USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 36
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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
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num. He is also an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Logansport, and is secretary of its official board. His scholarly attainments, his varied mental culture, his broad humanitarian spirit, his genial manner and uniform courtesy have gained for him the sincere respect of the commu- nity in which he ranks as an honored and influential citizen.
W ILLIAM H. KEISER, ex-member of the city council from the third ward, Logansport, Indiana, and one of the business men of this city, has resided here since 1867.
Mr. Keiser is a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, born April 8, 1844, son of John and Sarah (Dale) Keiser, and one of a family of ten children- five sons and five daughters. In the town of Duncannon in his native county he grew to manhood, and in the shop of Washington Dunkle, the village blacksmith, he learned his trade. While he was yet a boy the Civil war broke out, and in 1862, at the age of eighteen, he tendered his services to the Union cause, joining Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and served in the First Brigade, First Division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under General John T. Reynolds. He was in the battles of Fredericksburg, South Mountain and Chancellorsville, and was honorably discharged just before the battle of Gettysburg. His anxiety, however, to see the last named battle caused bim to hasten in the direction of the battle-ground, and being still in full private's uniform was taken pris- oner at Carlisle, but succeeded in making his escape. His army service covered ten months.
In 1867 Mr. Keiser deserted the scenes of his childhood and made his way westward to Logansport. Here he formed a partnership with Arthur Finegan and opened a blacksmith and horse-shoeing shop. Later, upon the dissolution of this firm, Mr. Keiser associated himself with Milton Crane, with whom he was in business two years. During the past eighteen years Mr. Keiser has done business under his own name. He located his place of business on the banks of the Wabash when he first "pitched his tent" in Logansport, and the only change which has occurred in the appearance of his grounds is caused by the new building he erected in 1881.
Recently Mr. Keiser has engaged also in the manufacture of brick, his
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location being at the old Johnston brick-yard. This enterprise is one of much importance not only to himself but also to the city.
Politically Mr. Keiser is a Republican, interested and active in public affairs and especially those of a local nature. He was in 1894 elected to the city council from his ward, and during his terin of service he was on the ordinance, fire, electric-light, printing and sewer committees, and was chair- man of the last named committee, and at present he is chairman of the park committee. Also he is at present on the street, electric-light, sewer and printing committees.
Fraternally our subject is identified with Odd Fellowship. He has passed the chairs in both the subordinate and encampment lodges and has represented his lodge in the grand lodge, I. O. O. F., of Indiana.
Mr. Keiser has a wife and four children. He was married in Duncan- non, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1869, to Harriet B. Wilson, and their children in order of birth are as follows: Jesse; Jennie, wife of Milo Ford; Willard, a sergeant in the signal corps No. 14, of the United States; and Marion.
H ENRY M. MALLOW .- The Mallow family are of German extraction and trace their history in this country back to colonial days in the " Old Dominion." The subject of this sketch, Henry M. Mallow, was born in Alleghany county, Virginia, June 22, 1825, son of George and Catherine (Tressler) Mallow. His grandfather, Michael Mallow, was the son of a Rey- olutionary soldier, and both were Virginians by birth. Michael Mallow and his wife were the parents of Michael, Jacob, John and George. The records show that Michael Mallow died and is buried in Alleghany county. He was a man of the highest integrity, was a member of the Lutheran church, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His son George, the father of Henry M., was born in Alleghany county, in December, 1787, and was a participant in the war of 1812. He married in his native county, Catherine Tressler, daughter of Peter Tressler. Several generations of the Tressler family were born in Alleghany county. Peter Tressler was twice married, the children by his first wife being Henry, John, Michael and Catherine. By his second wife the children were Jacob, George, Michael. He died in his native state, an aged man.
