge of the town. On the homestead is a pleasant and commodious resi- dence, and Mr. Weaver devotes his time to the cultivation and improve- ment of his estate.


He married, in 1865, Miss Jennie Parks, a daughter of James O. Parks. Mr. Weaver has fraternal relations with the Masonic order in Bourbon, and during one year he served as the postmaster of this city.


FRANK M. WICKIZER, who is the chief editor and proprietor of the Argos Reflector, at Argos, Indiana, is one of the strong, positive, liberal, self-trained and thoughtful citizens of Marshall county. With charity for all, seeing good in all religions and types of humanity, he is logically


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a stern opponent of capital punishment. He believes that punishment of criminals should always tend toward reformation, and never toward brutal punishment or extermination; he believes that as it is never too late to turn about in the right direction the state should never weary in giving its weak and erring brother or sister a chance at redemption. By temperament, training, experience and compact character Mr. Wick- izer is admirably fitted to honor journalism and American citizenship.


The Wickizer family traces its American founders to Pennsylvania. and is enriched and strengthened by the blood of both the Scotch and German nationalities. On the maternal side the strain comes from the Old Dominion. The course of migration on the part of the paternal ancestors was by way of Ohio to Indiana, and of the members of the maternal family it was direct to the Hoosier state. Mr. Wickizer him- self was born at Argos, Indiana, March 12, 1870, being a son of James M. and Rebecca (Williams) Wickizer. The father's family represented the pioneer element of Marshall county, different members migrating from Fairfield county, Ohio, in the early 'fifties and locating near Poplar Grove, Union township. James M. Wickizer, the father, opened and operated the first store in Argos, continuing one of the leading merchants of the place until about 1885, when he retired to a farm adjoining the town. On this homestead were reared the following children of his family: Albert B., Corbin W., Frank M., Samantha and Elmer O. The mother is a daughter of Merrill Williams, an early settler of Mar- shall county and at one time one of its wealthiest land owners and business men.


Frank M. Wickizer received a good education in the country schools, the public institutions of Argos and at the U. C. College, Merom, Indiana. His broad range of information, his working capital as a newspaper and public man, is chiefly the result of his ceaseless and intelligent reading of books and newspapers-an inveterate habit since he was ten years of age. His earlier years were spent in farming and stock breeding, and later he became associated with his brother in the editorial management of the Argos Reflector. In September, 1907, he purchased the newspaper and printing plant, and, with his son Donald J. as partner, is now operating it. The journal not only reflects the best interests of the home community, but the stanch opinions of its senior proprietor on all public policies from an independent standpoint and with a view of justice and fairness to all.


Mr. Wickizer has carefully studied the political economics of the country and became identified with the Republican party at the age of twenty-one. Although strong advocates of temperance, the other mem- bers of the family were Democrats. At the age of twenty-four he made the race for state representative, but was defeated by M. W. Simons. Later he made the campaign of county and district, the entire Republican ticket being elected in Marshall county against a normal Democratic majority of over six hundred votes. In the field of state politics he has been most active in securing the repeal of capital punishment in Indiana, and in December, 1907, with Governor Hanly, Gus S. Condo of Marion, Senator Charles M. Kimbrough of Muncie and others, he organized the Indiana Society for Abolition of Capital Punishment. Of this organiza-


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tion he was elected secretary-treasurer, issued several telling addresses on the subject, and the growth of public sentiment indicates an early repeal of the law.


Reared in the Methodist church, in his mature years Mr. Wickizer carefully investigated various teachings and theological beliefs and says that he found "a little good and some bad in all." In later years he became an investigator of spiritualism, and, being convinced by personal experience that he had received a direct message from his deceased mother, became an earnest believer of the life beyond in spirit com- munication with the departed. While firm in faith, at the same time he finds many frauds practiced in the name of spiritualism. In his own words his religious belief is this: "Humanity is weak and all subject to err, though I believe a little good can be found in all, and my religion is to look for the good and overlook the weaknesses of frail humanity. Every man's religion and salvation are within himself in the God-power given to each. My belief is that no time, place, circumstance, color or sex can change or alter good or bad. I believe that we should look in, rather than out, up or elsewhere, and that this will find all power and manifestation of God. I am chiefly concerned in trying to do right and to satisfy the power within, and believe that each one should hold this religion uppermost, regardless of sect, cult, or orthodox obligations of any kind."


Mr. Wickizer was married at Argos, Indiana, in November, 1891, to Miss Nora A. Warner, daughter of Jacob Warner, and the three daugh- ters and three sons born to their union are: Delfay R., Frances M. and Anita; Donald J., Russell A. and Merrill W., the eldest son being in partnership with his father in the conduct of the Argos Reflector.


