USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 27
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This worthy couple were the parents of six children: Isaiah, who was. a soldier of the Union army, serving his country from 1861 until 1865 as a member of Company K, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, died in 1884; Mary Ann, wife of David Kensinger, of Washington township, Cass county; Silas, of this review; Lorinda, who is living with our subject; Adeline, wife of John Novinger, of Washington township; and William, who is also living in the same township.
Born and reared on a farm, Mr. Storer, of this review, accompanied his parents to Cass county during his early boyhood and assisted in the arduous labor of developing a new farm. In a log school-house he pursued his edu- cation, school being conducted on the subscription plan, and his attendance was limited to about three months in the winter season, during which time. he mastered the elementary branches of an English education. In the sum- mer months his labors were needed on the home farm, and from the time of early planting in the spring until crops were gathered in the late fall he assisted in the work of the fields and in the other departments of farm labor. When his brother enlisted in the army the responsibility of the farm largely devolved upon him, and though he was but a youth at the time he faith- fully performed every duty. His life has been one of indefatigable industry and enterprise, and as a result he has won a very comfortable competence, which places him in the rank of the substantial citizens of Cass county.
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In his political views Mr. Storer has always been a Republican and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his. party, but has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking. How- ever, in the fall of 1894, his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him to the position of trustee, and in that incumbency he has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, winning the con- fidence and regard of all concerned. Fraternally he is connected with Eel River Lodge, No. 417, I. O. O. F., and enjoys the esteem and regard of his brethren of the society as well as of other acquaintances.
W ALTER S. ARMSTRONG .- In studying the lives and character of prominent men, we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is not a ques-
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tion of genius, as held by many, but rather a matter of experience and sound judgment; for when we trace the careers of those who stand highest in public esteem we find that in nearly every case the prosperous man is he who has risen gradually. Self-reliance, conscientiousness, energy, honesty- these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these we may attribute the prosperity that has crowned the efforts of Mr. Armstrong, one of the most prominent citizens of Kokomo, and now the honored and efficient mayor of the municipality. His devo- tion to the public good is seen in his progressive administration and his con- stant watchfulness over the welfare of the city. Not only in the mayoralty through several terms, but also as a member of the city council has he labored for its upbuilding and substantial advancement, and Kokomo regards him as one of her most valued representatives.
Mr. Armstrong was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 3, 1838, and represents one of the old families of that locality. His grandfather, Abraham Armstrong, a native of Pennsylvania, married Miss Nancy Geary. a relative of Governor Geary, and, removing to Ohio, died in the Buckeye state at an advanced age. He was of Irish lineage. His widow returned to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and spent her last days in the home of her son. She had four sons and one daughter. Of this family, Thomas Andrew Arm- strong, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and for many years was a resident of Clinton county, Ohio. He came, however, from Pennsyl- vania to Kokomo in 1851, and here entered upon the practice of his profes- sion, that of law, continuing an active member of the bar until 1860. He also engaged in farming, owning forty acres of land in the northwest part of the town, and upon that place his death occurred in 1888, at the age of nine-
ty-two years. In early manhood he married Sarah E. Grant, a native of Vir- ginia, whose birth occurred with that of the century. She was a daughter of Robert Grant, a native of Virginia, whence he removed to Clinton county, Ohio, where he died in middle life. By occupation he was a farmer. One of his sons served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arm- strong were prominent members of the Christian (Disciples) church, and Mr. Armstrong served as elder for more than forty years. He was one of the charter members in Kokomo and was very active in church work. After abandoning his profession, he served for four years as justice of the peace. His political support was given the Democracy until 1856, when he joined
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the newly organized Republican party, and he continued as one of its earnest advocates until his death. Mrs. Armstrong died four years previous to the death of her husband, passing away at the age of eighty-four. They were parents of seven sons and one daughter, and six of the number are still liv- ing: Thomas S., Charles G., Addison F., Alexander C., Walter S. and Eliz- abeth A., wife of H. A. Lindsay.
Walter S. Armstrong was thirteen years of age when his parents came to Kokomo, and with the exception of fifteen years he has resided continuously in the city since 1851. He attended the district schools of Ohio, spent two years as a student in Pennsylvania, and later attended the Normal School of Kokomo. He was reared on the home farm and assisted in its cultivation through the summer months, while in the winter season he pursued his studies. He read law one winter, and in 1862 began clerking in a hardware store for his brother, T. S. Armstrong, with whom he remained for four years. During that time he was elected township trustee, and served from 1863 until 1866. He was appointed to the position of county auditor and afterward elected for two terms, so that he filled the office for about eight and a half years. From 1874 until 1878 he was engaged in farming in Tipton county, where he resided during that time. In the latter year he again took up his resi- dence in Kokomo, where he has remained continuously since. On his return he re-entered the hardware business, and later resumed farming, but for the past four years, in connection with his sons, Walter W. and Horace Howard, he has again conducted an extensive and successful hardware business. From 1881 until 1885 he served as mayor of the city, from 1885 to 1889 was postmaster at Kokomo, and in 1898 was again elected mayor of the city, while in former years he served as a member of the city council. He has always been a prominent factor in public affairs during his residence here, and his progressive and enterprising spirit has been a potent element in the substantial development and advancement of Kokomo.