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In the fall of 1834 George Mallow came west with his family and set- tled in Johnson county, Indiana, on a tract of partially improved land which he purchased from the man who had entered it from the government. Here he passed the rest of his days in honest toil, and died on his farm, at the age of ninety-three years. He was a typical pioneer. In his religious views he was a Universalist. He read the Bible thoroughly and he was broad and liberal in his views. Politically, he was a Jacksonian Democrat and in all matters pertaining to the public welfare he took a lively interest. He held the office of justice of the peace eight years in Virginia and for five years filled the same office after coming to Indiana. The children of this worthy pioneer, in order of birth, are William H., Elizabeth, George A., Juliette A., Martha J., Henry M., Catherine and Maria.
Henry M. Mallow was about ten years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, -just the age to appreciate the novelty of such a trip. Their journey to this state was made by means of horses and wagons-two four-horse wagons-and about a month was consumed on the way. The children walked and rode by turns. They camped by the road- side wherever night overtook them and pitched their tent, sleeping, however, in their wagons. Arrived in Johnson county, they settled on a frontier farm, as already recorded. In the log cabin school-house of the neighborhood Henry M. received his education, and in early life he learned the black- smith trade.
Mr. Mallow married, September 9, 1849, in Johnson county, Miss Catherine Brunnemer, like himself a native of Alleghany county, Virginia, the date of her birth being February 9, 1825. Her parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Bishop) Brunnemer, and her father traced his ancestry to Ger- many, but his people had for years been residents of Virginia. He moved to Johnson county, Indiana, about 1835, and improved a farm there. Later he moved to Howard and thence to Miami county, and at the latter place his wife died. He returned to Johnson county and died there. Their chil- dren are Moses, William, Catherine, John, Jeremiah, David, Margaret and Elizabeth.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mallow settled in Johnson county on land his father had given him, consisting of eighty acres partly cleared, and to it he subsequently added by the purchase of ten adjoining acres. He contin- ued to reside here until 1870, when he removed to Clay township, Miami
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county, and bought two hundred and forty acres of land that had been slightly improved. The work of clearing, cultivating and building was car- ried forward by him. He erected a brick residence, of two stories, and made various other improvements, and in time his farm ranked with the best in the locality. Here his wife died March 12, 1889. She was a mem- ber of the Methodist church, while he is a Universalist. Politically, he is a Democrat. In all matters, religious, political and otherwise, he has done his own thinking and takes a pride in keeping posted and up with the times. As a citizen of sterling worth, he has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
His children are six in number, viz .: Emily A., Martha J., Mary C., Sarah E., William M. and Margaret M.
H TOWARD E. HENDERSON, managing editor of the Kokomo Dispatch, is a representative of a prominent Indiana family and is himself well known throughout the county.
The Kokomo Dispatch, of the publication of which he is the manager. was established in 1870 by his father, Dr. John F. Henderson, a prominent politician in Democratic ranks, and it has always been a Democratic organ. Dr. Henderson named it the Kokomo Radical Democrat. In 1875 he turned it over to his sons, John O. and Howard E., who changed the name and who have since conducted it. Up to 1890 it was issued as a weekly publication. That year they erected a new building, enlarging their plant, and have since published the paper semi-weekly and daily. The daily Kokomo Dispatch is now a publication too well known throughout Indiana to need comment here.
Howard E. Henderson was born in New London, Indiana, December 22, 1849, one of the seven children ot Dr. John F. and Cynthia A. (Whitson) Henderson, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Five of this family are now living, namely: Dr. G. L., Kansas City, Missouri: John O., Indianapolis; Howard E .; Dr. Ernest L., Kansas City, Missouri; and William F., Kokomo. The father came to Indiana in early life, settling first in Dayton, later in New London, and coming from the latter place to Kokomo in the spring of 1861, the day of his removal hither being that on which Ft. Sumter
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was fired upon. Kokomo continued to be his home the rest of his life and he died here at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow still survives him and is a resident of this city. During the Civil war Dr. Henderson was surgeon of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he rendered val- iant service, and after the war he continued the practice of medicine and also ran a drug store and had other commercial interests, including a large lumber business. And, as above indicated, he was prominent in the councils of the Democratic party. He was the candidate of his party for state senator and also for congress, but was not on the winning side in this district.
