USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
After the war Mr. Sellers came to Kokomo, September 28, 1865, with a stock of boots and shoes, but sold his store ten months later and followed carpentering until 1873, when he joined his brother, Henry C .. in the estab- lishment of a grocery store, which they conducted for twenty years, the part- nership being dissolved in 1893. In 1882 our subject was elected county auditor and filled that position for four years. In 1886, in company with Oscar Henderson, A. Y. Comstock. F. M. DuVall and James W. Parker, he formed an electric-light company and was made president of the corporation, ably managing its affairs until 1892, when he sold his interest. Since then he has lived practically retired, although he is still president of the Kokomo Loan and Savings Association. In company with his wife, he spent the winter of 1894 in California.
On the 18th of January, 1866, Mr. Sellers married Miss Cecelia Shaffer,
346
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF
daughter of Samuel and Augusta (Widdiken) Shaffer. They are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Sellers has served as elder for thirty years. He belongs to Thomas J. Harrison Post, No. 30, G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican in politics, warmly interested in his party, to which he gives an intelligent support, being well informed on the issues of the day. In 1874-5 he represented the fourth ward in the city council and is now chairman of the Republican central committee of Howard county. He is a man of marked prominence in political, business, church and social circles, and has been an important factor in the substantial growth and development of the city. His influence has always been felt for good, and over the record of his life there falls no shadow of wrong to darken his fair fame.
OHN S. LENHART, one of the leading business men of Peru, has been J a resident here for nearly forty years, and for the past twenty-four years has been identified with the furniture and undertaking business. Since 1890 his sons have been members of the firm, the business name now being John S. Lenhart & Sons.
Mr. Lenhart, whose name introduces this brief sketch, is a native of the Buckeye state, born in Mahoning county, near North Lima, March 22, 1830, a son of Jacob and Lydia (Sprenkle) Lenhart. He received his educa- tion in the pioneer schools, all of which throughout the pioneer west were kept in cheap log houses and furnished with slab benches and an abecedarian for a teacher; and all the time that he could attend amounted to about one month each winter till he was eighteen years of age. Reared to the hard and monotonous work of the pioneer farm in the woods, he was inured to all those habits of industry and economy that are necessary to success through- out life. At the age of eighteen years he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and at the age of twenty he made a slight change by drifting into the trade of cabinet-making, in which he completed his practical knowledge at Findlay, Ohio, being employed there for three years. Then he found em- ployment at his trade at several places, as Gilboa seven years, Lima, Ohio, Coldwater and other places in Michigan, LaPorte, Indiana, Lima again for two and a half years, and in 1859 came to Peru, this state, where he has since remained. His present business he established in 1874, and in this he
347
CASS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
and his sons have long been driving a prosperous trade. They carry a large stock and in all the modern styles, are reliable in their representation of goods and are accomplished funeral directors.
December 22, 1857, Mr. Lenhart was united in matrimony with Miss Ellen E. Sparks, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who was born April 19, 1839, a daughter of Andrew and Mercy Marilla Sparks. Mrs. Lenhart is the third in a family of six, all deceased except one sister, Mrs. Susie Mann, of Chi- cago. Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart have had six children, namely: Charles H. is a traveling salesman residing in Chicago; William F. is present coroner of Miami county, elected in 1896, and is giving satisfaction to all parties in the execution of the duties of the office; E. M., who died at the age of two years; Francis, who died an infant; Mary A. and Margaret B.
Mr. Lenhart is a member of the Catholic church and in his political views is a Democrat. He has been a member of the city council for eight years, stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens and is a useful member of the community.
Jacob Lenhart, his father, was a native of the Keystone state, of the old standard Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, was a farmer of York county and a member of the German Baptist church. He moved to Mahoning county. Ohio, where he located upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He moved to Hancock county, that state, in 1849, and in 1859 to Putnam county, same state, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land where he became a substantial farmer. He departed this life in August, 1864, a devoted Christian and a man of sterling worth, greatly esteemed by the entire community. His children were Harriett, George, Jacob (deceased), Henry and David (twins), Peter, Catherine, John, Lydia, Reuben, Martha, William, Anna and Jonas. Mrs. Lenhart, the mother of these children, closed her useful life in 1867 in Putnam county, Ohio, at the age of sixty- seven years. All the memories of her character are very tender in the minds all that ever knew her.