In 1868 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Armstrong and Miss Martha Winfield, daughter of William S. and Martha (Cochran) Winfield. They have five children: Walter W., who married Carrie Martin and has one child, Ernest Martin; Howard H., who married Nellie Smith; and Jessamine, Merle and Ralph, at home. The parents and children, with the exception of the youngest son, are members of the Christian church. Mr. Armstrong belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and in politics is a Democrat.
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His life has been a busy and useful one, his business methods have ever been above reproach and in all relations he has been true to the duties and obligations that rest upon him. He enjoys the popularity which comes to those generous spirits who have a hearty shake of the hand for all those with whom they come in contact from day to day, and who seem to throw around them in consequence so much of the sunshine of life.
JOHN P. HETHERINGTON, M. D .- The physician whose aim is to suc- ceed in his noble profession to-day must possess not only genius of mind and rare experience and skill, but an almost intuitive sympathy and native kindliness of heart. He must keep thoroughly posted in all the new methods used in the treatment of disease, must study the leading medical journals published in the interests of his fraternity and must be an earnest and zeal- ous student, otherwise he retrogrades.
For the past eight years the medical profession of Logansport, Cass county, has numbered among its brightest and most promising young men the subject of this notice. He has won the respect and friendship of the pro- fession at the same time that he has made a place for himself in the esteem of our citizens, entirely by his genuine merit. Since locating here, in 1890, he has been associated with Dr. John B. Shultz, one of the oldest and most prominent physicians of this county. In fraternal circles Doctor Hethering- ton stands equally high. He is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 272, Free & Accepted Masons, and is connected with the Independent Order of Fores- ters and the Knights of Pythias.
The Hetheringtons were an old and honored clan in the history of Scot- land in the middle ages. The ancestors of the Doctor came to America in the latter half of the seventeenth century, settling in New York. His father, Augustus S. Hetherington, was a native of Ohio, and died in Hamilton county, Indiana, when our subject was a child of scarcely three years. The mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Teters, later became the wife of Dr. D. L. Overholser, of Logansport.
The birth of Dr. John P. Hetherington took place in the town of Cic- ero, Hamilton county, Indiana, February 15, 1869. In 1875 he came to this city with his mother and stepfather, and here was reared to man's estate,
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his education being such as our public schools afforded. When he was in? his seventeenth year he left home, and going to the west spent three years in Nebraska. While there he took up medical studies, devoting considerable time to the subject, and in 1888 he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute, in Cin- cinnati. Having completed the required course of study he was graduated- with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1890. Since that time he has, been engaged in practice in Logansport, as previously stated in this sketch.
June 17, 1896, the Doctor married one of the accomplished and charm- ing young ladies of Logansport, Miss Mame Lux, daughter of our well known citizen, John Lux. The young couple have a very attractive home and have hosts of friends in this community.
JOSEPH P. COLTER .- Mr. Colter, a representative prosperous farmer J and a pioneer settler of Deer Creek township, Miami county, was born. in Montgomery county, Ohio, November 26, 1833, a son of Reece Colter. His father was born in Virginia, a descendant of old colonial stock, was a farmer, and moved to Ohio when a young man. He married Miss Rhoda, a daughter of David Pugh, who was an agriculturist of that (Montgomery) county, spending the remainder of his life there, and whose children were David, John, Rhoda and Patience.
After his marriage Mr. Colter continued his life on a farm in his native- county, where his children - Harrison, Richard and Joseph - were born. In the autumn of 1839 he emigrated to Indiana, locating in Randolph county on a quarter section of wild, wooded land, which he partly cleared and where he began the establishment of a comfortable home. His children born here were Sarah, Israel and James (twins) and Evan. Mr. Reece Colter was a pioneer farmer who passed his remaining days in Randolph county, this state, dying at the age of fifty-four years. In his politics he was an old-line Whig. He was an industrious and highly esteemed citizen. Of his brothers and sis- ters those who are remembered are William, who settled in Grant county, Indiana, and Sarah.
Mr. Joseph P. Colter, our subject, was but six years old when brought by his parents to Randolph county, Indiana; but he can well remember the- journey, which was made with horse teams. His father drove one yoke of
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large cattle, two cows and a number of sheep. The milk-sickness, however, carried off the cows and horses, and the sheep were all destroyed either by wolves or by eating wild parsnips. Young Joseph attended school in a pio- neer log school-house, which was built by subscription, and the school was likewise maintained by subscription. Reared to farming pursuits, he con- tinued in them as a life vocation.