DR. W. E. LAWHEAD, a prominent and well known physician of Marshall county, has been a member of the medical staff of Inwood since his graduation from the Medical University of Fort Wayne, In- diana, in 1906. He was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, where he received his literary training in its high school, and he is a son of Charles E. and Jessie F. (Allen) Lawhead. Charles E. Lawhead also had his nativity in the commonwealth of Ohio and he resides in Van Wert, where at one time he filled the mayor's chair and is now engaged in merchandising. He is one of the most prominent men of that city.


LUTHER R. CRESSNER, of the firm of Cressner Company, abstract titles, real estate, loans and insurance, Plymouth, was born in this city December 23. 1865, the youngest of the six children, four sons and two daughters, born to Theo. and Rebecca A. (Monroe) Cressner. Theo. Cressner was born, reared and educated in Germany and is a banker.


When Luther R. Cressner had attained the age of twenty years he began writing abstract titles and has ever since been identified with this particular line, and during the incumbency of his brother, Theo. Cressner, in the recorder's office, he served as his deputy.


In 1894 he married Nellie A. Morris, a daughter of C. L. and Mary E. (Nickerson) Morris, of Plymouth. Their two children are Mar- garet L. and Morris L. Mr. Cressner has been a lifelong resident of


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Marshall county, although for a year and a half he was in the West, and he is one of Plymouth's leading business men and citizens. He votes with the Democratic party.


F. J. BUSSARD, the agent of the Vandalia Railroad Company at Plymouth, has been the incumbent of this position and a resident of this city since the 20th of June, 1904, but for twenty years he has been con- nected with the railroad work. He entered the service almost at the commencement of his business career, beginning as a telegraph operator in 1887 at Leesburg, Indiana, and his work has taken him to many places in northern Indiana. Remaining in Leesburg from June until the fol- lowing November, he then went to Warsaw and entered the employ of what is now the Wabash division of the Big Four Railroad. After an eight years' connection with that company he went over to the Penn- sylvania Railroad in the same city, from where in the fall of 1892 he was transferrerd to Valparaiso, Indiana, and remained as the company's cashier there for a period of seven years. From there he went to Terre Haute and entered upon a one year's contract as an electrical signal repair man for the Vandalia Company, and when his contract had expired, in October, 1900, he went to the Wabash Railroad at North Manchester, but after three years there took a position at clerical work with the Chicago & Erie, now the Erie Railroad, at Bolivar, this state. Closing his work there in October he returned to the Wabash at North Manchester as a telegraph operator and remained with the company there from December, 1900, to January, 1901, when he was transferred to the Vandalia Road at the same place, the road having changed owner- ship in the meantime. Next he went to Auburn Junction, Indiana, as agent for the Vandalia Company, where he remained from the 19th of January until the following May, for sixty days was then the agent at South Whitley, and returning to Auburn Junction remained there until November, when he again went to South Whitley, and from there, June 20, 1904, he came to Plymouth as the agent for the Vandalia Railroad Company.


In referring more particularly to the personal life of F. J. Bussard it may be said that he is the eldest of the ten children of Maurice and Artemesia Bussard, and was born in North Manchester, Indiana, August 20, 1867. Maurice Bussard was of a German family and his wife was of Canadian-French ancestry, and of their large family of ten children all are living at the present time save one.


On the 31st of March, 1888, F. J. Bussard wedded Violeta Havens, a daughter of Samuel W. and Elizabeth Havens, of Jackson township, Kosciusko county, Indiana. Two daughters and a son have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bussard-Margaret H., Grace I. and Robert M. Mr. Bussard is a prominent Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and to the Royal Arch degree. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Valparaiso.


OLIVER J. WARNER, who carries on general farming and is also conducting a profitable business in the purchase and sale of horses, in which connection he is well known, was born in Osceola, Elkhart county,


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Indiana, December 5, 1861, his parents being Jacob and Margaret ( Wil- helm) Warner, the former of German and the latter of Irish lineage. The father, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, March 5, 1828, died July 7, 1904, at the age of seventy-six years. Having arrived at adult age, he was married in Ohio, in 1852, to Miss Margaret Wilhelm, who was born in Pennsylvania, August 5, 1830, and is now living in Argos. The year 1861 witnessed their removal to Indiana, at which time they located in Elkhart county, and in 1863 they came to Marshall county, settling in Walnut township, where Mr. Warner spent his remain- ing days as a farmer, having purchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber land. He cleared away the timber and converted his fields into a productive tract that annually brought to him good harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon the farm. He was a prominent man in the community and in politics was a Democrat. The family numbered five children: Sarah E., Francis, Oliver J., and Cora and Nora, twins.