H ON. MARCUS W. COLLETT .- A prominent farmer who in the polit- ical and public affairs of Cass county has gained distinctive precedence is Marcus W. Collett, an honored citizen of Bethlehem township. The study of the life of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleas-
348
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF
ing interest and valuable instruction, developing a mastering of expedients which has brought about most wonderful results. The subject of this review is a most worthy representative of that type of American character and of that progressive spirit which is always alive to the best interests of the com- munity, doing much for the general welfare and public good.
Mr. Collett is a native of Miami county, Indiana, born near Mexico, on the 6th of February, 1847. His father, William Collett, was born in Mary- land November 18, 1817, and in early manhood emigrated to Ohio, making the journey by wagon and camping along the roadside at night. After a short period spent in the Buckeye state, he removed to Miami county, Indiana, in 1845, becoming one of the early settlers of that locality. With the work of development and advancement he was prominently identified, especially in the line of placing its wild land under cultivation. He married Susannah Coler, who was born November 14, 1823, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and they became the parents of four children: Nancy Jane, now deceased; Eliz- abeth A., widow of Edward Mason, and a resident of Dayton, Ohio; Marcus W. ; and Susannah, who resides in Dayton, Ohio. The mother of this fam- ily died March 26, 1850, and the father afterward married again. His death occurred June 6, 1878, in the sixty-first year of his age.
On his father's farm Marcus W. Collett was reared to manhood, and was early trained to habits of industry and enterprise, which have proved valuable factors in his business career. He followed the plow as soon as old enough to make a straight furrow, assisted in the work of harvesting the crops and early became familiar with the other duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, so that when he entered upon his busi- ness career he was well fitted therefor by practical experience. His educa- tional privileges were somewhat limited. He attended the country schools to some extent during his youth, but that he is now a man of broad general information is due less to their discipline than to the fact that he possesses an observing eye and retentive memory, so that in the business and public affairs of life he has gained a knowledge that the school-room did not yield. He worked uninterruptedly on the home farm until 1864, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in his country's service. He was then only seventeen years of age, but his loyalty and valor equaled that of many a time-tried veteran. As a member of the First Indiana Light Artillery he saw some hard service with the Sixteenth Army Corps and participated in
349
CHISS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
one hotly contested engagement after the surrender of Lee, before news of such surrender had reached his command, which was then stationed at Mobile.
When hostilities had ceased and the country no longer needed his serv- ices, Mr. Collett returned to his home with an honorable military record. and resumed the quiet pursuits of civil life on the old home farm. There he remained for two years, when he was married and went to a home of his own. He wedded Sarah A. Stroud, who was born in Cass county, August 31, 1849, a daughter of William and Rebecca (Richardson) Stroud. Mr. Collett then determined to follow some other pursuit than that to which he had been reared, and for three or four years was engaged in the hardware trade, but ultimately resumed the work of the farm. He purchased his pres- ent property in 1881 and has since made it his home. It was then but par- tially improved, eighty acres having been cleared. He cleared one hundred and seventy acres additional and now has a valuable property of a half sec- tion, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, the rich fields yielding to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them. He leases different fields, which are cultivated under his supervision, and in addition to his general farming labors, he handles somne stock, making a specialty of sheep-raising. He owns some registered Shropshires and belongs to the Shropshire Association.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Collett has been blessed with five children, namely: Grace G., who was born June 25, 1870; William S., a fireman on the Pan Handle Railroad, living at Logansport, who was born March 21, 1872, and married Bertie Buchanan, by whom he has one son, Milton; Blanch Z., who was born July 9, 1874, and is the wife of Walter Mabin, of Logansport; Charlie C., born November 8, 1879; and Walter, who was born September 20, 1880, and died in early life.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Collett is a Mason, having been a member of Orient Lodge, of Logansport, for twenty-six years. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a stalwart Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is popular in the ranks of his party and is one of its recognized leaders. He served for two terms as trustee, and for two years was chairman of the county central com- mittee, during which time his sound judgment and keen discrimination were manifest in his wise management of the party movements and his able plan-
350
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF
ning of the campaign. His advice carries weight in the councils of his party, and his efforts met recognition when, in 1894, he was nominated for the posi- tion of state senator. Elected to that office he proved an active and influential member on the floor of the upper house, and in the first session was a member of the committee on military affairs and chairman of the committee on coun- ties and townships. In the second session he was chairman of the committee on benevolent institutions, and gave to his duties the utmost care and con- sideration, laboring earnestly for the best interests of the state. When mat- ters of public moment came up for settlement, deliberation marked his course, and his action was guided by a sincere devotion to the public welfare.