February 22, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Pressel, who was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 29, 1834, a daughter of John and Barbara (Hoffman) Pressel. Her father, of German ancestry, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, became a farmer, and after his marriage moved to Henry county, this state, in pioneer times, entering land and clear- ing a farm of four hundred acres, which enabled him to furnish each of his children with a goodly quantity of land, namely, John, Catharine, Susanna, Elizabeth and Lucinda. Mr. Pressel settled in Henry county, this state, in 1848; was a Baptist in his religion, and in his general character was an industrious and honorable citizen.
After his marriage Mr. Colter located upon a part of the property belonging to his father-in-law, containing seventy-five acres of land in the wild forest, which he partly cleared and improved by the erection of build- ings, etc. This place he at length sold, for two thousand dollars, and in November, 1859, moved to Miami county, Indiana, locating in Deer Creek township, on a part of his present farm, which then consisted of eighty acres partly cleared. By his energies and perseverance he has completed the im- provements on this place and now has a nice, comfortable home. His sub- stantial two-story brick house he erected in 1882. His prosperity has enabled him to add to his original purchase of land, so that he now has one hundred and sixty acres. In his politics he is a Democrat, and he is a straightforward and upright man, well known for his honorable career. His children are Alvira, James, Alvilda, John R., Dora F., Benjamin F. and Emma B.
OHN W. MILLER .- Through a long period of thirty-six years John J Wesley Miller was numbered among the leading and enterprising farm- ers of Cass county. His life was well spent and commanded the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact, for it was characterized by
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strict fidelity to all the duties of home and of citizenship. He started out in the world empty-handed, but by his perseverance and energy he accumulated a handsome competence and left to his widow a comfortable property.
Mr. Miller was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 14th of September, 1829, and spent his childhood days on a farm in his native state. In his youth he started out to make his living for himself, his mother and two sis- ters, and at first worked as a farm hand for nine dollars per month. He was employed in that capacity until sixteen years of age, when he secured a situ- ation in a distillery, near Troy, Ohio, where he remained for eight years. On the expiration of that period he resumed his farming operations, renting land which he cultivated until 1857, when he came to Indiar a.
Locating in Tipton township, he made Cass county his home until his life's labors were ended and soon won a place among the progressive agri- culturists of the community. He first purchased eighty acres of land, a wild tract on which had been erected a log house containing two rooms. The land was covered with heavy timber and at once he began to clear away the trees and develop the fields. He made his home upon that farm for seven years, after which he purchased the property which he left to his widow. He first had there a tract of eighty acres, later extended its boundaries by the addi- tional purchase of thirty-six acres and subsequently bought forty acres more. The farm now embraces one hundred and twenty acres, all cleared and under a high state of cultivation. The work of clearing wild land is necessarily slow and laborious, but Mr. Miller prosecuted his labors with zeal and dili- gence, and bounteous harvests afterward rewarded him. He also erected good buildings upon the place and the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm indicated the careful supervision of the owner.
On the 26th of January, 1854, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schell, and they have one child, Loretta, now the wife of R. Thomas. Mrs. Miller ever proved an able helpmeet to her husband and now manages her farm with signal ability. Mr. Miller was for ten years a director of the Cass County Fair Association, to which position he was elected in the second year of its organization. He did all in his power to promote the agricultural interests of the community and to stimulate ambition and progressiveness among the farmers, and his own energetic example inspired many others. He was entirely a self-made man and the success he achieved was attributa-
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ble to his own well-directed efforts. He was very industrious, and his prompt execution of any task that devolved upon him was one of the secrets of his prosperity. Of the United Brethren church he was a worthy member, and in that faith he died on the 28th of June, 1893, his remains being interred in Mount Hope cemetery. His widow still resides on the home farm and her many excellencies of character and kindly manner have won her the esteem of many friends and neighbors.
Mrs. Mary (Schell) Miller was born in Clark county, Ohio, near Carl- isle, July 5, 1833. Her father, Isaac Schell, was born in Virginia and was of English and German descent. Her mother, Anna Prillaman, was born in Ohio, of English descent. Mrs. Miller is the fifth child of ten children, and was reared in her native place until twenty years of age, attended school until eleven years old, when she had to quit in order that her younger bioth- ers and sisters might attend.
G EORGE A. SHIDELER .- An honored and life-long resident of Cass county, this citizen, whose death occurred December 22, 1895, enjoyed the distinction of having been the first white male child born in Clinton township, the date of the event being February 5, 1832. His sturdy pioneer parents, Elias and Catherine Shideler, natives of Ohio, came to the wilds of Cass county, and settled in Clinton township in 1830. In the almost unbroken forest the boyhood of our subject passed pleasantly and rapidly, for those were busy days with him, as plenty of arduous tasks awaited him from the time that he could wield an axe or handle a plow.