No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Oliver J. Warner in his boyhood and youth. He remained with his parents until twenty-five years of age and then started out upon an independent business career. On the 20th of February, 1887, he became proprietor of a livery barn in Argos in partnership with O. P. Bear and at the end of six months he bought out Mr. Bear's interest and then sold a half interest to Mr. Kaiser. They built a brick barn in 1891 and in connection with the livery business they also engaged in the purchase and sale of horses and likewise dealt in carriages. This enterprise was con- ducted by the firm until February, 1905, when Mr. Warner sold his interest in the business and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land known as the William Yereck farm. He has since been conducting this farm, which is now a well cultivated and highly improved property, and he also buys and sells horses, cattle and sheep, this branch of his business contributing substantially to his income.


On the 25th of November, 1885, Mr. Warner was joined in wedlock to Miss Hattie Taylor, who was born in Walnut township, Marshall county, January 7, 1861, a daughter of Jared and Lucy ( Bailey) Taylor, both of whom were natives of New York. The father died when Mrs. Warner was but four years of age, giving his life in defense of the Union as a soldier in the Civil war, his remains being interred at Savan- nah, Georgia. His wife, who was born December 26, 1835, departed this life November 1, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor came to Indiana and settled first in Laporte, after which they removed to Twin Lakes, Mar- shall county. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church and a lady of many excellent traits of heart and mind. By her marriage she became the mother of three daughters: Josephine, Hattie and Mary.


Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been born four children: Claude, Glenn, Vern and Lucy. Mr. Warner is a member of Argos Lodge No. 212, K. P., and gives his political support to the Democracy. He is a wide-awake and energetic business man, who finds in the conditions that surround him opportunities for business advancement and success, real-


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izing that diligence and industry constitute the basis of all desirable promotion in the business world.


J. B. BOWELL, a prominent dealer in real estate, loans and insurance in Plymouth, has been identified with this line of work since 1904. A son of a prominent and well known farmer of Walnut township, Bazel N. Bowell, he was born there November 24, 1855, and is of English descent. Bazel N. Bowell, the father, was born in Clark county, Indiana, but came to Marshall county as one of its early residents, purchasing and improv- ing a farm in Walnut township, but is now living retired in the town of Argos. Hannah (Kennett) Bowell, his wife, was born in Carroll county, Indiana, and died in her fiftieth year, after becoming the mother of eight children, six of whom, with the husband and father, survive her at this writing.


J. B. Bowell, the fourth child and third son, grew to manhood's estate on the old homestead farm in Walnut township, receiving his education in the schools of Argos, and at the age of fifteen he became a clerk in a store there. For fifteen years he continued in a clerical capacity in a dry goods store, ten years of the time having been spent in Plymouth, and for twelve years after leaving that line of work he was the proprietor of the Ross Hotel, the leading hotel of the town at that time. In 1904, as before mentioned, he began dealing in real estate and insurance, and is meeting with success in this vocation.


On the 18th of March, 1876, Mr. Bowell married Ellen Kershaw, who died and left two children, Bert D. and Daisy B. On the 26th of June, 1898, Mr. Bowell wedded Elizabeth J. Cox, and their four children are Floyd F., Ralph, Walter and Martha. Mr. Bowell has been a life- long resident of Marshall county and for thirty years a resident of Plymouth, is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.


OTICE M. WELBORN. The agricultural interests of West township found a worthy representative in Otice M. Welborn, who formerly lived on section 4. As the years passed he carefully tilled his fields and raised stock and his well-directed business interests are bringing him a substantial income, gaining him a place with the representative members of the community. He was born in Green township, Marshall county, April 15, 1862. His father. David Welborn, who has now departed this life, was also a farmer and became one of the early settlers of Marshall county, taking up his abode in West township, when the work of develop- ment and progress had scarcely been begun. He was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Stark county, that state, in 1829. There he was reared and at about the age of twenty years he left home in company with Ike Barlow, well known in Marshall county. Their joint capital consisted of but two cents, but they were resolute, energetic young men who believed that they could earn a living and meant to do so. They traveled on foot to Indianapolis, carrying their tools with them and mak- ing wooden pumps on the way, thus providing for their own support. They not only made their expenses, but also managed to save twenty- five dollars. After reaching their destination they engaged in making