Amos Henderson, the grandfather of Howard E., was a native of Penn- sylvania, of Scotch and English descent, and was an inn-keeper in Dayton, Indiana, during the pioneer days of that place. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, lived to the advanced age of eighty years, and died in Dayton. Grandfather Whitson was a wealthy farmer of Tippecanoe county, Indiana. He also died in Dayton.
Howard E. Henderson was eleven years old when he came with his par- ents to Kokomo, where he was reared and received his early education. After completing his studies in the public schools of Kokomo, he entered Asbury (now De Pauw) University, where he was a student until 1872. That year he became associated with his father in the newspaper business, and since 1875 he has occupied his present position, that of managing editor of the above named publication.
Mr. Henderson resides in the pleasant home he built in 1880, its loca- tion being No. 47 East Sycamore street. He was married in 1870 to Miss Belle Williams, daughter of Rev. Thomas Williams, a pioneer Methodist preacher of Indiana, with headquarters at Rushville. The fruits of this union are three children, viz .: Frank, who is associated with his father in the newspaper office; Oscar Leander, who died in infancy; and Eva. Mr. Hen- derson's mother is a Methodist, he married a Methodist, and he himself is iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal church. He maintains fraternal relations with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. His college fraternity is the Delta Kappa Epsilon.
In concluding this sketch we take pleasure in referring to the life history of Mr. Henderson's brother, John Oscar Henderson, who is known through- out Indiana both as a state official and as a journalist, he having been asso- ciated, as already stated, with his brother Howard E., in the newspaper
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business since 1875. For many years he was editorial writer for the Dis- patch, and his editorials were largely instrumental in securing him the posi- tion of state anditor, which position he held two terms, -from 1892 to 1896, His home since 1892 has been in Indianapolis. He married Miss Mary George, daughter of W. W. George, of Kokomo.
S AMUEL N. BOWLAND .- It is always interesting to watch from the beginning the growth and development of a locality, to note the lines along which marked progress has been made and to take cognizance of those whose leadership in the work of advancement and improvement have made possible the present prosperity of the locality under consideration. Samuel N. Bowland, of this review, is one of those who have seen almost the entire growth of Miami county, for more than a half century ago he cast his lot with its pioneers. He has also been an important factor in its continued progress toward the vanguard of civilization, and his name is therefore indel- ibly engraved on its history and well deserves a place in the record of the representative men. He reached Peru in April, 1849, and has since been associated with its agricultural interests. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, September 18, 1824, and is of Irish lineage. His parents were Alex- ander and Susan (Tamsy) Bowland, the former a native of Kentucky, whence he removed to Perry county, Ohio, where, in the midst of the green woods, he cleared a tract of land and developed a good farm. Subsequently he removed to Seneca county, Ohio, about 1830, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres six miles south of Tiffin. The cultivation of that farm claimed his energies until his death, which occurred in the seventy-third year of his age. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and in politics a Demo- crat. He had seven children, namely: John C., William T., Samuel N., Absalom A., David, Eleanor and Elizabeth.
In the district schools near his home Samuel N. Bowland acquired his education, but his privileges were somewhat meager owing to the primitive condition of the schools on the frontier and to the fact that his services were needed on the homestead. His training at farm labor was not meager, for he began work in the fields almost as soon as old enough to handle the plow. Having arrived at years of maturity he chose as a companion and helpmeet on the journey of life Miss Annie Wagner, their marriage being celebrated in
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Seneca county, Ohio, about 1845. The lady was a native of that county and a daughter of David and Susan Wagner, the former a pioneer settler of Seneca county and a native of Pennsylvania, representing one of the old Pennsylvania-Dutch families. He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, became a well-to-do farmer and gave to all of his ten children eighty acres of land each. His political views were in harmony with the principles of Democracy. Faithful to truth and duty he commanded the respect of all, and at his death left many friends to mourn his loss. His children were Jacob, Daniel, George, Polly, Nancy, Betsey, Sallie, Anna, Elizabeth and Catharine.