As he was gifted with a genius for mechanics, George A. Shideler left his old home at about eighteen years of age, and learned the blacksmith's trade, which was more to his taste than farming, under the hard conditions that surrounded him. Having mastered his new calling in Logansport, he returned to his native township and opened a shop, where he successfully plied his trade for many years. Notwithstanding his youth, he was elected justice of the peace in the '50s, and performed the important duties of that office with gravity and ability far beyond his years. A few years later he abandoned his trade and for several years was extensively interested in saw- milling, not only in this state but in Missouri, Florida and other parts of the
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Union. Honest and upright in all his transactions, he bore the respect and good will of every one, wherever he went. For a few years after he had retired from his active career, he lived upon a homestead which he purchased in Harrison township, Cass county, but in 1878 he removed to Logansport, and there continued to dwell as long as he lived. In 1891 he was stricken with disease, and after four years of patient suffering was released from his mortal body, and passed to his reward. For years he was connected with the Masonic order.
August 14, 1852, George A. Shideler married Miss Mary Clymer, daugh- ter of William Clymer, a pioneer of Clinton township. They became the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Mrs. Shideler is still living and enjoys good health. Her children are all living and all were born in Cass county, their names being as follows: Adolphus, Montgomery, Robert, Burroughs, Ella, Nora, Alma, Martha and William D.
William D. Shideler, son of George A. and Mary (Clymer) Shideler, is one of the native sons of Logansport, and is one of its representative young men. He received his education in the public schools, completing his literary studies when he was fifteen years of age. In 1893, soon after attaining his majority, he commenced reading medicine with Dr. E. R. Taylor, a well- known physician of Logansport. Two years later the young man went to Indianapolis, where he was soon enrolled as a pupil in the dental department of the University of Indiana. Having finished the required course of studies and practice he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1896. Desiring to make his future home in Logansport, as he had done in the past, he opened an office here in a central location, and has since given his whole time and attention to his work. He has gained the respect and confidence of the public by his skill and excellent workmanship, and is rapidly building up a remunerative practice.
M ORGAN A. CHESTNUT is a well known citizen of Kokomo, Indiana, engaged in an insurance, real-estate and loan business at No. 23 North Main street. His personal history is of interest in this work, and is as fol- lows:
Morgan A. Chestnut was born in Clark county, Ohio, September 11, 1826, son of Joseph and Nancy P. (Butcher) Chestnut, natives respectively
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of New Jersey and Virginia. Of their family of nine children, eight sons and one daughter, only two are now living, -Andrew, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, and Morgan A. Joseph Chestnut, the father, came to Indiana in the early part of 1842 and traded for a farm in Tippecanoe county, but died in Ohio, in May of that year, before he could move his family here. He was sixty-three years of age at the time of death. The following September his widow brought her family over into Indiana and settled on a farm at Miamis- port, now a part of the city of Peru, where she lived until 1844, that year moving to Cass county and locating on a farm north of Logansport. She lived on that farm and in Logansport until 1861, when she came to Howard county to live with her son Morgan, a resident of New London. She died at his home in 1862, at the age of seventy-six years. Both she and her hus- band were members of the Christian, or New-Light church. A few years before her death, however, there being no church of this denomination near, she placed her membership with the United Brethren church.
Mr. Chestnut's ancestors were patriotic and soldierly. His father was a veteran of the war of 1812 and both his grandfathers fought for independ- ence during the American Revolution. His paternal grandfather, John Chest- nut, was a native of New Jersey and a descendant of English ancestors. Grandfather Ezekiel Butcher, the father of Mr. Chestnut's mother, was born in the Old Dominion of German descent, and died in Virginia at a ripe old age. By occupation he was a planter.
Morgan A. Chestnut passed the first sixteen years of his life in Clark county, Ohio, on a farm, and accompanied his mother on her removal to the farm above referred to, near Peru, and later to the Cass county farm. Since then he has been engaged in various occupations and has lived in numerous places. For four years he was interested in wheat-fan making at Logans- port and Springville, Indiana; from the latter place went to Boonville, Indiana, and thence to New London, where during the year 1852 he was engaged in the manufacture of wheat fans; from 1852 until about 1856 he was occupied in the dry-goods business at New London; went thence to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he spent a year and a half, coming back at the end of that time and locating in Howard county. For six years he clerked for Davis & Company, dry-goods merchants of Kokomo, and five years was with the Hunt sash and door factory of this place. Since then he has been engaged in the insurance, real-estate and loan business. 18
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Mr. Chestnut has a pleasant home in East Jackson street, Kokomo, where he and his wife reside. He was married September 9, 1852, to Mrs. Mary Holton, widow of Horace V. Holton and daughter of Charles Foster. They have no children.
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