Mr. Collett is a member of the Presbyterian church and assists in every good work. Success has crowned his efforts in business life, and he con- tributes liberally of his means to the support of all measures which are calcu- lated to benefit his fellow men. He is genial in manner, kindly in disposi- tion, cheerful in temperament and has the warm regard of all with whom he has come in contact. His life also demonstrates the possibilities that are open to young men of energy and ambition, for through his own unaided efforts he has worked his way upward to a position of affluence.
SAAC N. CORY, the pioneer poultry and game dealer of Logansport, has I for twenty years maintained an establishment that has been a valuable adjunct to the commercial interests of this city.
Mr. Cory was born in Cass county, Indiana, April 29, 1839, a son of early settlers of this locality. Nathan Cory, his father, was a native of Ross county, Ohio, and a descendant of English ancestry. He came over into Indiana early in the '30s and settled in Cass county, where he engaged in farming and where he passed the rest of his life and died. His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Maria Corbett, was a daughter of Joseph Corbett, and of the four children born to them only two are now living: Jane, widow of Pendergrass Shumaker, a resident of Chicago; and Isaac N., the subject of this review.
On his father's farm in Cass county Isaac N. Cory was reared. When quite young he learned the trade of painter, under the instructions of George E. Adams, in Logansport, and after completing his trade he was a journey-
351
CASS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
man workman in this city and in Adrian, Michigan, and Chillicothe, Ohio. Returning to Logansport from Ohio, he settled down here to a new business, that of butchering, which he followed for ten years, and from which he drifted into the poultry, hide and game business, and for the past twenty years he has dealt in these products. He has been and is an extensive shipper, and has not only been instrumental in sustaining and stimulating the raising of poul- try, on a paying basis, but also has enjoyed a measure of prosperity himself that has placed him among the substantial men of the city.
Mr. Cory is a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted in the fall of 1862, in Company G, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battles of Perryville, Richmond and Murfreesboro. After the last named battle he was taken sick, and on account of sickness was unable to do further service and was honorably discharged.
In October, 1860, Mr. Cory was married, in Logansport, to Miss Eliza- beth Tyner, daughter of Richard Tyner, who came to Indiana from Mary- land. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Cory is Harry, who, although a young man, has had a wide experience in travel, having been a member of the company composing Col. W. F. Cody's " Wild West Show," and having traversed Europe during the journeyings of that attraction through many of the nations of the Old World. He enlisted in April, 1898, in Captain Ben- der's company, under the volunteer act, for service in the war between the United States and Spain.
J
OSEPH MARTIN ELLIOTT, of Logansport, Indiana, popularly known as " Mart " Elliott, is one of the best horse-shoers of this city, and has resided here since 1870. As one of the representative citizens of Logans- port, it is fitting that some personal mention of him be made in this work.