Mr. and Mrs. Bowland spent the first two years of their married life in Seneca county, Ohio, and then came to the farm in Clay township, Miami county, on which our subject now resides. It was then a tract of timber land on which the trees grew in such density that some had to be cut down in order to make room on which to erect their log-cabin. Mr. Bowland pur- chased this land of his father, who had entered it from the government. He at once began to clear it and when the trees were cut down the plow soon turned the furrows and seeds were planted for the coming harvest. It re- quires the most earnest and indefatigable labor to develop a good farm, and with unremitting zeal Mr. Bowland prosecuted his labors until he was the owner of more than five hundred acres of rich land, the greater part under cultivation and well improved. He has since given each of his children an eighty-acre tract, retaining possession of one hundred acres for his immediate use. He was ably assisted in all his efforts by his wife, who frequently worked in the clearing and in the fields by the side of her husband, to whom she proved a helpmeet indeed. The substantial brick residence was erected in 1856 and many excellent improvements have been made, adding to the value and attractive appearance of the place.
In 1888 Mrs. Bowland was called to her final rest, and her death was deeply mourned, for she had many sincere friends who entertained for her the highest regard. She left five children, David, William, James, Samuel and Susan T. The sons, like their father, are stalwart Democrats, and sup- ported Colonel W. J. Bryan for the presidency. In all business matters Mr. Bowland is discriminating, sagacious and diligent, and his careful manage- ment and industry have unlocked for him the portals of success and brought out some of its rich treasures.
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ISAAC HIMMELBERGER .- For more than three decades this gentleman has been a resident of Logansport, Indiana, and all these years has figured prominently as an enterprising and public-spirited man, both as a private citizen and as an official winning the confidence and esteem of his fellows.
Mr. Himmelberger is of Pennsylvania birth and comes of German ancestry. He was ushered into life in Berks county, August 13, 1840, son ·of Charles Himmelberger and grandson of Jonathan Himmelberger, both natives of the Keystone state. Charles Himmelberger was born in Berks county, in 1815, was in business there, and died in Lebanon county, in 1890. His wife, née Elvina Hain, died in 1887. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom survive, Isaac, the subject of this review, being the ·eldest.
Isaac Himmelberger was educated in the common schools of his native county, was reared to habits of industry, and early in life was taught to rely upon his own resources. Among his first ventures in business was his launching out as a grain dealer in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in a part- nership concern. In this business he was engaged four years. On closing up his affairs in Lebanon county, in 1865, he came west to Indiana and located in Cass county. Here he engaged in the manufacture of hard-wood lumber, which he continued with success until some eighteen years ago, when, in consequence of the practical exhaustion of the supply of desirable timber, he closed up his business here and removed his plant to southeastern Missouri, New Madrid county, where he now operates three large mills, his total yearly output being fifteen million feet of lumber. This product he markets through- out the territory extending from Boston to San Francisco and also is an exporter to some of the European ports.
Mr. Himmelberger has always affiliated with the Republican party and taken an enthusiastic interest in public affairs. In 1878 he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for the office of sheriff of Cass county, and such was his popularity that although he had a Democratic majority of five hun- dred to overcome he received the election by a majority of four hundred and fifty votes. He succeeded Sheriff Louthain, made an efficient officer, and at the close of his term retired from the office with the confidence and good will of all his constituents and with the knowledge that he had done his duty faithfully and well.
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Mr. Himmelberger is a man of family. He was married in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in 1861, to Catherine, daughter of Henry Haak. The surviving children of this union are John, manager of the Himmelberger & Luce Land & Lumber Company at Morehouse, Missouri, who married Miss Mollie Keesling and has three children-Harry, Charles and Catherine; Jane, wife of Samuel Fisher, of Cass county, is the mother of six children, namely: Nettie, Earl, Dwight, Fay, Eddie and Glen; Lillie, wite of H. J. Crismond, of Logansport, is the mother of two children-Charlotte and Catherine; and Miss Nettie, who was married on September 20, 1898, to William O. Murdock. Three sons and a daughter are deceased.