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pumps in Indianapolis for a number of years, and thus Mr. Welborn gained a start in business life. He was married to Miss Eliza Moore, a native of Green township, Marshall county, Indiana, in which locality she spent her girlhood days. She was a daughter of James Moore, one of Marshall county's active farmers and representative citizens, who settled in Green township when the work of civilization and improvement had scarcely been begun. The great part of the land was still in posses- sion of the government and he entered a claim which was covered with the native forest trees. There in the midst of the green woods he began clearing and developing a farm, and as the years passed he brought a large tract of wild land under cultivation. It was upon the old Moore homestead amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life that Eliza Moore was reared, remaining with her parents until she gave her hand in marriage to David. Welborn. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm and as the years passed the family circle was increased to include three sons and a daughter, namely: Henry, who is now de- ceased; William; Ellen, who died in infancy; and Otice M., of this review. The mother passed away in Green township and the father afterward married again, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara (Miller) Runner, the widow of Jake Runner, who laid down his life upon the altar of his country, while serving as a soldier of the Civil war. He left one son. By the second marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welborn there , were born two daughters, Nora Dean and May, both natives of West township. After his second marriage David Welborn removed from Green to West township and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the midst of the forest. There he built a log cabin and cleared his tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres with the assist- ance of his sons. As time passed the trees were cut down, the stumps grubbed up and the brush burned, and then followed the task of plowing and planting, so that in the course of years rich harvests were gathered as the soil became fallow and productive. As his financial resources in- creased he added to his original farm, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres which had already been cleared. He then improved that place and continued a resident and valued farmer of West township until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years of age. He was unfaltering in his political allegiance, which was given to the Democracy, and he was equally loyal and faithful as a member of the German Baptist church. He well earned the proud American title of a self-made man, for he started out in the business world empty-handed. He soon learned, however, that "there is no excellence without labor," and as the years passed he worked persistently and energetically. Honor- able in all his dealings, he was never known to take advantage of the necessities of another in a business transaction, but followed methods which would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. At his death he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name as well as an excellent farm property.


In early boyhood Otice M. Welborn became a district school student in West township and as the years passed mastered the branches of English learning which qualify one for life's practical and responsible duties. He was eleven years of age when his father removed to the pres-


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ent family homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, and it was upon this farm that O. M. Welborn was reared and still makes his home. Les- sons of integrity and industry were early impressed upon his mind and have been guide posts of life for him in his later years. He was married on the 26th of December, 1883, to Miss Mary Alice Seiders, who was born and reared in West township, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mar- garet (Nisely) Seiders, who were early settlers of Green township, but were natives of Germany. The father was brought to America when but three years of age and was reared in Marshall county. He became in the course of years a representative farmer of this county and for a long period carried on general agricultural pursuits in West township, where Mrs. Welborn spent the days of her girlhood. Following his marriage Mr. Welborn rented land, living on different places for a number of years. Eventually he purchased a farm of one hundred and twelve acres. He cleared a part of this, while a portion had already been placed under cul- tivation. Most of the improvements stand as monuments to his thrift and labor and to his progressive spirit. In 1900 he sold this farm and in 1901 purchased his present place after having spent a year in the west. He has added many modern and substantial improvements to the farm, which he now owns, and has thus made it a valuable property. The fields are well tilled, the buildings are kept in a good state of repair and every- thing about the place indicates his careful supervision. Other business interests than agriculture, however, have claimed the time and energies of Mr. Welborn, who for two years, from 1904 until 1906, was engaged in the butchering business on Michigan street in Plymouth. He was also in the grocery business in Donaldson for about six months in 1887. He has made three trips to the west and has invested in land in South Dakota. He also owns forty acres in Walnut township and has at different times owned considerable property in Plymouth, Argos and also in Chicago. His investments have been judiciously made and have contributed in substan- tial measure to his income.


Unto Mr. and Mrs. Welborn have been born two sons and two daughters, Alvin R., Forest S., Margarct Deloras and Bertha M., all of whom are natives of West township. Mr. Welborn proudly cast his first presidential vote for the candidate of the Democratic party and has since been one of its loyal adherents. He is now serving on the advisory board, but whether in office or out of it is always loyal to the best interests of the community. He is a member of the German Baptist church and his religious faith is a guide in his relations with his fellowmen, promoting his consideration for the rights of others and his loyalty to truth and jis- tice. He belongs to one of the old and prominent families of the county and merits the respect which is so uniformly given him. Mr. and Mrs. Welborn are now residents of Plymouth, Indiana, having retired from the agricultural life.


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