Mr. Elliott was born on his father's farm in Harrison township, Cass county, Indiana, Jannary 13, 1853, son of Joseph and Martha (Lincoln) Elliott, who came to Cass county from Tippecanoe county, this state, about 1850. Joseph Elliott was a native of North Carolina, born in 1801, son of an Irishman; and at an early day came north and settled in Darke county, Ohio, where he married Miss Martha, daughter of Thomas Lincoln, an uncle of the martyred president. Joseph Elliott died on his farm in 1855, and his widow died a number of years ago. Of their twelve children Joseph M. is
352
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF
the youngest. Those surviving of this large family are as follows: Alfred, a prominent farmer of Cass county; Ambrose, who is also a farmer; Benja- min, of Bangor, North Dakota; Mary, wife of James De Wese, of Marion, Indiana; Elias and Eliza, twins, the former a farmer of Cass county, and the latter the wife of William Anderson, of Frederick, South Dakota; and Joseph Martin, whose name heads this article.
Joseph M. Elliott passed his boyhood days not unlike those of other farmer boys whose parents are in moderate circumstances, and at the age of sixteen began to learn the trade of blacksmith under the instructions of Add Massena, whose shop was located in the neighborhood of the Elliott farm. Later he worked for John Jackson, now the popular liveryman on Sixth street, Logansport, and with this gentleman completed his trade. He came to Logansport in 1870 and went to work as a blacksmith for Fred Busjahn, the father of Dr. Busjahn, of this city. In 1873 he opened a shop of his own on Wall street, later moved to Court street, where he was in business for twenty years, and thence, in 1896, he came to his present location on Third street, having at that time purchased the property he now occupies. He is an expert at his business and is well known as the leading blacksmith of the city.
Mr. Elliott was married March 14, 1877, to Miss Priscilla Castle, daughter of Thomas Castle, of Harrison township, this county. They have three children living, namely, - Blanche, Harry and George.
Mr. Elliott is a Republican in his political views, and was nominated for for sheriff by that party in June, 1898. He is a member of the Masonic order,-of Tipton Lodge at Logansport; of the Knights of Pythias and of the uniformed rank of the same; also of the Elks, Lodge No. 66, Logansport. and of the Foresters of the same place.
W ALTER W. COLES, proprietor of Maple Hill Rose farm, No. 299 East Jefferson street, Kokomo, Indiana, is a florist who has won name and fame in this state. His history is that of a self-made man and is of interest in this connection.
Walter W. Coles was born in Somersetshire, England, May 22, 1857, son of Henry and Mary"(Binding) Coles, both natives of England, and he was the
%. boles
353
VISS, ALIMI, HOWARD .IND TIPTON COUNTIES.
eldest of a family of five children, his brothers and sisters being as follows: Emily, wife of Charles Burns, Somersetshire, England; James; Albert E; and Eliza M., wife of Henry Duddy, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father of this family is a shoe dealer in Somersetshire. The mother died in 1890.
Joseph Coles, the grandfather of our subject, lived and died in England, at the time of death being about fifty-five or sixty years of age. By tride he was brick mason. He was the father of a large family. The Bindings were also English people. Grandfather Binding died at about the age of seventy years and Grandmother Binding was eighty at the time of her death.
Walter W. Coles, to whose life history we now wish to call attention, grew up in his native land and at an early age became an apprentice to a nurseryman. He has made this business his life study. In 1880 he came to America, and the two years following his arrival here he was employed in nurseries in New York and New Jersey. At the end of that time he rented a greenhouse at Claymont, Delaware, which he conducted five years, meeting with prosperity. Then, in partnership with a Mr. Whitely, he purchased property at Landsdowne, a suburb of Philadelphia, and built a greenhouse, and together they did business until 1891. under the firm name of Coles & Whitely. In 1881 Mr. Coles sold out to his partner and that same year came to Indiana, locating at Kokomo and establishing his present greenhouse and floral gardens.
The first year of his residence in Kokomo Mr. Coles built the elegant brick house which has since been his home, the grounds around which com- prise twelve acres. At another place he has eight acres. Ever since he engaged in business he has given special attention to roses, growing the finest and rarest that can be produced, and as an exhibitor of roses he has become famous. He had four exhibits at the World's Fair, at Chicago, in 1893, two of which received first premium, and one a medal; and this, too, against the strongest competition. At other. exhibits he has received many premiums. He has shown at Indianapolis every year since he came to Indi- ana, and has never come away without bringing premiums. He was pres- ident of the Society of Indiana Florists for the years 1894 and 1895.