JAMES BUCHANAN .- The history of Cass county would be incomplete J
without mention of James Buchanan, who is numbered among its hon- ored pioneers, his residence here covering a period of almost sixty years. He saw here raw prairies and unbroken forests, Indian wigwams and wild beasts; the home of the white settlers were log cabins, indicating that only the first steps toward civilization had been taken. Reared thus on the fron- tier, he bore his part in the work of development from the earliest days, and has been a prominent factor in bringing about the transformation which has made this one of the leading counties in the state, with its highly cultivated farms, thriving towns and villages, its school-houses, churches and all other evidences that show the mark of progress and culture.
In the spring of 1839 the Buchanan family was founded in Cass county, at which time the father, two of his brothers and the grandfather all located within its borders. The last named, James Buchanan, Sr., was originally from Maryland. In early life he married Pleasant Moore, who died in Penn- sylvania, May 16, 1833, after which he wedded Mary Wilson, whose death occurred in Terre Haute, Indiana, in October, 1838. James M. Buchanan, father of our subject, came from Blair county, Pennsylvania, to the Hoosier state, and made his first settlement in Terre Haute, whence he removed to Cass county in the spring of 1839, the journey being made with a four-horse wagon. At night they camped along the roadside, for their way lay through a thinly settled section of the state, where other shelter could not be obtained. He had followed both farming and merchandising in the east, but after con-
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ing to this county gave his attention to the latter pursuit. Indians were still in the neighborhood, but they were always peaceable and friendly and became very much attached to our subject, then a very small child, whom they called " nice papoose," often carrying him about with them. Only ten acres of the home farm had been cleared at the time of the arrival of the family, and the members of the household bore all the usual experiences and hardships of frontier life, but as the years passed and the section was opened up to civ- ilization the family experienced easier times. The father died March 23. 1897, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, his birth having occurred in 1810. His wife was born in 1814 on the historic battle ground of Gettys- burg, and bore the maiden name of Mary A. Gorley. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, namely: James; Samuel M., who died February 8, 1872; Martha Jane, who was born October 1, 1844, and died August 8, 1849; George Washington, who was born October 3, 1847, and is living in Cass county; John Gorley, who was born November 15. 1851, and resides in Locust Grove; and Edward Boyd, who was born September 20, 1854, and is also a resident of Cass county.
James Buchanan was born in Terre Haute, October 3, 1838, and was brought by his parents to Cass county in April of the following year, so that practically his entire life has been passed in this locality. His mother, who was a most excellent woman, taught him to read and write and he thus laid the foundation for the knowledge that he has acquired through experience and in the practical affairs of life. When eight years of age he entered the " log-cabin college " of the country, with its rude furniture, consisting of slab seats and rough benches, while an immense fireplace was supposed to give forth heat enough to counteract the winter blasts. This small institution was a mile and a half from his home, and later he walked two miles to a log school-house which stood on the present site of the town of Metea. His educational opportunities were thus somewhat limited, but to-day he is an intelligent and well informed man, having gained a broad fund of information in the school of experience.
Mr. Buchanan continued on the old home farm until twenty years of age and was early trained to habits of industry and economy. His father was of a very saving and careful disposition and he thus learned the value of a dol- lar, so that in his own business career, before success had come to him, he practiced those habits which ultimately led to the acquirement of a handsome
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competence. He was married at the age of twenty-four, and six months later he left the old homestead-in September, 1863-to go to a home of his own. He moved into a log cabin which still stands upon his present farm. and which is in marked contrast to the commodious and substantial residence which is now his place of abode. He has made many excellent improve- ments upon his farm, and his well-tilled fields and high grade of stock indi- cate him to be a progressive agriculturist. In 1879, wishing to improve the grade of stock in the county, and knowing the value of good breeds, he secured some excellent full-blooded Durham cattle, of which he has since kept a herd. Only the finest grades of stock are found upon his place, and in all ways he is a most progressive, up-to-date and enterprising farmer, who. is accounted one of the leaders in that line of endeavor in Cass county. His business methods are straightforward and honorable and are conducted with that care and discrimination which lead to success.
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