Mr. Coles has a wife and four children. He was married September 5, 1882, to Miss M. Jennie Graham, and their children are Lincoln A., S. Blanche, Mable L. and Annie Elsie.
His parents being members of the Protestant Episcopal church, Mr. Coles 23
354
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENE.ILOGICAL HISTORY OF
was reared in that faith and both he and his wife are Episcopalians, but at Kokomo they attend the Congregational church. He is a member of numer- ous fraternal organizations and in not a few of them is prominent and active. In the Masonic order he has been a recipient of all the degrees up to and including those of the Knight Templar, and maintains membership in How- ard Lodge, No. 93, F. & A. M .; Kokomo Chapter, R. A. M .; Kokomo Council, R. & S. M. ; and Kokomo Commandery, K. T. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and both he and his wife have membership in the Order of the Eastern Star and the Ben Hur society. He was a charter member of the Philadelphia Florists' Club, and since coming west has been made an honorary member of that club. He is also a char- ter member of the Society of American Florists and Ornamental Horticult- urists, and at this writing is a member of its executive committee; he is also a member of the American Carnation Society. His political views are in harmony with the Republican party.
P ROFESSOR F. M. SPRAKER .- The history of Logansport would be incomplete without mention of Francis Marion Spraker, who for eighteen years has been prominently identified with her educational interests. The position which America occupies among the nations of the world is attributa- ble to her educational institutions. What other country provides such excel- lent school privileges for the youths of the land, thereby fitting them for the practical and important duties of life and preparing them for the heavy responsibilities that come as man wins advancement in the various callings of life? The schools of Logansport take high rank among those of the state, and their position is attributable in no small measure to the progressive efforts of Professor Spraker, who is now occupying the position of special teacher of Latin in the high school of the city.
Indiana numbers him among her distinguished sons who have conferred honor and dignity upon the mother state. He was born in Decatur county, this state, on the 6th of February, 1850, and is a son of Daniel Spraker, a farmer, who was born in West Virginia. His immediate ancestors were German,. and the family was founded in Virginia. Daniel Spraker, who was born in 1824, died in 1880. He wedded Mary, daughter of John Miller, who
355
CASS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
was also of German parentage, and her death occurred in 1894. Two chil- dren of the family survive: Francis M., of this review; and John S., a farmer. of Howard county, Indiana.
Reared on a farm in the county of his nativity, Professor Spraker acquired his preliminary education in the district schools of the neighbor- hood, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching in a country school in Howard county. From the beginning he manifested special aptitude in this line of work and his career has been one of distinctive preferment. On completing his first school he entered Hartsville University, where he con- tinued his education for a year and then matriculated in the State Univer- sity, at Bloomington, being graduated in the class of 1878. On leaving that institution he accepted the position of principal of the schools of Sardinia, Decatur county, and during his two years incumbency in that office demon- strated his particular ability as an instructor and his efficiency in school man -. agement. He was then offered a position in the schools of Logansport and was appointed to the principalship of the north-side school in 1880. Two years later he was transferred to the west-side school, where he remained for two years, after which he temporarily retired from the school-room and for two years was engaged in the grocery business in Logansport. He is still financially interested in the enterprise, being the senior member of the well- known firm of Spraker & McCord. Upon resuming his professional labors he was appointed to the position of teacher of mathematics in the high school, and two years later was made principal of the high school, acting in that capacity until the new high-school building was erected, or for a period of three years, when he was assigned to the department of languages as special teacher of Latin.
Professor Spraker ranks among the leading educators of the state. He is an excellent disciplinarian and has the somewhat rare power of imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge he has acquired. These quali- ties, combined with his strong mentality and broad general scholarship, have made him especially proficient in educational work and won him prestige as a representative of the profession in Indiana. He is connected with several associations for the mutual improvement of the teachers of the state, belongs to the State Teachers' Association, the Northern Indiana Teachers' Associa -. tion and for one year served as president of the high-school section of the first mentioned organization. Socially he is connected with the Royal Arca-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.